2020 E EMERGING RESEARCHERS R NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM N

FEBRUARY 6–8 WASHINGTON, D.C. SCIENCE NEEDS MORE MENTORS.

We need influencers like you. Join AAAS today.

Every important change begins with a reaction. We need educators like you to help us empower the next generation through STEM education for all. When you join AAAS, your membership helps us advocate for government funding of research, educate policymakers, and increase public awareness of the benefits of science. Get in on the reaction. Join AAAS today.

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Co-hosted by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs (DEI) and National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Human Resources Development (HRD) Directorate of Education and Human Resources

This material is based upon work supported by the Abstracts and synopses of material presented at this conference Naonal Science Foundaon Grant Nos. HRD-1036084, reflect the individual views of the authors and not necessarily HRD-1242666, and HRD-1930047. that of AAAS, its Council, Board of Directors, Officers, or the views of the instuons with which the authors are affiliated. ©AAAS 2020 Presentaon of ideas, products, or publicaons at AAAS’ meengs or the reporng of them in news accounts does not ISBN 978-0-87168-778-4 constute endorsement by AAAS.

Program Book Editors: Iris R. Wagstaff, AAAS Bey Calinger, AAAS

Program Book Cover Design: Office of Membership, AAAS

Program Book Design: Donna Behar, AAAS

Overview of the Conference ...... 6

About ...... 7-8

Naonal Science Foundaon (NSF) ...... 7

American Associaon for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) ...... 8

New Collaboraons ...... 9

Welcome ...... 10-11

Karen Marrongelle, NSF ...... 10

Shirley M. Malcom, Iris R. Wagstaff, and Neela White, AAAS ...... 11

Conference Staff ...... 12

Conference Agenda ...... 13-19

Hotel Floor Plans (Exhibion and Lobby Levels) ...... 20

Biographies (Plenary Session Speakers) ...... 21-28

Judges ...... 29

Hotel Floor Plans (Mezzanine Level) ...... 30

Exhibitor Lisng ...... 31

Exhibitor Descripons ...... 32-46

Abstracts (presentaon winners post-conference) ...... 47-93

Abstract Index ...... 94-96

 Naonal Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) Scholars;  Research in Disabilies Educaon (RDE); and  Tribal Colleges and Universies Program (TCUP).

The 2020 Emerging Researchers Naonal (ERN) Conference in The objecves of the conference are to help undergraduate and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemacs (STEM) is graduate students to enhance their science communicaon hosted by the American Associaon for the Advancement of skills and to beer understand how to prepare for science Science (AAAS), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Programs careers in a global workforce. Towards this end, the general and the Naonal Science Foundaon (NSF) Division of Human

format for the 2-1/2 day conference includes:

Resource Development (HRD), within the Directorate for Educaon and Human Resources (EHR). The conference is aimed  Student poster and oral presentaons. at college and university undergraduate and graduate students who parcipate in programs funded by the NSF HRD Unit, Other conference acvies include workshops focused on: including underrepresented minories and persons with  Strategies for applying for and succeeding in graduate disabilies. programs and finding funding for graduate school;

 Career preparaon for the STEM workforce, including In parcular, the conference seeks to highlight the research of employment searches and retenon; and undergraduate and graduate students who parcipate in the  Understanding STEM careers in a global context and NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) Program idenfying internaonal research and educaon and the following NSF HRD-funded programs: opportunies for undergraduate and graduate students and  Alliance for Graduate Educaon and the Professoriate faculty. (AGEP);  Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology Exhibitors include representaves from academic, government, (CREST); business, and the non-profit sector with informaon about  Emerging Froners in Research and Innovaon (EFRI-REM) graduate school admissions, fellowships, summer research Scholars; opportunies, professional development acvies, and  EntryPoint; employment opportunies.  Historically Black Colleges and Universies Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP); For more informaon, visit the website at hp://www.emerging -researchers.org/.  Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Parcipaon (LSAMP) and LSAMP Bridges to the Doctorate;

`

6 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

HRD M:

HRD's mission is to grow the innovave and compeve U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathemacs (STEM) workforce that is vital for sustaining and advancing the Naon's prosperity by supporng the broader parcipaon and success The Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) serves as of individuals currently underrepresented in STEM and the a focal point for NSF's agency-wide commitment to enhancing instuons that serve them. the quality and excellence of STEM educaon and research through broadening parcipaon by historically under- represented groups - minories, women, and persons with disabilies. Priority is placed on investments that promise innovaon and transformave strategies and that focus on creang and tesng models that ensure the full parcipaon of and provide opportunies for the educators, researchers, and instuons dedicated to serving these populaons. Programs within HRD have a strong focus on partnerships and collaboraons in order to maximize the preparaon of a well- trained scienfic and instruconal workforce for the new millennium.

HRD V:

HRD envisions a well-prepared and compeve U.S. workforce of sciensts, technologists, engineers, mathemacians, and educators that reflects the diversity of the U.S. populaon.

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 7

AAAS Mission

AAAS seeks to “advance science, engineering, and innovaon

throughout the world for the benefit of all people.” To fulfill this The American Associaon for the Advancement of Science is an mission, the AAAS Board has set these broad goals: internaonal non-profit organizaon dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader,  Enhance communicaon among sciensts, engineers, and spokesperson, and professional associaon. In addion to the public; organizing membership acvies, AAAS publishes the journal  Promote and defend the integrity of science and its use; Science, hp://www.sciencemag.org/, and the Science family of journals, as well as many scienfic newsleers, books and  Strengthen support for the science and technology reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of enterprise; understanding for science worldwide.  Provide a voice for science on societal issues;

 Promote the responsible use of science in public policy; AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes some 264 affiliated sociees and academies of science, serving 10 million  Strengthen and diversify the science and technology individuals. Science has the largest paid circulaon of any peer- workforce; reviewed general science journal in the world, with an  Foster educaon in science and technology for everyone; esmated total readership of one million. The non-profit AAAS is  Increase public engagement with science and technology; open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve and society” through iniaves in science policy; internaonal programs; science educaon and more. For the latest research  Advance internaonal cooperaon in science. news, log onto EurekAlert!, hp://www.eurekalert.org/, the premier science-news website, a service of AAAS. Visit the AAAS website at hps://www.aaas.org/

Membership and Programs

Open to all, AAAS membership includes a subscripon to Science. AAAS fulfills its mission to advance science and serve society through iniaves in science policy, diplomacy, educaon, career support, public engagement with science, and more.

8 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Students in STEM with Disabilities Working Group

This year we are partnering and collaborang with professional This year we are also partnering and collaborang with STEM sociees from around the country and across disciplines students, faculty, and program directors from around the to convene our inaugural Professional STEM Sociees Working country to convene our inaugural Students in STEM with Group at the 2020 ERN Conference. The goals and objecves of Disabilies Working Group. The goals and objecves of this the Working Group are: Working Group is to work in collaboraon to discuss new areas of research, share best pracces, and create new resources to 1) Introduce AAAS, the ERN Conference, and the Preparing support, encourage, and engage students who are “differently abled”. Diverse Researchers to Address Global Challenges Iniave to your organizaons; 2) Introduce the organizaons to the ERN community; 3) Share resources, best pracces and strategies to support undergraduate and graduate STEM majors in their educaonal and career goals in academia, industry, and government; 4) Idenfy gaps and levers for change in the support and preparaon of a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce; and 5) Idenfy common challenges and barriers across disciplines.

Professional Sociees and Associaons parcipang this year include:  American Associaon for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)  American Chemical Society (ACS)  American Instute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)  American Instute of Physics (AIP)  American Society for Microbiology (ASM)  American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeucs (ASPET)  AnitaB.org  Associaon of Women in Forensic Science (AWIFS)  Associaon of Women in Science (AWIS)  BlackcomputeHER  Coalion of Hispanic, African and Nave Americans for the Next Generaon of Engineers and Sciences (CHANGES)  Mexican American Engineering Society (MAES)  Naonal Associaon of Mathemacs (NAM)  Naonal Acon Council for Minories in Engineering (NACME)  Naonal Organizaon for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)  Naonal Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)  Naonal Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) DC Chapter  Naonal Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)  Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Nave Americans in Science (SACNAS)  Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 9

10 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Dear ERN Conference Participants:

Welcome to the 2020 Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). This year we are celebrating 10 years of the ERN conference hosted by AAAS, the publisher of the Science family of journals, and supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). We welcome this col- laboration with NSF and applaud the Foundation’s continuing commitment to develop STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society and to support strategies to reach underserved populations nationwide.

The theme of this year’s conference is Preparing Diverse Researchers to Address Global Challenges as we reflect on the impact of the ERN Conference over the last nine years and look forward to the future.

This year we have more than 1,300 participants from more than 260 institutions. Nearly 70% of the conference participants are undergraduate and graduate student researchers who are supported by the NSF Human Resources Development (HRD) Programs; Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU); the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Program; and other federal programs.

Plenary sessions will include two panels. One highlights selected ERN alumni who have excelled in the STEM world and the other highlights STEM professionals who are leveraging STEM to address social justice issues.

Our two keynote plenary speakers Crystal Emery (Founder and CEO, URU The Right To Be Inc and AAAS IF/ THEN Ambassador) and John Urschel (PhD Candidate, Department of Mathematics, MIT) will discuss their STEM research and education, career paths and outreach activities.

This year we are convening two inaugural Working Groups. The Professional STEM Societies Working Group will engage societies and associations across STEM fields in collaboration to share and leverage best practices to sup- port student degree completion, workforce readiness, and early career professionals. The Students in STEM with Disabilities Working Group will engage students, faculty, and program directors from across the country to share best practices, identify new areas for research and create new resources to support students with disabilities.

This is the third year that ERN has included the HBCU Making & Innovation Showcase to encourage and support increased participation in STEM-related innovation and entrepreneurship activities by students at HBCUs. Student teams from HBCUs will share innovative prototypes that address one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Devel- opment Goals and present their work during the ERN conference to a team of inventors.

We also have several new workshops and sessions focused on data science, entrepreneurship, mentoring, fellow- ship, postdoctoral and training opportunities, federal science agency opportunities, international student research experiences. and faculty-focused sessions.

Finally, as part of our 10th year celebration of the ERN Conference, we will preview reflection videos and memoirs over the last nine years from past participants that include students, faculty, and staff who will share their perspec- tives on the impact and benefit the ERN Conference has provided in cultivating the next generation of diverse STEM talent to address global challenges.

We appreciate the continued support and efforts of exhibitors from academia, industry and the federal government, many of whom are NSF grantees.

We are most appreciative of the STEM professionals who serve as role models and mentors and help with the judging of student oral and poster presentations, including alumni of the David and Lucille Packard HBCU Gradu- ate Scholars Program, L’Oréal USA For Women in Science (FWIS) post-doctoral fellowship program, the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows, and the SACNAS Summer Leadership Institute.

We encourage all students to make new contacts, build scientific communications skills,and attend the workshops to build knowledge about graduate school and careers.

As a professional society, AAAS is working to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people. We encourage all participants to visit aaas.org to find out about our grants and awards, professional development opportunities, and our Force for Science effort. It is our hope that you will expand your STEM workforce knowledge at this Conference. Sincerely,

Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, and Director of SEA Change, AAAS Iris R. Wagstaff, ERN Conference Lead and NSF PI, STEM Program Director, AAAS Neela White, Project Director, AAAS

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 11

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Office of Meengs and Special Events Office of Membership Office of Public Programs

STEM Educaon Research Programs Karen Marrongelle, Assistant Director EHR Sylvia M. James, Deputy Assistant Director EHR Diana Elder, Division Director HRD Chrissy Rey Jermelina Tupas, Deputy Division Director HRD Dawn Smith

Erika Camacho, ADVANCE, HSI Michael Colella Jody Chase, TCUP Shane Colella Michelle Claville, HBCU-UP, LSAMP Jessie DeAro, ADVANCE, ECR Earnesne Easter, HBCU-UP, ECR Anissa Buckner, University of Arkansas, Pine A. James Hicks, LSAMP Martha James, INCLUDES, LSAMP Bluff Carol Davis, Tribal Naons Research Group Mark H. Leddy, ECR, AGEP Lisa B. Elliot, Naonal Technical Instute for Robert Mayes, EASE, HSI Nafeesa Owens, EASE the Deaf at Rochester Instute of Technol ogy Claudia Rankins, HBCU-UP, CAREER Chrisne Grant, North Carolina State Sandra Romano, AGEP, LSAMP Victor Sanago, CREST, HBCU-UP University Regina Sievert, TCUP, CREST Sharon Kennedy, Colgate Palmolive Marilyn J. Suiter, TCUP, HBCU-UP Kelly M. Mack, AAC&U Emanuel Waddell, CREST, HBCU-UP Camille A. McKayle, University of the Virgin Islands Omar Alberto Movil-Cabrera, Polytechnic Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, and Director of SEA University of Puerto Rico Change Willie Rockward, Morgan State University, Janaya Thompson, Director, Interim Director, DEI NSBP Iris R. Wagstaff, Program Director Delia Rosales-Valles, New Mexico State Neela White, Project Director University Carmen K. Sidbury, The Sidbury Group, LLC Gregory Triple, Virginia Commonwealth University Donna Behar Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, LSU Bey Calinger Jennifer Carinci Tarrick Clayton Marty Clock Johnathan Lambright, Savannah State University Allison Gonzalez Laureen Summers Janaya Thompson Patrick Dean, Savannah State University

12 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Moderator: Kelly Mack, VP, Undergraduate STEM Educaon, Associaon of 3:00pm - 9:00pm Conference Registraon Check-in American Colleges and Universies Opens and Execuve Director, Project Convenon Registraon and Lobby Kaleidoscope

1:00pm - 7:00pm Exhibitor Setup Panelists: Exhibit Hall A Wesley Cuadrado- Casllo, PhD Candidate, University 4:00pm - 5:00pm Student Resume Prep Workshop of Florida (mandatory for early arrivals) Washington Rooms 1 and 2 Monica Golgi, PhD Candidate, University of Illinois at Urbana- 5:15pm - 5:45pm Student Orientaon Champaign (mandatory for early arrivals) Washington Room 3 Jonathan Jones, Engineer, Corteva Agriscience 4:30pm - 5:45pm Judges’ Orientaon Maryland A&B Alexandria Stewart, Undergrad- uate, University of Texas at San 5:00pm - 6:00pm ADA Resource Room Opens Antonio Maryland A&B Safira Suon, PhD Candidate, 5:00pm - 5:45pm HBCU Making & Innovaon University of Georgia, Athens Showcase Orientaon Session Virginia A ERN Agenda Review and Announcements: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Opening Plenary Session 1 and Iris R. Wagstaff, ERN Conference Dinner Lead & NSF PI, STEM Program Marrio Ballroom Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), AAAS Moderator: Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, 8:00pm - 10:00pm Exhibit Hall Opens - Session 1 and Director of SEA Change, AAAS Exhibit Hall A

NSF Welcome Remarks: Sylvia James, Deputy Assistant Director, Directorate for Educaon and Human Resources (EHR), NSF

AAAS Welcome Remarks: 7:00am - 6:30pm Registraon Check-in Sudip Parikh, CEO and Execuve Convenon Registraon and Lobby Publisher, Science Magazine, American Associaon for the Judges’ Room and ADA Resource Advancement of Science (AAAS) Room Opens Maryland A&B Neela White, AAAS Project Director, HBCU Making & Innovaon 7:00am - 7:45am Oral Presentaons Session 1 Showcase (Setup) (See handout for room ERN Alumni Panel and Q&A assignments.)

Panel Introducon: Poster Presentaons Session 1 Claudia Rankins, Program Director, (Setup) NSF, EHR Exhibit Hall A

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 13

8:00am - 9:45am Networking Breakfast and Plenary These Include: Session 2 Biological Sciences (Graduate Marrio Ballroom Students) Virginia B

Panel on STEM for Social Jusce Biological Sciences (Undergraduate AAAS Welcome Remarks: Students) Maureen Kearney, Chief Program Harding

Officer, AAAS Chemistry & Chemical Sciences Moderator: (Graduate Students)

Camille McKayle, Provost and Vice Coolidge

President for Academic Affairs, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Ecology, Environmental, & Earth Thomas and St. Croix Sciences (Undergraduate Students) Hoover Panelists: Davina Durgana, AAAS IF/THEN Mathemacs & Stascs Ambassador & Adjunct Instructor (Undergraduate Students)

School of Internaonal Service, Tyler

American University Nanoscience (Graduate Students) Huda Elasaad, AAAS Lemelson Invenon McKinley Ambassador & CTO of PV Pure Social, Behavioral, & Economic Sacoby Wilson, Associate Professor, Sciences and Science/Math Educaon Maryland Instute for Applied (Undergraduate Students) Environmental Health and Department Park Tower 8216 of Epidemiology and Biostascs, School of Public Health, University of Technology & Engineering (Graduate Maryland- College Park Students) Marrio Balcony B Q&A Technology & Engineering Announcements: (Undergraduate Students) Iris R. Wagstaff, ERN Conference Lead & Marrio Balcony A NSF PI, STEM Program Director, Diversi ty, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), 10:00am - 12:00pm Concurrent Workshops - Session 1

AAAS A. Professional STEM Sociees Showcase 9:45am - 10:00am Break Washington Room 1

10:00am - 12:00pm Book Signing with John Urschel B. Funding Your STEM Educaon: For Washington Room 3 Undergraduate & Graduate Students Maryland C 10:00am - 11:00am HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase The Power of Teams: From Invenon Bernard Batson, Director, Diversity to Entrepreneurship Programs, University of South Florida (Maker Showcase Students & Faculty only) Sara Hernandez, Associate Dean for Wilson A,B,C Inclusion & Student Engagement, Cornell University 10:00am - 12:15pm Poster Presentaons Session 1 Exhibit Hall A Yolanda Trevino, Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Oral Presentaons Session 1 Culcultural Affairs, Indiana University (See handout for room assignments)

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C. Student Mentorship Training Nehemiah Mabry, President & Through the Naonal Research Founder, STEMedia

Mentoring Network (NRMN) Virginia A Jusn Shaifer, Execuve Director, Fascinate Inc. Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Regents Professor and Vice President and 11:00am - 12:00pm HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Founding Director, Texas Center for Career Pathways Health Disparies, NRMN (Maker Showcase Students and Faculty only) Damaris Javier, Associate Director, Wilson A,B,C NRMN, University of North Texas Science Center 12:15pm - 1:30pm Plenary Session 3 and Lunch Marrio Ballroom D. Advancing Internaonal Research Experiences for Students Moderator: Truman Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, and Director of SEA Change, AAAS Moderator: Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, Assistant Dean for Diversity & Speaker: Crystal Emery, Founder & ` Inclusion, LSU CEO, URU The Right To Be, Inc. and AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador

Jessica Black, Director, Center for Q&A

Indigenous Health, Culture & Announcements: Environment, Heritage University Iris R. Wagstaff, ERN Conference Lead

and NSF PI, STEM Program Director, Patrick Mensa, Professor, Mechanical Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Engineering, Southern University AAAS

Leyte Winfield, Associate Professor, 1:45pm - 3:30pm HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Chemistry, Spelman College Wilson A,B,C

David Spivak, Associate Professor, A. The Ins and Outs of Technology Chemistry, LSU Transfer (Open to all ERN and Maker

Faculty) E. Fellowships/Postdoc/Training Washington 2 Opportunies Panel

Virginia C B. Understanding the Business of

Entrepreneurship (Open to all ERN Naonal Instute of Jusce (NIJ) STEM and Maker Students) Doctoral Fellowships GEM Fellowships Washington Room 3

Department of Energy (DOE) Naonal Instute of Standards and Technology 1:30pm - 4:00pm Exhibit Hall Opens - Session 2 (NIST) Exhibit Hall A

F. Data Science Townhall 1:45pm - 4:00pm Poster Presentaons Session 2 (Setup) Park Tower Suite 8212 Exhibit Hall A

Renata Rawlings-Goss, Execuve Oral Presentaons Session 2 (Setup) Director, South Big Data Innovaon Hub (See handout for room assignments.)

Frances Carter-Johnson, Educaon 4:00pm - 6:00pm HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Data Scienst, NSF Protecng Your Intellectual Property (Maker Showcase Students Only) G. Entrepreneurship in STEM Wilson A,B,C Park Tower Suite 8209

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 15

4:00pm - 6:00pm Professional STEM Sociees Showcase Iliana Estevez, Associaon of Washington Room 1 American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

4:00pm - 6:30pm Poster Presentaons Session 2 C. Why the Science World Needs Exhibit Hall A Strong Leaders Washington Room 3 Oral Presentaons Session 2 (See handout for room assignments.) Crystal Emery, Founder & CEO, URU The Right To Be, Inc and These Include: AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador Biological Sciences (Graduate Students) 4:00pm - 6:30pm D. EFRI/ERC REM Workshop Virginia B (Invitaon Only) Virginia A Biological Sciences (Undergraduate Students) 4:00pm - 4:15 pm Welcome: Dawn Tilbury, Assistant Harding Director, Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Chemistry & Chemical Sciences (Undergraduate Students) 4:15pm - 5:00pm Speaker and Q&A: Coolidge Ucheonye Maple, STEM Career Ecology, Environmental, & Earth Development Coach and Founder of Sciences (Graduate Students) Aghaeze-Maple Enterprises, LLC; Hoover Senior Engineering Manager, John Hopkins University Applied Physics Nanoscience (Graduate Students) Laboratory McKinley 5:00pm - 5:30 pm Mentee Session 1: Networking Tricks Physics (Undergraduate and Graduate Virginia A

Students) Tyler Facilitators: Tammy Wilbert, AAAS Science & Technology & Engineering (Graduate Technology Policy Fellow Students) Marrio Balcony B Garie Fordyce, Program Manager, EFMA, NSF Technology & Engineering Undergraduate Students) 5:30pm - 6:30pm Mentee Session 2: Career Panel Marrio Balcony A Virginia A

4:00pm - 6:00pm Concurrent Workshops Session 2 Moderator: Tammy Wilbert, AAAS Science &Technology Policy Fellow

A. Job Search and Applicaon Panelists: Strategies Asha Balakrishnan, 2019-2020 ASME Washington Room 2 Congressional Science & Engineering Fellow, U.S. House of Representaves Irene Hulede, Manager, Student Commiee on Science, Space and Programs, American Society for Technology Microbiology (ASM) Richard Ezike, Senior Policy Associate, Beronda Montgomery, Professor of The Urban Instute Biochemistry, Michigan State University Ashley Huderson, Senior Manager of Engineering Educaon and Outreach, B. Roadmap to Becoming a Doctor The American Society of Mechanical Maryland C Engineers (ASME)

16 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Rochelle Jones, Associate Professor, These include: Systems Engineering and Operaons Biological Sciences (Undergraduate Research, George Mason University's Students) Volgenau School of Engineering Harding

Chemistry & Chemical Sciences Juanita Koilpillai, Founder & CEO, (Undergraduate Students) Waverley Labs Park Tower 8219

Alias Smith, Associate Program Computer Sciences & Informaon Director, Division of Molecular and Mgt. (Undergraduate Students) Cellular Biosciences (MCB), Directorate Hoover

for Biological Sciences (BIO), NSF Ecology, Environmental, & Earth Sciences (Graduate Students) 4:15pm - 6:15pm E. Mentor Session 1: SWOT Analysis Park Tower 8212

Virginia C

Nanoscience (Graduate Students) Facilitators: Coolidge

Chrisne Grant, Associate Dean of Technology & Engineering (Graduate Faculty Advancement, College of Students) Engineering, North Carolina State Park Tower 8216 University

Technology & Engineering Andrew Greenberg, Disnguished (Undergraduate Students) Faculty Associate, College of Marrio Balcony A Engineering, University of Wisconsin- Madison 8:00am - 9:30am HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Setup (Invitaon Only) 6:30pm Dinner on Your Own Washington Room 3

9:30am - 11:00am HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Washington Room 3

8:30am - 10:30am Concurrent Workshop - Session 3

7:00 am Breakfast on Your Own A. Funding Your STEM Educaon: For 7:00am - 2:00pm Registraon Check-in Undergraduate & Graduate Students Convenon Registraon and Lobby Marrio Balcony B

7:30am - 5:30pm Judges’ Room Open Bernard Batson, Director, Diversity Maryland A&B Programs, University of South Florida

Sara Hernandez, Associate Dean for 7:30am - 8:00am Poster Presentaons Sessions 3 and 4 Inclusion & Student Engagement, (Setup) Cornell University Exhibit Hall A

Yolanda Trevino, Assistant Vice Oral Presentaons Sessions 3 and 4 President for Diversity, Equity, & (Setup) Mulcultural Affairs, Indiana University (See handout for room assignments.) B. Biomedical Sciensts (PhD) & 9:00am - 11:00am ADA Resource Room Open Physician Sciensts (MD-PhD) Maryland A&B Training Programs: Preparing and Applying 8:00am - 10:30am Poster Presentaons Session 3 Virginia B

Exhibit Hall A Associaon of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Oral Presentaons Session 3

(See handout for room assignments.)

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 17

Victoria H. Freedman, Associate Dean 10:30am - 12:30pm Graduate Research Fellowship for Graduate Programs in Biomedical Program (GRFP) Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Delaware Medicine

Jong-on Hahm, Program Director, Nancy Schwartz, Dean and Director of DGE, NSF Postgraduate Studies, University of Chicago Christopher Leigh Hill, Program

Director, DGE, NSF Nancy Street, Associate Dean and Diversity Inclusion Officer, UT 10:45am - 11:45am Science Communicaons Workshop Southwestern Medical Center Marrio Balcony A

Sandra K. Lemmon, PhD, Professor, Chloe Poston, Director of Strategic Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Iniaves, Office of Instuonal Equity Director, Medical Scienst Training and Diversity, Brown University Program (MSTP), University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine 10:45am - 12:45pm Federal Science Agency Opportunies Marrio Balcony B C. AAAS Professional Development Department of Energy (DOE) Opportunies

Delaware Department of the Navy – HBCU/ STEM Division

9:00am - 10:00am D. STEM Media and Public Speaking US Patent & Trademark Office Park Tower Suite 8206 (USPTO)

Trina Coleman, Beyond the Classroom 1:00am - 12:30pm Poster Presentaons Session 4 Radio Show Exhibit Hall A

Neil Thompson, Teach the Geek to Oral Presentaons Session 4 Speak (See handout for room assignments.)

9:00am - 10:30am E. Faculty Mentorship Resources and These include: Training via the Naonal Research Biological Sciences (Undergraduate Mentoring Network (NRMN) Students) Virginia C Park Tower 8212 Jamboor K. Vishwanatha, Regents Professor and Vice President Founding Computer Sciences & Informaon Director, Texas Center for Health Management Disparies, NRMN (Graduate Students) Virginia B Damaris Javier, Associate Director, NRMN, University of North Texas Chemistry & Chemical Sciences Science Center (Graduate Students) Coolidge 9:00am - 12:30pm Exhibit Hall Opens - Session 3 Exhibit Hall A Mathemacs & Stascs (Graduate Students) 9:00am - 3:00pm Professional STEM Sociees Working Park Tower 8219 Group (Invitaon Only) Virginia A Nanoscience (Undergraduate Students) 9:00am - 3:00pm Students in STEM with Disabilies Harding Working Group (Invitaon Only)

Marrio Ballroom

18 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Social, Behavioral, & Economic Presentaon of EFRI-REM Poster

Sciences and Science/Math Educaon Awards:

(Graduate Students)

Park Tower 8228 Sohi Rastegar, Director of EFMA/EFRI, NSF

12:30pm Exhibits Close

Exhibit Hall A Presentaon of the HBCU Making & Innovaon Showcase Awards: 12:30pm Lunch On Your Own Neela White, Project Director, AAAS 12:30pm - 3:30pm Judges Meeng and Lunch (Determining Awardees) 10-Year ERN Conference Celebraon Maryland A&B Reflecons

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm EFRI-REM Poster Session and Awards Presentaon of Oral and Poster (Offsite Locaon: Naonal Zoological Awards: Park’s Conservaon Pavilion) Jonathan Lambright, Professor, Dean 2:30pm - 4:00pm ERN Advisory Board Meeng of College of Sciences and Technology, Maryland C Savannah State University

2:00pm - 5:30pm Free Time for Tours or Special Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, Meengs and Director of SEA Change, AAAS

6:00pm - 9:00pm Plenary Session 4 and Awards Claudia Rankins, Program Director, Banquet HRD, NSF Marrio Ballroom Presentaon of Conference (Doors open at 5:45pm) Incenves: AAAS ERN Conference Staff Moderator: Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, Closing Remarks: and Director of SEA Change, AAAS Iris R. Wagstaff, ERN Conference Lead and NSF PI, STEM Program Director, Speaker and Q&A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), AAAS John Urschel, PhD Candidate, Department of Mathemacs, MIT and 9:30pm - 12:00am Networking and Karaoke Author, Mind and Maer: A Life in Math and Football

Recognion of David and Lucille Packard HBCU Scholars:

James Sth, Vice President Emeritus, American Instute of Physics (AIP)

Recognion of the AAAS Policy Fellows, SACNAS Leadership Instute Alumni, and the L’Oreal USA for Women in Science (FWIS) Fellows:

Shirley M. Malcom, Senior Advisor, and Director of SEA Change, AAAS

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 19

20 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

- human trafficking. Durgana has also recently been announced as an inaugural IF/Then Ambassador working to encourage women to pursue STEM fields with the American Associaon for Wesley Cuadrado-Casllo, finished his the Advancement of Science. bachelors in Mechanical Engineering at University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Durgana is Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development at (UPRM) in December 2011. On January SIT Graduate Instute in D.C. where she served as Lead Faculty 2012, Wesley started his master’s of sci- on the Inclusive and Human Security Graduate Cerficate pro- ence in Mechanical Engineering with a gram with the Instute for Inclusive Security. Durgana was se- focus in Materials Science and Engineering. Wesley’s master’s lected as a Google Fellow for Technology and Social Change for studies and research was sponsored by the Center for Educaon her work in Human Trafficking and Technology. and Training in Agriculture and Related Sciences (CETARS), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded pro- She was also awarded with the Trafficking in America Task Force gram at the UPRM. Award for Service for her contribuons to the An-Trafficking Field in the United States and was named as a Disrupon His master’s thesis research topic was on sintered tanium diox- Awards Foundaon Fellow for 2018. She serves on several ex- ide (TiO2) / recycled glass composites designed for potenal pert groups for the United Naons, the Department of Jusce, degradaon of waterborne pollutants. In 2013, Wesley had the and the Naonal Science Foundaon. opportunity to parcipate at the Emerging Researchers Naonal (ERN) Conference where he presented his research poster tled: In 2015 she received the University Award for Outstanding Percolaon in Recycled Glass Designed for Polluted Soil Filtering. Scholarship at the Graduate Level from American University During this academic and professional experience, he was able where she received her PhD in Internaonal Relaons with Dis- to interact with different professionals in the field of science and ncon. She received her Master’s degrees in Paris, France engineering that were able to provide enriching feedback and while studying human trafficking at the Sorbonne and the Amer- quesons regarding the topic. ican University of Paris, and her Bachelor’s degree at George Washington University’s Ellio School of Internaonal Affairs. Currently, Wesley is a fourth-year PhD candidate at the Universi- ty of Florida (UF) working on the design of lightweight Magnesi- um (Mg) alloy sheets designed for car door panels. This project is supervised by Michele V. Manuel, professor and chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at UF. This current research project is focused on the study and improve- Huda is a social entrepreneur and consult- ments of Mg formability by addions of Calcium (Ca) and Zinc ant with extensive academic and applied (Zn) solutes and throughout thermo-mechanical processing. background in the water and sanitaon This project is part of the United Stated Automove Materials field. She has professional experience Partnership (USAMP) LLC and is funded by the Department of internaonally, including Mexico and the Energy (DOE). Middle East, and in various facets of the water industry, includ- ing municipal plant operaons for wastewater treatment, desali- naon, and water process engineering. While at the Depart- ment of Mechanical Engineering at MIT in 2012, she focused on developing water purificaon technology for challenging, off- grid environments. Today, she is CTO of change:WATER Labs, working to bring novel toilet technology to the developing Davina P. Durgana, PhD is an award- world. Huda consults in the field of commercial aquaculture and winning internaonal human rights stas- is a published author in the fields of environmental public cian who has developed leading global health, water treatment design, maintenance opmizaon and models to assess risk and vulnerability to field applicaons. modern slavery. Durgana is a report co-author and Senior Stascian on the Global Slavery Index of the Minderoo Founda- on’s Walk Free Iniave.

She is the American Stascal Associaon's 2016 Stascal Ad- vocate of the Year, a commiee member of Stascs without Borders, and a Forbes Top 30 Under 30 in Science for 2017 for her work on stascal modeling, human security theory, and

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 21

Crystal Emery is known for producing Yolanda Sco George served as the narraves aimed at creang a more Deputy Director and Program Director for equitable society. She is the Founder and STEM educaon at the American Associa- CEO of URU The Right To Be, Inc., a on for the Advancement of Science nonprofit content producon company (AAAS) for more than 30 years. Prior to that addresses issues at the intersecon of humanies, arts, and joining AAAS, she was Director of Development, Associaon of sciences. Emery is a member of the Producers Guild of America Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), Washington, DC; Director, and New York Women in Film and Television and was selected in Professional Development Program, University of California, 2019 as an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador. She has designed and Berkeley; and a research biologist at Lawrence Livermore Labor- produced several groundbreaking Virtual Reality Learning atory involved in cancer research and cell cycle studies using Experiences. Recently, Crystal began producon on "The flow cytometry and cell sorters. Intersecon of Crystal R. Emery", a series of podcasts exploring Crystal’s life as a Black woman, filmmaker, writer, and a George has conducted evaluaons, workshops and reviews for quadriplegic. Her contribuons have been recognized with the Naonal Instutes of Health and Naonal Science Founda- numerous awards, including the Congressional Black Caucus on (NSF), as well as for private foundaon and public agencies, Health Braintrust Leadership in Journalism Award, the including the European Commission. She worked with UNIFEM, BronzeLens Film Fesval Spirit Award, the Trailblazer Award UNESCO, L’Oreal USA and Paris and non-governmental organiza- from NANBPWC and the United Naons as part of the ons on gender, science, and technology iniaves related to Internaonal Year for People of African Descent, and the Yale college and university recruitment and retenon and women’s University Seton Elm-Ivy Award. leadership in STEM.

In 2016, Emery’s film “Black Women in Medicine” cleared all She has served as principal invesgator (PI) or co-PI on several Academy of Moon Picture Arts and Sciences requirements NSF grants, including Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biolo- necessary to qualify for an Academy Award nominaon in the gy Educaon; Naonal Science Educaon Digital Library Biologi- “Best Documentary” category. Emery, in conjuncon with the cal Sciences Pathways; Historically Black Colleges and Universi- Naonal Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, es-Undergraduate Programs; Robert Noyce Teacher Scholar- introduced Changing the Face of STEM and the “You Can’t Be ship Program; Transforming Undergraduate Educaon in STEM What You Can’t See” Virtual Reality Project, aimed at closing the (TUES) and Virtual Faculty Workshops; and Women’s Interna- idenficaon gap for young marginalized students within the onal Research Collaboraons at Minority Serving Instuons. STEM realm. Emery believes that perseverance, faith, and George was the lead AAAS staff person for the L'Oreal USA Fel- trusng in a power greater than oneself comprise the road to lowships for Women in Science Program (postdoctoral fellow- success. She connues to shape a successful, fulfilling personal ships) and the David and Lucile Packard Foundaon HBCU Grad- and professional life while triumphing over two chronic diseases uate Scholars Program (graduate school fellowships). as a quadriplegic. George served as a board or commiee member for the follow- Emery received her B.A. from the University of Conneccut, her ing organizaons: PBS NewsHour Science Advisory Commiee; M.A. in Media Studies from The New School of Public Burroughs Wellcome Fund Science Enrichment Program Grants Engagement, and an honorary Doctorate of Leers from UConn Advisory Board; The HistoryMakers, ScienceMakers, Advisory in 2018, on which occasion she gave the commencement Board; and the Naonal Advisory Board of the American Physi- address to an audience of over 20,000. In so doing, she became cal Society Physics Bridge Program. the first Black female speaker at UConn’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the first commencement speaker to receive George has authored or co-authored over 50 papers, pamphlets, two standing ovaons. and hands-on science manuals. She received her BS and MS from Xavier University of Louisiana and Atlanta University in Georgia, respecvely.

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Maureen Kearney, AAAS Chief Program Monica Golgi is compleng an MBA/PhD Officer, joined AAAS in February in Cell and Developmental Biology at the 2018. Kearney brings an extensive mix of University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. academic, management and public Her research focuses on understanding engagement experience to the center’s the genec causes of ausm. She is also programs. Prior to joining AAAS, she the co-founder and CEO of Campus Ventures - a social startup served as Associate Director for Science at the Smithsonian that matches talented, low-income minority high school Instuon’s Naonal Museum of Natural History. Before that, students with elite instuons and serves as an Early Career she served as program director and acng division director in Policy Ambassador for the Society for Neuroscience. the Division of Environmental Biology at the Naonal Science Foundaon. Previously, she worked as a research curator at the Field Museum of Natural History and a member of the Commiee of Evoluonary Biology at the University of Chicago. She received her PhD in Biological Sciences, with a research focus on phylogenecs, evoluon and biodiversity science. As the Chief Program Officer at AAAS, Kearney oversees programs Sylvia M. James is currently the Deputy such as Science and Technology Fellowships; Scienfic Assistant Director of the Naonal Science Responsibility, Human Rights & Law; Science Diplomacy; STEM Foundaon’s (NSF) Directorate for Educaon; and Dialogue on Science, Ethic and Religion Educaon and Human Resources (EHR). The mission of EHR is to “…provide the research foundaon to develop a diverse, STEM literate public and workforce ready to advance the froners of science and engineering for society.” As the Deputy Assistant Director, she oversees aspects of directorate program development, staffing,

performance management, and internal and external

communicaons. Kelly Mack is the Vice President for Under- Prior to assuming this role in January 2017, she served as the graduate STEM Educaon and Execuve Director of the Division of Human Resource Development (HRD). Director of Project Kaleidoscope at the As Division Director, she managed a $148 million budget and a Associaon of American Colleges and Universie (AAC&U). Prior talented team of scienfic and administrave staff. During her to joining AAC&U, Mack was the Senior Program Director for the 15 year tenure at NSF, she has served as the Acng Division Naonal Science Foundaon (NSF) ADVANCE Program while on Director of the Division of Human Resource Development, loan from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Acng Director and Acng Deputy Division Director of the where, as a Professor of Biology, she taught courses in Physiolo- Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal gy and Endocrinology for 17 years. Sengs, Lifelong Learning Cluster Coordinator, and Lead Program Director/Program Director for several EHR programs Mack earned the BS degree in Biology from UMES and, later, the including ISE, ITEST, ATE, ASCEND, and AYS. PhD degree from Howard University in Physiology. She has had extensive training and experience in the area of cancer research James currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Federal with her research efforts focusing primarily on the use of novel Coordinaon in STEM (FC-STEM) Broadening Parcipaon antumor agents in breast tumor cells. Most recently, her re- Interagency Working Group and was a member of the search focus has involved the use of bioflavonoids in the regula- Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Student Science Enrichment on of estrogen receptor posive (ER+) and estrogen receptor Program (SSEP) Advisory Commiee from 2012-2016. She has negave (ER-) breast tumor cell proliferaon. served as an educaon consultant for science educaon radio, youth publicaons, and museums and an adjunct science faculty Mack has served as a member of the Board of Governors for the member. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology Naonal Council on Undergraduate Research and is a current from Loyola University, a Master of Science degree from Johns member of the Naonal Instutes of Health Review Subcom- Hopkins University, and a Doctorate in Science Educaon from miee for Training, Workforce Development and Diversity. She Morgan State University, all located in Balmore, Maryland. also recently completed a brief snt as Execuve Secretary for the NSF Commiee on Equal Opportunies in Science and Engi- neering, which is the Congressionally mandated advisory body

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 23

that focuses on efforts to broaden the parcipaon of un- derrepresented groups in the STEM disciplines.

