Presentations
Click here to view Performing Arts & Oral Presentations
Click here to view Poster Presentations
2020 Fall Symposium Booklet
Click here to read the Spring Symposium booklet detailing all presentations
and event information.
About the 2020 Fall Symposium
The fall symposium is an opportunity for undergraduate students participating in
research programs at WVU (such as the
Research Apprenticeship Program, the
Beckman Scholars Program, and the
Honors EXCEL Program) to present their scholarly work and creative endeavors.
On November 14, the interactive component of the 2020 fall symposium begins with a
live multidisciplinary panel of WVU faculty researchers who will discuss their
own research related to the COVID-19 pandemic from 1-2pm. Then, undergraduate
student presenters will actively monitor their pre-recorded
poster
and
oral
presentations and respond to questions and comments from visitors in our "synchronous
commenting" session from 2-4:30pm. Students will continue to monitor their
presentations through November 20 to answer your questions.
We want to take this opportunity to thank our undergraduate presenters. This
year, we welcome presenters from not only the Research Apprenticeship Program,
but also the Honors EXCEL Program and the Beckman Scholars Program, to present
their research and creative efforts. These students’ willingness to present
and discuss their scholarly activities in virtual format is appreciated.
In addition, special thanks to our faculty research mentors. We know that involving
students with limited or no research experience takes additional effort, and for
this we are grateful for your willingness to foster student learning in this intimate
way. We highly value the mentorship you are providing to student researchers and
your promotion of a culture of strong undergraduate research at WVU.
Category Winners
The 2020 Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium was a success. In a year in
which we had to distance ourselves from each other to slow the spread of
the new coronavirus, the symposium was a virtual experience and students
uploaded their pre-recorded presentations to our website and engaged in “synchronous
commenting” with participants, using the YouTube virtual platform. A total
of 55 students, participating in research programs at WVU (
RAP
,
EXCEL
,
Beckman
), presented their research and creative endeavors in 6 different categories.
Congratulations to our winners and runner up!
-Cinthia Pacheco
Oral presentation – Human Engagement (4 presentations)
Winner: Kelsey Greene (Parkersburg, WV), major in English and sociology,
RAP participant
Mentor: Ellen Rodrigues
Research Title:
Queer Histories in Morgantown, West Virginia
Oral presentation – Science & Technology (10 presentations)
Winner: Kelcie Britton (Morgantown, WV), major in Immunology and Medical
Microbiology, 2020 Beckman scholar
Mentor: Daniel Panaccione
Research Title:
Functional and Genetic Analysis of Esterase Genes Involved in Synthesis of
Ergot Alkaloids
P
oster presentation – Biological Sciences (6 posters)
Winner: Christopher Hughes (Berkeley Springs, WV), major in Biology,
RAP participant
Mentor: Edward Brzostek
Research Title:
Measures Taken by Oak and Maple Trees to Mitigate Drought in Temperate
Forests
Poster presentation – Health Sciences (17 posters)
Winner:
Raafay Uqaily (Morgantown, WV), major in Biomedical Engineering, RAP
participant
Mentor: Naveena Yanamala
Research Title:
High-Risk Burden Predictors of One Year Mortality Following Transcatheter
Aortic Valve Implantation
Runner Up:
Autumn Rogers (Shady Spring, WV), major in Immunology and Medical Microbiology,
RAP participant
Mentor: Timothy Eubank & Duaa Dakhlallah
Research Title:
Analysis of Circulating microRNAs Targeting DNA Methyltransferases as a
Predictor for Treatment Outcome
Poster presentation – Behavioral & Social Sciences (8 posters)
Winner:
Sabrina Siegan (Troy, MI), major in Immunology and Medical Microbiology,
RAP participant
Mentor: Shari Steinman
Research Title:
Childhood Frequency of Church Attendance Effects on Adulthood Scrupulosity
Scores
Poster presentation – Physical Sciences & Engineering (10 posters)
Winner:
Melina McCabe (Wheeling, WV), major in Biomedical Engineering, RAP participant
Mentor: Jessica Allen
Research Title:
Differences in Stepping Characteristics During the TUG Test with Aging and
Neurodegenerative Disease
