Spring 2021

Presentations

Click here to view Poster Presentations

Click here to view Oral Presentations

Click here to view Visual & Performing Arts Presentations

2021 Spring Symposium Booklet

Click here to read the Spring Symposium booklet detailing all presentations and event information.

Panel Discussion

A live panel discussion, "Innovative Research Initiatives in Response to Social Justice," took place from 1-2 p.m. This panel addressed how WVU researchers from different fields are responding to calls for social justice with innovative and creative ideas. Researchers from different fields discussed their efforts and experience in addressing topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Guest panelists included:

Megan Gandy, PhD., assistant professor in the School of Social Work at West Virginia University
Joel William Beeson, PhD. associate professor at the WVU Reed College of Media at West Virginia University
Lauri Andress, PhD., assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University
James Nolan, PhD. Chair and professor of sociology at West Virginia University

Letter from the Dean

Click here to read the letter from Honors Acting Dean, Dr. Damien Clement for the 2020 Undergraduate Spring Symposium.

Category Winners

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Behavioral & Social Sciences Category (13 presentations)

Winner: Tucker Miller presented: The COVID-19 Trade Collapse: How US Trade Changed Throughout the Pandemic . Mentored by Shuichiro Nishioka. Tucker, a mathematics major from Given, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Runner-Up: Maria Johnston presented: What Factors Influence Police Discretion for Cannabis-Related Offenses? Mentored by Jesse Wozniak. Maria, a forensic biology major from Waconia, MN, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Human Engagement (17 presentations)

Winner: Andrea Rupp presented: Outside, Yet Within: Representations of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Intersectionality in Mahasweta Devi’s “The Hunt”. Mentor: Rose Casey. Andrea is an English major from Aurora, WV.

Runner-Up : Megan McCullough presented: GPT-3 and its Impact on Ethics in the Practice of Law . Mentor: Amy Cyphert. Megan, a forensic chemistry major from Charleston, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Science & Technology (20 presentations)

Winner: Tristan D. Sanders presented: Influence of Light Emitting Diodes on Brassica oleracea Growth, Metabolites, and Antioxidant Capacity . Mentor: Nicole L Waterland. Tristan is a biochemistry major from Morgantown, WV.

Runner-Up : Claire Kelly presented: Regulation of Interleukin-6 by an Upstream Open Reading Frame. Mentor: Gordon Meares. Clarie is an immunology and medical microbiology major from Bructon Mills, WV.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS (4 presentations)

Winner: Taylor Walker presented: Enough . Mentor: Yoav Kaddar. Taylor is a dance major from Newark, DE.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (17 presentations)

Winner: Michael Fiala presented: Monitoring Revegetation with NDVI and Associated Soil Composition and Microbial Biomass and Activity . Mentor: Paul Kinder. Michael, an environmental microbiology major from Uniontown, PA, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Runner-Up: Maighan Bailey presented: Expression of OOSNCR1 and OOSNCR5 Within Bovine Tissue Cells . Mentor: Jianbo Yao. Maighan, an immunology and medical microbiology major from Parkersburg, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Behavioral & Social Sciences (20 presentations)

Winner: Katherine Lee presented: HSTA In College: Strengthening The Pipeline for Underrepresented Students in STEM and Health Sciences . Mentor: Gregory Epps. Katherine, an immunology and medical microbiology majors from Hagerstown, MD, participates in the Honors EXCEL program at WVU.

Runner-Up: Lauren Browning presented: Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Verbalizations during PCIT for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Mentor: Cheryl McNeil. Lauren, a psychology major from Ashburn, VA, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Biological & Biochemical Sciences Category (20 presentations)

Winner: Marleah Knights presented: Comparison of Peritrophic Matrix-Associated Gene Expression within Tsetse Species of Varying Vector Competence : Mentor: Rita Rio. Marleah, a biology major from Morgantown, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Runner-Up: Noah Spencer presented: Genome Sequencing Provides Insight Into Coevolution Between an Insect Vector and Its Microbial Partner . Mentor: Rita Rio. Noah is a biology major from Morgantown, WV.

Health Sciences Category (22 presentations)

Winner: Rachel Plants presented: E-Liquid Base Solution Used in Electronic Cigarettes Impairs Cerebrovascular Reactivity. Mentor: Mark Olfert. Rachel, an exercise physiology major from Charleston, WV, participates in the Honors EXCEL program at WVU.

Runner-Up: Mackenzie Barr presented: Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Upper-Limb Performance in Stroke Survivors . Mentor: Valeriya Gritsenko. Mackenzie, an exercise physiology major from New Haven, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU and is supported by First2 Network .

Runner-Up: Shay Babich presented: Chronic Stress Leads to Decreased Interest in Self-Care . Mentor: Paul Chantler. Shay, an exercise physiology major from Cumberland, MD, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Human Engagement Category (10 presentations)

Winner: Yaronn Arciaga presented: Dual Enrollment - Review of Literature Abstract. Mentor: Laura Pyzdrowski. Yaronn, a mathematics major from Hedgesville, WV, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Physical Sciences & Engineering Category (19 presentations)

Winner: Rebecca Erwin presented: Designing Advanced Membrane Materials for Produced Water Treatment . Mentor: Oishi Sanyal. Rebecca is a chemical engineering major from Wheeling, WV.

Runner-Up: Sarah Mosinski presented: Efficacy of Hyperspectral Imaging in Identifying Latent Trace Signatures . Mentor: Jacqueline Speir. Sarah, a forensic chemistry major from Mequon, WI, participates in the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at WVU.

Organizing Committee

Dr. Michelle Richards-Babb, Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
Dr. Cinthia Pacheco, Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
Paige Zalman, Program Coordinator, RAP and Office of Undergraduate Research
Kevin Walden, Program Coordinator, Office of Undergraduate Research

We want to take this opportunity to thank our undergraduate presenters. Their willingness to present and discuss their scholarly activities in virtual format is greatly appreciated.

In addition, thank you to our faculty mentors. Scholarly activities, such as research and creative endeavors, enrich the academic training of our students by establishing mentoring relationships and promoting intellectual independence and curiosity. Our students are indebted to the faculty who mentor them in research!

And finally, we would like extend a special thanks to all who have helped pull this event together: Adam Glenn, Sarah Gould, Cathy Orndorff, Jay Allen, Adam Johnson, Lisa Stender, Jason Kapcala, Colleen Good, Donna Sibray, Carinna Ferguson, Stephanie Augustine, and Kaley Vestal.