2022 Spring Symposium Winners

Oral Presentations:

Physical, Biological Sciences & Engineering:

Winner: Jackie Arnold, Senior, Chemical Engineering, “Enzyme Immobilization within a Hyaluronic Acid Matrix for Biosensor Applications”, Mentor Dr. Cerasela Zoica Dinu, Beckman Scholars Program

Social & Health Sciences:

Winner: Victoria Nist, Freshman, Animal & Nutritional Sciences and Psychology, “The Expression of Melanocortin Receptors and Attractin in the Bovine Ovary”, Mentor Dr. Jianbo Yao, WVU’s Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)

Arts & Humanities:

Winner: Alexandra Bunn, Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies, “Telling Our Stories: Exploring Geographical and Cultural Connections through Virtual Maps”, Mentor Dr. Jason Lehosit, Capstone course within department

Performing Arts:

Winner: Maria Elena Maddy, Junior, BFA Musical Theatre & BA Dance, “Why Don’t You Smile More?”, Mentor Becca Hyde, Honors EXCEL Program
Co-Winner: Rebecca Hyde, Junior, BFA Musical Theatre & BA Dance, “Why Don’t You Smile More?”, Mentor Maria Elena Maddy, Honors EXCEL Program

Arts & Humanities:

Winner: William Turman, Sophomore, Economics, “Rank Choice Voting in Mayoral Elections: A Synthetic Control Analysis”, Mentor Dr. Bryan McCannon, WVU’s Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)

Biological & Biochemical Sciences:

Winner-tie: Karissa Gautier, Senior, Neuroscience, “Examining the Impact of Pubertal Stress and Adult Hormone Exposure on the PVN Transcriptome”, Mentor Dr. Kathleen Morrison, WVU’s SURE Program
Winner-tie: Ashlee Moyer, Sophomore, Biology with Neuroscience Emphasis, “How Visual Experience Affects Motor Behavior in Larval Zebrafish”, Mentor Dr. Kathleen Morrison, WVU’s Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)

Environmental & Agricultural Sciences:

Winner-tie: Abigail Paul, Senior, Chemical Engineering, “Extraction of Rare Earth Elements Using Biochar”, Mentor Dr. Shawn Grushecky, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Winner-tie: Kaylee Walty, Senior, Geology, “How the Pinnule Spacing of Crinoids Has Contributed to Their Ability to Survive”, Mentor Dr. James Lamsdell, Honors EXCEL Program

Health Sciences:

Winner: Kennedi Lewellyn, Sophomore, Biology, “Therapeutic Evaluation of recAP for Sepsis-Associated Pathology”, Mentor Dr. Candice Brown, WVU’s Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
Runner-Up: Briana Karem, Junior, Neuroscience, “Impact of Limited Resources During Pregnancy on Maternal Behavior”, Mentor Dr. Kathleen Morrison

Physical Sciences & Engineering:

Winner: Tyler Seidel, Junior, Computer Engineering, “Machine Learning Aided Data Analysis for Large Qualitative Data Sets”, Mentor Dr. Abhik R. Roy, National Science Foundation
1st Runner-Up: Kenny Zheng, Freshman, Chemistry, “Synthesis and Boracarboxylation of 3-Buten-1-Benzoate and an Indometacin Derived Compound”, Mentor Dr. Brian V. Popp, WVU’s Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP)
2nd Runner-Up: Olga Hawranick, Senior, Mathematics, “Patterns of River Sinuosity in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge”, Mentor Dr. Charles Shobe

Social & Behavioral Sciences:

Winner: Jessica Benevides, Senior, Psychology, “Identifying Parent Responses Possibly Maintaining Challenging Behavior of Children with Prenatal Opioid Exposure”, Mentor Dr. Claire St. Peter, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH)
1st Runner-Up: Adelaide McDonald, Senior, Anthropology & Economics, “The Effectiveness of Community Connect Grants on Internet Access in West Virginia”, Mentor Dr. Brad Humphreys
2nd Runner-Up: Amina Boukhris, Senior, Psychology & Biology, “Variations of Functional Analyses to Identify Escape as a Reinforcer”, Mentor Dr. Claire St. Peter