A Celebration of
Student
Achievement
2015
Saint Joseph’s University
5600 City Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131
Department of Art
A Study of Anthropomorphic Sculpture
Meghan Burke, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Being an art major, my research consists of observing and studying the shapes and gestures of objects
around me. I take forms from nature, animals, and humans to express certain movements and figures in
my work. The more I observed animals in their natural habitats; the more I became inspired by the setting
of it all. For Summer Scholars, I created abstract coiled sculptures that joined the gestures and structures
of animals, humans, and nature combined. I was focused on the gestural aspect of sculptures and
captivating a certain feeling through movements and body language with my own pieces.
Jury Smith
Department of Biology
Bacterial roles in food uptake kinetics between different cell types of choanoflagellates (Salpingoeca
rosetta)
Eric Adjei-Danquah, ‘17
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Nick Nicolaides, ‘87
Choanoflagellates are single-celled marine and freshwater protists that have stirred growing interest in the
field of evolutionary cell biology. Their similarities to choanocyte cells of the Porifera phylum suggests
shared common ancestry of choanoflagellates with the early metazoans. Salpingoeca rosetta have drawn
interest for their remarkable ability to form colonies via incomplete fission, enabling them with the
advantage of colonial feeding. Our lab is interested in the differences in feeding between each cell type,
specifically phagosome formation. In order to compare phagosome formation between solitary and
colonial cell types, a bacterial strain known as Algoriphagus machipongonensis will be used to form
colonial cultures of S. rosetta.
Christina King-Smith
Which PTS Protein is partner to the Succinate Mediated Carbon Catabolite Repression
Transcriptional Regulator in Sinorhizobium meliloti?
Muhammad Arif, ’15, Christina Mirarchi, ’16, Joseph Johnson, ’16, Viencent Pepe, ‘17
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, the McNulty Scholars Program, the GeoKids
Program and the Botstiber Foundation
Sinorhizobium meliloti is a gram-negative bacterium that is capable of carbon catabolite repression
(CCR). When succinate (primary carbon source) is present in the environment in addition to raffinose
(secondary carbon source), S. meliloti will transport and metabolize succinate first and represses the
genes for the usage of the raffinose. Once succinate runs out, raffinose will be transported in and used;
this is known as succinate mediated catabolite repression (SMCR). In well studied organisms, such as E.
coli and Bacillus subtilitis, CCR is regulated by the interaction of a phosphotransferase system (PTS)
protein with a transcriptional regulator.
Catalina Arango Pinedo
Infection of the corn smut Ustilago maydis into Zea mays
Amy Brady, ’15, Andrew Shafer, ’15, David Arnold, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Nick Nicolaides, ‘87
My Summer Scholars Project involved viewing infection via confocal microscopy of the plant Zea mays
by the smut Ustilago maydis. I used a polar auxin inhibitor to disrupt the concentrations of auxin within
the plant in order to observe an effect on the infection. No apparent effect was observed microscopically.
This past semester, however, a new method of inoculation was done and the fungus showed to enter Z.
mays via stomata, which is not the usual means of entry. Now, I have been running experiments to look
further into this finding.
Karen Snetselaar
Measurements of transmembrane domain dimerization using the AraTM assay
Joseph Collins, ’16, Tim Stachowski, ’15, Christina Freeman, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, the McNulty Scholars Program and the
Department of Biology
Preliminary work was done for the bacterial AraTM assay, which will eventually be used to measure
dimerization in the TMDs of three transmembrane proteins: FLT3, FGFR3, and MUC1. Prior to
performing the AraTM assay, it was necessary to clone pAraTM plasmids containing the specific TMDs.
In addition to creating plasmids for the AraTM assay, another portion of the project focused on
developing a modification of the assay using a newly engineered strain of E. col
i.
Edwin Li
Shoaling ratios and the effect of gender in Poecilia reticulate
Chiara Curcillo, ‘15
Independent Study
In this study, we examined shoaling behaviors in guppies (Poecilia reticulate). Previous research
determined that certain species of fish recognize different ratios (rather than differences in exact numbers)
in target shoals. Test fish are more likely to shoal with the larger group in a 2:1 ratio, but not a 1.5:1 ratio.
The goal of this study was to see if guppies exhibited this behavior, and whether sex played a role . Test
fish were placed in a tank and observed every minute to determine preference for target shoals. Both male
and female guppies have exhibited shoaling behavior. Females have also shown a preference for larger
groups in 2:1 ratios.
Scott McRobert
Overwintering and effect of low temperatures on Drosophila suzukii
Marissa Diorio, ’16, Kristina Orbe, ‘14
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Drosophila suzukii is a sub-tropical species of fruit fly that has origins in Southeast Asia. Global trade
allowed this species of fruit fly to make its way to the US. Suzukii lay their eggs in soft skinned fruit that
is on the vine making them problematic to New Jersey’s blueberry industry. In an effort to understand and
control this pest, we are determining if they are surviving our winters and if so, how they are doing it.
Initial results of studies of survival and reproduction, in fall temperatures, show that the cold slows
reproduction, but is ineffective on survival. Continued work will lower the temperatures to determine
further effects.
Jonathan Fingerut
Overwintering and reproductive physiology of Drosophila suzukii
Marissa Diorio, ’16, Kristina Orbe, ‘14
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Overwintering and reproductive physiology of Drosophila suzukii.
Jonathan Fingerut
A survey of the biodiversity of wading bird and waterfowl communities at John Heinz National
Wildlife Refuge during the fall 2012-2014 and spring 2015 migratory season.
Maria Galassi, ’15, Leigh Anne Tiffany, ’15, Anna Kesaris, ’15, Maria Tucci, ’15, Jessica Romano, ‘15
Independent Study
As a part of the Delaware Bay Estuary, John Heinz NWR is an important stopping point along the
Atlantic Flyway, one of four key migratory routes for birds in the United States. Beginning in fall 2012,
students from Dr. McRobert’s Ecology class have conducted weekly surveys of the wading and waterfowl
birds seen at John Heinz NWR during the fall migration season. This year (2015), I am continuing this
study during the winter season and spring migration. Weekly bird counts, including species, visibility,
and activity, have been made at specific locations, using binoculars. These data will be presented along
with data from the past three fall studies.
Scott McRobert
The effect of diet on the fecundity of Drosophila suzukii
Elizabeth Krohn, ’15, Stephanie Tittaferrante, ’15, Tommy Smith, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, the McNulty Scholars Program, the GeoKids
Program, the Botstiber Foundation and the Department of Biology
Research has been conducted on how a diet of blueberries before or after mating has an effect on female
Drosophila suzukii offspring production. It was found that females housed with a blueberry (BB) before
mating have significantly more offspring (41 ± 4 offspring) than females housed without a blueberry
(23 ± 3 offspring) (p = 0.0004). For offspring production in regards to housing conditions before and
after mating, “BB/BB” females produced significantly more offspring (47 ± 5 offspring) than the “No
BB/BB” females (21 ± 4 offspring; p = 0.001) and “No BB/No BB” females (26 ± 4 offspring; p =
0.011).
