THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities 2014 CURO SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS CLASSIC CENTER • ATHENS, GEORGIA MARCH 31 – APRIL 1 The UniveRsiTy Of GeORGiA CenTeR fOR UndeRGRAdUATe ReseARCh OppORTUniTies 2014 Symposium Program and Abstracts CURO Office 203 Moore College The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 (706) 542-5871 curo.uga.edu Symposium chair: Dr. Martin Rogers, Associate Director of CURO and Honors Book of abstracts: Eleana Whyte, Program Coordinator, CURO Cover design: William Reeves, UGA Printing Edited and proofread by: Eleana Whyte, Elizabeth Sears, Maria de Rocher, Bill McDowell Published by: Honors Program, the University of Georgia Printed by: Central Duplicating, the University of Georgia 2014 CURO and the Honors Program ii Table of Contents Welcome from Director and Associate Director .......................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 2 2014 CURO Symposium Schedule ................................................................................. 3 2014 CURO Research Mentoring Awards ..................................................................... 4 2014 CURO Symposium Best Paper Awards ................................................................ 7 2014 CURO Symposium Program, Monday, March 31 ............................................... 8 2014 CURO Symposium Program, Tuesday, April 1 ................................................. 19 2014 CURO Symposium Abstracts............................................................................... 26 Index of Presenters and Faculty Mentors ..................................................................143 iii March 31, 2014 Dear Students, Faculty, and Guests, Welcome to the 14th annual CURO Symposium, UGA’s celebration of undergraduate research across the disciplines. Many individuals—administrators, faculty members, staff, graduate students, and, of course, undergraduate students—have collaborated to make the CURO Symposium the premier undergraduate academic event at UGA. Each year, the Symposium has grown larger, and the 2014 Symposium is the largest to date, with 258 undergraduate researchers communicating their substantial accomplishments to their peers, mentors, and the public at large. From its inception, the CURO Symposium has showcased research and scholarship in all disciplines. The 2014 Symposium continues that commitment, featuring presenters from 50 departments in 13 colleges/schools. Thus, this two-day event displays UGA’s broad and substantial support of research and the invaluable commitment of UGA’s administration and faculty to mentoring and providing exceptional learning opportunities for our undergraduates. Thank you for your continued support of undergraduate research and CURO. Sincerely, Dr. David S. Williams, ’79, ’82 Dr. Martin P. Rogers, ’01, ’11 Associate Provost and Director Associate Director 1 Acknowledgements Special Assistance for 2014 CURO Symposium Ms. Jami Gilstrap Administrative Associate, CURO Mr. Steven Honea Academic Advisor, Honors Program Ms. Dorothé Otemann Coordinator of External Affairs, Honors Program Ms. Amanda Pruitt Assistant to the Director, Honors Program Ms. Chelsea Smith Administrative Associate, External Affairs, Honors Program Technology Equipment and Support for 2014 CURO Symposium Center for Teaching & Learning Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Honors Program Odum School of Ecology Terry College of Business Reviewers for 2014 CURO Research Mentoring Awards Dr. Martin Rogers Associate Director of CURO and Honors Dr. David S. Williams Associate Provost and Director of Honors and CURO Reviewers for 2014 CURO Symposium Best Paper Awards Mr. Ethan Boldt Presidential Graduate Fellow, Department of Political Science Mr. Benjamin Campbell Presidential Graduate Fellow, College of Education Dr. Sean Ingham Department of Political Science Mr. Douglas Merchant Presidential Graduate Fellow, Department of Linguistics Dr. Martin Rogers Associate Director of CURO and Honors Mr. Jerrett Warshaw Presidential Graduate Fellow, Institute of Higher Education Oral Session Conveners for 2014 CURO Symposium Ms. Jessica Chappell Odum School of Ecology Ms. Laura Fletcher Presidential Graduate Fellow, Department of Psychology Ms. Sayonita Ghosh Hajra Department of Mathematics Ms. Arlana Henry Department of Sociology Ms. Linnea Ionno Department of Public Administration and Policy Ms. Michele Johnson Academic Advisor, Honors Program Mr. Adrian Klemme Institute of Higher Education Mr. Bill McDowell Odum School of Ecology Ms. Emily Myers Administrative Associate, Foundation Fellowship Office, Honors Program Ms. Kathleen Pieper Presidential Graduate Fellow, Department of Genetics Mr. Greg Rountree Administrative Associate, Office of Recruitment, Honors Program Ms. Elizabeth Sassler Department of Public Administration and Policy 2 Schedule Monday, March 31, 2014 Oral Session I 1:25-2:15 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D Oral Session II 2:30-3:20 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D, Awards and Keynote Session 4:00-5:00 p.m. Athena Room E Poster Session and Reception 5:00-6:00 p.m. Grand Hall South (downstairs – use escalator in lobby) Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Oral Session III 9:30-10:45 a.