Graduate students will present research at Capitol
LAWRENCE — The value and benefits of research performed by graduate students at the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center will be showcased March 10 at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit in Topeka.
In its 14th year, the annual summit brings attention to the research conducted by graduate students at state universities and emphasizes the significant role of graduate students’ research at these institutions.
“Graduate students constitute close to 25 percent of the students at KU and contribute in so many ways to Kansas and the greater society,” said Michael Roberts, dean of graduate studies. “Holding the Research Summit in the Capitol highlights for the governor, the legislators, and their staff what a valuable resource Kansas universities provide in educating and training graduate students in important research areas. We appreciate that these selected graduate students can present just a sampling of the valuable knowledge generated by Kansas universities’ outstanding graduate programs.”
State officials and the public are invited to learn about a wide range of research, including the development of broadband communications in rural areas, strengthening the health of youths in foster care and forging more durable steel for construction.
Eight students from the Lawrence campus and five students from KU Medical Center will present their projects from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol. The KU and KU Medical Center representatives will join graduate students from Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University. See more at: http://graduate.ku.edu/2017-cgrs-presenters.
The presenters for both research events are listed below by name, degree, area of study and titles of their research projects.
From KU Lawrence
James Matthew Coll, doctoral student in geography, “Global Trends in Snow Cover Frequency.”
Lindsay Huffhines, doctoral student in clinical child psychology, “Maltreatment and Physical Health Outcomes in Foster Youth: An Examination of Protective Factors.”
Jeffrey Jennings, doctoral student in geology, “Identifying Areas at Risk for Injection-Induced Seismicity Through Subsurface Analysis of Southern Kansas.”
H. Martin Koch, master’s student in geography and atmospheric science, “Digital Utilities: Bridging Internet Divides with Municipal Broadband.”
Maxwell Murphy, doctoral student in bioengineering, “Patterned Electrical Microstimulation in the Brain Improves the Information Transmission of Neurons.”
Kien Nguyen, doctoral student in civil engineering, “Numerical Analysis of a Cracked Hot-Dip Galvanized Structural Steel Beam.”
Aaron Rudeen, doctoral student in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, “Investigating the Impact of the Mutation Cluster Region of Tumor-suppressor Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) on Colon Carcinogenesis.”
Cate Wisdom, doctoral student in bioengineering, “Biomimicking Biological Interfaces by Engineered Multi-Functional Peptides to Prevent Implant-Associated Infections.”
From KU Medical Center
Joshua Breeden, medical student, cardiovascular research, “Inhibition of STAT3 Suppresses Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiomyoblast Hypertrophy Through Modulating the AMPα/mTOR Autophagy Pathway.”
Ian Huck, doctoral student in pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutics, “Identification of Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha (HNF4) Target Gene Signature and Validation as a Prognostic Biomarker OF Hepatocellular Carcinoma.”
Heather Nelson-Brantley, doctoral student in nursing, “Improving Rural Critical Access Hospital Outcomes: An Exemplary Case Study.”
Jacob New, medical student and doctoral student in cancer biology, “Secretory Autophagy in Tumor Associated Fibroblasts Promotes Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Emerges as a Novel Therapeutic Target.”
Kelly Zarifa, doctoral student in hearing and speech, “To Have a Voice: Treatment Planning for Persons With Aphasia, The Kansas Connection.”