The Twelfth Annual
Undergraduate
Scholars
Forum
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
PROGRAM
Program at a Glance April 4th
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS FORUM
7:00 - 8:00
Registration, Poster Set-up, Breakfast
8:00 - 9:20
Concurrent Sessions A
A1 Gender and Racial Disparities in Society
A2 Critical Reflection on Society and Government
A3 Economic Development
A4 Business Case Competition * (Extended Session)
A5 Environmental Damage
9:30 - 10:50
HUB Conemaugh Room
HUB Monongahela Room 1
HUB Monongahela Room 2
HUB Allegheny Rooms 1& 2
HUB Knowlton Room
Concurrent Sessions B
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
11:00 - 12:20
HUB Atrium/Ohio Room
The Impact of Media on Perception
Health and Well-Being
Applied Economic Analysis
International Research
Music
HUB Conemaugh Room
HUB Monongahela Room 1
HUB Monongahela Room 2
HUB Knowlton Room
Cogswell 102
Concurrent Sessions C
C1
C2
C3
C5
The Past and Future
Urban Planning
Math, Motivation, and Performance Theory
Development and Learning
HUB Monongahela Room 1
HUB Monongahela Room 2
HUB Allegheny Room 1
HUB Allegheny Room 2
12:00- 1:00
Lunch
HUB Conemaugh Room
12:30 - 1:45
Poster Discussions
HUB Ohio Room
12:00
Pre-Awards Lunch
HUB Ohio Room
1:00 pm
Undergraduate and Graduate
Scholars Fora Awards Ceremony
HUB Ohio Room
April 5th
plus Three Minute Thesis Finalists Competition and DOOR PRIZES!
April 4th-5th
10:00 - 4:00
Juried Art Exhibition
HUB, Susquehanna Room
2 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum Twelfth Annual IUP Undergraduate Scholars Forum
Sponsored by
Dr. Michael Driscoll, IUP President
and
The School of Graduate Studies and Research,
Dr. Randy Martin, Dean
Special Thanks to:
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Dr. Michael Driscoll, President
Nathan Winters, SGSR
Paul Hawkins, ARL
Dr. Hillary Creely
Dr. Katie Farnsworth
Dr. Rick Adkins
Sharon Massey
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Dr. Beth Mabry
Dr. Jennifer Gossett
SGSR Staff and GAs
Fora Judges & Session Moderators
The HUB Crew
Dr. Michael Kingan
Award Sponsors:
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IUP Research Institute
IUP Libraries
S-COAM Program
Sigma Xi
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Academic Deans
Ecologically Conscious Organization
Aramark
IUP Co-op Store
Peer Choice Awards
Awards are based on voting via a mobile device for participants in the 2017
Undergraduate Scholars Forum (use the number next to the presentation in
this program to vote for your choice).
3 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum Art Exhibition
10:00am-4:00pm
Susquehanna Room
This exhibition features artworks created by a select group of graduate and
undergraduate Art majors. The artworks were juried by faculty members and represent
the breadth of studio research conducted during the 2016/17 academic year.