Camille A. McKayle is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Uni- versity of the Virgin Islands (UVI). Previ- Jonathan Lambright is a professor in the ous to this, she served as Dean of the department of Engineering Technology at College of Science and Mathemacs. Addionally, McKayle is a Savannah State University. Lambright PI for the NSF funded Center for the Advancement of STEM served as the Dean of the College of Leadership (CASL). Sciences and Technology at Savannah State University from 2012 to 2017. In this role, he led over 75 faculty and staff in a McKayle has a deep commitment to quality educaon. She has college of over 1,500 students majoring in 9 undergraduate and served as principal invesgator and project director for various graduate degree programs. He has also served as the interim grant projects at the university that aimed to strengthen the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Chair of quality of the preparaon in science and mathemacs for stu- the Engineering Technology and Mathemacs department. dents at UVI, as well as students in K-12 Virgin Islands schools. The overall goal of those efforts was increasing the number of Lambright obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North students that became and remained interested in the STEM Carolina A&T State University in 1985. A er working for 3 years disciplines and ulmately choose to enter into the STEM work- as a Mechanical Engineer at the Department of Defense, he force. returned to graduate school at North Carolina A&T State University and received his MS in Mechanical Engineering in From 2005-2008, McKayle was Program Officer at the Naonal 1990 with a focus in Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing. Science Foundaon for the Historically Black Colleges and Uni- He then aended the Georgia Instute of Technology’s George versies Undergraduate Program in the Directorate for Educa- W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and obtained his on and Human Resources. McKayle received her BS in Mathe- PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1996. While at Georgia Tech, macs from Bates College, and MS and PhD, also in Mathe- Jonathan focused his studies and research on design macs (Paral Differenal Equaons), from Lehigh Universi- methodology and manufacturing automaon. During the period ty. Her current research is in the area of STEM Educaon and between 1992 and 1996, Jonathan worked for the Lockheed STEM Leadership. Marn Aeronaucal Systems Co. in Mariea GA. At Lockheed, he worked on various research and development projects within the Advanced Design department. Between 1996 and 2002 he consulted with Fortune 500 and other companies in areas of Enterprise Applicaons including Manufacturing Execuon Shirley Malcom is Senior Advisor and Di- Systems and Customer Relaon Management Systems. During rector of SEA Change at AAAS. She has the 2010–2011 academic year, Lambright parcipated in and served as a program officer in the NSF became a graduate of the University System of Georgia’s Science Educaon Directorate; an assis- Execuve Leadership Instute. In the summer of 2008, he was tant professor of biology at the University selected as a NASA ESMD Summer Faculty Fellow at the NASA of North Carolina, Wilmington; and a high Stennis Space Center. In 2006, he received the Savannah State school science teacher. Malcom received her PhD in Ecology University NROTC teacher of the year award. He has taught from the Pennsylvania State University; Master's in Zoology courses for the Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program at from the University of California, Los Angeles; and Bachelor's Savannah State and has been involved in engineering educaon with disncon in Zoology from the University of Washing- research targeted at increasing the numbers of minority ton. In addion, she holds 17 honorary degrees. students majoring in and graduang from engineering disciplines. Malcom serves on several boards, including the Heinz Endow- ments, Public Agenda, Digital Promise, and the Naonal Mathe- macs and Science Iniave. She serves as a trustee of Caltech and as a Regent of Morgan State University. In 2003, Malcom received the Public Welfare Medal of the Naonal Academy of Sciences, the highest award given by the Academy. She was a member of the Naonal Science Board, the policymaking body

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of NSF, from 1994 to 1998, and of the President's Commiee of globally toward novel regulatory frameworks for advanced Advisors on Science and Technology from 1994 to 2001. therapies not amenable to exisng regulaons.

Prior to DIA, Sudip was general manager of the Health and Consumer Soluons business unit and vice president at Baelle, a mulbillion-dollar research and development organizaon. He Karen Marrongelle is the Assistant led a $150 million business unit with over 500 scienfic, Director of the Naonal Science technical, and compung experts performing basic and applied Foundaon (NSF) for Educaon and research, developing medicines and healthcare devices, and Human Resources (EHR). She leads the creang advanced analycs and arficial intelligence EHR directorate in supporng research applicaons to improve human health. Previously, Parikh led that enhances learning and teaching to Baelle’s global AgriFood business unit. Headquartered in achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and London and Geneva, this unit provided environmental fate mathemacs (STEM) educaon. Prior to joining NSF, Marron- research and agriculture product development services from gelle was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at laboratories throughout Europe and the United States. Portland State University and Professor of Mathemacs and Stascs, where she oversaw 24 departments and programs Sudip is commied to early STEM educaon and, as a parent of across the humanies, social sciences and natural sciences. three energec young children, he priorizes volunteering as a mentor for Science Olympiad teams at two elementary schools. In addion to her work as dean, Marrongelle has served as a faculty member in the Department of Mathemacs and Early in his career, Parikh was a Presidenal Management Intern Stascs at Portland State University since 2001. Prior to her at the NIH. He was awarded a Naonal Science Foundaon appointment as dean, she held posions as the Vice Chancellor Graduate Research Fellowship while earning his PhD in for Academic Strategies and Assistant Vice Chancellor for macromolecular structure and chemistry from the Scripps Academic Standards and Collaboraon with the Oregon Research Instute in La Jolla, California. There, he used University System. From 2007-2009, Marrongelle served on a structural biology and biochemistry techniques to probe the rotaon as a program officer at NSF and led numerous grants, mechanisms of DNA repair enzymes bound to DNA. The son of collaborang with researchers naonally and internaonally to Indian immigrants who worked in the texle and furniture improve undergraduate mathemacs educaon and K-12 manufacturing plants of North Carolina, Parikh completed mathemacs professional development. undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, first as a journalism major before switching into Marrongelle has a bachelor's degree in mathemacs and materials science. philosophy from Albright College, a master's degree in mathemacs from Lehigh University and a doctorate in mathemacs educaon from the University of New Hampshire.

Claudia Rankins is a Program Officer in the Directorate for Educaon and Human Resources at the Naonal Science Foundaon, where she manages the Historically Black Colleges and Univer- Sudip Parikh, PhD, became the 19th chief sies Undergraduate Program and the execuve officer of the American Centers for Research Excellence in Science and Technology. Associaon for the Advancement of Prior to this post, Rankins served at Hampton University for 22 Science (AAAS) and execuve publisher of years in a number of capacies, including Chair of the the Science family of journals in January 2020. Parikh has spent Department of Physics, Assistant Dean for Research, and dean two decades at the nexus of science, policy, and business. of the School of Science. Rankins holds a PhD in Physics from Hampton University. She is the co-founder of the Society of Immediately prior to joining AAAS, Parikh was senior vice STEM Women of Color, Inc. president and managing director at DIA Global, a neutral, muldisciplinary organizaon bringing together regulators, industry, academia, paents, and other stakeholders interested in healthcare product development. He led strategy in the Americas and oversaw DIA programs that catalyzed progress

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 25

rered Colonel, Sth was the first African American to earn tenure at West Point.

Sth is a past President of the American Associaon of Physics Teachers (first African American), past President of the Naonal Society of Black Physicists, a Fellow of the American Associaon Sohi Rastegar is Senior Advisor and the for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the American Head of the Office of Emerging Froners Physical Society, a Fellow of the American Associaon of Physics and Muldisciplinary Acvies (EFMA) at Teachers, and a Chartered Fellow of the Naonal Society of the Naonal Science Foundaon (NSF), Directorate for Black Physicists. Sth was named a Disnguished Alumni of The Engineering. He joined NSF in November 2003 following fi een Pennsylvania State University, an Honorary Member of Sigma Pi years of academic and administrave service at Texas A&M Sigma, the physics honor society (its highest award) and a University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Johns Naonal Academies Educaon Mentor in the Life Sciences. He Hopkins University. He has been an Invited Professor at the was recognized by Science Spectrum Magazine as one of the 50 Swiss Instute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. Most Important Blacks in Research Science and was named a He earned his BS (Highest Honors) and MS in Aerospace ScienceMaker, a MilitaryMaker and an EducaonMaker by Engineering, and his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the HistoryMakers. In 2018, Sth was presented with the Albert University of Texas at Ausn. Rastegar has over 150 scienfic Nelson Marquis Lifeme Achievement Award by Marquis’s publicaons and presentaons and has trained 8 PhD and 14 “Who’s Who”. Addionally, he serves on several naonal and M.S. students. He is a co-founder of BioTex, Inc., a medical internaonal advisory boards and has been awarded a Doctor of device company in Houston, Texas. He is a Fellow of the Humane Leers by his alma mater, Virginia State University. His American Instute for Medical and Biological Engineering military awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious (AIMBE), a Fellow of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine Service Medal, Army Commendaon Medal W/Oak Leaf Cluster and Surgery (ASLMS), has served as the Chair of Bioengineering and the Air Force Commendaon Medal. Division of ASME, Associate Editor of Annals of Biomedical Engineering, a member of the Editorial Boards of the Journals of Biomedical Opcs and Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. Rastegar is the recipient of awards and honors including the Select Young Faculty Award from the Texas Dawn Tilbury leads the Naonal Science Engineering Experiment Staon, and the Director’s Superior Foundaon's (NSF) Directorate for Accomplishment Award from the NSF. Engineering (ENG), which supports engineering research and educaon crical to the naon's future and fosters innovaons that benefit society. Tilbury comes to NSF from the University of Michigan (U-M), where she James H. Sth is Vice President Emeritus is a professor of mechanical engineering and served as associate for the American Instute of Physics dean for research in the College of Engineering. As associate (AIP). An officer of the Instute, he has dean, Tilbury led the development of interdisciplinary research oversight responsibilies for AIP’s teams to advance both large- and small-scale projects. Magazine Division, the Media and Government Relaons Division, the A professor at U-M since 1995 in both mechanical and electrical Educaon Division, the Center for the History of Physics, the engineering, Tilbury has a background in systems and control Stascal Research Center and the Careers Division. Throughout engineering. As the first chair of the Robocs Steering his career, James has been an advocate for programs that Commiee at U-M, she idenfied and capitalized on oppor- ensure ethnic and gender diversity in the sciences. tunies to advance robocs research at the university. In 2016, the U-M Board of Regents approved a $75 million building for Earning his doctorate in Physics from Pennsylvania State research and teaching facilies, including laboratories for University, he received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in walking and flying robots and autonomous cars. She has wrien physics from Virginia State University. An internaonally known or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed papers, reports, physics educaon researcher, his primary interests are in book chapters and books, and holds a patent with two other Program Evaluaon and Teacher Preparaon and Enhancement. researchers for logic controllers for machining systems. He was a Professor of Physics at The Ohio State University and Professor of Physics at the United States Military Academy. A Tilbury has been acve in professional society and academic leadership posions, and has received numerous honors and awards for outstanding research and leadership. She has acted

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as a principal invesgator on dozens of highly compeve ical Company for 15 years where she led analycal project federal awards, including an NSF Faculty Early Career teams and company-wide diversity iniaves. She has over 20 Development (CAREER) grant in 1998. She has supervised years of STEM outreach and advocacy developing informal sci- dozens of graduate students and planned the Big 10 Women's ence programs, mentoring, resourcing parents, facilitang pro- Workshops, a mul-university mentoring and networking fessional development for K-12 science teachers, and building workshop series for junior women faculty in engineering. strategic partnerships between industry, academia, and commu- nity organizaons. Addionally, she has experse in program evaluaon, STEM curricula development, and pedagogy. She is the Founder and Execuve Director of Wagstaff STEM Soluons; an educaonal, professional development, and diversity con- sulng company.

John Urschel is a mathemacian and a Wagstaff is also a social scienst with a research focus on em- former NFL offensive lineman. Urschel ploying stascal modeling to examine factors that predict sci- aended Penn State University, where he ence self-efficacy, science identy, and STEM career intent in played football and received his bachelor’s high school and college students who are underrepresented in and master’s degrees in mathemacs. While at Penn State, he STEM. She serves on the Boards of several organizaons that was awarded the Campbell Trophy, commonly known as the include the Naonal Organizaon of Black Chemists and Chemi- “Academic Heisman,” and the Sullivan Award, presented to “the cal Engineers (NOBCChE), the Chemical Society of Washington most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.” (CSW), and Science, Engineering, and Math Links (SEM). She is Urschel was dra ed by the Balmore Ravens in 2014, and an adjunct chemistry professor at the University of North Caroli- played three seasons in the NFL. He has published a number of na at Greensboro where she leads diversity and inclusion efforts research papers in areas including graph theory, machine to broaden parcipaon in the chemical sciences. She has re- learning, and numerical analysis. In 2017, Urschel was named to ceived several honors that include the 2019 DC Metro HBCU Forbes’ “30 under 30” list of outstanding young sciensts, and, Alumni Alliance Award for Educaon, the 2019 AERA Science in 2019, published a New York Times-bestselling memoir, Mind Teaching and Learning Research Award, the 2019 BEYA Science and Maer: A Life in Math and Football. He is currently a fourth Spectrum Trailblazer Award, the 2018 NOBCChE Presidenal -year PhD student in mathemacs at MIT. Award for Mentoring, the 2017 Women of Color in STEM K-12 Promoon of Educaon Award, and a 2016 nominaon for the NSF Presidenal Award for Excellence in Science, Math, Engi- neering Mentoring (PAESMEM).

Iris R. Wagstaff, PhD, is a scienst, educa- tor, mentor, researcher and STEM advo- Neela White is a Project Director at the cate. She currently serves as a STEM Pro- American Associaon for the Advance- gram Director in the Diversity, Equity, and ment of Science (AAAS). She currently Inclusion Department of AAAS where she works on programs including the AAAS- manages iniaves at the undergraduate, graduate, and post- Lemelson Invenon Ambassador Pro- doctoral levels focused on broadening parcipaon in STEM and gram, the AAAS Marion Milligan-Mason workforce development. She is also a Principal Invesgator of Awards for Women in the Chemical Sci- several Naonal Science Foundaon (NSF) grants the include: ences, and the Measuring the Impact of Making and Innovaon Preparing Diverse STEM Researchers to Address Global Challeng- at HBCU program. She has served as an external evaluator for es, Developing an Evidenced-Based Best Pracces Community for mulple projects including the NSF INCLUDES Early STEM En- Supporng Low-Income, High-Achieving Students in STEM Edu- gagement for Minority Males (eSEM) project and the Verizon caon and the Workforce, and The Impact of Making and Inno- Innovave Learning Summer Program for Minority Males at vaon at HBCUs. She served as a 2015-2017 AAAS Science and Morgan State University. She has also served as a Program As- Technology Policy Fellow at the DOJ Naonal Instute of Jusce sociate for the AAAS District of Columbia program. Her areas of Office where she developed and led an agency-wide diversity focus have been within the sectors of invenon; innovaon; and inclusion iniave. entrepreneurship; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educaon; Maker movement; internaonal research She is a nave of Goldsboro, NC with a BS and MS in Chemistry collaboraon; and diversity, equity and inclusion in science. from UNC-Greensboro and NC A&T State Universies respec- vely; and a PhD in Science Educaon from North Carolina State Prior to AAAS, she worked at the Brookings Instute as the Ad- University. She worked as a research chemist at the Dow Chem- ministrator for the Center on Social and Economic Dynamics.

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 27

She also served as the Public Affairs Manager and Board Liaison for the Center for Excellence in Educaon. White earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Temple University in 2003.

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Sacoby Wilson is an Associate Professor with the Maryland Instute for Applied Environmental Health and Department of Epidemiology and Biostascs, School of Public Health, University of Maryland-College Park. Wilson has over 15 years of experience as an environmental health scienst in the areas of exposure science, environmental jusce, environ- mental health disparies, community-engaged research includ- ing crowd science and community-based parcipatory research (CBPR), air polluon studies, built environment, industrial ani- mal producon, climate change, and community resiliency. He works primarily in partnership with community-based organiza- ons to study and address environmental jusce and health issues and translate research to acon.

Wilson is Director of the Community Engagement, Environmen- tal Jusce and Health (CEEJH) Iniave. CEEJH is focused on providing technical assistance to communies fighng against environmental injusce and environmental health disparies in the DMV region and across the naon. He is a member of the USEPA's Naonal Environmental Jusce Advisory Council (NEJAC), on the board of the Cizen Science Associaon, a past Chair of the APHA Environment Secon, past board member of Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, and a former Chair of the Alpha Goes Green Iniave, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a senior fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program.

Wilson, a two-me EPA STAR fellow, EPA MAI fellow, Udall Scholar, NASA Space Scholar, and Thurgood Marshall Scholar, received his BS degree in Biology/Ecotoxicology with a minor in Environmental Science from Alabama Agricultural and Mechani- cal University in 1998. He received both his MS and PhD in Envi- ronmental Health from UNC-Chapel Hill.

28 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Linda Akli, SURA Nigel Golden, University of Massa- Terry Nile, UNCG chuses Stephon Alexander, Naonal Society of Shansa Norman, Sandia Naonal Black Physicists Patrice Gregory, Sandia Naonal Laboratories Laboratories Angela Allen, Shaw University Joseph Nunez , Schoolcra College Angela Grimes, Covance Cheryl Alston, Rered Chemistry Teacher Camellia Okpodu, Xavier University of Paul Gueye, NSCL Louisiana David Beam, Conneccut Pre-Engin- eering Program Michelle Guinn, Belmont University Chi Onyewu, Regeneron Pharmaceucals

Anthony Belvin, U.S. Department of Mary Harris, BioTechnical Communi- Manu Pla, Georgia Instute of Energy caons, Inc. Technology

Kenneth Boue, Xavier University of Valorie Hutson, Hutson Consulng Stephen Roberson, NSBP Louisiana Racquel Jemison, American Chemical Dione Rossiter, Carnegie Instuon for Rosalina Bray, Naonal Instutes of Society Science Health Kayenda Johnson, United States Digital Aubrey Smith, Montgomery College Stephan Brown, Edward Via College of Service at the Centers for Medicare and Osteopathic Medicine Medicaid Services Michael Smith,Tempugo

Reeshemah Burrell, Consultant Emmi Jolly, Case Western Reserve Tokiwa Smith, SEM Link University Alvin Collins, American Chemical Society Andrea Sth, UC Santa Barbara Bob King, King Educaon Consultants Ted Conway, Florida Instute of James Sth, Rered APS Technology Tina King, King Educaon Consultants Alexei Stortchevoi, Massachuses Poorva Dharkar, AWIS Mary Ann Leung, Sustainable Horizons Instute of Technology Instute Aleisha Dobbins, Consultant Fedora Suon, Science Visions Inc. Kim Lewis, Howard University Cyntrica Eaton , STC Ashley Taylor, Johnson and Johnson Nicholas Luke, North Carolina A&T State Omnia El-Hakim, Colorado State University Neil Thompson, Teach the Geek to Speak University Arlene Maclin, Howard University Bryan Kent, Wallace Fisk University Richard Ezik, Union of Concerned Sciensts Marisa Madison, Miami Dade College Kedra Wallace, University of Mississippi Medical Center Yayin Fang, Howard University Lee Anne Marnez, Colorado State University-Pueblo Edward Walton, California State Johnna Frierson, Duke University Polytechnic University, Pomona Harry McElroy, Performigence Chantel Fuqua , AAMC Corporaon Luisa Whiaker-Brooks, University of Utah Mahew George, Howard University James McGee, Lone Star College Braska Williams, North Carolina State Tracee Gilbert, System Innovaon Tanisha McGlothen, Spelman College University

Pamela Gilchrist, North Carolina State Ava Morrow, Rered Gallaudet Joycelyn Wilson, Spelman College University University Danyelle Winchester, Johns Hopkins Tagbo Niepa, University of Pisburgh Victor Wya-Prater, USDA

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 29

30 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

47 AAAS - American Associaon for the 45 Southern University and A&M College Advancement of Science 77 Stony Brook University 27 AAMC - Associaon of Medical Colleges 3 Tennessee State University 70 Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Graduate 12 Texas A&M University Division of Biomedical Sciences 37 UCLA Graduate Programs in Bioscience 4 American Society for Microbiology 25 University of Alabama 59 Binghamton University 56 University of Alabama at Birmingham 11 Claflin University 32 University of California, Berkeley 62 Colgate-Palmolive Co. 24 University of California, San Diego 78 Colorado School of Mines 49 University of Chicago Biosciences 31 Emory University, Laney Graduate School 15 University of Florida 6 FAMU-FSU College of Engineering 55 University of Illinois 33 Georgia State University 16 University of Michigan-College of Pharmacy 46 Georgia Tech-BioEngineering Grad. Program-GT 50 University of Michigan Medical School Grad. 35 Georgia Tech Research Instute (GTRI) Studies 52 Harvard School of Engineering Applied 42 University of Minnesota Science 21 University of Missouri 7 Indiana University, University Grad. School 53 University of Nebraska-Lincoln 60 Krell Instute 71 University of Nebraska Medical Center 38 LSU College of Science 58 University of North Carolina at Charloe 28 Massachuses Instute of Technology (MIT) 5 University of North Texas 23 Massachuses Instute of Technology (MIT) 61 University of Pennsylvania-Center for 17 Michigan State University Engineering MechanoBiology 34 Morehouse College 41 University of South Florida 43 Naonal Instute of Jusce 19 University of Southern California 39 Naonal Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) 68 University of Texas MD Anderson Center 36 NC Central University Graduate School 13 University of the Virgin Islands-Master of 51 Norfolk State University Marine & Environmental Science

1 NC State University 30 University of Washington Molecular Engineering & Sciences Instute 29 Northwestern University -The Graduate School 22 UT Health San Antonio 26 NYU Tandon School of Engineering

79 UT Southwestern Medical Center 54 OPM-Presidenal Mgt. Fellows Program 20 West Virginia University 10 Penn State College of Engineering 2 Worcester Polytechnic Instute 8 Penn State University-Applied Research Lab

76 XSEDE 9 Penn State University Graduate School

14 Rensselaer Polytechnic Instute

40 Rice University

57 Rush University Graduate College

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 31

Table 47 IMMUNOLOGY INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NEUROSCIENCES, STEM AAAS CELL BIOLOGY, SYSTEMS BIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, VIROLOGY American Associaon for the Advancement of Science and more! Unique PhD tracks in CLINICAL INVESTIGATION and 1200 New York Avenue NW TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE are also offered. A robust Career & Washington, DC 20001 Professional Development program, including career exploraon and professional skills development, is available to all graduate Contact: Allison Pritchard, [email protected] students. Our PhD alumni are sciensts in every career path from basic to applied research in academia, big pharma and biotechnology, as well as science communicaon, science policy, Science Careers, produced by Science and AAAS, offers key science educaon and more. Follow your imaginaon! All PhD, resources to advance your career. Thousands of searchable jobs MD/PhD, and PREP students receive: Full tuion remission, from industry, academia, and government are available Annual spend, Health Insurance, and Subsidized housing. online. Our free website also offers job alert e-mails, career advice, a resume/CV database and more. Whether you need Contact us for more informaon: www.einstein.yu.edu/phd career advice or access to the latest job opportunies, visit

ScienceCareers.org today. If your needs involve recruing, employers can reach the best and brightest sciensts who visit the site regularly to ulize all these great features. Visit Table 4 ScienceCareers.org today. American Society for Microbiology 1752 N Street, NW Table 27 Washington, DC 20036

AAMC Contact: Irene Hulede, [email protected] Associaon of American Medical Colleges

655 K Street NW, Suite 100 The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is a professional Washington, DC 20001 society that offers several professional development programs

for undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing Contact: Alexandra Mazzarisi, [email protected] careers in the microbial sciences. Students may parcipate in

fellowship programs, webinars and conferences. Visit The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community www.asm.org/catalogue to learn more. ASM is a sponsor of the to improve the health of all. We are dedicated to advancing Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students medical educaon to meet society’s evolving needs; making (ABRCMS) and organizes the conference each year. ABRCMS is paent care safer, more affordable, and more equitable; and currently one of the largest STEM conferences for sustaining the discovery of scienfic advances. underrepresented students. Visit www.abrcms.org to learn

more. Table 70

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Table 59 Graduate Division of Biomedical Sciences Binghamton University 1300 Morris Park Avenue State University of New York Belfer 203 PO Box 6000 Bronx, NY 10461 Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

Contact: Victoria Freedman, Contact: Monica Majors, [email protected] [email protected]

Binghamton University, a naonally disnguished State Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Graduate Division of University of New York (SUNY) Center of Excellence, combines Biomedical Sciences programs: PhD, MD/PhD, the atmosphere of a mid-sized public instuon with the Postbaccalaureate Research Educaon Program (PREP), and resources of a large research university. Our University offers a Summer Undergraduate Research “Research Knows No broad scope of rigorous and presgious graduate programs. Boundaries.” Established in 1957, Einstein provides an excing Whether you are a full-me student looking to immerse yourself intellectual environment in which students acquire the in a master’s or doctoral program or a professional working to knowledge and skills necessary to aain the PhD and MD/PhD earn an advanced degree or cerficate, you can find your fit degrees in the biomedical sciences. Graduate students work here. Binghamton University is proud to be ranked among the with faculty at the forefront of disease-relevant research in elite public universies in the naon for challenging our these areas: BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOINFORMATICS, BIOPHYSICS, students academically, not financially. Our research, scholarship CANCER, CELL and MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, GENETICS, and creave exploraon have earned an internaonal

32 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

reputaon, and our teaching opportunies, internships and Table 78 leadership experiences will help you master the skills you need Colorado School of Mines to succeed. Representaves from the Thomas J. Watson School 1500 Illinois Street of Engineering and Applied Science will aend the conference. Golden, CO 80401 The Watson School provides a top-ranked engineering and computer science educaon in upstate New York. Our Contact: Molly McAndrew, [email protected] exceponal faculty members are both innovave researchers and supporve professors. Students come to the Watson School Colorado School of Mines is known globally for the quality of its from all over the world and represent a wide range of disncve graduates, the success of its alumni and its unique backgrounds and interests. They graduate with broad-based experse in topics related to earth, energy and the skills and the entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in fields ranging environment. Mines produces industry-ready sciensts and from mechanical engineering to hospital operaons to the law. engineers known for their work ethic, problem-solving ability and teamwork focus. Mines graduates are in great demand by Table 11 companies and government enes around the world and are Claflin University involved in solving major technical and societal challenges of our 400 Magnolia Street mes. Mines offers all the advantages of a world-class research Orangeburg, SC 29115 instuon, with a size that allows for personal aenon. Mines’ renowned faculty creates a challenging and supporve learning Contact: Nankwanga Cherry, ncherry@claflin.edu environment. With many new buildings and facilies, Mines is an innovave, modern campus, working toward tackling new Claflin University is a comprehensive instuon of higher problems, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and maintaining educaon affiliated with the United Methodist Church. A an enhanced sense of responsibility to promote posive change historically Black university founded in 1869, Claflin is in the world. commied to providing students with access to exemplary educaonal opportunies in its undergraduate, graduate and Table 31 connuing educaon programs. Claflin is dedicated to providing Emory University, Laney Graduate School a student-centered, liberal arts educaon grounded in cung- 201 Dowman Drive edge research, experienal learning, state-of-the art technology, Atlanta, GA 30322 community service, and life-long personal and professional fulfillment. Claflin is a diverse and inclusive community of Contact: Amanda Marie James, students, faculty, staff and administrators who work to culvate [email protected] praccal wisdom, judgment, knowledge, skills and character needed for globally engaged cizenship and effecve leadership. The Laney Graduate School offers the PhD and Master’s degrees in more than 40 programs across the humanies, social Table 62 sciences, biomedical and natural sciences, public health, nursing Colgate-Palmolive Co. and business. Our graduate students are present in nearly every 909 River Road area of research at Emory, working with esteemed faculty and Piscataway, NJ 08855 researchers to solve the complex problems of our me and advance the global good. Contacts: Andrew Morgan, [email protected] Sharon Kennedy, [email protected] Table 6 FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products 2525 Posdamer Street, Ste B223 company, ghtly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Tallahassee, FL 32310 Care and Pet Nutrion. Colgate-Palmolive sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such Contact: Tarik Dickens, [email protected] internaonally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, So soap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, The most diverse college of engineering and the only joint Tom's of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as college in the naon! We bring innovave soluons to real- Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescripon Diet. For more world challenges with world-class researchers and a vibrant informaon about Colgate-Palmolive's global business, visit the student community. Offering MS and PhD degrees in biomedical company's web site at www.colgate.com. To learn more about engineering (BME), the FAMU-FSU Department of Chemical & Colgate's global oral health educaon program, Bright Smiles, Biomedical Engineering (CBE) pursues research in biomaterials & Bright FuturesTM, please visit hp://www.colgatebsbf.com. nanotechnology, bioimaging, and cell & ssue engineering. As

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 33

part of a joint engineering college between Florida A&M and integrates engineering principles with the life sciences to Florida State, CBE draws upon resources at both universies as improve health, the environment and engineering applicaons. well as the Naonal High Magnec Field Laboratory to provide unique BME opportunies. With the iniaon of a new BS Table 35 degree and building upon recent CBE external funding exceeding Georgia Tech Research Instute $10M, the BME program is expanding as we recruit movated 430 10th Street, NW graduate students at all levels (starng PhD spend of $28,000). Atlanta, GA 30332

Table 33 Contact: Briney Odoi, Bri[email protected] Georgia State University 255 Southerland Terrace NE The Georgia Tech Research Instute (GTRI) is a highly-regarded Unit 208 applied research and development organizaon. Each day, Atlanta, GA 30307 GTRI’s science and engineering experse is used to solve some of the toughest problems facing government and industry across Contacts: Curs Byrd,cur[email protected] the naon and around the globe. GTRI relies on a diverse Rihana Mason, [email protected] workforce to become the world’s pre-eminent applied research and development organizaon. It takes all of us. Georgia State University (GSU) located in metro Atlanta, GA, with more than 53,000 students, is a naonal leader in Table 52 graduang students from diverse backgrounds. Diverse Issues in Harvard School of Engineering Applied Science Higher Educaon ranks GSU as the #1 public or nonprofit 29 Oxford Street university in Georgia to confer undergraduate and graduate Pierce Hall Room 185 degrees to African-American, Asian and Lanx students. With six Cambridge, MA 02138 campuses, GSU provides students a rich learning environment offering a unique campus experience, and culture based on Contact: Kathryn Hollar, [email protected] ambion, hard work, dedicaon and perseverance. The Office of the Provost has a commitment to faculty excellence, and At the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and recently developed the Commission for the Next Generaon of Applied Sciences (SEAS), we work within and beyond the Faculty with the charge of becoming a leader in faculty diversity disciplines of engineering and foundaonal science to address and retenon. Further, the Provost’s office established GSU’s the most pressing issues of our me. SEAS has no departments; first Graduate School, which provides services to graduate departments imply boundaries, even walls. Our approach to faculty and students in over 150 doctoral and master’s degree teaching and research is, by design, highly interdisciplinary. We programs. We are excited to aend the 2020 Emerging collaborate across academic areas at SEAS and the larger Researchers Naonal Conference, and discuss our faculty, post- university, and with colleagues in academia, industry, doctoral, graduate and summer research opportunies government and public service organizaons beyond Harvard. specifically in life and physical sciences, computer sciences, This commitment to collaboraon, and our community’s mathemacs and stascs, social and behavioral sciences, manageable scale, enable our undergraduate and graduate neurosciences, as well as many others offered at GSU. Visit our students, faculty, and researchers to advance knowledge, make website at www.gsu.edu. groundbreaking discoveries, and develop technologies, products, and ideas that have the potenal to improve lives the Table 46 world over. We are an inclusive community of dedicated Georgia Tech - BioEngineering Graduate Program- GT problem-solvers who hold ourselves - and one another - to the 315 Ferst Drive NW highest academic and professional standards. We believe that Atlanta, GA 30332 we can achieve the best teaching, learning, and research outcomes when we invite in individuals from diverse Contacts: Laura Paige, [email protected] perspecves, backgrounds, and experiences. Jacob Misch, [email protected] Table 7 The Georgia Tech Interdisciplinary BioEngineering Graduate Indiana University, University Graduate School Program was established in 1992. It is a flexible, integrave and Wells Library individualized degree program that enforces depth and breadth 1320 E. 10th St. Room E546 in coursework and solid bioengineering research experience. Bloomington, IN 47405 The mission is to educate students and advance research that Contact: Bianca Evans, [email protected]

34 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

The mission of the University Graduate School is to promote and beer communicaon and outreach to non-sciensts. It is why support excellence in graduate educaon for individual we are leading the way in building a more inclusive academy. In students, faculty, departments, and the university as a whole. In the LSU Collee of Science, you will find visionaries from all accomplishing this mission, the University Graduate School backgrounds who know that the most valuable discoveries come values excellence, integrity, collaboraon, efficiency, innovaon, from creave places and unexpected partnerships. Our and inclusiveness in all that it does. These values are central to supporve community works together to help you imagine, the school’s role in encouraging a creave environment for pursue and accomplish the ways that you can apply science and scholarship, research, teaching, and learning. The University math to answer the quesons that maer to you. Your queson Graduate School is a recognized leader in developing new next. science.lsu.edu | lsu.edu/yourquesonnext | concepts and best pracces for graduate educaon. lsuscienceblog.com

Table 60 Table 28 Krell Instute Massachuses Instute of Technology (MIT) Computaonal Science Graduate Fellowship Department of Biology 1609 Golden Aspen Drive Suite 101 31 Ames Street Suite 101 68-270A Ames, IA 50010 Cambridge, MA 02142

Contact: Lindsey Eilts, [email protected] Contact: Mandana Sassanfar, [email protected]

The Krell Instute manages the Department of Energy The Department of Biology has over 70 faculty, 200 graduate Computaonal Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF). The students and 300 post-docs from various cultural, educaonal fellowship provides up to four years of support for students and scienfic backgrounds. The PhD program covers many pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance research areas from cancer and neurobiology to stem cell compung to solve problems in science, engineering, applied biology, genomics and biophysics. Students receive training in mathemacs, stascs and computer science. Benefits include research, problem solving, communicaon and teaching skills payment of full tuion and required fees, a $37,000 yearly necessary to succeed in both academic and non-academic spend, and a 12-week research praccum. careers. Teamwork, creavity, independence, and mentoring are emphasized. hps://biology.mit.edu/outreach/ Table 38 The Research Scholars Program in the Department of Brain and Louisiana State University Cognive Sciences (BCS) is a presgious two-year funded non- College of Science degree post-baccalaureate program for outstanding recent 124 Hatcher Hall college graduates who plan to pursue a research career in Baton Rouge, LA 70810 neuroscience, cognive neuroscience, computaonal neuroscience or neuroengineering. This program is specifically Contact: Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, [email protected] designed to provide individuals from under-represented minority groups in a STEM field, first-generaon college The Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Science is the students, individual students with disabilies or veterans the place for students driven to explore. Whether they are among opportunity to take courses at MIT, conduct supervised research the thousands of LSU students fulfilling their math and science in any BCS lab of their choice, and immerse themselves in the course requirements in our classrooms and laboratories or one MIT culture and its academic rigors, while gaining the of our more than 2,000 undergraduate majors pursuing a knowledge and experience necessary to become compeve College of Science degree, we are commied to providing the PhD applicants and successful graduate students. hps:// highest quality math and science educaon to all. The College bcs.mit.edu/diversity of Science is one of nine senior colleges at LSU, a naonally

designated land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant university. The college is the primary scienfic intellectual resource for Table 23 Louisiana and a leader in the naon, offering the highest quality Massachuses Instute of Technology (MIT) educaon and programs to create and disseminate knowledge Office of Graduate Educaon through teaching, research and discovery. We believe that a 77 Massachuses Avenue culture that values collaboraon, communicaon and diverse 35-332 perspecves is the key to blazing new trails in science and math. Cambridge, MA 02139 That is why we seek to bring new research partners to the table and strive to grow a bigger audience for our work through Contact: Noelle Wakefield, [email protected]

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 35

The Office of Graduate Educaon supports and serves individual for its launch in 2020. Directors of pipeline iniaves naonwide graduate students, programs, and schools in order to make (i.e., HBCU, HSI, MSI, PWI, and TCU) will have the opportunity to graduate educaon at MIT empowering, excing, holisc, and sign up to have their program(s) listed on the naonal database. transformave. We foster academic excellence and quality of Learn more about the STEM-US Center at hp:// life for MIT's community of graduate students. MIT, located in stemuscenter.org/ and the Academic Pipeline Project at Cambridge, Massachuses, offers 46 graduate programs www.academicpipelineproject.com. distributed among 5 academic schools Table 43 Table 17 Naonal Instute of Jusce (NIJ) Michigan State University 700 N. Frederick Avenue Chienden Hall Gaithersburg, MD 20879 466 W. Circle Drive Room 130 E Contact: Tammy Sando, [email protected] East Lansing, MI 48824 The mission of NIJ is to improve knowledge and understanding Contacts: Steven Thomas, [email protected] of crime and jusce issues through science. NIJ provides Brandon Latorre, [email protected] objecve and independent knowledge and tools to reduce crime and advance jusce, parcularly at the state and local levels. We are accepng applicaon for undergraduate admission, graduate school, professional school and summer internships Table 39 from students interested in the science, technology, engineering Naonal Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) and mathemacs fields as well as the social and behavioral 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. sciences (sociology, psychology, linguiscs, community Fort Worth, TX 76107 sustainability, communicaon, anthropology, etc). Post- doctoral and post-baccalaureate opportunies are also available Contact: Damaris Javier, [email protected] in various departments. The Naonal Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) provides Table 34 mentorship, networking and professional development for Morehouse College trainees across all career stages within the biomedical, 830 Westview Drive, S.W. behavioral, clinical, and social sciences. Atlanta, GA 30314 Table 36 Contact: Lycurgus Muldrow, NC Central University Graduate School [email protected] 1801 Fayeeville Street Taylor Educaon Building Morehouse College is commied to training leaders who will Room 123 change their communies, the naon and the world. The HBCU Durham, NC 27707 STEM Undergraduate Success (STEM-US) Research Center at Morehouse was created as a naonal hub to further the success Contacts: Sabrina Butler, [email protected] of HBCUs in STEM educaon by examining and promong the Sherie Royster, [email protected] identy and mul-level societal benefits of HBCUs. The STEM-US Center trains undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and North Carolina Central University’s (NCCU) School of Graduate faculty to understand and ulize a theorecal model that Studies has developed graduate programs with diversity and addresses the psychosocial behaviors and atudes that increase variety of interests in mind. It aims to develop independent resilience, retenon and success of African-American students study, originality, and competence in research and/or in the using convergence and community-based parcipatory applicaon of crical thinking to professional problems. research. In collaboraon with the Academic Pipeline Project, Graduate and professional degrees are offered and conferred the STEM-US Center examines best pracces of STEM pathway through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Behavioral iniaves at HBCUs. Best pracces are gathered using the and Social Sciences, and the Schools of Business, Educaon, Academic Pipeline Project’s THRIVE index (Type, History, Law, and Library and Informaon Sciences. The School of Research, Inclusion/Identy, Voice and Expectaon). An Business and the School of Library and Informaon Sciences interacve website illustrates the THRIVE index and best offer joint degree programs with the School of Law: Juris pracces of URM Academic Pipeline Programs. At the ERN Doctor/Master of Business Administraon and Juris Doctor/ Conference, parcipants can preview the website and sign up Master of Library Science. The School of Business and the School

