Anabelle S. Bergstrom

Majors:Political Science and Philosophy
Project Title:Deadly Choices: Political, Legal, and Moral Understandings of U.S. Supreme Court Death Penalty Decisions
Committee:Virginia Hettinger, Political Science; Paul Bloomfield, Philosophy; Richard Wilson, Anthropology, UConn Law

Project Summary:The death penalty has historically challenged the philosophical beliefs of the Supreme Court and the individual justices who interpret the Constitution of the United States. My research seeks to understand why justices have penned legal decisions in past capital punishment cases through political, legal, and moral lenses. It will also examine an evolution of thinking about the death penalty by justices John Paul Stevens and Harry Blackmun throughout their tenure on the Court. The findings of my research will help legal scholars and political philosophers gain a deeper understanding of what factors influence capital punishment Supreme Court decisions.

Anabelle Bergstrom is a Special Program in Law honors student majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. She is a BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholar, UConn Humanities Institute Undergraduate Fellow, and 2022 Holster Scholar. She is also a Peer Research Ambassador in the Office of Undergraduate Research. After graduation, Anabelle plans to attend law school.

Rachel Cleveland

Major:Physics
Project Title:Determining the Parameters that Drive the Co-evolution of Black Holes and Galaxies
Committee:Daniel Angles-Alcazar, Physics; Cara Battersby, Physics; Lea Ferreira dos Santos, Physics

Project Summary:Cosmological simulations are incredibly useful tools for astrophysicists. They allow a deeper exploration of celestial phenomena and reveal their intricate workings. In the past, I have observed patterns between black holes and their host galaxies using SIMBA simulations. I now plan to enhance my research by transitioning to the CAMELS simulation. This offers the flexibility to manipulate various cosmological parameters, which brings the promise of uncovering the fundamental drivers behind my previously observed trends. This endeavor will help advance our understanding of the cosmos.

Rachel Cleveland is a junior honors student from Windsor, CT pursuing a major in Physics and a minor in Mathematics and Statistics. She is a McNair Scholar, Presidential Scholar, and Babbidge Scholar at UConn. She plans to attend a PhD program after graduation.

Zachary Cotter

Major:Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
Project Title:Analyzing Effects of Gesture Use on Language Outcomes of Minimally Verbal Autistic Individuals
Committee:Lindsay Butler, SLHS; Inge-Marie Eigsti, Psychology; Derek Houston, SLHS

Project Summary:Among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), nearly one third are expected to develop little to no language skills. Through this study, I will analyze the extent to which these minimally-low verbal (MLV) autistic children use gestures as a means of communication. I’ll also chart the correlation between participants’ gesture use and the level of language skills they exhibit. My hope is that this will begin to shed more light on the underlying causes of MLV autism and thus help us understand more effective interventions to promote linguistic skills.

Zachary Cotter is a New England scholar studying Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Outside of class, Zach is a member of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, American Sign Language Club, and multiple musical ensembles. After graduation, he aspires to attain an AuD and practice as a clinical audiologist.

Karen Lau

Majors:Economics and Individualized: Asian American Studies
Project Title:Reaping What They Sew: Oral Histories of Asian Garment Workers and the Collective Labor Rights Struggle
Committee:Fiona Vernal, History; Delia Furtado, Economics; Shareen Hertel, Human Rights and Political Science; and Bandana Purkayastha, Sociology and Asian American Studies

Project Summary:Chinatowns are sites where immigrants imagine new political and economic futures by mobilizing for labor rights. In the 1982 International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union strike, the largest strike in Manhattan Chinatown’s history, 20,000 garment workers marched to demand higher wages. This project will examine how the strike—a watershed moment in the mobilization of Asian American women—improved workers’ labor market outcomes. My mixed-methods approach comprises archival research, oral history, and difference-in-differences regressions derived from wage and employment data. By putting intergenerational immigrant narratives in conversation with labor data, I will extrapolate upon the realities of community building toward economic justice.

Karen Lau is a Day of Pride Scholar pursuing a dual degree in Economics and Individualized: Asian American Studies. A BOLD Scholar and Co-op Legacy Fellow, she is involved in the Equity & Social Justice Reading Group and the National Humanities Leadership Council. She enjoys indie rock concerts and paddle boarding.

Lisa Liang

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:Nanocarrier Mediated Delivery of Therapeutic Nucleic Acid for Targeted Brain Tumor Therapy
Committee:Jessica Rouge, Chemistry; Nicholas Leadbeater, Chemistry; Michael Kienzler, Chemistry; Raman Bahal, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project Summary:Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumor in adults, eliciting symptoms such as headaches and progressive neurological disorder. Existing treatment strategies, such as temozolomide-based chemotherapy, have been established as robust treatment methods but risk the elimination of healthy cells. Therefore, my project aims to design and test a nanocapsule capable of both delivering temozolomide drugs and displaying a tumor cell-targeting nucleic acid called an aptamer on its surface. In essence, GBM brain tumor growth will be addressed more effectively and specifically. The prospective application is to improve targeted GBM medication.

Lisa Liang is a Stamps Scholar majoring in Chemistry. She is passionate about serving her peers as the Vice President of the Honors Council and enjoys reading, running, and hanging out with friends and family. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. to conduct research in nucleic acid therapeutics.

Neo Lin

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:  Sensing Magnetic Fields with Emissive Molecular Qubits
Committee:Tomoyasu Mani, Chemistry; Nicholas Leadbeater, Chemistry; Jing Zhao, Chemistry

Description:Quantum behaviors, like superposition and entanglement, allow us to exponentially increase our computational ability by implementing quantum bits. With the guidance of Dr. Tomoyasu Mani, Neo is trying to design fully organic quantum bits via spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs). In the summer of 2022, Neo studied how steric hindrance affects rates of electron transfer. This research resulted in the first author’s publication in Chemical Science. In the summer of 2023, Neo received the SURF grant to continue this research. In his last three semesters, Neo aims to further probe how magnetic fields can affect the SCRPs he synthesizes for applications as quantum bits.

Neo Lin is a junior honors chemistry student from Madison, Connecticut. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry following graduation from UConn. Outside of research, Neo enjoys spending time with friends, family, and his dog Loki.

Fraser McGurk

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Investigating the Role of CD13 in Macrophage-to-Myofibroblast Transition During Implant-Induced Foreign Body Reaction
Committee:Mallika Ghosh, Center for Vascular Biology, UCHC; David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology; Syam Nukavarapu, Biomedical Engineering; Eugene Pinkhassik, Chemistry

Project Summary:Upon surgical implantation of medical devices such as joint replacements, the body’s immune system reacts to the device in a process known as the foreign body response (FBR). Among the last stages of FBR is total fibrotic encapsulation by fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which isolates the implant from the rest of the body and can result in implant failure. My project will analyze the macrophage to myofibroblast cell differentiation pathway and its prevalence in fibrotic encapsulation. Furthermore, my project will investigate the transmembrane aminopeptidase CD13 as a negative regulator of this pathway, thus making CD13 a novel target for anti-fibrotic therapeutics.

Fraser McGurk is an honors student majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in bioinformatics. On campus, he is the vice president for iGEM genetic engineering. In the future, he plans to pursue a PhD in immunology and work in biotech to develop immune-based therapeutics.

Pranav Seshadri

Major:Exercise Science
Project Title:Assessing Neuromuscular Function Following Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction
Committee:Steven Harrison, Psychological Sciences/Kinesiology; Jeffrey Kinsella-Shaw, Physical Therapy; Linda Pescatello, Kinesiology

Project Summary:The study of how musculoskeletal injuries can alter skilled motor performance is central to the rehabilitation science underwriting clinical practice. Peripheral changes, like torn ligaments, affect biomechanical performance and central neuroplasticity. These factors may contribute to persistent impairment. My research isolates the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) as a critical location of catastrophic rupture in overhead athletes like baseball players. By studying neurophysiological and motor control changes following UCL reconstruction, I aim to observe the consequences of ligamentous injuries on neuromuscular performance. My research will elicit critical insights on how peripheral changes may drive central nervous system reorganization.

Pranav Seshadri is a Stamps Scholar majoring in Exercise Science. He is pursuing a Biomedical Engineering PhD and a career in biotechnology venture capital. Pranav is a Senior Analyst in UConn’s Hillside Ventures. He also consults with T.Rx Capital, a new venture firm focusing on biotechnology and digital health investing.

Makenzie Smith

Major:Art History
Project Title:Reconstructing Art and Evidence: Forensic Architecture in Institutional Settings
Committee:Robin Greeley, Art History & Human Rights; José Falconi, Art History & Human Rights; Michael Orwicz, Art History

Project Summary:Forensic Architecture (FA) is an artist-activist collective that investigates instances of human rights abuse perpetrated by state governments, militaries, and corporations. Using digital technology, architectural modeling/spatialization techniques, along with openly-sourced, photography-based media, FA visually reconstructs such violations. Forensic Architecture presents their case studies in various institutional settings–from legal courts to art museums. This project questions how the evidentiary and artistic nature of such exhibitions impact the viewer’s experience, specifically within the space of the art institution. How has this changed our definition of art entirely, and what does this work say about our conceptions of truth in contemporary culture?

Makenzie Smith is an honors student majoring in Art History, particularly interested in the intersection between art and human rights. At UConn, she is an intern at the William Benton Museum of Art. Upon graduation, Makenzie will pursue a Ph.D in Art History, specializing in contemporary art and activism.

Nicholas Thiel-Hudson

Major:Physics and Music
Project title:Rare-Earth Manganites for CO2 Reduction and Quantum Sensing
Committee:Dr. Menka Jain, Physics; Dr. Peter Schweitzer, Physics; and Dr. Ronald Squibbs, Music

Project Summary:Lanthanum strontium manganite (LSMO) is a solid-state material that exhibits particularly interesting electrical and magnetic properties. This makes LSMO a good candidate for use in advanced technologies, however, it is very difficult to make. This project will thus investigate novel synthesis methods to fabricate LSMO powders and films for two different applications. Powders will be optimized for use as a selective electrocatalyst in the conversion of carbon dioxide into usable hydrocarbon products. Films will be optimized for use in quantum sensing, which is useful for advanced technologies like quantum computers.

Nicholas Thiel-Hudson, from New Fairfield, CT, is a Presidential Scholar pursuing dual degrees in Physics and Music. In his free time, he enjoys playing the violin and listening to music from around the world. Nicholas is also an avid weightlifter and occasional rock climber.

Nathan Velazquez

Major:Pathobiology
Minors:Mathematics & Spanish
Project Title:Investigating Regulation of Neutrophil-mediated Inflammation in a Murine Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection Model
Committee:Dr. Steven Szczepanek, Pathobiology; Dr. Clinton Mathias, Nutritional Sciences; and Dr. Steven Geary, Pathobiology

Project Summary:While vaccines are intended to teach our immune system how to protect us, historically that has not been the case with vaccine attempts against M. pneumoniae. Neutrophils, a type of immune cell, play a central role in damaging our lungs instead of removing bacteria in a normal infection and can cause a vaccine-enhanced disease state. Interestingly, other typically inflammatory cells, called B cells seem to protect our lungs from the neutrophils’ wrath. The present study aims to characterize the subtypes of B cells regulating this neutrophil-mediated damage (termed Bregs) and characterize this, potentially novel, Breg-Neutrophil regulatory axis.

Nathan Velazquez is a Day of Pride and Ronald E. McNair Scholar pursuing a degree in Pathobiology. He also runs the 2LGBTQIA+ peer-mentoring program at the Rainbow Center. Nathan hopes to apply his experience in DEI and Immunology to a career in medicine. He also enjoys dance, yoga and baking!

Michael Vrionides

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:Photo-Switchable Photocatalysts for ATRA Reactions
Committee:Michael Kienzler, Chemistry; Tomoyasu Mani, Chemistry; Chat Abeywickrama, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project Summary:I joined Dr. Tomoyasu Mani’s lab to conduct research on fluorescent dyes that exhibit charge transfer emission in Fall 2022, which gave me significant background in organic synthesis. My subsequent acceptance into the SULI program under the Department of Energy to work at Brookhaven National Laboratory for the summer of 2023 led to me becoming very familiar with spectral characterization of photocatalysts. I will combine these two skillsets with Dr. Michael Kienzler’s expertise on azobenzene photoswitches to create a new class of photocatalyst to be used in Atom-Transfer Radical Addition (ATRA) reactions.

Michael Vrionides is a Chemistry major from Canton, CT, who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry after completing his bachelor’s degree, with an end goal of working in industry. In his free time he enjoys listening to music and spending time with friends.

Lyla White

Major:Pharmacy Studies
Project Title:Development of a Stable Aspirin Suspension
Committee:Robin Bogner, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Bodhi Chaudhuri, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Youssef Bessada, Pharmacy Practice

Project Summary:Aspirin has been used for over a century to effectively decrease inflammation, pain, and fever, and a low dose reduces the risk of blood clots. However, many patients are permanently or intermittently unable to swallow aspirin tablets. Oral liquids are the preferred alternative because they can be self-administered and are comfortable to swallow. Unfortunately, most oral medicated liquids are water based and aspirin rapidly breaks down in water. I aim to develop a stable aspirin oral liquid and procedures to determine its stability so patients who are unable to swallow have a safe, effective, and comfortable way to take aspirin.

Lyla White is a Presidential STEM Scholar from Newington, CT. She is currently in pharmacy school, and plans to teach at a school of pharmacy or work in the pharmaceutical industry to continue improving drug design to help patients. Lyla is the President of the UConn Climbing Team and is always wearing something purple!

Nazanin Zaer

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Minors:Bioinformatics and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Committee:Fumilayo Showers, Sociology; Amir Kouzehkanani, Statistics; Juliet Lee, Molecular and Cell Biology; Jane Pryma, Sociology
Project title:Investigating the Healthcare Barriers Impacting Immigrant Women in Connecticut Clinics

Project Summary:It’s crucial for patients to trust their healthcare providers when seeking treatment. However, due to cultural differences, immigrant women, in particular, may feel out of place. While cultural competency is taught in medical curricula, it is unclear if patients feel comfortable interacting with their providers. My research aims to discover the barriers that immigrant women face when accessing healthcare in Connecticut. Patient and provider relationships will be analyzed using linked surveys. Follow-up interviews will allow patients to share their stories. Results will help healthcare providers better understand the needs of immigrant women, improving their healthcare experience.

Nazanin Zaer is a Molecular and Cell Biology major from Wethersfield, CT, looking to attend medical school after graduation. On campus, Naz is a student manager at SHaW, and runs a lung cancer screening club (ALCSI). In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and music.

Crystal Zhu

Major:Biological Sciences
Project Title: Unveiling and Illustrating the Diversity of Lichen-Forming Fungal Species in Chile
Committee:Bernard Goffinet, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Louise Lewis, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Paul Lewis, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Alison Paul, Art and Art History

Project Summary: Lichens are fascinating composite “organisms” formed through mutualistic associations between fungal and photosynthetic partners such as green algae or cyanobacteria. Historically, lichenized fungal species were heavily delimited based on morphology (i.e., form/appearance/structure) and chemistry of secondary metabolites. I aim to employ integrative taxonomy incorporating phylogenetic analysis alongside morphological and chemical data to elucidate species identities and potentially uncover new species in the genera Sticta and Pseudocyphellaria. The insights gained from these studies will also inform the creation of a visual communication project highlighting the biodiversity and beauty of these often-overlooked entities in Chile.

Crystal Zhu is an honors student from Mansfield, CT, majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Studio Art. At UConn, she helps run the Sci-Art Gallery. Outside of school, she enjoys drawing, going to cafés, and spending time with her cat.

Ananya Aggarwal

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Cisplatin Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Committee:Xiuling Lu, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Christina Ross, Nursing; Nathan Alder, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) represents over 90% of oral cancer cases, and often results in lymph node metastasis and relapse. Cisplatin, a chemotherapeutic drug, is used to treat OSCC, but repeated systemic administration causes high toxicity and drug resistance. Through this project, I will investigate if using mesoporous silica nanoparticles to control cisplatin delivery and release to OSCC tumor tissues can reduce toxic effects in healthy tissues while promoting sustained drug release at tumor sites. My hope is that this research will improve potential treatments and patient outcomes in the future.

Ananya Aggarwal is a Stem Scholar majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. On campus, she is a Trip Director for both Honors Across State Borders and Community Outreach. In her free time Ananya enjoys catching up with friends over coffee, and after graduation she plans to attend dental school.

Lauren Baskin

Majors:Political Science and English
Project Title:Literary Invocations in Political Discourse
Committee:Yohei Igarashi, English; Eleni Coundouriotis, English; Jane Gordon, Political Science

Project Summary:Looking for political themes in literary works is now a very commonplace interpretive technique in literary studies. But how do novels, poems, and plays function in today’s political discourse? This project, “Literary Invocations in Political Discourse,” draws on both Political Science and literary studies with specific aims to understand how, when, and why literary works appear in discussions of politics. Through quantitative and qualitative methods, this project will examine presidential reading lists, newspaper articles, and social media posts to discover what role literature plays in political discourse today.

Lauren Baskin is an honors student majoring in Political Science and English. Her campus involvement includes Alpha Phi Omega, The Undergraduate Political Review, and Empowering Women in Law. After her undergraduate career, she aspires to go to law school, and hopefully pursue law and academia in various capacities.

Aidan Caron

Majors:Geographic Information Science and Political Science
Project Title:Promoting Environmental Justice: A Mixed-Method Approach to Identifying Socioeconomic Disparities in Urban Park Access
Committee:Talbot Andrews, Political Science; Xiang Chen, Geography; Jeffrey Ladewig, Political Science; Stacy Maddern, Urban and Community Studies

Project Summary:Urban parks are imperative in strengthening the overall quality of life in communities across the United States… but is park access and quality socially equitable? Urban park access has seldom been studied multi-dimensionally, with the majority of current literature overlooking the role of park quality in shaping the likelihood of park utilization. My project will leverage geographic information systems (GIS) and field collection methods to determine whether or not park accessibility and quality are equitable across socioeconomic groups in the study region (Hartford County, CT). I hope to publish the results of my project in a peer-reviewed journal to stimulate political action and further research.

