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!
CP
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
Poster 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
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