36 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

of Library and Informaon Sciences also offer a joint degree with Table 1 each other. Several teacher licensure programs are offered North Carolina State University through the School of Educaon. The PhD degree in Integrated The Graduate School Biosciences is offered through the School of Graduate Studies Campus Box 7102 and the College of Arts and Sciences. Raleigh, NC 27695

Table 51 Contact: David Shafer, [email protected] Norfolk State University 700 Park Avenue In more than 120 years of offering graduate programs, NC State Norfolk, VA 23504 has built a roster of over 160 master’s and doctoral programs in agriculture and life sciences; design; educaon; engineering; Contacts: Ramesh Govindarajan, [email protected] natural resources; humanies and social sciences; Sam Sun, [email protected] management; mathemacal, stascal, biological and earth- system sciences; texles and veterinary medicine. NC State Academic Programs: Norfolk State University offers two boasts a talented graduate student body of more than 10,000 graduate programs in the Interdisciplinary field of materials for degree-seeking master’s and doctoral students who reflect a advanced technologies. The Ph.D. in Materials Science and richness and diversity that energize this community of scholars. Engineering program prepares students for careers in industrial, They come from all 50 states and from over 100 countries. On federal or private research laboratories, and academia. The average, we confer over 3,000 graduate degrees each year. Our program transions students from physical sciences, locaon in North Carolina’s Research Triangle means the best of engineering, and related fields into the discipline of materials industry-government-university partnerships. Our quarter science and engineering while broadening their professional century-old Centennial Campus reflects the university model of opportunies. The M.S. in Materials Science program provides the future, where young invesgators collaborate with faculty students with analycal and technical skills and research mentors, private companies, and public agencies to solve real- experience necessary for doctoral programs. Graduates are also world problems. prepared for professional jobs involving materials science and engineering principles. Table 29 Northwestern University Opportunies for Students: Graduate students can work on The Graduate School projects with external research organizaons including naonal 633 Clark Street, 1-502 laboratories, industries and universies. Among our partners are Evanston, IL 60208 NASA Langley Research Center and Thomas Jefferson Naonal Laboratories. Students regularly aend naonal and Contact: Rashaad Barne, [email protected] internaonal conferences where they present their research results. Northwestern University comprises a vibrant downtown Chicago campus and a beauful lakeshore locaon 14 miles north in Research laboratories include: Evanston, IL. The Graduate School offers 110 Graduate Study  MiNaC Class 100/1000 Cleanroom Programs in STEM, Humanies, and Social Behavioral Sciences.  NMR and ESR Labs Dedicated to diversity and inclusion, we offer a wide range of  Thin Film Lab support and resources for all of our graduate students.  Crystal Physics and Quantum Electronic Lab  Materials Characterizaon Lab Table 26  Laser Spectroscopy Lab NYU Tandon School of Engineering  Polymer Synthesis and Characterizaon Lab 6 MetroTech Center  Biomaterials and Toxicology Lab Brooklyn, NY 11201  Neuro Engineering and Nanoelectronics Lab  Shared facility (TEM, AFM, SEM, XRD, E-Beam, etc) Contact: Andrew Rapin, [email protected]

Located in New York City's Brooklyn Tech Triangle, NYU Tandon School of Engineering is a major player in New York's ongoing tech renaissance, where students can connect to thousands of creave and leading organizaons in this epicenter of business and technology. Graduate programs are in the fields of mechanical, civil, urban, industrial, electrical, computer,

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 37

chemical, biomedical and financial engineering alongside Table 8 programs in computer science, management of technology, Penn State University - Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) cybersecurity, and integrated digital media. Our primary focus 225 Science Park Road remains to produce highly prepared and desirable graduates, State College, PA 16803 which has led us to be one of the top ranked schools in the naon with regards to graduate employability, salary potenal, Contact: Dara Sanoubane, [email protected] and return on investment. ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading Table 54 research universies in the naon and serves as a University OPM - Presidenal Management Fellows (PMF) Program Center of Excellence in Defense science, systems, and U.S. Office of Personnel Management technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas. As 1900 E Street, NW a DOD-designated, U.S. Navy UARC (University Affiliated Washington, DC 20415 Research Center), ARL maintains a long-term strategic relaonship with the U.S. Navy and provides support for the Contacts: Becca Wadness, [email protected] other services. ARL provides science, systems, and technology Brandon Jacobsen, [email protected] for naonal security, economic compeveness, and quality of life through educaon, scienfic discovery, technology The Presidenal Management Fellows (PMF) Program is the demonstraon, and transion to applicaon. Federal Government’s flagship leadership development program for early career graduate degree holders. The PMF Program was Table 9 established by Execuve Order in 1977 to aract to the Federal Pennsylvania State University Graduate School service outstanding men and women from a variety of 111D Kern Graduate Building backgrounds and academic disciplines who have a clear interest University Park, PA 16802 in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. By drawing graduate students from diverse social, Contacts: Stephanie Danee Preston, [email protected] cultural, and educaonal backgrounds, the PMF Program Wayne Gersie, [email protected] provides a connuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service. The Graduate School at Penn State is one of the largest in the naon with more than 14,000 graduate students enrolled at the Table 10 University Park and Harrisburg campuses and at Penn State Erie, Penn State College of Engineering The Behrend College, Penn State Great Valley, and College of 112 Hammond Building Medicine at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The Office University Park, PA 16802 of Graduate Educaonal Equity Programs leads the Graduate School’s efforts to foster diversity and to provide a welcoming Contact: Erin Hostetler, [email protected] climate for both prospecve and current graduate students of underrepresented groups. The office designs and implements The Penn State College of Engineering Center for Engineering mentoring programs; recruitment programs; professional Outreach and Inclusion (CEOI) assists all students in the pursuit development and retenon programs; and conferences, of their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded to serve seminars, workshops, and lectures. The office also leads the students from groups underrepresented in engineering, the Summer Research Opportunies Program at Penn State and the center has grown to assist all students, faculty, and staff in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. College with their engagement in equity and inclusion through Both programs provide connecons with highly talented evidence-based best pracces and programs. Our support undergraduate students who are interested in aending system of faculty and staff encourages current students to graduate school. become allies and leaders in advancing equity and inclusion. CEOI pays parcular aenon to increasing the parcipaon of Table 14 women and mulcultural students in the pursuit of their Rensselaer Polytechnic Instute undergraduate and graduate degrees at Penn State through Graduate Admissions Office inclusive student retenon programs, recruitment efforts, 110 8th Street scholarships, and professional development opportunies. Troy, NY New York 12180

Contact: Jarron Decker, [email protected]

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Instute is the oldest technological research university in the United States. Sing on

38 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

a hill overlooking Troy NY, a revitalized city only 2.5 hours from RUMC is co-equal in importance, and this triparte mission Manhaan, the lush campus offers a welcoming and allows academics and research to be fully integrated with collaborave academic environment to support the learning and clinical pracce, providing an educaonal experience built research of over 1,000 graduate students. Rensselaer offers a around a teacher-praconer model in order to train the next wide range of graduate programs across 5 schools: Architecture; generaon of health care professionals and providers while Engineering; Science; Lally School of Management; and promong a research environment that goes hand-in-hand with Humanies, Arts and Social Sciences. The interdisciplinary clinical excellence. Located in the heart of the Illinois Medical research culture at Rensselaer provides students an experience District, RUMC offers more than 40 degree and cerficate across mulple disciplines and sectors while exposing them to programs across medicine, nursing, allied health and biomedical mulple perspecves as they are trained to tackle the global research; more than 60 postgraduate training programs for problems facing humanity in the 21st century. medical residents and fellows; and connuing educaon opons. Table 40 Rice University Table 45 6100 Main Street Southern University and A&M College Houston, TX 77005 Jesse N Stone Drive Pinchback Building Contact: Theresa Chatman, [email protected] Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Rice University is the premier private university in the Contact: Patrick Mensah, [email protected] southcentral US; we have some of the strongest doctoral programs in the naon. As the intellectual hub of one of the Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive most ethnically diverse cies in the world, Rice offers an ideal instuon offering four-year, graduate, professional, and community for diverse scholars. It provides doctoral students doctorate degree programs, fully accredited by the Southern with financial support in the form of generous spends, tuion Associaon of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The University today waivers, health insurance subsidies, and more. As part of our is part of the only historically black Land Grant university system programs to enhance the student experience, we also hold in the United States. mentoring, professional development, and community-building acvies for our doctoral scholars. We will provide you with Table 77 robust mentoring in many areas to ensure your future success! Stony Brook University Please stop by our booth to learn more about our offerings, 2401 Computer Science including research opportunies with our Naonal Science Stony Brook, NY 11794-4422 Foundaon Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) Engineering Research Center (newtcenter.org). NEWT offers Contact: Rosalia Davi, [email protected] many of the benefits listed here, and you are also able to join any of our four universies: Rice, Arizona State University, Yale Stony Brook University is one of America’s most dynamic public University, and the University of Texas at El Paso. For more universies, a center of academic excellence and an informaon on Rice or NEWT, please contact Theresa Chatman, internaonally recognized research instuon that is changing Diversity Director by email at [email protected] or by phone at 713- the world. A er more than 60 years of existence, it is ranked 348-5180. among the top 100 universies in the naon and the top 40 public universies. Established in 2002, the Center for Inclusive Table 57 Educaon (CIE) at Stony Brook has been commied to Rush University advancing diversity in graduate educaon, academia, and the Graduate College scienfic workforce. The CIE works to recruit, retain, and 600 S. Paulina Street, Suite 438 graduate underrepresented minority and otherwise Chicago, IL 60612 disadvantaged scholars, as well as those scholars who advance the mission of increasing diversity of their respecve fields. The Contacts: Marenda Wilson-Pham, marenda_wilson- CIE promotes professional development and a strong sense of [email protected] community through core acvies including the Research Cafe Antonio Abeyta, [email protected] series, Topic-Based Lunches, Real Talk discussion groups, Invited Speakers, and the Community of Student Mentors program. Rush University is the academic enterprise of the Rush University Medical Center (RUMC). RUMC is an Illinois non- profit, 501(c)(3) corporaon that has a triparte educaonal, research and clinical mission. Each component of the mission of

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 39

Table 3 the best possible research training and professional Tennessee State University development for graduate students pursuing PhDs in the life 3500 John A. Merri Blvd. and biomedical sciences. These Home Areas include: Nashville, TN 37209 Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology, Bioinformacs, Cell & Developmental Biology, Gene Regulaon, Genecs & Contact: Frances Williams, [email protected] Genomics, Immunity, Microbes & Molecular Pathogenesis, Molecular Pharmacology, Molecular, Cellular & Integrave Tennessee State University (TSU) is a comprehensive, urban, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Physics & Biology in Medicine. land-grant university, founded in 1912. It is a world-class These academic “homes” are designed by faculty to promote university known for academic excellence, incredible students, and support individualized training and career-building inspiring faculty, exceponal value and an amazing campus and opportunies for students in the home area. This framework community. The 450-acre campus is located in Nashville, the provides specialized, in-depth educaonal programs while state capitol of Tennessee. The TSU College of Engineering maintaining flexibility for students to explore froners beyond offers B.S. degrees in Architectural, Civil, Electrical, and any single home area. Likewise, faculty are able to contribute in Mechanical Engineering, with several concentraons such as mulple home areas according to their research interests. manufacturing, environmental, and computer engineering. The Providing students with a combinaon of deep immersion in a College also awards B.S. degrees in Computer Science and field and the opportunity to explore new horizons creates Applied Industrial Technology. On the graduate level, the limitless and unique educaonal possibilies. Each home areas College provides the Master of Engineering degree with is affiliated with a degree-granng PhD program, a union that concentraons in Civil, Electrical, Manufacturing, and sets the specific courses, advising opportunies, and research, Mechanical Engineering, the M.S. degree in Computer Science, scholarship, and examinaon requirements. the M.S. degree in Computer and Informaon Systems Engineering, and the Ph.D. degree in Engineering and Table 25 Computaonal Sciences. The College has various scholarship University of Alabama and fellowship opportunies for students interested in 712 Capstone Drive undergraduate or graduate degrees. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Table 12 Contact: Roger Sidje, [email protected]

Texas A&M University The University of Alabama (UA), located in a vibrant, energec Graduate and Professional Studies college community in the center of Tuscaloosa, AL, is one of the 112 Jack K. Williams Admin Bldg naon's premier public universies offering a variety of career 1113 TAMU tracks and bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in 200+ College Staon, TX 77843-1113 fields of study to 38,000+ students. UA's 1,000+ acres of tree- lined pathways and state-of-the-art facilies are a source of Contact: LaRhesa Johnson, [email protected] inspiraon for students, faculty, and staff. Founded in 1831 as Alabama’s first public college, UA is dedicated to excellence in Texas A&M University Office of Graduate and Professional teaching, research, and service. It has consistently ranked Studies (OGAPS) is a global leader in graduate educaon, among the naon’s top 50 public universies by U.S. News & commied to the pursuit of knowledge and the power of World Report for more than a decade, and is now recognized as intellect. Texas A&M offers over 250 graduate and professional having a Very High Research Acvity (R1) status in the Carnegie degree programs in 16 colleges and schools. The Office of Classificaon of Instuons of Higher Educaon. UA has 1,800+ Graduate and Professional Studies is commied to a diverse faculty with 26 receiving the NSF's CAREER Award, the naon’s campus climate, enhancement of the graduate experience and most presgious recognion of top-performing young sciensts, the development of all students as global cizens. in disciplines such as nano-science, engineering, biological sciences and many others. As part of the UA family, you will Table 37 enjoy outstanding benefits and play an integral role in UCLA Graduate Programs In Bioscience contribung to the atmosphere, diverse culture, and tradions 300 Geffen Hall that make The University of Alabama the place ‘where legends Los Angeles, CA 90095 are made’.

Contact: Diana Azurdia, [email protected]

Graduate Programs in Bioscience is a consorum of 10 home areas and their affiliated Ph.D. programs, organized to provide

40 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Table 56 who successfully complete the program's graduaon University of Alabama at Birmingham requirements will be awarded a Master of Science degree in 1825 Univerity Blvd Chemical Engineering with a concentraon in product SHEL 121 development. A limited number of full-tuion scholarships are Birmingham, AL 35294-2182 available. The deadline for applicaons from ERN Conference in STEM aendees has been extended to March 6, 2020. For more Contact: Randy Seay, [email protected] informaon, contact Iris Acosta ([email protected]) or visit hps://chemistry.berkeley.edu/grad/cbe/pd. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a research university and academic medical center that encompasses 112 Table 24 city blocks and has a student enrollment of more than 24,000. University of California, San Diego UAB is home to a large graduate school, a world-renowned 9500 Gilman Drive health care complex, and more than 100 different research La Jolla, CA 92093-0003 centers focusing on such diverse issues as cancer prevenon, personalized medicine, biodefense, and emerging infecous Contact: Angeline Yang, [email protected] diseases. UAB includes the School of Medicine (MD, MD-PHD, MD-MPH, MD-MBA), School of Public Health (Dual Degree MPH The University of California San Diego is recognized as one of the Programs, MPH, MSPH, DrPH, PhD), School of Optometry (Vision top 15 research universies worldwide. We have a culture of Sciences PhD, OD), School of Arts and Sciences (MA, MS, PHD), collaboraon which sparks discoveries that advance society and and Graduate Biomedical Sciences (PHD). We invite you to join drives economic impact. Everything we do is dedicated to more than 4,400 graduate students who are enrolled in UAB's ensuring our students have the opportunity to become 40 doctoral programs and 51 master's programs. Many of these changemakers, equipped with the muldisciplinary tools needed programs unite different disciplines and cross departmental and to accelerate answers to our world’s most pressing issues. At school lines, illustrang the strong interdisciplinary character of the University of California San Diego, diversity is a core the university. Become part of our unique and select group of component of excellence that further enhances our quality and students training to become tomorrow's leaders in science and achievement. We seek a diverse graduate student body to medicine. Visit us at www.uab.edu/graduate and www.uab.edu/ ensure that all of our students gain the educaonal benefits that medicine result from being exposed to a broad spectrum of ideas and perspecves. These include the variety of personal experiences, Table 32 values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture University of California, Berkeley and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, Product Development Program gender, age, religion, language, abilies/disabilies, sexual 410B Lamer Hall orientaon, socioeconomic status, geographic region and more. Berkeley, CA 94720 We wish to broaden and deepen both the educaonal experience and the scholarly environment, as students and Contact: Keith Last Alexander, [email protected] faculty learn to interact effecvely with each other, preparing them to parcipate in an increasingly complex and pluralisc Since 2006, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular society. We also want all of our students to contribute to the Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley has offered campus community in a manner that enhances campus diversity a new and innovave Professional Science Master’s Degree and inclusiveness, consistent with the University of California called the Product Development Program (PDP). The PDP is a Principles of Community. Learn more about the University of graduate-level degree program whose central aim is to fill the California San Diego’s academic and professional graduate unmet need at naonal and internaonal levels for graduates of degree programs at hps://grad.ucsd.edu. chemical engineering and related chemical sciences disciplines who have knowledge and field experience in the complex process of transforming technical innovaons into commercially Table 49 successful products. In the space of one academic year (9 University of Chicago Biosciences months), PDP graduates will gain exposure to real-world product 924 E 57th Street development pracces in a range of chemical process-intensive Chicago, IL 60637 industries including biotechnology, microelectronics, nanoscience, alternave energy, consumer products, and new Contacts: Nancy Schwartz, [email protected] venture development. The PDP does not require a research Donald Rodriguez, [email protected] thesis, but students will find compleng the extensive coursework and field study assignment challenging. Students UChicago Biosciences offers 18 programs designed to lead to the PhD; the program in Public Health Sciences offers a master’s

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 41

degree for clinical professionals in addion to the PhD. We also The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) is offer combined MD/PhD degrees. University of Chicago located in the micro-urban cies of Champaign, Urbana, and graduate students and postdoctoral trainees in the biosciences Savoy and is within driving distance from Chicago, Indianapolis, break new ground every day. We have a long history of research and St. Louis. The Graduate College enrolls over 14,000 excellence and notable achievements among our alumni and students and offers more than 130 master’s and over 90 faculty. At UChicago, you benefit from immersion in one of the doctoral programs in a wide range of fields. Over 20 advance world’s preeminent research universies, and our community of degree programs are offered online. Applicaon fee waivers, scholars benefits from you--emerging sciensts with bright tuion waivers, fellowships, assistantships, and other academic minds, unbridled enthusiasm, and plenty of fresh ideas. As an opportunies are available to current and prospecve graduate internaonal intellectual desnaon, the University of Chicago students in all fields of study. The Graduate College is draws students, researchers, and faculty to exchange ideas commied to the success of our students--providing support at freely, challenging the status quo and one another to push the all stages of graduate educaon from admissions through thesis boundaries of their fields, leading to world-changing discoveries deposit and degree cerficaon. We administer fellowships for and insights. The University’s hallmark emphasis on the recruitment, development, and retenon of the best and interdisciplinary research and collaboraon, coupled with access brightest graduate students from many diverse dimensions and to the latest technology and to three major affiliated backgrounds. With more than 100 graduate and professional laboratories, offers a graduate experience in the biosciences fields of study, Illinois can help make your academic and unavailable anywhere else. professional dreams a reality. To learn about the Aspire Illinois program, the Summer Research Opportunies Program (SROP), Table 15 the Community of Scholars (COS) Campus Visit Program, the University of Florida Summer Predoctoral Instute (SPI), the Sloan University Center PO Box 115500 for Exemplary Mentoring (Sloan), the Illinois Professional 123 Grinter Hall Science Master’s (PSM) program, and other programs and Gainesville, FL 32611 opportunies, please stop by our booth or visit our website at hp://www.grad.illinois.ed. Contact: Kishmar Best, kishmarbest@ufl.edu Table 16 Ranked in the top 10 of public universies in the United States, University of Michigan - College of Pharmacy the University of Florida(UF) is a leading research instuon 428 Church Street where more than 12,000 graduate students pursue master, Univ. of Michigan - COP specialist, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 fields of study. Ann Arbor, MI 48019 Whether it’s a career in academia, business, a specific industry, government or for a non-profit, UF master’s and Ph.D. students Contact: Cherie Dotson, [email protected] are all making a big impact for the Gator Good. At UF, we are a people of purpose. We're commied to challenging convenon The University of Michigan - College of Pharmacy offers Ph.D. and ourselves. We see things not as they are, but as they could degrees in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceucal Sciences and be. And we strive for a greater impact: one measured in people Clinical Pharmacy. Graduate students in Medicinal Chemistry helped and lives improved. UF’s home base of Gainesville is an are trained in research pertaining to drug discovery and drug emerging tech hub that offers an aracve mix of affordable design while those in Pharmaceucal Sciences are focused on living, cross-cultural diversity, outdoor recreaon, a vibrant arts the study of drug transport and drug delivery systems. The scene, entertaining nightlife, and free student public Clinical Pharmacy program features tracks in Health Services transportaon, all within convenient reach of Florida’s coastal Research and Precision Pharmacotherapy. Students with beaches, urban centers, and tourist desnaons. interests in obtaining clinical training with regard to the pracce of pharmacy are encouraged to consider the PharmD. The Table 55 University of Michigan - Pharm.D. program provides students University of Illinois with opportunies for paent contact and clinical experience Graduate College throughout the four years of study. Dual training opportunies 801 S. Wright Street are available through the PharmD/PhD, PharmD/MBA and 110 Coble Hall PharmD/MPH programs. Summer experienal opportunies in Champaign, IL 61820 pharmacy are available through the Pharmacy Scholars Program. Summer research opportunies are available through Contacts: Ave Maria Alvarado, [email protected] the Interdisciplinary REU. Contact: Cherie Dotson Ellen Althaus, [email protected] ([email protected] / 734-615-6562) or hps:// pharmacy.umich.ed.

42 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Table 50 Table 53 University of Michigan Medical School University of Nebraska-Lincoln 1135 Catherine Street 1100 Seaton Hall Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Lincoln, NE 68588-0619

Contact: Jim Musgrave, [email protected] Contact: Kurt Mueller, [email protected]

The University of Michigan Medical School's Office of Graduate The University of Nebraska is home to a diverse community of & Postdoctoral Studies is home to the graduate umbrella scholars, teachers, and creators who are leading conversaons Program in Biomedical Sciences (PIBS), the Postbac Research in their fields and exchanging world-changing ideas. With 71 Educaon Program (PREP), the Postbac PreMed Program doctoral programs, 72 master’s programs, and a focus on team (MEDPREP), and the Cancer Research Summer Internship and interdisciplinary research, students at Nebraska are Program (CaRSIP). exploring a vibrant array of fields across science, humanies, social science, engineering, and the arts. Students come to Table 42 Nebraska from all 50 states and around the world to access the University of Minnesota Law School faculty, facilies and opportunies of a Big Ten university on a MS Patent Law Program campus that feels like home. The university is dedicated to 229 19th Avenue South developing students beyond their academic disciplines and Minneapolis, MN 55455 provides programs and services to ensure success. At the University of Nebraska, the measure of success is human Contact: Keaton Krueger, [email protected] opportunity, and the university is commied to our students and coming together to create new knowledge, build on each With a Master of Science in Patent Law, students with scienfic other’s experiences, and forge a beer future. and technical backgrounds leverage that knowledge to advance career opportunies in the booming area of patent law. This one Table 71 -year professional master’s degree program is aimed at students University of Nebraska Medical Center who want to work in cung-edge technology, helping inventors 985840 Nebraska Medical Center and corporaons to bring innovaons to market. Omaha, NE 68198

Table 21 Contact: Kimberly Rothgeb, [email protected] University of Missouri 1201 Rollins Street The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences Columbia, MO 65211 (IGPBS) PhD program consists of seven interdisciplinary doctoral programs, with over 200 parcipang research faculty, from 32 Contact: Debbie Allen, [email protected] basic science and clinical departments. With this structure, each of the seven training programs provides students with a large The joy of discovery has propelled the University of Missouri number of potenal research laboratories and research project (MU) to one of the top-ranked Life Sciences research instuons opons, along with strong muldisciplinary training within their in the 21st century. More than 20 Ph.D. programs emphasize area of interest. interdisciplinary collaboraon and innovaon. We are a major research campus with shared resources from Medicine, Table 58 Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Health University of North Carolina at Charloe Professions, Journalism, Business and Law. Extensive research College of Liberal Arts and Sciences core facilies and a nuclear reactor bolster the research 9201 University City Boulevard resources at MU. Commied to graduate student success, we Charloe, NC 28223 promote strong mentorship connecons and career-directed resources. We offer a comprehensive support package including Contact: Banita Brown, [email protected] spend, paid tuion, health insurance and travel funding. Columbia, Missouri is an excellent, diverse and affordable city The University of North Carolina at Charloe is North Carolina's with impressive amenies, located centrally between St. Louis fastest-growing and only urban research university. It leverages and Kansas City. Learn More: hps://gradschool.missouri.edu/ its locaon in the state's largest city to offer internaonally degree-programs compeve programs of research and creave acvity, exemplary undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, and a focused set of community engagement iniaves. Upon

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 43

approval of funding from the Naonal Science Foundaon, UNC Urban Transportaon, Genomics, Health of the Oceans & Charloe is commied to providing graduate fellowships to a Climate Change. Fellowships, assistantships, and professional cohort of twelve LSAMP parcipants from across the naon development programming are available for students sponsored through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Parcipaon by the Sloan UCEM, NSF Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance Bridge to the Doctorate Program. for Minority Parcipaon Bridge to the Doctorate Acvity, McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program, Office of Research and Table 5 Innovaon, and Office of Graduate Studies. Summer University of North Texas undergraduate research opportunies are available in Computer 1155 Union Circle Science and Engineering, Engineering, Applied Physics, Denton, TX 76203 Biomedical Sciences, Applied Marine Sciences and Oceanography. Our graduate students and alumni have Contact: Heather Miller, [email protected] received presgious fellowships, including NSF GRFP, Ford, Fulbright, AAAS, Naonal Research Council, and other naonal The University of North Texas (UNT) is situated in the Dallas/Fort awards. Worth Metroplex. Serving over 39,000 students, UNT is known both for its world famous art programs and our Carnegie Tier 1 Table 19 Research University status. The College of Science offers University of Southern California compeve funding to graduate students. 1975 Zonal Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90089-9031 Table 61 University of Pennsylvania Center for Engineering Contacts: Karina Recinos, [email protected] MechanoBiology Domonique Walker, [email protected] 3231 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 The Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS) is a gateway program into graduate studies at USC, leading to a Contact: Annie Jeong, [email protected] Ph.D. degree in a broad range of biological and biomedical disciplines. The Center for Engineering MechanoBiology (CEMB) is a mul- instuonal Science and Technology Center funded by NSF to Table 68 advance the study of mechanical forces in molecules, cells, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ssues in plants and animals. We offer summer research UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences opportunies for undergraduates and muldisciplinary graduate 6767 Bertner Avenue training in biology, engineering, physics, and more. Houston, TX 77030

Table 41 Contact: Jasmine Wilson-Toliver, University of South Florida [email protected] College of Engineering 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, ENG 030 The University of Texas Health Graduate School of Biomedical Tampa, FL 33620 Sciences is dedicated to the highest level of educaon and research; its faculty, classrooms, and laboratories are drawn Contact: Bernard Batson, [email protected] from two major instuons: UTHealth and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In addion to PhDs, the The University of South Florida (USF) is a preeminent state Graduate School offers three Master’s programs that include the research university dedicated to student success with an annual oldest genec counseling program in Texas, and an MD/PhD budget of $1.6 billion and over $450 million in research funding. program and numerous summer research opportunies. USF ranked 7th in the naon among public universies and 16th Another aspect of our school is our student associaons that world-wide for granted U.S. patents among all universies emphasize our commitment to diversity and professional according to the Intellectual Property Owners Associaon/NAI development of all our students. Although research and (2018). USF is one of eight universies awarded a Sloan scholarship are the primary focus of the graduate experience at University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM) for its MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School, we believe in the leadership in graduate STEM student success. Signature holisc development of our students; there is indeed a place for research iniaves include Water & Urban Sustainability, Brain everyone at our school. & Spinal Cord, Heart, Data Science, Alternave Energy Systems, Cancer, Cybersecurity, Advanced Materials, Smart Cies and

44 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Table 13 Table 22 University of the Virgin Islands UT Health San Antonio Master of Marine and Environmental Science 7703 Floyd Curl Drive #2 John Brewers Bay MC 7819 College of Science and Mathemacs San Antonio, TX 78229 St. Thomas, VI 00802 Contacts: Yvonne Valdez, [email protected] Contact: Sophia McKenzie, [email protected] Nicquet Blake, [email protected]

Join the University of the Virgin Islands' Master of Marine and The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UT Health San Environmental Science (MMES) team. Surrounded by turquoise Antonio offers 18 academic programs in the biomedical water on Caribbean islands, MMES graduate students work with sciences. Located in the heart of the South Texas Medical world-class biologists on internaonally significant topics such Center, our university is next to 5 medically related instuons, as coral reef resilience and sustainability, mesophoc reef more than 45 clinics, 12 major hospitals, one higher educaon ecology, terrestrial ecology, reef fish spawning aggregaons, instuon, and countless small pracces, offices, and non- movement ecology of animals, Ciguatera fish poisoning, and sea medical businesses. As the premier academic research center of turtle biology in the Center for Marine and Environmental the seventh largest city in the country, we conduct Sciences. Choose adventure; explore tropical islands as we seek interdisciplinary basic and clinical research which helps improve new understanding of biodiversity, restore natural resources, scienfic knowledge and advance medical technology. and promote environmental sustainability. Table 79 Table 30 UT Southwestern Medical Center University of Washington Division of Basic Science Graduate Program/Medical Scienst UW Molecular Engineering & Sciences Instute Training Program 3946 W Stevens Way NE 5323 Harry Hines Blvd Box 351653 Dallas, TX 75390-9004 Seale, WA 98195-1653 Contact: Nancy Street, [email protected] Contact: Paul Neubert, [email protected] UT Southwestern provides world class opportunies to prepare The interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Molecular Engineering for careers in the biomedical sciences through study and (MolE) offers students the opportunity to work with over 130 research leading to the Ph.D. degree through the Division of faculty members from 20 different departments on BioTech Basic Science and the M.D./Ph.D. degree through the Medical and/or CleanTech projects. It provides access to the state-of the Scienst Training Program (MSTP). Over 340 faculty offer -art Molecular Analysis Facility and paid tuion combined with a training in genomics, cancer biology, computaonal biology, highly compeve salary. The MolE PhD provides students the developmental biology, biomedical engineering, molecular opportunity to customize an engineering degree program genecs, structural biology, cell biology, chemical biology, relevant to your research interests in clean technology or systems biology, pharmacology, microbiology, neurosciences biotechnology while developing a systemic, raonal approach to and immunology. Our NIH-sponsored MSTP contains a highly engineering molecular systems that can be applied in fields as integrated curriculum, premiere teaching hospitals and diverse as energy, healthcare, or technology. Students meet renowned clinical faculty. The essence of educaon at UT naonally and internaonally recognized experts in the Southwestern is an excing research experience in an acve, developing field of molecular engineering, access state-of the- producve and crical scienfic environment. We also have six art facilies and instrumentaon for molecular-scale analysis, undergraduate research programs, including an AMGEN and disnguish themselves as experts in an interdisciplinary and program, focused on providing world-class research experiences cung-edge research area, prepared for a leading career in during the summer. Informaon about these programs is molecular engineering and sciences. The University of available at www.utsouthwestern.edu/amgenscholars and Washington (UW) is ranked 13th globally, and 3rd among U.S. www.utsouthwestern.edu/SURF. public universies by the Academic Ranking of World Universies. UW receives more federal research dollars than any other public university in the naon, receiving over $1.3 billion in average total research awards over recent years.

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 45

Table 20 in the world. It is a single virtual compung system that West Virginia University (WVU) sciensts can use to interacvely share resources, data and 108 Biomedical Road experse. Sciensts, engineers, social sciensts, and humanies PO Box 9104 experts around the world--many of them at colleges and Morgantown, WV 26506 universies--use advanced digital resources and services every day. Supercomputers, collecons of data, and new tools are Contacts: Nicole Beason, [email protected] crical to the success of those researchers, who use them to Lisa Sala, lsala@hsc.wvu.edu make our lives healthier, safer, and beer. XSEDE integrates these resources and services, makes them easier to use, and As West Virginia’s flagship research instuon, WVU undertakes helps more people use them. XSEDE offers advanced compung scholarly acvity to improve the lives of West Virginians and resources, training, curriculum development, and student others across the globe. WVU is classified as a Doctoral opportunies. University-Highest Research Acvity (R1) in the Carnegie Classificaon of Instuons of Higher Educaon. As a land-grant instuon, the faculty, staff and students at WVU commit to creang a diverse and inclusive culture that advances educaon, healthcare and prosperity for all by providing access and opportunity; by advancing high-impact research; and by leading transformaon in West Virginia and the world through local, state and global engagement.

Table 2 Worcester Polytechnic Instute 100 Instute Road Worcester, MA 01581

Contacts: Michael McGrade, [email protected] Adam Powell, [email protected]

Worcester Polytechnic Instute (WPI), one of the naon's premier science- and engineering-focused universies, was founded in 1865 with the mission of providing an educaon that balances theory and pracce. A dynamic and welcoming graduate community, world-renowned faculty mentors, a culture of collaboraon, spectacular research facilies, and close relaonships with industry make WPI an outstanding environment for aspiring sciensts, engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Here, you will pursue cung-edge, muldisciplinary research and contribute to breakthroughs that deepen our understanding of the world, engender new lines of inquiry, and meet the technological challenges facing the world today.

Table 76 XSEDE SURA 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 430 Washington, DC 20005

Contact: John Holly, [email protected]

An NSF-funded project, the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) is the most advanced, powerful, and robust collecon of integrated digital resources and services

46 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Graduate Student Oral Presentaon Abstracts ...... 48-55

Biological Sciences ...... 48-49 Chemistry and Chemical Sciences ...... 49-50 Computer Sciences and Informaon Management ...... 50-51 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences ...... 51 Mathemacs and Stascs...... 52 Nanoscience ...... 52-53 Social, Behavioral Sciences, and Economic Sciences ...... 53-54 Technology and Engineering ...... 54-55

Undergraduate Student Oral Presentaon Abstracts ...... 55-65

Biological Sciences ...... 55-57 Chemistry and Chemical Sciences ...... 57-59 Computer Sciences and Informaon Management ...... 59 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences ...... 59-60 Mathemacs and Stascs...... 60 Nanoscience ...... 61 Physics ...... 61-62 Social, Behavioral Sciences, and Economic Sciences ...... 62-63 Technology and Engineering ...... 63-65

Undergraduate Student Poster Presentaon Abstracts ...... 65-93

Biological Sciences ...... 65-74 Chemistry and Chemical Sciences ...... 74-78 Computer Sciences and Informaon Management ...... 78-80 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences ...... 81-83 Mathemacs and Stascs...... 83-84 Nanoscience ...... 84-85 Physics ...... 85-86 Science and Mathemacs Educaon ...... 86-87 Social, Behavioral Sciences, and Economic Sciences ...... 87-88 Technology and Engineering ...... 88-93

Abstract Index ...... 94-96

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 47

decreased in the presence of growth factors, suggesng increased mesenchymal signaling. The presence of growth factors also decreased cell sensivity in spheroid and prinng cultures as well as provided increased sphere pinching to form new spheroids. Combinaon therapy provided increased

sensivity in each culture method although 3D printed cells sll showed higher IC50 values. Co-culture models showed increased stemness when compared to single culture models. 1 Conclusions: Based on the results of these studies, 3D culture Biological Sciences methods have shown that increased cell-cell interacons lead to Subcategory: Cancer Research increased drug resistance. We have also shown that the

combinaon of CFM 4.16 and Osimernib was able to provide Combinaon Therapy in 3D NCSLC Tumor Model increased cell response. Overcomes Induced Drug Resistance Research Team Role: All experiments were performed by me Ebony Nongham, Florida A&M University with the guidance of my co-authors. Sunil Napir and Mandip Singh, Florida A&M University; Stephen Safe, Texas A&M University; Arun K. Rishi, Wayne State Funder Acknowledgement(s): Funding was provided by CREST University Center for Complex Designs for Muldimensional Prinng under NSF Award Number 1735968 Hypothesis: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of all lung cancers and is one of the most common malignant Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Mandip Sachdeva, tumors worldwide. It remains difficult to treat due to late stage [email protected] detecon as well as its highly mutave nature that leads to the development of drug resistance. We have found that mulple 2 growth factor signaling processes are involved in NSCLC drug Biological Sciences resistance that are not easily mimicked in convenonal 2D cell Subcategory: Ecology culture techniques, which can skew cell response measurements. It is necessary to expose cancer cells to the cell- cell and cell-matrix interacons they would experience in vivo to Bite Force Influences Intersexual Conflict and Sexual achieve more physiologically relevant results. We believe that a Selecon in House Cricket (Acheta domescus) combinaonal approach of CFM 4.16 (CARP-1 funconal mimec 4.16) and Osimernib in a 3D printed tumor Fadeke Adeola, University of New Orleans environment will be able to improve response in a more realisc Simon Lailvaux, University of New Orleans manner. Mang interacons are rife with conflict because the Methods: H1975 wildtype and H1975-CL1 (Osimernib resistant) evoluonary interests of males and females seldom coincide. cell lines were used in these studies. Cell viability assays were Intersexual conflict modifies the opportunity, form, and performed comparing monolayer cultured (m), spheroid intensity of sexual selecon, yet the proximate factors affecng cultured (s), and 3D printed (p) cells to compare their response male coercive ability and female resistance are poorly to both single treatment Osimernib and the combinaon of understood. Male combat outcomes are o en influenced by Osimernib and CFM 4.16. Western blot analysis was performed bite force, with superior biters being more likely to achieve measuring the expression of EGFR, MET, VEGFR, and PDGFR victory over poorer biters in a range of species, including both phosphorylated and un-phosphorylated forms. Treatment crickets. If good performers also achieve mang success through response was also measured in the presence and absence of sexual coercion, then bite force might play a role in intersexual 10ng/ml TGF-B, VEGF, and EGF. Tumor invasion was modelled conflict as well. We tested the capacity of bite force to influence through growth factor exposure measuring the size and number mang interacons in house crickets by altering male bite of spheroids that showed the ability to pinch off and form new capacity through neuropharmacological manipulaon. The spheroids. 3D spheroid and printed models were also expanded invertebrate neurotransmier octopamine both mediates to include co-culture with human cancer associated fibroblasts. aggression and underlies movaon to bite in male house crickets. By blocking octopamine receptors through applicaon Results: Monolayer cultured cells showed increasing treatment of an antagonist, epinasne, we tested the effects of reduced sensivity followed by spheroid culture and 3D printed cells bite force on male mang success relave to either control respecvely. Western blot analysis confirmed increased males or males treated with excess octopamine. We show, using expression of epithelial markers E-cadherin and Vimenn, which formal selecon analysis, that male bite capacity influences

48 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

sexual selecon resulng from intersexual conflict in house created, facilitang greater repair of the cell. In the future, we crickets. plan on tesng this experiment out in in vivo mouse models. References: Sakaguchi, T, et al. Adsorpon of Uranium by Chin Research Team Role: I raised and mated the crickets and Phosphate and Chitosan Phosphate. Agric. Biol. Chem., 45(10), collected their bite force measurements. 1981, 2191-2195. Deters, A., et al. N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Oligosaccharides Funder Acknowledgement(s): University of New Orleans induce Mucin Secreon from Colonic Tissue and Induce Differenaon of Human Keranocytes. Journal of Pharmacy Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Simon Lailvaux, [email protected] and Pharmacology, 60, 2008, 197-204. Stockley, J., et al. Surpassing light-induced cell damage in vitro with novel cell culture media. Scienfic Reports, 7(1), 2017, 3849 -860.