Aidan Caron is a junior from Ellington, CT majoring in Geographic Information Science & Political Science. An aspiring community planner and GIS specialist, he is Co-Vice President of the UConn Geography Club and is currently completing a fellowship with the US Department of Transportation. Aidan loves cool maps, playing saxophone, and competitive disc golf!

Christian Chlebowski

Majors:Accounting and Individualized: Government, Policymaking, and Law
Project Title:One Small Step, One Giant Leap, One Extraordinary Journey: Comparing America’s Trajectories to the Moon in Apollo and Artemis
Committee:Alina Lerman, Accounting; William Simonsen, Public Policy; Vishal Baloria, Accounting

Project Summary:The successful launch of Artemis I in 2022 put America on a trajectory back to the moon–albeit in an incredibly different society from prior lunar explorations. My research aims to contextualize the Apollo and Artemis programs through a fiscal analysis of lunar-centered appropriations and the public support and Congressional attitudes they derive from. The resulting three-part thesis will track these factors in both eras before culminating with a discussion of significant differences and America’s lunar future. By analyzing our “small steps,” we prepare for all the “giant leaps” that are to come as we push the bounds of human exploration.

Christian Chlebowski is a Nutmeg Scholar pursuing a dual degree in Accounting and Individualized: Government, Policymaking, and Law. On campus, he is an Honors Guide for Peer Success and President of the Honors Council. Upon graduation, he hopes to join the accounting profession and utilize his knowledge to serve his communities.

Richard Dube

Majors:Mathematics and Physics
Project Title:An Educational Resource for Particle Identification (PID) in High-Energy Particle Physics
Committee:Richard Jones, Physics; Myron Minn-Thu-Aye, Mathematics; Diego Valente, Physics.

Project Summary:Particle Identification (PID) is the process of determining which particle left a specific signature in the detectors used in Particle Physics experiments. PID only requires high-school-level mathematics and a basic conceptual understanding of Particle Physics. Consequently, PID can provide high school and early undergraduate students the opportunity to explore the field of Experimental Particle Physics, ultimately allowing them to engage with the field far earlier than previous students. This project will create python-based activities that teach high-school and undergraduate students common PID methods, allowing them to perform advanced analysis of real experimental data.

Richard Dube is a STEM Scholar pursuing dual degrees in Mathematics and Physics. He is particularly passionate about High-Energy Physics and Physics Education. After graduation, he plans on pursuing a Ph. D. in Physics with the goal of working in academia.

Sindy Gorka

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Investigation of Post-Mitotic Read-through Transcription Timing and Function
Committee:Leighton Core, Molecular and Cell Biology; Jessica Costa-Guda, Center for Molecular Oncology, UCHC; Jaci VanHeest, Educational Psychology

Project Summary:The focus of my project is transcriptional regulation. Transcription usually follows specific termination models, but there are cases where this pattern unfolds differently. Read-through transcription is a process where RNA polymerase keeps producing transcripts past the termination site of the gene. My project will determine the time that read-through transcription happens, which I hypothesize occurs around anaphase to telophase. My project will also investigate the function of post-mitotic read-through transcription, which I hypothesize has an effect on activating enhancers and/or readjusting CTCF sequence-specific binding regions, which thus in turn has an effect on regulating cell-specific gene expression and organization.

Sindy is a Presidential Scholar pursuing a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in genetics. Outside of academics, she is a part of the Club Swim Team and is involved in Public Health/Learning Community Council activities.

Deborah Heaslip

Major:Animal Science
Project Title:Investigation of the Induction of Tail Bifurcation in Ambystoma maculatum
Committee:Elizabeth Jockusch, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Mary Amalaradjou, Animal Science; Amy Safran, Animal Science

Project Summary:Regeneration is the rebuilding of damaged or lost tissues after injury. In nature, salamanders drop their tails as a survival method so that the assumed predator or threat takes their tail and not their life. This highly conserved trait among salamanders sometimes goes awry, resulting in bifurcated tails (forked tails). My project will investigate what physical alterations must be done to an Ambystoma maculatum tail to create a tail bifurcation, as tail bifurcations rarely occur in wild populations. By using classical methods and modern ideas regarding regeneration, I will determine the most effective way to induce tail bifurcation.

Deborah Heaslip is an honors STEM scholar majoring in Animal Science with an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology minor on the pre-veterinary track from Patterson, New York. Here at UConn, she is involved in a multitude of science programs supporting minority representation in the sciences, such as the McNair and LSAMP programs. Outside of school, she likes to go on hikes to appreciate local wildlife, ski, and occasionally play tennis when she has the time. After graduation, she hopes to attend veterinary school to become a laboratory animal veterinarian.

Katherine Jimenez

Majors:English and Journalism
Project Title:Where Sunflowers Die: A Novel
Committee:Regina Barreca, English; Sean F. Forbes, English; Julie A. Serkosky, Journalism

Project Summary:War in Latin America has forced women to seek refuge in the United States in search of better opportunities, which simultaneously strained familial relationships and caused trauma that wove deep threads of fear of abandonment through the lives of their children and families. This goes largely unaddressed in Latino communities, continuing the cycle of generational trauma. My project will investigate the damaged relationship between mother and daughter through a fictional retelling of my mother’s life in Revolutionary Nicaragua after my grandmother abandoned her to seek refuge in the United States.

Katherine Jimenez is an honors English major and journalism major from Derby, CT. She is passionate about creative writing and 20th-century literature that is primarily female-driven. After graduating, she intends to pursue a masters and Ph.D in English Literature with a focus on the “mother-in-war” issue in literature.

Sofya Levitina

Majors:Physics and Mathematics-Statistics
Project Title:Prediction of Black Hole Mass in the Real Universe Using Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Trained on CAMELS Simulations
Committee:Daniel Anglés-Alcázar, Physics; Alexander Teplyaev, Mathematics; Caiwen Ding, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary:Black holes are one of the most mysterious phenomena in our Universe integral to star formation, galaxy evolution, and gravitational forces. With the first image of a supermassive black hole in our galactic center, the relevance of black holes in media and education is at its peak. The CAMELS project built state-of-the art cosmological simulations that allowed for further black hole analysis. Previously, I was able to develop an algorithm trained to predict black hole mass by analyzing correlating galactic and black hole properties in CAMELS simulations. For this project I will improve the algorithm using real galactic data to correctly predict known black hole masses, in hopes to achieve an accurate prediction of an unknown black hole mass in a distant galaxy.

Sofya Levitina is an honors Physics and Mathematics-Statistics major and Astrophysics minor. Outside of academics, she is the president of Society of Physics Students and the co-president of Women in Physics. Sofya is also a UCONN@COP27 fellow and is a part of UCG, a selective consulting group on campus. In her spare time, Sofya enjoys cooking and traveling.

Alexey Pozdnyakov

Majors:Mathematics and Computer Science
Project Title:Machine Learning Mathematics: A Modern Approach to Ancient Problems
Committee:Kyu-Hwan Lee, Mathematics; Jeremy Teitelbaum, Mathematics; Derek Aguiar, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary:Mathematicians have been interested in rational solutions to equations with integer coefficients since ancient times. The Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture is a millennium prize problem which, if proven true, would determine rational solutions to elliptic curves: y2 = x3 + Ax + B. An interesting modern approach to studying elliptic curves is to find patterns in massive datasets of such curves using machine learning. This approach has already allowed us to discover a striking pattern in the number of solutions to such equations modulo primes. In this project, I will search for other mathematical patterns using machine learning, as well as for explanations of the patterns we have already found.

Alexey Pozdnyakov is an Honors student majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as minoring in Physics. After graduation, he plans to pursue a PhD which allows him to further study mathematics and machine learning. Outside of research, he enjoys spending his free time lifting weights or playing volleyball.

Romir Raj

Major:Biomedical Engineering
Project Title:3D Genome Architecture and Genomic Implications
Committee:Jelena Erceg, Molecular and Cell Biology; Mayu Inaba, Molecular and Cell Biology; Patrick Kumavor, Biomedical Engineering

Project:Romir first joined Dr. Mayu Inaba’s Lab at UConn Health, Farmington, which studies chromosomal homolog pairing. To expand upon his research, Romir also joined Dr. Jelena Erceg’s Lab at UConn, Storrs, to investigate homolog pairing in developing Drosophila embryos. In the summer of 2022, Romir received the SURF grant and conducted research in both the Inaba and Erceg Labs, where he further studied and built upon his past research on interchromosomal interactions (mainly homolog pairing). This research experience resulted in two journal publications, in Nature Communications and Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. In his final three semesters, Romir plans to study more about genomic architecture and the possible functional implications of this architecture.

Romir Raj, from Glastonbury, is an Honors student majoring in biomedical engineering. He plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. in genetics and genomics after completion of his bachelor’s degree to be a practicing physician who performs clinical research. Outside of academics, Romir volunteers at Saint Francis Hospital and is a founder of a non-profit organization chapter on campus. He enjoys listening to music, spending time with friends, and running outside.

Rylee Thomas

Majors:English and Communication
Project Title:“The Ghostly Dynasty”: Victim-Blaming, the Gothic Novel, and the Modern True Crime Drama
Committee:Ellen Litman, English; Sean Forbes, English; Stephen Stifano, Communication; Sara Stifano, Communication.

Project Summary:Throughout history, a disturbing trend in social perceptions of domestic abuse and violence against women is a tendency to blame the victim. While feminist movements have changed this culture for the better, contemporary society continually criticizes women for behaving in ways that bring tragedy upon themselves. To explore this dichotomy, Rylee is writing a contemporary young adult horror novel that plays upon the conventions of both the gothic novel and the modern true-crime drama. Her novel, titledThe Ghostly Dynasty, will explore the double standards that society places on women in both literary and criminal justice.

Rylee Thomas is an Honors junior pursuing a dual degree in English and Communication. She is proud to be an undergraduate fellow at the UConn Humanities Institute and Editor-in-Chief of theLong River Review. When not writing, you can find her at the rink with her figure skating team.

Jannatul Anika

Major:Biology Education
Project Title:Expanding Teacher Diversity and Learning Achievements: Understanding and Supporting the Teaching Career Decision Making of Minoritized Students
Committee:Catherine Little, Educational Psychology; David Campbell, Curriculum and Instruction; and Jason Irizarry, Curriculum and Instruction

Project Summary: Teacher diversity continues to be a long-established issue within the US public education system as the student of color population increases while the number of teachers of color remains significantly low. Previous research has explored different reasons for this disparity. However, there is limited research that students of color are simply becoming less likely to pick teaching as a career. This project examines racial and ethnic identities and the implications it has on the perception of the teaching profession. I will be studying how college students of color describe the internal and external factors that are influencing their career decision.

Jannatul Anika is an honors student majoring in Secondary Biology Education within Neag’s IB/M program. She is a member of the 2021 Leadership Legacy Cohort and is an Elks Scholar. Her aspirations include working within the educational policy or administration field. Outside of academics, she enjoys music, hiking, and coffee.

 

Michelle Antony

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Individualized: Community Health
Project Title:Determining Growth Factor Properties Required to Promote Articular Cartilage Healing
Committee:Caroline Dealy, Craniofacial Sciences, UCHC; Rachel O’Neill, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Debarchana Ghosh, Geography.

Project Summary:Cartilage cells have limited capacity for self-repair and cartilage damage incurred during injury often progresses to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), a form of cartilage degeneration that causes severe, incurable disability in otherwise young and active individuals. My project will explore molecular signaling mechanisms in cartilage healing and narrow the field of candidate growth factors that can activate self-repair by cartilage cells. By identifying growth factors with therapeutic regenerative potential, treatments for patients who have suffered damage to their joints can be optimized.

Michelle Antony is a Molecular and Cell Biology and Individualized: Community Health major from Monroe, CT. On campus, she is a peer research ambassador at the OUR, a student-athlete tutor, and involved in UConn’s genetic engineering club, iGEM. Outside of school, she enjoys working as a CNA, hiking, and visiting the national parks. Following graduation, she hopes to attend medical school

 

Kathryn Atkinson

Major:Nutritional Sciences and Individualized: Food Studies
Project Title:Cenabis Bene: A Culinary Odyssey through Apicius
Committee:Alexia Smith, Anthropology; Roger Travis, Literatures, Cultures, and Languages; and Molika Chea, Nutritional Sciences.

Project Summary: Surviving texts from antiquity concerning cookery are rare.Apicius, orDe re culinaria, is the sole surviving cookbook from ancient Rome and as such is invaluable in the context of food anthropology. Beyond a mere collection of recipes,Apiciusprovides valuable insight into how food relates to and influences a multitude of aspects of Roman life. This project involves the authentic recreation of selected recipes fromApiciusas well as in-depth critical analysis of the cookbook as a whole, examining each recipe through social, historical, and anthropological contexts in order to develop a deeper understanding of Roman feasting customs.

Kathryn Atkinson is an honors student double majoring in Nutritional Sciences and Food Studies with a minor in Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies. Outside of academics, she is on the UConn Fencing Team and enjoys reading, cooking, and crosswords. After graduating, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Gastronomy.

 

Poorna Balakumar

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Individualized: Asian Arts, Culture, and Feminism
Project Title:Gender and Transnationalism in Kuchipudi Dance
Committee:Matthew Cohen, Dramatic Arts; Bandana Purkayastha, Sociology; Elizabeth Kline, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Lindsay Cummings, Dramatic Arts.

Project Summary:Since ancient times, dance and drama have been an important part of Indian society and culture; however, the study of Indian dance has always existed only in the aesthetic realm rather than in the context of historical, economic and political discourse. The ethnography of Indian dance as an embodied, gendered form of performance provides important insight into the politics of racialization, transnationalism and gender. During my final three semesters, I intend to explore different representations of gender in Indian theatre and performance, focusing on the revival of classical Indian dance forms in the 20th century and the transnational experience of first-generation women learning classical Indian dance under the male gaze.

Poorna Balakumar is an Honors student and Presidential Scholar in the Special Program in Medicine majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology, Pathobiology, and IMJR: Asian Arts, Culture and Feminism, with a minor in Healthcare Management and Insurance Studies. She is the captain of UConn Thunderaas, a competitive Indian dance team on campus, and has been learning nearly all styles of dance since she was three. She hopes not only to attend medical school, but also to teach dance to others someday.

 

Sarah Bradshaw

Major:English
Project Title:Shakespeare in Contexts
Committee:Charles Mahoney, English; Evelyn Tribble, English; and Gregory Semenza, English.

Project Summary: In this project, I will be focusing on the language of Shakespeare’s plays through the lens of adaptation, studying how the contexts of historical time periods and modes of presentation (particularly page, stage, and film) alter our perception and understanding of Shakespeare’s language. Taking inspiration from Charles Lamb’s claim, “I am not arguing that Hamlet should not be acted, but how much Hamlet is made another thing by being acted” (On the Tragedies of Shakespeare, 293), I hope to explore how adaptations make new things of older sources––tracing the role of adaptation from Shakespeare’s retellings through the more modern medium of cinema.

Sarah Bradshaw is an honors English major pursuing minors in Film Studies and Art History. She is fascinated by the intersection between these fields and aspires to continue these studies through a PhD. In addition to her love of books and movies, she is enthusiastic about music, dance, and photography.

 

Ashlyn Cartier

Major:Anthropology
Project Title:A Zooarchaeological Meta-Data Analysis of Early Animal Domestication in the Neolithic Northern Levant
Committee:Natalie Munro, Anthropology; Sarah Johnson, Literatures, Cultures, and Languages; and Richard Sosis, Anthropology.

Project Summary: The domestication of animals in early human societies fundamentally altered socio-economic and ideological systems, which greatly contributed to the rise of complex societies. This project examines competing theoretical frameworks regarding the processes that led up to this moment through a data-based test of the multiregional and core area models of animal domestication. Using zooarchaeological data, this project will also map local and regional spatiotemporal trends of domestication in the Northern Levant. Analysis of this data will consider the larger impacts that domestication had on human society, as well as the role human behavior and choice played in this phenomenon.

Ashlyn Cartier is an honors student majoring in Anthropology and minoring in History. She is currently a student assistant in the Homer Babbidge Library Conservation Lab. She plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Archaeology, focusing on the processes that led to the rise of complex societies.

Shane Connolly

Major:Biological Sciences
Project Title:Impact of protist grazing on Medicago truncatula through alteration of bacterial community structure
Committee:Daniel Gage, Molecular and Cell Biology; Jonathan Klassen, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Robert Bagchi, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Project Summary: The role of predatory protists in the rhizosphere and their impact on plant growth have been largely unappreciated until recently. Protists are able to increase plant growth through the release of nitrogenous waste products and shifting soil bacteria communities towards more beneficial groups. The question that still remains is which of those mechanisms is primarily responsible for protist mediated plant growth, especially in legumes. This project aims to answer that question through developmental comparisons of Medicago truncatula in both protist grazed and un-grazed soils. The goal is to highlight the importance that microbivores play in a horticultural setting.

Shane Connolly is a junior from Milford, CT majoring in Biological Sciences. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar, snowboarding, thrifting, and hiking. After graduation, he aspires to obtain a dual title PhD in astrobiology and plant ecophysiology in hopes of pursuing a career at NASA.

 

Ashiti Damania

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Validation of RGC Subtype Markers Across Development to Understand Axon Regeneration
Committee:Feliks Trakhtenberg, Neuroscience, UCHC; Leighton Core, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Akiko Nishiyama, Physiology and Neurobiology.

Project Summary:The inability for central nervous system (CNS) neurons to regenerate after damage is problematic for patients suffering from CNS injuries. Mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), a type of cell in the eye whose axons form the optic nerve, have been established as a model for studying axon regeneration. Recent research has identified many RGC subtypes based on differences in gene expression profiles. This project aims to investigate the role of RGC subtype gene expression on RGC regenerative capacity after CNS injury. The research can provide insight into creating gene therapies to treat optic neuropathies and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Ashiti Damania is an Honors Student and STEM Scholar from Trumball, CT majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Neuroscience and Physiology and Neurobiology. She is involved with the national honor society in neuroscience (Nu Rho Psi) and Community Outreach. She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Rayna Esch

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Role of Perimuscular Connective Tissue Injury and Repair in FOP
Committee:David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology; John Redden, Physiology and Neurobiology; and David Knecht, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary: Fibrodysplaisia Ossificans Progressive (FOP) is a rare congenital disease in humans characterized by a biological phenomenon known as heterotopic ossification in which bone forms within skeletal muscle and associated connective tissue, including muscle fascia, a thin connective tissue layer that surrounds the muscle. A specific cell type, known as Fibrogenic/Adipogenic Progenitors (FAPs), is the primary contributor to heterotopic bone formation in FOP. The ossified lesions are often the result of mutant FAP signaling and differentiation following injury to muscle or connective tissue. Rayna will be studying the distinct role that fascial injury plays in the process of heterotopic ossification.