Scott McRobert
Isolation of Bacteriophages using host Arthrobacter
Shawn London, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. They are very diverse and are estimated to be the most
numerous organisms on earth. The Phage Genomics Labs at Saint Joseph's University allow incoming
freshman the opportunity to be immersed in research and learn about how authentic research is conducted.
Recently, there has been a push to attempt isolation using various hosts such as Bacillus, Streptomyces,
and Arthrobacter. This summer, work was continued on optimizing the protocol to isolate phages using
Arthrobacter. Six new Arthrobacter phages were successfully isolated and analyzed from 6 soil samples
collected around Delaware County, PA.
Julia Lee-Soety
Identification of sRNAs that modulate enteropathogenic Escherichia coli virulence factors
Elisabeth Mason, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Nick Nicolaides, ‘87
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a bacterial pathogen that infects the small intestine of infants
in developing countries. Destruction of cellular microvilli prevents absorption of water and nutrients
which often leads to mortality. The locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) is a cluster of genes required
by EPEC to cause disease. The LEE is regulated by numerous environmental and cell generated
molecular cues, including the signaling molecule indole. Indole is synthesized by the gene products of
the tnaCAB operon. My project examined the role of the regulatory small RNA Spot42. Spot42 was
discovered to decrease the production of toxic indole by regulating the intergenic tnaC-tnaA region of the
tnaCAB operon.
Shantanu Bhatt
Genetic variation in the flowering time response of Arabidopsis thaliana at elevated CO2
Mark McShane, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the Department of Biology
Concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are rapidly rising, which will undoubtedly have significant
impacts on global flora. In this study, the naturally-occurring WS-2 strain of Arabidopsis thaliana was
used to test the effects of switching seedlings between ambient and elevated levels of CO2. Results
showed that the average time between germination and flowering decreases as the amount of time under
elevated CO2 increases. However, there seems to be a threshold effect after spending at least 17 days
under elevated CO2. This phenomenon will be further studied and may shed light on the role of
carbohydrate signaling molecules.
Clint Springer
The Effect of Environmental Factors on the Mobility of Achnanthidium minutissimum
Merissa Misiura, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the McNulty Scholars Program
Diatoms are ecologically important photosynthetic, single-celled algae that are indicators of
environmental-health due to the species-specific set of conditions in which they can live. Therefore,
studying physiological responses and behavior is of increasing interest for the purpose of environmental
monitoring. Using the cosmopolitan species, Achnanthidium minutissimum, we are able to study the
effect of various environmental parameters, such as light and nutrients, on their mobility rate and
clumping behavior. This will give us new insight to how changes in the aquatic environment may lead to
changes in the basis of the aquatic food chain.
Jonathan Fingerut
Variation in ANNAT1 gene in Populations of Arabidopsis lyrata
Katherine Molloy, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
A. lyrata is an outcrossing perennial whose populations are geographically isolated (Leinone et al. 09).
This study looks at genetic differences between the different populations in order to examine the effects
of natural selection and genetic drift on populations. A. lyrata is a small plant that is found in serpentine,
granitic and sandy soil. Serpentine soil has high heavy metal concentration and low calcium to
magnesium ratio. The ANNAT1 gene is a protein coding genes found on chromosome 1 (Turner et al.) It
codes for calcium depended membrane binding proteins. ANNAT1 has been identified as a candidate for
serpentine adaptation.
John Braverman, S.J.
Retinomotor movements and the distribution of the visual enzyme, RPE65, in fish retinal pigment
epithelial cells
Megan O'Donnell, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the McNulty Scholars Program
Eyes of lower vertebrates, including fish, lack a dilatable pupil to regulate light flux. Instead, retinomotor
movements occur, which involve movement of melanin pigment granules in the retinal pigment
epithelium (RPE) and elongation and contraction of photoreceptor inner and outer segments. When
exposed to light, pigment granules create a moveable screen and disperse throughout RPE elongated
apical projections. Rods, responsible for dim light vision, elongate and are enveloped by pigment-filled
RPE. Cones, responsible for color and bright- light vision, contract, putting them first in line to light
entering the eye. In the dark, these retinomotor movements are reversed. We are investigating whether
RPE65 similarly undergoes light-dependent translocation in fish RPE.
Christina King Smith
The Role of the Small RNA MgrR in the Virulence of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Jamie Palmer, ’17, Elizabeth Storm, ‘17
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a bacterium that infects the small intestine of infants,
primarily in developing countries. EPEC requires the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) to cause
disease, and this can be regulated by regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs). sRNAs directly base pair to and
affect the stability and/or translation of their target mRNAs. Our project investigated the role of the sRNA
MgrR on grlR, an important regulator of the LEE. Using biocomputational approaches, we predicted that
MgrR base pairs to and represses grlR. This prediction was confirmed upon overexpression of MgrR.
Thus, our results reveal that sRNAs are important regulators of the LEE and the resulting virulence of
EPEC.
Shantanu Bhatt
Determining the key residues within the MUC1 transmembrane domain dimer
Tim Stachowski, ’15, Christina Freeman, ’16, Joseph Collins, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, the McNulty Scholars Program and the
Department of Biology
Overexpression of the membrane protein mucin 1 (MUC1) has been linked to 75% of all human solid
tumor cancers, including 80% of breast carcinomas. In cancer cells, MUC1 homodimerization has been
associated with cell migration and adhesion. Furthermore, this interaction is necessary to form complexes
with growth factor receptors targeting the nucleus, where MUC1 can interact with effector proteins
regulating gene expression. Thus, understanding how MUC1 forms dimers is essential for developing
novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit its oncogenic effects. Therefore, we are using site-directed
mutagenesis and the ToxR assay to study certain residues within the transmembrane domain of MUC1
and their contribution to dimerization.
Edwin Li
The effect of group size on shoaling decisions in goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus)
Leigh Anne Tiffany, ‘15
Independent Study
A social grouping of fish is known as a shoal. Typically, fish choose larger shoals over smaller ones. The
impact of group size and size ratio was examined using the common goldfish. Our results show that, in
most cases, goldfish chose the larger shoal when it was twice the size of the smaller shoal (2:1 ratio).
However, in most tests involving 1.5:1 ratios, the test fish did not show a preference for the larger shoal.
These results confirm results from earlier studies using other species, and extend these results to include
different numbers of fish in the target shoals.
Scott McRobert
Science Outreach by GeoKids LINKS Fellows
Ryan Vance, ’16, Adam Acevedo, ’16, Christina Mirarchi, ’16, Muhammad Arif, ’15, Nikki Sammartino,
’15, Stephanie Tittaferrante, ’15, Elizaeth Krohn, ’15, Tim Stachowski, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the GeoKids Program
GeoKids fellows work with K-8th graders in North Philadelphia, many of whom do not receive proper
science education. As emerging scientists, we work to inspire children to enjoy science and the world
around them. GeoKids also includes a service-learning for SJU Biology majors, who provide hands-on
science experiments to fourth graders at Gompers Elementary. SJU students also discuss the challenges
unique to teaching science in underserved schools. Finally, GeoKids includes presenting hands-on
experiments to students at Bishop McDevitt H.S. that focus on genetics and show how mutations manifest
into diseases. Altogether, GeoKids fellows understand the importance of science education for a society
becoming increasingly dependent on science and technology.
