Archived Student Conference Presentations
Mathematical Association of America Math Fest 2022
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 3–5, 2022
Presentation: “STEM Model-Eliciting Activities for Middle School Students”
Student: Jean Ciscell, Mathematics
Mentors: Dr. Diana Cheng and Dr. Kimberly Corum (Mathematics)
American Chemical Society Fall 2022 Meeting
Chicago, Illinois, August 21–25, 2022
Presentation: “Water Soluble Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications”
Student: Zara Freeland, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Bimetallic Superatom Bi-icosahedron Au25 Clusters: An Optical and Electrochemical
Study”
Student: Samantha Topka, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists
Anaheim, California, November 8–12, 2022
Presentation: “The Effects of TcpC on Grazing Resistance by the Social Amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Victoria Akingbehin, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Identification of Food Contaminants Using Innate Immune Toll-like Receptors
(TLRs)”
Student: Phoebe Calkins, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “NADase Function of TcpC May Induce Suppression of Innate Immune Response”
Student: Britney Erickson, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Evaluation of Dematin Expression in Wild-type and TLR4-/- Mice for
Application in Studies of Endotoxemia”
Student: Junela Cecille Hunat, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Generating a Library of LPS Modified Gram-Negative Bacteria”
Student: Michel Kane-Jackson, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Development of a Test for a Pathogen from the Middle East”
Student: Larissa Speaks, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
Mathematical Association of America - MathFest
Cincinnati, OH, August 2019
Presentation: “The Mathematics of Gerrymandering: Engaging and Authentic Tasks
with Civic Significance”
Student: Alexandra Wilhelm, Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Corum (Mathematics)
Sabermetrics, Scouting and the Science of Baseball
Boston, MA. August 2019
Presentation: “The Game of Fouls: Who Will Win in the Long Run?”
Student: Isabelle Pardew, Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Cornwell (Mathematics)
IEEE HONET-ICT 2019
Charlotte, NC. October 2019
Presentation: “Design and fabrication of dual-spotsize medical laser -handle prototype”
Student: Zachary Wiley, Physics
Mentor: Dr. Nicolas Kudsieh (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
2019 Physics Congress
Providence, RI. November 2019
Presentation: “Beyond the Black Hole Horizon with Mathematica”
Student: Max Copland, Physics
Presentation: “Railguns as a Teaching Demonstration in Introductory Electromagnetism”
Student: Carmen Cuestas, Physics
Presentation: “Testing Einstein with the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse”
Student: Kelsey Glazer, Physics
Presentation: “Soft X-Ray Solar Flare Spectrum Timeseries Reconstruction”
Student: Carson Goettlicher, Physics
Presentation: “Superhero Physics as a Teaching Tool in Introductory Physics”
Student: Jasmine Jackson, Physics
Presentation: “A Model for Intergalactic Dust and its Impact on the Extragalactic
Background Light”
Student: Maegan Jennings, Physics
Presentation: “Gravitational Lensing and a First Test of Exotic Topology”
Student: Greg Kuri, Physics
Presentation: “Classroom Simulation of Gravitational Waves from Orbiting Binaries”
Student: Jonathan Perry, Physics
Presentation: “Classroom Demonstration of the Speed of Light”
Student: Calin Reamy, Physics
Mentor: Dr. James Overduin (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics
Education
St. Louis, MO. November 2019
Presentation: “Composing the Composite Function: Examining Students' Meanings for
Function Composition”
Student: Rachael Talbert, Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Kristin Frank (Mathematics)
Maryland Water Monitoring Council Annual Conference
Linthicum Heights, MD. December 2019
Presentation: “Effect of Urban Sedimentation on Eastern Blacknose Dace Escape Performance”
Student: Olivia Saliger, Biology
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
2020 National Collegiate Research Conference
Cambridge, MA. January 2020
Presentation: “Effects of Blood Vessel Inhibition on Tissue Regeneration of Axolotl
Salamanders”
Student: Luke Bollinger, Biology
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Washington, DC. April 2018
Presentation: “Circles within Figure Skaters' Blade Tracings: Integrating Geometry
and Algebra”
Student: Rachael Talbert, Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Diana Cheng (Mathematics)
American Physical Society April Meeting 2017
Washington, DC. January 30, 2017
Presentation: “Constraints on extra dimensions within the framework of the Standard
Model Extension”
Student: Francis Walz, Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. James Overduin (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Presentation: “Quantum Tunneling and the Energy of the Vacuum”
Student: Zachary Steelman, Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. James Overduin (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Geological Society of America Northeastern Regional Meeting
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. March 19-21, 2017
Presentation: “Effects of Acid Mine Drainage on Aqueous Geochemistry of Big Mine Run
and Mahanoy Creek in East-Central Pennsylvania: A Downstream Evaluation”
Student: Kirk Marks, Environmental Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Presentation: “Geobiology of an Acid Mine Drainage Environment along a Stream Gradient,
Centralia, PA.”