Rayna Esch is a Molecular and Cell Biology major and Human Development and Family Sciences minor from Wallingford, CT. She is a presidential scholar, vice president of Knit for NICU, and involved in the UConn Alzheimer’s Association. Upon graduation, she hopes to attend medical school.

 

Alexandra Goldhamer

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Human Rights
Project Title:Exploring the Neural Circuits of Diet-Induced Obesity
Committee:Natalie Sciolino, Physiology and Neurobiology; Amy Howell, Chemistry; Kathryn Libal, Human Rights; and David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Description:Dysregulation of norepinephrine (NE) signaling has been implicated in obesity’s pathogenesis. Drug therapies that currently exist have a broad range of negative side-effects, which underscores the importance of identifyingspecificNE neural circuits that can be targeted to inhibit hunger signals. My project focuses on the inhibitory projections from the locus coeruleus to the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) that are underactive in the pathogenesis of diet-induced obesity (DIO). The goal of my project is to stimulate this circuit with the purpose of elucidating the specific hunger-promoting cell type(s) in the LHA that, when inhibited, attenuate DIO’s progression.

Alex Goldhamer is an Honors student studying Molecular & Cell Biology and Human Rights, with a minor in Mathematics. She is a mentor for BIOL 1107 and a Teaching Assistant for Cell Biology. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue graduate school and continue research in the field of neurobiology.

 

Leah Graf

Major:Nursing
Project Title:Finding Hope in Hospice Care:  A Structured Life Review Intervention to Improve Life Satisfaction in Hospice Patients
Committee:Juliette Shellman, Nursing; Millicent Malcolm, Nursing; and Amisha Parekh de Campos, Nursing

Project Summary:Life review is a systematic recollection of past events. Dr. Robert Butler postulated that, as the elderly and those with terminal illness approach the ending of their lives, there is a resurgence of life experiences to the conscience. These memories include unresolved conflicts and negative events. A successful life review conducted by an active listener assists the individual to process unresolved conflicts and attain ego-integrity in the final stage of life. Hospice care has become an increasingly accepted option for chronic and terminal illnesses because it focuses on the maintenance of quality of life for end-of-life patients. In employing the use of a Structured Life Review intervention, I aim to explore how life review can be used to increase quality of life and ego integrity, as well as decrease symptoms of depression in hospice patients.

Leah Graf is a junior student pursuing a B.S. in Nursing. She is a member of Students Advancing Reminiscence Research (STARR) and the International Center for Life Story Interventions and Practice (ICLIP), and is a trained reminiscence facilitator. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. and conduct research investigating the effects of reminiscence, life review, and life story practices on health outcomes in various populations.

 

Paul Isaac

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Diagnostic Genetic Sciences
Project Title:To “B” or not to “B”: An Investigation of B and Sex Chromosomes in L. polyphemus and Their Role in the Immune Response
Committee:Rachel O’Neill, Molecular and Cell Biology; Denise Anamani, Allied Health Sciences; Jonathan Klassen, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Stacey Hanlon, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary:The pharmaceutical industry bleeds the North Atlantic horseshoe crab (L. polyphemus) to derive LAL, an important sterility test, from their blood. Unfortunately, these bleeding practices have led to a slow population decline. My research aims to characterize and establish foundational data about the L. polyphemus genome, specifically focusing on identifying the presence of B and sex chromosomes in L. polyphemus and observing changes in gene expression upon exposure to pathogens. The ultimate goal of this work is to end horseshoe crab bleeding practices by establishing robust information about the L. polyphemus genome that can be used to synthesize potent synthetic alternatives to LAL.

Paul Isaac is an Honors STEM scholar majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a Bioinformatics minor. Outside of lab, he is part of the STEM Scholar Executive Board, the Middle School Science Bowl Board, and Husky Hungama, UConn’s South Asian a capella group. After graduation, Paul hopes to attend medical school.

 

Abigail Moran

Major:Physics and Applied Mathematics
Project Title:Measuring the Acceleration of the Milky Way with Pulsar Timing
Committee:Chiara Mingarelli, Physics; Jonathan Trump, Physics; and Maria Gordina, Mathematics

Project Summary:Accurate measurements of the acceleration of our galaxy make it possible to conduct tests of general relativity and study dark matter. Because millisecond pulsars have incredibly stable rotation periods, the effect of galactic motion on the object’s spin is measurable. If the distance and proper motion of the pulsar are also measured, the galactic effects can then be isolated from all other factors which affect the pulsar’s spin. My project thus aims to measure the acceleration of the Milky Way using this property. This work will use more data points (i.e. more pulsars) than any previous study and will thus hopefully produce the most precise value to date.

Abigail Moran is a junior Honors student from Trumbull, CT pursuing a double major in Physics and Applied Mathematics with a minor in Astrophysics. Outside of academics, she is a member of Alpha Omicron Pi and plays the trumpet. She plans to attend a PhD program in astrophysics after graduation.

 

Soohyun Oh

Major:Exercise Science
Project Title:Effects of exercise timing around vaccination on immune response to influenza vaccination
Committee:Elaine Choung-Hee Lee, Kinesiology; Anthony Vella, Immunology, UCHC; and Lawrence Silbart, Allied Health Sciences.

Project Summary: Influenza contributes to the four leading causes of global mortality. The 2017, 2018 flu vaccine against both influenza A and B viruses were only 40% effective. Although there are adjuvanted influenza vaccines that increase effectiveness, its adverse effects point toward other adjuvants such as exercise. Various exercises have shown to be effective by increasing anti-influenza IgG, IgM and Antibody titers. However, other health benefits of exercise, optimal intervention, timing, intensity, type of exercise are not established. This project will test the correlation of exercise and its improvement in vaccine efficacy by investigating the optimal exercise intervention timing following vaccination.

Soohyun Oh is an Exercise Science major from Clifton Park NY. He is a pre- medical student with aspirations in pursuing a career in medicine and bioethics. In his free time, Soohyun enjoys playing basketball and traveling to take pictures.

 

Sarah San Vicente

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Defining the Role of TIGIT as an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Ovarian Cancer
Committee:Andrew Wiemer, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Patricia Rossi, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Xiuling Lu, Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Project Summary:While immunotherapy has been a successful breakthrough treatment option for many forms of cancer, ovarian cancer has yet to reach this level of success. Despite prior failures, the complex tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer provides a multitude of targets for immunotherapeutic drug targeting. My project aims to determine the relationship between γδ T cells and the novel protein TIGIT in the context of ovarian cancer. I plan to define TIGIT as a potential immune checkpoint inhibitor through the use of anti-TIGIT blockades in cytokine recovery, cancer cell viability, and γδ T cell proliferation assays. If proven successful, this project could facilitate development of an anti-TIGIT immune checkpoint inhibitor drug for use in ovarian cancer.

Sarah San Vicente is an honors student pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Psychology. She is a member of the Kidney Disease Screening & Awareness Program, as well as the Collegiate Health Service Corps. After graduation, Sarah plans to attend medical school, while later working as a physician-scientist.

 

Elisa Shaholli

Major:Economics
Project Title:Religious Identity and Diabetes: A Muslim American Perspective
Committee:Brenda Brueggemann, English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Metin Cosgel, Economics; and Kelly Newlin Lew, Nursing.

Project Summary:The CDC estimates that in the United States alone, around 10% of the population has diabetes. My project specifically looks at the experience of Muslim diabetics, and how religious identity could impact diabetes care, perspective, and treatment. For example, Muslim religious identity may impact dietary choices or behaviors or religious institutions like mosques may provide resources for food insecurity, all of which impact one’s experience with diabetes. Through a qualitative interview-based research format, my project aims to better understand how religious identity could intersect with health experiences, and get a better idea surrounding the Muslim diabetic identity.

Elisa Shaholli is a Stamps Scholar double majoring in English and Economics. She is passionate about accessibility and inclusion, and hopes to pursue a career integrating both for individuals with disabilities.

 

Joshua Yu

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Nanoparticle-Mediated Inhibition of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Committee:Xiuling Lu, Pharmaceutical Sciences; David Knecht, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Theodore Rasmussen, Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Project Summary:Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a devastating form of cancer that affects everyone from the young to the elderly. The goal of this research project is to further understand the mechanism leading to superior efficacy of doxorubicin nanoparticle formulations in mice when compared to established chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin and the commercial liposomal doxorubicin product, Doxil® for treatment of AML. By understanding the accumulation of nanoparticles in vivo, nanocarrier formulations can be further optimized for in vivo effectiveness. In the future, my hope is that these treatments will prevent relapse of AML by addressing the foundational cause of cancer resistance and recurrence.

Joshua Yu is an honors student studying Molecular and Cellular Biology from Frederick, MD. At UConn, he is involved in the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, the Symphonic Band, and the Peer Allies through Honors program. Following graduation, he plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. degree in pharmaceutical sciences.

Amy Backal

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:The Effect of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) on the Tongue
Committee:David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair); Aoife Heaslip, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Rachel O’Neill, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary:Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder in which skeletal muscle and associated connective tissue progressively turn to bone through the process of heterotopic ossification (HO). The tongue is a skeletal muscle that contains a population of cells of origin for bone growth, and yet it seems to be spared from HO. There is little research looking into factors that could be affecting the osteogenic ability of the tongue. My project will consider the environment of the tongue and the subpopulations of cells that reside there as possible inhibiting factors for bone growth. The goal is to stimulate further research on preventative factors for HO which will be helpful for developing new therapeutics.

Amy Backal is an honors student majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Outside of lab Amy cooks, hikes and spends lots of time with her pupper. She has had a passion for medicine as long as she can remember and aspires to go to Medical School after graduation.

William Brydon

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:Electrifying Chemistry: Taking ACT-ion in Sustainable Synthesis
Committee:Nicholas Leadbeater, Chemistry (chair); Rachel O’Neill, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Mark Peczuh, Chemistry.

Project Summary:Creating more sustainable and efficient methods to make molecules is currently a hot topic in chemistry. The objective of my University Scholar project is to use electricity in conjunction with a catalyst to drive chemical reactions forward. Specifically, I will be using electricity to perform a series of oxidation reactions to make value-added chemicals. Work will start on a small scale but then attention will turn to scaling up the reactions in order to enhance the practicality of the approach.

William Brydon is pursuing dual B.S./M.S degrees in Chemistry. He is a Q-Center tutor and the president of the UConn iGEM Club. After graduation, he hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry. In his free time, he enjoys going to movie theatres, listening to Arianna Grande and collecting fun socks.

Suzannah De Almeida

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Novel Epigenetic Therapeutics of Opioid Use Disorder
Committee:Gregory Sartor, Pharmaceutical Sciences (chair); Nathaniel Rickles, Pharmacy Practice; and Barbara Mellone, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary: Current treatments for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are primarily aimed at preventing overdose, but few are effective at reducing relapse and craving. Recent research has indicated that epigenetic proteins such as, bromodomain and extra terminal domains (BET), are involved in cocaine-seeking behaviors, but the role of BET proteins in OUD remains unknown. My project will identify a role for BET proteins in animal models of OUD and investigate how BET mRNA and proteins are altered by chronic opioid use.

Suzannah De Almeida is a junior pursuing a B.S. in Molecular Cell Biology with a chemistry minor. She is a McNair, MARC, and LSAMP Scholar, as well as the Diversity Inclusion Chair for MEDLIFE UConn. After completing her undergraduate studies, she aspires to enroll in a combined MD/Ph.D. program.

Matan Doron

Major:Biological Sciences and Individualized: Science, Medicine, and Ethics
Project Title:Soul Searching: A Reflection on Breath, Body, and Spirit
Committee:Sarah Willen, Anthropology (chair); Lewis Gordon, Philosophy; Dan Mulkey, Physiology and Neurobiology; and Regina Barreca, English.

Project Summary:The reality of a pandemic caused by a respiratory virus has forced society to reckon with the vulnerability of its breath. However, far from being an isolated physiological phenomenon, the symbolism and allegory of breath emerges as an important component in a various theological, philosophical, and sociopolitical thought systems. Through my University Scholars project I will integrate various understandings of breath into a manuscript addressing the meaning of and responsibility derived from inhabiting a breathing body. My goal is to reflect upon the shortcomings of contemporary society while inspiring the pursuit of livable institutions oriented about health and human flourishing.

Matan Doron is a Biological Sciences andIndividualized: Science, Medicine, and Ethics double major from Simsbury, CT. He is involved in the student leadership of UConn Hillel, the Global Health Spaces on Campus (GloHSOC), and the UConn Men’s Crew club team. Following graduation, he hopes to attend medical school.

Johann Heupel

Major:Maritime Studies and Marine Sciences
Project Title:Historical Development of Railways and Marsh Ecology
Committee:Jamie Vaudrey, Marine Sciences (chair); Matthew McKenzie, History; and Mary Bercaw Edwards, English.

Project Summary:The salt marshes found across Connecticut and Long Island Sound – one of the most important ecosystems in relation to carbon sequestration – have had their range drastically reduced by human development over time. Though there have been studies on the disappearance of marshes in New England, the aim of this project is to focus on the historical development of railways – the transportation which helped power the industrial revolution – and how their construction and presence along the coast have changed the marsh ecosystem. At a time when climate change ranks as one of the central issues in society, any understanding on how to protect key environments is crucial.

Johann Heupel is a Williams Mystic alumnus and Presidential Scholar from Mystic, CT. He is pursuing a double degree at Avery Point: B.S. in Marine Sciences and B.A. in Maritime Studies, with an interest in Ecology and History. Outside of school he is an amateur photographer and multi-instrumental folk musician.

Kathryn Krocheski

Major:Art History
Project Title:Ottoman and Tudor England Political Relations through the Lens of Artistic Production
Committee:Kathryn Moore, Art and Art History (chair); Michael Orwicz, Art and Art History; Kenneth Gouwens, History.

Project Summary: My research project will explore the influence of Ottoman visual culture on Tudor-era English Renaissance portraiture (15^th-16^thcentury).  The circulation of materials depicting Ottoman Empire culture led to the development of the idea of a distinctly “Islamic Art” in Europe.  Such materials influenced England’s relationship with the arabesque, a design motif, and perceptions of what is “Islamic.”  In order to explore the significance of the influence of Islamic art on English visual culture, I will focus on the work of Hans Holbein the Younger, such as portraits of King Henry VIII andJewelry Book.  Within this artistic context, I intend to illuminate the diplomatic context of the English monarchy with the Ottoman Empire.

Katie Krocheski is an honors Art History major and co-founder and Vice President of the Art and Art History Club.  She is also a member of the 2021 cohort for the Leadership Legacy Program.  She hopes to eventually pursue a PhD in art history.

Maria Latta

Major:Doctor of Pharmacy
Project Title:Drugs, Information, and Innovation: How Can Pharmacists Improve Patient Knowledge of Opioids?
Committee:Nathanial Rickles, Pharmacy Practice (chair); Tiffany Kelley, Nursing; and David Noble, Management.

Project Summary: The opioid epidemic, which was declared a public health emergency in 2017, has only worsened during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Over 80 percent of heroin users first misused prescription opioids; therefore, it is paramount that healthcare providers pursue innovative solutions to improve safe use of prescription opioids. Through an FDA clinical trial of an opioid packaging prototype, I aim to identify unmet needs in accessing opioid education. My secondary goal is to create an online opioid education tool utilizing the Elaboration Likelihood Model to consider factors that influence changes in attitudes or behaviors and measure its impact on medication information delivery.

Maria Latta is an honors student pursuing a PharmD. Outside of academics, she is on the board for the South Park Inn Clinic and an intern at Smilow Cancer Hospital. After graduation, she plans to obtain a pharmacy residency to further explore the intersection of research, innovation, and clinical practice.

Katherine Lee

Major:Structural Biology/Biophysics
Project Title:Computational Investigations into Binding Dynamics of Tau Protein Antibodies: Using Machine Learning and Biophysical Models to Build a Better Reality
Committee:Eric May, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair); Adam Zweifach, Molecular and Cell Biology; Yongku Cho, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Project Summary: Machine learning methods exhibit high potential for predicting protein biochemical function given structural data. This project will use a novel piece of software, Diffnets, to apply these concepts to analyze conformational ensembles of an antibody to hyperphosphorylated tau protein, which causes neurofibrillary tangles that are associated with the initial stages of Alzheimer’s disease. While these antibodies are used clinically to diagnose the condition, they do not exhibit strong or specific binding. Improving the affinity and specificity of a promising antibody mutant could revolutionize diagnostic and therapeutic methods not only for Alzheimer’s disease but also other conditions with similar pathology.

Katherine is an honors student from Monroe, CT pursuing a B.S. in Structural Biology/Biophysics. She is a staff columnist for the opinion section of the Daily Campus and a tutor at the Q Center. She aspires to obtain a PhD and perform computational biophysics research in an academic setting.

Fiona Liu

Major:Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resources and the Environment
Project Title:Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Groundwater Seeps across the Farmington River Network
Committee:Ashley Helton, Natural Resources and the Environment (chair); Beth Lawrence, Natural Resources and the Environment; and Chris Elphick, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Project Summary: Reactive nitrogen (N) applied to surface areas infiltrate and accumulate in groundwater, forming a source of legacy N. As groundwater discharges back into the surface, it transports this legacy N into the water systems. Denitrification is a primary mechanism that removes reactive N but the process can often be incomplete, causing nitrous oxide (N₂O) be released from groundwater discharge sites. I will measure the soil to atmosphere N₂O flux at preferential groundwater discharge zones across the Farmington river network to provide insight into the spatial patterns of N₂O fluxes and characteristics that might be driving this spatial difference.

Fiona Liu is a McNair Scholar, doing a dual degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resources. She is also a coordinator and mentor of the Asian/Asian American Mentoring Program. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate education and continue research related to the environment.