Caitlin Fritz
Karen Snetselaar
Edwin Li
The Genetic Basis of Adaptation of Arabidopsis lyrata at the MGT7 and IRT2 Genes
Lauren Young, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Nick Nicolaides, ‘87
The genetic basis of adaptation of Arabidopsis lyrata was studied. A. lyrata is adapted to challenging
environments such as serpentine soil. Serpentine contains high metal concentrations toxic to most plants
such as magnesium and iron, and is low in nutrients that support most plants like calcium and potassium.
Leaf tissue was collected from plants in natural populations, and a number of them were successfully
sequenced. The objective was to find polymorphisms, differences in the DNA sequences between
individuals of the same species,that may have functional and adaptive consequences, like adaptation to
serpentine soil. The genes studied were MGT7, a magnesium transporter, and IRT2, an iron ion transport
protein.
John Braverman, S.J.
The Genetic Basis of Adaptation of Arabidopsis lyrata at the MGT7 and IRT2 Genes
Lauren Young, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Nick Nicolaides, ‘87
The genetic basis of adaptation of Arabidopsis lyrata was studied. A. lyrata is adapted to challenging
environments such as serpentine soil. Serpentine contains high metal concentrations toxic to most plants
such as magnesium and iron, and is low in nutrients that support most plants like calcium and potassium.
Leaf tissue was collected from plants in natural populations, and a number of them were successfully
sequenced. The objective was to find polymorphisms, differences in the DNA sequences between
individuals of the same species,that may have functional and adaptive consequences, like adaptation to
serpentine soil. The genes studied were MGT7, a magnesium transporter, and IRT2, an iron ion transport
protein.
John Braverman, S.J.
Department of Chemistry
The Synthesis of Pentacyclo[4.3.0.02,4.03,8.05,7] non-4,5-ene
Casey Adams, ’15, April Savarese, ’15, Stephanie Schallenhammer, ’16, Rachel Troxell, ’16, DJ Walz,
‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, and a Gift from Anne Marie and Jay
Borneman, ‘80
The objective of this research project is the synthesis of Pentacyclo[4.3.0.02,4.03,8.05,7] non-4(5)-ene in
order to study the characteristics and properties of a pyramidalized alkene. This summer, we attempted a
new approach to shorten the synthesis significantly. These steps were focused around creating the
diiodide product directly from the closed diacid product which we plan to use for test reactions in the
future.
Mark Forman
The Reduction of Molybdenum CO2 Complexes
Gregory Lorzing, ’16, Michael Pogash, ’15, Joseph Vasta, ’16, Xuyao Duan, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program, a Grant from the American Chemical Society
Petrleum Research Fund and a Gift from Anne Marie and Jay Borneman, ‘80
The project focuses reducing molybdenum carbon dioxide complexes to molybdenum carbon monoxide
complexes. The right side of the scheme shows the reduction of the carbon dioxide attached to the
molybdenum. The reduction happens by the removal of the double bond by the use of Mg. The goal of the
research will be to study the Ld group which is attached to the complex. Ld can represent a large range of
ligands such as trimethylphoshine, 4-methylaminopyridine, and 1-methyllimidaole. The overall goal is to
see how changing the Ld group will impact the reduction reaction.
Peter Graham
Studying spectroelectrochemical heme-bound fluoride complexes in an effort to examine the alpha
and beta subunits of adult hemoglobin
Joshua Middlecamp, ’15, Kyle Smith, ’15, Daniel Walz, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Anne Marie and Jay
Borneman, ‘80
Heme proteins play a vital role in a variety of important biological functions. One specific type of heme,
heme b, present in hemoglobin (Hb), has been the continued focus of this research. Utilizing UV-vis
spectroelectrochemistry, the reduction potential of Hb, both with and without fluoride bound to it, was
studied in addition to the pH profiles of the various Hb-fluoride complexes. The data hinted that the pH
level of the sample had some significance in the oxidation/reduction pathway of Hb, hinting that the
oxygen-binding properties of Hb may be controlled by the protein’s redox properties.
Jose Cerda
Evaluation of Heme Peripheral Groups Interactions in Low-Dielectric Constant Media
Alaina Stockhausen, ’15, Nicolette Wilkes, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Anne Marie and Jay
Borneman, ‘80
In this study, we measured the contributions of the ionization of the heme propionates to the reduction
potentials of heme b and heme a (bis)N-methylimidazole complexes in various low-dielectric constant
conditions. Additionally, we measured the effects of H-bond to the heme a formyl group on the reduction
potential of the heme. The performed electrochemical measurements show that ionization of the heme
propionates lead to the largest redox change in dichloromethane with no electrolyte. This study shows
how the dielectric constant of the medium also plays a role in modulating the properties of heme a
through H-bonding of its formyl group.
Jose Cerda
Department of
Communication Studies
Fan Fiction Classification Through Additional Tags
Emily Miller, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Using my own experiences in fandom as a basis, I looked at how fan fiction in the MTV Teen Wolf
fandom was classified by looking at their additional tags on Archive of Our Own. I collected over 1,700
tags on 130 fics and created a classification system of 18 specific tag types. The types of tags in which
various fics fit into show what both the fandom reads and writes value within their works.
Tim Lockridge
Department of Criminal
Justice
An Analysis of Crime across Three College Campuses
Kevin Curtis, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
For my project I am analyzing the Clery Act crime statistics of three universities of similar size and
location to see if their affiliation, specifically private religious, private non-religious, or public, can
account for differences in crime statistics. I looked at crime statistics from Saint Joseph’s University
(SJU), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), and Morgan State University (MSU). SJU is religiously
affiliated and private, JHU is not religiously affiliated and private, and MSU is a public university. The
data are from the years 2010, 2011, and 2012 because that is what was made readily available by the
universities. I accessed this data on each university’s website.
Tia Pratt
Department of Economics
Do Teacher Salaries Positively affect Graduation Rates in Low-Income New Jersey Schools?
Nicholas Hopkins, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the SJU Barbelin Scholars
In my project, I estimate the impact of teacher compensation on graduation rates, focusing specifically on
New Jersey. I formed my own dataset from data I collected pertaining to school funding and graduation
rates from publicly available sources. Using the data analysis software STATA, I used this data to analyze
to what degree highly paid teachers have a positive impact on high school graduation rates. By comparing
the success rates of very poor and very rich schools in New Jersey, I gained insight as to whether elevated
expenditures on teacher salaries benefit students or if educational success is determined by factors that are
not influenced by highly paid teachers.
Laura Crispin
Department of Education
Thinking Beyond Four Walls: Cultural Relevance In Education
Colleen Carmody, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Cultural Relevance is extremely important in education. Teachers must adapt their lessons in order to
meet students' needs and culture must be a factor in this decision. I created a college level
interdisciplinary service learning course syllabus on culturally relevant pedagogy that anyone in the
education field could adapt for their own use. Gloria Ladson-Billings coined the term cultural awareness
as a crucial factor to a child's education. Teachers must have an open mind and heart to form reciprocal
relationships with their students.
