KU, Haskell students to present research projects for 13th annual symposium

LAWRENCE — Research relating to cancer, genetics, medicinal plants and social relationships will be among student research presented at the 13th annual University of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Thirty students are expected to present posters of their science and engineering research from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Tecumseh Hall at Haskell Indian Nations University.

The presenters include undergraduate and graduate-level students at both universities. They participate in programs that encourage underrepresented students to pursue research careers in biomedical science, including: the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program at Haskell and KU, the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program at Haskell, the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity Program at KU and the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at KU.

Symposium participants are listed below by poster title, hometown; major and parents’ names.

Tashina Azure, “Return to a Healthy Past,” a KU PREP student from Davenport, Iowa. Parents are Rowena and Roberto Vega.

Morgan Barham, “Identification of Inducible Proteins Involved in T Cell Differentiation via Costimulation with ICAM-1,” a KU PREP student from Philadelphia. She is the daughter of Cheryl and James Barham.

Albert Baxter, “G15 Position to Mark Boundary Lines for Ranches from Each Land Owner,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science in ecology major from Yuma, Ariz. He is the son of Cynthia Villanueva.

Lauren Beesley, “Dynamics and Detection of Mead’s Milkweed,” a KU mathematics major from Overland Park. She is the daughter of Kari and Darin Beesley.

Matt Behymer, “Investigating the Tight Junction Modulatory Activity of EC-4 Hexapeptides from E-cadherin,” a KU biochemistry major from Tonganoxie. He is the son of Mark Behymer and Maylum Davidson.

Tyler Berry, “Modifying FMCW Radar Chirp Generation to Improve Side Lobe Suppression and Dynamic Range,” a Haskell Indian Nations University engineering major from Kellyville, Okla. He is the son of Ronnie and LeaAnn Berry.

Kimberly Box, “Cona is Required for Proper Localization of Corolla to the Synaptonemal Complex in Drosophila Female Meiosis,” a KU PREP student from Wichita. She is the daughter of Bradford and Andrea Box.

Moses Brashear, a KU chemistry major from Albuquerque, N.M. He is the son of Juliana and Peter Brashear.

Kimberly Cole, “Rotary Task Moment Analysis of the Lower Extremity After Total Knee Arthroplasty,” a KU chemical engineering major from Wichita. She is the daughter of David Cole and Jacqueline Cole.

Marcus Alejandro Florez, “Analysis of Mitochondrial Haplotypes, APOE and TOMM40 Genotype with Alzheimer’s Disease,” a KU chemistry and biochemistry major from Bel Aire. He is the son of Mark and Charlotte Florez.

Alex Fondaw, “Identifying Inhibitors of ZipA Through Computational and Biochemical Screening,” a KU biochemistry major from Wichita. He is the son of Glen and Zoraida Fondaw.

Paulette Gonzales, “Common Mechanisms of Diversification in Co-Distributed Tree Frog of the Genus Rhacophorus of the Eastern Philippines,” a KU PREP student from Los Angeles. She is the daughter of Sergio Gonzales and Elka Sandoval.

Jordan Koch, “Algorithms for Calculating Pattern Class Probabilities on Phylogenetic Trees,” a KU mathematics major from Lawrence. She is the daughter of Paul Koch and Candace Koch.

Devin Lasley, “Employing a Sports Psychology Perspective to Assess Athlete’s Experience Competing in a 100-mile Race,” a KU community health major from Wellington. He is the son of Tracey and Fred Corley.

Corey Leroy, “Optimizing Protein Crystal Growth,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Reelsville, Ind. He is the son of Debbie and Dana Leroy.

Nikolai Nez, “Using c.Elegans to understand biological tube shape maintenance,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Leupp, Ariz. He is the son of Evelyn Kelly.

Isaac Nichols, a KU student majoring in mathematics from Topeka. He is the son of Josie Norris and Jeff Nichols.

Cale Pete, “Soils Important to the Washoe Tribe,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental sciences major from Gardnerville, Nev. He is the son of Vikki Perri and Fred Pete.

Allyson Prue, “Morphological Analysis of Randa Everetti, a Stream Frog from the Philippines,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental major from Lawrence. She is the daughter of Kim and Steve Prue.

Julio Ramirez, a KU genetics major from Kansas City, Kan. He is the son of Norma and David Ramirez.

Kayla Sale, “Comparing Stomatal Characters in Glacial and Modern Conifer Leaves,” a KU ecology and evolutionary biology and mathematics major from Olathe. She is the daughter of John and Jamea Sale.

Jacob Stops, “The Weapon Called Epigenitics Against Cancer,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Billings, Mont. He is the son of Kimberly LeBeaux and Marvin Stops Sr.

Rodi Torres-Gavosto, "Derivatization of the Azulenic Framework along its Molecular Axis for Self-Assembly on Gold Surfaces” a KU chemistry major from Lawrence. He is the son of Rodolfo Torres and Estela Gavosto.

Chris Trezza, “Genetics of the Maintenance of Single-Celled Tube Diameter in C.elegans,” a KU microbiology major from Smithtown, N.Y. He is the son of Charlotte and James Trezza.

Joshua Selbe, “Phylogeography of Two Polytypic Bird Species from the Philippines,” a KU evolutionary biology major from Joplin, Mo. He is the son of Cindy and Curtis Larson and Dennis and Michelle Selbe.

Kena Senegal, “High-throughput Screening and Target Validation of Small Molecule Drug Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of HuR-mRNA Interactions,” a KU PREP student from Lake Charles, La. She is the daughter of Tanya and Michael Senegal.

Sarena Senegal, “The Utilization of Small Molecules as Tools for Probing Biological Processes,” a KU PREP student from Lake Charles, La. She is the daughter of Michael and Tanya Senegal.

Jesse Sundar, “The Evaluation of a Synthetic Foam as a Human Cancellous Bone Model,” a KU PREP student from Kemmerer, Wyo. He is the son of of VJ Sundar.

John Whiteclay, “Water Movement in Soils,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Birdsprings, Ariz. He is the son of Alice McCabe and Howard WhiteClay.

John Wiggins, “Hyperglutamatergic Activity Influences Oxidative Stress in Brain Mitochondria,” a KU PREP student from Richmond, Va. He is the son of April Hawkins.

Alicia Willow, “Geological Morphology of the Wind River Indian Reservation,” a Haskell Indian Nations University liberal arts major from Crowheart, Wyo. She is the daughter of Jodi Bigknife and Alfred Willow Sr.

Crisandra Wilkie, “Synthesis and Purification of IDAC of MOG: Potential Therapeutic for MS,” a KU cellular biology major from Salem, Ore. She is the daughter of Pam and Chris Wilkie.

Julia Yang, “Estimating Populations of Osha, Ligusticum porteri, an Important Medicinal Plant of the Southwest US,” a KU ecology and evolutionary biology and environmental studies major from Manhattan. She is the daughter of David Yang and Marcia Molina.