Research Team Role: I conducted all parts of this experiment.

3 Funder Acknowledgement(s): LSAMP BD: Delaware State Chemistry and Chemical Sciences University; Greater Philadelphia Region Louis Stokes Alliance for Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology Minority Parcipaon (Philadelphia AMP) NSF Award Number 1810609 Effect of Phosphorylated N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine on Epithelial Cell Recovery Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Cherese Winstead, [email protected] Joshua M. Paerson, Delaware State University Cherese Winstead and Kimberly Milligan, Delaware State University 4 Chemistry and Chemical Sciences Crohn’s Disease is an Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) marked by Subcategory: Chemical/Bimolecular/Process Engineering chronic conspaon, diarrhea, inflammaon, and other harsh medical manifestaons. One such manifestaon is leaky gut Self-Assembly of Tri-Pepdes to Design a Novel Proton syndrome. Leaky gut, also known as increased intesnal Transfer Membrane for Fuel Cell Applicaons permeability, is a digesve condion in which bacteria and toxins are able to 'leak' through the intesnal wall due to Shejla Pollozi, City University of New York, The Graduate damaged intesnal epithelial cells. To repair themselves, these Center & Lehman College cells need an increased amount of acetyl-galactosamine, which Hossam Elshendidi, Gustavo Lopez, and Donna McGregor, City is produced from glucosamine. University of New York Lehman College and The Graduate Center; Adlai Katzenberg and Miguel Modesno, New York We hypothesize that the in vitro synthesis of acetyl-glucosamine University Tandon School of Engineering phosphate will facilitate greater epithelial cellular repair as compared to commercial glucosamine products. Polymerized N- Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) convert acetyl-D-glucosamine (Chin) was phosphorylated by the chemical energy into electricity. Given the depleng amounts of addion of ortho-phosphoric acid in the presence of urea and fossil fuels today, hydrogen-powered PEMFCs can be crucial in dimethylformamide (DMF). Ascorbic acid was then added to the reducing carbon emissions, eliminang greenhouse gases and new molecule. NMR and FT-IR were used to characterize the reducing climate change effects. Nonetheless, their membranes molecule. Lightly damaged cells were then grown in the are generally comprised of perfluoro-sulphonic acid polymers, presence of Phosphorylated Acetyl-glucosamine (P-AGlcn), such as Nafion. This polymer consists of a polytetrafluoro- unphosphorylated acetyl-glucosamine (AGlcn) and control. ethylene (PTFE) backbone, aached to a sulfonic acid sidechain. Nafion has been shown to be suscepble to thermal We expect to have a percent yield of 65% of P-AGlcn with a degradaon and prone to impuries, thus reducing a cell’s phosphorous content of 2.48%. We expect the cells grown in the performance and longevity. P-AGlcn supplemented medium to recover faster and grow beer than the control and AGlcn group. Pepdes can serve as more sustainable, greener alternaves to Nafion. When self-assembled into gels via hydrogen bonds Cells use less energy in the conversion of P-AGlcn to actyl- between N-accepng and N-donang moiees (imidazole rings galactosamine (AGal) than they do in using AGlcn via the citric in hisdine (His) and similar moiees in asparc acid/glutamic acid cycle. This usage of less energy allows more AGal to be acid), these small biological molecules result in a myriad of cross -linked secondary nanostructures (imaged via Atomic Force

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 49

Microscopy) and exhibit comparable proton transfer rates to Brennan Schaffner, University of St. Thomas; Finn Voichick, Nafion. Therefore, they can potenally serve as proton transfer Washington University membranes for PEMFCs. Movaon: We are interested in simulang quantum Specifically, this work focuses on the synthesis (via Solid State mechanical systems using quantum computers, since it is Pepde Synthesis), self-assembly (incremental pH increases of exponenally more costly to represent a quantum system on a acidic pepde soluons that yield gel formaon) and classical computer. We studied how a sequence of single-qubit characterizaon (Infrared, UV-Visible and Circular Dichroism) of rotaons can be composed with quantum walk operators to fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected tripepdes implement the Jacobi-Anger expansion, a polynomial that is containing His and asparc acid (Asp). In addion to their foundaonal to simulang common Hamiltonians [1]. structural properes, we have also been measuring their proton transfer properes and conducvity through Electrochemical Problems Being Invesgated: J. Haah recently gave an algorithm Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) as a funcon of amino acid to find a sequence of single-qubit rotaons that implement a arrangement. Preliminary data shows higher conducvity rates polynomial funcon chosen by the user [2]. However, no when the negavely charged Asp occupies the N-terminus of the implementaon of this algorithm is available. Furthermore, the tripepde. In the future, we will be measuring proton transfer algorithm runs in O(N^3) me, which is too slow for use on large rates as a funcon of film thickness, humidity, temperature and -degree polynomials. Also, the algorithm only works on solvent. polynomials that sasfy certain parity constraints. We implemented Haah’s algorithm in Python and Mathemaca and Research Team Role: I have been focusing on the synthesis, self studied several improvements. We wanted to know on which -assembly and characterizaon of tripepdes containing plaorm, Python or Mathemaca, was the algorithm faster. We hisdine and asparc acid at various arrangements. I have also wanted to extend the algorithm to decompose polynomials chosen specific sequences that exhibit the formaon of beta that don’t sasfy the parity constraints. Finally, we are studying sheet fibers via hydrogen bonds, apparent in Atomic Force how to avoid root-finding, the boleneck of the algorithm. Microscopy as well. I have also performed preliminary Impedance Spectroscopy measurements to idenfy sequences Methods and Results: We implemented the algorithm in Python with higher conducvity potenals. Alongside our collaborators and Mathemaca because both are widely used, and they at NYU, I will be invesgang the preparaon of interdigitated support arbitrary-precision arithmec, which is required for the array chips and thin film casng to perfect the impedance algorithm. (For Python we used the Sympy library to perform analysis and perform thickness, temperature, humidity and arbitrary-precision arithmec). We tested our code on a solvent dependent studies. Alongside Dr. Gustavo Lopez, I have Macbook Air. We found the Mathemaca implementaon was invesgated the theorecal kinec barrier values between significantly faster than the Python version, especially at high hisdine-containing pepdes and Nafion membranes. precision. For instance, for a fixed precision of 10^-4, with N = 145, we measured runmes of 6*10^4 s for Python, and 1*10^1 Funder Acknowledgement(s): Centers of Research Excellence in s for Mathemaca. The difference in runme is largely because Science and Technology Mathemaca is faster at root-finding. We plan to make this code publicly available. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Donna McGregor, [email protected] We also improved Haah’s algorithm to make it work on a larger class of polynomials: we can decompose even polynomials that don’t sasfy the parity constraints. Part of the algorithm involves finding the roots of the given polynomial and construcng two new polynomials from those roots. We found that by paroning the roots differently, we don’t need to require parity constraints on the input polynomial. A similar technique is described in [3]. 5 Computer Sciences and Informaon Management Conclusion and Future Research: Going forward, we hope to Subcategory: Computer Science & Informaon Systems find alternaves to root-finding, the boleneck of Haah’s algorithm. The Bauer method for decomposing matrices [3] has Efficient Algorithms for Quantum Signal Processing shown promising inial results.

Decomposion References: [1] Low, G.H. & Chuang, I.L. (2017.) Opmal Hamiltonian Bhaskar Roberts, Princeton University Simulaon by Quantum Signal Processing. Phys. Rev. Le. 118, 010501.

50 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

[2] Haah, J. (2018.) Product Decomposion of Periodic Funcons this experiment was to determine the effecveness of using a in Quantum Signal Processing. ArXiv:1806.10236. variety of squash (i.e. Dunja, Tempest, Desert, or Yellowfin) as a [3] Goodman, T.N., Micchelli, C.A., Rodriguez, G. et al. (1997). trap crop to protect Crimson Sweet watermelons. A total of Spectral Factorizaon of Laurent Polynomials. Advances in seven plots were randomly planted with either Crimson Sweet Computaonal Mathemacs 7: 429. hps://doi.org/10.1023/ watermelon (n=3), watermelon with either Tempest, Dunja or A:1018915407202. Yellowfin squash (n=3), or all four variees of squash (n=1). A total of three fields were planted with squash and watermelons. Research Team Role: I helped implement Haah's algorithm in There was one type of squash variety (Tempest, Dunja or Python and Mathemaca. I also designed the improvement to Yellowfin) planted within each of the three fields, however, the algorithm which allows it to work on a larger class of Crimson Sweet watermelon was planted in all of the three fields. polynomials (without parity constraints). Finally, I helped In all plots, squash crops were planted on the perimeter of the implement and test alternaves to root-finding. field and watermelon crops were planted in the center of the field. The next four plots were used for the control plots. In Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF REU program (CAAR) at the three control plots, only watermelons were grown, however, in University of Maryland, College Park. The primary author was the last control plot, all four variants of squash were grown. All funded by Dr. An Zhu. test plots were 50 . long and 30 feet wide (3 rows 10 . apart, 4-6 . plant spacing, 8 plants per row). A er 10 weeks of growth Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Andrew Childs, [email protected] and observaon, it was revealed that most of the insect damage occurred on squash plants. Interesngly, more watermelon plots without squash were highly damaged by the beetles than the watermelon plots surrounded by squash plants. This indicates that Dunja, Tempest, Desert, or Yellowfin squash crops have the potenal to be an effecve trap crop for watermelon. Further studies are needed to determine what chemical signals are being released from squash crops that aract cucumber beetles. 6 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences References: Subcategory: Plant Research Bisognin, Dilson. (2002). Origin and evoluon of culvated cucurbits. Cincia Rural. 32. 10.1590/S0103- Developing and Implemenng Integrated Insect Pest 84782002000400028. Management and Food Safety Pracces for Cucurbit Geisler, Malinda. (2019). Squash. Website: hps:// Producon in the Central Maryland and the Delmarva www.agmrc.org/commodies-products/vegetables/squash Evans, B. G., & Renkema, J. M. (2018, May). Striped cucumber Peninsula beetle. Retrieved from hps://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/

creatures/VEG/BEAN/striped_cucumber_beetle.html Lenneisha Gilbert, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Research Team Role: I was involved in all aspects of the Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and squash (Cucurbita) research, including plowing, planng, and harvesng. belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family are important crops to

the United States because of their economical and nutrional Funder Acknowledgement(s): The Louis Stokes Alliance for values. There are over 50 different variees of watermelon, Minority Parcipaon (LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) however, the culvar Crimson Sweet is one of the most Fellowships funded by the Naonal Science Foundaon. I thank consumed watermelon variees in the naon. While both of Dr. S. Zebelo and T. Tigolst for advising me and give special these plant species have important economic value within the thanks to my lab crew for help in the field and laboratory food market there are two insect pests, Acalymma viatum studies. (striped cucumber beetles) and Diabroca undecimpunctata

(spoed cucumber beetles), that decrease the yield and the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Simon Zebelo, [email protected] revenue received by the farmers. To avoid crop damage from cucumber beetles and to decrease their populaon, many farmers choose to use toxic chemicals. These chemical pescides have been linked to many detrimental effects such as affecng human health, having environmental impact, decreasing beneficial insects’ populaon, and causing insects to become resistant. Adult cucumber beetles will always be moving into a crop from somewhere else. Cucumber beetles generally aggregate at field edges regardless, and aracve trap crops may further help this tendency. Therefore, the main focus of

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 51

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Funding was provided by an NSF Grant No. 1601127.

7 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Yongjin Lu, [email protected] Mathemacs and Stascs Subcategory: Mathemacs and Stascs

Uniform Stabilizaon to a Non-trivial Equilibrium of a Fluid-viscoelasc Structure Interacon Model 8 Tony Haines, Old Dominion University Nanoscience Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering In this project, we aim to study the stabilizaon to a non-trivial equilibrium of a fluid-viscoelasc structure interacon (FVI) Nanoparcle and Microbiota Exposure Alter Mucus model. FVI studied here belongs to a subcategory of fluid- Composion in an In Vitro Gastrointesnal (GI) Tract structure interacon (FSI) where the interacon between fluid Model and a structure submerged in the fluid is at the heart of the maer. Some examples of FSI are a submarine submerged in the Rhodesherdeline Limage, Binghamton University ocean or the blood cells in the human blood. The underlying Elad Tako, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health at system of PDEs that determines the dynamical behavior of the Cornell University; Cláudia N. H. Marques and Gretchen Mahler, FVI comprised the full nonlinear Navier-Stokes equaon and a Binghamton University wave equaon. The interacon between the fluid and the viscoelasc structure occurs at an interface between the two The incidence of gastrointesnal disorders is rising, and medium. The coupled system is subject to a me independent industrial food processing and food addive consumpon is external force, which generates non-trivial and possibly unstable expanding on a similar trajectory [1]. One common food addive equilibrium. The goal is to stabilize the coupled system via is metal oxide nanoparcles (NP)2. Few studies have been feedback mechanism. performed on the intesnal mucus lining to beer understand

the role it plays as a protecve barrier, and to determine if it is The solid in the interacve system is made from viscoelasc affected by commensal bacteria present in the gut or ingested material. As is well known, viscoelasc material could dissipate NP. We hypothesize that different microbiota species and/or NP heat and is widely used to stabilize mechanical systems. The can alter mucus composion and intesnal funcon. The goal of fluid is subject to an addional proporonal feedback. An this study is to understand if and how the mucus layer is important feature of the proposed feedback mechanism is that affected by the presence of bacteria and exposure to prisne or there is no feedback on the interface. We run numerical digested metal oxide NP. To test the hypothesis that bacteria simulaons to verify the theorecal result that FVI subject to the and NP food addives might alter mucus composion, thickness, aforemenoned feedback mechanism is uniformly stable. The and gut funcon, an in vitro model of the GI tract including numerical scheme is constructed based on the finite element digeson, the absorpve (Caco-2) and mucus-producing goblet method and the disconnuous Galerkin method. We apply the (HT29-MTX) cells, and both commensal, Gram posive monolithic approach to unify the velocity of the fluid and the (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) and opportunisc, Gram negave velocity of the solid through the transmission condion on the (Escherichia coli ATCC 11775) bacterial strains were used. The interface. model was exposed to physiologically relevant doses of TiO2,

SiO2, ZnO or Fe2O3 NP for up to four hours. Mucus was then The numerical simulaon shows that the energy of the coupled stained with Alcian Blue (AB), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS), or an system does not decay if there is no damping in the system; the Alexa Fluor® 488 conjugate of Wheat germ agglunin (WGA) to interior damping on the fluid has to be strong enough in order determine thickness and composion. Co-cultures of Caco-2 and to achieve an exponenal decay rate of the energy funconal HT29-MTX grown for 15 days developed a visible mucus layer. around the non-trivial equilibrium. AB staining indicated that acidic mucins are spread throughout

the cell monolayer to serve as a protecve barrier. There were In the future, we will run more numerical simulaons with no significant differences in acidic mucosubstances following different parameters of fluid viscosity, and we will also find a exposure to NP or bacteria. PAS results showed that neutral quantave relaonship between the decay rate of the energy mucosubstances significantly increased in the presence of and the strength of the interior damping on the fluid. bacteria, and significantly decreased following exposure to

prisne NP and bacteria. Neutral mucins are primarily found on Research Team Role: The numerical simulaon, the variaon of the epithelial surface3, and a decrease in mucus concentraon certain parameters and wring of some parts of the codes was conducted by me.

52 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

can alter the funcon of the mucosa as a protecve barrier. Brown, and Hacke (1994) was ulized as the theorecal These results indicate that exposure to both commensal framework guiding this study, which provided a context to bacteria, opportunisc bacteria, and NP has impacts on the understand the factors that guide URMs in making career-based mucus layer. Since mucus is known to serve as a protecve decisions. The larger project invesgates their decision-making barrier, changes in the distribuon or paern may be indicave processes based on background and environmental factors that of certain pathological condions3. Future studies involve affected their learning experiences, self-efficacy, interests, exposing co-cultures of Caco-2/HT29-MTX to different strains of supports, barriers, goals, and outcome expectaons. Fi y bacteria and types of NP. This model can provide a plaorm for interview parcipants were recruited through a Naonal understanding changes in the mucus layer, disease Postdoctoral Associaon dedicated e-alert to all members, pathogenesis, and therapeuc opons such as the manipulaon yielding both current and former STEM postdoctoral scholars as of the gut microbiota to address and diagnose chronic parcipants, of which 17 were underrepresented minories. inflammatory gut diseases. Parcipants took part in a semi-structed interview and received a $25.00 gi card for their parcipaon. Interview data were References: analyzed with inducve and deducve techniques to themes 1. Lerner, A, et al. Autoimmun. Rev (2015) 14:479-489. and paerns through coding cycles (Silverman, 1993) while 2. Elsaesser A, et al. Adv Drug Deliv Rev (2012) 64.2:129-37. memoing. 3. Kufe, DW. Nat Rev Cancer. (2009) 9(12):874-885. Using Stake’s (1995) process, a prominent theme that emerged Research Team Role: I conducted all aspects of this research as for underrepresented minority postdoctoral fellows was the part of my dissertaon under the supervision of Dr. Gretchen impact of their mentor on their success both during and a er Mahler. their postdoctoral appointment. Some mentors were supporve, helping postdocs foster their next career steps, Funder Acknowledgement(s): Research presented in this while other parcipants spoke of an unsupporve environment, abstract is supported by the Naonal Instutes of Health feeling like forgoen cogs of the university’s research arm. (1R01ES028788); Louis Stoke Alliance Bridge to the Doctorate Mentors played an important role related to the atmosphere of Fellowship; Gates Millennium Scholarship. the lab in which the postdoctoral scholar researched. The implicaons of the scholar-mentor relaonship for Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Gretchen Mahler, underrepresented minories in STEM field ulmately play a role [email protected] in the career decision-making process for this group, from how this influences one’s lab environment, fosters networking, encourages individual growth, encourages an atmosphere of equality in the workplace, and advises career decision-making. SCCT was useful in placing this study in a foundaon of established knowledge and offered logical explanaons for the relaonships observed but also it revealed new understandings 9 of URM STEM identy. Future research can trace these students Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences longitudinally to see how current postdocs/decisions morph Subcategory: Educaon over me and influence their career paths based on various experiences and contexts of the scholar-mentor relaonship. AGEP Engineering Alliance: A Model to Advance Ulmately this and future research can help to understand engineering postdoc experiences as catalysts for Historically Underrepresented Minority Postdoctoral underrepresented minority (URM) entry into, and success Scholars and Early Career Faculty in Engineering within, STEM academia.

Kathryn Starkey, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Research Team Role: I dra ed the IRB Report of Change to Dr. Sylvia Mendez, Dean Valerie Marn-Conley, and Dr. Sarah add this new subset of our larger NSF project, aided in the Cooksey, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs creaon of the interview protocol and recruitment process for parcipants through the Naonal Postdoctoral This study explores the career decision-making process of Associaon. I also conducted 18 interviews with current and postdoctoral scholars in STEM fields, a project sponsored by the former postdoctoral students, helped distribute gi cards for Naonal Science Foundaon Alliances for Graduate Educaon interview parcipants, coded all interviews in a group coding and the Professoriate (AGEP) program, aimed at understanding process, wrote the literature review, group wring and eding how the decision process influences the pursuit of a career in for the analysis secon of the paper. academia upon compleon of a postdoctoral appointment, parcularly for underrepresented minories (URMs). The Social Funder Acknowledgement(s): Naonal Science Foundaon, Cognive Career Theory (SCCT) originally developed by Lent, UCCS OSP# 18-076

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 53

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Sylvia Mendez, 0.0003 mM) compared to stac controls (0.031-0.002 mM). [email protected] Addionally, surface area analysis of calcified nodules in Image J, showed that increasing CS in dynamic models decreases the average size of the nodules. These results show that stac culture condions and an increase in CS results in increased calcificaon. In dynamic cultures, the presence of 1 dyne/cm2 results in lowered ARS levels and resulted in smaller nodules. 10 Further research ulizing this fabricated microfluidic device Technology and Engineering involves studying addional biomechanical and biochemical Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering factors that lead to valve disease progression in vitro.

Glycosaminoglycan-Induced Calcificaon within a References: 1 Mahler et al. Arterio (2013). ThrombVascBio. Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Model of the Aorc 2 Freeman & Oo. (2005) Circulaon, 2005. Valve Fibrosa 3 Porras et al. (2018). PNAS 4 Dahal et al. (2017). JBiomedMaterResA Melissa Mendoza, Binghamton University 5 Mina et al. (2016). RSCAdvances. Bruce Murray, Peter Huang, and Gretchen Mahler, Binghamton University Research Team Role: I conducted all aspects of this research under the supervision of Dr. Gretchen Mahler. Calcific aorc valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive disease ranging from mild valve thickening (aorc sclerosis) to severe Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by NSF valve calcificaon (aorc stenosis). [1] Current treatments for CMMI 1919438, the Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellowship for CAVD include complete valve replacement and minimal drug Graduate Students, and LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate. intervenons tailored to other cardiovascular diseases.[2,3] Early-CAVD has been characterized by the reorganizaon of the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Gretchen Mahler, extracellular matrix, where glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as [email protected] chondroin sulfate (CS), normally found in the valve spongiosa layer, migrate to the collagen-rich fibrosa layer and are deposited near calcified nodules. [1, 4} Here we ulize three- dimensional (3D) microfluidic devices to study the effects of 11 shear stress and CS on calcificaon in a model of the aorc valve Technology and Engineering fibrosa. We hypothesize that as the concentraon of CS Subcategory: Electrical Engineering increases in cultures, there will be an increase in calcific nodules, and in the presence of shear stress and endothelial Modeling and Analysis of Helical Kresling Origami cells, there will be a decrease in calcificaon. Antennas

We developed a microfluidic bioreactor that is capable of 3D cell Gianfranco Perez-Greco, Florida Internaonal University culture for up to 14 days. The mul-layer polydimethylsiloxane Adrian Astros, Akash Biswas, Abdul-Saar Kaddour, and Stavros (PDMS) microfluidic devices are fabricated ulizing a wafer V. Georgakopoulos, Florida Internaonal University mold, so lithography, and corona discharge. The PDMS device consists of a flow channel and a reservoir containing a 3D Tradionally, antennas have been thought of as solid, rigid- matrix.[5] The matrix hydrogels are collagen I-only healthy bodied objects. The properes of these antennas have been controls or collagen I with CS at 1 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL. Porcine studied extensively. Recently, origami antennas have aracted aorc valve intersal cells (PAVIC) are embedded within and aenon due to their unique advantages. Specifically, origami endothelial cells (PAVEC) are seeded onto the matrix. Steady antennas are reconfigurable, efficiently packable and effortlessly shear stress at 1 dyne/cm2 is applied using a peristalc pump deployable. Moreover, such antennas can tune their and placed at 37°C and 5% CO2. Alizarin Red S staining (ARS), an performance in terms of operang resonant frequency [1], assay used to assess calcium deposion both qualitavely and polarizaon [2], and radiaon paern [3]. This work focuses on quantavely, is used to quanfy calcific nodule formaon a er the analysis and modeling of a helical Kresling origami antenna. cultures. Healthy microfluidic models at 1 dyne/cm2 with only First, nested and inter-dependent variables and funcons are PAVIC embedded into the matrix have decreased ARS staining developed to define the geometry of this antenna. Then, compared to stac controls. The addion of 1 mg/mL CS to the MATLAB code is developed to create the antenna model in collagen I hydrogels seeded with PAVEC and PAVIC cells resulted ANSYS HFSS via visual basic scripts, so that the structure is in increased ARS (0.050-0.027 mM) compared to stac controls generated efficiently by defining its fundamental parameters. In (0.023-0.002 mM). In the presence of 20 mg/mL CS, microfluidic fact, our code could be customized for any 3D electromagnec PAVIC/PAVEC cultures result in less calcific nodules (0.023- (EM) so ware that supports scripng interfaces. In addion, our

54 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

code enables the quick generaon of helical Kresling origami Muscle stem cells have the potenal to revoluonize therapies antennas, i.e., geometries can be created in minutes compared to treat degenerave muscular diseases, primarily muscular to manual drawing that could take days. Furthermore, each dystrophy. These versale cells have a variety of applicaons layer of these antennas is defined independently, so that each ranging from modeling diseases to making engineered living can be uniquely folded to a different degree, thereby improving systems. In order to develop cell therapies using muscle stem their reconfigurability. Finally, our code is used to analyze the cells, it is imperave to understand how myogenesis impacts performance of such antennas in terms of frequency of their biological processes, specifically protease modulaon. operaon, polarizaon and radiaon paern. Previous research has shown that muscle stem cells experience an increase in protease levels, in parcular cathepsin L, during References: differenaon at high confluency. Muscle stem cells can [1] X. Liu, S. Yao and S. V. Georgakopoulos. (2017). A frequency experience changes in protease producon and acvity in tunable origami spherical helical antenna. IEEE Internaonal response to biochemical and biomechanical smuli. Here, we Symposium on Antennas and Propagaon & USNC/URSI examined the effects of protease inhibion on C2C12s, a murine Naonal Radio Science Meeng, San Diego, CA, 2017, pp. 1361- muscle stem cell line, in order to counteract the increase in 1362. cathepsin levels. We hypothesized that protease inhibion [2] S. Yao and S. V. Georgakopoulos. (2018). Origami Segmented would decrease cathepsin protease levels thus affecng cell Helical Antenna With Switchable Sense of Polarizaon. IEEE viability. To test this hypothesis, we treated C2C12s with E64, a Access, vol. 6, pp. 4528-4536, 2018. broad range cysteine cathepsin inhibitor, for 6 and 24 hours. [3] X. Liu, S. Yao, N. Russo and S. V. Georgakopoulos. (2018). A er incubaon, the cells were harvested to obtain protein Reconfigurable Helical Antenna Based on Origami Neoprene content for analysis using cathepsin zymography and western with High Radiaon Efficiency. IEEE Internaonal Symposium on blong. Whole cells were harvested a er E64 treatment for Antennas and Propagaon & USNC/URSI Naonal Radio Science single cell analysis using the Amnis ImageStream to assess cell Meeng, Boston, MA, pp. 185-186. viability. Our results showed a decrease in protease acvity over me a er inhibion. We observed no changes in cathepsin K Research Team Role: I implemented the MATLAB code, protein levels, however, cathepsin L protein levels significantly simulated and opmized the Kresling origami structure on HFSS. increased a er prolonged exposure to E64. A er a 24-hour E64 incubaon in culture media, cell viability decreased from 74% to Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by 52.2% of the cell populaon. We postulated that cells under Naonal Science Foundaon grant EFRI 1332348 (which includes stress will produce more inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-ɑ, a REM grant); Air Force Office of Scienfic Research grant thus affecng cell viability. A er a 24-hour incubaon with TNF- FA9550-18-1-0191. ɑ to induce cell stress, we observed more cell death compared to control samples incubated in untreated culture media. Future Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Stavros V. Georgakopoulos, work is aimed at invesgang the secreon of proteases into georgako@fiu.edu the media as a result of inhibion and cell stress as well as damaging the cells. By understanding protease biology in muscle stem cells a er E64 inhibion, we can beer develop a method to control elevated cathepsin protease levels in large batches of differenang stem cells. In essence, upscaling the producon of muscle stem cells will allow for beer manufacturing of cell therapies and provides a reliable parameter to gauge the quality of muscle stem cells.

Research Team Role: I was responsible for culturing the cell line, administering the inhibitor and cytokine treatments, conducng the protein analysis by western blong and zymography, and conducng single cell analysis using the Amnis ImageStream. 12 Biological Sciences Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Manu Pla, The Effects of Protease Inhibion on Muscle Stem manu.pla@gatech.edu Cells

Larry Stokes, Georgia Instute of Technology; University of Mississippi Dr. Manu Pla and Dr. Adeola Michael, Georgia Instute of Technology

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 55

13 14 Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Subcategory: Cell and Molecular Biology Subcategory: Genecs

Analysis of BMP Type II Receptor Funcons in Opmizaon of Isothermal Amplificaon in SHERLOCK Embryonic Axial Paerning for the Detecon of Tick-Borne Pathogens

Jira White, Claflin University Nora J. Gilliam, Indiana University - Purdue University Benjamin Tajer and Mary C. Mullins, University of Pennsylvania Indianapolis Gordon C. Adams, Broad Instute of MIT and Harvard; Jacob E. Bone Morphogenec Protein (BMP) signaling paerns the dorsal Lemieux, Massachuses General Hospital; Pardis C. Sabe, -ventral axis during early embryonic development. The dimeric Harvard University BMP ligand brings together two type I and two type II receptors to signal. The type II receptors then phosphorylate the type I CRISPR-based diagnosc tools have the potenal to surpass the receptors, which in turn phosphorylate and acvate Smad limits of current diagnosc tools with efficient, field-deployable transcripon factors. Recent studies have shown that dorsal- technology and transform ck-borne infecon clinical care and ventral paerning requires a complex containing two different clinical diagnosis more broadly. Previous diagnosc tools have type I receptors, Acvr1 and Bmpr1, yet the roles of the Acvr2 either been limited in sensivity or required consistent type II receptors in this complex remain uncharacterized. electricity and sophiscated laboratory equipment, which are Murine gastrulaon requires Acvr2, but this process involves not always available in a resource-limited or field seng. Nodal and BMP ligands both of which bind Acvr2, confounding SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensivity Enzymac Reporter the role of Acvr2 receptors in early development. Zebrafish unLOCKing) is a CRISPR-based diagnosc tool that couples phenotypes for Nodal and BMP deficiencies are disnct, isothermal recombinase polymerase amplificaon (RPA) of allowing us to separate the role of Acvr2 in these pathways. To target genec material and detecon of the amplified material explore these roles, we have developed mutants for each of the by CRISPR-Cas13a that can then be visualized on lateral-flow four zebrafish Acvr2 receptors. Though all Acvr2 single mutants paper to achieve sensivity and field-deployability. A remaining present with a wild-type phenotype, combining these mutants challenge with SHERLOCK is mulplex tesng for mulple through crosses reveals a variety of loss of funcon phenotypes. possible infecons; however, RPA has been shown to amplify Acvr2ba and Acvr2bb play the largest roles, with zygoc nonspecifically, which generates undesired products and acvr2ba;acvr2bb double mutants having a mildly dorsalized introduces design and efficiency challenges for mulplexed phenotype. While acvr2aa;acvr2ab double mutants have no amplificaon. The United States has seen an increase in the phenotype, they do contribute to dorsoventral paerning, as number of cases of ck-borne disease, but these infecons the quadruple mutants are severely dorsalized. We have also cannot be disnguished on clinical grounds alone, and paents observed some variability between embryos of the same zygoc are frequently infected by more than one ck-borne pathogen. genotype, which may be due to maternal contribuon. We aim Thus, there is a need for efficient and specific mulplex tesng to further characterize the maternal and zygoc contribuons of for detecng mulple ck-borne pathogens. In order to fulfill each Acvr2 receptor through further crosses, morpholino the need for specific and mulplexable isothermal amplificaon, knockdowns, and RNA rescue experiments. other isothermal amplificaon methods should be explored and compared to RPA. We found that the isothermal amplificaon What part of this research did you do?: I analyzed CRISPR method helicase dependent amplificaon (HDA): 1) is knockout alleles for the 4 Acvr2 receptors in Zebrafish to mulplexable with three different ck-borne pathogens, determine the role Acvr2 plays in embryonic axial paerning. I Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia micro, and Borrelia genotyped over three-hundred fish for five different mutant miyamotoi; 2) is compable with CRISPR-Cas13a detecon by alleles, to idenfy fish containing useful genotypes for crosses. I allowing HDA products to be entered directly into the Cas13a genotyped and analyzed hundreds of embryos from those detecon step; 3) can visually amplify more specifically than RPA crosses to determine the roles that each of the Acvr2 receptors via gel electrophoresis; and 4) can amplify target genec play in embryonic axial paerning. I also synthesized Acvr2 material from both synthec genec material of ck-borne receptor RNA, performed injecon experiments in early pathogens and clinical samples from paents who have tested embryos, and performed in-situ hybridizaon experiments to posive for babesiosis via tradional diagnosc measures. These mark bmp signaling. findings demonstrate HDA’s potenal to be used in SHERLOCK, but more opmizaon needs to be conducted in order to Funder Acknowledgement(s): Naonal Instute of Health introduce an even more sensive amplificaon step to SHERLOCK. Further experiments will elucidate the limits of Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Mary C. Mullins, sensivity and detecon for HDA when being mulplexed. The [email protected] outcome of these experiments will lead to further opmizaon

56 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

and validaon for SHERLOCK technology as a novel approach to ssues from 22 cadavers. Postmortem samples were collected clinical detecon of ck-borne pathogens. from cases with mes of death ranging from short (8 hours) to long (11 days) from two different geographic locaons: i) References: Pensacola, FL and ii) Tampere, Finland. We hypothesize that as Gootenberg, J.S., Abudayyeh, O.O., et al. (2017). Nucleic acid the human brain decomposes, microbial proliferaon and detecon with CRISPR-Cas13a/C2c2. Science. 356(6336): 438- diversity will increase with me of death. The relave 442. abundances and the influence of individual case characteriscs Myhrvold, C., Freije, C., Gootenberg, J.S., et al. (2018). Field- on microbiome indices such as species-richness and evenness deployable viral diagnoscs using CRISPR-Cas13. Science. 360 were determined, and an analysis of covariance was performed. (6387): 444-448. Escherichia were the predominant microbes in Finnish brain samples with greater than 50% of the relave abundance of the Research Team Role: I conducted all of the PCR reacons, HDA observed bacteria assigned to this genus. Conversely, reacons, and gel electrophoreses, and performed some of the Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus predominated CRISPR-Cas13a detecon assays. brain samples from United States corpses. To date, these results represent the first study of its kind to connect gut-associated Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was supported by microbes to decomposing brain samples from actual criminal the Naonal Human Genome Research Instute by the NHGRI case cadavers using next-generaon sequencing. A future R25 DAP research grant through the Broad Instute Summer research queson would be: How did the bacteria get into the Research Program. I thank the Sabe Lab and the Broad brain? Are specific types of bacterial species associated with Instute for granng me the opportunity to intern during the specific organs? Here, this research encompasses the largest summer. postmortem catalogue with the goal of idenfying and characterizing thanatomicrobiota associated with decomposing Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Pardis Sabe, vertebrates. pardis@broadinstute.org Research Team Role: For this research, I conducted a i) Phenol- Chloroform DNA extracon, ii) Polymerase Chain Reacon, and 15 iii) E-Gel Electrophoresis System.

Biological Sciences Funder Acknowledgement(s): Naonal Instute of Jusce Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology 2017-MU-MU-0042, Naonal Science Foundaon HBCU-UP HRD 1911660 Gut-associated Bacteria in Human Postmortem Brains

Briany Hume-Dawson, Alabama State University Courtnee Bell, Sheree Finley, and Gulnaz Javan, Alabama State University

Escherichia coli is a normal resident of the human intesnal 16 microbiota; however, recent studies have demonstrated the Chemistry and Chemical Sciences existence of this microbe in postmortem brain ssues. E. coli has Subcategory: Materials Science been shown to successfully translocate from blood to the central nervous system in both in vitro and in vivo blood brain Understanding the Chemical Transformaon of Redox- barrier models. Studies from the Thanatos Lab at Alabama State University have revealed disnct thanatomicrobiota (microbiota Acve Molecules using Electrochemical Microscopy of death) signatures in human body sites a er death. Thanatomicrobiome studies aest that postmortem microbial Karis R. Barne, University of Maryland, Balmore County succession may have the potenal to reveal essenal microbiota Venkateshkumar Prabhakaran, and Grant Johnson, Pacific biomarkers for the idenficaon of me of death. As microbial Northwest Naonal Laboratory cells increase and human cells decline, the corresponding numbers depend on many abioc and bioc environmental Molecular-level understanding of charge transfer processes in factors. Therefore, determining the diversity of microbial redox-acve species at electrochemical interfaces enables communies located in internal body sites, using bioinformacs raonal design of high-performance energy storage and machine-learning tools, has the potenal to be a useful technologies. A combinaon of scanning electrochemical cell biomarker in forensic microbiology. The brain is idenfied as an microscopy (SECCM) and spectroscopy reveals spaally localized intermediate-decomposing body site in the progression of the reacons occurring during redox processes. In this work, we natural order of human decomposion. In this study, we studied how chemical transformaons occurring in single (e.g., performed 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing on the brain Ferrocenemethanol, FcMeOH) and two-electron redox transfer

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 57

species (e.g., 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid disodium Phenolic compounds and their recurrent derivaves are useful salt, AQ) affect their electrochemical performance. Specifically, a compounds for the fabricaon of plascs, adhesives and other microscale SECCM was used to measure the diffusion of redox commodies. These compounds find their way into aquac ions (FcMeOH and AQ) in 0.1 mM hydrochloric acid on indium environments through the usual degradaon of organic maer n oxide (ITO) electrodes. The diffusion coefficients calculated and also due to discharge of effluents from industrials from the data indicate that the formaon of neutral species wastewaters and percolaon and runoffs from agricultural impedes migraon of ions during reducon of FcMeOH. In acvies and landfills. Once here, they undergo degradaon contrast, AQ showed the same diffusion coefficient for both and/or transformaons due to physical, chemical and biological processes, reflecng no formaon of neutral species. High- factors that may eventually interfere in the metabolism and resoluon electrospray ionizaon-mass spectrometry was used growth of aquac species. Therefore, the removal of such to idenfy the charged species of FcMeOH and AQ present in compounds from the environment may serve as a sustainability electrolytes. A peak shi observed using ultraviolet-visible model through remediaon and reulizaon of the compounds. spectroscopy confirmed the formaon of neutral vs. charged species in FcMeOH and only charged species in AQ on Thus, this study intended to idenfy and operate a disncve electrodeposited ITO electrodes. We hypothesize that the method to recover polyphenolic compounds from water formaon of neutral species may be avoided in energy storage environments by using the membrane-based separaon devices to promote facile ionic diffusion during charge/ method. Pursuing this objecve, this work achieved the discharge processes and higher overall device performance. fabricaon of an electrospun microporous polymer suitable for Future work will explore the possibilies of in situ spectroscopic the removal of polyphenolic compounds in aqueous soluons. characterizaon of redox electrochemistry on well-defined The technique of Electrospinning (ES), used for film electrodes. development, contributed to the formaon of interconnected pore structures and high surface area permeable structures, as Research Team Role: In terms of experimental work, I evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Contact conducted the tests (including preparing species and running Angle analysis. The electrospinning of Cellulose Acetate (CA) instrumentaon) needed for data collecon and analyzed said granted hydrophilicity, toughness, and biocompability to the data. My advisor provided addional assistance with analysis of produced fibers. The further addion of polyethylene oxide-b-4 ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy data plong and analysis. In vinyl pyridine (PEO-b-P4VP) onto the films served as a selecve terms of project deliverables, I composed a research paper, agent and pH responsive adsorpon material towards the poster, and oral presentaon with the guidance of my advisors phenolic compounds. It is hypothesized that this self-assembling and division team. compound will retain the phenolic compounds via π-π interacons between the PEO-b-P4VP’s pyridine rings and the Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by the phenyl groups of the targeted compounds. A later aggregaon U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science - Basic Energy of alkoxysilane trimethoxy(2-phenylethyl)silane (TMPES) onto Sciences, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and the composites, boosted by thermal heang, provided the Sciensts (WDTS) under the Science Undergraduate Laboratory necessary stability to avoid minimal damage of mechanical Internship (SULI) program. Special acknowledgements to SULI strength of the films. The presence of PEO-b-P4VP and TMPES program staff Nicole Caslleja-Bentley and Alexa Williams. onto the support membranes was confirmed by EDS and FTIR analysis. Batch absorpon experiments, along with the use of Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Venkateshkumar Prabhakaran, Isotherm and kinecs adsorpon models were performed with [email protected]; Grant E. Johnson targeted compounds, to evaluate the adsorpon of the phenolic compounds. Later, the films will be subjected to wastewater samples from a local wetland, formerly analyzed by GC-MS, to 17 measure adsorpon of pollutants. Preliminary results present an opmal biomaterial suitable for the recovery of phenolic Chemistry and Chemical Sciences compounds from aquac environments. Subcategory: Materials Science

Research Team Role: I went through the process of fabricaon Development of Electrospun Microfibers for the of the electrospun microfibers and characterizaon of them Recovery of Polyphenolic Compounds: A Sustainability following my mentor's recommendaons and discussions. This Model included the use of the following instruments: Electrospinning, Contact Angle, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier- Jose Luis Ramirez Colon, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras transform infrared spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Campus Microscopy. The wastewater sample analysis of the local Jose A. Lasalde and Jairo Herrera, University of Puerto Rico, Rio wetland, carried out by the Gas Chromatographer-Mass Piedras Spectrometer, was realized by fellow researchers in the laboratory.