Madelon Morin-Viall

Major:English
Project Title:Memory, Mourning, and Grief: Reading Hamlet in the Age of Coronavirus
Committee:Evelyn Tribble, English (chair); Patrick Hogan, English; Debapriya Sarkar, English.

Project Summary:Hamlet​ is an intriguing, popular play, taught across American high schools and colleges. In the context of the English Reformation, ​Hamlet​comments on what becomes when one’s environment disrupts the processing of grief. My project’s goal is to parallel ​Hamlet​, its historic context, and the pain of the coronavirus pandemic. Through blog posts incorporating creative and academic work, and eventually through an extensive written explication, I hope to accomplish a deeper understanding of the importance of remembrance in the human processing of grief; and, moreover, what becomes when one’s environment forbids it.

Madelon Morin-Viall is an honors English major and History minor. Madelon is passionate about combining the arts, humanities, and sciences to ponder the question: What does it mean to be human? After graduating, she plans to pursue a doctorate in English Literature, focusing on the influence of narratives on human reality.

Mehreen Pasha

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:When Problems Become Solutions: Harnessing the Osteogenic Capacity of Disease-Causing Stem Cells to Repair Bone Fractures
Committee:David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair); Geoffrey Tanner, Physiology and Neurobiology; Adam Zweifach, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary: While we often perceive disease as negative, there is potential to engineer seemingly negative biological phenomena into therapeutics to treat human illnesses. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) involves uncontrolled, widespread, extraskeletal bone growth. In FOP patients, cells called fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) follow an abnormal pathway and turn into bone. This project investigates whether mutant FAPs, which are exceptional at producing bone, can be used to repair bone fractures in otherwise normal patients. Through techniques like microCT and histology, we will test whether mutant FAPs can localize at the site of bone fracture and repair bone better than traditional stem cell therapies.

Mehreen is an Honors Student and STEM Scholar majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Spanish. When she isn’t at the lab bench, she enjoys running, bullet journaling, and getting boba with friends. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Seema Patel

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Translesion Synthesis Inhibitors: A New Class of Cancer Chemotherapeutics
Committee:Kyle Hadden, Pharmaceutical Sciences (chair); Ashis Basu, Chemistry; and Charles Giardina, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary: Translesion synthesis (TLS) is a DNA repair mechanism, orchestrated by a multi-protein complex, that is overexpressed in cancer cells. TLS promotes cancer cell growth and division even in the presence of anti-cancer drugs such as cisplatin. My research involves discovering and testing inhibitors that bind and disrupt key protein-protein interactions within a domain called REV7/REV3 in the TLS machinery. My project will test synergistic interactions of REV7/REV3 inhibitors with cisplatin in an ovarian cancer cell model. Developing TLS inhibitors that synergize with cisplatin is a novel approach to cancer treatment because it promises lower use of cisplatin, a drug known to induce toxic side effects, while increasing its efficacy.

Seema Patel is a third-year Honors student from North Haven, CT pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Healthcare Management and Insurance Studies. She is the president of STEMTalk Magazine, vice president of Learn To Be, and volunteers for Paper Airplanes. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and receive an MD/MBA dual degree to learn how the business of healthcare impacts patient care.

Matthew Phillips

Major:Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Psychological Sciences
Project Title:Exploring a Time-Based Perceptual Deficit in People Who Stutter: Behavioral & Electrophysiological Approaches
Committee:Emily Myers, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (chair); Gerry Altmann, Psychological Sciences; Erika Skoe, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences; and Nicole Landi, Psychological Sciences.

Project Summary: Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental disorder most observable as a disruption in the forward flow of speech. Some research, however, suggests that people who stutter (PWS) do not only have disordered speech production, but perception as well. Frustratingly, there is little consensus whether PWS have atypical processing in just speech, or speech and non-speech, and where this breakdown in processing occurs. Using behavioral and electrophysiological methods, this project aims to (1) determine if PWS differ from people who do not stutter in speech or non-speech processing, and, if so, (2) is this deficit present in time-based information only, or time- and pitch-based information, suggesting a more general auditory processing deficit?

Matt Phillips is a Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences & Psychological Sciences double major from Ellington/Broad Brook, CT. He is currently a research assistant in the Language and Brain Lab and is the Teen Program Co-Coordinator for the National Stuttering Association. After graduation, Matt plans on pursuing a joint master’s-Ph.D. specializing in stuttering.

Mehak Sharma

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:Evaluating the Pharmacological Activity of a Protein-Based Artificial Retina
Committee:Caroline Dealy, Reconstructive Sciences (chair); Nicholas Leadbeater, Chemistry; Christian Brueckner, Chemistry.

Project Summary:Today, 1.5 million individuals suffer from retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most commonly inherited retinal degenerative disease. Currently, there are no cures for RP and no therapies with significant patient impact. LambdaVision, a UConn-based startup company, has created the first artificial retina using bacteriorhodopsin, which has been developed to provide patients visual perception at high resolution with minimal surgery complications. This project will explore methods of measuring the light-induced proton-pumping activity of multilayered bacteriorhodopsin films that are non-destructive and sensitive enough to examine implant quality and performance. If successful, the assay will facilitate determining implant configurations that yield the greatest visual performance in RP patients.

Mehak Sharma is an honors chemistry major with a global studies minor from North Haven, CT. She is the program director of the Community Outreach’s Windham Hospital Volunteer Program, the Vice President of STEMTalk Magazine, and a UConn TIP Fellow. She hopes to attend medical school and stay involved in biotechnology startups.

Drew Tienken

Major:Environmental Science and Political Science
Project Title:Bacterial Community Composition and Denitrification: An Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Thin-Layer Placement Restoration in Coastal Connecticut Salt Marshes
Committee:Beth Lawrence, Natural Resources and the Environment (chair); Matthew Singer, Political Science; Kendra Maas, Microbial Analysis, Resources, and Services.

Project Summary: Salt marshes are currently threatened by anthropogenic sea level rise, which may result in marsh drownings. Thin-layer placement is a restoration method that has been practiced to mitigate sea level rise by applying dredge material to elevate the marsh surface. However, this technique has been practiced largely without regards to its effects on microbial communities. The focus of my work is to determine how varying sediment depths affect bacterial community structure and denitrification, an ecologically important pathway performed by these communities. This will inform natural resource managers on how to optimize both restoration results and ecological services from the salt marsh.

Drew Tienken is an honors student majoring in environmental science and political science. He is an undergraduate research assistant in the Lawrence Lab, and recently completed a research fellowship with the Connecticut Sea Grant this past summer. After graduation, Drew hopes to attend law school and work at the intersection of science and policy.

Nathan Wetherell

Major:Mechanical Engineering
Project Title:Optimization of Orbital Trajectories Using a Genetically Evolved Artificial Neural Network
Committee:Bryan Weber, Mechanical Engineering (chair); Cara Battersby, Physics; and Jonathan Trump, Physics.

Project Summary:Interplanetary crewed space travel has recently come to the forefront of our collective consciousness and has become one of the decade’s defining scientific goals. The problem of how to get between two celestial bodies in the most efficient manner has several analytical solutions, such as the Hohmann transfer, that excel in the area of fuel efficiency but suffer in regard to transit time. This project aims to determine how a genetically evolved artificial neural network with augmenting topology can find a more holistically efficient solution to the interplanetary travel problem considering non-impulsive thrust and gravitational assist trajectories.

Nathan Wetherell is a junior Honors student pursuing a major in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace concentration and a minor in Astrophysics. He is actively involved in the engineering community through the Concrete Canoe Association and the Engineering Tutoring Center. He plans to pursue his passion for space exploration and mechanical design through a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.

Robert Minh Lu Williams

Major:Material Science and Engineering
Project Title:Improving Air Filtration of HEPA Filters via Graphene Application
Committee:Douglas Adamson, Chemistry (chair); Seok-Woo Lee, Material Science and Engineering; and Thomas Abbott, Molecular and Cell Biology.

Project Summary: With the SARS-CoV-2 virus having an average diameter of 0.3 μm, it falls within the most penetrating particle size (MPPS) range for HEPA filters. In HEPA filters, particles below 0.1 μm follow Brownian motion to embed within the matrix, whereas those greater than 1.0 μm follow impaction. Other filtration technologies such as electrostatic precipitation ionize air-borne particles, which are then attracted to charged filter plates. My research will combine electrostatic precipitation and HEPA filtration into one uniform filter via a coating of graphene. With the passage of charge through the percolating network, it will act similarly to an electrostatic precipitator removing the MPPS from the passing air while maintaining the intrinsic properties of HEPA filters.

Robert Williams is an honors student majoring in Materials Science and Engineering while minoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. Outside of lab, he is a coordinator for the Asian/Asian American Mentoring Program, a team leader for Kids and UConn Bridging Education, an elected official for the Board of Education in Coventry, Connecticut, and works as a PCA at Hartford Hospital. Robert hopes to pursue a career as a physician-scientist with an MD/Ph.D.

Berk Alpay

Major:Computer Science and Mathematics
Project Title:Combinatorial and Statistical Approaches for Robust Prediction of Gene Expression from Genomic Features
Committee:Derek Aguiar, Computer Science and Engineering (Chair); Mukul Bansal, Computer Science and Engineering; and Katherine Hall, Mathematics

Project Summary: Understanding how variation in genotype produces differences in gene expression is critical to explaining the underlying mechanisms of disease, and can be used to discover genetic risk factors. Statistical models have been developed to map genotype to gene expression but are inaccurate for thousands of genes. My project is to relax conventional modeling assumptions in order to capture such effects as epistasis and dominance, and thereby render accurate predictions of expression for a wider range of genes.

Berk Alpay is a Goldwater Scholar and researcher in Dr. Derek Aguiar’s group, intending to pursue a PhD and a career in research. His work is in developing interpretable machine learning models that bring insight to such domains as natural hazards, materials science, and biology.

 

Julie Brisson

Major:Human Development and Family Sciences and Psychological Sciences
Project Title:The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and allostatic load across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Committee:Blair Johnson, Psychological Sciences (Chair); John Salamone, Psychological Sciences; and Preston Britner, Human Development and Family Sciences

Project Summary:Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults have suffered from at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), which puts them at a higher risk of developing chronic health problems. Yet, the ACEs literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of physiological outcomes across the lifespan. Thus, this project will synthesize existing literature in a systematic review and meta-analysis that examines the temporal linkage between ACEs and stress-related biomarkers. The project aims to (a) elucidate mechanistic pathways of how ACEs lead to negative health outcomes and (b) identify which developmental stages are most crucial to target early prevention and intervention for future health problems.

Julie Brisson is a Human Development and Family Sciences and Psychological Sciences major from Ellington, CT. She is the coordinator of Community Outreach’s One-Time Programs, the HDFS Mentor for The Major Experience, and an editorial assistant forPsychological Bulletin. After graduation, Julie hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.

 

Mari Cullerton

Major:  Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources
Project Title:Field-based disturbance ecology, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis: An interdisciplinary approach to the evaluation of the role of secondary mortality agents in forest disturbances
Committee:Robert Fahey, Natural Resources and the Environment (Chair); Zhe Zhu, Natural Resources and the Environment; and Thomas Worthley, Natural Resources and the Environment

Project summary:From 2014-2016, a mass defoliation event caused by the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) influenced thousands of acres of forested landscape in Southern New England. While the defoliation stressed vegetation, other agents contributed to the eventual mortality of the trees. The primary goals of this project will be to investigate (i) the role of secondary mortality agents, specificallyAgrilus bilineatusandArmillaria, in an unprecedented mortality event largely focused on native oak species and (ii) how the use of satellite imagery and remote sensing may be used to better understand spatial and temporal patterns of secondary disturbance agents in forested ecosystems.

Mari Cullerton is an Honors Student and Presidential Scholar who is double majoring in Natural Resources, with a concentration in Sustainable Forest Resources, and Environmental Science, with a concentration in Global Change. After graduation, she is planning to attend graduate school with hopes of continuing research related to the environment.

 

Peter Fenteany

Major:Computer Science and Mathematics
Project Title:Exploring the Riemann Hypothesis through Computer Science and Math
Committee:Keith Conrad, Mathematics (Chair); Álvaro Lozano-Robledo, Mathematics; and Benjamin Fuller, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary:Named after Bernhard Riemann, the Riemann Hypothesis (and its generalizations) is one of the most important open problems in mathematics today. The Riemann Hypothesis being true would imply that many interesting algorithms, including deterministic primality testing, are able to run in “efficient” polynomial time. This project will work towards the creation of a self-contained survey on the Riemann Hypothesis and Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. This survey will cleanly explain the background necessary to understand the problem, the work underway on it, and the implications it has on primality testing algorithms and other applications.

Peter Fenteany is a third-year student pursuing degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science. He writes and works with The Daily Campus, primarily as the Associate Opinion Editor. He is currently a teaching assistant in the CSE department. After graduation, he hopes to continue his studies in a doctoral program.

 

Jenifer Gaitan

Major:History
Project Title:Voces: First-Generation Latinx Students Discuss Their Support Networks
Committee:Laura Bunyan, Sociology (Chair); Ingrid Semaan, Sociology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and Joel Blatt, History

Project Summary:In the last decade, the number of Latinx students who have enrolled in college has increased by over 80%. Many of these students are first-generation college students, who as a whole make up approximately one-third of all college students. Despite being the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S., Latinx students are understudied. Those who are the first in their families face unique challenges while often balancing familial, work, and academic responsibilities with limited institutional support. Through in-person interviews, this project explores the systems of support first-generation Latinx students utilize through the completion of their undergraduate educations.

Jenifer Gaitan is a third year Honors student majoring in History and minoring in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the Stamford campus. She is the President of Husky Outreach for Minority Education (HOME). She is a first-generation college student and proud daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants.

 

James He

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Identifying the Cell Composition and Clonal Diversity of Supratentorial Ependymoma Using Single Cell RNA-Sequencing
Committee:Joseph Loturco, Physiology and Neurobiology (Chair); Charles Giardina, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Joanne Conover, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:Ependymoma is the third most common type of pediatric brain tumor with very limited treatment options. One subtype, supratentorial ependymoma (ST-EPN), is particularly aggressive and has been found to be driven by an oncogenic fusion mutation. Molecular characterization of this mutation has allowed the LoTurco Lab to develop a new mouse model of ST-EPN, which can be used to study the different mechanisms of tumorigenesis. My project involves a combined computational and experimental approach to define the molecular signatures of ST-EPN cells and to unravel the heterogeneous cell populations present in ST-EPN tumors.

James He is a junior Honors student pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minoring in Neuroscience and Mathematics. He is involved in the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, America Reads program, and Premedical Society Newsletter. He hopes to pursue a career as an academic clinician.

 

Amelia Hurst

Major:Marine Sciences and Anthropology
Project Title:Linking Human Activities to Coastal Water Quality in Southern New England: Past and Present
Committee:Craig Tobias, Marine Sciences (Chair); Jamie Vaudrey, Marine Sciences; Eleanor Ouimet, Anthropology; and William Ouimet, Geosciences and Geography

Project Summary: The theme of this project is to look at the timing and effect of direct and indirect anthropogenic influences on the marine environment in embayments in southern New England over the past decades to century timescale. This project will focus on (i) investigating the effects of human land-use practices from colonial through post-industrial times, (ii) determining baseline conditions and natural climatic variability for the sampled regions, and (iii) analyzing the response of marine ecosystems to specific local management actions aimed to improve water quality. Coastal sediment core analysis will be used to collect data to answer these questions.

Amelia Hurst is an Avery Point student from Greenwich, CT pursuing an honors double major in Marine Sciences and Anthropology. Outside of academics, she is a volunteer EMT and an avid scuba diver.

 

Samuel Johnson

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:The Design of Magnetically Responsive Charge-Transfer Emission Probes to Enhance Fluorescence Guided Surgery
Committee:Tomoyasu Mani, Chemistry (Chair); Jing Zhao, Chemistry; and Christian Brueckner, Chemistry

Project Summary:Techniques to distinguish between auto-fluorescence, caused by natural biological material, and fluorescence, caused by probes, in fluorescence guided surgery is currently costly and limited. In order to increase the practicality of fluorescence guided surgery, novel probes will be created with a method of activation not currently explored, magnetic field effects. Using a magnetic field as a source of activation grants precise on/off control over fluorescence as well as provides a high level of contrast between cancerous tissue and background tissue. The novel probes created will be situated in a lipid gel, mimicking the location that the probes would be placed in a human body.

Samuel Johnson is an Honors student pursuing a MS/BS track in Chemistry. He wishes to pursue a PhD in chemistry at graduate school after graduating from UConn, with hopes of obtaining a career in academia.

 

Shanelle Jones

Major:Political Science and Human Rights
Project Title:Untold Stories of the African Diaspora: The Lived Experiences of Black Caribbean Immigrants in the U.S.
Committee:Charles Venator-Santiago, Political Science (Chair); Virginia Hettinger, Political Science; and Sara Silverstein, History and Human Rights

Project Summary:The African Diaspora represents vastly complex migratory patterns. This project studies the journeys of West Indians who immigrated to the U.S. for economic reasons during the 1990s. While some researchers emphasize the success of West Indian immigrants, others highlight the issue of downward assimilation. Throughout this project, I will study the prospect of economic incorporation into American society for West Indian immigrants. I aim to conduct a survey of West Indian economic migrants residing in the Greater Hartford Area. In addition, I will conduct 10-15 oral histories to gain a broader perspective on the economic attainment of said immigrants.

Shanelle Jones is a Day of Pride Scholar and Honors student from Hartford, CT double majoring in Political Science and Human Rights. Her coursework, internships, and personal experiences have inspired her interest in studying immigration. Upon graduation, she aspires to attend law school to become an immigration attorney.

 

Meghan Long

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Comparative analysis of longevity and stress resiliency benefits of supplementation with high-antioxidative capacity juices in Caenorhabditis elegans
Committee:Elaine Choung-Hee Lee, Kinesiology (Chair); Mark Brand, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture; and Linnaea Ostroff, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary: Aronia melanocarpa is a powerful antioxidant berry with some known health and sports performance benefits. My University Scholar project aims to study the effect of aronia supplementation on longevity and stress resilience using the powerful genetic animal model, C. elegans. My project also involves development of a course on nutraceuticals and eastern medicine for undergraduate and graduate audiences.