Student: Evan O'Neal, Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Colonial Academic Alliance Conference (CAA)
Elon University, Elon, North Carolina
March 31 – April 1, 2017
Presentation: “Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles utilizing Red Azalea: An Antimicrobial
Study”
Student: Amanda Greene, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
UTeach Annual Conference
Austin, Texas. May 23, 2017
Presentation: “Prospective Teachers' Understanding and Implementation of Three-dimensional
Learning in a Science Class”
Student: Rosa Diaz and Madeleine Taylor
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
American Chemical Society Mid-atlantic Regional Meeting
Hershey, Pennsylvania. June 4-6, 2017
Presentation: “Conformation and stability of a bacterial regulatory mRNA”
Student: Zelle Ndika, Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry)
Regional Microbiology Educators 13th Annual Student Research Symposium. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. July 2017
Presentation: “Characterization of Escherichia coli yFat, a gene predicted to function in host-pathogen interactions”
Student: Jordon Lane, Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Mid-Atlantic Association of Science Teacher Education Conference, Prestonsburg, Kentucky. September 29–30, 2017
Presentation: “Development of prospective elementary teachers’ identities to teach
science”
Student: Alissa Buettner, Physics
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Presentation: “Prospective teachers’ science conceptual understanding and technology
self-efficacy: Affordances of an iPad-based physics curriculum”
Student: Matthew Conway, Physics
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Presentation: “Development of prospective science teachers’ confidence to teach NGSS-based
science lesson”
Student: Lynia Karoline DaDilva
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
National Science Teachers Association
Baltimore, Maryland. October 5-7, 2017
Presentation: “NGSS in Action: Towards a Shared Understanding for Science Teachers”
Student: Madeleine Taylor
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
Colonial Academic Alliance Conference (CAA)
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
April 15 – 17, 2016
Presentation: “Breaking the dormancy period of Oplismenus undulatifolius (Wavyleaf basketgrass)”
Student: Eva Lopez, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “3D Volumes of neighborhood complexes”
Student: David Smith, Department of Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Justin Hughes (Mathematics)
Presentation: “A Bayesian method for finding galaxies that cause quasar absorption
lines”
Student: Emileigh Shoemaker, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Scott (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “The design of a repository backed automated presumptive drug test evaluation”
Student: David Smith, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Subrata Acharya (Computer and Information Sciences)
Presentation: “Synthesis and characterization of cobalt nanostructures for electro-catalytic
applications”
Student: Sarah Talamantez-Lyburn, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
Conference on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill
Capital Hill, Washington, District of Columbia
April 22 – 23, 2015
Presentation: “The Social Amoeba and its Bacterial Prey: Evolution of the Immune System”
Student: Theresa White, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Colonial Academic Alliance Conference (CAA)
Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 27 – 29, 2015
Presentation: “Electronic cigarette analysis and testing: Instrumentation and method
development”
Student: Jonathan Jopse, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Redesigning presumptive drug testing through modern technology”
Student: Saurabh Khatiwada, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Mentors: Dr. Subrata Acharya (Computer & Information Sciences), Dr. Kelly Elkins
(Chemistry)
Presentation: “Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibition on
axolotl regeneration”
Student: Angela Ritenour, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Renée Dickie (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Nanoparticle size dependence of transition temperature of metamaterial
superconductor”
Student: Kathryn Zander, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
April 3 – 5, 2014
Presentation: “Magnetic Ferrofluids as Hyperbolic Metamaterials”
Student: David Lahneman, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Colonial Academic Alliance Conference (CAA)
Towson University, Towson, Maryland
April 12, 2014
Presentation: “Dimension of the Spaces of Smooth Bivariate Splines on Hexagonal Partitions”
Student: Larry Allen, Department of Mathematics
Mentor: Dr. Tatyana Sorokina (Mathematics)
Presentation: “Olfactory Signaling in an Insect Model: A Behavioral Study”
Student: Kimberly Huynh, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Investigation of Essential Amino Acids and Directed Evolution of Small
Protein CydX in Escherichia coli”
Student: Aqsa Jamil, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Reconfigurable Tunable Hyperbolic Metamaterial”
Student: David Lahneman, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Bees Are Not Optional: Surveying the Bees of Towson University”