58 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by the score. Addionally, I created the powerpoint presentaon along NASA EPSCoR Program grant #NNX14AN18A, and NSF-CREST with my partner, Valencia. Center for Innovaon, Research, and Educaon in Environmental Nanotechnology grant #HRD-1736093. Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF-TIP

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Eduardo Nicolau, Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Qian and Dr. Hota, shota@fisk.edu [email protected]

19 18 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Computer Sciences and Informaon Management Subcategory: Ecology Subcategory: Computer Engineering Distribuon of Snake Species in Puerto Rico Using Using Machine Learning to Diagnose Diabetes Mellitus Instruments of Cizen Science in Pima Indians Maria Alejandra Chardon Suarez, University of Puerto Rico - Zahra Rasuli, Fisk University Rio Piedras Campus Adolfo Rodriguez and Alberto M. Sabat, University of Puerto Diabetes is a disease in which the body's ability to produce or Rico - Rio Piedras Campus respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulng in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of The advances in technology and social media networks have glucose in the blood and urine. In this research, we use Machine allowed the creaon of informaon sources in which scienfic Learning methods to diagnose diabetes through Glucose, cizens make contribuons to research. The data used for this pregnancy, and BMI and other features. The research data is invesgaon was presented in social media networks and pages from Pima Indians. The Pima Indians of Arizona have the highest of sighng reports of wildlife to determine current distribuon reported prevalence of diabetes of any populaon in the world. data, paerns of reproducon, habitat determinaon, and diet, During the 1853 Gadsden Purchase, the Pima Bajo who were among other aspects of the biology of various snake species in residing in Gila Valley were forced to colonize and in 1959 a Puerto Rico. The publicaons, which collect a 13-year span, Pima reservaon in Arizona was created and the number of were obtained using keywords and the following data was people with diabetes among the Pima Indians increased 10-fold. included: publicaon dates, municipality of the sighng, snake The data set has 768 samples with 8 independent variables and acvity, physical condion, and injuries. The data was processed a dependent variable. The 8 independent variables are using a Macro in Microso Excel and maps of the distribuon of pregnant, number of mes pregnant, glucose, plasma glucose the species across the Island were generated. It was found that concentraon, pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triceps, the snakes with greater distribuon in Puerto Rico were: triceps skin fold thickness, insulin, BMI, diabetes pedigree Borikenophis portoricensis (nave), Chilobothrus inornatus funcon, and age. The dependent variable is diabetes. Our goals (endemic) and Boa constrictor (invasive). In terms of regions, for this research project were to determine the best model to 51% of the specimens of B. portoricensis were observed within diagnose diabetes through those features, and to determine the northern region of the Island, 35% of the C. inornatus were which factors played the most significant role in diagnosing also distributed within the northern region, and 70% of the B. diabetes. The machine learning models used in this research constrictor were distributed throughout the western region. The were Support Vector Machine, Logisc Regression, MLP, neonate specimens were mostly observed within the rainy Decision tree, Random forest and Ensemble Learning methods. season (May-December) which could be a result of resource The best accuracy was obtained when using Stacking Ensemble availability. The species with higher mortality rate on the roads method which achieved a score of 78.1. The PCA analysis was B. constrictor, being indicave that they prefer these areas confirms that a higher tesng score would be hard to aain as to move and thermoregulate. These sources of informaon are the data cannot be split into disnct secons. Glucose, of great benefit for the knowledge of these species, pregnancy, and BMI played the most significant role in environmental educaon, conservaon and documentaon of diagnosing Diabetes. species.

Research Team Role: I worked on developing the models that Research Team Role: I conducted all acvies for this research were used to train and test the dataset. In each model, the project. They include: obtaining observaon reports for the parameters were tweaked yielding a more accurate tesng studied species, obtaining data about the biology of each

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 59

species, establishing an analysis of the obtained data and Research Team Role: I performed all facets of this research interpreng results. I connue to obtain data about other snake including ck collecon, homogenizaons, idenficaons, species in Puerto Rico to include in my project. QRTPCR, RNA Extracons, Quanficaon, and Modeling.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Puerto Rico Louis Stokes Alliance Funder Acknowledgement(s): NIH-NIDDK STEP-UP Grant for Minority Parcipaon (PR-LSAMP) Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Solny Adalsteinsson, Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Alberto M. Sabat, [email protected] [email protected]

20 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences 21 Microbiology/Immunology/Virology Mathemacs and Stascs

Subcategory: Mathemacs and Stascs The Prevalence of Bourbon Virus in Field-Collected Ticks in Saint Louis County, Missouri Biparte Graphs and Line Segments Defined by Sets

Derek McFarland, Harris-Stowe State University Roman Vasquez, University of Central Florida Adrianus Boon, Washington University School of Medicine; Rachel Wofford, Whitworth University; Steven Schlicker, Grand Solny Adalsteinsson, Washington University Tyson Research Valley State University Center The Hausdorff metric provides a way to measure the distance Bourbon virus (BRBV) is an emerging RNA virus that can be between sets. We use this metric to define a geometry. In this transmied to both humans and wildlife through the bite of geometry, we say that a finite configuraon [A,B] is a pair of infected Amblyomma americanum cks. Since the recent disjoint finite sets A and B that sasfy certain distance discovery of BRBV in 2014, cases of human disease have been condions. The sets A and B form the endpoints of a line reported, some of which have been fatal. However, there is sll segment in this geometry. These line segments have many not much known about the epidemiology, clinical treatments, or interesng properes worth studying. One specific property is ecology of BRBV. Host-seeking cks were collected during May that for a given a posive integer n, there is usually a and June by drag-sampling in old field, glade, and forest habitats configuraon [A,B] for which there are n different sets on the at Tyson Research Center in Eureka, MO. Ideally, ~20,000 cks line segment defined by [A,B] at every distance from A. We are needed to assess the incidence of BRBV. Ticks were stored in denote this number of sets by #([A,B]). We will explain how we vials and kept at -80 C or on dry ice before and a er can study these configuraons using techniques from graph idenficaon. Using a dichotomous key and dissecng theory. Each configuraon [A,B] can be idenfied with a microscope, cks were sorted into pools defined by life stage, biparte graph G, and #([A,B]) is equal to the number of edge sex, species, collecon date, and locaon. Pools with adult cks coverings of G. In this way, each biparte graph G defines a line are limited to 5 individuals while nymphal pools are limited to segment in the space of sets. We will share results about #(G) 25 individuals. Pools will be homogenized and tested for the for different types of biparte graphs, which then determines prevalence of BRBV using RNA extracon and quantave rRT- the number of points at each distance on the line segment PCR with virus-specific primers and probes. So far, 1,472 cks corresponding to the graph G. have been successfully idenfied - only 10-20% of the targeted populaon. Most of the idenfied cks were Lone Star cks (A. Research Team Role: I worked with Rachel Wofford to find americanum) and accounted for 98.91% of the sample (1,456 formulas to describe the 'nums’ of different kinds of finite cks: 282 adult males; 263 adult females; 911 nymphs). The configuraons, which we were then able to prove. In doing so, American dog ck (Dermacentor variabilis) made up 0.68% (10 we also discovered several never before seen integer cks: 4 adult males; 5 adult females; 1 nymph) and the sequences. blacklegged ck (Ixodes scapularis) represented 0.41% of the sample. Previously, studies in eastern Kansas found BRBV in Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was parally adult male A. americanum with an infecon rate (IR) of 0.32 per supported by Naonal Science Foundaon grant DMS-1659113, 1,000 adult males (~1 in 3,125 adult males) and an IR of 0.07 per which funds a Research Experiences for Undergraduates 1,000 nymphs. Therefore, we hypothesize that BRBV will be program at Grand Valley State University. found in approximately 1 out of 3,000 adults--with adults having higher prevalence than nymphs. More cks are needed to fully Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Steven Schlicker, assess the incidence of BRBV in Tyson Research Center. [email protected]

60 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Instuonal Funds of my advisor; PR-LSAMP; support of the Department of Chemistry and Physics

at the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce. 22 Nanoscience Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Sonia J. Bailon-Ruiz, Subcategory: Polluon/Toxic Substances/Waste [email protected]

Zinc Sulfide Quantum Dots as Photocatalyst of Methylene Blue

Gabriel E. Torres-Mejias, University of Puerto Rico, Ponce

Sonia J. Bailon-Ruiz, University of Puerto Rico, Ponce 23 Physics Since their discovery in the mid-19th century, the manufacturing Subcategory: Astronomy and Astrophysics of synthec dyes has grown into a massive industry and has led to major water polluon. Today, an average-sized texle mill Mass Measurements of 27P for Improved X-ray Burst consumes about 1.6 million water liters daily, which gets Modeling contaminated with a set of chemicals that might be harmful to both the ecosystem and human health (Kant, 2012). This Ayman Abdullah-Smoot, Texas Southern University industry is wasng an extreme quanty of precious and scarce Isaac Yandow, Alec Hamaker, and Daniel Puentes, Michigan water, and contemporary technology has been inefficient as State University; Ryan Ringle, Kasey Lund, Stefan Schwarz, and current methods seem unable to degrade completely the Chandana Sumithrarachchi, Naonal Superconducng Cyclotron pollutant agents (Mun, 2008). However, the emergence of Laboratory; Adrian Valverde and Daniel Burdee, Notre Dame advanced oxidaon process has given rise to intriguing methods University; Georg Bollen, Facility For Rare Isotope Beams, such as photocatalyst semiconductors (i.e. ZnO) that can be Michigan State University; Rachel Sandler, Central Michigan applied to degrade dyes in aqueous soluon (Sobczynski, 2001). University Based on this, we wanted to study the capacies of ZnS cubical quantum dots (QDs) as photocatalyst on synthec dyes. To do X-ray bursts are astronomical explosions that occur when a so, we establish the following objecves: 1) Synthesize ZnS QDs, neutron star takes hydrogen and helium parcles from its 2) Characterize their crystalline structure and opcal properes, companion star in a process called accreon. These accreted and 3) Test their photocatalyc capacies on Methylene Blue in parcles collect on the surface of the neutron star leading to aqueous soluon at different pH and calculate the kinec thermonuclear runaway, resulng in an X-ray burst which parameters for each reacon. ZnS QDs presented a luminescent creates heavier elements via the rapid proton capture process peak at 446nm and it was evidenced that they possess a cubical (rp-process). The rp-process occurs when nuclear reacons crystalline structure and a size below 5nm. Photodegradaon cause stable nuclides to gain protons and beta decay, forming experiments on Methylene Blue 15μM were performed under new elements. The path of the rp-process, the order in which the presence of ZnS QDs at different concentraons (i.e. reacons occur, can be studied by examining light curves of 250ppm, 500ppm). Future evaluaons will proceed with the individual X-ray bursts. Light curves measure an X-ray burst’s study of how pH affects the photodegradaon capacies of the luminosity over its duraon. By creang an accurate light curve parcles. simulaon and comparing it to the actual light curve, X-ray bursts can be studied, furthering knowledge on the elements References: that are created during a burst. In order to create accurate 1. Kant, R. (2012). Texle dyeing industry an environmental simulaons, the mass of all elements involved in the rp-process hazard. Natural Science, 04(01), 22-26. DOI: 10.4236/ must first be known and their mass uncertaines must be small ns.2012.41004. enough so that there is a negligible effect on the light curve 2. Mun L. (2008). Degradaon of dyes using zinc oxide as the simulaon. For the extremely short-lived phosphorus-27 (27P), photocatalyst. M.S. thesis. Putra University, Serdang, Malaysia. the measured mass is not very precise and thus has too large of 3. Sobczynski A. and Dobosz A. (2001). Water purificaon by an uncertainty creang a significant knowledge gap in the photo-catalysis on semiconductors. Polish Journal of plong of the light curve simulaon. We believe that we can Environmental Studies, 10(04), 195-205. find an accurate mass measurement of 27P with a small enough uncertainty that allows us to accurately create a light curve Research Team Role: I did all the processes involved in simulaon. We measured this mass using a connuous beam of synthesis and characterizaon and also performed the 27P and a Penning trap mass spectrometer. By scanning across photodegradaon experiments. With my advisor, I analyzed the mulple frequencies that were inpued into the spectrometer, data and came up with conclusions. we found the frequency that yielded the fastest me of flight of 27P parcles and used it to calculate 27P’s mass. From our

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 61

calculaons, we found a mass measurement that was 40 mes irregular sources show NO excess UV emission, and only a more precise than the previously recorded mass measurement modest NIR excess. In contrast, the majority of sources with and discovered a much smaller mass uncertainty. With these strong point nuclei and prominent spheroids have enhanced UV calculaons, a light curve simulaon can be accurately created, and NIR features. In addion, we find that the strength of the which can ulmately be used by nuclear astrophysicists studying AGN features increases with X-ray luminosity. Our results are X-ray bursts to beer understand the path of the rp-process. consistent with the hypothesis that the UV and NIR signatures This new knowledge will help nuclear astrophysicists determine are obscured during early merger stages and increase in what remaining reacons must be studied to fully understand strength during later stages when the spheroid and nuclear the order in which elements are created during X-ray bursts. point-source become increasingly visible as the SMBH connues to increase in mass. In the future, we hope to expand our Research Team Role: I analyzed the data a er the experiment analysis to a much larger sample of X-ray luminous sources, was completed to ensure that our calculaons were correct. including both lower and higher X-ray luminosies, in order to beer understand the complete growth histories of SMBHs as Funder Acknowledgement(s): The lab in which this experiment well as the possible relaonship of X-ray selected AGN to other was conducted is parally funded by the Naonal Science classes of extragalacc objects. Foundaon and by Michigan State University. My parcipaon in this experiment was funded by the Michigan State University References: Summer Research Opportunies Program. Hickox, R. C., & Alexander, D. M. 2018. Obscured Acve Galacc Nuclei, ARA&A, 56, 625. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Ryan Ringle, [email protected] Hung, C.-L., Sanders, D. B., Casey, C. M., et al. 2013. The Role of Galaxy Interacon in the SFR-M Relaon, ApJ, 778, 129. Laigle, C., McCracken, H. J., Ilbert, O., et al. 2016. The 24 COSMOS2015 Catalog: Exploring the 1< z <6 Universe with Half a Physics Million Galaxies, ApJS, 224, 24. Subcategory: Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Team Role: This research was completed enrely by

me under the guidance of both Dr. David Sanders and Connor Spectral Energy Distribuons of Morphologically Auge. Classified X-ray Luminous AGN Funder Acknowledgement(s): Research Experiences for Kaitlynn Lilly, University of Maryland Balmore County Undergraduate Program at the Instute for Astronomy, David Sanders and Connor Auge, University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Hawaii-Manoa, funded through NSF grant number 6104374. At the center of nearly every galaxy lies a supermassive black hole (SMBH). The histories of these SMBHs represent a crical Faculty Advisor/Mentor: David Sanders, aspect of galaxy evoluon across cosmic me. The growth of [email protected] SMBHs takes place in acve galacc nuclei (AGN), which can be idenfied by their luminous X-ray emission (LX > 1043 ergs/s). Luminous AGN appear to be connected to violent events, in parcular, to strong interacons and mergers of gas-rich galaxies. In order to determine the relaonship that SMBHs have to their host galaxy morphology and discover how the

SMBHs grow and evolve, we first visually classified the strength of different morphological features (point-nucleus, spheroid, 25 merger/irregular) of a large unbiased sample of 1075 galaxies Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences from the Cosmic Evoluon Survey (COSMOS). Our results are Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics that mergers and irregulars make up 28% of the total sample of AGN, while prominent spheroid sources (of which, had a strong Navigang the Double Bind: Belonging, Identy as a nuclear point source) comprise 71% of the sample. Spectral Scienst, and Consistency of Interest Among Black energy distribuons (SEDs) were constructed for each source College Women in STEM at HBCUs using the extensive photometric coverage provided by the

COSMOS survey (typically 30 connuum data points per source Cheyane Mitchell, Spelman College from X-ray to radio wavelengths), and the strengths of Danielle Dickens, Zharia Thomas, and Maria Jones, Spelman tradional opcally-selected AGN features, e.g. excess UV College emission from the accreon disk and excess NIR emission from a dusty torus, were measured. We find that ALL merger/

62 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Despite being under-represented and marginalized, Black Current fluorogenic assays used to measure MMP-9 acvity women have demonstrated consistent interest in pursuing typically require the preparaon of a soluon containing a degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathemacs fluorogenic substrate. The fabricaon of opto-acve (STEM), especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universies polyurethane (PUR) cast would enhance such assays by 1) (HBCUs). However, few empirical studies have invesgated embedding the fluorogenic substrate in an extracellular psychological factors that contribute to Black college women’s matrix (ECM) surrogate (i.e., PUR); 2) providing local persistence in the STEM field. Using the theorecal frameworks proteolyc acvity data; and 3) providing a more high of interseconality and phenomenological variant of ecological throughput system with easy storage. DQ-gelan produces systems theory (PVEST), the current study examined the fluorescent products when degraded by proteases such as relaonship between identy as a scienst, sense of belonging, MMP-9. In this study, we conjugated DQ-gelan within a and consistency of interest among 554 Black college women PUR network and studied the fluorescent signal of the majoring in STEM at ten HBCUs. Through the distribuon of an online Qualtrics survey, the results demonstrate that sense of resulng opto-acve PUR (OA-PUR) casts when exposed to belonging and science identy predicted consistency of interest recombinant MMP-9. Overall, we hypothesize that these OA in STEM. More specifically, the findings suggest that Black -PUR casts will provide a sufficient fluorescent signal that will women are interested in STEM despite lacking a sense of indicate MMP-9 acvity. OA-PUR casts were fabricated by belonging. The study's findings can be used to develop an mixing DQ-gelan, polycaprolactone (molecular weight 300-PCL educaonal program to increase the retenon rates, which can 300), and HDI-trimer. To ensure even distribuon of the DQ- counteract the leaky pipeline which has historically resulted in gelan, a speedmixer was used to mix at 1500 rpm for one inadequate representaon of Black women in STEM. minute. Subsequently, the reacve mixture was transferred into a 12 well plate to form a film in each respecve well. Two Research Team Role: I dra ed three secons of literature concentraons of OA-PUR casts were studied: 39 (low) and 446 review (sense of belonging, grit, and part of introducon), the (high) μg DQ-gelan/mL PUR cast. The OA-PUR casts were methods secon, and the conclusion secon that compared the allowed to cure at room temperature overnight and MMP-9 (5 findings to exisng literature for inconsistencies and support. μg/mL) was added to each well control PUR casts and OA-PUR experimental casts (n = 3). Fluorescence of the samples were Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research project was funded read every 15 minutes for 4 hours on a Biotek plate reader. One by the NSF through the HBCU-UP grant to the HBCU Identy way that ANOVA (Turkey’s mulple comparison test) indicated Research Center for STEM, Award #1818458. that the difference in the mean fluorescent intensity (arbitrary units) between high concentraon OA-PUR and control/low Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Danielle Dickens, concentraon groups was significant (p < 0.0001). These results [email protected] suggest that the high concentraon of OA-PUR is capable of detecng MMP-9 acvity. There was no significant difference between the control and low concentraon OA-PUR group, suggesng that 39 μg DQ-gelan/mL is below the threshold of detecon. Current results are promising as OA-PUR was able to detect MMP-9 acvity, supporng our hypothesis. Future work includes determining the minimum detecon limit of MMP-9

26 and the reusability of the OA-PUR plaorm. Implicaons of this Technology and Engineering research may be able to lead to detecng cancer or other Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering diseases in paents as we also plan to apply a plaorm to study other proteases in cells/ssue. Detecon of MMP-9 Acvity using Opto-acve Polyurethane Casts Research Team Role: I assisted with the fabricaon of test samples and conducted calculaons as well as interpreng the Alexander Edmonson, Hampton University data. Jerald Dumas and Ron Sanders, Hampton University Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF RIA, Award Number Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) is one of the most studied 1700351 and NSF PREM, Award Number 1827820. proteinases for its connecon to many diseases such as cancer. MMP-9 is responsible for cleaving proteins from the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Jerald Dumas, extracellular matrix (ECM) which then gives insights for ECM [email protected] remodeling and cancer. This ECM remodeling is accomplished through one of the two zinc ions of MMP-9 that is crucial for proteolyc acvity. This proteolyc acvity is able to degrade gelan, thus MMP-9 is in the gelanase subgroup as gelanase B.

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 63

27 simulaons simultaneously. Raspberry Pi, Khadas VIM series III, and SDR dongle will serve as receiving radio servers to carry the Technology and Engineering digital data through the TCP network back to our designated Subcategory: Electrical Engineering radar staon. Also, I will be building a metal antenna tesng the

design. Microcontroller Radar Staons Ulizing So ware Defined Radio (SDR) The goal of this project is to create portable radar systems that can be used in real life applicaons. This would allow many Keenan Leatham, University of the District of Columbia fields of study to use very small microcontrollers to complete Esther Ososanya, University of the District of Columbia everyday tasks. Many devices would benefit from having an alternave portable system compared to a bulkier design. My SDR (So ware Define Radio) is a system in which the goal is to create a reliable radar that can run nonstop without components are implemented in so ware, instead of the much down me and push the limits of how far different tradional way of hardware implementaon. It consists of an RF microcontrollers can perform in different real-world front-end followed by an analog-to-digital converter, which applicaons. provides sample signals to a host computer. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) plaorms are ulized to access the host Research Team Role: I performed the simulaons and computer, Khadas VIM Series III and Raspberry Pi. This project constructed the radar bases. consists of creang radar staons in order to track airplanes and do real-me signal processing. These radar staons can be Funder Acknowledgement(s): Esther Ososanya, accessed remotely at any me without being physically present. [email protected] Also, microcontrollers are cascaded to create a supercomputer to improve the performance of different simulaons. Experiments were conducted ulizing a military grade antenna or metal antenna to transmit and receive signals, which was 28 successful. Technology and Engineering Subcategory: Water This research experiment using a host computer, Khadas VIM Series III and mulple Raspberry-Pis, can be ulized to make big Detecon of Waterborne Pathogens in Water Using bulky systems more compact. Signal Processing (SP) has been Magnec Nanoparcles one of the crucial research areas of Electrical Engineering departments. Great numbers of the technologies that we rely on Kristen Trinh, Michigan State University, University of Arkansas nowadays like computers, radio, or cell phones are capable of communicang with each other based upon signal processing Bodies of water as large as lakes and rivers can easily get plaorm (analog-to-digital and vice versa). One would say that contaminated with pathogenic bacteria due to polluon, SP is the power of today’s digital entertainment and the future animals, or humans. Common pathogenic bacteria like of the technology. Some of the important fields such as speech/ Escherichia coli (E. coli), Vibrio species, and Salmonella species audio processing, speech recognion, hearing aids, autonomous can potenally make these areas unsafe for humans. Because of driving, etc. would not be visible without the contribuons of the dangers associated with these strains of bacteria, these SDR and could be an ideal source for a newcomer to learn about bodies of water must constantly be tested to ensure the area is SP. In the past, a praccal laboratory for SDR during the clean and safe for public use. Convenonal bacterial sampling university coursework was not proposed due to the expense of methods can range from 48-72 hours, which causes the water materials, the coding complexity, and the me-consuming quality results to be outdated and inaccurate. This project experiments. addresses this problem by introducing magnec nanoparcles (MNPs) as a new bacterial detecon method to reduce the me With the Raspberry Pi boards and Khadas VIM series III, two for water quality results. In this project, MNPs were added to crucial problems have been resolved. The boards come with a water samples to form MNP-cells and extracted using a reasonable cost and are programmable to operate with other neodymium magnet. The samples were plated on selecve agar educaonal so ware like Matlab. Furthermore, many of recent to differenate the types of bacteria present. MNP-cells were programs have the built-in system in the support package, and then viewed under a microscope to confirm the identy. MNPs one can simply obtain automac files on Github that sasfy his were able to extract and idenfy all strains of tested bacteria design. This benefits those students with no programming more efficiently and accurately when compared to the background about Complex Signal Processing algorithms who convenonal bacterial sampling methods. E. coli, Vibrio spp., take on designing and implemenng SDR projects. In this and Salmonella spp. were detected in the water samples. MNP project, I will be concentrang on implemenng radar staons bacterial sampling was completed in 24 hours, successfully that can track planes, process signals, and perform mulple cung down the convenonal tesng me. There are many

64 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

benefits to using MNPs as a method of detecon. This method first reacon by which CO travels through an interprotein does not require addional technology, which allows this channel to ACS. In the second reacon, ACS in conjuncon with detecon method to be more accessible to developing coenzyme A and a methyl group donated by corrinoid iron- countries. MNPs can also be used to test for bacteria in drinking sulfur protein (CFeSP) synthesizes acetyl-CoA. During each water and food. Future research could look into using more binding event, ACS shuffles between two different selecve media to test for even more types of pathogenic conformaons: open and closed. In order to fully understand bacteria, which can help reduce the amount of pathogenic the underlying mechanism in substrate specificity to the A- bacterial outbreaks worldwide. cluster, we must test out some idenfied key residues which may play an interesng role in each mechanism. Recently, a Research Team Role: I was the only researcher for this project. I residue mutated near the A-cluster displayed severe impact researched which types of selecve agar would be the best at upon binding to CO in comparison to the wild-type. In order to detecng the bacteria and then created those bacterial understand the role the local environment plays on the ACS sampling plates. I also created the magnec nanoparcles with mechanism, we prepared three acve site mutants for kinec the assistance of my faculty advisor. I ran the experiment and and spectroscopic experiments by carbonylaon and collected the data and results. methylaon. One specific variant, ACS-F512A, was expressed, purified, and reconstuted in strictly anaerobic condions Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank E. Alocilja before performing subsequent experiments. To understand the for guidance through the project. Funding was provided by significance that F512 plays in substrate binding, we compared AGEP and The Graduate School at Michigan State University. F512A to the ACS wildtype using Electron Paramagnec Visible kinecs to monitor ACS methylaon. EPR spectroscopy was used Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Evangelyn Alocilja, to assess the ACS Nip1+-CO signal upon exposure to CO in [email protected] relaon to wildtype ACS and revealed a lower binding affinity for CO than was ancipated in comparison to the wildtype. Analysis of methylaon to ACS-F512A was assayed using methylcobinamide, and data provides preliminary insight into how ACS gets methylated in the variant compared to the wildtype. Our current studies suggest that residue F512 may be important to the reacons ACS is involved in in the carbonyl branch. Future plans for ACS-F512A are metal analysis and further studies by EPR and radiolabeled exchange assays. Following supporng spectroscopic and kinec evidence, it will be sent out for X-ray Absorpon Spectroscopy (XAS) to analyze its acve site structure.

Research Team Role: I created three single point amino acid 29 mutaons on ACS (F512A, F512W, and I146A). My poster covers Biological Sciences data over the summer on F512A which I personally gathered. All Subcategory: Cell & Molecular / Biochemistry other data that will be presented contains my graduate mentor's data. Determining the Importance of Residues Near the Acve Site on Acetyl-CoA Synthase in Moorella Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was funded by NSF award number 1851985 through the Interdisciplinary REU Thermoaceca Program in the Structure and Funcon of Proteins at the

University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and by NIH grant # Stephen Gonzalez, California State University, Fullerton R37-GM39451 on Enzymology of the Reducve Acetyl-CoA Seth A. Wiley and Stephen W. Ragsale, University of Michigan Pathway.

The quest for solving the global warming crisis and to produce Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Stephen W. Ragsdale, renewable carbon-based sources is of great global interest. The [email protected] Wood-Ljungdahl pathway of CO and CO2 fixaon offers a

method to develop renewable energy supplies while reducing

and ulizing waste CO2. In the pathway, two key anaerobic

metalloenzymes in a heterotetrameric complex, Carbon

Monoxide Dehydrogenase (CODH) and Acetyl-CoA Synthase

(ACS), help produce acetate which is a fundamental growth

product of acetogenic bacteria or incorporate acetyl-CoA into

cell carbon or regenerate ATP. CODH reduces CO2 to CO in the

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 65

30 commonly differenally expressed during early stages of heart and fin regeneraon. These results suggest that these genes Biological Sciences funcon together to iniate regeneraon. A future direcon Subcategory: Cell & Molecular / Biochemistry would be including gene expression data of other regenerang

ssues (e.g., muscle) to further refine the genes required for Idenfying Non-Coding RNAs as Pro-Regenerave iniang regeneraon. Factors in Zebrafish Tissue Regeneraon Research Team Role: My part of the project was to first analyze Helene Manneo, Wheaton College the heart regeneraon data. Then, I compared the early stages Benjamin L. King and Emily Robinson, University of Maine of heart and caudal fin regeneraon data in which we found 1,077 transcripts that seem to act as pro-regenerave factors. The capacity to regenerate ssues a er injury is not equal A er connuing to analyze these 1,077 transcripts, I found at across vertebrates. Humans can regenerate some ssues least one potenal long non-coding RNA that may regulate the whereas other vertebrates, such as the zebrafish (Danio rerio), anaphase promong complex subunit 2. can regenerate nearly any ssue a er injury, including heart and caudal fin ssues. The long-term goal of this research is to Funder Acknowledgement(s): Research was supported by REU discover the genec factors that regulate regenerave capacity. Site: Accelerang New Environmental Workskills (NSF Award One important class of regulatory genes are long non-coding #1849802). RNA-Seq studies were conducted by the Voot Yin RNA genes (lncRNAs). We hypothesize that lncRNAs funcon as Laboratory and funded by NIH P20 GM103423. pro-regenerave factors in ssue regeneraon and that these lncRNAs are expressed in early stages of regeneraon in Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Benjamin L. King, mulple ssues. To begin to invesgate our hypothesis, we [email protected] analyzed high-throughput RNA sequencing gene expression data across mulple stages of adult zebrafish heart and caudal fin regeneraon to idenfy lncRNAs that were differenally expressed in both ssues only during early stages of 31 regeneraon. The zebrafish heart regenerates in approximately Biological Sciences 30 days following ventricular resecon, and we analyzed gene Subcategory: Cell & Molecular / Biochemistry expression data for samples taken at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days post ventricular resecon (dpr). The caudal fin regenerates Liquid-Liquid Phase Separaon of Heterochroman in approximately 14 days following amputaon, and we data and Nuclear Mechanics characterized samples at 0, 2, 4, and 14 days post amputaon (dpa). Trimmed RNA sequence data were mapped to the Hang Phuong Nguyen, Yale University zebrafish GRCz11 genome assembly using HISAT2 and the Ivan Surovtsev and Megan King, Yale University resulng alignments and Ensembl (version 93) annotaon were used to generate transcript models using StringTie. Read counts Diseases such as muscular dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, per transcript were generated for all samples using HTSeq and and cancer are associated with abnormal nuclear shapes and analyzed to find differenally expressed transcripts between mechanics. It has been demonstrated that chroman, a complex mepoints in heart and caudal fin using the R/DESeq2 package. of DNA and protein that makes up chromosomes, is important to nuclear mechanics and structures. Chroman’s densely We found a total of 1,077 transcripts that were commonly packed region – heterochroman – is aributed to the binding differenally expressed between early stages of both heart (1 vs. of Heterochroman Protein 1 (HP1) to histone H3 methylated 0 dpr and 3 vs. 0 dpr) and caudal fin (2 vs. 0 dpa and 4 vs. 0 dpa) on lysine 9 (H3K9me2/3). Heterochroman is associated with regeneraon. 637 of these transcripts were novel as they had transcriponal gene silencing and with centromeric funcons in not been annotated by Ensembl. Of the remaining 440 chromosome segregaon. Our group has also found that transcripts that matched exisng annotaon, 19 were from heterochroman contributes to the sffness of the nuclear genes associated with heart regeneraon based on literature membrane. Recently, a model for heterochroman organizaon and Gene Ontology annotaons. Next, we searched for novel based on disnct liquid-like phase has been proposed. Swi6 – an lncRNA transcripts with gene expression paerns that were HP1 orthologue in Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe) – highly correlated (|r2| > 0.75) with the set of 19 transcripts. One can both undergo liquid-liquid phase separaon (LLPS) and candidate lncRNA found on chromosome 5 was negavely compact nucleosomes in vitro [Sanulli, 2018]. However, whether correlated with anaphase promong complex subunit 2 Swi6 undergoes LLPS in vivo and how this contributes to Swi6 (anapc2), a cell cycle gene important in that it also maps to funcons remains unknown. Our goals are to: 1) test if Swi6 chromosome 5. Cell cycle genes are important in the displays behavior consistent with LLPS in vivo and 2) determine differenaon of cells during regeneraon. This study found a if the LLPS behavior of Swi6 contributes to nuclear mechanics. set of 1,077 genes, including non-coding genes, that are To achieve these goals, it is crical to uncouple the ability of

66 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Swi6 to undergo LLPS from its other acvies. We hypothesize fay acids esterified in phospholipids. This study is aimed that swi6-sm1, an allele of Swi6, may be such a separaon-of- toward the engineering of a mutant form of 15-LOX-2 that will funcon allele, as the mutaons that comprise the swi6-sm1 serve as a robust framework for future structural studies. allele are in the N-terminal extension, a region of Swi6 Unfortunately, the wild type enzyme is not suitable for these implicated in its LLPS acvity [Larson, 2017]. While swi6-sm1 studies because it crystallizes in such a way that we can’t trap cells are defecve in gene silencing, they display wild-type-like inhibitors in the acve site. Mutaons will be made that binding to H3K9me2/3 and supporng of chromosome facilitate crystallizaon but do not change the overall segregaon. Our approach is to use live-cell imaging and characteriscs of the binding site. To achieve this goal, we fluorescence recovery a er photobleaching (FRAP) to quanfy removed a loop from the structure of the enzyme that limited and compare the dynamic behavior of wild-type (WT) Swi6-GFP the quality of the crystals that can be made with this protein. and Swi6-sm1-GFP. Our preliminary data suggest that Swi6-sm1- This mutant 15-LOX-2 LM was expressed in E. coli Rosea 2 GFP displays decreased size of heterochroman region. While (DE3) cells. The protein was purified by immobilized-metal further quantave analysis is needed, thus far, our results are affinity chromatography followed by size-exclusion consistent with a role for LLPS in the formaon of normal chromatography. Monodispersed monomers of 15-LOX-2 LM heterochroman domains. Ulmately, we hope to understand incubated with inhibitor #356800 was sent to the high- the role of LLPS in chroman organizaon and its potenal throughput crystallizaon screening center at Hauptman- contribuon to the integrity of the nuclear envelope. Woodward Medical Research Instute (HWI) in Buffalo, NY. A er analyzing the results from HWI, the Hampton Research Research Team Role: I designed the primers and tagged PEGRx crystal screen was set up in house to replicate condions heterochroman markers, such as Epe1 and Mst2, with GFP and seen at HWI. New crystals will be screened at Protein mCherry. Then, along with my co-authors, I imaged cells that Crystallography beamline at the Center for Advanced expressed the tagged genes of interest. Finally, I quantavely Microstructures and Devices. These crystal structures can analyzed the size, intensity, and moon of the tagged provide structure-acvity relaonships between the small heterochroman regions with Matlab. molecule and protein, which will aid in new inhibitor design for targeng 15-LOX-2. Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was funded by a grant from NSF CMMI-1634988 to Megan King. Research Team Role: For this research, I assisted with the expression and purificaon of the 15-LOX-2 LM protein. My Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Megan King PhD, biggest contribuon came from seng up all of the different [email protected] crystal trays and observing them for any signs of crystal formaon. I also assisted my mentor in determining new crystal screening condions. 32 Funder Acknowledgement(s): LSU IMSD Program (NIH Biological Sciences 2R25GM069743); LSU Office of Research & Economic Subcategory: Cell & Molecular / Biochemistry Development

Development of a Tool for Screening Human 15-LOX-2 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Nathaniel C. Gilbert, Ph.D., for Drug Leads [email protected]