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Madelyn Barrante
Emily Bensinger
Cody Bloom
Michael Hull
Cory Osterwise
Monica Roman
Morgan Scalese
Angel Steinkirchner
Sessions Schedule
A1 Gender and Racial Disparities in Society
8:00am – 9:20am
Conemaugh Room
9
10
Danielle Yushinski (Anthropology) “Perceptions of Mental Health on a University
Campus” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Abigail Adams
Lucas Mafrica (Economics) “The Appalachian Gender Wage Gap” Faculty
Sponsor: Dr. Brandon Vick
11
Elecia Smith (Psychology) “Help Seeking for Psychological Problems as a
Function of Gender and Gender Role” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maureen McHugh
12
Rebecca Colón (Sociology) “Discrimination of Women of Color: Hair Perceptions”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Victor Garcia
A2 Critical Reflection on Society and Government
8:00am – 9:20am
Monongahela Room #1
13
Justin Cobb (Communications Media) “Portrayals of Refugees in the Stories of
Broadcast News Media” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nurhaya Muchtar
4 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 14
Briana Marin (Sociology & Religious Studies) “Listening to the Silent: Making the
Connection between Discrimination and Psychological Well-being of Muslims”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michelle Sandhoff
15
Anastasia Clayton (History) “WPBV” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Wang Xi
16
Benjamin Ellis (Sociology/Economics) “A New Civil Rights Movement: How to
Build It and Why It Is Necessary for a Sustainable Society” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Christopher Jeffords
A3 Economic Development
8:00am-9:20am
Monongahela #2
17
Nathan Zisk (Economics) "Economic Development in Southern Africa: A Case
Study of Botswana and Zimbabwe" Advisor: Dr. Yaya Sissoko
18
Edward Foley (Economics) "The Failure of Economic Development Strategies
Using Cultural Dimensions: Vietnam and Jamaica" Advisor: Dr. Yaya Sissoko
19
Samir Mahmoud Hasabou (Economics) "Economic Development’s Challenge:
Romania and Chile" Advisor: Dr. Yaya Sissoko
20
Nicholas Perini (Economics) "Improving Education and Infrastructure in Argentina
and Ghana" Advisor: Dr. Yaya Sissoko
A4 Business Cases Competition
8:00am – 10:50am
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Team 1
22
Team 2
23
Team 3
24
Team 4
Emily Lathrop
Alexander Ickes
Abigail Kugel
Nicholas Mical
Katherine Williams
Christian Fernanda
Matthew Cocorikis
Matthew Neil
Anthony Maticic
Maria Hoge
Elam Gates
Seth Peterman
5 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 25
Team 5
26
Team 6
147
Team 7
Alec Martin
Matthew Miller
Kaitlyn Newman
Antonio Ascencio
Clayton Cacurak
Samantha Adams
Jordan Hawker
Aaron Boggs
Sarah Scruppi
Adam Sudano
Jake Holbert
A5 Environmental Damage
8:00am – 9:20am
Knowlton Room
27
Cynthia Rodriguez (Biology) “Universal Proteomics of the Plant Pathogenic Fungi
Rhizoctonia Solani” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Seema Bharathan
29
Kayla Martinez (Regional Planning) “A Comparative Analysis of Planning Efforts
in Two Coastal Cities to assess their preparedness against Natural Disasters”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
30
Paige Bogats (Geography and Regional Planning) “Impacts of Marine Debris on
Marine life: Exploring the Innovative Strategies to Mitigate Detrimental Effects”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
B1 The Impact of Media on Perception
9:30am – 10:50am
Conemaugh Room
31
Mercedes Diehl (Com Media) “The Media Portrayal of Stonewall” Faculty
Sponsor: Dr. Mary Beth Leidman
33
Marisa Murray (History) “The Roosevelts in Latin America: An Examination of
Policy Differences Through Political Cartoons” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Soo Lu
6 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum B2 Health and Well-Being
9:30am – 10:50am
Monongahela Room #1
34
Carolyn Kenyon, Ashley Whigham, and Ashley Tomasko (Child Development &
Family Relations) “Food Insecurity: Finding a Solution to a Growing Family Issue”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Puhlman
35
Joshua Shaffer (Biology) “Anithistamine Induced Weight Gain and Dopaminergic
Neurotransmission: Is There a Link?” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Widzowski
36
Christina Maziarz (Biology) “H2-Antagonist Ranitidine Has No Effect on Body
Weight or Abdominal Fat Accumulation at Clinical Doses”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Widzowski
37
Jason Goulding (KHSS) “Gaining an Edge: Exploring the Effects of Plyometric
Exercise on the Power of a Swing” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joshua Castle
B3 Applied Economic Analysis
9:30am-10:50am
Monongahela Room #2
38
Gabrielle Gentilcore (Economics) “Poverty Across the Globe: A Cross-Sectional
Analysis of the Underlying Causes” Advisor: Dr. James Jozefowicz
39