Student: Cheyenne Owens, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. John Lopolla (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Effect of Flavonoids on Thioredoxin Reductase 1 and the 15KDA Selenoprotein
in Colon Cancer Cells”
Student: Lauren Rosso, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Structural and Electrical Properties of Electron-doped CaMnO3 Thin Films”
Student: Zoey Warecki, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Structural Studies of Dictyostelium discoideum Tir domain-containing proteins”
Student: Theresa White, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Analysis of Cullin 5 Expression in Breast Cancer”
Student: Sarah Wicks, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin
April 11 – 13, 2013
Presentation: “Bending Optical Space for Luneberg and Cloaking Applications”
Todd Adams, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York
March 31 – April 2 , 2011
Presentation: “Studies of the reactivity of Azaferrocene-Borane and synthesis of a
Bis(Azaferrocene) Boronium salt”
Student: BriAnne Bentivegna, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Synthesis and studies of Ru(II) complexes of chiral tetradentate amino-sulfoxide
ligands”
Student: Samantha E. Wood, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin
April 16 – 18, 2009
Presentation: “Rare Earth Manganite Thin Films for Room Temperature Bolometric Detector
Applications”
Student: Bao Ha, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “The Bondings of Tetracyano-Nickellate(II), -Palladate(II), and -Platinate(II)
Ions on Gold, Silver and Copper Nanoparticles Surfaces”
Student: Sudhir Dahal, Department of Chemistry
Mentors: Dr. Boon Loo and Dr. Nordulf Debeye (Chemistry)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland
April 10 – 12, 2008
Presentation: “Epitaxial Thin Film Growth of CMR Manganites on Silicon: The Effect
of Thermal Stress”
Student: Sanjay Adhikari, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Adverse Behavioral Effects of Chronically Elevated Glucocorticoids”
Student: Christopher Busch, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Jack Shepard (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Studies of The Interactions of
Inorganic Cyanide Ions on Gold, Silver and Copper Nanoparticles”
Student: Sudhir Dahal, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Boon Loo (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Investigations of 2-Mercaptoimidazole
and 2-Mercapto-1-Methyl-Imidazole Adsorbed on AU, AG & CU Metal Nanoparticles”
Student: Oluwarotimi Folorunso, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Boon Loo (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Photoinduced Effects in Manganese Oxides Thin Films”
Student: Khim Karki, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Has Evolution Occurred in Ragweed in Response to Urban Environments”
Student: Tiha Long, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics
Mentor: Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Chromatographic Evaluation of Model Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Crystal
Growth Modifiers”
Student: Randal Mazzarino, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Identification of The Mechanism for Chiral Modification of Calcite
Morphology by Aspartic Acid Enantiomers”
Student: Rachel Reese, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
Presentation: “Absorption Properties of Active Galactic Nuclei”
Student: Michael Richmond, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Scott (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Investigating the Microbial Diversity in the GI Tract of the Wood Eating
Catfish, Panaque Nigrolineatus”
Student: Damian Smoot, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Joy Watts (Biological Sciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
Dominican University of California, San Rafael, California
April 12 – 14, 2007
Presentation: “Sers of 2-Mercaptoimidazole and 2-Mercaptopyridine on Gold, Silver,
and Copper Nanoparticles”
Student: Bheemraj Ramoo, Department of Chemistry
Mentor: Dr. Boon Loo (Chemistry)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of North Carolina at Ashville
April 6 – 8, 2006
Presentation: “White Muscle Creatine Kinase Activity and Sprint Swimming Performance
in Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys Atratulus)”
Student: Angella Amato, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Context-Dependent Feeding Responses by Gypsy Moth Larvae, Lymantria Dispar (L.)”
Student: Nicole Arnold, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Comparison of Female Reproductive Cycles between Urban, Suburban, and
Rural Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys Atratulus) Populations”
Aaron Basler, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Photoresponse in CMR Manganite Thin Films”
Student: Anthony Davidson, Department of Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Comparative Study of Fruit Predation and Clonal Incidence between an
Invasive and Native Rubus”
Student: Megan Killian, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “The Development of an Integrated Modular Extensible Robotic Platform”
Julius Schlosberg, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
Presentation: “Exploration of Varying Phytochemical Concentrations on the Feeding
Behavior of Gypsy Moth Larvae, Lymantria Dispar (L.)”