Meghan Long is a Rowe Scholar from Middletown, CT majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Psychological Sciences. Aside from her academics, she is the Vice President of United Against Inequities in Disease (UAID). She plans to pursue medical school with the intent of becoming an anesthesiologist.

 

Alexander Mika

Major:English
Project Title:An Exploration of Nationalism and Jingoism through Drama
Committee:Ellen Litman, English (Chair); Evelyn Tribble, English; and Frank Costigliola, History

Project Summary:For my University Scholar project, I intend to write a play exploring the issues of ultranationalism and jingoism and how they are detrimental to foreign relations, while simultaneously being caustic to the internal wellbeing of a state. My goal with this play is to discuss how nationalism has no place in such an interconnected world, particularly in the United States, which is a nation of immigrants and ideas, e pluribus unum, and we must respect and celebrate the “pluribus” that constitute it.

Alexander Mika a junior at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. He writes and performs musical stand-up comedy, as well as plays and poetry, and has produced two shows at UConn:Piano Is Not My ForteandMajor Issues.

 

Jayla Millender

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Africana Studies
Project Title:Impact of Angiogenic and Osteogenic Factors in the Presence of Biodegradable Piezoelectric Films In Vitro
Committee:Thanh Nguyen, Mechanical Engineering (Chair); Kenneth Campellone, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Shawn Salvant, Africana Studies and English

Project Summary: Many patients suffering from long bone injuries wait on transplant lists for years before receiving a viable donor sample. Synthetic bone grafts are becoming increasingly popular to combat this problem but are not efficient in encouraging vascularization of the injury site – often leading to graft rejection. My project will focus on utilizing biodegradable piezoelectric films to encourage simultaneous cell growth of endothelial cells and osteoblasts to generate vascularized and viable synthetic bone grafts with decreased probability of patient rejection.

Jayla Millender is a third year honors, LSAMP, and McNair scholar pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology and a B.A. in Africana Studies. She is the treasurer of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and the student supervising assistant at UConn Residential Life. She hopes to matriculate into a combined MD/PhD program upon completion of her undergraduate studies.

 

Daniel Mitola

Major:English and Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems
Project Title:Biography of Place: A Spring Valley Almanac
Committee:Sean Forbes, English (Chair); Darcie Dennigan, English; and Gerald Berkowitz, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture

Project Summary:In a person’s life, a relationship with a place can carry as much significance as a relationship with another person. In living at Spring Valley Student Farm, I have found this to be true. My goal is to write a series of lyric essays on the topic of living at Spring Valley over the course of the year, with each essay having a focus on one of the months of the year. Emphasis in this project will be on how the farm has shaped both my own life and the lives of others who have been graced by its presence. I aim to combine creative writing and practical experience with review of other similar literary works in the field, culminating in one cohesive work.

Daniel Mitola is a seventh semester honors student pursuing degrees in Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems (BS) and English (BA). He currently lives at Spring Valley Student Farm and is president of the Beekeeping Club as well as Poetry Editor for UConn’s literary magazine,Long River Review. After graduating, he hopes to pursue a career as a farmer.

 

Kerry Morgan

Major:Allied Health and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:The Effects of Altered FGF8 Signaling on Atoh1 Expression in the Developing Cerebellum
Committee:Yuanhao Li, Genetics and Genome Science, School of Medicine (Chair); David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Jeanne McCaffery, Allied Health Sciences

Project Summary:One of the less understood concepts in cerebellar neurogenesis is the molecular signaling occurring, being that researchers are still not clear as to whether cerebellar neurogenesis occurs because of temporal cues or spatial cues. This project aims to determine how development proceeds in embryonic and postnatal mice, whether it be spatial or temporal. By using theAtoh1lineage of granule cell precursors in the cerebellum and determining their domains of origin, more can be understood about how groups of cells form and travel throughout development. In addition, it is expected that specific FGF signaling in these cells contributes to differentiation and migration of adult granule cells.

Kerry is a Junior Allied Health and Molecular Cell Biology major from Norfolk, MA. She is the Program Director of Campus Big Buddies, President of Pre-Medical Society, Treasurer of Best Buddies, and holds positions as part of Alpha Phi Sorority, and Sigma Theta Alpha Fraternity. Kerry hopes to pursue a career as a physician-scientist with an MD/PhD.

 

Shreya Murthy

Major:Individualized: Criminology, Human Rights, and Finance
Project Title:Working Toward a Safer Future: Mitigating the Effects of Regulatory Capture in the Aviation Industry
Committee:David Richards, Political Science and Human Rights (Chair); Kimberly Bergendahl, Political Science; and Paul Gilson, Finance

Project Summary:While commercial aviation is widely considered to be one of the safest ways to travel, recent events have prompted serious questions about the regulatory environment that is meant to protect the individual people that fly on planes every day. Regulatory capture occurs when the interests of corporations are put ahead of the safety of passengers and crew. My project aims to understand how this process happens and is mitigated through the examination of six case studies and regulatory data and then propose a new method of mitigating the problem through the introduction of international human rights norms and human security principles.

Shreya Murthy is pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Human Rights, Finance, and Criminology and is a member of both the Honors Program and the Special Program in Law. After graduation she hopes to pursue research and law at the graduate level through a JD/PhD program. Outside of academics, she enjoys hanging out with friends, watching football, and photography.

 

Shankara Narayanan

Major:Political Science and History
Project Title: The Logic of Rising-Power Strategy: China, Imperial Japan, Imperial Germany, and the United States
Committee:Alexis Dudden, History; Alexander Anievas, Political Science; and Frank Costigliola, History

Project Summary:My project seeks to identify the significance of U.S.-China great-power competition, analyzing the evolution of Chinese policymakers’ definition of core national interests, perception of geopolitical threats to those interests and domestic pressures creating an imperative to expand since 1978. I will compare China’s rising-power trajectory and the methods of its strategy to three historic models: Imperial Germany (1862-1917), Imperial Japan (1868-1910) and the post-Civil War U.S. (1865-1917). This comparative methodology will reveal how key differences in China’s strategic thinking may have influenced its rise since 1978, and how its future strategy may differ from prior rising powers.

Shankara Narayanan is an Honors Political Science and History Major in the Special Program in Law, from Farmington, CT. He is an active member of UConn Mock Trial, and the Assistant Editor-in-Chief of UConn’sUndergraduate Political Review. He hopes to pursue a career in foreign policy and international law upon graduation.

 

Matthew Pickett

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:Design and Characterization of a Novel Decontamination Process for Organophosphorus Compounds Using a Manganese-Oxide Support
Committee:Steven Suib, Chemistry (Chair); Alfredo Angeles-Boza, Chemistry; and Jessica Rouge, Chemistry

Project Summary: Organophosphates are chemical agents that inhibit the human neuromuscular system. They find use in the application of insecticides and pesticides as well as chemical warfare. The aim of this project is to design and characterize a novel process for the degradation of these chemicals by encapsulating OPAA, a phosphotriesterase enzyme capable of degrading organophosphate chemicals, in the pores of a manganese-oxide support structure. By doing so the enzyme will experience i) greater conversion rates and ii) enhanced thermal stability, thus enabling it to be applied to contaminated sites.

Matthew Pickett is a Chemistry major with a minor in Mathematics from Canton, CT. Outside of academics, he is a photographer for The Daily Campus, a member of the UConn Chemistry Club and the UConn Airsoft Team. He hopes to enroll in graduate school and eventually pursue a career in academia.

 

Simran Sehgal

Major:Biomedical Engineering
Project Title:The Enterprise of Health: An Evaluation of the Accessibility of Durable Medical Equipment in Low-Income Households
Committee:César Abadía-Barrero, Anthropology and Human Rights (Chair); Sally Reis, Educational Psychology; and Patrick Kumavor, Biomedical Engineering

Project Summary: In our biotechnologically forward society, capitalistic principles have inverted our healthcare delivery philosophy: paradoxically, the highest need of care is met with the lowest access to care due to the inaccessibility of medical resources and high costs of medical devices. The disability community carries a disproportionate burden of disease, notably in health care coverage and services for durable medical equipment. My proposed project seeks to broadly study the gaps in our healthcare system that has increased difficulty of accessing durable medical equipment, specifically analyzing the interconnectivity of health insurance, education, and poverty through the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities.

Simran Sehgal is an honors student from Westford, MA. She is pursuing biomedical engineering with a minor in human rights. She is interested in the intersection between technological advancement and health care delivery. Outside of academics, she is an active member of UConn Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program and a food enthusiast. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school.

 

Megan Sturm

Major:Physics
Project Title:Supermassive Black Hole Accretion Rate and Disk Structure
Committee:Jonathan Trump, Physics (Chair); Richard Jones, Physics; and Kyungseon Joo, Physics

Project Summary:Supermassive black holes are fascinating objects residing in the center of every massive galaxy. They can be up to billions of times the mass of our sun and operate under extreme gravity. As nearby material interacts with the black holes, it begins to orbit in what is called the accretion disk. Currently, we find discrepancies in model predictions and observations of the structures of these disks. This project will use the Hubble Space Telescope in an unusually efficient program along with reverberation mapping techniques to explore the disk structure of a variety of supermassive black holes.

Megan Sturm is an honors student majoring in Physics with a minor in Spanish and Chemistry from Waterford, CT. Outside of school, she enjoys her role as the secretary for the Women in Physics club. After graduation, she intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics in hopes of working towards environmentally friendly energy sources.

 

Jason Vailionis

Major:Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Project Title:Genomics of a Symbiont Replacement Event in North American Dog-Day Cicada
Committee:Chris Simon, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Chair); Paul Lewis, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Jonathan Klassen, Molecular and Cell Biology; and Rachel O’Neill, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project summary:Many insects form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms allowing them to survive on specialized, nutrient poor diets. After millions of years, these symbionts can evolve to lose essential functions forcing the host insect to compensate by acquiring a new symbiont. In cicadas, one ancestral bacterial symbiont is undergoing seemingly maladaptive evolution and being replaced by a new symbiont in the wild. The new symbiont is evolved from a fungal pathogen which cicadas have domesticated many times in parallel. I am studying the transition of this pathogen to a mutualistic symbiont using genomic sequencing of cicada-associated fungi all over North America.

Jason Vailionis is an Honors student majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is interested in host-microbe interactions, especially in invertebrates. He hopes to pursue a career in symbiosis research working with obscure animals. Outside of school, he enjoys rollerblading, coding, and playing with his cats.

 

Anand Vaish

Major:Biomechanical Engineering
Project Title:Biomechanical Analysis of Cardiac Morphogenesis Using a Zebrafish Model
Committee:Kazunori Hoshino, Biomedical Engineering (Chair); David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology; and David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S, with 1 out of 4 deaths being attributed to some cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects in the world. This project aims to learn more about human embryonic heart development using a zebrafish cardiac model. As embryonic development is mostly conserved within vertebrates, zebrafish embryos can be used to determine how the biomechanical properties of the embryo heart change throughout its formation and development. By better understanding the process of cardiac morphogenesis, improved diagnostic tools and therapies can be developed.

Anand Vaish is an honors student from Shelton, CT. He is majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Outside of lab, he volunteers as an EMT and is the Vice-President of the Sigma Theta Alpha Pre-Health Fraternity. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in medicine.

 

Harry Zehner

Major:Political Science
Project Title:Institutionalizing Environmentally Friendly Behavior by Designing a Proxy Carbon Price for the University of Connecticut
Committee:Oksan Bayulgen, Political Science (Chair); Carol Atkinson-Palumbo, Geography; and Kathleen Segerson, Economics

Project Summary:When UConn burns fossil fuels and contributes to climate change, we produce an externality known as the social cost of carbon. However, this social cost is not accounted for in UConn’s decision making process. In order to institutionalize the social cost of carbon and force UConn to make more environmentally friendly energy decisions, I will research and design andinternal carbon proxy price. The proxy price will add another layer — social efficiency — to UConn’s capital investment decision-making process.

Harry Zehner is a junior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Economics and Policy. On campus, he works at the Office of Sustainability and as an editor at The Daily Campus. He plans to work in environmental justice organizing and city planning after college.

 

Lily Zhong

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Defining a Tachykininergic Projection to the Lateral Hypothalamic Area and Its Role in Stress and Anxiety
Committee:Alexander Jackson, Physiology and Neurobiology (Chair); Anastasios Tzingounis, Physiology and Neurobiology; and Geoffrey Tanner, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:My project investigates a novel neural circuit in the mouse brain consisting of a tachykininergic projection to the lateral hypothalamus (LHA) that has been implicated in regulating stress- and anxiety-related behaviors. My work seeks to further characterize this projection and examine its neurochemical profile and cellular functionality related to stress and anxiety through viral tracing, molecular cytogenetics, and live calcium imaging. By analyzing these complex tachykininergic projections to MCH neurons in the LHA, I hope to elucidate neuronal mechanisms that may contribute to the etiology of stress and anxiety, which could potentially contribute to future therapeutic strategies for human anxiety disorders.

Lily Zhong is an Honors student from East Lyme, CT majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology and minoring in English. Outside of lab, she loves to knit with Knit for NICU, participate in book clubs, play cello in chamber ensembles, and explore new food. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine.

Marlene Abouaassi

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Sociology
Project Title:Study of Putative Niche Adapting Operon in Microbes Inhabiting the Gut of Blood Digesting Animals
Committee:J. Peter Gogarten, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair); Joerg Graf, Molecular and Cell Biology; Simon Cheng, Sociology

Project Summary:Genomic islands, also called pathogenicity islands, contain niche adapting genes that are horizontally transferred to aid microorganisms in adapting to their environments and selective pressures. The focus of my work is examining the gene operon found on a genomic island that encodes for enzymes that breakdown sialic acid in sanguivorous animals. The operon facilitates the survival and propagation of bacteria in the presence of erythrocytes. This project will examine how the acquisition of the operon genes found in microbes allow specific bacterial lineages to utilize sialic acid as an alternative source of carbon and nitrogen for growth.

Marlene Abouaassi is a third year honors student pursuing a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology and Sociology and a M.S. in Microbiology. She is the president of the undergraduate Molecular and Cell Biology Club and holds officer positions in Partners in Health Engage, 500 Women Scientists, and Middle Eastern Student Association. She is pursuing a career in clinical research and medicine.

Luke Anderson

Major:Anthropology and Nutritional Sciences
Project Title:Cultural Food Habits as a Social Factor of Health Among Iraqi Migrants in New Haven, Connecticut: A Focused Ethnographic Study
Committee:Pamela Erickson, Anthropology (chair); Michael Puglisi, Nutritional Sciences; Kathryn Libal, Human Rights Institute

Project Summary:Health disparities in diet-related diseases such as type II diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are well documented in refugee and immigrant populations across areas in the Western world where they have been resettled. In order to best address these predispositions, culturally sensitive preventative health interventions have been implemented in an effort to improve health outcomes in these populations. However, when it comes to nutrition interventions, it’s rare that they are strongly culturally grounded. This project will work with local immigrants to relate their perceptions of the nutrition of the food they eat to how this food is grounded in their cultural identity.

Luke Anderson is pursuing degrees in Anthropology and Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Mathematics. He works in the Honors Program as a Guide for Peer Success (GPS), a peer mentor for Honors students under the program’s new requirements, and in the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) as a health-social psychology research assistant. He hopes to join the Peace Corps before graduate school and pursuing a career in activism and public health.

Sarah Arnett

Major:Cognitive Science and Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Project Title:Evaluating the Verbal Language Use of People with Aphasia in Non-Clinical Settings: A Feasibility Study Using LENA Technology
Committee:Jennifer Mozeiko, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (chair); Nairan Ramirez-Esparza, Psychological Sciences; Carl Coelho, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and Cognitive Science

Project Summary:Aphasia is a language disorder that impacts a person’s ability to produce and comprehend language, usually acquired after a stroke. The communication that takes place in the person with aphasia’s home environment is thought to be instrumental to the recovery process. However, there is currently no objective measure of this; previous investigations have relied on rating scales and self-report. This project will pilot the use of the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) program to more objectively assess the verbal language of people with aphasia in their home environments. We predict that the results will hold significant implications for issues such as communication partner training, self-perception of language, and our understanding of the recovery process.

Sarah Arnett is an honors student from Denver, CO majoring in COGS and SLHS. Her experience conducting research in the Aphasia Rehab Lab has greatly influenced her career aspirations; after graduation, she hopes to obtain a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and to work clinically with people with neurogenic communication disorders.

Klara Doci

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Differential Effects Between Epilepsy and Autism Spectrum Disorder KCNQ2 Pathogenic Variants
Committee:Anastasios Tzingounis, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Daniel Mulkey, Physiology and Neurobiology; Randall Walikonis, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:KCNQ2 channels, potassium channels ubiquitously expressed in the brain, play an important role in controlling neuronal excitability. Their significance is highlighted by the increasing number of KCNQ2 mutations identified in patients with brain disorders such as epilepsy and autism. Most of the identified mutations lead to a loss of KCNQ2 channel function. A hotspot of mutations are within the gating and pore region of KCNQ2 channels. However, the functional effects of these mutations have is unclear. The goal of this project is to (i) determine the effects of KCNQ2 mutations within the gating-pore module and (ii) to identify ways to boost the activity of the dysfunctional channels, possibly rescuing the KCNQ2 channel activity.

Klara Doci is a Physiology and Neurobiology major from Hartford, CT originally from Tirana, Albania. Klara volunteers as an EMT in Wethersfield, CT and she is planning to attend medical school after graduation.

Caitlin Foster

Major:Biological Sciences
Project Title:The Genetic Architecture of Pollinator-Associated Floral Traits in Monkey Flowers
Committee:Yaowu Yuan, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (chair); Pamela Diggle, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Bernard Goffinet, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Summary:The goal of this project is to investigate the underlying genetic architecture controlling the characteristic floral trait differences between two species of closely related monkeyflowers,Mimulus parishiiandMimulus cardinalis.  This project focuses on differences in flower color and size of different floral structures, such as pistil length and stamen length. Understanding the genetic causes of these differences can help develop the understanding of speciation and diversification of the more than 300,000 flowering plant species.

Caitlin Foster is an honors student from Glastonbury, CT majoring in Biological Sciences and conducting research in the Yuan Laboratory.  Caitlin is the Event Coordinator for the UConn American Sign Language Club and is a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity. After graduation, Caitlin plans to attend medical school.