Gina LaRocca and Rosemary Tropeano (Economics) "Partisan Effects on Funds
Allocated to Defense Spending in the Federal Budget" Advisor: Dr. James
Jozefowicz
40
Jordan Gwinn and Robert Schwartz (Economics) "A Hand Much Bitten: A Panel
Data Analysis of States’ Dependency on Federal Funds and Voting Behavior"
Advisor: Dr. James Jozefowicz
41
Christopher Dombrowski (Economics) "Did Bigotry Affect the 2016 Primary
Election?" Advisor: Dr. James Jozefowicz
7 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum B4 International Research
9:30am – 10:50am
Knowlton Room
42
Kaylee Capozzoli (Geography) “World Leaders in Renewable Energy: How
Motives and Incentives for Energy Policies Differ Between China and Germany”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
43
Andrew Mendlowitz (Economics) “The Algerian Crisis” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Yaya
Sissoko
44
Abdullah Muhammad (Economics) “Economic Obstacles Causing Poverty and
Helpful Education Policies for Poverty Reduction in Mauritania” Faculty Sponsor:
Dr. Yaya Sissoko
B5 Music
9:30am – 10:50am
Cogswell Room 102
148
David Saylor (Music) “Chord Progressions for Students”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Laura Ferguson
149
Stevie Nemetz (Music) “The Blues Come Alive”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Laura Ferguson
150
William King (Music) “Samba: It’s Influences and Impact”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Kingan
152
Matthew Gillott (Music) “The Marching Percussive Arts: A Current Art Form”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Michael Kingan
C1 The Past and Future
11:00am – 12:20pm
Monongahela Room #1
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Harley Burgis (Anthropology) “Using Microartifacts to Investigate Prehistoric
Cooking Methods at the Archaeological Site of Dust Cave”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Lara Homsey-Messer
8 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 46
Richard Napotnik (History) “The Success of Ptolemy Soter: The Creation of a
Hellenized State” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Scott Moore
47
Rachel Krueger (Geoscience-Sustainability Studies) “Green 'til the End:
Sustainability in the American Death Care Industry” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Susan
Comfort
48
Stephanie Raby-Reeger (Anthropology) “The Adventure Learning Trail”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Abigail Adams
C2 Urban Planning
11:00am – 12:20pm
Monongahela Room #2
49
Samantha Ankele (Regional Planning) “The Green Age: Analyzing Green
Infrastructure Plans of Four Large-Scale in the United States”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
50
Jordan Treaster (Regional Planning) “Evaluating the Impacts of Urban Design
and Density on Walkability in Small communities of the United States”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
51
Stephanie Walters (Regional Planning) “Traditional vs. Low Impact Development:
Comparing the Environmental Costs and Benefits within Urban Settings in the
United States” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
52
Dylan Vanstone (Regional Planning) “Sidewalk Quality in the Rust Belt Cities:
Evaluating the Quality of Sidewalks in Warren, Pennsylvania”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
C3 Math, Motivation, and Performance Theory
11:00am – 12:20pm
Allegheny Room #1
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Victoria Jakicic (Mathematics) “Magic Polygons and Their Properties”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rachelle Bouchat
54
Sydnee Elder (Theater and Dance) “A Role for Facilitation in Theater”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rachel DeSoto-Jackson
9 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 55
John Mihalek (Psychology and Nutrition) “The Mind of a Gritty Athlete: How Gritty
Athletes are Motivated to Pursue Their Long-term Goals Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Robert Alman
154
Nicole Montesi and Anieadi Antiaobong (Economic) “Portfolio Management (PM)
Project-Virtual Stock Exchange (VSE)” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Yaya Sissoko
C4 Development and Learning
11:00am – 12:20pm
Allegheny Room #2
156
Heather Kwolek (Psychology) “Dyadic Collaboration: Factors Influencing the
Collaborative Learning Environment” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Tara Johnson
157
Jessica Talbot (Nursing) “Quality Improvement: Hand Hygiene Compliance in an
Acute Setting” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kristy Chunta
158
Senovia Roberts (Food and Nutrition) “Does Education Level and/or Major
Impact Awareness of Benefits of Breastfeeding?” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nicole
Clark
POSTER SESSION DISCUSSION
12:30 -1:45 pm
Ohio Room
Poster authors will be available throughout this period to answer questions about the
scholarship represented through their poster or static display.