Student: Kristin Smith, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Building a Neural Network CPU”
Student: Brian Whitman, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
March 13 – 15 2003
Presentation: “Biodiversity of Ommatine Flies of Viet Nam, Laos, and Thailand”
Student: Jessica Costantino, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Aubrey Scarbrough (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “The Effects of Hydrin 2 on TEP, Isc, and R in the Grass Frog (Rana pipiens)”
Student: Nikki Ford, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Gerald Robinson (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Habitat Selection by the Northern Dusky Salamander(Desmognathus fuscus) Over Multiple Spatial Scales”
Students: Megan Lahti, Department of Biological Sciences and Ms. Emily Lehman, Department
of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Don C. Forester (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Age-Dependent Predator Recognition by the Mountain Dusky Salamander(Desmognathus ochrophaeus): the Role of Substrate-Borne Chemical Cues”
Students: Megan Lahti, Department of Biological Sciences and Ms. Emily Lehman, Department
of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Don C. Forester (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Adaptive Manipulation of Offspring Sex in House Wrens”
Students: Robyn Milkie, Department of Biological Sciences and Mr. Brendan Gallagher,
Department of Biological Sciences
Mentors: Dr. Scott Johnson and Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Feeding Responses to Selected Phytochemicals by Larvae of the Gypsy
Moth, Lymantria dispar”
Student: Erin Rodgers, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, Wisconsin
April 25 – 27, 2002
Presentation: “What to Eat and What Not to Eat: Feeding Choice Tests with Gypsy Moth
Larvae Lymantria dispar”
Student: Brian Broomell, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Investigating Fungal Spore Properties with Atomic Force Microscopy”
Student: Michael Buck, Department of Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
Presentation: “The Role of Substrate-bourne Chemical Cues During Predator Avoidance
by the Pygmy Salamander, Desmognathus wrighti”
Student: Jeannette Dawson, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Differences in Anti-Predator Behavior Between Blacknose Dace from Urbanized
and Rural Watersheds”
Student: Kimberly Lohnas, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Photometric & Companion Analysis from Hubble Space Telescope Main Belt
Asteroid Survey”
Student: Khaldoun Makhoul, Department of Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. Alex Storrs (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Isolation and Characterization of Novel PM H+- ATPases Genes in Tomato”
Student: Keith Marin, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Post-Breeding Migration and Habitat Utilization by Female American
Toads: Quantifying Natural History to Promote Conservation”
Student: Katherine Marselek, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Multicellular Isolates as a Bioassay for Environmental Stress in Corals”
Student: Amie Moody, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Eric Scully (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Characterization of Spiroplasma Isolated From Poland Satin Moth Larvae”
Student: Marietta Oduori, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “The Nanomechanical Study of Silicon Using Atomic Force Microscopy and
X-ray Diffraction Techniques”
Student: Jeremy Robinson, Department of Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
Presentation: “Generation of Plasmids For Expression of the Plasmodium Yoelli CSP
Antigen In Mycobacterium”
Student: Michelle Weber, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Carol Berkower (Biological Sciences)
National Conference for Undergraduate Research
Missoula, MT
April 27 – 29, 2000
Presentation: “Age-dependent predator recognition by the mountain dusky salamander
(Desmognathus ochrophaeus): the importance of substrate-borne chemical cues”
Students: Nichole Castagna and Nicholas Evancho, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Donald Forester (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Classification and Characterization of the First Spiroplasma Isolated
from a Biting Midge (Forcipomyia glauca) Using Serological and Molecular Techniques”
Student: Adrienne Cottrel, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Spiroplasma Strains
5298 and 5398 Isolated from Biting Midges (Atrichopogon sp.)”
Students: Mark Danus and Rebecca Fishman, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Effects of various antibiotic concentrations on fiber degradation by
anaerobic zoosporic fung”
Students: Kameiko Foster and Kumo Lartevi, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Daniel Wubah (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Angiotensin II (ANG II) Induced Constriction of Rat Outer Medullary
Descending Vasa Recta (OMDVR) is Partially Thromboxane (TXA2) Receptor Dependent”
Student: Layla R Hilbun, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Erik Silldorff (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Biodiversity of Oriental Ommatune Flies with Special Reference to Sri
Lanka/ the Oriental Genus Pseudomerodontina (Diptera: Asilidae) with two new Species”
Student: Hilary Hil, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Aubrey Scarbrough (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Development of a Malaria Vaccine using Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis
BCG”
Students: Erin Kelleher and Connie Sexton, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Carol Berkower (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Dietary Preference of Panaque maccus”
Student: Mark Lichaa, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Digestive Physiology of Panaque maccus”
Student: Toba Niaz, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Jay nelson (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “Expression of Semaphorin III & Neuropilin 1 Following CNS Lesion”
Student: Jimmy Ninh, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Laurie Williams-Hogarth (Biological Sciences)
Presentation: “A Comparative Study of the Cutaneous Electrical Properties in Anuran
and Urodele Amphibians”
Student: Jason Ross, Department of Biological Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Gerald Robinson (Biological Sciences)