Frank Bernt
Department of English
Telling It Like It Is: Writing Complex Diverse Women in Television
Dara Driscoll, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
I spent the summer writing a five episode mini television series called Severed about a group of teenage
girls and the supernatural. I sought to feature diverse sexualities, gender identities and ethnicities through
the television show.
Tom Coyne
Environmental Justice: Past conceptions and Present Applications
Molly Johnson, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
For my summer scholars project, I did a literary focus on the concept of Environmental Justice.
Environmental Justice looks at the disparity of distribution of environmental hazards among people of
color and/or people in poverty. I read various literary works ranging from historical accounts to fictions.
Reflecting on these novels, I wrote my own creative non-fiction pieces in order to explain environmental
justice issues. For closer experience with the problems, I also volunteered at two Philadelphia
organizations: Urban Tree Connection and the Overbrook Education Center, a product of JASTECH
Development Services. The ultimate goal of my project was to spread awareness about environmental
justice issues to mainstream audiences.
Ann Green
A 21st Century Grand Tour
Dana Mingione, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Inspired by the writings of 17th and 18th century Grand Tourists and modern travel writers, I composed a
series of essays reflecting on my own Grand Tour: a semester spent living, working, and studying in
Florence, Italy. I explore such topics as the myriad of ridiculous mistakes one might make while riding
Italian trains, the perpetual embarrassment that comes with being an American abroad, and the unending
love and support that one New York native found in her surrogate Italian family.
April Lindner
The Black Power Lookbook
James Sanders, ‘15
Course Project
Leaders of the Black Power Movement advocated a stance of self-defense on the issues and in protest. It
was angry. It was militant. But most importantly, it was purposeful. The Black Power Lookbook will be
the first book to focus exclusively on the sartorial triumphs of a group of people who, at the time, were
portrayed by some American media as nothing less than criminal and animalistic, and yet who succeeded
at being beautiful and stylish. This is my love letter to the movement: a celebration of the style icons and
trend-setters that emerged from it, and their profound and far-reaching influence on American culture and
fashion.
Tenaya Darlington
To Feel or Not to Feel: Empathy in Medicine
Maria Tucci, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The need for human interaction is inherent in us all and to try and deny it leads to problems. Doctors who
refuse to feel empathy for a patient lose the ability to communicate with them on a human level, while
doctors who feel too much lose objectivity. I researched underlying problems in the medical system that
can lead to a lack of empathy and how doctors can combat it, writing a creative non-fiction narrative. I
spent two days a week at Sacred Heart Home, a hospice in North Philadelphia. I connected with many of
the patients and experienced the struggle one faces when trying to find the empathy balance.
Ann Green
Department of Finance
Analyzing the National Flood Insurance Program: Public Policy Issues, Solvency Concerns, and the
future of the Program.
Chris Alexander, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The affordability issue and solvency concerns must be reconciled in order to avoid a detested taxpayer
bailout and ultimately keep the program afloat for future generations. Congress must pass legitimate,
long-term legislation that discourages future development in flood zones, enforces more efficient building
ordinances, provides more hazard mitigation subsidies, and allows for risk-based premiums that take into
consideration financial need. A combination of these solutions can be implemented to resolve the
problems facing the National Flood Insurance Program.
Michael Angelina
Carolin Schellhorn
Department of Food
Marketing
Food Trucks of Buffalo
Tyler Hill, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Food trucks are currently booming in Buffalo, NY and other cities in America. My project studied the
growth of this trend and considered how might the trucks be a mainstay in the American food culture. I
visited numerous food trucks and conversed with customers, workers, and owners about the nature of the
truck, how the business operates, and the feeling towards the trend. My work also consisted of secondary
research in which I analyzed food truck trends across the nation and applied Buffalo to these trends. Food
trucks are caught in limbo between being a trend and a mainstay and must work to be a part of American
culture.
George Latella
The X-Factor: The Effect of Excitement on Consumer Restaurant Behaviors
Joseph Robinson, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
There has been much interest and investment in new restaurant concepts in the U.S. market. New
concepts have become an established excitement factor in the industry, and we interviewed a range of
experts to identify new factors that contribute to a restaurant's success. After identifying new factors we
surveyed a sample to find out if the identified attributes correlated to restaurant success factors. The
excitement attributes that we identified proved to be statistically significant on the independent variable
Willingness to pay more.
Mark Lang
Advertising to the Hispanic Food Shopper
Kristen Rupp, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
For my project, I researched current misconceptions and shortcomings of food marketers when attempting
to captivate the attention of Hispanic consumers in the United States, placing an emphasis on the dense
Puerto Rican population in Northeast Philadelphia. This project familiarized me with many little-known
Hispanic customs and preferences, and helped me to form a presentation which I gave in front of an MBA
class last semester.
George Latella
Department of Health
Services
Reduction in the Agitation of People with Dementia and/or Alzheimer's Disease
Jennifer Donohue, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
I have gathered information regarding the use of Timeslips in care facilities, and its use in benefitting
people affected by dementia, as well as Timeslips facilitators, and caregivers/family members. We have
created two online surveys, each consisting of 20 questions, that were administered to a group of certified
Timeslips facilitators. These surveys focus on the effectiveness of Timeslips through a satisfaction
survey, as well as social and behavioral changes the program has had on people affected by dementia.
Timeslips is not only a program that encourages expression among people affected by dementia, but it
also changes sociability, behavioral aspects, and promotes better relationships among staff/caregivers and
people affected by dementia.
Eileen Sullivan
John Q: What was thought about insurance Then and Now?
Kaitlyn Edmonds, ’15, Timothy Eckert, ‘16
Course Project
My group partner and I researched the insurance issues going on in the movie John Q. We wanted to
create a "then and now" poster describing how this movie portrayed insurance issues and what is really
known now.
Eileen Sullivan
Cultural Diversity Within Nursing Homes/ Assisted Living Facilities and the Problems That Arise
Lauren Hehir, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
My research study aims to gather data from assisted living facilities/ nursing homes. Diversity within
these facilities, specifically between the residents and nursing aides, is hindering optimal care. In addition
to background diversity, a noticeable age gap is another uncontrollable factor found in these facilities.
However, although these factors cannot be eliminated, they can absolutely be viewed as positive, and
even useful. With this research study, information will be gathered that will ultimately tell us where
improvements and changes need to be made. The end goal is to bridge the gap, and create a sense of
understanding, between the patients and aides to improve the experiences of both parties.
Ilene Warner-Maron
The Movie 50/50 & Neurofibrosarcoma Spinal Cancer
Melanie Magras, ’16, Tyler Lanctot, ‘16
Course Project
The movie 50/50 shows a young man's surprising diagnosis with Neurofibrosarcoma Spinal Cancer and
his attempt to maintain a high quality of life throughout treatments. Our presentation uses this movie to
describe all aspects of cancer, including fabrication, treatment, genetics, and prevention. Our presentation
focuses specifically on Neurofibrosarcoma Spinal Cancer.