*Posters will be displayed from 8:00am-3:00pm in the Ohio Room
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Adam Romani and Brick Minich (Chemistry) “Efforts Toward the development of
a Heterogeneous Pd/C Catalyzed Suzuki Cross-Coupling of α-brominated
Ketones” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Carl Leblond
57
Ayla Ross (Biology) “Mitochondrial Phylogeny of Highland Frogs (Anura:
Ranidae: Rana maculata) from Nuclear Central America”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Josiah Townsend
58
Molly Rudolchick (Geoscience) “Quantifying Methane Emissions from
Abandoned Legacy Gas Wells in Indiana County, Pennsylvania”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steve Hovan
10 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 59
Stephanie Sorage (Psychology) “The Influence of Scientific Literacy and Visual
Aids on Jurors’ Perceptions of Fingerprint Evidence” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Margaret Reardon
60
Megan Travers (Criminology) “Media Mania: A Look Into Media Exposure and Its
Potential Consequences in the Criminal Justice World” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Brandon Dulisse
61
Harrison Snider (Chemistry) “Protein Interactions: Srs2 & Rad51”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr.Jana Villemain
62
Stephanie Bachman (Physics) “Sediment Flux from the Copper River into the
Prince William Sound, Alaska” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Katherine Farnsworth
63
Kristen Baumgartner and Derrick Bond (Biology) “Characterization of Alanine
Racemase from Two Different Pathogenic Bacteria”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudipta Majumdar
64
Kara McClain, Alexander Hampel and Mary Moore (Nursing) “Quality
Improvement for Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections at a Long-Term
Acute Care Facility: a Student Nurse Perspective” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nicole
Custer
65
Travis Anderson (Geoscience) “Comparison of Methane Flow Measuring
Instruments for Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steven
Hovan
66
Angellica Sterling and Briana Marin (Sociology) “The Influence of Self-Perceived
Preparedness & Self-Efficacy on College Students' Academic Success”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Beth Mabry
67
Christopher Volpe, Kalif Coates, Danielle Knight, Savannah Buday, and Micaela
Rodas (Geography and Regional Planning) “Perceptions of Drugs and Violence
on IUP's Campus” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Susan Boser
68
Claire Smathers (Biochemistry) “Structure and Dynamics of Ligated and UnLigated 5HT2C Receptor in a Molecular Dynamics Environment”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Justin Fair
69
Jennifer Greiner (Biology) “Plants Compatible with Urban Gardening in a
Pennsylvania Green Roof Setting” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Holly Travis
70
Megan Erikson, Nicole Newberry and Avery McCoy (Psychology) “Cognitive
Ability and Study Skills Knowledge: Comparing Predictors of Academic Success”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Palumbo
11 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 71
Ryan Perrin (Physics) “Energetic of Formation of Molecular Hydrogen on
Graphene through Eley- Rideal (ER) Process” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Majid Karimi
72
Garrett Sharp (Geoscience) “Bioremediation of Acid Mine Drainage Engineered
Wetlands” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Gregory Mount
73
Eli Beal (Biology) “Competition Among Riverine Sport Fish Inferred from Gut
Content Analysis” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Janetski
74
Chelsea Howard, Felicia Cruz, and Emily McAfoose (Sociology) “(Un)Wanted
Attention: Gendered Perceptions of Sexual Harassment Online and In-Person”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Beth Mabry
75
Carolyn Sossong and Julie Sharaugh (Nursing) “Patient Falls” Faculty Sponsor:
Dr. Kristy Chunta
76
Alyssa Lerda (Geoscience) “Differentiating Instruction Based of Students'
Learning Style(s)” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Coles
77
Kelsey Durham (Journalism) “Staying Healthy in America: Ensuring Healthy
Behaviors in Chinese Students While Studying Abroad” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Michele Papakie
78
Steven Hensley (Physics) “The Effect of Student Teacher Instruction on Student
Learning” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Stanley Sobolewski
79
Lauren LaMar (Child Development & Family Relations) “How Parenting Styles
Affect Sexual Behavior in Young Adults” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Puhlman
80
Rebecca Haase (Geoscience) “The Effects of Differentiated Instruction in a 11th
and 12th Grade Geology Class Using Layered Curriculum” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.