Chelsea Garcia

Major:Nutritional Sciences
Project Title:The Effects of Bacterial Lipid, Lipid 654, on Neuroinflammation
Committee:Christopher N. Blesso, Nutritional Sciences (chair); Alison B. Kohan, Nutritional Sciences; Ji-Young Lee, Nutritional Sciences

Project Summary:The gut microbiota may regulate the neuroimmune response through the production of inflammatory molecules. Serine dipeptide lipids produced from oral and gut bacteria have been associated with inflammation in periodontal disease and atherosclerosis, however there is little research on their effects on neuroinflammation. The goal of this project is to determine effects of Lipid 654, a type of serine dipeptide lipid, on neuroinflammation in a diet-induced mouse model of chronic inflammation. This project is expected to provide evidence on the causality of this class of lipid in neuroinflammation.

Chelsea Garcia is a third year McNair Scholar majoring in Nutritional Sciences with a concentration in biochemistry and a Spanish minor from Alpine, New Jersey. She spent her first summer learning to conduct research as a McNair fellow and Bridging the Gap fellow at UConn. The following year, she spent the spring semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a peer mentor for a STEM research First Year Experience course and The Major Experience (TME) mentor for Nutritional Sciences. After graduation, she intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Molecular Nutrition.

Ariane Garrett

Major:Biomedical Engineering and Spanish
Project Title:Development of a Novel Cerebral Spinal Fluid Shunt to Measure Flow
Committee:Kazunori Hoshino, Biomedical Engineering (chair); Sabato Santaniello, Biomedical Engineering; Gustavo Nanclares, Literatures, Cultures, and Languages

Project Summary:Hydrocephalus is the build up of fluid in the ventricles of the brain, resulting in pain, brain damage, and death if left untreated. The current standard of treatment for hydrocephalus is a cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) shunt that is implanted into the brain. However, these shunts are prone to breakage and there is currently no means of easily evaluating flow through the shunt. My project will focus on testing a novel CSF shunt capable of measuring flow in vivo. In addition, I will continue the development of the device, including making the device fully biocompatible and preparing for animal testing.

Ariane Garrett is an honors student from Pleasant Valley, NY. She is pursuing a dual degree in Biomedical Engineering and Spanish, and has been working in the Hoshino Laboratory since the spring of her freshman year. Outside of the lab, Ariane is passionate about expanding access to technology and works toward this goal as a member of Engineers Without Borders.

Analyse Giordano

Major:Allied Health Sciences
Project Title:Increasing the Longevity of Fully Implantable Continuous Glucose Monitors Using Biocompatible Ceramic Nanoparticles and Nanotexturing
Committee:Steven L. Suib, Institute of Material Sciences and Chemistry (chair); Jessica Rouge, Chemistry; Valerie B. Duffy, Allied Health Sciences

Project Summary:Diabetes Mellitus is one of the top ten deadliest diseases in the nation, affecting the body’s ability to release insulin and regulate blood glucose (BG) levels. BG levels can become difficult to manually monitor and regulate without continuous data. While continuous glucose monitors (CGMS) are a widely available solution to this issue, these monitors are only FDA approved in the body for one year due to biofouling. My project will explore the effects of nanotexturing on bioceramics in order to increase the longevity of these devices in the body.  Through nanotexturing techniques, CGM casings will mimic the texture of human bone and will be less susceptible to biofouling caused by macrophage fibrous encapsulation.

Analyse Giordano is an Allied Health Sciences major from Westchester, NY. Analyse is passionate about promoting community health and leads the Bridge to Guanin alternative break. After graduation, she plans to receive a Master’s Degree in Health Promotion Sciences in order to pursue non-profit work before attending medical school.

CarsonLee Harper

Major:English and History
Project Title:Reimagining Medieval Scandinavia Through Historical Fiction
Committee:Ellen Litman, English (chair); Frederick Biggs, English; Sherri Olson, History

Project Summary:Vikings have been a fascinating subject for both fictional works and historical research for many years, their raiding escapades and rich mythology find its way into our books, movies, and TV shows time and time again. I aim to write a historical fiction novel that not only captures what we have found so captivating about these Medieval Scandinavian inhabitants in the past but also explores the world of women and children that is underrepresented much of the time. It is my hope to combine immersive story-telling with factual historical evidence in my book as I explore themes of gender, sacrifice, justice, and religion as they relate to both average and extraordinary examples of the Scandinavian people.

CarsonLee Harper is an honors double major in History and English with a minor in Medieval Studies and a concentration in Creative Writing. Through her courses, she has developed an interest in Norse mythology and Medieval Scandinavia. After graduation she hopes to continue her education with the intention of becoming a professor.

Kara Heilemann

Major:Pathobiology and Nutritional Sciences
Project Title:Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Site-Specific Activation by Proteolytic Cleavage
Committee:Alfredo Angeles-Boza, Chemistry (chair); Paulo Verardi, Pathobiology; Yanchao Luo, Nutritional Sciences

Project Summary:The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria has become a worldwide concern as many conventional antibiotics have been rendered ineffective; therefore, the development of novel antibiotic therapies is a necessity. One class of molecules known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has potential as novel therapeutics due to their broad-spectrum activity; however, their use has been limited due to toxicity to eukaryotic cells. My project aims to reduce AMP toxicity by designing a pro-drug AMP with increased selectivity through pathogen-specific proteolytic activation. In order to do test this, the project will targetStaphylococcus aureus,a significant and increasingly resistant pathogen.

Kara Heilemann is from Brooklyn, CT and is pursuing degrees in Pathobiology and Nutritional Sciences. She is President of Alpha Zeta, the CAHNR professional society, and enjoys hiking with her dogs, gardening, and cooking. She plans to continue investigating infectious disease to reduce further resistance development and diminish outbreak potential.

Saurabh Kumar

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Developmental Changes to Brain Stem Cell Niche in Fetal-Onset Hydrocephalus
Committee:Joanne Conover, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Thomas Peters, Computer Science and Engineering; David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Fetal-onset hydrocephalus is a common human birth defect characterized by abnormal expansion of the brain’s ventricles. Expanded ventricles likely alter functions of the brain’s stem cell niche which lies subjacent to the lateral ventricles. Using a multidisciplinary approach – analyzing archival brain tissue histology via immunofluorescence staining and ventricle volumetric changes via MRI segmentation – this project aims to characterize cellular reorganization patterns of the neural stem cell niche in response to hydrocephalic ventricle surface area and curvature changes. Using statistical/computational modeling, this project will then analyze the utility of non-invasive ventricular anatomy measurements as a predictor of stem cell niche—to assist hydrocephalus diagnosis.

Saurabh Kumar is a Physiology & Neurobiology major and Statistics minor from North Andover, MA. He is a researcher in the Conover Lab aspiring to become an MD/PhD physician-researcher. Outside of the lab, Saurabh is an avid clarinetist in the UConn Symphonic Band and Co-President of the UConn Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP).

Emmalyn Lecky

Major:Psychological Sciences and Biological Sciences
Project Title:Evaluating the Neuroprotective Effects of Pharmacologic Hypothermia on Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury: An Animal Model
Committee:Ephraim Trakhtenberg, Neuroscience, UConn Health (chair); Joanne Conover, Physiology and Neurobiology; Ian Stevenson, Psychological Sciences

Project Summary:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious and widespread problem, as more than 10 million new cases of TBI occur each year. TBI can result in lifelong impairment since axons in the central nervous system fail to regenerate following an injury. One treatment that protects axons following TBI is hypothermia. However, current hypothermic treatments need improvement as they require a complex administration process and result in a slow onset of temperature. This project aims to investigate a novel pharmacologic hypothermic agent as a treatment to protect axons following blast-induced TBI in mice, through behavioral and histological analysis.

Emmalyn Lecky is an Honors Student and Presidential Scholar from Middletown, CT double majoring in Psychological Sciences and Biological Sciences and minoring in Mathematics and Neuroscience. Outside of academics, she is the vice president of UConn NOW, a volunteer tutor at Windham High School, and a mentor in the WiSTEM Mentoring Program. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

Daniel McCloskey

Major:Anthropology
Project Title:Brothers as Men: Masculinity, Homosociality, and Men’s Violence among Fraternity Men
Committee:Jocelyn Linnekin, Anthropology (chair); Daisy Reyes, Sociology; Françoise Dussart, Anthropology

Project Summary:A significant aspect of gender study, specifically when dealing with men, is the idea that there is no single masculinity and that there are many different constructions of masculinity.  This project will engage fraternity men about their constructions of masculinity and how it affects their behavior.  These observations and insights will be used to critique and test both Connell’s Hegemonic Masculinity Theory and Anderson’s Inclusive Masculinities Theory.  These constructions will, also, be connected with both ideas of homosociality and views of sexual violence.  This project will utilize qualitative techniques like Cultural Domain Analysis as well as both semi-structured and structured interviews.

Daniel McCloskey is pursuing an Honors BA in Anthropology.  In his free time, he is a member of both Horse Lincoln Improv and Dramatic PAWS.  Outside of school he is an avid hiker and loves the outdoors.  After graduation he would like to continue his education in a post-graduate setting.

Susan Naseri

Major:Political Science and Human Rights
Project Title:From War to Civilian Life: Evaluation of Integration Policies for Urban Refugees in Amman, Jordan
Committee:Kathryn Libal, Human Right Institute (chair); Jennifer Sterling-Folker, Political Science; Cathy J. Schlund-Vials, English and Asian and Asian American Studies

Project Summary:Through a human rights lens, my proposed project seeks to examine the lived experiences of the refugees living in Amman, Jordan, with a focus on how they have integrated into society without encampment. By studying abroad in Jordan in Fall 2019 and conducting qualitative interviews, this qualitative research seeks to broadly understand how the policies in Jordan are contributing to the integration of its urban refugees, and what the particular challenges and limits to freedom are, as well as which rights are further and better realized.

Susan Naseri, from Queens, New York, is a member of the Honors program and the Special Program in Law. She aspires to earn her J.D. in International Human Rights Law and create her own NGO to assist asylum seekers and refugees integrate into society. In her free time, Susan enjoys reading and traveling.

Grace Nichols

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Understanding Tinnitus at the Electrophysiological Level
Committee:Douglas Oliver, Neuroscience, UConn Health (chair); Monty Escabi, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Charles Giardina, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Tinnitus is a neurological condition that involves the perception of a ringing or buzzing sound that is not actually there. Tinnitus affects many veterans and individuals above sixty years of age, and patients report that the condition causes discomfort, impairs concentration, and negatively affects quality of life. There is currently no cure for the disease and no test exists that can prove that an individual suffers from tinnitus. This project will examine different causes of tinnitus and the neurological changes that are associated with the condition. This information could contribute to the understanding of how tinnitus functions, as well as the future development of a standard test.

Grace is an Honors student and STEM Scholar from Wethersfield, CT. In addition to minoring in Mathematics, she is actively involved in the HuskyTHON Morale Team, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kids and UConn Bridging Education. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career as a physician.

Alexander Oddo

Major:Chemistry
Project Title:The Design of Bio-derived Solar Technology: Coupling Protein Hydrogels to Light Harvesting Upconversion Systems
Committee:Challa V. Kumar, Chemistry (chair); Tomoyasu Mani, Chemistry; Gaël Ung, Chemistry

Project Summary:Commercial solar cells have trouble converting lower-energy (red) photons into electrical energy. The ultimate goal of this project is to synthesize, optimize, and analyze a protein hydrogel capable of sustaining efficient triplet-triplet annihilation-based “upconversion,” a photophysical phenomenon that functions to convert otherwise neglected red photons into higher-energy (blue) photons for solar cell intake. Upconversion may seem like magic, but on a quantum level, it becomes possible through the manipulation of energy transfer events between organic dyes, made effective by molecular interactions present in bovine serum albumin protein matrixes crosslinked throughout with lipid molecules using carbodiimide “click” chemistry.

Alex is pursuing a BS/MS track in chemistry, and will continue to graduate school for his PhD in chemistry. Afterwards, he would like to become a professor of chemistry to inspire students with awesome science. His three favorite things in life are: chemistry, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and anime.

Kathleen Renna

Major:Diagnostic Genetic Sciences
Project Title:Evaluation of Integrin Gene Classifications and Developmental Age Differences in Gene Activity toward Understanding the Process of Axon Regeneration
Committee:Ephraim Trakhtenberg, Neuroscience, UConn Health (chair); Judy Brown, Allied Health Sciences; Kenneth Campellone, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:The lack of ability for central nervous system (CNS) cells to regenerate once damaged proves problematic to patients who present with neurodegenerative diseases and CNS injuries. Mouse retinal ganglion cells, a cell type in the eye whose axons form the optic nerve, serve as an easily accessible model for regeneration studies. Integrins are molecules that potentially assist RGC axons in extension due to their role as transmembrane receptors. This project intends to determine if the lack of regenerative capacity of damaged neurons stems from a change in integrin gene expression. The findings from this research will allow us to improve current treatment options for CNS stroke and injury.

Kathleen Renna is an Honors student from Troy, NY majoring in Diagnostic Genetic Sciences with a minor in Molecular and Cell Biology. Outside of her coursework, Kathleen serves as a College Ambassador for CAHNR and was recently selected as a BOLD Scholar. Following graduation, she intends to pursue a dual MD/MPH with the intention of becoming a pediatric clinical geneticist.

Srishti Sadhir

Major:Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Anthropology
Project Title:An Archaeological Study of Human Hunting Adaptations to Climate Change at Wadi Madamagh, Jordan
Committee:Natalie Munro Anthropology (chair); Richard Sosis, Anthropology; Susan Z. Herrick, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Summary:Zooarchaeology is the investigation of faunal remains (bones and teeth) from archaeological contexts. Utilizing human behavioral ecology (HBE) as a theoretical framework and climate proxy data from the Levant region, this project will examine human adaptation to climate change at the archaeological site of Wadi Madamagh in Jordan during the Last Glacial Maximum. The faunal assemblage spans the Late Upper Paleolithic to Early Epipaleolithic periods (25,000-18,000 years ago) and may be associated with significant changes in foraging efficiency. The analysis will evaluate human hunting intensity as a measure of population mobility and carcass processing strategies. The results will be compared with contemporaneous and succeeding sites in the Near East.

Srishti Sadhir is an Honors student and Babbidge Scholar from Londonderry, NH. She is completing a double major in EEB and Anthropology. Apart from her involvement in the Zooarchaeology Lab, she is the Anthropology Mentor for The Major Experience, a member of the Native American Cultural Society, and a member of the UConn Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. Upon graduation, Srishti plans to pursue a PhD in Biological Anthropology.

Ekaterina Skaritanov

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:The Role of the Transcription Factor Pointed inDrosophilaOvulation
Committee:Jianjun Sun, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Barbara Mellone, Molecular and Cell Biology; Akiko Nishiyama, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:While the importance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity for ovulation has been established in bothDrosophilaand mammals, many of its regulatory mechanisms and enzymatic activity have not been determined. Through my University Scholar Project, I will investigate the role of the ETS transcription factor Pointed in ovulation and regulation of MMP activity. In addition, I will examine the regulation of Pnt itself and which of its isoforms function in this process. UsingDrosophilareproductive system as a model, I will use a wide range of established methods to further the understanding of such ovulatory mechanisms.

Ekaterina is an Honors student majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology from Needham, Massachusetts. When not in lab, she enjoys her role as the secretary of the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program and participating in Honors Across State Borders. After graduation, she hopes to apply her passion and scientific curiosity to a career in medicine.

Daniel Yu

Major:Exercise Science
Project Title:Mechanisms of Statin Effects on Muscle and Neuronal Proteostasis
Committee:Elaine C. Lee, Kinesiology (chair); Beth Taylor, Kinesiology; Theodore Rasmussen, Pharmaceutical Science;  Paul O. Thompson, Medical Sciences

Project Summary:Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading cause of death in the United States. Statins, a cholesterol lowering drug, are used by over 43 million Americans to treat cardiovascular diseases. Statins target the mevalonate pathway to regulate cholesterol, but indirectly also regulate lipoprotein signaling. The indirect effects on lipoproteins may increase susceptibility to protein tissue and muscle damage. This project will useCaenorhabditis elegansto test whether statin treatment will cause muscle and neuronal damage during aging and stress, and discover statin molecular mechanisms by using RNAi to knockdown components of the mevalonate signaling pathway.

Daniel Yu is an Exercise Science major from Atlantic Highlands, NJ. He is a pre-medical student with aspirations of becoming a sports physician. Outside of school, he volunteers at the Mansfield Fire Department as an EMT, plays on the UConn Club Spikeball Team, and thinks about adopting an Australian shepherd.

Tyler Ackley

Major:Pharmacy Studies and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Isoforms: Functional Roles and Potential Therapeutic Application in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Committee:Caroline Dealy, Reconstructive Science (chair); Brian Aneskievich, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Andrea Hubbard, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project Summary:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease characterized by immune cell induction and subsequent degradation of joint tissues. Despite the complex pathophysiology of RA, many of the available therapies block the same molecular mechanism. Recent research has implicated the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) pathway in RA disease etiology. This project will examine the role of EGFR in cartilage health, as well as explore the functional roles of soluble EGFR isoforms and determine their use as a preclinical biomarker. Through use of these biomarkers, EGFR-targeted therapy can provide a “personalized medicine” approach to RA treatment.

Tyler Ackley is a 3^rdyear Pharmacy student pursuing his PharmD. In 2017, he graduated with a dual degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pharmacy Studies. Over his time at UConn, he has worked as a part of three laboratory groups studying epigenetics, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. Following his PharmD., Tyler plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in the pharmaceutical sciences

 

Brian Aguilera

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Role of CD13 in the Formation and Function of Tunneling Nanotubes
Committee:Mallika Ghosh, Center for Vascular Biology (chair); David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology; Ken Campellone, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Tunneling Nanotubes (TNTs) are structures that connect distant cells through a continuous bridge-like tube. TNTs have been shown to play a major part in cell transport as they allow for a direct connection between distant cells to exchange different types of cargo ranging from small signaling molecules to complete organelles like mitochondria and lysosomes. Because of their ability to transport cargo, TNTs have been shown to play a role in the regeneration and development of tissues with cells interacting and helping each other. However, several pathogens including viruses and bacteria have also been shown to hijack TNTs to spread their infections and in cancer they have been shown to play a role in resistance to treatment through the distribution of toxicity. My project focuses on understanding the mechanism in which CD13, a cell signaling molecule involved in cell adhesion and motility, regulates TNT formation and function.

