76 undergraduate students to present summer research


LAWRENCE — Each summer, undergraduate students from around the world join current University of Kansas students in conducting research with KU faculty. Seventy-six of these students will present their research Friday, July 27at the KU Summer Undergraduate Research Poster Session. The event, which is open to the public, will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Beren Petroleum Conference Center, G192, Slawson Hall.

Presenters include students taking part in the following programs:

  • Beckman Scholars Program
  • Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Program
  • Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Scholars Program
  • McNair Scholars Program
  • National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
  • Office for Diversity in Science Training programs:
    • 500 Nations Bridge Program with Haskell Indian Nations University
    • Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD)
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry Summer Undergraduate Research Program
  • Undergraduate Research Award recipients

The poster session is co-sponsored by the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) Scholars Program and KU’s Center for Undergraduate Research.  The program, including abstracts of the research posters, can be found on the Center’s website. Students who will present their work are listed below, along with their hometown (if available), home institution, project title, faculty mentor, and department:

Austin Abbott, Lawrence, KU; “Effect of Solvent Conductivity and Volatility on Electrospun Fiber Diameter,” Jennifer Robinson and Pamela Johnson, chemical & petroleum engineering

Abdul-Rahman Alkiswani, Lawrence, KU; “DNA-Based Nanocomposite Hydrogels As Sustained Drug Delivery Platforms,” Arghya Paul and Sayantani Basu, chemical & petroleum engineering

Layla Almualem, Blacksburg, Virginia, Virginia Tech; “Investigating Nosema Disease in Bumblebees,” Deborah Smith, ecology & evolutionary biology

Kayleigh Anderson, Lawrence, KU; “The Representation of Poverty in Disney Films,” Misty Schieberle, English

Robert Armstrong, Kansas City, Kansas, KU; “Collaboration between Local Public Health Departments and Correctional Facilities: An HPV Vaccine Partnership,” Megha Ramaswamy, preventive medicine

D'Arlyn Bell, KU; “Poverty Governance: Neoliberal Economics in Kansas Welfare Policy,” Charles Epp, School of Public Affairs & Administration

Maya Bluitt, Lenexa, KU; “Do Flavin Monooxygenases Function in the Celsr/Flamingo Pathway During Neural Development?,” Brian Ackley, molecular biosciences

Olivia Borland, Wichita, KU; “Race and Income’s Relationship to High-Risk Substance Use in Adolescents,” Nancy Jo Kepple, social welfare

Allie Brachtenbach, Olathe, KU; “Development of Nanodiamonds as a Vaccine Delivery System,” Laird Forrest and Ryan Moulder, pharmaceutical chemistry

Katie Bunselmeyer, Ava, Illinois, Southeast Missouri State University; “Variables affecting the stability of secretory IgA upon exposure to simulated intestinal conditions,” Yue (Martin) Hu, pharmaceutical chemistry

Tacia Burgin, Merriam, KU; “The Relationship Between Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and Protective and Risk Factors in Black Adolescents in Low-Income Ares,” Jomella Watson-Thompson and Courtney Moore, applied behavioral science

Tyler Cargill, Wichita, KU; “Assessing the Allocation and Potential Reallocation of KU’s Waste Receptacles,” William Staples, sociology

Emily Casteen, Topeka, KU; “The Role of Weather and Summer Depressive Symptoms:  Temperature May Be A Major Contributor,” Stephen Ilardi, psychology

Vaughn Craddock, Wichita, KU; “Adaptations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Evolved in Aminoglycoside Antibiotics,” Josephine Chandler and Rhea Abisado, molecular biosciences

Johnathon Davidson, Lawrence, Haskell Indian Nations University; “Energy Independence Through Solar Applications in Native American Communities,” Andrew Williams, electrical engineering & computer science

Cara Davis, Wichita, KU; “Biosynthesis of Yersinopine: an Opine Metallophore from Yersinia pestis,” Audrey Lamb and Jeff McFarlane, molecular biosciences

Hannah Dea, Templeton, Iowa, Benedictine College; “Fire Severity Effects on Ectomycorrhizal Colonization of Pinus palustris and Pinus taeda,” Benjamin Sikes and Jacob Hopkins, ecology & evolutionary biology

Ana Driscoll, Alexandria, Virginia, University of Pittsburgh; “Application of RNA-seq Differential Abundance Statistics to Sex-specific DNA-seq Data Enables Robust Identification of Sex-linked Transcripts,” James Walters, ecology & evolutionary biology

Rachel Elting, Olathe, Johnson County Community College; “Applying the Chromosome Quotient Method to Identify W-linked Sequence Reads in the butterfly, Heliconius melpomene,” Jamie Walters, ecology & evolutionary biology

Chelsea Espino Salazar, Kansas City, Missouri, Avila University; “The Interaction of Land Cover and Precipitation on Soil Weathering,” Pamela Sullivan, geography & atmospheric science

Margaret Flowers, Rock Island, Illinois, Simpson College; “Pan Trap Biases on Abundance, Richness, and Body Size of Captured Bees,” Deborah Smith, ecology & evolutionary biology