Kenneth Coles
81
Callie Shaw, Carly Popson, and Lacey Hamilton (Food & Nutrition) “Asthma's
Breast Hope” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rita Johnson
82
Korey Dailey (Biology) “The Effects of Nearpod on Student Learning in a
Keystone Biology 9 Class” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Holly Travis
83
Cara Mehalek (Geoscience) “Water on Mars and the Potential for Briny Aquifers”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Coles
84
Eden Vantries (Anthropology) “Historic Hanna's Town: Prehistory?”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Chadwick
85
Sean Becker and Morgan Eytcheson (Biology) “Effects of Venlafaxine on
Fathead Minnows” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Janetski
12 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 86
Zachary Harmon, Megan Bisi, Maggie George, and Rahdira McPhail (Sociology)
“Perceptions of Social Bonds among Individuals in Recovery from Addiction”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Beth Mabry
87
Drew Hannon (Chemistry) “Using Small Laccase Protein to Teach Protein
Expression, Purification, and Characterization”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudipta Majumdar
88
Mara Menk, Ashley Bolig, Sarah Duffey and Nicole Mitchell (Biology) “Responses
of Mother Mice to 45 kHz Tones Simulating Pup Ultrasonic Vocalizations”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. William Farrell
89
Daniel Golus (Geoscience) “Recrystallization of Basaltic Tephra through
Reheating Experiments” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nicolas Deardoff
90
Sabrina Maylath, Amanda Henry and Mark Kightlinger (Psychology) “Examining
the Possible Reduction of Stereotype Threat By Using Clarified (Test)
Instructions” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Mark Palumbo
92
Tashi Bharathan (Biology) “Infection Prevalence of Borrelia Burgdorferi in Adult
Blacklegged Ticks (Ixodes scapularis) from Pittsburgh Regional City Parks”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Simmons
93
Nicholas Santoro, Aaron Seidel, and Garrett Sharp (Geoscience) “Iron
Concentrations and its Effects on Biodiversity and Methane Levels at the
Tanoma Acid Mine Drainage Site” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Gregory Mount
94
Jordan Treaster and Brandon Andrews (Regional Planning) “Land Use Index
Maps to Assist in Reviving a Rapidly Aging Population”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
95
Adam Villanueva (Physics) “Boron Nitride Nanosheet Based Broadband UV
Photodetectors” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Andrew Zhou
96
Ryan Cook (Biology) “Characterization of Alanine Dehydrogenase from
Streptomyces Coelicolor” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudipta Majumdar
97
Aaron Seidel (Geoscience) “Application of Ground Penetrating Radar and
Petrophysical Modeling to Investigate Methane Dynamics at AMD Sites in
Western Pennsylvania” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Gregory Mount
98
Tyler Brocious, Jordan Hudzicki, and Dan Charmo (Geography) “White
Township, PA Infrastructure Improvement with GIS”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
13 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 99
Marilyn Can (Biology) “First Annual BioBlitz at the Crooked Creek Environmental
Learning Center, Kittanning, PA” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Janetski
100
Denieka Ellis (Psychology) “An Examination of Photographic Pretrial Publicity:
The Impact of Race on Jurors” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Perillo
101
Jeremy Miller (Regional Planning) “Socio-economic Impacts of Gentrification:
Case Study of Five Neighborhoods in The Atlanta Metropolitan Area”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
102
Lauren Prasko (Biology) “Investigation of Scale-Dependent Relationships
Between Environmental Factors and Young-of-the-Year Brook Trout Density”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Janetski
103
Jesse Stitt (Geography) “Tropical Rainforest Destruction in Nigeria: Applying
Remote Sensing Techniques to Measure Changes in Landscape Cover from
2002 to 2013” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
104
Danielle Guttman (Geology) “Warrego Valles Drainage Systems”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Coles
105