Brian Aguilera is an honors student majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology from Deerfield Beach, FL, although originally from Bogota, Colombia. He works alongside his mentor Dr. Mallika Ghosh in the Shapiro Lab in the Center for Vascular Biology at UConn Health through the OUR’s Health Research Program. Outside of his academics, he is one of the co-coordinators for METAS, the mentoring Program of the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center, and a proud member of Sigma Theta Alpha the pre-health fraternity on campus. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing the piano, going outside and taking care of his axolotls. Upon graduation, he intends to pursue a MD/PhD focused on Developmental Biology and become an OB/GYN.

 

Benjamin Babbitt

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Spatiotemporal Characterization of Hydrocephalus Associated Ventriculomegaly in the Developing Mouse Brain
Committee:Joanne Conover, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Joseph LoTurco, Physiology and Neurobiology; Ketan Bulsara, Neurosurgery

Project Summary:The goal of this project is to examine the fate of neuroepithelial stem cells during normal and hydrocephalic brain development. Intra-uterine electroporation (IUE) in conjunction with immunofluorescence will be used to characterize the fate of these stem cells throughout normal development. Utilizing a viral post-infection induced hydrocephalus mouse model, the capacity for stem-cell mediated repair of the ependymal lining of the ventricular wall, the developmental age at which infection is most detrimental, and the pathological progression of ependymal cell denudation and resulting ventriculomegaly will be evaluated.

Ben is a pre-medical student from Shrewsbury MA and carries out his research in the Conover Laboratory. Ben hopes to attend an MD/MBA dual program medical school to study Orthopedic Surgery and Healthcare Management. Ben is also a member of UConn Marching Band and Pep Band, and in his free time enjoys running, hiking, and skiing.

 

Eric Beltrami

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Understanding the Function of Inhibitory Lateral Hypothalamic Neurons and their Contribution to Generating Complex Behavioral States
Committee:Alexander Jackson, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Geoffrey Tanner, Physiology and Neurobiology; John Salamone, Psychological Sciences; Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:The neuronal diversity of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) is poorly defined. The heterogeneity of the LHA may contribute to its role in several homeostatic functions, including feeding, arousal and stress. My project seeks to elucidate the role of inhibitory LHA neurons in mediating complex behavioral states. Using Cre-lox recombinant mouse lines, along with optogenetic and chemogenetic techniques of neuronal activation, these novel cell populations may be selectively targeted to determine their behavioral effects in vivo. This project offers the first glimpse at the function of newly described cell populations in the LHA, differentiated by their expression of neuropeptides, and their potential role in maladaptive behaviors and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Eric Beltrami is an Honors Student, Presidential Scholar, SURF Award recipient and two-time Babbidge Scholar majoring in PNB. He is President of UConn Dance Company, CFO of ENCORE Dance Team, Trip Director of Community Outreach’s HIV/AIDS Advocacy and Awareness Alternative Break, a peer mentor for First Year Programs and an undergraduate TA for PNB 2274/75. Upon graduation, Eric hopes to attend medical school.

 

Suleyman Bozal

Major:Structural Biology/Biophysics
Project Title:A Robust Delivery System for siRNA Therapeutics and the CRISPR/Cas9 System in Gene Regulation and Editing
Committee:Diane Burgess, Pharmaceutical Sciences (chair); Eric May, Molecular and Cell Biology; Antonio Costa, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Project Summary:The field of RNA therapeutics is growing rapidly and holds enormous potential for the treatment of diseases with genetic or epigenetic underpinnings. However, delivery of these therapeutics remains a challenge as many vehicles prove to be toxic and undependable. This project seeks to create lipid nanoparticle formulations that are capable of delivering siRNA and the CRISPR/Cas9 system to respectively silence or knockout GFP in human embryonic kidney cells. The formulations will be created using a continuous manufacturing system and engineered to maximize efficacy and minimize cytotoxicity with use of anionic lipids.

Suleyman Bozal of Berlin, CT is pursuing a B.S. in Structural Biology/Biophysics. In his free time, he tutors in the QCenter, serves as the treasurer of the Turkish Student Association, and is active in his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta. After graduation, Suleyman will pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

 

Mei Buzzell

Major:Graphic Design
Project Title:A Backstage Documentary: The Inside View of a Northern Tavern
Committee:Janet Pritchard, Art and Art History (chair); Edvin Yegir, Art and Art History; Kelly Dennis, Art and Art History

Project Summary:Documentary photography works to capture the mundane to complex and the pleasing to the shocking. Documentary photography is a kind of ‘real time’ anthropology. It records people as they exist within their culture. This project of mine is a book that will be based on the experiences gained in a grand resort hotel restaurant with the often-chaotic scenes of the preparation beyond the dining room as well as the dramas of the dining room itself. Photography allows its viewers to interpret their own version of the stories, settings and emotions within an image.

Mei is from Peterborough, New Hampshire and is studying Graphic Design. She is incorporating her passions for photography and sociology in her project to advocate for others. After graduation, she plans to find a graphic design firm in a city to continue pursuing what she loves. Mei enjoys taking photographs, traveling, spending time with friends, and eating fine foods.

 

Lauren Cenci

Major:English
Project Title:Lamentation and the Melancholic: Elegiac Evolution from Classical to Modern
Committee:Charles Mahoney, English (chair); Yohei Igarashi, English; A. Harris Fairbanks, English

Project Summary:In our ever-changing world, the universal experience of death remains fixed and inescapable. What has changed, however, are the mourning practices observed in western culture. Reflected in poetry from as early as 300 BCE, the literary process of mourning continues to evolve and thrive through both personal and mass death. Consider the elegy, in all its melancholic sublimity, as a cathartic means to wrestle with sadness of several origins, especially that which swells with death. Traditionally written with a characteristic progression from lamentation to consolation, the genre has evolved to produce self-destructive, violent, and sometimes inconsolable poems. Starting with classical Greek pastoral poetry, I will trace the evolution of the elegy genre through the twentieth century, exploring the volatility of solace at the poem’s conclusion.

Lauren Cenci is an Honors Student majoring in English. She is a Bodywise student manager and a member of the Triathlon Team. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a doctorate in English with a concentration in poetry and poetics. Outside academics, she enjoys long-distance running and spending time with her two Labrador Retrievers, Tucker and Scout.

 

Thomas Chessman

Major:Mechanical Engineering
Project Title:In-Process Monitoring and Thermal Image Processing for Real-Time Feedback Control in Selective Laser Sintering
Committee:Xu Chen, Mechanical Engineering (chair); Chih-Jen Sung, Mechanical Engineering; Song Han, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary:Selective laser sintering is a pioneering additive manufacturing technique that involves using a laser to melt powdered material together, layer by layer, in order to create a 3-D product. Despite its many benefits including high efficiency, versatility, and ability to process many materials, selective laser sintering suffers from its propensity to generate structural errors during operation.  This project aims to improve final product quality through corrective feedback control.  Process signatures, including melt pool dimensions, will be evaluated in real time using thermal imaging.  Appropriate corrective feedback control will then be applied through parameters such as laser scan speed.

Thomas Chessman is a Mechanical Engineering major and Mathematics minor from Greenwich, CT. He is an undergraduate researcher in the MACS laboratory and a Cadet in UConn’s Army ROTC program.  Thomas plans to study engineering in graduate school and hopes to serve as a helicopter pilot in the Army Reserve.

 

Emerson Dang

Major:Physics
Project Title:Exploring New Materials for Nanopositioning
Committee: Ilya Sochnikov, Physics (chair); Cara Battersby, Physics; Barrett Wells, Physics

Project Summary:Strontium titanate, a perovskite crystal, shows remarkable promise for use as a piezoelectric at temperatures below 1 K, with a voltage induced strain response comparable to traditional piezoelectrics at room temperature. Such properties are atypical, as most piezoelectrics exhibit decreased responsiveness at cryogenic temperatures. This project seeks to design a bimorph bender utilizing strontium titanate for use as a nanopositioner in a scanning Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) microscope. The microscope will then be used to probe the phase transitions and magnetic permeabilities of superconductors at low temperatures

Emerson Dang is a physics major from Bloomfield, CT, and a researcher in Ilya Sochnikov’s lab. Upon graduation, Emerson plans on pursuing a graduate degree in physics. When not in school, he enjoys drawing and playground calisthenics.

 

Sarah Ferrigno

Major:Psychological Sciences and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Investigating the Role of the 5-HT_1BReceptor Regarding Motivational Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
Committee:John Salamone, Psychological Sciences (chair); Aoife Heaslip, Molecular and Cell Biology; William Bailey, Chemistry

Project Summary:While the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), these drugs tend to be unsuccessful in treating the motivational symptoms of major depressive disorder. Lack of energy, fatigue and reduced exertion of effort severely impair many aspects of a patient’s life, including employment, social function, and responsiveness to treatment. It is likely that the motivational dysfunctions induced by SSRIs are due to overstimulation of one or more of the 5-HT receptors. Therefore, the aim of this project is to determine if the 5-HT_1Breceptor is involved in motivational functions related to depression using a validated rodent model.

Sarah Ferrigno is an Honors student from Montgomery, NJ double majoring in Psychology and MCB. She has spent her past two summers doing neuroscience research at UConn as a Holster scholar and at the University of Pittsburgh as summer fellow. After graduation, she intends to obtain a PhD. in Neuroscience.

 

Kat Folker

Major:Puppet Arts
Project Title:The Monster and the Mob: Exploring Otherness through the Art of Horror
Committee:John Bell, Dramatic Arts (chair); Lewis Gordon, Philosophy; Bart Roccoberton, Dramatic Arts

Project Summary:Horror has always served as a benchmark for the fears and anxieties of society. The monsters protagonists take on aren’t just meant to insight fear, but disgust, often times serving as representations for taboos of race, class, and gender. The goal of this project is to explore this dynamic in a hands on environment, incorporating the aesthetics of horror and the puppets ability to act as a conduit for ideas. The project will conclude with a short film focused around a protagonist who struggles with the prejudices of the society around them as it is terrorized by a monster.

Kat Folker is a Puppet Arts Major from Ashford, Connecticut. She is the Undergraduate Assistant at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry where she assists with house management and daily operations. Upon graduation she plans to pursue a career in fabrication for film.

 

Kayleigh Granville

Major:Environmental Science
Project Title:Variations of Denitrification Rates and Nitrous Oxide Emissions during the Lunar Tidal Cycle across Seasons
Committee:Ashley Helton, Natural Resources and the Environment (chair); Beth Lawrence, Natural Resources and the Environment; Chris Elphick, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Summary:Denitrification is a microbial process that transforms reactive nitrogen in wetland sediments into inert nitrogen gas that is emitted into the atmosphere. Human modifications to wetlands can alter the denitrification process, causing incomplete denitrification to occur and wetlands to emit nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to the destruction of ozone in the stratosphere. Current research indicates that denitrification rates and N2O emissions from coastal wetlands may vary across seasons and among different vegetation zones, although it is unclear how. The goal of this project is to determine patterns in denitrification rates and N2O emissions across seasons and among different vegetation zones. The findings have implications for how we manage and restore wetlands while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Kayleigh Granville is an Environmental Science major from Newtown, CT. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Helton lab, the president of UConn Wildlife Society, and a member of the UConn Club Running Team.

 

Ming-Yeah Hu

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Allied Health Sciences
Project Title:Stem Cell Spheroids for Cartilage Regeneration
Committee:Syam Nukavarapu, Orthopedic Surgery (chair); Jeanne McCaffrey, Allied Health Sciences; Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: About 30 million adults in the U.S. are affected by osteoarthritis (i.e., joint disease) and the associated cartilage loss. Articular cartilage repair is a significant clinical challenge. Current clinical solutions, such as microfracture and autologous chondrocyte implantation, produce sub-optimal results, which necessitate the need to develop new repair strategies. Stem cell spheroids have been of recent interest in tissue engineering because they offer extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions that are more representative of human tissues. This project will develop stem cell spheroids and the strategies to use them alone or in combination with biodegradable matrix for articular cartilage and osteochondral tissue engineering.

Ming-Yeah Hu is from Milford, CT and pursuing a dual degree in Molecular and Cell Biology and Allied Health Sciences. She hopes to attend medical school after graduation. Outside of school, she enjoys being on the UConn Cheerleading team, working as a CNA, traveling, and admiring her many succulents.

 

Celeste Kurz

Major:Nutritional Sciences
Project Title:Addressing Childhood Obesity by Improving Personal Factors and Language Acquisition in Middle School Students: Implementing a Bilingual, Hands-On, Gardening, Cooking, and Nutrition Education Program
Committee:Amy Mobley, Nutritional Sciences (chair); Michael Puglisi, Nutritional Sciences; Phoebe Godfrey, Sociology

Project Summary: Health-indicating behaviors established early in life generally persist into adulthood, demonstrating the need for health education and interventions in the critical period of pre- to early adolescence. This project seeks to: 1) preventively address the problem of childhood obesity and resulting health consequences, particularly among at risk Hispanic youth, by implementing and evaluating a bilingual (Spanish-English), hands-on, gardening, cooking, and nutrition education program, 2) assess the impact of the educational intervention upon six personal factors, and 3) address methodological gaps in the research literature.

Celeste Kurz is currently pursuing a degree in nutritional sciences with a minor in Spanish, and intends to complete a Registered Dietitian internship and obtain a Masters in Public Health after graduation. She is a student farmer and treasurer of Spring Valley Student Farm.

 

Eric Lepowsky

Major:Mechanical Engineering
Project Title:3D Printing of a Degradable, Photo-Polymerizable Material for Application to Drug Manufacturing
Committee:Savas Tasoglu, Mechanical Engineering (chair); Wendy Vanden Berg-Foels, Biomedical Engineering; Luyi Sun, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Project Summary:3D printing – an additive manufacturing method whereby successive layers of material form a 3D structure – has been applied across many fields. Bioprinting has harnessed the capabilities and adaptability of 3D printing for biomedical applications and, more recently, drug manufacturing. 3D printing enables the precise and unique dosing of drugs and on-demand, prescription-specific production. However, current approaches have not yet accessed the high-resolution fabrication method of inkjet-based printing. This project will focus on characterizing a custom inkjet 3D printer, understanding the foundational fluid mechanics of inkjet printing, studying the degradation and release properties of biocompatible materials, and creating a proof-of-concept user interface for 3D printing dosage forms. The ultimate goal is to work towards the development of an inkjet 3D printer for the direct-write printing of pharmaceutical products.

Eric Lepowsky is a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Mathematics. He was previously awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) Named Award for research on paper-based microfluidics and a NASA-CT Space Grant Undergraduate Research Fellowship for research on bioprinting. Upon graduation, Eric plans to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

 

Craig Mendonca

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Development andEx VivoCharacterization of Enteric Coated Chitosan Microspheres for Crohn’s Disease Management
Committee:Diane Burgess, Pharmaceutical Sciences (chair); Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology; Akiko Nishiyama, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:The objective of this project is to use controlled and targeted delivery of the anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone for the localized treatment of Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is characterized by inflammation of the terminal ileum and colon that cannot be cured pharmacologically or surgically. Polymers have the ability to form microspheres, which are spherical structures that carry molecules to a target site and release them in a controlled manner. This ultimate goal of this project will be to develop and test a microspheric formulation designed to withstand the acidic stomach environment, traverse the small intestine, and release dexamethasone at the active site in the colon.

Craig Mendonca is a double major in Physiology and Neurobiology and Molecular and Cell Biology from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He works in the Burgess Lab in the UConn School of Pharmacy and he is the Executive Secretary of the UConn Genetic Engineering (iGEM) Team. After graduation, Craig plans to attend medical school. His hobbies include cybersecurity and spending time outside.

 

Jennifer Messina

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title:Cancer and Signaling Pathways of Metallothionein Induced Chemotaxis
Committee:Michael Lynes, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair); Adam Zweifach, Molecular and Cell Biology; Nichole Broderick, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:Increased expression of metallothionein (MT), a stress response protein, has been linked to the manifestation of many different cancers and associated with decreased chemotherapy efficacy. This project will investigate the signaling pathways involved in MT mediated chemotaxis in breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer using small molecule inhibitors of the Arp2/3 complex and phospholipase C. By understanding the signaling pathways responsible for MT’s chemotactic effect in various types of cancer, it can be determined if UC1MT, a monoclonal anti-MT antibody known to mitigate MT’s chemotactic effect, would be an effective therapeutic to inhibit cancer metastasis.

Jennifer Messina is an Honors student majoring in MCB and pursing a Plan B Master’s in MCB with a focus in Cell and Developmental Biology. Outside of academics, she is a member of the UConn Lion’s Club and volunteers at the Mansfield Fire Department as an EMT. After graduation, she plans to enroll in a combined MD/PhD program, and then pursue research in the field of trauma surgery.

 

Monica Nagalla

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Localization of Odorant Binding Proteins in Drosophila Antennae
Committee:Karen Menuz, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Linnaea Ostroff, Physiology and Neurobiology; Rahul Kanadia, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:With the increased prevalence of disease transmission to humans, it is critical to study the underlying mechanisms of pest sensory capabilities. The focus on my project is on Odorant Degrading Enzymes (ODEs). Odor degradation is thought to contribute to signal termination of odor signaling, allowing insects to accurately assess odor levels. Previous research suggests that non-neuronal auxiliary cells may play a role in odor degradation, though it is unclear which type expresses putative ODEs, such as Cyp450 enzymes. For my University Scholar project, I will be using mRNA tagging and RNASeq to profile the RNA expressed in each cell type in order to determine which auxiliary cells express ODEs.

Monica Nagalla is an Honors student from Westwood, MA majoring in PNB and minoring in Healthcare Management. Outside of academics, she is an active member of UConn Surya, a bollywood fusion dance team, and enjoys spending time with family and traveling. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school.