Paris Elyse Taylor, Louisiana State University Nathaniel C. Gilbert and Marcia E. Newcomer, Louisiana State University 33 Biological Sciences Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for all Americans. The main focus Subcategory: Cell and Molecular / Biochemistry of my research is to aid in new targeted therapies that interrupt the formaon of oxidized low-density lipoprotein parcles that Chemical Perturbaon of Cholesterol Trafficking in cause heart disease. A crical component in the development of Developing Xenopus Embryos atherosclerosis is the transformaon of macrophages to foam cells, a process involving the uptake of lipids carried by low- Rebekah Townsley, University of Arkansas density lipoprotein LDL. Recent studies have revealed that 15- Sanika Pandit, Chapman University and Emmanuel Tadjuidje, lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2), the major lipoxygenase expressed in Alabama State University macrophages, is found in high abundance in atheroscleroc plaque and is induced by hypoxia and other inflammaon Cholesterol is an important molecule that helps maintain factors. The enzyme has been linked to elevated levels of membrane permeability and fluidity; modulate transmembrane oxidized lipids and is able to directly oxidize polyunsaturated signaling; and synthesize steroid hormones, bile and vitamin D. It is distributed throughout the cell via Niemann-Pick Type C1

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 67

and C2 (NPC1/NPC2) protein dependent mechanisms. Previous Iron is essenal for all organisms. For humans, it is an important studies have shown that disrupng cholesterol trafficking by component of hemoglobin in red blood cells and is vital for chemical inhibitors, such as Fatostan and U18666A, can cause respiraon, impacng both our energy levels and immunity. In severe neurological issues. Fatostan inhibits the trafficking of plants, iron is used in photosynthesis, cellular respiraon, and cholesterol between the Endoplasmic Reculum (ER) and Golgi the formaon of chlorophyll. Unfortunately, 1/3rd of the world’s Apparatus. It interferes with the cell’s ability to sense steroids populaon suffers from iron deficiency anemia, with majority because it binds to sterol regulatory element-binding (SREBP) praccing a vegetarian diet. Sadly, plants are also iron deficient, cleavage-acvang protein (SCAP) and inhibits SREBP acvaon. with the most notable symptom being chlorosis, or yellowing of U18666A inhibits the trafficking of cholesterol between late the leaves, which also leads to decreased crop producon. In endosomes and ER by mutang the NPC1 gene. In this study, we previous studies, it was found that the transcripts for SufB and looked at how chemically interfering with cholesterol trafficking Ferredoxin (FD) II are down-regulated early a er deficiency is could affect embryonic development. Fatostan and U18666A induced, before physiological changes. SufB is known to produce were used to inhibit cholesterol trafficking in Xenopus laevis iron sulfur clusters that are used by FD II for efficient embryos. The embryos were treated at the blastula stage and photosynthec acvity. To understand the regulaon of these checked daily unl the tadpole stage. In the Fatostan transcripts, promoter acvity was closely studied through the treatment, the embryos developed smaller eyes that were fused addion of a reporter gene, Glucuronidase (GUS), that is not to the brain, curved tails, delayed intesnal looping, and swollen navely encoded in plants. This enzyme was chosen because it faces. The U18666A treatment developed a lack of pigmentaon can be detected via histochemistry and qualitavely via a color and slightly curved tails. Not only did both groups exhibit change, and quantavely via fluorescence readings. The model significant phenotypes by stage 42, but both groups also had organism, Arabidopsis thaliana, was used for its completely significant mortality rates, as compared to the control groups. sequenced genome, allowing ease in verifying molecular These results suggest that an interference with cholesterol changes and creang transgenic lines. Through both types of trafficking affects the developing embryos and can be GUS acvity assays, it was found that transcripon regulaon of potenally toxic, but further studies are needed in order to SufB and Ferredoxin II is possibly due to promoter acvity. understand the specific signal transducon pathways that are Future studies would include further verificaon if regulaon being inhibited and the genes that are affected. takes place in the promoter and where exactly the downregulaon is occurring in that region. From there, it may Research Team Role: I was a part of implemenng the be possible to understand this regulaon in crop plants to procedures of this experiment and analyzing the data. I injected increase their iron content and crop yield while also helping the frogs with Human chorionic gonadotropin hormones to decrease the numbers of those suffering from iron deficiency induce ovulaon and subsequently ferlized the eggs. The anemia. developing embryos were then treated with Fatostan and U1866A which disrupts cholesterol trafficking. Embryos were Research Team Role: I grew the transformed plants, rounely grouped according to phenotypes shown and a stascal changed the concentraons of iron through hydroponic growth, analysis was performed to correlate the use of the drugs with performed qualitave GUS assays, quantave MUG assays, specific phenotypes. DNA extracon, and PCRs. I also did other tests to measure photosynthec acvity such as FMS, ICP, and Fluorocam Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by NSF- imaging. While waing for the plants to grow, I also made new REU (DBI-1659166) to Dr. Komal Vig and by NSF CREST (HRD- replicates which included sterilizing seeds and making agar. 1241701) to Dr. Shree S. Singh. Funder Acknowledgement(s): P. Laybourn and T. Santangelo Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Emmanuel Tadjuidje Ph.D, coordinated the Colorado State University Biochemistry and [email protected] Molecular Biosciences Summer Research program where I was able to complete this research project. Funding was provided by an NSF grant, DBI 1757514. 34 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Gretchen Kroh, Biological Sciences [email protected] Subcategory: Ecology & Physiology / (Micro) / Plants

Transcript Regulaon in Iron Deficient Arabidopsis thaliana plants

Karen Mae A. Bacalia, University of Guam Gretchen Kroh, Colorado State University

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35 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Alain Bopda Waffo, abopdawaff[email protected] Biological Sciences

Subcategory: Ecology & Physiology / (Micro) / Plants

RNA Qβ Coliphage as a Novel Plaorm for AuNP 36 Conjugaon System to Improve Therapeuc Efficiency Biological Sciences Subcategory: Ecology & Physiology / (Micro) / Plants Sanjeev Gurshaney, University of Central Florida Jessica Thomas, Southern University at New Orleans; Dylan Populaon Characteriscs of the Velvety Free-Tailed Barber, East Central University; Jaylah Stanley and Alain Bopda Bat (Molossus molossus) at Two Sites on St. Thomas, Waffo, Alabama State University United States Virgin Islands

Currently, gold nanoparcles (AuNPs) show major promise for Dijani Laplace, University of the Virgin Islands therapeuc use. AuNPs have unique physical and chemical Creightanya Brewley and Deslyn Bartle, University of the Virgin properes make them promising candidates as vehicles for Islands targeted drug delivery. They have also been used as molecular nanoprobes for enhanced clinical diagnosis. However, their The Velvety Free-Tailed bat (Molossus molossus) is nave to the funconality is severely limited by their tendency to aggregate United States Virgin Islands and provides an important role in its in vivo. This aggregaon renders AuNPs heavily suscepble for ecosystem. Yet, habitat-loss and climate change likely threaten removal by the immune system, and therefore, decreases their their populaons, while their elusiveness makes them difficult efficiency in any AuNP induced treatment. Hoping to overcome study targets for conservaonists. Following the hurricanes that this, we posioned various gold-binding pepdes (nano-tags) on ravaged the island in 2017, the need to assess demographic data the surface of Qβ Coliphage to develop a diverse pepde library. on these bats is greater than ever. Hence, we used data from a Displayed nano-tags can then bind to AuNPs to create a novel long-term monitoring project on St. Thomas to gain insight on phage-nanoparcle complex that will alleviate the aggregaon populaon demographics. Our dataset contained bat in vivo. morphometric data collected from mulple sites using mist net capture surveys conducted from 2008-2019. We compared We began our study by cloning and developing Qβ plasmids with mean bat captures per survey and mean Body Condion Index various genes coding for strong material-binding pepdes at the (BCI) across years using ANOVA and compared BCI for bats with end of the A1 gene. Appropriate recombinant plasmids were or without ectoparasites using a chi-square test (X2). Two major screened with restricon analysis. The posive clones were then sites on St. Thomas, Magens Bay and Stumpy Bay, had their used to transform E. coli Hb 101. Hybrid phages were tested populaon sizes esmated using the Jolly-Seber Capture-Mark- using the E. coli Q13 host. Serial diluons of hybrid Qβ Recapture method in RStudio. We then compared differences in Coliphages were used for infecon and a plaque assay was done demographics (X2¬¬¬), mean BCI (t-test), and esmated to determine phage ter and analyze phage morphology. A er populaon size (t-test) between these two sites. To assess phage precipitaon, RT-PCR and Western Blong were used to populaon characteriscs, we tested three null hypotheses: 1) assess phage display of AuNP nano-tags. Finally, we plan to use mean M. molossus captures per survey and mean Body binding assays and biopanning techniques to confirm the Condion Index (BCI) of captures would not change across nanoparcle-phage complex and select nanotags with the years, 2) there would be no significant difference in mean BCI of highest affinity for AuNPs. captures with and without ectoparasites, and 3) there would be no difference in age rao, sex rao, and esmated populaon In conclusion, we have developed a system that can potenally size between the two study sites. We found no significant be used for highly specific nanoparcle-induced therapy. Future difference in mean M. molossus captures per survey at all direcons for this study include ulizing our diverse pepde survey sites from 2009-2019 (F(10,123)=1.41, p=0.184). Tukey library to further invesgate the chemical interacons between HSD post hoc tests of mean BCI of captures across years AuNPs and their nanotags, along with developing possible following an ANOVA (F(10,545)=10.97, p< 0.0001) found methods to address toxicity of gold in vivo. significant difference between early years (2009-2011) relave to the laer years (2012-2019). Esmated populaon sizes Research Team Role: I conducted all of the experiments, between the two study sites were not significantly different analyzed the data, and summarized the findings. from 2012-2016 (t=-1.49, df= 8, p=0.175). The Magens populaon had a higher proporon of females (X2= 5.53, df=1, Funder Acknowledgement(s): US Dept. of Educaon-The p=0.0187) and juveniles (X2= 5.53, df=1, p=0.0187), and a lower Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program mean BCI (X2= 5.53, df=1, p=0.0187) than did Stumpy Bay. The (MSEIP) (P120A150008) to Dr. Komal Vig; NSF-CREST (HRD- mean BCI of individuals with ectoparasites was significantly 1241701) to Dr. Shree R. Singh. higher than those without (t-test, t=4.33, df= 344, p< 0.0001).

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 69

M. molossus’ insecvorous diet may have aributed to their aeruginosa. Therefore, we hypothesized that elevated Ca2+ also resiliency a er their 2017 hurricanes, explaining the lack of enhances the ability of the pathogen to cause disease in an change in their capture rates in this specific me frame. The animal host as we earlier showed in plants. Further, this study demographic differences (age and gender raos) observed aimed to determine the role of EP in Ca2+-regulated virulence between Magens Bay and Stumpy Bay may be due to localized of P. aeruginosa. EP is a Ca2+-binding protein, which has been habitat usage by sex, different forest structure and roost sites. It shown to mediate Ca2+-regulaon of several virulence factors is unclear why the BCI from 2009-2011 was higher than the as well as resistance to oxidave stress. To test this hypothesis remaining survey years (2012-19) collecvely. Ectoparasites also and define the role of EP in Ca2+-dependent virulence of this did not appear to negavely affect bat BCI, suggesng that their pathogen, we used Galleria mellonella wax worm as an animal overall health is unaffected by these parasites, possibly because model. We injected the wax worms with the wild type and EP they have co-evolved. These results reveal important paerns in deleon mutant, monitored the death and determined the site occupancy by this species, which may provide direcon for pathogen’s LD50. We also assessed the transcriponal conservaon management. These results indicate that regulaon of EP in response to Ca2+ using EP promoter longitudinal studies on populaon parameters are needed to genec construct in a promoter acvity assay. So far, we determine species response to environmental change. showed that the mutant lacking EP gene exhibited a significantly lower virulence than the wild type when grown at References: elevated Ca2+. Addionally, we have found an increased Platenberg, R. J. and J. M. Valiulis (Eds). 2018. United States transcriponal response of EP in the presence of Ca2+. This Virgin Islands Wildlife Acon Plan, Vol. 2: Habitats and Species. research provides insight into the Ca2+ regulatory system Final report to the USVI Department of Planning and Natural controlling virulence and pathogenic interacons within a host. Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife. University of the Virgin This knowledge is essenal for future development of strategies Islands and St. Croix Environmental Associaon, US Virgin and approaches for prevenng or controlling P. aeruginosa Islands.VI Bat Team. 2019. infecons. Long-term bat monitoring on St. Thomas 2008-2019. Unpublished raw data. Research Team Role: I conducted all parts of the research outlined in the abstract. Research Team Role: I conducted research to find journal arcles to help account for the populaon characteriscs we Funder Acknowledgement(s): I thank Dr. Marriee Barbier, found for the M. molosssus on St. Thomas. Furthermore, I also West Virginia University, for guidance in this study. Addionally, used RStudio to conduct the populaon esmates for the two I am thankful for funding provided by NIH COBRE, NIH Diversity major sites of focus: Magens Bay and Stumpy Bay. Supplement and Oklahoma Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Parcipaon. Funder Acknowledgement(s): We thank the ECS Honors Fund and the NSF HBCU-UP ACE grant award #1623126 for funding Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Marianna Patrauchan, this research. [email protected]

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Renata Platenberg, [email protected] 38

Biological Sciences

Subcategory: Ecology & Physiology / (Micro) / Plants 37 Biological Sciences Evaluang the Effects of Seasonal-related Changes on Subcategory: Ecology & Physiology / (Micro) / Plants the Abundance, Size, and Resource Assessment of the

Caribbean Hermit Crab Calcium Regulaon of Virulence in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Francisco J. Torres-Torres, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Ana D. González-Colón, Paola N. Negrón-Moreno, María I. De Jacee L. McCoy, Oklahoma State University Jesús-Burgos, and Naishka C. Rivera Rosado, University of Puerto Leah A. Kafer, Biraj B. Kayastha, and Marianna A. Patrauchan, Rico at Cayey Oklahoma State University In the coastal regions of Puerto Rico, anthropogenic-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunisc pathogen that factors such as noise and chemical polluon may fluctuate as causes severe chronic infecons in the lungs of Cysc Fibrosis the seasons change. These factors may affect the abundance (CF) paents, where elevated levels of calcium (Ca2+) are and behavior of organisms of the lioral zone such as Coenobita commonly detected. Our group has discovered that elevated clypeatus, the Caribbean hermit crab. C. clypeatus’ survival and Ca2+ enhances the producon of several virulence factors in P.

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growth depend on their ability to select an appropriate shell 39 according to their body size. Although few studies have shown Biological Sciences that short-term anthropogenic noise exposure has a detrimental Subcategory: Genecs / Biomedical Engineering / Cancer effect on hermit crab hiding response (Chan, et al., 2010) and

decision-making abilies, no single study exists evaluang the impact of long-term effects of anthropogenic factors on the size, In Situ Synthesis of Monodisperse Nanoparcle- abundance, and shell selecon of the hermit crab. Through the Embedded Hydrogel use of a transept method, we profiled 1,401 animals, describing major chela and the shell used. Noise levels were also measured Daijah Lo on, Virginia State University to describe the habitat soundscape. The observaons were Dip Biswal, Virginia State University conducted during late winter and summer, represenng periods of low and high anthropogenic acvity in the lioral zone, Hydrogels are networks of crosslink hydrophilic polymer chains respecvely. that are very absorbent in water. The swelling properes of hydrogel can be influenced by the changes of the environment We hypothesize that with seasonal changes and the potenal such as pH and temperature. There are various applicaons of increase in human beach acvity, C. clypeatus will display hydrogels in the biomedical and pharmaceucal area such as changes in its abundance, size, and resource assessment. ssue engineering, wound dressing material, contact lenses, Preliminary results demonstrate C. clypeatus' shell preference drug delivery and molecular imprinng. [1,2] Hydrogel for Astraea tuber (23%), Nerita tessellata (9.3%), and Turbo nanocomposites are formed by various types of nanoparcles castanea (8.1%) gastropodes during the winter period. such as carbon-based, metal/metal-oxide or inorganic/ceramic Differently, during the summer season animals preferred that integrates to the polymeric network of hydrogel. Iron oxide Nidella nida (45%), Astraea tuber (33%) and Cerithium incorporated hydrogel nanocomposites have potenal for lieratum (24%) shells. C. clypeatus is more abundant and various biomedical applicaons, including magnec resonance displays a larger size in the natural reserve in comparison with imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, targeted drug delivery, those observed in highly visited beaches, with non-significant hyperthermia, biological separaon, protein immobilizaon, and seasonal differences. The size of the major chela and the shell biosensors. [3] The incorporaon of iron oxide nanoparcles aperture correlates posively in animals observed in both (NPs) in hydrogel matrices exhibit unique properes with seasons and all beaches assessed. Analyses of the capability of actuaon by magnec field at a distance. However, environmental soundscape indicate a significant difference in the formaon of monodisperse hydrogel nanocomposite is sll a environmental sound between highly visited- and natural challenge. Due to the high surface-to-volume rao, these reserve-beaches during late winter (p=0.0100), but nothing nanoparcles aggregate during or before the gelaon process. significant during summer (p=0.8166). These findings enhance our understanding of the potenal impact of anthropogenic We have synthesized monodisperse nanocomposites by in-situ factors on beach ecosystem and its effect on lioral animals. We formaon of magnec iron oxide nanoparcles in smuli will conduct further research to establish whether responsive hydrogels. Two responsive hydrogels, N- anthropogenic factors such as noise affects C. clypeatus nervous isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), and polyethylene glycol (PEG) system using behavioral and molecular approaches. were used as scaffolds for in-situ synthesis of NPs. The hydrogel matrics were synthesized by free radical polymerizaon method Research Team Role: I have worked on this research project using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and polyethylene glycol since it began. I have parcipated in the experimental design, (PEG) as monomers and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) literature review, data collecon, and analysis. Data collecon as crosslinker. The redox reacons were carried out by using entails vising the research site and conducng ecological ammonium persulfate (APS) as iniator and studies such as decibel measurements and hermit crab profiling tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as accelerator. The through a transept method. nanocomposites were fabricated by a two-step method.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF CREST Support Puerto Rico Firstly, the NP precursor soluon was loaded into the Center for Environmental Neuroscience (HRD 1736019) crosslinked hydrogel. Then, an in-situ reducon process of the metal ions occurred, resulng in the formaon of NPs Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. María I. De Jesús-Burgos, throughout the hydrogel matrix. We used a 2:1 molar rao of [email protected] Iron (III) chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3.6H2O) and Iron (II) chloride tetrahydrate (FeCl2. 4H2O) soluon and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) as reducing agent. We connued this cycle several mes in order to incorporate the maximum amount of nanoparcles in the hydrogel matrix. The hydrogel nanocomposites were characterized by using various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our future research

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 71

includes the quantave measurement of NPs and the smuli treated plates unl fully confluent, then passaged to response properes of the nanocomposites. experimental culture plates where cells were treated with small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt signaling pathway (group of 1. S. Van Vlierberghe, P. Dubruel, and E. Schacht, signal transducon pathways) to promote cardiac differenaon Biomacromolecules, 2011, 12 (5), 1387. on anisotropic collagen substrates in standard culture wells. 2. T. Shirakura, T. J. Kelson, A. Ray, A. E. Malyarenko, R. Cardiac differenaon rates were evaluated on collagen Kopelman, ACS Macro Le., 2014, 3 (7), 602. substrates and compared to commercial surface coangs (CSCs), 3. A. K. Gaharwar, N. A. Peppas, A. Khademhosseini, Matrigel and Fibronecn. Expression of cell stemness using Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2014, 111, 441. octamer-binding transcripon factor 4 (Oct-4) and cardiac marker, Cardiac Troponin (cTnT) were examined at days 4 and Research Team Role: I did the synthesis of the hydrogel and 15 respecvely. The analysis of collagen substrates confirmed monodisperse hydrogel nanocomposites by in-situ precipitaon the fibrillar organizaon of the substrate and the presence of method. Also, I did the characterizaon of the nanocomposites. the funconal groups associated with the triple-helical structure. Examinaon of Oct-4 and cTnT expression in WTC11 Funder Acknowledgement(s): Department of Defense, Award cells indicated that collagen substrates produced a high yield of #W911NF-17-1-0451. virtually pure (~80%) cardiomyocytes compared to ~50% cardiomyocytes on CSCs. Viability and cell growth tests showed Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Diprani Samantaray, that collagen substrates produced ~500,000 cells/cm2 while [email protected] CSCs produced 1-1.75 million cells/cm2. In conclusion, collagen substrates enhanced the percent of cardiomyocytes, however, the total cells on collagen condions suggests that collagen 40 could be affected during the culturing process, generang lower cell growth. Our future endeavors are to invesgate the Biological Sciences potenal cause of the low cell count of WTC11 cells on collagen Subcategory: Genecs / Biomedical Engineering / Cancer substrates and evaluate how collagen may be affected during

the process. Enhancing Cardiac Differenaon and Potency of hiPSCs using Anisotropic Substrates Research Team Role: I fabricated collagen substrates and characterized them using Fourier Transform InfraRed Kaiya Mitchell, Georgia Instute of Technology spectroscopy (FTIR). I cultured WTC11 cells on Matrigel-treated Ana Reyes and Maribella Domenech, University of Puerto Rico at plates and passaged them to experimental culture plates that I Mayaguez prepared myself and differenated the cells into cardiomyocytes using the small molecule Wnt signaling pathway. I then analyzed Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality the quality of cardiac differenaon on collagen substrates and worldwide while heart failure is the principal cause of hospital commercial surface coangs, Matrigel and Fibronecn, by admissions in the United States. The heart’s incapacity to marking the cardiomyocytes with Oct-4 and cTnT and analyzed regenerate new ssue is the main barrier to treang heart their expression. I also performed viability and cell count tests diseases. Studies indicate that human-induced pluripotent stem on differenated and undifferenated WTC11 cells. cells (hiPSCs) could be directed to generate cardiomyocytes, represenng an auspicious class of emerging treatments to Funder Acknowledgement(s): This material is based upon work combat cardiac cell mortality and provide a novel strategy to supported by the Naonal Science Foundaon under Grant No. restore damaged or lost ssue. A limitaon for this cell therapy 1648035 (ERC-CMaT) at the University of Puerto Rico - is that current differenaon strategies fail to yield high Mayaquez in the Domenech Lab. percentages of mechanically-coupled adult cardiomyocytes. Research shows that substrates could potenally enhance the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Maribella Domenech, maturaon of cardiomyocytes. Ideally, substrates should be [email protected] anisotropic to accurately mimic the structure and funcon of the heart, made possible through the alignment of elongated cardiomyocytes with their surrounding extracellular matrix. 41 Here we hypothesized that the use of ssue-like anisotropic Biological Sciences substrates could potenally opmize the cardiac differenaon Subcategory: Genecs / Biomedical Engineering / Cancer process. In this invesgaon, collagen-based anisotropic substrates were fabricated through electrospinning and 25% glutaraldehyde-crosslinking processes. Crosslinked collagen Chemical Inhibion of Cholesterol Synthesis in substrates were characterized using Fourier Transform InfraRed Developing Embryos spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). WTC11 (specific hiPSC line) cells were cultured on Matrigel- Sanika Pandit, Chapman University

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Rebekah Townsley, University of Arkansas; Emmanuel Taduidje, 42 Alabama State University Biological Sciences

Subcategory: Genecs / Biomedical Engineering / Cancer Cholesterol is an essenal molecule in the cell that regulates

hormone synthesis, influences membrane permeability and fluidity, modulates transmembrane signaling, and maintains Studying the Effects of Synthesized Palladium homeostasis. While high cholesterol plagues many Americans Nanoparcles Using Gardenia Jasminoide Ellis Fruit annually, hypercholesterolemia drugs are rarely prescribed to Crude Extract on Adenocarcinoma Cervical HeLa Cells pregnant women as these drugs cause serious birth defects. Typically, stans and compeve inhibitors prevent the Jusn Sharp, Jarvis Chrisan College synthesis of cholesterol along its two synthesis pathways. In this Dr. Shakhawat Bhuiyan and Dr. Glendora Carter, Jarvis Chrisan project, we studied how blocking the biosynthesis of College cholesterol, proximally using Lovastan and distally using AY9944, along the Kandutsch-Russell pathway affects Nanoparcles and the use of nanotechnology now play a major development. For each experiment, Xenopus laevis embryos role in biomedical research. Recently nanoparcles have been were generated via invitro ferlizaon, grown to the blastula used for targeted drug delivery, cancer immunotherapy, and stage, and then treated with varying concentraon of either help with disease diagnosis and treatment. Palladium is the 46th Lovastan or AY9944. Through our studies, we observed that element on the periodic table and is a catalyst for concentraons of Lovastan caused pericardial edemas, hydrogenaon. There have been very few studies carried out on shortened body axes, and severe developmental delay, while Palladium as far as nanotechnology uses. Gardenia Jasminoide AY9944 showed no severe change. Addionally, explant Ellis is beer known as Jasmine fruit and is said to treat many treatments were done to understand the effect of the inhibitors mental and physical disorders and is even said to inhibit the on mesoderm extension. Marginal zones were solely treated growth of cancer cells. The objecve of this research was to with inhibitors; animal caps were treated with inhibitors and analyze the effects of synthesized palladium nanoparcles from Acvin, to induce mesodermal growth. In both studies the Gardenia Jasminoide Ellis fruits on human cancer Hela cell line. explants failed to elongate in the Lovastan treatment. Hela cells originated from Henriea Lacks, who was diagnosed However, AY9944 treated animal caps showed minute abnormal with cervical cancer and treated but later died from the elongaon. Through the embryo and explant studies, it was aggressive form of cancer. The cells originated from John evident that Lovastan impacts the TGF-B signaling pathway, as Hopkins Hospital where she had gone to get her treatment and this pathway controls body axis elongaon. Furthermore, discovered by Dr. Gregory Gey who was researching methods of embryo mortality was seen to have significantly increased by immortalizing cells long enough to experiment in vitro. In this the tadpole stage in Lovastan. These results confirm that study, palladium nanoparcles were synthesized using 8.5 ml of cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors are indeed toxic to crude extract of the Jasmine fruit to 4 ml of palladium chloride development and may cause embryo mortality. However, more (0.075M) soluon in a reducon method. The UV-vis studies are needed in order to determine what genes and spectroscopy was used to find the absorbance at a set signaling pathways are specifically being affected. wavelength (236nm) to determine the concentraon of palladium nanoparcles. The calculated concentraon of Research Team Role: I did all of the in vitro ferlizaons, as well palladium nanoparcles in the stock soluon was 37.77nM, as all of the treatments with the chemical inhibitors. Along with which was used to determine how effecve it would be on the the background research, I did all of the data analysis and cancer cells. The cells were treated with varying concentraons molecular biology work as well. of palladium nanoparcles (0.37nM, 0.63nM and 0.88nM), and the data was recorded for the three-day treatment process. The Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by NSF- treatment was carried out using a six well plate with 300,000 REU (DBI-1659166) to Dr. Komal Vig and by NSFCREST (HRD- cells/well and incubated for 48 hours before being treated with 1241701) to Dr. Shree S. Singh. the nanoparcles. The results showed that the concentraon of palladium nanoparcles at 0.88nM inhibited 55% viability of the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Emmanuel Tadjuidje, cancer cells a er 48 hours of treatment. With connued efforts [email protected] and research development in nanotechnology, palladium nanoparcles could be a vital part in biomedical applicaons.

Research Team Role: I contributed to all parts except for purchasing materials and seeking approval for the research.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF; Welch grant

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Shakhawat Bhuiyan, [email protected]

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43 Biological Sciences Subcategory: Genecs / Biomedical Engineering / Cancer 44

Chemistry and Chemical Sciences Funcon of Protein Kinase CK2 in B-Cells in the Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Disease Rapid Detecon of Fentanyl Levels via Electrochemical Rhythm Williams, Lawson State Community College Technique for Point-of-Care Applicaons Hairong Wei, Wei Yang, Ey N. Benveniste, and Hongwei Qin,

University of Alabama at Birmingham Brianna Burton, Xavier University of Louisiana

Surah Srinivas, Brooke Nguyen, Dr. Amit Nauyal, Dr. Zhe Wang, B-cells are key regulators in the pathogenesis of autoimmune Xavier University of Louisiana diseases as anbody secreng cells, angen-presenng cells, and cytokine producing cells. The funcon of B cells in the In the medical field, paents are generally given synthec pathogenesis of Mulple Sclerosis (MS) have received increasing opioids for pain relief. Of these synthec opioids, Fentanyl has aenon as the success of clinical trials of B-cell depleng become the most extensively used synthec opioid in medicine therapies and the presence of oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the as of 2017. Its prevalence stems from its various uses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Protein Kinase CK2 is overexpressed anesthesia, management of chronic pain, and rehabilitaon for and overacve in B-cell leukemia and B-cell lymphomas, leading opioid addicon. Despite its promising applicaons, many to inappropriate acvaon of NF-kB, JAK/STAT and PI3K/AKT/ paents sll experience adverse effects due to receiving mTOR signaling. However, lile is known about the funcon of standard doses rather than individualized dosage. Even though CK2 in B-cell development and differenaon, and specifically, present sensors are able to idenfy the presence of Fentanyl, in the pathogenesis of MS and its animal model, Experimental they are expensive and unable to measure levels of Fentanyl in Autoimmune Encephalomyelis (EAE). I hypothesize that CK2 bodily fluids. With a sensor capable of directly measuring kinase acvity in B-cells affects B-cell inflammatory responses Fentanyl concentraons, physicians will be able to tailor during EAE disease progression. Our results indicate CK2 mRNA treatments and deliver personalized doses based on the and protein expression is induced upon B-cell acvaon. We paent’s health. In this study, an electrochemical technique was generated CK2afl/flCD19CreTg/+ (CD19-CK2aKO) mice, which used to plate arginine-modified polyaniline on a gold surface to have CK2a deleon at the earliest stages and throughout B-cell detect Fentanyl for point-of-care diagnosis. Based on these development. We confirmed the deleon efficiency using B-cells results, the new method would allow for a more efficient and isolated from WT and CD19-CK2aKO mice. Furthermore, our cost-effecve strategy to ulize Fentanyl and other medicaons. studies demonstrate that CK2a specific deleon in B-cells results in exacerbated EAE disease severity. Our studies elucidate the Research Team Role: I replicated mulple experiments by crical funcon of CK2a in B-cell acvaon, which are important performing Potenostac EIS on various concentraons of in regulang immune responses in autoimmune diseases such as Fentanyl mixed in a soluon of 16.67% human serum, 5 MS and EAE. milliliters of Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS), and 0.500 grams

of L-Arginine, and Polyaniline. Along with this soluon, I also Research Team Role: I conducted the experiments for Western performed Potenostac EIS on various concentraons of Blong, the results for genotyping, and quantave real me Fentanyl in a soluon of 12.50% human serum, 5 milliliters of polymerase chain reacon (PCR). I confirmed the specific gene PBS, and 0.500 grams of L-Arginine. Using electrochemical target knockout at all 3 levels. I also extracted RNA to get the technique, arginine-modified Polyaniline was plated onto a gold data for the quantave real me PCR. surface to contribute to the sensivity and selecvity of

Polyaniline with the Fentanyl. Funder Acknowledgement(s): Hairong Wei, Wei Yang, Ey N.

Benveniste and Hongwei Qin, Department of Cell, Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work is supported by Developmental and Integrave Biology, University of Alabama at funding from the Army Research Office under Grant Number Birmingham. W911NF-18-1-0458; Naonal Science Foundaon (CHE-

1832167;HRD-1700429 and MCB-1830866), NIMHD-RCMI Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Shawanda Thomas, (5G12MD007595) and NIGMS-BUILD (8UL1GM118967). [email protected]

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Zhe Wang, [email protected]

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45 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Huong Giang Nguyen, [email protected] Chemistry and Chemical Sciences

Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer

Selecvity Predicon of CO2\N2 Binary Gas 46 Adsorpon on Zeolite Reference Materials Chemistry and Chemical Sciences Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer Julie A. Colon Marnez, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Huong Giang Nguyen and Roger van Zee, Naonal Instute of NMR Invesgaon of Micelle Formaon by an Amino-Acid Standards and Technology Based Biosurfactant

Challenges, such as climate change and air polluon, resulng Jessica Fletcher, Carthage College from excessive emissions of greenhouse/toxic gases like CO2 Kevin Morris, Carthage College; Yayin Fang, Howard University and NOx, encourages the exploraon of alternave energy College of Medicine; Eugene Billiot and Fereshteh Billiot, Texas sources other than fossil fuels. Adsorpon is a cleaner and less A&M University-Corpus Chris energy-consuming separaon or storage mechanism for alternave sources of energy, such as hydrogen gas. Surfactant molecules contain a charged or polar headgroup Alternavely, it is also an emissions migaon tool in the fossil bound to a hydrocarbon tail. Surfactants aggregate into roughly fuels industry as the world transions towards alternave spherical structures called micelles by placing their polar energy sources. These are connuously invesgated to meet the headgroups at the micelle surface and extending their non-polar increasing energy demand. In the present work, the selecvity tails into the micelle core. Applicaons of surfactants include of CO2 and N2 at high pressure was predicted on NIST zeolite cosmecs, pharmaceucals, and detergents. This project used reference materials RM 8852 (ammonium ZMS-5) and RM 8850 nuclear magnec resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study (zeolite Y) to obtain binary adsorpon isotherms at 25 C and 35 micelle formaon by an amino acid-based surfactant. This class C. This was done by evaluang the high-pressure pure of molecules are biodegradable, naturally derived, and have low adsorpon equilibria of CO2 and N2 on a gravimetric instrument toxicies, therefore, they are a greener alternave to the and a manometric instrument with both zeolites. Data obtained surfactants used in many consumer goods. The surfactant from the different adsorpon equipment was compared to studied here contained a Leucine-Valinate headgroup aached ensure the accuracy of the data. Binary CO2\N2 adsorpon to a hydrocarbon chain. Our goal was to characterize how the equilibria was predicted using the ideal adsorbed soluon properes of micelles formed by this surfactant changed with theory (IAST). The pore structures of the reference materials soluon pH and the posively charged counterion bound to the and intermolecular forces between the gases and the materials negave micelle surface. Both cyclic and linear diamine were analyzed to beer understand the selecvity results. CO2 counterions were invesgated. Our hypothesis was that was found to be the more adsorbed gas in the mixture due to its soluon pH affects the condions under which the counterions interacon with the material’s surface, mostly for RM 8850, are charged and thus their binding to the micelles. Soluons while the selecvity depended on the gas composion. For containing our surfactant and posive counterions were future work, we would like to compare these results with data prepared in the pH range 7.5 to 11.5. NMR spectroscopy was obtained from binary adsorpon equipment and go further into then used to measure micelle and counterion diffusion analyzing pore structure. coefficients. These values were in turn used to calculate the radii of the surfactant micelles and the fracon of counterion Research Team Role: As part of this research, I prepared the molecules bound to the micelle surface at each pH. Finally, two- samples for each instrument (gravimetric and manometric). dimensional NMR was used to invesgate intermolecular However, I mostly focused on performing measurements on the interacons in the counterion-surfactant complexes. NMR gravimetric instrument rather than the manometric. I collected experiments showed that the diamine counterions bound to the data and carried out the isotherm and the IAST predicon for micelle below pH 9.0, but at higher pH each counterion both gases on both instruments. Along with my mentor, I dissociated from the micelle surface. In addion, linear diamines analyzed the data in order to draw the main conclusions of the with longer alkyl chains bound to the micelles more strongly research. than amines with shorter alkyl chains. Finally, two-dimensional NMR spectra showed that the linear diamines bound parallel to Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank my mentor the micelle surface with the amine funconal groups interacng from NIST, Huong Giang Nguyen, for teaching me the concepts with mulple surfactant molecules. Soluons containing cyclic that involve this field of adsorpon. Also, the Facility for diamines were only water-soluble at high pH and cyclic Adsorbent Characterizaon Tesng (FACT) Laboratory for the diamines, unlike linear compounds, bound perpendicular to the equipment and materials. micelle surface.