Kyle Potts (Geoscience) “A Characterization of the Foreknobs Formation”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jonathan Warnock
106
Sky Semone (Physics) “Co Nanoparticles Separated by Layers of Sb Show a
Thermally Activated Magnetization and Resistance Decay in Near Ambient
Temperatures” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Greg Kenning
107
Christopher Pagan, Jeannie Showers, and Maggie Blaetz (Biology) “Arbuscular
Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization Within Clusters of Competing Goldenrod,
Solidago Altissima” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ellen Yerger
108
Ryan Barnhart (Biology) “Characterization of Alanine Racemase from
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudipta Majumdar
109
Jacob Gray, Mary Chey, Mohammed Ali, and Brad Linso (Biology) “Real-Time
PCR Analysis of cDNA Clones of Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) Present within a
Controlled Environment” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Seema Bharathan
110
Blake Woodyard (Chemistry) “Chemical Analysis of Snow via Ion
Chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission
Spectroscopy” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nathan McElroy
111
Lawrence Lewis and Jordan Casses (Geography) “High Priority Project Sites for
Riparian Vegetation within Indiana County: A GIS Spatial Analysis Application”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
14 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 112
Tyler Lloyd (Geology) “Measuring Fluctuation in Water Level of Marsh Run East
Branch” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Katherine Farnsworth
113
Kyle Laney (Geography) “Comparisons in Acid-Mine Drainage Remediation
Methods” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
114
Anna Manges (Biology) “Water Mite Parasitism of the Asian Tiger Mosquito and
Asian Bush Mosquito: Putative Vectors of Zika Virus” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Tim
Simmons
115
Madison Pityk (Geography) “Hydraulic Fracturing: Water Contamination and
Water Management Techniques” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
116
Philip Meli (Geoscience) “Characterizing Macroporous Dissolution Features in
the Upper Portion of the Biscayne Aquifer in Everglades National Park Using
Ground Penetrating Radar” Faculty Sponsor: Dr.Gregory Mount
117
Brandon Andrews (Geography) “Impact of Shale Gas Development on Regional
Water Quality: A Stream Reach Analysis to Determine the ProximityConcentration of Total Dissolved Solids within the Beaver Run Reservoir”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
118
Jeffrey Larkin (Biology) “Long-Term Response of an Eastern Brook Trout
Population to Lime Treatment in a Stream Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. David Janetski
119
Samuel Grieggs (Computer Science) “Domain Specific Feature-Point Matching
for Leaf Images” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Ellen Yerger
120
Mason Luster (Geoscience) “Factors Affecting Pond and Stream Temperatures”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Katherine Farnsworth
121
Shannon Stirling (Chemistry) “Detecting Oligomers of Alanine Racemase in
Varying Buffers and pH Values with HPLC” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Ford
122
Theresa Illo, Lauren Prasko, and Sydney Tomechko (Biology) “Examining the
Influence of Rodent Abundance on the Nest Success of the Golden-winged
Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) in Managed Habitats of Central Pennsylvania”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Joseph Duchamp
123
Kiera Estes (Chemistry) “Design, Synthesis, and Spectroscopic Studies of a
Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complex Containing Bulky Ligands”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Avijita Jain
124
Sarah Baughman and Dylan Vanstone (Geography) “Building a Geographic
Information System (GIS) for the Redevelopment of Beaver County”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
15 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 125
Cyrielle Humbert (Geoscience) “Experimental Crystallization of Basaltic Tephra
Under the Influence of NaCl: an Analog for Recycling in the Submarine
Environment” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nick Deardorff
126
Guadalupe Ortiz Cortez (Geography) “Assessing Green Infrastructure