Jacob Fromm, Rapid City, South Dakota, The University of Montana; “Exploration of CYP5122A1 Function in Leishmania tarentolae,” Mei Feng, pharmaceutical chemistry

Anna Goddard, Lincoln, Nebraska, KU; “Effects of Selection on Partial Clonality on Phenotypic Evolution and Evolutionary Lag,” Maria Orive, ecology & evolutionary biology

Rachel Hart, KU; “Correlations Between PEGDA Gel Concentration and Diffusion Coefficients,” Stevin Gehrke, chemical & petroleum engineering

Tim Hoheneder, Eldersburg, Maryland, West Virginia University; “Geospatial Analysis of Produced Waters in South Central Kansas Oil Fields,” Edward Peltier and Mark Ballard, chemical & petroleum engineering

Brandon Kannady, Overland Park, KU; “Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations Effect Water Chemistry in the Lower Kansas WRAPS,” Amy Burgin, ecology & evolutionary biology and environmental studies

Austin Keller, Derby, Kansas, KU; “Project H2: Bio-based Membranes for Efficient Hydrogen Purification,” Mark Shiflett and Sachin Nandanwar, chemical & petroleum engineering

Brandon Kinn, Ottawa, KU; “NMR Relaxation as a Method of Exploring Porous Networks,” Alan Allgeier, chemical & petroleum engineering

Jordyn Koehn, Olathe, KU; “Proteo-genomic analysis of butterfly sperm using shotgun mass-spectra data,” Jamie Walters, ecology & evolutionary biology

Justin Lehtinen, Overland Park, KU; “Fiber Architecture Analysis of Electrospun Scaffolds,” Jennifer Robinson and Pamela Johnson, chemical & petroleum engineering

Monica Martinez, Tecumseh, KU; “Latinx in Higher Education: Examining Work as a Barrier to Degree Completion,” Marta Caminero-Santangelo, Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies and English

Matthias McFarlane, Marysville, Washington, Washington State University; “NAO What's Next? The A.i.D.A. Program: Artificially Intelligent Desk Assistant,” Andrew Williams, electrical engineering & computer science

Garet Melton, North Little Rock, Arkansas, KU; “Enrichment of Nitrated Peptides Using a Boronate Affinity Microchip,” Susan Lunte and Kelci Schilly, chemistry

Autumn Miller-Arvidson, Kansas City, Kansas, KU; “Promising Medicinal Uses for Non-native Invasive and Noxious Weeds,” Kelly Kindscher, Kansas Biological Survey and environmental studies

Leslie Muse, Chicago, KU; “High Hopes: The Effectiveness of French Color-blind Inclusive Housing Policies,” David Norman, sociology

Josie Muskrat, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Haskell Indian Nations University; “The Role of Archaic Introgression in Shaping the Genetic Landscape of the Americas,” Dennis O'Rourke and Jennifer Raff, anthropology

Tanner Myers, Louisburg, KU; “Using Morphology to Test Species Boundaries Among Genetically Distinct Populations of Hispaniolan Anole Lizards,” Richard Glor, ecology & evolutionary biology

Ashley Navarro, Kansas City, Missouri, Metropolitan Community College, Penn Valley; “Phenotypic Diagnosis of Cryptic Species in the Hispaniolan Bark Anole (Anolis distichus),” Richard Glor, ecology & evolutionary biology

Jennifer Nguyen, Olathe, KU; “Optimization of Decellularization of Meniscus,” Jennifer Robinson, chemical & petroleum engineering

Charlotte Nodarse, Prairie Village, KU; “Stress-Relaxation Testing of Chitosan Hydrogels with Varying Degrees of Acetylation,” Stevin Gehrke, chemical & petroleum engineering

Channary Ny, Kansas City, Missouri, KU; “Removal of PFOA from Drinking Water Using Zeolite Materials” and “Thermal Stabilization of Proteins in Mesoporous Silica Gel,” Mark Shiflett, Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering.

Blessing Opara, Kansas City, Missouri, KU; “Whose Invited to the Cookout? The Influence of ‘Wokeness’ on Perceptions of Cultural Appropriation,” Glenn Adams and Ariel Mosley, psychology

Rayanna Otterholt, Plato, Missouri, Haskell Indian Nations University; “Acanth's Philippine Fanged Frog: One Species or Two?,” Rafe Brown, Biodiversity Institute

Alexis Paige, Florissant, Missouri, KU; “Discriminating Between Nitrated and Non-Nitrated Species Using Electrophoretic Methods,” Sue Lunte and Kelci Schilly, chemistry

Ben Papadopoulos, Denver, University of Puget Sound; “The Influence of Historic Precipitation Regimes and Land-use History on Soil Microbial Mediated Plant Drought Tolerance,” James Bever and Theo Michaels, ecology & evolutionary biology

Isabel Pen, Houston, University of Houston; “A Redescription of the Elusive Elasmobranch Tapeworm Genus Myzocephalus,” Kirsten Jensen, ecology & evolutionary biology