Eileen Sullivan
"A Beautiful Mind"
Elizabeth Maloney, ’16, Dominique Fioravanti, ‘16
Course Project
Schizophrenia, as displayed in the movie "A Beautiful Mind," is a mental health condition characterized
by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior and other symptoms that cause social or
occupational dysfunction. For a diagnosis of Schizophrenia symptoms must have been present for six
months and include at least one month of active symptoms. The lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia
is widely accepted to be around 1 in 100. Long term treatment may be required for treatment of
schizophrenia and medication and psychosocial therapy help manage symptoms.
Eileen Sullivan
Epidemics: Now and Then
Debora Mele, ’15, Laura Melanson, ‘15
Course Project
We will be presenting on the difference between infectious diseases and epidemics and how they were
dealt with in the 1990s and now with the support of our 1995 movie, Outbreak. We will present about
what is available for college campuses to help with these epidemics; what type of education is provided to
help the community better understand in connection with the media; are there any policies in place
regarding these situations; and is there anything that can be done to improve these situations?
Eileen Sullivan
Navigating the Healthcare System Uninsured
Alison Palmer, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
As the problems within the healthcare industry grow, the nation was promised relief through the
Affordable Care Act. However, a year later just how effective has the new program been for the people
who need the help the most? On the surface it may seem as though majority of Americans are benefiting
from the new act, but upon further examination it becomes evident there are still major problems.
Additionally, as the number of people who are not getting the care they need remains large and the
Emergency departments continue to overflow, uninsured Americans do not have years to wait to reap the
benefits.
Ilene Warner-Maron
Evaluating the Community Engagement Levels and Factors for Engagement of Community Health
Promoters (CHPs) at Esperanza Health Center
Lianette Pappaterra, ‘15
Independent Study
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are men and women who promote health in their communities,
provide basic health services and interventions, and serve as a link between the health care system and the
community. Esperanza Health Center (EHC) in North Philadelphia employs the Community Health
Promoter (CHP) model to improve the health of its surrounding community and seeks to build up a
structure and support system for its 190 existing volunteer CHPs. To help EHC accomplish this goal, this
project conducted an original cross-sectional survey of EHC’s CHWs to explore their retention,
motivation, and community engagement.
Frank Bernt
Dominique Ruggieri
The Stigma of HIV/AIDS
Matthew Sarcona, ’15, Colleen Price, ‘16
Course Project
HIV and AIDS has been a burden to society since the late 1980s, but a lot about the mentality and stigma
of the disease has changed since then. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, an autoimmune disease that
breaks down the immune system and is contracted through bodily fluids. Most commonly HIV is spread
through needle sharing and sexual contact. The movie “Philadelphia,” will be analyzed to help further
understand the effect of HIV on a Homosexual in the early 1990s. Specifically, the effects of HIV on the
healthcare system, society, and psychosocial aspects will be determined.
Eileen Sullivan
The Theory of Everything
Anna Temple-West, ’15, Michael Pham, ‘15
Course Project
This project told the story of Stephen Hawkins and his struggle with ALS at the age of 21. It gave
students and faculty an idea of what ALS was, how it affected people and how it was incorporated in all
the major IHS classes.
Eileen Sullivan
The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Undocumented Immigrants
Javier Vazquez, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The main purpose of the Affordable Care Act was to provide affordable health insurance to Americans in
the United States. However, approximately 10 million undocumented immigrants do not have affordable
health care, making them the second largest of the uninsured population. Eight healthcare providers and
seven knowledgeable non-providers were interviewed about the ACA and its impact on the
undocumented population. The healthcare providers believed the undocumented should not be covered
under the ACA, while non-providers believed the undocumented should be covered. Additionally, there
was a unanimous consensus that the bigger issue at hand is the unrealistic immigration policies that are
currently in place.
Ilene Warner-Maron
Department of History
Revolutionary Hypothesis
Jillian Gardner, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from Randall Miller
As a Summer Scholar I have learned that revolutions have been studied, questioned, and admired. My
project is centered on revolutionary patterns. I chose this topic because I kept coming across revolutionary
rhetoric in my classes and enjoyed engaging with the material. In order to understand if a revolution will
occur, I find it to be necessary to look at previous revolutions and study the choices made. The
Revolutionary Hypothesis project aims to understand, determine and track patterns in terms of historical
revolutions and rebellions.
Randall Miller
Department of
International Business
Japan Sustainability Issue
Jordan Richards, ’17, Jamie Gentile, ’15, Mohammed Alsuhaibani, ‘18
Course Project
Social Security and increasing elderly people in Japan causes for gap in workforce.
Sancheol Song
Vietnam Sustainability Issue
Andrew Trengrove, ’16, Andrew Hartjen, ’15, Jason Roby, ‘18
Course Project
Poster of a major Vietnam Sustainability issue and how we plan on solving it.
Sancheol Song
O.C. Renewable Energy
Connor Tropeano, ’15, Antonio Miro, ’17, Molly Mazzuchi, ‘16
Course Project
Our project is a sustainability project for Intro to International Business. Our host country is Turkey, and
our sustainability issue is energy consumption. Turkey has the second highest growth of energy
consumption in the world, and only 13 % of that is renewable energy. Our olive cake biomass portable
power plant is our idea of a partial solution to this problem.
Sancheol Song
Department of Latin
American Studies
El Paso, Texas: La Frontera: The Struggles and Strengths of The Immigrants Who Live Along the
Border
Kellyanne Tino, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the Ellacuría Award
This past winter break, I embarked on a journey which completely opened my eyes and my heart to the
injustices that many immigrants face. I spent my time in El Paso, Texas, a border town across from
Juarez, Mexico with my fellow university peers and faculty members. Through group discussions with
governmental officers, lawyers, physicians, advocates, clergy members and the individuals themselves, I
have gained a comprehensive understanding of the US immigration system and how the US plays a role
in the deterioration of Latin America and the dignity of the Latino community. As a recipient of the
Ellacuría Award, I am here to share some if their stories.
Heather Hennes
Department of
Management
Saudi Arabia Public Transportation
Andrew Cabrera, ’17, Kyle Moran, ’17, Matthew Bernardo, ‘17
Course Project
We are hoping to implement a similar transportation system that Hong Kong has and with the emphasis
on the way that customers will pay and store their money.
Sangcheol Song
Angola Water Crisis: Rural access to clean water
Rosanna DeFilippo, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The purpose of this project was to understand the clean water crisis that currently plagues the country of
Angola and analyze the current system in place to address this fundamental need. After close research and
analysis, a new, different recommendation to address this crisis is being made.
John Neiva de Figueiredo
Media Literacy and Women in the Media
Christine Dignam, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Dr. Ken Weidner introduced a First Year Seminar course in the Management Department of the Haub
School of Business. The course, entitled “Serious Comedy and Social Justice,” focuses on perceptions of
issues of justice and uses works of comedy in the form of movies, television, and video clips to address
those issues. In some cases, comedic works bring attention to messages embedded in other media and in
other cases, students must use their media literacy skills to critically examine works that contain these
negative messages. My project involved collecting background information on media literacy training and
working with Dr. Weidner to incorporate some of these techniques into his class.