Implementation Practices in the United States: Case Study of Pittsburgh”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh
127
Rachel Krueger (Geoscience) “The Effectiveness of Scrubbers on the Homer
City Generating Station “ Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Steven Hovan
128
Brenden Glover (Physics) “Energetic of Formation of Molecular hydrogen on
Graphene Through Langmuir- Hinshelwood (LH) Process”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Majid Karimi
129
Ian Dickie (Geoscience) “Interpreting Stage-Discharge Response During Storm
Events in Marsh Run, West Branch” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Katherine Farnsworth
130
Rebekah Mikeasky (Biology) “Immunohistochemical Characterization of
Autophagy in the Planarian Flatworm” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Robert Major
131
Rebecca Feveryear, Fallon Simpson, and Katelynn Tucker (Sociology) “Foster
Parent Well-Being: Examining the Relationship between the Process of
Fostering and Its Effects on Caregivers” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Beth Mabry
132
Gavrielle Krohner (Psychology) “Blind Justice” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Margaret
Reardon
133
Hortencia Correa (Psychology) “Do Sexist Attitudes Predict Attitudes Towards
Intimate Partner Violence?” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Maureen McHugh
134
Tristan Burger, Courtlyn Adams and Andrew Richey (Mathematics) “Heroin Use
and the Crime Rate in Pennsylvania Modeled with OLS and SOM Analysis”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rick Adkins
135
Allison Berry (Geoscience) “The Longitudinal and Vertical Distribution of Brittle
Deformation in the Southern Central Range Taiwan: Constraints from
Earthquakes and Mesoscale Faults” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jon Lewis
136
Emily Stener, Suzanne Craig, and Rebekah Mikeasky (Biology) “Characterizing a
Role for The Circadian Timeless Gene in Planarian Regeneration”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Robert Major
137
Timothy Sweriduk (Geography) “Proposed Pilot Methodology for Identifying
Indiana County Abandoned Gas Well Using Geographic Information Systems
(GIS)” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
16 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum 138
Shannon Tepe (Biology) “Density and Distribution of Nymph and Adult
Blacklegged Ticks in Pittsburgh Regional City Parks: An Urban Lyme Disease
Risk Perspective” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Thomas Simmons
139
Ashley Wolfe (Chemistry) “Strategy for Discovering Drug Lead Compounds
Using Virtual Screening Web Server: Application to Alanine Racemase from
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jaeju Ko
140
Kara Goss (Food and Nutrition) “The ‘Ke-To’ Type 2 Diabetes” Faculty Sponsor:
Dr. Rita Johnson
141
Kimberly Imel and Marielle Nackley (Education, Social Science-History)
“Teaching Transitions in History: Tracing Women’s Activism, 1890 – 1940”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Soo Lu
142
Lucy Jackson and Sky Semone (Mathematics) “Exploring Concepts in Physics
with a Virtual Reality Rollercoaster” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rick Adkins
143
Abigail Hallmark, Shannon Lynch, and Charolette Dorsey (Food and Nutrition)
“Cracking the Egg on Diabetes” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Rita Johnson
144
Patrick Benczkowski, Christopher Volpe, and Samantha Ankele (Geograph) “GIS
Development to Support Multi-Municipal Recreation Plan Data Development (for
Homer City and Center Township, PA)” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. John Benhart
146
Cassie Bressers (Geoscience) “Deformation Patterns from Strain Inversions
Along the Eastern Margin of the Orogenic Suture in Eastern Taiwan”
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Jon Lewis
153
Ashley Whigham (Human Development and Environmental Studies) “Why
Intervene?: An Exploratory Study Examining Attitudes of Parents of Children
Receiving Early Intervention Services and the Readiness of Graduating IUP
Students to Face These Concerns” Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Alexandria Kappel
159
Cignetti, Natalie “Exceptional Fossil Confirms Brooding Behavior in
Oviraptorosaurian Dinosaurs”
17 2017 Undergraduate Scholars Forum