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D, G, H, I, J Oral Session IV 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D Oral Session V 12:30-1:45 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D, G Oral Session VI 2:00-3:15 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D, G, H, I, J Oral Session VII 3:30-4:45 p.m. Athena Breakout Rooms A, B, C, D, G, H, I, J 3 CURO Research Mentoring Awards The Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost and the Honors Program established the CURO Research Mentoring Awards, formerly the EURM awards, in 2001. These awards recognize outstanding faculty who consistently engage undergraduate researchers through CURO Programming (courses, the symposium, summer fellows, JURO, theses, et al.) and enhance the learning experience of undergraduate researchers at the University of Georgia. Award recipients have provided superior research opportunities and mentoring and have collaborated with undergraduate researchers on publications and presentations at professional conferences. Before 2014, awards were designated as “Early Career” and “Master Level” and were granted to corresponding faculty ranks. 2014 Dr. Carl Bergmann, Associate Vice President for Research-Facilities; Associate Director, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center; Executive Director, Animal Health Research Center; Senior Research Scientist Dr. Andrew Owsiak, Department of International Affairs, School of Public & International Affairs 2013 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. Jennifer McDowell, Department of Psychology, Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Katalin Medvedev, Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Interiors, College of Family & Consumer Sciences 2012 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. Lawrence Shimkets, Department of Microbiology, Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Michael Yabsley, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources 2011 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. Eric Stabb, Department of Microbiology Early Career Faculty Award Dr. John Drake, Odum School of Ecology Program Award Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Dr. Kenneth McLeod, Interim Director 2010 Early Career Faculty Award Dr. John C. Maerz, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources 4 CURO Research Mentoring Awards 2009 Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Brian S. Cummings, Department of Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences Dr. Anna C. Karls, Department of Microbiology Dr. Dawn T. Robinson, Department of Sociology 2008 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. John J. Maurer, College of Veterinary Medicine Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Walter K. Schmidt, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Program Award Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute Dr. Harry S. Dailey, Director 2007 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. Timothy Hoover, Department of Microbiology Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Steven Stice, Department of Animal & Dairy Science 2006 Master Level Faculty Award Dr. Patricia Hunt-Hurst, Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Interiors Early Career Faculty Award Dr. Rodney Mauricio, Department of Genetics Graduate Student Award Christopher Anderson, PhD candidate in Ecology Graduate Student Recognition Dawn Holligan, PhD candidate in Plant Biology 2005 Faculty Award Dr. Gary Barrett, Odum School of Ecology Dr. Sidney Kushner, Department of Genetics Department Award Department of Cellular Biology 2004 Faculty Award Dr. William S. Kisaalita, Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering 5 CURO Research Mentoring Awards 2003 Faculty Award Dr. Jody Clay-Warner, Department of Sociology Department Award Department of Microbiology Dr. Duncan Krause, Department Head Dr. Timothy Hoover, Undergraduate Coordinator Program Award The Pratt Laboratory of Plant Genomics and Bioinformatics Dr. Lee H. Pratt, Department of Plant Biology Dr. Marie-Michèle Cordonnier-Pratt, Department of Plant Biology 2002 Faculty Award Professor William D. Paul, Jr., Lamar Dodd School of Art Dr. Katherine Kipp, Department of Psychology Faculty Recognition Dr. Susan Sanchez, College of Veterinary Medicine Department Award Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Dr. J. David Puett, Department Head Program Award “Physics Beyond the Boundaries”: National Science Foundation,