Ken Weidner
Air Pollution in Colombia
Matthew Kollar, ’15, Nicholas Colubriale, ’15, Vincent Pupillo, ‘15
Course Project
Air pollution within Colombia has been a growing problem within the country's urban environment. We
have developed an electric car sharing program to combat this issue, partnering with GM and a major
Colombian utility company in an effort to lower carbon footprint and improve environmental
sustainability.
Sangcheol Song
Vene-Suelo
Jack Slinkman, ’17, Marissa Nugent, ’15, Mike Pagliarella, ‘16
Course Project
Food shortage is a problem that Venezuelans see on a day-to-day basis. Our group has come up with a
feasible solution: Vene-Suelo. Vene-Suelo is a collective of localized farms that work in accordance with
already established local supermarkets. The goal is to eradicate food shortage in Venezuela starting at the
capital, Caracas.
Sangcheol Song
Global Strategies and Perceptions of Luxury Auto Makers
Ryan Smith, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Today, the world is wealthier that it has ever been and with that newly acquired wealth comes the desire
for luxury goods. A truly high end luxury car has long been the mark of affluence all over the world, and
many new markets are now experiencing that affluence. There is a new breed of consumer that has
money to spend in countries that were previously never thought of as possible markets, specifically in
China. As more people around the world come into wealth, there is a desire for luxury automobiles that
needs to be met.
Sangcheol Song
Institutional Apiaries: Searching for Sustainable Solutions
Elizabeth Wardach, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
This past summer I researched the sustainability of migratory beekeeping in the United States. I looked at
the observed consequences of this beekeeping practice and offered a prediction and suggestions to resolve
the tradeoffs found between farmers and apiarists.
John Neiva de Figueiredo
Department of
Mathematics
Computability and Noncomputability
Jimson Mathew, ’16, Joseph Suleiman, ’16, Matthew Gliatto, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
In the 1930s, questions in formal logic and the foundations of mathematics led pioneers, including
Church, Gödel, Post, Kleene, and Turing, to the development of the theory of formal computation, which
investigates questions of what can and what cannot be algorithmically computed. These pioneers and their
successors have made discoveries that have influenced the field of computer science, both theoretically
and practically. Over the summer, we studied some of these discoveries including the construction of a
Davis program, primitive recursive functions, the Rice-Shapiro Theorem, the theory of recursively
enumerable sets, and the insolvability of the Diophantine equation.
Paul Klingsberg
Department of Modern
and Classical Languages
Lo fantástico in the Children’s Short Stories of Horacio Quiroga
Edith Adjei-Danquah, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Two important literary genres in Latin American writing are realismo mágico and lo fantástico. The
second genre, lo fantástico, or the fantastic, more is fairytale like. In this genre of Latin American
literature, the fantastic penetrates reality. I looked closely at the genre lo fantástico and studied it in the
works of Horacio Quiroga, a Uruguayan short story writer. My preliminary research started with an
investigation of fundamental theories in this genre. I then centered on two specific works of Horacio
Quiroja. I developed an annotated bibliography as well as a short story written for kids, using the style of
lo fantástico.
Carmen Faccini
Classics and the American Revolution
Carlo Cardozo, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
My project this summer involved investigating the impact of Greco-Roman world, especially its
mythology and history, on the American Revolution. My research has largely pointed to a powerful trend
in colonial America - a trend of use and abuse of Classical Antiquity to promote political ideologies and
create a sense of historical continuity. Colonial Americans saw themselves as the heirs to the Roman
Republic - as the last vestige of ancient virtue contrasted with a thoroughly decadent Europe. It was this
unique reception of antiquity that defined the ideologies of the founding fathers, and helped to forge the
new American nation’s identity.
Konstantinos Nikoloutsos
Standing For Welcome - Stories of Migration to Italy
Graziella Ioele, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Gift from an Anonymous Donor
Standing for Welcome - Stories of Migration to Italy is a Summer Scholars Project that sought to educate
Italian students on the issue of migration to Italy. The project highlighted; the process by which a migrant
gets to Italy from a different nation, the policies in Italy that come into effect once a person lands on
Italian soil, the policy of Jus Sanguis and how that is affecting children born in Italy to migrant parents,
and the racism and current political climate in Italy today and how this plays a role in new legislation on
immigration.
Fulvia Serra
The World Is Yours: A Critical Lens for Adult ESL Learners in the U.S.
Kathryn Smith, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Critical pedagogy is an educational philosophy through which students are able to critically examine the
systems and structures around them, that is, students are guided to understand and critique the historical
and sociopolitical context of schooling and subsequently, change the nature of the larger society (Crookes
and Lehner, 1998). Recent immigrants are among some of the most vulnerable members of U.S. society,
especially if they lack a command of English. My study focused on the presence of critical practices in
adult ESL classrooms, observing classes at two organizations across the Philadelphia area.
Elaine Shenk
Department of Music,
Theatre and Film
The First Snowfall- Piece for Baritone and Piano
Claudia Gallagher, ‘16
Independent Study
During my independent study last semester, I worked closely with Dr. Sorkin on a vocal piece for
baritone with piano accompaniment. First, I found a poem, “The First Snowfall” by James Russell
Lowell, that I wanted to set to music. I wrote the vocal melody first, working in smaller sections. Dr.
Sorkin assigned a few stanzas to set each week. When we met on Monday, we would examine them
closely, and Dr. Sorkin would point out strengths and make suggestions or changes to the weaker
sections. After finishing the vocal part, I moved on to the piano accompaniment, and Dr. Sorkin reviewed
it in a similar fashion.
Suzanne Sorkin
Department of
Pharmaceutical and
Healthcare Marketing
Media Coverage of Ethical Issues in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Dante Gleason, ’16, Caitlin Smith, ’17, Lauren Lang, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Every year, the most popular newspapers in the nation mention the pharmaceutical industry in some way,
shape, or form. Many people intrinsically think negatively upon the industry. The goal of the research
was to read news articles from major newspapers and see how they portray the industry. This analysis
will evaluate how the media portrays ethical issues (drug prices, safety, etc.), as well as specific
companies and products.
George Sillup
Stephen Porth
Department of Physics
Microscopy Studies of Dense Colloidal Suspensions
Zachery Brown, ’17, Greg Hogan, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Grant from the National Science
Foundation
Using confocal microscopy, colloidal systems were studied. Specifically, this project aimed to investigate
a variety of states in dense suspensions. The study of colloidal systems is used to better understand
amorphous solids in general. By varying properties such as volume fraction and depletion forces,
quantifiable differences in particle dynamics could be observed. These dynamics were determined using
particle tracking techniques.
Piotr Habdas
Spin Relaxation Times of Polarons in π-Conjugated Porphyrin Arrays: Implications for
Spintronics
Isabella Goodenough, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The next generation for microelectronics may stem from the manipulation of the quantum electron spin
rather than on charge manipulation. This field of study is known as spintronics, or spin transport
electronics. Recently, there has been enormous interest in organic molecules as possible architectures for
spin-based devices. In this study we present evidence that conjugated porphyrin arrays exhibit
exceptionally long spin relaxation times (T1, T2). Our data has shown that the relaxation times of the
prophyrin arrays, ranging from the monomer to the nonomer, were on the order of hundreds of
nanoseconds at 298 K and represent times that are exceptionally long as compared to other organic and
inorganic species.
