2013 SACNAS NATIONAL CONFERENCE RESEARCH PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS Strengthening the Nation through Diversity, Innovation & Leadership in STEM San Antonio, Texas · October 3-6, 2013 Get Connected! Connect with the SACNAS community year-round through our social media channels. Join the conversation about the 2013 SACNAS National Conference with the official hashtag: #SACNAS2013 Help us trend this year for our 40th anniversary! Facebook www.facebook.com/SACNAS “Like” our official Facebook page, comment on our posts, and share your own experiences from the 2013 SACNAS National Conference by using the #SACNAS2013 hashtag. SACNAS Chapter members can also become fans of our Chapter Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SACNAS.Chapter Google+ gplus.to/sacnas Add our Google+ page to your circles and join the discussion about the conference with #SACNAS2013 LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/sacnas Include SACNAS in your professional network on LinkedIn and receive the latest updates about our community. Members can also engage with other professionals in our SACNAS LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=81952 Twitter twitter.com/sacnas Follow @sacnas on Twitter and get real-time tweets about the #SACNAS2013 conference. YouTube www.youtube.com/sacnasvideo Subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch videos about SACNISTAS! SACNAS gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of the following partners, whose support allows the organization to provide its programs, embark on new initiatives, and enhance the future of the minority scientific community. CONFERENCE GRANT FUNDERS Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) National Science Foundation National Security Agency ELITE SPONSORS Platinum Gold The SACNAS conference and this publication are supported in part by grants from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute Bronze of General Medical Sciences, and the National Science Foundation. Copy Editing: Accuedit 2013 STUDENT PRESENTATION AWARD SPONSORS Graphic Design: American Chemical Society Blue Heron Design Group and Omnipress American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology America Society of Plant Biologists Printer: Biophysical Society Omnipress Botanical Society of America Genetics Society of America Artwork: Maryland Sea Grant “The Galactic Center” by Blas E. Lopez, 2012. National Center for Atmospheric Research & University of Corporation for Atmospheric Research Copyright © 2013 by SACNAS National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration All rights reserved Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Published by: Trinity University SACNAS – “Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos UIW Rosenberg School of Optometry & Native Americans in Science” USDA, Agriculture Research Services P.O. Box 8526 Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8526 2013 SACNAS National Conference Tel: 1-877-SACNAS-1 San Antonio, Texas / October 3 - 6, 2013 Email: [email protected] Website: sacnas.org 1 SACNAS is pleased to present the tenth annual SACNAS National Conference Abstracts Volume, featuring the TABLE OF CONTENTS research conducted by undergraduate and graduate Sponsors Appreciation ..............................................1 Table of Contents .......................................................2 students under the guidance of a dedicated cadre of Presentation Instructions ...........................................2 SACNAS mentors. Abstract Review Process ..........................................4 Student Presentations Committee Members ...........4 GRADUATE STUDENT ORAL PRESENTATIONS Abstract Reviewers List .............................................5 ROOM DISCIPLINES Advertisement Harvard University ...............................................9 214 C Applied Mathematics 214 B Biochemistry/Biophysics, Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry I Advertisement 217 A Biochemistry/Biophysics, Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry II Northern Arizona University .................................9 207 A Botany, Plant Sciences Advertisement 211 Cellular/Molecular Biology I Harvard Medical School ....................................10 210 A Cellular/Molecular Biology II Advertisement 210 B Cellular/Molecular Biology III University of California, Riverside ..................... 11 212 A Chemical Engineering, Engineering Sciences, Materials Engineering, Physics Advertisement 206 A Chemistry III University of Utah...............................................12 Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences/Meterology, 213 B Advertisement Computer Systems Engineering, Computer/Information Science The Proctor & Gamble Company ........ back cover 217 D Education 208 Electrical/Electronics/Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Poster Abstracts .............................13 Graduate Poster Abstracts ....................................279 217 C Environmental Science I Graduate Oral Abstracts ........................................327 213 A Environmental Science II Postdoctoral Poster Abstracts ...............................367 205 Mathematics & Statistics Presenters Index ...................................................381 217 B Microbiology I Floor Plan ........................................ inside back cover 214 D Microbiology II 207 B Psychology & Social Sciences 212 B Physiology/Pathology, Genetics, Health: Medicine, Neuroscience 214 A Traditional Ecological Knowledge 209 Zoology/Entomology, Ecology I 206 B Zoology/Entomology, Ecology II GRADUATE STUDENT SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIA PRESENTERS CHECK-IN All graduate presenters are required to check in and receive their presentation ribbons during the registration process at the Registration & Information Area in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. GRADUATE STUDENT SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIA PRESENTATION SETUP Graduate presenters must arrive between 3:30 and 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 3, at their assigned presentation room. Bring all PowerPoint materials at this time to be loaded onto presentation equipment. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT POSTER PRESENTATIONS All undergraduate student poster research presentations take place in Exhibit Hall C on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Friday, October 4 Saturday, October 5 Poster Session 1, 1:30 – 3:30 pm Poster Session 2, 9:00 – 11:00 am POSTER PRESENTERS’ CHECK-IN All poster presenters are required to check in and receive their presentation ribbons during the registration process at the Registration & Information Area in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Ribbons are required for entry into Exhibit Hall C for poster setup. 2 POSTER PRESENTATION SETUP All poster presentations are designated by poster board number and date. Presenters may set up poster materials in Exhibit Hall C ONLY during the setup times corresponding to their presentation day. Friday Session 1 – Presenters’ Setup Saturday Poster Session 2 Friday, October 4, 7:00 – 7:30 am Saturday, October 5, 7:00 – 7:30 am Exhibit Hall C Exhibit Hall C POSTER PRESENTATION TAKE DOWN All Friday posters must be taken down by 3:45 pm on Friday, October 4. Saturday posters must be taken down by 11:30 am on Saturday, October 5. SACNAS is not responsible for posters that have not been taken down at the designated time; unclaimed posters will be discarded. GRADUATE STUDENT & POSTDOC RESOURCE FAIR All graduate student poster presenters and postdoc poster research presentations will take place during the Graduate Student & Postdoc Resource Fair inside the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in Ballroom C on Friday, October 4, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm GRADUATE & POSTDOC POSTER SETUP GRADUATE & POSTDOC POSTER TAKE DOWN Friday, October 4, 3:00 - 4:00 pm Friday, October 4, 6:00 – 6:15 pm Ballroom C Ballroom C FLOOR PLANS Please refer to the Exhibit Hall floor plan on the inside back cover of this publication, and to the floor plans on pages 130– 134 of the conference program to help you navigate the conference. 3 ABSTRACT REVIEW PROCESS The SACNAS Student Presentations Committee organizes activities related to the student scientific sessions. These sessions advance the organization’s strategic efforts to support students’ preparation for their professional science SACNAS STUDENT PRESENTATIONS careers and, more specifically, the demanding rigors of discipline-focused COMMITTEE MEMBERS professional conferences. Our goal is to provide a fair, positive, and nourishing experience to students through the abstract review, presentation mentoring and Guillermo Acosta, PhD judging, and awards-selection processes. Accordingly, our abstract selection Student Presentations Committee Chair and scientific presentation evaluation processes are focused on constructive, Design and Fabrication Team Leader student-professional engagement and mentoring. We feel this dialogue between Small Fish Unlimited students and scientists is invaluable in providing experience, insight, and Jacquelyn R. Bolman, PhD professional growth for emerging scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Student Presentations Committee Co-Chair Director, Indian Natural Resource, Science and Students and mentors alike respond positively to our efforts. This year, more Engineering Program (INRSEP) Humboldt State than 1,200 abstracts were submitted for the 2013 SACNAS National Conference. University Professionals recruited from our membership generously and enthusiastically volunteer their time and energy to reviewer abstracts. Reviewers provide a fair Deborah Overath,