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 75

Our conclusions are that soluon pH has an important impact on contribuon of these intrinsic bioacve components from hops the structures of micelle-counterion complexes. Therefore, pH in the potenal ancancer acvity of beer. Two beers were condions must be carefully considered when these surfactants chosen as precedence for hops selecon, El Cerrito, a Mexican are used in commercial formulaons. Our future work will lager with a 22 IBU index, and Hollow Body, an Indian Pale Ale invesgate amino acid-based surfactants with different with a 44 IBU index. From Hollow Body, the hops used were headgroups and study the conformaon of the surfactant Citra & El Dorado hops, and from El Cerrito, the hops used were molecules within the micelles. Saaz hops. To extract the essenal oils, an ethanol soxhlet extracon was carried out to extract the alpha- and beta-acids, References: winterized to precipitate the lipids, and dislled to get rid of any Lewis, C. et. al. Effect of pH on the Binding of Sodium, Lysine, remaining ethanol. The two oil extracts, Citra/El Dorado and and Arginine Counterions to L-Undecyl Leucinate Micelles. J Saaz, were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before being Surfact Deterg, 19: 1175-1188. resuspended in cell culture media at varying diluted Chandra, N. et. al. Synthesis, Properes, and Applicaons of concentraons. HT-29 and Caco-2 human colon cancer cells Amino Acid Based Surfactants: A Review. J Disper Sci Technol 34: were incubated with various concentraons (0 - 1000 ppm) of 800-808. the oil extract treatments for 24 hours. DMSO was added to all treated and control cells at a concentraon of 0.1% (v/v). Research Team Role: During the summer of 2019, I completed Following incubaon, cell viability was quanfied using the all of the experiments outlined in the abstract. My daily thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Both the Saaz acvies included preparing surfactant-counterion soluons at and Citra/El Dorado oil extracts inhibited growth of the HT-29 specific pH, collecng NMR spectra of the soluons, and cells in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentraon of 500 analyzing, processing, and interpreng NMR data and results. I ppm, the Saaz and Citra/El Dorado oil extracts inhibited cell am connuing this work during the 2019-2020 academic year. viability by 88.6% and 83.1%, respecvely. At the same Our goal is to complete work with the surfactant we studied last concentraon, the Saaz and Citra/El Dorado oil extracts summer and then move on to invesgate new surfactant inhibited cell viability of Caco-2 cells by 91.8% and 90.0%, systems with NMR. respecvely. This level of inhibion was comparable to a previous experiment in our lab where HT-29 cells were treated Funder Acknowledgement(s): We thank the NSF-RUI program with aqueous hops extracts. We conclude that hops may (Grant# 1709394) for supporng this research. We also contribute to the potenal ancancer effects of beer, whether it acknowledge the generosity of the Ralph E. Klingenmeyer is made using ethanol-based oil extracts or water-based freeze- family. dried extracts. The an-proliferave effects of the hops treatments potenally resulted from bioacve molecules such Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Kevin Morris, [email protected] as alpha/beta-acids and polyphenols. In future experiments, alpha- and beta-acids will be isolated and used to treat colon cancer cells. 47 Research Team Role: I played a role in designing, coordinang, Chemistry and Chemical Sciences and aiding in the experimental procedure, excluding the Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer culturing of the cancer cells in the latest run as it was handed off

to another student in my group for the experience. I have done The Contribuon of Hops Oil Extracts on Colon Cancer it before. Cell Growth Funder Acknowledgement(s): CSU Bakersfield Department of Alexander Gonzales, California State University Bakersfield Chemistry & Biochemistry, Research Council of the University; Donna Rotella, Garre Webster, Samantha Marnez-Iniguez, CSU Bakersfield LSAMP Chapter; CSU Bakersfield Student Meishan Chen, Thomas Song, Navdeep Kaur, Henna Singh, Research Scholar Program Nicholas Pineda, Diana Rios, Omar Sandoval, Isabel Davis, Julian Parent, Daisy Arichega, and Sarah Forester, California State Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Sarah Forester, University Bakersfield [email protected]

According to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States for both men and women. Consumpon of certain phytochemicals in 48 foods and beverages may help prevent this disease. Terpenes, Chemistry and Chemical Sciences phenolics, alpha-acids, and beta-acids derived from hops Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer (Humulus lupulus) contribute to the flavour and preservave characteriscs of cra beer. This study invesgates the Postnatal Inhibion of Myostan and Acvin-A in the Steogenesis Imperfecta Murine (oim) Model

76 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Dominique Joseph, University of Missouri, Columbia breeding was done by graduate students, and mouse dissecons Catherine Omosule, Victoria Gremminger, Youngjae Jeong, and ssue harvest were performed by our enre lab. Sandra Kleiner, and Charloe Phillips, University of Missouri, Columbia Funder Acknowledgement(s): NIH-IMSD

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brile bone Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Charloe Phillips, disease, is an incurable connecve ssue disorder primarily [email protected] caused by mutaons in the type I collagen genes and phenotypically manifested in type I collagen-containing ssues, parcularly bone. The Sillence classificaon system idenfies 49 four main types of OI ranging in severity, with type I being mild; Chemistry and Chemical Sciences type II, perinatal lethal; type III, severely deforming; and type IV, Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer moderately deforming. Our laboratory uses the OI murine (oim) model to study OI, where homozygous oim mice (oim/oim) vimF Expression is Essenal for Porphyromonas model severe human type III OI and exhibit increased suscepbility to fractures, skeletal deformies, and muscle gingivalis W83-Induced Apoptosis in Host Cells weakness. Bone is mechanosensive and responds to high mechanical loads by smulang new bone formaon and Caleb McIver, Oakwood University altering bone geometry to withstand increased forces. Dr. Elaine Vanterpool, Oakwood University Myostan, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is a negave regulator of muscle growth. Congenic inhibion of myostan in Porphyromonas gingivalis W83, a periodontal pathogen, is heterozygous +/oim mice previously exhibited increase in linked to systemic inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular muscle mass with concomitant increase in bone geometry and events. P. gingivalis produces powerful proteases that can biomechanical strength as compared to +/oim mice. damage host ssues and promote apoptosis. Previous studies Addionally, pharmacological inhibion of myostan in oim/oim show that inacvaon of the virulence modulaon gene (vimF), mice using the soluble acvin receptor type IIB-mFc (sActRIIB- a putave glycosyltransferase gene, resulted in decreased mFc) fusion protein resulted in increased hindlimb skeletal virulence factor acvaon. The impact of the vimF-defecve muscle weight with improved contracle funcon. The mutant (FLL95) on human cells has not been evaluated. The underlying molecular mechanism of sActRIIB-mFc remains purpose of this study is to further evaluate the mechanisms of P. unknown, and negave side effects in humans have been noted, gingivalis-induced apoptosis and how vimF may impact these likely due to the receptor’s ability to bind mulple targets in mechanisms. It is hypothesized that vimF is essenal for P. addion to myostan. This project was therefore aimed to gingivalis to induce apoptosis in host cells. To test this idenfy the main sActRIIB-mFc targets responsible for the hypothesis, wild-type P gingivalis W83 and isogenic-defecve receptor’s benefit to muscle and bone. Among sActRIIB-mFc mutant FLL95 (vimF-defecve mutant) strains were grown in BHI targets, myostan and acvin-A are known to regulate bone and broth. Membrane proteins were extracted using french press muscle growth. Thus, we treated male and female oim/oim and methods and extracellular proteins were acetone precipitated. wildtype (WT) mice with isotype control-anbody (ICA), an- P. gingivalis proteins were then incubated with Human Umbilical myostan (an-M), or an-acvin-A (an-A) specific anbodies, Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) for up to 24 hours (as well as the independently and in combinaon (an-M, an-A) for 11 weeks, untreated control). HUVEC morphology was evaluated using the starng at 5 weeks of age to invesgate their roles in bone and FLoid cell imager and cell signaling mechanisms using Toll-like muscle health. Male oim/oim and WT mice treated with either receptor 2 (TLR-2, immunomodulatory receptor protein), an-M or a combinaon of an-A and an-M anbodies had ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1, calcium research channel on the ER increased body weights when compared to ICA treated membrane) and c-fos (a proto-oncogene that can regulate cell counterparts. Female oim/oim and WT mice also had increased proliferaon, differenaon and transformaon and may body weights with both an-M and the an-A and an-M change expression in response to cell damage. Expression was combinaon treatment, with body weights of oim/oim mice in quanfied using ELISA. Results show that the vimF-defecve the an-A and an-M combinaon treatment group reaching mutant does not induce visible apoptoc morphology in HUVEC WT ICA weights. Consistent with previous studies, these cell comparison to HUVEC incubated with W83. All data were increased body weights are likely a result of increased muscle normalized to internal control GAPDH. Changes in protein mass. In order to determine the differenal impact of myostan expression are observed for c-fos, RyR1 and TLR2. HUVEC cells and acvin-A inhibion on muscle and bone in the oim model, incubated with W83 show no detectable change in RyR1 further analysis of muscle funcon and bone microarchitecture expression, however, more than a 20% downregulaon is seen and biomechanical tesng are sll required. in the presence of FLL95 a er 6 hours of incubaon and 50% decrease a er 24 hours. P. gingivalis W83 proteins incubated Research Team Role: I completed the majority of research for with HUVEC causes an upregulaon (188%) in c-fos expression this project. This includes breeding, injecng, weighing, and at 24 hours where FLL95 causes a downregulaon by 68%. TLR2 grip-strengthening mice, and compiling data into graphs. Mouse expression is upregulated (171%) by W83 and downregulated by

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 77

FLL95 (76%) a er 24 hours. Collecvely, the data of this study Mohsni assay was implemented kinecally by collecng me- supports our hypothesis that vimF is essenal for P. gingivalis to resolved UV-VIS absorpon measurements of 9,10- induce apoptosis and cell damage. We will connue to further dimethylanthracene (9,10-DMA) and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene invesgate the mechanisms of vimE in virulence modulaon of (9,10-DCA) irradiated by simulated solar radiaon in the P. gingivalis. Data from these findings can be used to prevent or presence of the assay reagents, Imd and RNO, in octanol, a neutralize the damaging effects of P. gingivalis-induced biorelevant solvent. Several control assays (selected infecons. components omied), were also measured. Molar absorpvity determinaons were used to determine assay component References: concentraons and the rates of photodegradaon and 1O2 Vanterpool E, Roy F, Fletcher HM. Inacvaon of vimF, a sensor bleaching. Electronic structure calculaons (Gaussian 09) putave glycosyltransferase gene downstream of vimE, alters were used to calculate the binding of 1O2 to the glycosylaon and acvaon of the gingipains in Porphyromonas photosensizers and other assay components. The gingivalis W83. Infect Immun. 2005 Jul;73(7):3971-82. doi: photodegradaon rates of the PAH photosensizers and their 10.1128/IAI.73.7.3971-3982. apparent singlet oxygen producon rates in the assays and controls will be compared to each other and the 1O2 binding Research Team Role: I parcipated in the experiments and constant calculaons. analysis. Research Team Role: I was responsible for collecng PAH Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported by a photodecomposion and singlet oxygen producon using me- grant from NSF/HBCU-UP and UNCF McBay awarded to Elaine resolved UV- VIS absorpon measurements of 9,10- Vanterpool, chairperson for the Biology Department, Oakwood dimethylanthracene (9,10-DMA) or 9,10-dicyanoanthracene University (9,10-DCA). I then used a computer so ware to analyze the data collected to formulate a spectrum. My project also included the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Elaine Vanterpool, use of the Gaussian so ware to compare the binding energy of [email protected] the singlet oxygen to different compounds.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): University of Delaware Graduate 50 College and the Unidel Foundaon.

Chemistry and Chemical Sciences Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Sharon Neal, [email protected] Subcategory: Chemistry / Biochemistry / Cancer

The Effect of Analyte Binding on the Detecon of PAH Photosynthesized Oxygen in a Biorelevant Solvent Computer Sciences and Informaon

Vennesa Valenne, Alcorn State University Management Sharon Neal and Micaih Murray, University of Delaware 51 Polycyclic aromac hydrocarbons (PAH) are environmental Computer Sciences and Informaon Management pollutants that are directly emied into the atmosphere by Subcategory: Computer Science incomplete combuson of organic maer such as wood, oil and natural gas. PAHs have been widely examined because some Connuous Authencaon of Smartphone Users: have harmful effects on human health and the environment. Touchscreen interacons The ssues of marine organisms can be damaged by the singlet oxygen (1O2) produced when UV radiaon is absorbed by PAH Jahmelia Atkinson, Fort Valley State University molecules. The detecon of singlet oxygen is difficult because of Peng Jiang its short lifeme and low intensity, remote spectrum.

Consequently, the colorimetric method proposed by Kraljic and Smartphones are rapidly evolving. They are equipped with the El Mohsni was designed to measure the producon of singlet capabilies of performing intelligent acvies like sensing, oxygen in the visible range. In this method, the imidazole (Imd) compung and networking. They allow users to perform a huge funcons as an acceptor, binding with the 1O2 to form a trans- range of dues such as, socializing, communicang, storing and annular peroxide intermediate that bleaches the sensor p- having access quick access to personal informaon. Today, a nitrosodimethylaniline (RNO). The bleaching of the RNO is majority of people have a tendency to store sensive assets on expected to be proporonal to the 1O2 being produced by PAH their phone. These records may consist of personal Ids, bank photosensizaon. This study aims to invesgate the tendency account informaon and other valuable informaon. Because of singlet oxygen to bind some photosensizers rather than the acceptor, undermining the assay performance. The Kraljic & El

78 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

of this, smartphones are exposed to a slew of security threats deviaon of each feature was calculated to find the Fisher and aacks from aackers. Smartphone authencaon Separability constant. Features with higher separability constant mechanisms are suscepble to numerous aacks such as were extracted from the raw data which were later used in the smudge aacks, guessing, shoulder-smurfing. To tackle these model training step. There was 65 - 80% accuracy on different challenges, we introduce connuous authencaon of data sets. smartphone users. In this study, we examined how a smartphone user can be recognized based solely on their The last step was the model training. Some of the machine touchscreen interacons. We examined the touchscreen learning algorithms that came into account were SVM, KNN, and interacons of 8 different subjects performing disncve the Random Forest Algorithm. The Random Forest algorithm touchscreen gestures. We have created an android applicaon uses decision trees. In decision trees, calculang nodes and to capture the users unique touch events. For authencaon forming rules take place by Informaon gain and Gini-index purposes and recognizing a user, we proposed a Convoluonal calculaon to find important features. The Random Forest is Neural Network model using Keras in python. We ancipate this convenient for this classificaon because the problem of research will help significantly minimize breaches due to overfing is eliminated since several samples are taken unauthorized access to smartphones. randomly to train more than one decision tree. A majority vote then made the predicted final result from the results of all the Research Team Role: I carried out this research under the decision trees in the algorithm. The Random Forest is also found supervision of my advisors and with the help of my co-author. to be a good source for feature engineering. Out of 54 paents, 46 have useable MRI data, and there was 75- 80% classificaon Funder Acknowledgement(s): Naonal Science Foundaon accuracy on different data sets in the four atlases. The results and Department of Educaon obtained are promising for further studies. In conclusion, the project was successful in detecng the lateral region of the brain Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Masoud Naghedolfeizi, with a lesion. We are currently working on looking for beer [email protected] feature extracon method and modifying the algorithm.

Research Team Role: My part in the project was wring source code in Python for data extracon (feature engineering) and 52 modifying and then training the machine learning model. Computer Sciences and Informaon Management Subcategory: Computer Science Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by US Dept. of Educaon, The Minority Science and Engineering Detecng Lesion in the Brain of Epilepc Paents Improvement Program (MSEIP) (P120A150008) to Dr. Komal Vig, and The Medical Imagine and Image Analysis Laboratory Gabriella Tilahun, Alabama State University of Dr. Loew, George Washington University. Dr. Komal Vig, Alabama State University

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Rajendran Swamidurai, Epilepsy, which is also known as seizure disorder, is the [email protected] occurrence of an unpredictable seizure where regular nerve cell

acvity in the brain is disturbed. Brain injury, family tendency, or

genecs can be menoned as a few causes although specific triggers are not yet clearly known. Paents can experience an 53 episode to a cluster of seizures. A proper treatment varies on Computer Sciences and Informaon Management the severity and frequency of the seizure. Even with the help of Subcategory: Computer Science today’s most advanced diagnosis, there is sll room for error while detecng a region of the lesion on the brain. The gist of Automac Recognion of Frog Calls this project is to automate the process of idenfying the specific part of the brain using deep learning algorithms, mainly the Tenecious Underwood, Livingstone College Random Forest algorithm to increase precision and accuracy. Evan Drake Suggs, University of Tennessee at Chaanooga; Eliza The approach we took included mainly three steps. The first G. Foran, Winona Snapp-Childs, and Sherri Sanders, University step included parcellaon of MRI scans of 56 paents over four of Indiana at Bloomington atlases to generate row data using brain imaging so ware, Free Surfer. The row data had unnecessary features; thus, it had to Hypothesis: Recording animal calls and vocalizaons is a me- be refined, which led to the Feature selecon stage. A honored data collecon method in various fields of biological neurologist prepared a ground truth list a er manually analyzing and environmental science. In the past, the only method the data to idenfy features that had high magnitude variaon available for analyzing such recordings involved extensive among le and right brain paents. The data was then grouped training of human experts. Now, however, machine learning into le and right brain paents. The mean and standard

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 79

techniques have made automac recognion of such Conclusion: The accuracy of all three neural networks vocalizaons possible. Automac recognion of animal calls and theorecally exceeds the accuracy for tradional cizen science vocalizaons is desirable on two fronts: it reduces the burden of frog surveys. All three of our models produced over 88% (at least inial) data analysis and supports non-intrusive accuracy. When fully integrated, our image-based CNN model environmental monitoring. Here, we outline a proof-of-concept can translate a frog calling in a remote locaon to automac workflow that will make the quest from collecng data to idenficaon on a webpage. Previous Jetstream undergraduate understanding data more aainable for researchers. We students created a custom Raspberry Pi recording device that simulate this data collecon process by collecng animal (frog) could push audio directly to a web page for basic bioacouscs calls using recording devices and Raspberry Pi's, then feed this visualizaon (as a spectrogram and principle component data to a database and virtual machine hosted on XSEDE analysis plot. Our research would complete automated resources (i.e. Jetstream and Wrangler). We then show how idenficaon process. database pulling, machine learning, and visualizaon works on Jetstream. Research Team Role; All parts that included the coding for the RNN and CNN imaged based neural networks. Methods: All audio samples were collected from Cornell’s Macaulay Library archives of wildlife sounds. Unfortunately, Funder Acknowledgement(s): Naonal Science Foundaon many of the sound files contained false posives. To solve this (NSF); Jetstream IU; Naonal Center for Genomic Analysis problem, we used the R package WarbleR to create 9-second Support spectrograms of each of the lossless sound samples. In both the CNNs and RNN, we created visual representaons of sound. For Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Balogun, the audio-based CNN, we created a simple frequency over me [email protected] spectrogram in greyscale. This simple spectrogram gives the frequency over me of each call. Audio processing o en applies much more complex visual representaons, such as Fourier transformaons. Done correctly, these transformaons eliminate empty informaon that would otherwise hinder a neural network. For inputs with me stamps, popular spectrograms are short-me Fourier transform and mel- frequency spectrogram. For the audio-based RNN and CNN, we 54 performed a series of transformaons on the raw audio shown. Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Instead of using a simple frequency-over-me spectrogram, we Subcategory: Ecology wanted to include both the power spectra, with frequency and me domains. To do this, we first used a fast Fourier Soil Ferlity and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza: Impact on transformaon for the audio-based RNN and CNN, we Herbivore Induced Plant Volales in Tomato performed a series of transformaons on the raw audio. Instead of using a simple frequency-over-me spectrogram, we wanted Erinn R. Dady, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to include both the power spectra, with frequency and me Isako B. Di Tomassi, Community College of Philadelphia; Neha domains. To do this, we first used a fast Fourier transformaon Chaerjee and Andrew Margenot, University of Illinois at to create a change-in-me-over-frequency spectrum, which Urbana-Champaign eliminated unimportant features of the audio. Addionally, we used short-me Fourier transformaon (STFT) with Hamming Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) are naturally occurring, Windows, Filter bank coefficient energies (logarithmic value of beneficial fungi that grow in mutualism with many plants by 26 filters), and processed through the Discrete Cosine Transform colonizing their roots. Associaons between host plants and (DCT) to eliminate over-correlated coefficients of higher AMF enhance plant defense responses, including producon of frequencies using a fast Fourier transformaon to create a volale organic compounds (VOCs). Previous studies show the change-in-me-over-frequency spectrum, which eliminated outcomes of AMF-plant mutualism vary depending on unimportant features of the audio. Addionally, we used short- ferlizaon and insect herbivory. Our study tested the me Fourier transformaon (STFT) with Hamming Windows. hypothesis that AMF mutualism improves plant volale signaling under condions of nutrient limitaon, following exposure to Results: In order to calculate the accuracy of each model, we ran insect herbivory. This work is important because it could help predicons ten mes with model rebuilding between each run. idenfy novel approaches to pest management. We found that the image-based CNN performed with the greatest accuracy. In a Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis, we We used a model system consisng of tomato plant found that the audio-based RNN had the lowest performance (Lycopersicon esculentum) and the herbivorous pest, tobacco accuracy. hornworm (Manduca sexta). To isolate mechanisms of AMF mutualisms, we used two tomato genotypes a) Myc, mycorrhizal

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wild-type tomato, easily colonized by AMF (6-30% reported); Nickel (Ni) is an important micro-nutrient in oceanic and b) Rmc, reduced mycorrhizal mutant, resists colonizaon by environments, typically with low surface concentraons that AMF (<2% reported) Tomato plants were grown under low- increase with depth. Phytoplankton have been studied to and high-phosphorous soils. Volales were collected from incorporate Ni as a nutrient needed for the creaon of urea and undamaged, mechanically damaged, and herbivore damaged oxidave defenses. Ni isotope analyses offer the potenal to plants. To induce the producon of herbivore-induced volales, provide insight into the cycling of Ni throughout the oceans. four, fourth instar M. sexta larvae were allowed to feed on However, accurate and precise isotopic analysis requires the tomato plants 48 hours prior to volale collecon. Four separaon of Ni from the complex sea-salt matrix. At USF, we replicates were done. Volales were collected using solid phase have previously used a two-stage method involving batch microextracon and idenfied using gas chromatography mass extracon by Nobias PA-1 chelang resin and AGMP-1 anion spectrometry. resin to separate Fe, Zn, and Cd from major salts in seawater, but we found that this method is not effecve for separang Ni Results showed that soil ferlity and mycorrhizal colonizaon from Na. Therefore, in order to comprehensively invesgate Ni affected the emissions of herbivore-induced VOCs in tomato. isotope distribuons, a different method for separang the Overall, 28 VOCs were idenfied in detectable quanes. As trace metal from the large concentraons of major caons predicted, VOC emissions differed by genotype, with the AMF present in seawater was needed. Here, we present a new colonized plants in low ferlity responding strongest to insect chemical purificaon method that separates the typical trace herbivory. The implicaon of this finding should be considered, amounts of Ni from the high concentraons of major salts (Na parcularly in the use of AMF to manage agricultural pests, as and Mg) in seawater, allowing isotopic analysis. Our method many herbivores and their natural enemies are known to use builds upon our exisng published methods using caon and plant VOCs as host locaon cues. More understanding of these anion exchange resins by incorporang a second caon resin mechanisms could help lower the need for ferlizer and microcolumn. We found this extra column allows us to fully pescide applicaons while improving yields and reducing insect separate Ni from Na, Mg and other interfering elements, before damage to crop plants. This would be beneficial to the farmers’ analysis of Ni by mul collector ICPMS. We also present new Ni boom line as well as the environment. Further research will isotope data from isotope standards and Atlanc seawater focus on tomatoes grown in realisc field condions to unravel samples. addional mechanisms. References: Research Team Role: I parcipated in all aspects of the Cameron, V., and D. Vance. ‘Heavy Nickel Isotope Composions experiment. I dug soil from local fields, planted seeds, and cared in Rivers and the Oceans.’ Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, for seedlings. I also assisted in volales collecon and vol. 128, 2014, pp. 195-211., doi:10.1016/j.gca.2013.12.007. idenficaon. Later, I recorded weights of 192 Manduca sexta, Dupont, Christopher L., et al. ‘Nickel Ulizaon in Phytoplankton used to induce the emission of herbivore-induced VOCs and Assemblages from Contrasng Oceanic Regimes. Deep Sea recorded above- and below ground biomass for dry weight of all Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers’, vol. 57, no. 4, plants. 2010, pp. 553-566., doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2009.12.014. Conway, Tim M., et al. ‘A New Method for Precise Determinaon of Iron, Zinc Funder Acknowledgement(s): Financial support was provided and Cadmium Stable Isotope Raos in Seawater by Double-Spike by the Naonal Science Foundaon under grant #NSF REU Mass Spectrometry.’ Analyca Chimica Acta, vol. 793, 2013, pp. 1559908/1559929, as part of the Phenotypic Plascity Research 44-52., doi:10.1016/j.aca.2013.07.025. Experience for Community College Students through the Takano, Shotaro, et al. ‘A Simple and Rapid Method for Isotopic University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Instute for Genomic Analysis of Nickel, Copper, and Zinc in Seawater Using Chelang Biology and Parkland College, hp://precs.igb.illinois.edu/ Extracon and Anion Exchange.’ Analyca Chimica Acta, vol. 967, 2017, pp. 1-11., doi:10.1016/j.aca.2017.03.010. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Esther N. Ngumbi, [email protected] Yang, Shun-Chung, et al. ‘A New Anion Exchange Purificaon Method for Cu Stable Isotopes in Blood Samples.’ Analycal and Bioanalycal Chemistry, vol. 411, no. 3, 2018, pp. 765-776., 55 doi:10.1007/s00216-018-1498-4.

Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Research Team Role: I calculated the sample amounts that Subcategory: Ecology were used in tesng the three experimental purificaon

methods. I then conducted column chromatography on each of A Purificaon Method for Nickel from Seawater for the purificaon methods using the samples created by my Isotope Analysis mentor and collected each aliquot (30 ul) in separate 15 ml tubes. With each sample, I then added 380 uL of 2% HNO3 for Tione Grant, University of the Virgin Islands analysis on the mass spectrometer. Finally, I applied blank and Brent A. Summers, Mahias Sieber, and Tim M. Conway, elemental standard correcons to the purificaon method data University of South Florida

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collected and created calibraon curves corresponding to the these plates daily during the 3-5 day incubaon period; data. furthermore, I interpreted and recorded the data.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This project was funded by NSF Funder Acknowledgement(s): Awards to Smulate and Support grant Award OCE-1737136-1 to Dr. Tim Conway at the College of Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) Program, Marine Sciences, University of the South Florida. Alabama Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Parcipaon (ALSAMP) program Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Tim Conway, [email protected] Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Florence Okafor, fl[email protected] 56

Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Subcategory: Ecology 57 Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences Genotoxicity Determinaon of 2,4-Dichloro- Subcategory: Ecology phenoxyacec Acid Disnguishing between Temperature and Humidity Benicia Harrison, Alabama A&M University Data Arfacts in MicroAeth® Black Carbon Monitors Raymond Wiggins, Raveen Marn, and Khadi Badiane, Alabama and Generang Data Correcon Algorithms A&M University Stefanie Moncayo, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Pescides are chemical compounds such as herbicides, Columbia University; Dominican College of Blauvelt fungicides, or inseccides. Pescides are beneficial in that they James Ross and Steven N. Chillrud, Lamont-Doherty Earth control pests and increase agricultural output, but they have Observatory, Columbia University many overlooked consequences to their use, such as contaminang nearby water sources or poisoning non-target Black Carbon (BC) is an air pollutant released from the species. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the incomplete combuson of carbon-based fuels, with impacts on genotoxicity of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacec Acid (2,4-D), which is regional and global climate as well as human health. One commonly found in pescides, using the Environmental Bio instrument for making BC measurements is the microAeth® Detecon Products Inc. (EBPI) Muta-ChromoPlate kit. The Muta- AE51 which is small enough for drone, balloon, or personal ChromoPlate kit tests for genotoxicity using a reverse-mutaon monitoring campaigns, all of which can have rapid changes in Ames test. The test was carried out using microplates and temperature (T) or relave humidity (RH). Previous studies strains of Salmonella Typhimurium that carried mutaons on found that these impacts could be ameliorated during personal the operon coding for hisdine biosynthesis. When these monitoring by use of a Nafion dryer inlet when temperature bacteria are exposed to mutagenic agents, reverse mutaons changes are buffered by wearing the unit under clothes. from amino acid auxotrophy to prototrophy occurs and causes However, recent use in a mobile monitoring study where the the microplate wells to become either yellow or turbid to unit was worn by bikers outside of the clothes, we observed indicate that the compound is capable of causing mutaons in large BC arfacts that could extend for 30 - 60 minutes in early cells. Likewise, purple or a lack of turbidity is an indicaon of no spring and late fall when outdoor temperatures are quite low mutaons taking place. It was hypothesized that 2,4-D would compared to indoor temperatures, but it was unclear whether indeed be capable of causing mutaons. There was a posive the arfacts were due to the RH or T. Therefore, this study control and a blank was used to maintain sterility. The plates focused on disnguishing the impacts of T and RH in controlled were checked daily and results were recorded a er 3-5 days of experiments. RH changes were examined by moving the incubaon at 37 C. The experiment yielded 80% yellow and monitors from a dry environment to a moist environment at turbid results, thus indicang that 2,4-D was capable of causing constant temperature. Alternavely, T changes were examined genec mutaons and is therefore harmful to cells it may come by moving the monitors from a cold environment to a hot into contact with. Future research concerning genotoxicity environment, with both dry. The two experiments were also would include experimentaon with other compounds examined inversely. These controlled experiments suggest the commonly found in pescides and runoff water. primary cause of data arfacts in AE51 monitors to be rapid T changes. These impacts are reproducible with similar impacts Research Team Role: I was responsible for carrying out the during heang and cooling on each unit but with large Ames test, which included the creaon of the reacon mixture differences between units. Minor RH changes cause short-term that would allow the experiment to reveal if the chemical was deviaons, which can be avoided through the use of a Nafion capable of causing mutaons. Addionally, I transferred dryer inlet. An algorithm was successfully wrien by correcng experimental substances to the microplates along with checking

82 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

its reference and sensing raw detector data based on the The UV stability of the various treatments was unchanging over internal temperature change monitored by the AE51. me, and they were not different (p > 0.05). When these treatments were exposed to the corals, S. taccada extract had a Research Team Role: I built a model designed to replicate rapid 29.67% color change and 0.429 y in photosynthec yield on temperature and relave humidity changes with the black average. Concentrated S. taccada extract had a 39.34% color carbon monitors. The crucial step in this study was finding a change and an 0.068 in photosynthec yield on average. The way to isolate both environmental factors. Once data was concentraon of the juice made a difference to the physiology collected from several experiments, I was able to draw of the coral, but it is not known whether it was the acve UV conclusions about whether rapid temperature or relave compound or some other aspect of the extract that was causing humidity changes were responsible for erroneous data in these changes. Further invesgaon will be performed to study microAeth devices. Lastly, I was able to write a correcon the effects of diluted S. taccada extracts in seawater. algorithm based on model signals (signals that were not impacted by temperature from the same unit). References: Hagedorn, M. A. Farrell, V. Carter, N. Zuchowicz, E. Johnston, J. Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF (REU-OCE1757602), NIBIB Padilla-Gamio, S. Gunasekera, and V. Paul. 2015. Effects of toxic (U01-EB021983), NIEHS (P30-ES009089) compounds in Monpora capitata on exogenous and endogenous symbionts performance and ferlizaon success. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Steven N. Chillrud, PLoS One, 10(2) : e0118364. [email protected] Downs, C. A., E. Kramarsky-Winter, R. Segal, J. Fauth, S. Knutson, O. Bronstein, F.R. Ciner, R. Jeger, Y. Lichtenfeld, C.M. Woodley, P. Pennington, K. Cadenas, A. Kushmaro, and Y. Loya. 2016. 58 Toxicopathological effects of the sunscreen UV filter, oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), on coral planulae and cultured Ecology, Environmental, and Earth Sciences primary cells and its environmental contaminaon in Hawaii and Subcategory: Ecology the US Virgin Islands. Arch. of Environ. Contam. Toxicol, 70

(2) :265-288. Sensivity of Porites Compressa Corals to Nave Hawaiian Plant Scaevola Taccada Extract Research Team Role: I performed all parts of the research.

Keanu Rochee-Yu Tsuen, Kapi'olani Community College Funder Acknowledgement(s): I thank the REU: Environmental Biology for Pacific Islanders for funding my project through their Scaevola taccada or naupaka kahakai is a nave Hawaiian plant NSF grant, specifically Dr. Michael Hadfield and Dr. Mahew that grows commonly in coastal areas. Indigenous knowledge Medeiros. suggests that the fruits of this plant contain UV absorbing compounds. As such, the fruits of this nave plant could Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Mary Hagedorn, [email protected] potenally help reduce the use of commercial sunscreens on Hawaiian reefs. Prolonged exposure to commercial sunscreen chemicals (oxybenzone) affects coral growth and recruitment. Previous experiments have demonstrated that fruit extracts from S. taccada do contain compounds capable of absorbing UV radiaon with a calculated SPF as high as 20. 59

In this study, we invesgated the UV stability of the juice over Mathemacs and Stascs me in fresh, heated, and frozen soluons, and the toxicity of Subcategory: Mathemacs these treatments of S. taccada extract on coral colonies (Porites compressa) was measured. Specifically, various S. taccada Studying the Effects of Proton Therapy on Human treatments of the extract (FSW, fresh, heated and a negave Tissue Using the Pennes Bio-Heat Equaon control of Monpora capitata eggs with monporic toxin) were incorporated into a 2% agar soluon and filled into small plasc Ashley Alfred, Southern University A&M College caps. The caps with several treatments were strapped onto 10 Dr. Patrick Mensah, Southern University Agricultural and cm coral fragments to allow the gels to be in direct contact with Mechanical College the coral ssues and placed into flowing seawater. A er four days of treatment, the effects of these treatments were Proton therapy (PT) is a type of radiaon therapy that uses analyzed macroscopically and microscopically with a protons rather than x-rays to treat cancer. A synchrotron or colorimetric assessment and the photosynthec yield of the cyclotron machine speeds up protons creang high energy that symbionts. make the protons reach a certain depth in the body to deliver the set amount of radiaon dose in a tumor. As opposed to x-

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 83

rays, proton therapy results in less damage to healthy ssues films (Ecoflex). With a beer interface and proper dispersion, nearby the tumor. Proton therapy treatment is more expensive, properes can be further improved. Thus, produced polymer and somemes is a less effecve treatment in certain cancers films can further enhance barrier and anmicrobial properes but more effecve in others. The goal of this research is to look which can be used for food packaging applicaons. at how we can improve proton therapy treatment by solving a paral differenal equaon (PDE) to predict effect of PT on Research Team Role: I collected the chicken feathers, cleaned ssue temperature. We use the Pennes bioheat equaon, a PDE them (for residue and outside elements). I also balled-milled the for ssue temperature, and look at possible boundary chicken feathers and made the powder forty nanometers. Then, condions, such as, the amount of energy from proton therapy, I mixed the soluon with ecoflex, chloroform, and the chicken the diameter of the source of energy, and the effects of the feather powder. I printed the soluon using a 3-D printer. dose calculaon on ssue temperature profiles. Numerical Finally, I helped with the mechanical tesng of the final product soluons will be used to solve the PDE with applied boundary and compared the results to a blank and the variety of condions. Computaonal results include the temperature percentages. The rest of the tesng SEM and thermogravimetric contour of the tumor and surrounding ssue. This study is used analysis was done by the student mentor. to deduce the potenal inflammaon or damages and efficacy of the PT treatment compared to using X-rays to treat cancer Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was sponsored by tumors. the Naonal Science Foundaon HBCU-UP Grant No. 1719433, 1818696 and NSF-CREST #1137681. The technical guidance and Research Team Role: I did all parts of this research under the support from Dr. Vijaya Rangari and Zaheeruddin Mohammed guidance of my mentor. (student mentor). The students from the MSE department were helpful, persuasive, and greatly appreciated. Also, I want to Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research is funded by the acknowledge the Tuskegee University poultry farm for providing Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology chicken feathers. (CREST). Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Vijaya Rangari, Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Patrick Mensah, [email protected] [email protected]

61 Nanoscience Subcategory: Nanoscience 60 Nanoscience Photophysics of Two Dimensional Organic Inorganic Subcategory: Nanoscience Perovskites

Development of 3D Prinng Technique for Chicken Washat Ware, Fayeeville State University Bhoj Gauta and Antony Devita, Fayeeville State University Feather Powder Infused Biodegradable Polymer Films

The soluon-processable, earth-abundant organometallic Zahria Duncan, Tuskegee University perovskites are promising materials for photovoltaic Zaheeruddin Mohammed, Shaik Jeelani, and Vijaya Rangari, applicaons, offering tunable electronic levels, excellent charge Tuskegee University transport and simplicity of thin-film device fabricaon. Two

dimensional (2D) perovskites have emerged as promising Chicken feathers, which are a by-product of the poultry industry candidates over three-dimensional (3D) due to their interesng are mostly disposed without any pretreatment causing opcal and electrical properes. In this work, photophysics of environmental problems. They are made of high contents of a the 2D Perovskite (MA)2Pb(SCN)2I2 use steady state and me useful polymeric protein called keran (91-93 percent). To make resolved absorpon and emission spectroscopy. The use of this protein, chicken feather powder (CFP) of an average photoluminescence lifeme of this 2D perovskite is 21 ns, diameter 40 μm was incorporated as a filler material for making compared to 7.0 ns of 3D counterpart, indicang less defect films with biodegradable polymer ecoflex via simple soluon traps in the former one. Also, using ultrafast pump probe blending technique followed by 3-D prinng. The filler material spectroscopy, we studied the charge carrier dynamics. Carrier was used in various weight fracons (1, 2, 6, 10, 15 and 20 wt. dynamics monitored at ~2.3 eV indicate that charges are percent). The influence of CFP as a reinforcement on mechanical depopulated with characteriscs me constants of 3.5 ps and 57 and thermal properes was characterized via tensile and ps. This indicates that the charge carrier recombinaon is thermogravimetric analysis. From this study, it can be concluded finished within 100 ps. This work provides an improved that CFP can be used as a useful filler for improving the understanding of fundamental photophysical processes in mechanical and thermal properes of biodegradable polymer

84 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

perovskite structures and provides the guideline for the design, cost. Scinllator and photomulplier tube enclosures were synthesis, and fabricaon of optoelectronic devices including found to be leaking light, introducing ambient noise. Detecng solar cells. the photons emied by scinllator detectors via photomulplier tubes requires a noise free environment as photomulplier Research Team Role: I did sample preparaon, data collecon, tubes are highly sensive and produce their own noise due to and analysis. the high voltages involved (dark rates). Further characterizaon of experimental equipment is presented. Future work includes Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by NSF the development of 10 fully developed prototypes for rigorous PREM program DMR 1827731. tesng under full experiment condions. Design modificaons resulng from this inial prototype tesng, connuing Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Bhoj Gautam, [email protected] development of DAQ Front End, and other equipment improvements by colleagues is expected.

References: Hill, W., Horowitz, P., 2015. The Art of Electronics. Third Edion. ISBN 978-0-521-80926-9. Armendariz, R., Zhang, A., Buitrago, D. J., Cheung, T., Stoddard, 62 G., Jaffe, D. E., 2017. Design and construcon of a cosmic ray Physics detector array for undergraduate research at the City University Subcategory: Physics of New York. Fall 2017 Mid-Atlanc ASEE Conference. Paper ID #21006. Design of Power & Controls Circuits and Experiment Enclosures for Cosmic Ray Muon Detectors Research Team Role: I designed the enclosures and circuit assembly for power, distribuon, and controls circuits, including Ausn DeMurley, Suffolk County Community College choosing all necessary components and making changes Raul Armendariz and Corey Stalerman, Queensborough necessary based on updates to experiment and DAQ design by Community College; Jonathan McCarthy, Suffolk County colleagues. I tested LM317s for use as power distribuon units, Community College including full experiment set up with EMCO converters and photomulplier tubes. I discovered pre-exisng scinllator and Cosmic Rays are ionized atomic nuclei; 90% are Hydrogen photomulplier tube enclosures were leaking light, introducing (Protons), 9% Helium (Alpha Parcles), 1% heavier atomic nuclei noise to test experiments, and tested and developed soluons. (HZE ions). These parcles are jesoned from the sun, acve galacc nuclei, supernovae, and quasars at relavisc speeds. Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was funded by an When these primary Cosmic Rays collide with Earth, they first NSF grant to CUNY Queensborough Community College’s strike nucleons in the upper atmosphere. These high energy Physics REU program under Dr. David Lieberman. Scholarship collisions cause secondary Cosmic Ray showers of daughter funding was provided by an NSF grant to SUNY Suffolk County parcles including charged Pions, which undergo leptonic decay Community College’s NSF-STEM program into Muon and Muon-Neutrino pairs. These Muons experience relavisc me dilaon, allowing the Muons to reach Earth- Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Raul Armendariz, bound detectors despite a mean lifespan of 2.2 microseconds. [email protected] The CUNY Cosmic Ray Muon Detector array uses sheets of polyvinyltoluene (PVT) plasc with fluorescent hydrocarbon molecules as detecon media. Charged Muons collide with 63 these counters, ionizing molecules which emit photons that can Physics be detected using photomulplier tubes. In creang an array of Subcategory: Physics detectors in mulple sites across New York to study parcle astrophysics and atmospheric physics, a streamlined experiment Verifying the Eccentricity of the Moon’s Orbit Using including power distribuon, network, and control circuits, Lagrangian experiment and equipment enclosures must be developed.