Autumn Peterson, Chantilly, Virginia, Virginia Tech; “Evolution of Cupressaceae: A New Anatomically Preserved Conifer from the Paleogene of North America,” Brian Atkinson and Rudy Serbet, ecology & evolutionary biology

Ben Rajewski, Lawrence, Simpson College; “Thermal Characterization of a Quaternary System Containing a Drug, Polymer, Surfactant, and Water,” Michael Hageman and Anil Basra, pharmaceutical chemistry

Dasy Resendiz, Rioverde, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, KU; “Curanderismo: Healing among Mexican American and Mexican Women in Northeast Kansas,” Brent Metz, anthropology

Megan Resurreccion, Antioch, Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; “Effects of Breeding Peaks Phenology on Avian Malaria Transmission,” Folashade Agusto, ecology & evolutionary biology

Jordan Rodriguez, Rogers, Arkansas, KU; “Examining the Effect of External Structure on Responses to Thought-Control Difficulty,” Mark Landau and Trevor Swanson, social psychology

Armeliz Romero, Ponce, Puerto Rico, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus; “The Effect of Soil Development and pH on Soil P Availability Across Forest Ecosystems,” Sharon Billings and Emma Hauser, ecology & evolutionary biology

Sophia Sanchez, Derby, KU; “Behavioral Effects of Social Loss on the Male Prairie Vole,” Adam Smith, pharmacology & toxicology

Adam Sawyer, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Augsburg University; “Antigen-Drug Conjugates for the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes,” Cory Berkland and Stephanie Johnson, pharmaceutical chemistry

Geldon Sherifi, Dublin, Ireland, Dublin City University; “Optimization of Cell Lysis and Mitochondrial Isolation Techniques for Eventual On-Chip Isolation and Detection of Nitrated Peptides,” Susan Lunte and Kelci Schilly, chemistry

Dania Shoaib, KU; “Genetic and Cell Biological Analysis of Eight Possible Alleles of Mcr in Drosophila,” Rob Ward, molecular biosciences

Mattison Sills, Spring Hill, Olivet Nazarene University; “Evaluating Mammalian Cell Transfection Efficiency by Optimizing Electroporation Conditions for T-cell Receptor Expression,” Brandon DeKosky and Cheng Yu Chung, pharmaceutical chemistry

Emily Smith, Gardner, KU; “Dimerization Partners of HAF ABC Transporters,” Lisa Timmons, molecular biosciences

Amanda Smith, Ganado, Arizona, Haskell Indian Nations University; “Social Approach/Avoidance Response Following Social Conflict in the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster),” Adam Smith and Luanne Hale, pharmacology & toxicology

Carrie Spanton, Kansas City, Missouri, KU; “The Effects of Climate and Land Use on Methanotrophic Communities and Function,” Terry Loecke, environmental studies

Hannah Swan, Aurora, Ohio, Hamilton College; “Determination of the Attractive Components of D. sturtevanti Courtship Song,” Jennifer Gleason, ecology & evolutionary biology

Gyasi Talib, Lawrence, KU; “The Observation of Temperature and Heat Flux Variation of an Exterior Building Enclosure with Double Phase Change Materials,” Mario Medina and Xiaoqin Sun, civil, environmental & architectural engineering

Cay Thompson, Haskell Indian Nations University; “Winter Denitrification Potential in Response to Nitrogen Additions to the Kansas River,” Amy Burgin and Terry Loecke, ecology & evolutionary biology

Anna Trofimoff, Overland Park, KU; “Effect of Relative Humidity on Fiber Diameter and Morphology of Emulsion Electrospun Scaffolds,” Jennifer Robinson, chemical & petroleum engineering

Lindsay Ussher, London, KU; “Macroglobulin Complement-related Is Required for Border Cell Migration in Drosophila melanogaster,” Robert Ward, Department of Molecular Biosciences

Katherine Vander Laan, Shawnee, KU; “Investigation of the Interaction between Molecular Catalysts and Amorphous Silica Using DFT,” Marco Caricato and Amy Jystad, chemistry

Daniel Villarreal Acha, Salina, KU; “Phosphate Tether-Mediated Studies Towards the Synthesis of Leustroducsin B and Its Simplified Analogs,” Paul Hanson and Arghya Ganguly, chemistry

Saad Waseem, Marlton, New Jersey, West Virginia University; “Boron Removal from Produced Waters Through Chemical Coagulation,” Stephen Randtke and Orion Dollar, civil, environmental & architectural engineering

Griffin White, Spokane, Washington, The Evergreen State College; “Mating System Evolution of Azorean Tolpis succulenta (Asteraceae),” Mark Mort and Daniel Crawford, ecology & evolutionary biology

Olivia Whiting-Tovar, Kyle, South Dakota, Haskell Indian Nations University; “The Need for Speech Language Pathologists in Native Communities,” Matthew Gillispie and Joshua Allison-Burbank, speech-language-hearing.

Wed, 07/25/2018

author

Nicole Perry

Media Contacts

Nicole Perry

Center for Undergraduate Research

785-864-3391