Paul Angiolillo
Active Microrheology of Magnetic Beads in Colloidal Suspensions
Sebastian Hurtado Parra, ‘15
Ryan Stull, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and a Grant from the National Science
Foundation
In active microrheology, a probe is driven through a small sample of complex fluid and its motion studied
in order to infer material properties of the embedding medium. Recent work proposes that rich knowledge
of system properties, such as osmotic pressure and normal stress differences, can be attained by tracking
the motion of a forced probe through a bath of particles. We drag magnetic probes with a range of
velocities through colloidal suspensions of several volume fractions. Various material properties are
determined from the motion of the probe. Results are compared to theoretical predictions.
Piotr Habdas
Femtosecond Laser Materials Processing
Karl Morris, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
We are interested in creating two extremely small structures: integrated waveguides and microchannels.
Integrated waveguides are areas of increased refractive index to guide light. Microchannels are used in
Lab-on-Chip devices to control small amounts of fluid. These two structures have been combined for use
in our optofluidic switch research. Femtosecond laser materials processing, sometimes called
"micromachining," allow these structures to be created via ablation. Over the summer, we created a setup
in order to create these two types of structures.
Yu Gu
Department of Political
Science
Examining the "Russian Idea": How Identity Informs Russian Foreign Policy in the Post-Soviet
Space
Megan Duffy, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Using Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism, I assessed Russia’s motives for its aggressive foreign
policy. In Realism, security necessitates maintaining a sphere of influence. In Liberalism, domestic
conditions dictate foreign policy. In Constructivism, foreign policy is predicated upon ideology and
identity. The Kremlin believes that Russia is a Great Power. The Constructivist school provided the most
complete explanation of Russia’s behavior. Four cases illustrated this: Crimea, South Ossetia/Abkhazia,
Transnistria, and Kazakhstan. Russia interferes in the first three because they are ideologically
threatening. They have created ties with the West, and their governments are liberal democracies.
Kazakhstan, however, is authoritarian, and a close ally of the Kremlin.
Lisa Baglione
"An Institutional Blank Space": Libya vs. Tunisia, Post-2011
Dana Saraco, ‘15
Course Project
In this paper, I performed a comparative case study of Libya and Tunisia, from 2011-2014, to determine
the effects of domestic institutions in how successful each country had been in transitioning to democracy
after the Arab Spring. Through this research, I came to several conclusions. First, Tunisia had
outperformed Libya in terms of the strength domestic institutions. However, the success of their
democracy was only marginally higher than in Libya, and both countries were progressing towards
democracy. Therefore, my hypothesis did not show as strong of a correlation as expected. Furthermore, I
found that many of Libya’s domestic institutions suffered because of cultural disunity.
Lisa Baglione
Department of
Psychology
Assessing the Test/Retest Reliability of the Baseline Concussion Test (ImPACT) in High School
Athletes
Kathleen Logan, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the McNulty Scholars Program
This summer, my research investigated the reliability of the ImPACT test across three administrations and
the utility of updated baselines when compared to post concussion test data. Research included the
preparation of a large data set from Louisiana high schools athletes for statistical analyses. Preliminary
results show that for athletes taking the test three times across three administrations, there is moderate
test/retest reliability in all five neurocognitive composite scores of the ImPACT test. In a sub-sample of
71 athletes who completed two annual baselines, followed by a concussion, only 4% (3/71) would have
been diagnosed as concussed based on comparison to the second baseline instead of the first.
Philip Schatz
Relationship Status and Well-Being in College Students
Meghan Grubb, ‘16
Independent Study
The purpose of the present study is to determine if long-distance dating relationships in college affect the
mental and physical health of undergraduates. It is hypothesized that long-distance dating relationships
will have a negative effect on a college student’s mental and physical health. The current study found no
significant difference when comparing the mental and physical health of undergraduates in proximal and
long-distance dating relationships. The results of the study only found marginal significance when
looking at levels of stress between males who are not in a relationship, males who are in proximal
relationships, and males who are in long-distance relationships.
Phyllis Anastasio
Prosocial Behaviors: Would You Help a Friend?
Emily Hachey, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Prosocial morality develops significantly during middle childhood and can be motivated intrinsically by
moral emotions or extrinsically through reciprocity (Nucci & Turiel, 2009; Weller & Lagattuta, 2014).
This study will examine in children ages seven, nine, and eleven, compared to college students, and
whether moral emotions or reciprocity motivate prosocial moral judgments more. We will examine the
yet unexplored interaction between gender group (ingroup and outgroup), the interaction between
previous relationship between potential helper and person needing help (nice, mean, or generic), and type
of harm (physical or psychological) by showing each participant prosocial moral dilemmas and asking
them to rate whether the potential helper should help or not help.
Clare Conry-Murray
Gender and Views of Hook-up Culture
Kathleen McGee, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the SJU Barbelin Scholars
We tested whether there were differences in the ways that men and women view hook-up culture (casual
sexual relationships). Recruited from either Facebook or Mechanical Turk, 273 women and men
completed surveys about their views on the nature of hook-ups and rated scenarios depicting couples
hooking up. Interestingly, there were not large differences in how men and women defined hooking up.
However, women and men did show significant differences in their expectations for post-hook-up contact
with women rating men’s expectations for further contact differently than men’s own expectations.
Alexander Skolnick
Dopamine's Role in the Home Field Advantage
Nicole Sammartino, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The winner-effect suggests winning experience increases the likelihood of winning future aggressive
encounters as indicated by DA and TH. Adult male California mice were conditioned with either winning
or handling experience, tested in a familiar or unfamiliar cage using a traditional resident-intruder
paradigm, and their brains were collected and immunochemically stained. Photomicrographs were
analyzed using ImageJ to determine pTH levels. It was hypothesized that previous victories and residency
will increase pTH in mesolimbic regions as compared to those without. Those with previous wins showed
increased VTA pTH in an unfamiliar location. LS pTH levels were higher for handled individuals in a
familiar location than for those in an unfamiliar cage.
Elizabeth Becker
Paternal Aggression in Peromyscus californicus
Michael Stephenson, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Recent evidence in rodent species indicates the importance of maternal and paternal care in the
development of offspring behavior. However, the overwhelming majority of research examining parental
effects on offspring development has focused on mothers. In addition, although offspring presence has
been a proven modulator of maternal aggression, we do not yet know if offspring presence impacts a
father’s aggression. In the current study, we utilize the aggressive and biparental species, Peromyscus
californicus, to determine whether paternal aggression is significantly influenced when a father’s
offspring are present.
Elizabeth Becker
Investigating Emotional Responses To The Language Of Sexual Deviance
Esteban Valencia, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Current discourse concerning collegiate sexual violence demands a greater understanding of language
utilized in such discussions. To investigate this, we surveyed 395 subjects to determine whether
emotional equivalency exists between synonymous term-pairs. Subsequently, these term-pairs were
utilized in vignettes describing incidents of sexual violence. Participants were asked to rate their
emotional responses to each vignette. Results indicate emotional equivalency exists between subjectidentified term-pairs. Additionally, a relationship is found between the emotions disgust, anger, and
sadness.
Alexander Skolnick
Department of Sociology
"Do The Right Thing": Interrogation Methods and How Techniques of Emotion Provocation
Influence Suspect Responses
Jessica Falkenstein, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Techniques of emotion provocation are commonly used in interrogations, in which the interrogator asks
questions that specifically target the suspect’s emotion in order to elicit useful information or a confession
from the suspect. I researched how suspects respond to different techniques of emotion provocation
through a qualitative content analysis of audio and video recordings of interrogations provided by the Los
Angeles Police Department. While most of the interrogations resulted in denial, more than half of the
interrogators were successful in reaching their goal of acquiring useful information. This research is
important because it can shed new light on what techniques are most successful in interrogations.
Chris Kelly
The Impact of Weeklong Service Immersion Programs on the Student
Cat Jones, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
This study examined the impact of weeklong service immersion programs on the student. Twelve Saint
Joseph’s University undergraduate students who participated in a Winter or Summer Immersion Program
(WIP/ SIP) were interviewed. The thirty-question interview measured cultural awareness, understanding
of social justice issues, and how their experience changed who they are today. All hypotheses were
supported that students who went on WIP/SIP had global mindedness, a deeper knowledge of social
justice issues, and understood the importance of reflection. WIP/SIP participants learned community
values, Jesuit ideals, and experienced personal growth. A participant stated, “This experience made me a
better person it made me the person I wanted to be.”
Kim Logio
Rape Myths and Perceptions of Rape on College Campuses
Caitlin Lavorgna, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
This project is intended to look into what factors influence acceptance of rape myths. There were
respondents from universities across the United States. These students reported their demographic
information such as gender, race, year in school, athlete, member of fraternity or sorority, etc. These
demographics were used in order to see what factors had the highest acceptance of rape myths. The
findings showed that males and members of fraternities have higher rape myth acceptance than other
demographics. Also students in their junior year had higher rape myth acceptance than any other year.
Raquel Bergen
An analysis of recidivism and restorative justice programs for juvenile delinquents in Philadelphia
Michaela McGlynn, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
One of the fastest growing groups of criminal offenders in the United States is juvenile delinquents. This
research seeks to investigate which programs are successful in reducing reoffending in addition to whom
and under what circumstances they are most beneficial. The data employed in the analysis come from the
Juvenile Offender Diversion Programs (JODP) at Good Shepherd Mediation in Germantown, PA. The
age, sex, ethnicity, and seriousness of offense of the 908 youth JODP participants between January 2010
and December 2012 are analyzed in relation to reoffending. Results support the effectiveness of the
program in reducing the likelihood of reoffending for offenders across various demographic factors.
Susan Clampet-Lundquist
How Race and Economic Class Influence Media Coverage of Natural Disasters
Elizabeth Wood-Yesline, ‘15
Course Project
For my senior thesis I conducted a content analysis of three natural disasters that occurred on the
international, national and local front. This study examined how economic class and racial population of
those affected can influence media coverage of natural disasters. Natural disasters that occur in a lower
socioeconomic region or affect a black majority will be perceived in a far more negative light than those
natural disasters affecting a white majority. I found that the way natural disaster stories are framed, in a
negative or positive way, plays a role in the public opinion and subsequent recovery efforts.
Marybeth Ayella
Department of Special
Education
Post-Secondary Education Opportunities for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities
Samantha Slonim, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Access to post-secondary education opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities has dramatically expanded in the past 10 years. These programs are located across the country
in both community colleges and larger colleges and universities. My research focused solely on postsecondary programs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, and excluded community colleges.
Although there are online resources to investigate these programs, there is limited information provided
online to thoroughly understand each program. Therefore, the product of my research is a college guide
that profiles each college program through a series of questions and answers. The purpose of this
approach was to create a standardized method of comparison.
Eileen Sabbatino
Department of Theology
and Religious Studies
Quantum Cosmologies, Creatio ex Nihilo and the Existence of God
Dennis Corpora Jr, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The Catholic doctrine of creation out of nothing expresses the Church's belief that the universe was
created out of nothing. The doctrine also entails that an extramundane cause must be responsible for "why
there is anything instead of just nothing." Unfortunately, scientific evidence for absolute creation and
Catholic theology are often seen as contradictory. Many people are misinformed about the Catholic faith
and thus question their religion by depicting a "warfare between science and religion." My paper bridges
the gap between contemporary science and Christian belief in a creator God by enlightening those who
are misinformed about the notion that "science militates against religion."
Glenn Siniscalchi
Religion, Science and Changing Visions of the Human Body
Angelica Italiano, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
Dr. Andrews, and I are researching the changes in medicine and science over a period of time and how
religion is a key component in some of those life-threatening situations. Research has been done on
Ancient China, Ancient Egypt and today. We took a look at changes in medicine or if there were changes
in medicine using the Papyrus Ebers from Ancient Egypt. In Ancient China, we focused our research on
the religion and burial rituals occurring in that geographical area. Today, we looked at religion in the
United States. Doctors need to be aware of and take into consideration a person’s religion when life and
death situations are occurring.
Susan Andrews
A study of the afterlife and family lineage in Chinese Religion
Marissa Siu, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
The question of whether or not life ends with physical death is a topic of interest to many scholars today
as they have for thousands of years. Worshipping and sacrificing to ancestors has been an important and
significant Chinese practice. The importance of these ancestral rituals suggests that humans believe a
strong interdependency exists between the living and the dead that is sustained through funerary and
mortuary practices and daily worship. My research project pursued to answers three questions: What are
the Chinese understandings of the afterlife? What kinds of relationships exist between the living and the
deceased? How have rites/practices performed to honor ancestors sustained family relationship and
lineage?
Susan Andrews
Mercy Health Promoter Model: Collaborating with Hispanic Immigrant Communities for Just
Health Care
Gabriel Solorzano, ‘15
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program and the Institute for Catholic Bioethics
While Mercy Suburban Hospital asserts their devotion to treating the disadvantaged in their service area,
the hospital confronts an influx of Latino patients with advanced stages of a disease or chronic condition,
putting a financial burden on hospital system. An initiative was made from members of the St. Joseph’s
University Catholic Bioethics Institute to collaborate with Mercy Suburban Hospital and Latino
community leaders to implement the Mercy Health Promoter Model program in the Hispanic population.
Peter Clark
Ethics Teaching Rounds: A Paradigm for all Teaching Hospitals
David Temme, ‘16
Supported, in part, by the SJU Summer Scholars Program
To address weak points in medical education, the Mercy Health System designed and implemented a new
form of teaching rounds, known as Ethics Teaching Rounds, at four hospitals within the Mercy Health
System. These rounds provide healthcare professionals with the ethical and legal background often
missing from a traditional medical education. The use of this form of teaching rounds was evaluated via
the creation and evaluation of surveys given to the healthcare professionals who attend and facilitate these
rounds. The results of these surveys and a 60% decrease in ethics consultations, have begged the
following question: can Ethics Teaching Rounds be used as a paradigm for all teaching hospitals?
Peter Clark