Experiment control includes transferring power and data Kiyomi Sanders, University of Hawaii at Manoa between various subsystems, including GPS, sensors for

atmospheric condions, Ardiuno and Raspberry Pi. LM317 IC Kepler’s first law states that systems subjected to a central force were thoroughly tested for use as Power Distribuon Units to orbit in an ellipcal moon around one of the two foci. A ensure a reliable and accurate power supply for EMCO high fundamental quanty characterizing the uniqueness of the type voltage converters necessary to power the photomulplier of moon of orbing satellites, planets, stars or galaxies is tubes. Characterizaon, modificaons, and circuit design are eccentricity. Being able to predict its value is essenal in orbital presented. Enclosure designs are streamlined to reduce size and

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dynamics as it dictates whether a system follows a circular, ellipcal, parabolic, or hyperbolic path. The purpose of this research is to verify the eccentricity of the Moon’s orbit around the earth using NASA’s APOLLO experiment. 64 Science and Mathemacs Educaon The Lagrangian method was first used to verify the law of Subcategory: Educaon conservaon of angular momentum and then to derive the differenal equaon that describes the dynamical properes of A Minority in STEM: A Closer Look at the Effects of the moon. To solve the differenal equaon, a clever change of Gender and School Seng on Minority Student’s variable was employed, which led the original equaon to be Science Identy and Sense of Belonging rewrien as a well-known differenal equaon with constant coefficients describing a simple harmonic oscillator (SHO). Eden Harrison, Spelman College Changing the variable back again from the soluon of the SHO Kaela Jackson, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA led to the equaon of an ellipse. NASA’s APOLLO experiment provided measurements at irregular me intervals of the Evaluang how self-percepon and academic environments moon’s distance from earth. In order to use the equaon of the shape the learning ability of minority potenal is the first step to ellipse and fit it with the experimental distances, leading in turn bridging the gap in STEM. In order to probe further into this to the value of the eccentricity, the data needed to be discrepancy, the funded study sought to understand how reformaed to angle vs. distance by idenfying the sociocultural contextual factors impact science identy and corresponding angle for the me of each data point. sense of belonging. During the Fall semester, incoming freshman Addionally, the experiment did not specify when the vertex of (N= 952) from 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universies the ellipse occurred in the data, so an addional alignment was (HBCUs) who declared a major in STEM completed a baseline required. identy survey that was designed to measure student’s identy development in STEM. This study invesgates gender disparies Using distances measured in the APOLLO experiment, gnuplot in STEM while taking into account school seng to explore the graphing ulity was used to plot the data with polar coordinates science identy and sense of belonging among African-American and apply a nonlinear regression to the data using the derived STEM majors at various HBCUs. Consistent with the literature, it equaon of the ellipse to obtain the eccentricity of the moon was hypothesized that African- American men would around the earth. This value was found to be 0.049 +/- 0.021. demonstrate higher levels of science identy and sense of Being able to obtain the eccentricity of rotang objects is belonging than African-American women due to the evidence fundamental to astrophysics modeling since along with that STEM fields are male-dominated. In addion, it was measurement of periods and semi-major axes, it allows precise hypothesized that African-American students from urban esmaon of the mass of observed objects in the universe. Now schools would have higher scienfic identy due to more access that the kinemacs of celesal objects has been quanfied and to resources, while it was speculated that students from rural verified, the next step in the research is to obtain the masses of schools would display higher levels of sense of belonging due to observed celesal objects using Kepler’s Third Law, the orbital smaller sengs centered around community. A mulvariate period, and the observed semi-minor axes. analysis (MANOVA) was conducted to detect differenal means between groups. The MANOVA detected significance between Research Team Role: I performed the calculaons that allowed the main effects of school seng and gender on the dependent us to verify the law of conservaon of angular momentum and variables of sense of belonging and scienfic identy. Results the differenal equaon, and solve this equaon for the revealed significant main effects for the independent variables equaon of an ellipse. I reformaed the experimental data on of school seng. Addional analysis revealed that there was not Microso Excel by converng the me to the corresponding a significant interacon between gender and school seng. angle measurement for the first thirty data points. I learned how Students aending rural instuons scored higher on the sense to use the gnuplot graphing ulity to plot both the experimental of belonging values when compared to urban students. In and theorecal data in polar. addion, gender was found to be a significant main effect for sense of belonging. Interesngly, females on average scored Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank the Tribal higher on all of the negave quesons on sense of belonging Colleges and Universies Program (TCUP) and the Hawai'i Pre- when compared to male students, but surprisingly scored higher Engineering Educaon Collaborave Phase II (PEEC II). on quesons related to commitment to their program even though they reported being disliked by others in their programs. Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Herve Collin, [email protected] Students aending urban instuons on average scored higher on the majority of the scienfic identy values. As predicted, students from rural instuons reported significantly higher levels of sense of belonging when compared to rural

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instuons. Future research should focus on obtaining demonstrated that at the highest dose (10 umol/kg), PD144418 qualitave follow-up interviews to beer understand if women decreases one’s movaon to work for food, as it significantly are truly less commied to science or if they are less willing to reduces the number of acve lever responses made. However, it demonstrate that commitment through self-report. was unknown whether PD144418 would have an influence on palatability driven feeding. To examine such effects, PD144418 Reference: was administered in conjuncon with DAMGO, a mu-opioid Trujillo, G., & Tanner, K. D. (2014). Considering the role of affect agonist that has extensively been shown to increase palatability in learning: Monitoring students' self-efficacy, sense of driven feeding and the movaon to work for food. Using a belonging, and science identy. CBE Life Sciences Educaon, 13 counterbalanced design, male and female rats (n=8/group) were (1), 6-1 administered each treatment group (saline + saline, saline + 3.16 umol PD144418, saline + 10 umol PD144418, DAMGO (0.5 μl) + Research Team Role: I helped to conduct the literature review, saline, DAMGO (0.5 μl) + 3.16 umol PD144418, DAMGO (0.5 μl) and formulate the method and discussion secons. + 10 umol PD144418). PD144418 or saline was administered 15 minutes prior to the infusion of DAMGO (0.025μg/0.5 μl/side Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank the HBCU bilaterally) or saline into the NAcc for 93s. Tesng on the PR STEM-US center and my mentors M. Newell and B. Chambers schedule of reinforcement began immediately a er infusions for for supporng me in my research. I would also like to thank Dr. 1 hour. There was one day between tesng sessions, where Muldrow for the opportunity to work within the center. This animals respond to the PR schedule of reinforcement, but no funding was provided by the NSF grant (#1818458) awarded to drugs are administered. Analysis using a repeated-measures Lycurgus Muldrow PhD, Execuve Director of HBCU STEM-US ANOVA revealed that PD144418 does suppresses the effects of Center, Morehouse College. palatability driven movaonal effort to work for food in male and female rats. These results indicate that the effects of Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Lycurgus Muldrow, PD144418 on movaonal effort to work for food are most [email protected] likely not influenced by opioid systems.

Research Team Role: I handled rodents, facilitated in surgeries, did daily checks, and analyzed data.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): IMSD Program (Naonal Instutes of Health)

65 Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Mahew Will, [email protected] Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics

66 Effects of Sigma-1 Receptor Antagonist PD14418 co- Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences administered with opioid [D-Ala2, N-MePHe4, Gly-ol]- Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics enkephalin (DAMGO) on Operant Responding in Male and Female Rats Racial Disparies in Contracepve Use and the Likelihood of Tesng Posive for High-Risk Human Esirioghene Emeje, University of Missouri-Columbia Papillomavirus (HR-HPV) Infecons Kennedy Duncan, Jordan Petronella, Ngozichukwu Ibe, Lecia

Rivera, Kelsey Mason, Courtney Gann, Melissa Tapia, and Marna Hakim, Tuskegee University Mahew Will, University of Missouri-Columbia Suguna Badiga and Chandrika Piyathilake, University of Alabama

at Birmingham Obesity has been a major health issue since the 1970s in the

United States. According to the CDC, the rate of obesity is at a Background: Infecon with High-risk human papillomaviruses connual rise, especially among women (38.3%) as opposed to (HR-HPVs) is the causave factor for pre-cancerous lesions of men (34.3%). Moreover, rates are higher amongst females than the cervix and invasive cervical cancer. In the United States (US), males. The over consumpon of sweets and/or fay foods are 79 million Americans are already infected with HPV and every some reasons for this disparity. As such, it is important to find year there is an esmated 14 million new cases of HPVs. Many ways to decrease intake of consuming foods that are palatable risky sexual behaviors including, age at first intercourse, use of in nature. Research indicates that the sigma-1 receptor is douche and contracepves, parity and history of other STDs involved in the rewarding as well as movaonal processes for have been studied in relaon with HR-HPV infecons but the eang. Previous studies from our lab have treated male and results have been inconsistent. Further, to our knowledge, no female rats with PD144418, a sigma 1 antagonist, and have

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 87

comprehensive studies have been conducted to evaluate racial differences in the relaonship between risky sexual behaviors and risk of being infected with HR-HPVs in the US. 67 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the racial Technology and Engineering differences in the relaonship between risky sexual behaviors Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering and risk of being infected with HR-HPVs. Tesng and Analyzing the Mechanical Properes of Methods: The study included 852 women (African American Wet-electrospun Yarns for Tissue Engineering with (AA)=434, Caucasian American (CA)=414) of childbearing age Texle Technology who were tested for HPV infecons (HR-HPV posive=667, negave=181) using Roche linear array assay and were Carolina Colon, Florida Instute of Technology diagnosed with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) or ≤CIN1. A validated risk factor quesonnaire was used to Fibrous scaffolds have aracted great aenon in ssue obtain demographic, lifestyle and sexual behavior related engineering due to their ability to mimic the anatomical, informaon. Informaon regarding fruit and vegetable intake mechanical, and biochemical properes of the extracellular was obtained using Block fruit, vegetable and fiber screener. matrix. Many different approaches such as phase separaon, Uncondional Logisc regression models strafied by race were self-assembly, electrospinning, et al. have been explored to used to test the associaons. fabricate fibrous ssue scaffolds. However, fabricang ssue scaffolds with tunable mechanical properes is sll a challenge, Results: We observed racial differences in the determinants of especially when using only one fabricaon method and one HR-HPV infecons. AA women who were <24 years and users of material. Texle technologies have shown great advantages in hormonal contracepves were more likely to test posive for HR addressing this challenge. Some of the technologies that are -HPV infecons (OR=1.70 P=0.0410 and OR=1.80 P=0.0441 used in the texle industry including kning, weaving, and respecvely). Among CA, none of the risk factors were braiding offer versale tools that can be used to fabricate ssue significantly associated with the likelihood of tesng posive for scaffolds with tunable micro- and macro-scale structures. Our HR-HPVs. hypothesis is that the implementaon of texle technologies will produce enhanced ssue scaffolds with tunable mechanical Conclusion: Younger AA women were more likely to be HR-HPV properes. In this work, texle yarns were fabricated by wet- posive. The plausible reasons for this observaon could be as electrospinning polycaprolactone (PCL), and crochet (a form of follows: lower socio-economic status related factors such as kning) was selected as the texle method. Crochet hooks of lower exposure to sex educaon, lack of HPV knowledge, lower different sizes were used during the crocheng process, and immune response due to poor nutrional status and lower single chain and mulple chains were fabricated to view the likelihood of clearance of HR-HPV. It is likely that AA women effects each had on the tensile strength. Addionally, a type of who used contracepves may be praccing risky sexual behavior composite scaffolds was designed by incorporang the texle that increases their risk for HR-HPV infecons. fabrics (crocheng mulple chains) in electrospun fibrous membranes. Electrospun fibrous membranes and texle fabrics Research Team Role: The study included 852 women who were were used as the control groups. The tensile mechanical tesng tested for HPV infecons (HR-HPV posive, n=667, negave, results showed that the composite scaffolds had the strain- n=181). I obtained informaon on demographic, lifestyle factors, sffening property which was similar to what human ssues had sexual behavior factors from interviewer administered validated owing to the existence of the texle fabrics. The success of this risk factor quesonnaire and informaon regarding fruit and project will pave the path towards flexible ssue engineering via vegetable intake using Block fruit, vegetable and fiber screener. texle technologies. Future work will focus on in vivo tesng of the scaffold and the use of different polymers and texle Funder Acknowledgement(s): Morehouse School of Medicine/ techniques other than crochet. Tuskegee University/University of Alabama Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center Partnership [NCI]: Tuskegee Research Team Role: For this project, I was tasked with University U54 CA118623 crocheng all the samples using both single and double chain crochet with mulple hook sizes, designing the composite Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Richard Whington, scaffold along with conducng the mechanical property tesng rwhimail protected] to compare the samples. Addionally, my project won the third -place award during the research retreat at the University of Georgia in August 2019. Furthermore, I also researched different texle techniques to implement and compared and analyzed data to that of nave ssues found such as muscle.

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Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to acknowledge the observed changes in the distribuon of hepatocytes. Our work SURE program as part of the CEED office in the Georgia Instute validated that our organotypic plaorm is now suited for high of Technology for my REU experience. Addionally, I would like throughput drug target screening. Moreover, we will connue to acknowledge NSF for providing the funding for my project. to explore the vast dosage, ming, and duraon landscape of Wnt inhibitors to be able to fine-tune the complexity of our 3D Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Kan Wang, liver organoid model. We aim to further translate these [email protected] treatments to synthec circuits that can be acvated endogenously without external factors, similar to the natural liver development path.

68 References: Technology and Engineering Guye, P., Ebrahimkhani, M. R., Kipniss, N., Velazquez, J. J., Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering Schoenfeld, E., Kiani, S., Weiss, R. (2016). Genecally engineering self-organizaon of human pluripotent stem cells Understanding the Link between Wnt Signalling and into Birchmeier, W. (2016). Orchestrang Wnt signalling for Urea Producon in Synthec Liver Organoids metabolic liver zonaon. Nature Cell Biology, 18(5), 463?465. doi: 10.1038/ncb3349 Alexxa Cruz-Bonilla, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Shiva Razavi and Ron Weiss, Massachuses Instute of Research Team Role: I was responsible for the cell culture of Technology the hiPSCs and the development of the organoids. I also administered the treatments while researching new possible Annually approximately 4.5 million are diagnosed with chronic variables that might affect urea producon. I was responsible liver disease (CLD). The previous treatments for CLD have for opmizing the past urea assay used in the lab and finding proven ineffecve, calling for the development of new targeted new assays that when opmized would fit our plaorm. In therapeucs in the form of small molecule drugs. The current addion, I was tasked with the immunostaining but received plaorms for tesng the efficacy of exisng drugs are either a support for the confocal microscopy. Consequently, all of the two-dimensional cell culture that lacks the cell type collected data was analyzed by me and reviewed by my mentors heterogeneity and the three-dimensional aspect of a liver or low Dr. Shiva Razavi and PI Dr. Ron Weiss. throughput and high risk plaorm such as animal tesng and human clinical trials, calling for the design of a novel synthec Funder Acknowledgement(s): I thank Dr. Caley Allen (EBICS biology soluon. We propose an innovave high throughput Educaon & Diversity Programs Manager) for her mentoring and approach to develop human induced pluripotent stem cells support and for having invited me to return to the program as (hiPSCs) containing a previously engineered synthec genec an EBICS Alumni. I also thank Dr. Erez Pery and Dr. Jose Vargas- circuit with the expression of a hepac regulator (GATA6 Asencio for the provided supporng data. Funding was protein) into a 3D organotypic culture (organoids). When provided by an NSF Grant: CBET-0939511. conglomerang the hiPSCs, this plaorm will capture the liver cellular heterogeneity and produce both albumin and urea, the Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Prof. Ron Weiss, [email protected] markers of a funconal liver. The previous organoids that were being developed in the lab were producing the ideal amounts of albumin but seemingly deficient in urea producon. We sought 69 to increase urea producon from approximately 10ug/million Technology and Engineering cells/day to the physiological synthesis rate at 40ug/million Subcategory: Biomedical Engineeering cells/day. The Wnt pathway has previously been shown to control urea and albumin producon in the liver. To test this, we Crystallizaon Studies of B-Al-MFI Zeolites in the treated the organoids with Wnt ligands and inhibitors at various Presence of Caonic and Neutral Organic Structure- concentraons and treatment duraons to study the role of the pathway in urea producon and reach our target. In parallel, we direcng Agents realized the need for a more sensive urea assay that would allow higher detecon rates. When changing the assay, we saw Kaela Evans, Washington University in St. Louis an increase in urea producon in non-treated organoids by 3 to Sopuruchukwu Ezenwa and Rajamani Gounder, Purdue 4-folds; pung us close to the desired physiological rates University without the need to perturb the Wnt pathway. Even though the Wnt treatments did not cause a significant increase in urea Zeolites are microporous crystalline aluminosilicates that are producon, morphological phenotypes were observed with the widely used as catalysts for hydrocarbon upgrading. Alkene Wnt inhibitor cardamonin. We further explored these apparent oligomerizaon is affected by zeolite material properes such as differences by immunostaining for confocal microscopy and crystallite size because longer diffusion paths preferenally

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 89

increase intracrystalline residence mes of bulky intermediates, 70 which lead to secondary reacons that influence product Technology and Engineering selecvity and deacvaon. In recently reported synthec Subcategory: Biomedical Engineering methods for MFI zeolites, it was observed that increasing the content of catalycally-inert B heteroatoms, while maintaining fixed content of catalycally-acve Al heteroatoms, led to Machine Learning-Based Data Analysis of Brain decreases in crystallite size. The mechanisc explanaon for this Acvity in a Longitudinal EEG Study of the Human effect has not been established. Thus, this research seeks to Creave Process study the influence of boric acid precursors on the crystallite size of MFI zeolites. We hypothesized that the boric acid Abigail Turcheck, Arizona State University concentraon in synthesis soluon influences the inial and Jesus Cruz-Garza and Dr. Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, University of transient pH during crystallizaon, which further influences the Houston nucleaon and crystal growth. To test this hypothesis, a research method was devised to develop relaonships between The observaon and analysis of human creavity are difficult in soluon composion, pH, and zeolite properes as a funcon of a lab seng due to the inhibitory nature of experimental crystallizaon me. B-Al-MFI zeolites were synthesized controls and devices that record brain acvity. This experiment hydrothermally with high boron (Si/B = 2.5) and low boron (Si/B aimed to migate this problem by using a mobile brain-body = 100) contents, while maintaining constant amounts of the imaging (MoBI) dry-electrode EEG cap to record an arst’s structure-direcng agents (tetrapropylammonium, TPA + and acvity during her 18-month-long art project. A er ethylenediamine EDA) used to crystallize MFI. Aliquots of the preprocessing of the data and arfact removal, a machine synthesis mixture were taken periodically to monitor MFI learning data analysis process was applied to the total dataset crystallizaon behavior. During synthesis, the pH of the high and [1]. This data analysis method aims to correctly classify the low B-content mixtures remained relavely constant (~9.8 and various acvies the arst was performing over the span of the ~11.3, respecvely). X-ray diffracon (XRD) paerns for MFI dataset, given the EEG data collected from the channels of the were observed for both sets of syntheses taken out at 90 hours, dry-electrode mobile EEG cap. however, the micropore volumes were higher (0.10 vs 0.05 cm 3 g - 1 ) for the high B-content syntheses, indicang that higher Due to the large amount of data collected, a process involving amounts of amorphous material formed in the low B-content reiterave data resampling was used to make the process more case. Furthermore, complete crystallinity (0.15 cm 3 g -1) was me-efficient while maintaining accuracy. Precauonary achieved for both synthesis at longer synthesis mes (100 measures to avoid data leakage were implemented by hours). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to separang data files from different days so that the tesng set corroborate these findings regarding crystallinity, and the contained data from different days than the training/validaon crystallite sizes were smaller for the higher B-content syntheses, set. A er obtaining a cubic SVM classifier from a random sample as reported previously. These preliminary results further suggest of 300 data points from the training/validaon set, average that pH of the synthesis soluon, moderated by the accuracy values for validaon and tesng were determined by composions of acidic and basic precursors, may influence the repeang classificaon with 50 iteraons of random resampling. crystallizaon behavior and final zeolite properes. Future Addionally, feature selecon was performed on randomly research involves probing the Al, B and structure-direcng agent resampled data using a maximum relevance-minimum composions as a funcon of synthesis me. These efforts can redundancy (mRMR) algorithm, determining the most relevant be used to develop a detailed understanding of the influence of EEG channels and frequency bands to the classifier. 26 channels synthesis parameters on the crystallite sizes, which can enable were found to be the most relevant. The 26 features had predicve catalyst design for hydrocarbon upgrading to classificaon accuracy of .4545 with standard deviaon of .0464. chemicals and fuels. It was found that channels in the right temporal lobe, right parietal lobe, right frontal lobe, and the le parietal lobe had Research Team Role: I prepared the calculaons, synthesis, and the most relevant features to the classificaon of acvies. All analyzed XRD, SEM, micropore volume data. frequency bands were relavely equal in their relevance. This process of data analysis demonstrates the ability of machine Funder Acknowledgement(s): This poster is based upon work learning to successfully classify creave acvies solely using supported primarily by the Naonal Science Foundaon under EEG data. Further studies using MoBI EEG with new subjects are Cooperave Agreement No. EEC-1647722. needed to assess the origins of authenc creavity in the human brain to determine if the selected relevant features vary Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Rajamani Gounder, significantly throughout the populaon. [email protected] Reference: [1] Cruz-Garza, J. et al (2017). Deployment of mobile EEG technology in an art museum seng: evaluaon of signal quality and usability. Froners in human neuroscience, 11, 527.

90 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Research Team Role: I completed feature extracon and of this experiment will be applied to our second medium which selecon on the dataset, helped design the reiterave is water. Waterproofing a noise-dampening system prototype resampling data analysis pipeline with my mentor, wrote will be done for in-field deployment, which will then be tested MATLAB programs to run the data analysis pipeline, and and improved to increase its effecveness in ship noise created/compiled figures from the results of the machine reducon. learning and resampling processes. I then interpreted these results in regard to the funcons of different areas of the brain. References: “Shipping Noise.” Ocean Conservaon Research, 22 Apr. 2019, Funder Acknowledgement(s): This project was funded by NSF ocr.org/sounds/shipping-noise/?porolioCats=200%2C201. Award #1757949 to the University of Houston Cullen College of “ALOHA Cabled Observatory.” ALOHA Cabled Observatory, 15 Engineering through the 2019 REU in Neurotechnology Program. July 2019, aco-ssds.soest.hawaii.edu/. Southall, B. L., Scholik-Schlomer, A. R., Hatch, L., Bergmann, T., Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Jasny, M. Metcalf, K., Weilgart, L. and Wright, A. J. (2017). [email protected] Underwater Noise from Large Commercial Ships—Internaonal Collaboraon for Noise Reducon. In Encyclopedia of Marime and Offshore Engineering (eds J. Carlton, P. Jukes and Y. S. 71 Choo). doi:10.1002/9781118476406.emoe056.

Technology and Engineering Research Team Roles: I performed all aspects of the research. Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank PEEC II: Pre- Creang a Noise-Cancelling System to Reduce Whale Engineering Educaon Collaborave. Beaching Events Caused by Ship Noise Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Aaron Hanai, [email protected] Jennifer Chinen, Kapiʻolani Community College

Whales are known to beach themselves when they are sick or injured. Current research has shown that there has been an 72 increase in whale beaching events caused by man-made noise Technology and Engineering polluon. Most of the ocean’s ambient noise is caused by large Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering cargo ships, which produce a predominantly low frequency noise (<1000Hz). Unfortunately, this interferes with the Opmizaon of Origami Antennas frequency range used by many whale species to communicate and echolocate. Because water is denser than air, sound travels Briana Gonzalez, Florida Internaonal University faster and farther, making the sound much more significant in Nicholas Russo, Constannos Zekios, and Stavros water. My research objecve is to create a funconing noise- Georgakopoulos, Florida Internaonal University dampening system prototype using acve noise control/noise- cancellaon to migate ship noise. Communicaon, radar and wireless systems o en use reconfigurable antennas, which should operate at mulple To migate ship noise, audio recordings of whales and ships first frequency bands, mulple polarizaons, mulple radiaon need to be analyzed. Code was wrien in Matlab to convert paerns. Several different techniques have been developed for these recordings into spectrograms, where the frequencies of the design of such antennas. Our work focuses on the design of sounds could be visually displayed as a funcon of me. An origami antennas, which are electromagnecally reconfigurable inverng operaonal amplifier (op-amp) circuit was then built to and efficiently stowable[1]. However, origami antenna designs reduce ship noise through acve noise control/noise- are challenging as they involve both electromagnec and cancellaon. Two speakers and a microphone were used to test mechanical funconality. In fact, mapping even typical antennas the circuit on sound waves, with air being the first medium. (e.g., dipole, patch, etc.) onto origami paerns results in highly Several different audio recordings were taken to measure noise complex geometries that are difficult or impossible to design before and a er going through the inverng op-amp. The audio even by experienced antenna engineers. To address this spectrum analysis showed that low frequency ship noise problem, opmizaon algorithms are used here for the interferes with the frequency ranges whales use to development of origami antennas. The effecveness of such communicate and echolocate. Audio recordings showed that algorithms has been proven[2]. Specifically, genec algorithms noise travelling through air was reduced by producing a second are used in our work. Inially, a genec algorithm is developed inverted sound, resulng in destrucve interference. These and tested for its effecveness on the soluon of single- and results indicate that ship noise interferes with whale mul-variable mathemacal funcons. During this process, the communicaon but can be migated through the use of acve parameters that mainly affect the convergence rate and soluon noise control/noise-cancellaon. For future research, the results me of our algorithm are idenfied. Then, our genec algorithm

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 91

is modified to solve and opmize designs of dipole and patch connues to increase its carbon-based polluon from modes of antennas. Our results prove that our algorithm converges to transportaon, there is an urgent need to reduce these harmful opmal designs of dipoles and patches, which operate in the emissions by finding alternave fuel vehicles. By the year 2050, desired operaon frequencies (e.g., 2.4 GHz and 5.5 GHz). the sales of electric vehicles are projected to increase Finally, our algorithm is used to design origami antennas. exponenally, thus supporng the reducon of carbon-based Specifically, the example of dipoles on an accordion structure is polluon. Currently, our 2019 single passenger prototype used. The objecve, in this case, is to opmize the dipoles and vehicle weighs 56 kilograms and is capable of achieving 1286 achieve beam-steering by changing the inter-element spacing of miles per gallon equivalent (mpge). The future 2020 two- the accordion origami structure. Our algorithm is expected to passenger vehicle is expected to weigh nearly 90 kilograms and advance research on origami antennas and play an important acquire a minimum of 1000 mpge. The research on this role in the development of new reconfigurable antennas. lightweight, fuel-efficient vehicle will contribute to sustainability, eco-friendliness, and efficiency by paving the way References: for future automobile design that will ensure the reducon in [1] X. Liu, C. L. Zekios, and S. V. Georgakopoulos, ‘Analysis of a carbon emissions and global warming. Packable and Tunable Origami Mul-Radii Helical Antenna,’ in IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 13003-13014, 2019. Research Team Role: As the mechanical team lead, my [2] R. L. Haupt, and D. H. Werner, ‘Genec algorithms in responsibility was to oversee the research and development of electromagnecs,’ Wiley 2007. the Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicle. My specific part of the research included the examinaon on material strength and weight Research Team Role: I was involved in developing the properes along with designing a 3-Dimensional model of the opmizaon algorithms. vehicle body, chassis, and supporng mechanical components. The 3-D modeled parts contained restricve parameters Funder Acknowledgement(s): This work was supported by the concerning the strength and weight properes where parts Naonal Science Foundaon under grant EFRI 1332348 (which consumed the least amount of material without compromising includes a REM grant), the Air Force Office of Scienfic Research its structural integrity and providing a realisc manual under grant FA9550-18-1-0191 and the Florida Internaonal machining standpoint. University Presidenal Fellowship. Funder Acknowledgement(s): CIMA-LSAMP NSF Award Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Stavros Georgakopoulos, No.1712626 georgako@fiu.edu Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Dr. Dan Dimitriu, [email protected] 73

Technology and Engineering Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering 74 Technology and Engineering Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Vehicle Chassis Research & Design Subcategory: Civil/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Isaac A. Medina, San Antonio College The Exploraon of Cosmic Rays and the Experse of Jorge Leon, Jerry Ozuna, and Trinity Wilkins, San Antonio College Scinlators

Since 2017, the San Antonio College Motorsports team has Carly Rowe, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee designed and built several prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicles Westly Roth and Megan Kocher for the annual Shell Eco-Marathon Americas fuel-efficiency compeon. Building on knowledge gained from experience, Using a scinllator in order to accurately determine the number the focus of this research will include the design and fabricaon of high energy parcles per me related to the altude of the of a nearly street-legal two-passenger Urban Concept Vehicle atmosphere. Cosmic rays are high energy (GeV/nuclei range) that is powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell stack. With the Urban parcles that travel at relavisc speeds (near the speed of Concept vehicle, some ways that efficiency will be addressed is light). The parcles ranging from 1 GeV to 10 GeV originate from by decreasing aerodynamic drag and reducing overall vehicle the sun, the parcles ranging from 10 GeV to 10^6 GeV weight. The most efficient means of weight reducon for the originate from high energy bodies in our galaxy such as body, chassis, and supporng mechanical components is by supernovas and pulsars. These parcles are important to using 3D modeling so ware and fabricaon that will ensure we understand because they are one of the most threatening are using a minimal amount of material possible while phenomena in space, for they threaten the life of equipment maintaining structural integrity and safety. As the world and astronauts. In addion, building cheaper detectors will aid

92 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

in future studies in pulsars and supernovas from our locaon in the galaxy. Furthermore, the increasing exposure will narrow down our understanding of solar wind emissions. High energy parcles are regularly invisible requiring special detecon equipment. Scinllators are currently the most common way to detect high energy parcles; a scinllator is generally a clear plasc or crystal. High energy parcles enter the scinllator at relavisc speeds and the parcle loses energy due to resistance via obstrucon. As the parcle connues through the scinllator energy is transferred to the atoms in the scinllator through laws of quantum physics. The energy gained by the scinllator is emied as photons. When the photon reaches the detector, they are then counted. Along with the detecons, we will be measuring me and cross referencing to altude as recorded through Ineral Measurement Unit (IMU). From these detectors, we will be able to take our data and determine if we are able to accurately measure the number of parcles with the energy, we expected them to be at a certain altude. We have two designs currently. Our first design uses mulples scinllators and the only detecon required is the number of photons detected from each scinllator. Our second design includes only one scinllator and the detector required must have a high energy resoluon in order to differenate between photos emied from high energy parcles and photons from low energy parcles. The final result in our design will be dependent on budgeng.

Research Team Role: I built the experiment using computer aided design and ensured that the electronics accurately operated.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): The research is funded through Student Appropriaon Commiee (SAC), and Wisconsin Space Grant Consorum (WSGC) grants.

Faculty Advisor/Mentor: Wilkistar Oeno, [email protected]

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 93

Hakim, Marna, 87 Hamaker, Alec, 61 Hanai, Aaron, 91 Abdullah-Smoot, Ayman, 61 Dady, Erinn R., 80 Harrison, Benicia, 82 Adalsteinsson, Solny, 60 Davis, Isabel, 76 Harrison, Eden, 86 Adams, Gordon C., 56 De Jesús-Burgos, María I. , 70, 71 Herrera, Jairo, 58 Adeola, Fadeke, 48 DeMurley, Ausn, 62 Hota, Dr., 59 Alfred, Ashley, 83 Devita, Antony, 84 Huang, Peter, 54 Alocilja, Evangelyn, 65 Di Tomassi, Isako B. Di, 80 Hume-Dawson, Briany, 57 Arichega, Daisy, 76 Dickens, Danielle, 62, 63 Armendariz, Raul, 85 Dimitriu, Dan, 92 Astros, Adrian, 54 Domenech, Maribella, 72 Atkinson, Jahmelia, 78 Dumas, Jerald, 63 Duncan, Kennedy, 87 Ibe, Ngozichukwu, 71 Duncan, Zahria, 84

Bacalia, Karen Mae A., 68 Badiane, Khadi, 82 Jackson, Kaela, 86 Badiga, Suguna, 87 Edmonson, Alexander, 63 Javan, Gulnaz, 57 Bailon-Ruiz, Sonia J., 61 Elshendidi, Hossam, 49 Jeelani, Shaik, 84 Balogun, Obafem, 80 Emeje, Esirioghene, 87 Jeong, Youngjae, 77 Barber, Dylan, 69 Evans, Kaela, 89 Jiang, Peng, 78 Barne, Karis R. , 57 Ezenwa, Sopuruchukwu, 89 Johnson, Grant E., 58 Bartle, Deslyn, 69 Jones, Maria, 62 Bell, Courtnee, 57 Joseph, Dominique, 77 Benveniste, Ey N., 74 Bhuiyan, Shakhawat, 73 Fang, Yayin, 75 Billiot, Eugene, 75 Billiot, Fereshteh, 75 Finley, Sheree, 57 Biswal, Dip, 71 Fletcher, Jessica, 75 Kaddour, Abdul-Saar, 54 Biswas, Akash, 54 Foran, Eliza G., 79 Kafer, Leah A., 70 Bollen, Georg, 61 Forester, Sarah, 76 Katzenberg, Adlai, 49 Boon, Adrianus, 60 Kaur, Navdeep, 76 Brewley, Creightanya, 69 Kayastha, Biraj B., 70 Burdee, Daniel, 61 King, Benjamin L., 66 King, Megan, 66, 67 Burton, Brianna, 74 Gann, Courtney, 87 Kleiner, Sandra, 77 Gauta, Bhoj, 84, 85 Kocher, Megan, 92 Georgakopoulos, Stavros V., 54, 55, 91, Kroh, Gretchen, 68 92 Carter, Glendora, 73 Gilbert, Lenneisha, 51 Gilbert, Nathaniel C. , 67 Chardon Suarez, Maria Alejandra, 59 Chaerjee, Neha, 80 Gilliam, Nora J., 56 Chen, Meishan, 76 Gonzales, Alexander, 76 Lailvaux, Simon, 48, 49 Childs, Andrew, 51 Gonzalez, Briana, 91 Laplace, Dijani, 69 Chillrud, Steven N., 82, 83 Gonzalez, Stephen, 65 Lasalde, Jose A., 58 Chinen, Jennifer, 91 González-Colón, Ana D. , 70 Leatham, Keenan, 64 Collin, Herve, 86 Gounder, Rajamani, 89, 90 Lemieux, Jacob E., 56 Colon, Carolina, 88 Grant, Tione, 81 Leon, Jorge, 92 Colon, Jose Luis Ramirez, 58 Gremminger, Victoria, 77 Lilly, Kaitlynn, 62 Contreras-Vidal, Jose Luis, 90, 91 Gurshaney, Sanjeev, 69 Limage, Rhodesherdeline, 57 Conway, Tim M., 81, 82 Lo on, Daijah, 71 Cruz-Bonilla, Alexxa, 89 Lopez, Gustavo, 49, 50 Cruz-Garza, Jesus, 90 Lu, Yongjin, 52 Lund, Kasey, 61 Hagedorn, Mary, 83

Haines, Tony, 52

94 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM

Sanders, Sherri, 79 Sandler, Rachel, 61 Sandoval, Omar, 76 Mahler, Gretchen, 52, 53, 54 Pandit, Sanika, 67, 74 Schaffner, Brennan, 50 Manneo, Helene, 66 Parent, Julian, 76 Schlicker, Steven, 60 Margenot, Andrew, 80 Patrauchan, Marianna A., 70 Schwarz, Stefan, 61 Marques, Cláudia N. H., 52 Paerson, Joshua M., 49 Sharp, Jusn, 73 Marn, Raveen, 82 Perez-Greco, Gianfranco, 54 Sieber, Mahias, 81 Marnez, Julie A. Colon, 75 Petronella, Jordan, 87 Singh, Henna, 76 Marnez-Iniguez, Samantha, 76 Phillips, Charloe, 77 Singh, Mandip, 48 Mason, Kelsey, 87 Pineda, Nicholas, 76 Snapp-Childs, Winona, 79 McCarthy, Jonathan, 85 Piyathilake, Chandrika, 87 Song, Thomas, 76 McCoy, Jacee L., 70 Platenberg, Renata, 70 Srinivas, Surah, 74 McFarland, Derek, 60 Pla, Manu, 55 Stalerman, Corey, 85 McGregor, Donna, 49, 59 Pollozi, Shejla, 49 Stanley, Jaylah, 69 McIver, Caleb, 77 Prabhakaran, Venkateshkumar, 57, 58 Starkey, Kathryn, 53 Medina, Isaac A., 92 Puentes, Daniel, 61 Stokes, Larry, 55 Mendez, Sylvia, 53, 54 Suggs, Evan Drake, 79 Mendoza, Melissa, 54 Sumithrarachchi, Chandana, 61 Mensah, Patrick, 83, 84 Summers, Brent A., 81 Michael, Adeola, 55 Surovtsev, Ivan, 66 Milligan, Kimberly, 49 Qian, Dr., 59 Qin, Hongwei, 74 Swamidurai, Rajendran, 79 Mitchell, Cheyane, 62 Mitchell, Kaiya, 72 Modesno, Miguel, 49 Mohammed, Zaheeruddin, 84 Moncayo, Stefanie, 57 Ragsdale, Stephen W., 65 Tadjuidje, Emmanuel, 67, 68 Morris, Kevin, 75, 76 Rangari, Vijaya, 84 Tajer, Benjamin, 56 Muldrow, Lycurgus, 87 Rasuli, Zahra, 59 Tako, Elad, 52 Mullins, Mary C., 56 Razavi, Shiva, 89 Tapia, Melissa, 87 Murray, Bruce, 54 Reyes, Ana, 72 Taylor, Paris Elyse, 67 Murray, Micaih, 78 Ringle, Ryan, 61, 62 Thomas, Jessica, 69 Rios, Diana, 76 Thomas, Shawanda, 74 Rishi, Arun K., 48 Thomas, Zharia, 62 Rivera, Lecia, 87 Tilahun, Gabriella, 79 Torres-Mejias, Gabriel E., 61 Naghedolfeizi, Masoud, 79 Roberts, Bhaskar, 50 Robinson, Emily, 66 Torres-Torres, Francisco J., 70 Napir, Sunil, 48 Townsley, Rebekah, 67, 73 Nauyal, Amit, 74 Rodriguez, Adolfo, 59 Rosado, Naishka C. Rivera, 70 Trinh, Kristen, 64 Neal, Sharon, 78 Tsuen, Keanu Rochee-Yu, 83 Negrón-Moreno, Paola N., 70 Ross, James, 82 Rotella, Donna, 76 Turcheck, Abigail, 90 Newcomer, Marcia E., 76 Ngumbi, Esther N., 81 Roth, Westly, 92 Nguyen, Brooke, 74 Rowe, Carly, 92, 93 Nguyen, Hang Phuong, 66 Russo, Nicholas, 91 Nguyen, Huong Giang T., 75 Underwood, Tenecious, 79 Nicolau, Eduardo, 59 Nongham, Ebony, 48 Sabat, Alberto M., 59, 60 Sabe, Pardis C., 56 Valenne, Vennesa, 78 Sachdeva, Mandip, 57 Valverde, Adrian, 61 Okafor, Florence, 82 Safe, Stephen, 48 van Zee, Roger, 75 Omosule, Catherine, 77 Samantaray, Diprani, 72 Vanterpool, Elaine, 77, 78 Ososanya, Esther, 64 Sanders, David, 62 Vasquez, Roman, 60 Oeno, Wilkistar, 93 Sanders, Kiyomi, 85 Vig, Komal, 68, 69, 73, 79 Ozuna, Jerry, 92 Sanders, Ron, 63

2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM Conference Program Book 95

Waffo, Alain Bopda, 69 Wang, Kan, 89 Wang, Zhe, 74 Ware, Washat, 84 Webster, Garre, 76 Wei, Hairong, 74 Weiss, Ron, 89 White, Jira, 56 Whington, Richard, 88 Wiggins, Raymond, 82 Wiley, Seth A., 65 Wilkins, Trinity, 92 Will, Mahew, 87 Williams, Rhythm, 74 Winstead, Cherese, 49 Wofford, Rachel, 60

Yandow, Isaac, 61 Yang, Wei, 74

Zebelo, Simon, 51 Zekios, Constannos, 91 Zhu, An, 51

96 Conference Program Book 2020 EMERGING RESEARCHERS NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEM