2023 Spring Symposium Winners

Poster Sessions

Biological & Biochemical Sciences - Poster - 16 presentations

Winner-tie: Abigail Snyder, Sophomore, Biology, “Effect of Grainyhead-like-2 (GRHL2) Expression on Interferon Responses in Epithelial Mammary Cancer”, Mentor Dr. Steven Frisch, RAP

Winner-tie: Laiklyn Luther, Sophomore, Psychology, “Stress during puberty produces lasting epigenetic changes in the brain”, Mentor Dr. Kathleen Morrison

Environmental & Agricultural Sciences Poster - 17 presentations

Winner: Gianna Chimino, Junior, Animal and Nutritional Sciences, “Novel Bovine Oocyte-specific lncRNA is Associated with Oocyte Quality”, Mentor Dr. Jianbo Yao

Runner Up: Emily Dugan, Junior, Animal and Nutritional Sciences, “OOSNCR1, a novel oocyte specific long-non-coding RNA in cattle, is cytoplasmic and maternally derived”,  Mentor Dr. Jianbo Yao

Social & Behavioral Sciences - Poster - 36 presentations

Winner-tie: Adrianna Wood, Junior, Sport and Exercise Psychology, “How Corporations' Hiring Practices Create Additional Barriers for Neurodivergent Job Seekers”, Mentor Dr. Katie Kang

Winner-tie: Amina Boukhris, Senior, Psychology, “Effects of Initial Interaction on Preference and Reinforcing Efficacy of Attention”, Mentor Dr. Claire St. Peter

Runner-up: Laurel Allen, Sophomore, Psychology, “Effects of Parental Attachment on Student’s Mental Health During the Transition to College”, Mentor Dr. Sarah Miller

Health Sciences & Community Health - Poster - 34 presentations

Winner-tie: Bernardo Pacheco Pereira, Freshmen, Neuroscience, “Loss of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase results in exacerbated neurological deficits post-stroke”, Mentor Dr. Candice Brown, RAP

Winner-tie: Samantha Antol, Sophomore, Immunology and Medical Microbiology, “Suppression of periodontitis-induced bone erosion by haloanilide drug candidate ELP-004”, Mentor Dr. Jennifer Franko, RAP

Runner-up: Liza Wan, Sophomore, Biology, “Skeletal and Dental Response to Treatment of Class II Malocclusions with Carriere Motion Appliance”, Mentor Dr. Peter Ngan, RAP

Arts, Humanities & Design - Poster - 4 presentations

Winner: Autumn Fitzsimmons, Senior, English, “An Exploration of the Intersection of the East and West Analyzed in Fairy Tales”, Mentor Dr. Yilin Liao-Carlson, Honors EXCEL

Physical Sciences & Engineering - Poster - 23 presentations

Winner-Tie: Brayden Smith, Freshmen, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Computational Analysis of Premixed Methane Combustion in Microchannels: Influence of Inlet Velocity and Diameter”, Mentor Dr. Vyacheslav Akkerman, RAP

Winner-tie: Chelsea Pack, Junior, Biomedical Engineering, “Inertial Sensor Calibration Accuracy of Calculated Wrist Velocity and Position During Eye Drop Instillation”, Mentor Dr. Stephen Cain

Oral Sessions

Biological & Health Sciences - Oral - 8 presentations

Winner: Gracie Monachello, Sophomore, Neuroscience, “IRRAflow is superior to EVD in the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke and cerebral infection”, Mentor Dr. Nicholas Brandmeir, RAP

Humanities and Behavioral Science - Oral - 8 presentations

Winners: Jordyn Hussain, Senior, Forensic and Investigative Science, with Madison Stone, Samantha Caldrone, and Olivia Taitt “West Virginia University Unsolved Case Project” Mentor Dr. Tiffany Edwards

Physical Sciences, Engineering & Technology - Oral - 2 presentations

Notable: Evelyn Patterson, Senior, Chemistry and Biology, “Characterization of Superhydrophobic Polyamines/Teflon Coating on Metallic Substrates”, Mentor Dr. Tarek Farhat

Notable: Alexis Ravenscroft, Senior, Chemistry, “Synthesis and Catalysis of Difluoroboralactonate Salts”, Mentor Dr. Brian Popp, Honors EXCEL