 

Avi Patel

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Individualized Major: Social Perspectives on Health
Project Title:Development of a Sonically Powered Biodegradable Nanogenerator for Bone Regeneration
Committee:Thanh Nguyen, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (chair); David Goldhamer, Molecular and Cell Biology; Maryann Morris, Allied Health Sciences

Project Summary:Reconstruction of bone fractures and defects remains a big challenge in orthopedic surgery. While regenerative engineering has advanced the field greatly from its days of utilizing bone grafts, regenerative strategies, using a combination of biomaterial scaffolds and adipose stem cells (AdSCs), still suffer from issues of their own. One key matter of difficulty is inducing osteogenesis in AdSCs. Numerous works have shown electricity’s ability to stimulate bone regeneration; however, most electrical stimulators currently in use employ implanted batteries or percutaneous leads, which require an invasive removal process. Piezoelectric materials, a type of smart material which can generate electrical charge from mechanical vibrations, show much promise in this regard. Recently, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a common biodegradable polymer used in sutures, has been found to exhibit piezoelectricity when appropriately processed. As such, the goal of this project is to fabricate an ultrasonically powered, PLLA scaffold for the purpose of bone regeneration.

Avi Patel, who calls Fremont, California his home, is currently pursuing a Molecular and Cell Biology and Social Perspectives on Health dual-degree. He serves as an Advanced Technical Specialist for the University but has career goals of becoming an emergency medicine physician. In his free time, he enjoys going on service trips, catching up with the latest in technology, and rock climbing in the wilderness.

 

Hetal Patel

Major:Materials Science and Engineering
Project Title:Cryogenic Dislocation Nucleation Study on the Body-Centered Cubic Metals by Using Spherical Nanoindentation
Committee:Seok-Woo Lee, Materials Science and Engineering (chair); S. Pamir Alpay, Materials Science and Engineering; Bryan Huey, Materials Science and Engineering

Project Summary:NASA’s vision for deep space exploration brings exciting challenges for which scientists are leveraging unique properties exhibited by nanomaterials. Ultra-fine motion control in space telescope mirrors, gyroscopes, and robotic arms in ultracold environments require nanoelectromechanical systems, actuators, and nano-sensors. Knowledge of small-scale mechanical properties at cryogenic temperatures (30~298K) is critical in designing these mechanically robust devices and avoiding fracture. Mechanical properties of materials change drastically at nanoscale and they must be re-defined through nanomechanical measurements with an atomic level precision. Permanent deformation of widely used BCC metals is controlled by a linear crystallographic defect called dislocation. At nanoscale, dislocation nucleation marks the onset of plastic deformation and the maximum strength of the material. This project aims to study dislocation nucleation behavior in BCC metals as a function of temperature by using spherical nanoindentation and also to obtain the Peierl’s barrier- the maximum possible strength defined at 0K. Research outcomes will have direct applications in designing mechanically reliable small sensors and devices for future low temperature aeronautical applications.

Hetal Patel is an Honors student from South Windsor, CT, majoring in Materials Science and Engineering, along with a Computer Science and a Mathematics minors. She enjoys participating in STEM outreach events and she is the vice president of the Material Advantage professional student organization. She plans to pursue a PhD in either computation materials science or nanomechanics.

Usra Qureshi

Major:Molecular and Cell Biology and Human Rights
Project Title:Assessment of Access to Maternal Healthcare for Syrian Refugee Women in Greece: A Human Rights Perspective
Committee:Kathryn Libal, Human Rights Institute (chair); Judith Landin, Molecular and Cell Biology; César Abadia, Anthropology

Project Summary:Though the right to health is recognized as an international legal principle, refugee women’s access to health care has not been widely realized as a human right with concrete obligations on the part of countries where refugees reside or wait to transit to another country of asylum. This project aims to investigate the discrepancies that exist amongst law/policy and the realities of maternal health care access amongst the female migrant population in Greece. Information collected through interviews with various groups will be used to develop recommendations that seek to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Usra Qureshi is deeply involved in refugee ordeals locally and abroad, having organized efforts for refugee camps in Greece and assisted in the resettlement of an Iraqi family in Hartford. She also enjoys photojournalism and was recently named a Roberto Romano fellow by the Human Rights Institute for her work.

 

Ericka Randazzo

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology and Pathobiology
Project Title:Identification of Neural Progenitor Cells that Give Rise to Supratentorial Ependymomas in a Novel Preclinical Model
Committee:Joseph LoTurco, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Paulo Verardi, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science; Joanne Conover, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary:Supratentorial ependymomas (ST-EPN) are an important subclass of brain tumors that develop in the third or lateral ventricles of the brain and have been found to be significantly correlated with a novel fusion involving the C11orf95 and RELA genes. The cellular origin of ST-EPN is an incompletely defined population of neural stem cells (NSCs), possibly including radial glial cells (RGCs), intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs), or other related NSCs. Specifically which endogenous cell types are capable of being transformed into ST-EPN, however, remains uncertain. This project focuses on more clearly identifying the endogenous neural cell populations vulnerable to transformation into ependymoma malignancies by theC11orf95-RELA fusion.

Ericka Randazzo is a member of the Honors Program from Norwalk, CT, pursuing a dual degree in PNB and Pathobiology, with a minor in Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. Outside of academics, she is an active member of the UConn Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country teams, the Pre-Medical society, SASP tutoring program, and the Pre-Med newsletter committee. After graduation, Ericka plans to pursue a Research (Plan A) Master’s Degree in PNB before attending medical school, with the ultimate goal of pursuing an MD/Ph.D and specializing in Sports Orthopedic Surgery.

 

Kelsey Richard

Major:Individualized Major: Global Health
Project Title:The Effect of Load on Cartilage Regeneration in Bovine Knee Articular Cartilage
Committee:Caroline Dealy, Reconstructive Science (chair); David Pierce, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering; Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary:  Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of disability in the US in older adults; 10-15% of adults over 60 have some degree of OA and the prevalence of this disease is on the rise as the population ages.  The reason OA is such a challenge in the clinic is because damaged articular cartilage does not effectively repair by itself. This project explores ways to stimulate natural regeneration of articular cartilage by progenitor stem cells that are already present in articular cartilage tissue.  More specifically, the focus is on how mechanical load and localized delivery of an EGFR ligand can synergistically stimulate the tissue and lead to a targeted treatment of OA.

Kelsey Richard is pursuing a B.S. in Global Health with a minor in Spanish.  She is passionate about providing healthcare to underserved populations and leads an alternative break entitled UConn Bridge to Guanin.  Kelsey hopes to earn an M.D., serve her country while promoting global health through the military, and continue to do translational research in her field throughout her career.

 

Meagan Sundstrom

Major:Mathematics-Physics
Project Title:Analyzing the Effectiveness of Studio Physics through the Lens of Intellectual Humility
Committee:Fabiana Cardetti, Mathematics (chair); Manuela Wagner, Literatures, Cultures and Languages; Jason Hancock, Physics

Project Summary:Intellectual Humility (IH), a virtue comprised of intellectual confidence and awareness of fallibility, has been a rising field of research in Philosophy and Psychology. With a growing need to stimulate academic confidence and open-mindedness across many disciplines, research on IH in education is only at its beginning stages and further exploration is in demand.  The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of Studio Physics with regard to the learning experience this teaching style affords in terms of IH, confidence in working in groups on Physics problems, and conceptual knowledge gains.  Through student surveys, conceptual assessments, and laboratory observations, this project aims to compare students in a Studio Physics setting to students in a traditional, lecture-style Physics environment with respect to IH characteristics.

Meagan Sundstrom is an Honors student from Walpole, MA pursuing a B.S. in Mathematics-Physics and a minor in Spanish.  Meagan enjoys playing for the UConn Women’s Club Lacrosse team and traveling to new places like Salamanca, Spain, where she studied abroad in Summer 2016.  She plans to continue research in the field of Physics Education while acquiring a PhD in Physics after graduation.

 

Krishna Vali

Major:Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title:Investigating the Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment in a Drosophila Model of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Committee:Geoffrey Tanner, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair); Daniel Mulkey, Physiology and Neurobiology; Anastasios Tzingounis, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary: Nationally, the incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) exceeds that of all other health diseases with an annual incidence of 1.7 million new cases. The objective of this project is to investigate the use of the ketogenic diet (high fat, low glucose diet) as a therapy to treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is the result of multiple traumatic brain injuries. The purpose of this project is to elucidate the metabolic pathway of the ketogenic diet to identify potential pharmacological targets which would allow for the replacement of complicated dietary regimens with simple administration of drugs.

Krishna Vali is from Seymour, CT, majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. In his free time he enjoys tutoring at Mansfield Middle School and volunteering with Collegiate Health Service Corps to deliver health education to underserved populations. He likes to relax by playing tennis, ping pong and badminton. After graduation he plans to attend medical school and continue conducting research.

Marisa Boch

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: Effect of Silk-Based Hydrogel Topography on Intestinal Epithelial Cell Morphology and Wound Healing in Vitro
Committee: Kelly Burke, Chemical Engineering (chair), Juliet Lee, Molecular and Cell Biology, Charles Giardina, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Recent advances in the field of biomaterials have suggested that cells cultured on substrates resembling the native tissue extracellular matrix adopt phenotypes that more closely resemble the in vivo tissue compared to cells cultured on nonmimetic constructs. Understanding the effect of culture substrate on tissue formation can allow for applications in bioengineering, including tissue remodeling and in vitro disease model development. Although biomaterials optimized for regeneration of tissues such as bone and cartilage have been widely studied, there is little research on culture substrates for intestinal epithelium. The goal of this work is to tune the topography of a cytocompatible hydrogel derived from silk fibroin protein to support intestinal epithelial cell attachment and development into a functional epithelium in vitro and to analyze the effect of hydrogel topography on cell morphology and wound closure capacity in the healthy and diseased states.

Marisa Boch is an Honors student from Waterford, CT, majoring in Chemical Engineering and MCB. Her research interests are centered in the biomedical sciences, particularly in tissue engineering. Outside of academics, she is an active member of the UConn Dance Company, MEDLIFE: UConn, and the Women in STEM mentoring program. She plans to attend medical school after graduation, ultimately specializing in pediatric emergency medicine.

 

 

Ryan Englander

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: Selective Insertion of Inducible Murine Bax into Cancer Using CRISPR/Cas9
Committee: Pramod Srivastava, UConn Health (chair), David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology, J. Peter Gogarten, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project summary: The advent of the gene editing system CRISPR/Cas9 has given researchers unprecedented access to enzymatically identify and manipulate eukaryotic genomes. While most research involving the system has focused on using its function to create and study gene knockouts/knockins to identify gene function and interactions, it is possible that the specificity and efficiency of Cas9 can be taken advantage of to target cytotoxic genes to cancer cells while avoiding normal cells. Such a system would revolutionize cancer treatment by, for the first time, introducing a personalized treatment regimen that avoids the oftentimes devastating side effects associated with conventional therapeutics.

Ryan Englander is pursuing a double major in MCB and Chemistry with an Honors in MCB alongside a Plan B Master’s in MCB with a focus in Genetics and Genomics. In his free time, he likes to remain active in the realm of politics; he volunteered in the Bernie Sanders campaign and helped organize and spoke at the recent ResisTRUMP rally here at Storrs. After graduation, he plans to enroll in a combined MD/PhD program, after which he will pursue research in the field of cancer.

 

Rebecca Hill

Major: English and Economics
Project Title: The Western Madwoman: A Feminist History and Economic Study in Novel Form
Committee: Ellen Litman, English (chair), Veronica Makowsky, English & Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Delia Furtado, Economics

Project Summary: The aim of this research project is to explore the interactions of history, feminism, and economics as they converge in Western feminine archetypes of mental illness.  This project is based in the construction of a novel that uses alternating third-person narratives to detail the lives of two young women: one diagnosed with hysteria in Victorian London, and one a modern-day college student, struggling with anxiety and anorexia.  This project will conclude in a polished piece of creative fiction, as well as an accompanying essay, which will describe the writing process, and discuss in more depth the economics behind the choices both protagonists make in the pursuit of utility.

Rebecca Hill is an English and Economics major, with a minor in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies and a Concentration in Creative Writing.  She has previously researched male depression in contemporary literature as a Holster Scholar, and been awarded the Jennie Hackman Memorial Prize for Short Fiction.  Upon graduation, she plans to pursue an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.

 

Maneesh Koneru

Major: Structural Biology and Biophysics and Chemistry
Project Title: Computational Analysis of Structural Transitions of the Poliovirus Capsid in its Cell Entry Pathway
Committee: Eric May, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair), J. Peter Gogarten, Molecular and Cell Biology, Jose Gascon, Chemistry

Project Summary: Poliovirus, as the carrier virus for polio, is the most well-known of the large Picornavirus family of viruses. Though poliovirus capsid structure is well-documented, there is limited understanding of the mechanism of cell entry, or internalization. Since the structure of picornaviruses is known to be conserved, uncovering the steps critical to this process may be useful in prospective anti-viral strategies targeting all picornaviruses. This project entails converting existing microscopy data on polioviruses to a simplified Gō model, which can then be analyzed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify kinetic and thermodynamic pathways critical to viral externalization.

Maneesh Koneru, of Trumbull, CT, is pursuing a double major in Structural Biology/Biophysics as well as Chemistry, along with a minor in Mathematics. After graduation, Maneesh aims to work towards both an MD and PhD within the field of viral biophysics.

 

Soumya Kundu

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project Title: Characterizing the Accuracy of Gene Tree Rooting Methods Using a Simulation Framework
Committee: Mukul S. Bansal, Computer Science and Engineering (chair), J. Peter Gogarten, Molecular and Cell Biology, Ion Mandiou, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary: The objective of this project is to construct a probabilistic simulation framework for the evolution of gene families that expands upon the capabilities of existing frameworks and generates simulated data sets of species trees, gene trees, and gene sequences, which will then be used to compare and characterize the accuracy of the methods that are most commonly used to temporally orient, or root, a gene tree. The purpose of this project is to help biologists accurately identify the root of a gene tree, as that will allow them to construct accurate evolutionary histories and properly understand how genes and species evolve, which will directly benefit our understanding of evolutionary biology.

Soumya Kundu is pursuing dual B.S.E./M.S. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. He is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Mukul Bansal’s Computational Biology Laboratory and a School of Engineering Senator in the Undergraduate Student Government. After graduation, Soumya plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

 

Matthew Lin

Major: Biological Sciences
Project Title: Apoptosis Via Cell-Cycle Protein Wee1 and PDK4 interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Committee: Li Wang, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair), Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology, Thomas Abbott, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) incidence is the third most common cause of cancer-attributed mortality. While studying the liver cancer disease model, a line of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) knockout mice exhibited tumorigenesis and subsequent massive apoptosis after treatment with a mild carcinogen. This project aims to understand the gene expression interactions between Wee1, a cell-cycle protein down-regulated in these mice, and PDK4, a regulator of metabolic function. This novel cross-talk of pathways leading to apoptosis in liver cancer could shed light more about disease onset and possible therapeutic targets.

Matthew Lin is pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry and an M.S. in Genetics and Genomics. From East Lyme, CT, Matt enjoys playing music and soccer, participating in service trips with the Medical Humanitarian Society and the Bridge to Guanin to deliver medical care to underserved populations, and developing a balanced lifestyle with his fraternity, SigEp. Matt hopes to earn an M.D./Ph.D and combine genetic engineering with immunology to target disease.

 

Caroline Liu

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: Fluorescent Phosphoantigen Prodrugs as Ligands of the BTN3A1 Receptor
Committee: Andrew Wiemer, Pharmaceutical Sciences (chair), Olga Vinogradova, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Adam Zweifach, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: T cells are of interest in cancer immunotherapy because of their specificity in expressing antigen receptors, memory of antigens, and ability to respond to novel antigens. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, specifically, are considered a link between adaptive and innate immune responses because of their ability to generate an adaptive, antigen-specific response as well as be activated directly by pathogen-associated molecular patterns and phosphoantigens. This project investigates the stability of two novel fluorescent phosphoantigens, and furthermore, their ability to activate Vγ9Vδ2 cells through binding to the intracellular region of BTN3A1. The information gathered will continue research for stable phosphonate prodrugs that can overcome the charge barriers of crossing biological membranes, bind to the intracellular domain of BTN3A1, and effectively target tumor cells.

Caroline Liu, from Westford, MA, is majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Health Care Management and Insurance Studies. She enjoys clinical research at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, serving on the Panhellenic Council, and taking on active roles in Alpha Zeta Omega Pharmacy Fraternity. She plans to attend medical school and ultimately become a pediatrician.

 

Alyssa Mathiowetz

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: Autophagy in Development and Disease: From Model Organisms to Clinical Samples
Committee: Kenneth Campellone, Molecular and Cell Biology (chair), Nathan Alder, Molecular and Cell Biology, David Daggett, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Autophagy (literally “self-eating”) is a complex mechanism of intracellular degradation and recycling that is important for maintaining homeostasis and responding to stress. This process is necessary for proper embryonic development, and is altered in a variety of human diseases ranging from cancer to diabetes. Galloway-Mowat Syndrome (GMS) is an inherited disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental delay and progressive kidney disease that is prevalent in Amish communities. Amish individuals with GMS possess genetic mutations that give rise to cellular defects in autophagy. This project will study how inactivation of homologous genes in the model organism Danio rerio (zebrafish) influence development, as well as how the GMS-associated mutations affect the metabolic state of human patient cells.

Alyssa Mathiowetz is a junior majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Food Science. She is an undergraduate researcher in the Campellone Lab and hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Nutritional Biochemistry. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and volunteering at a local elementary school.

 

Bridget Oei

Major: Environmental Chemistry
Project Title: Analyzing the Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Signaling in the Repair of Osteoarthritic Cartilage
Committee: Caroline Dealy, Reconstructive Sciences UCHC (chair), Michael Hren, Chemistry, Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that degenerates the articular cartilage in joints. Current treatment methods are limited because cartilage is not readily able to repair itself.  The goal of this project is to study the use of growth factors, which stimulate the proliferation of resident progenitor cells to repair traumatic damage to the joint cartilage. A mouse model will be developed to exhibit cartilage damage, and histology will be used to confirm that the defect does not heal on its own. This model will be used to study the activation of growth factor signaling in the joint will induce cartilage healing by stimulating progenitor cells. Nanoparticles in which the growth factor has been encapsulated, will be utilized to exogenously promote the repair of joint cartilage damage. These experiments will support development of a clinically relevant approach to prevent osteoarthritis by stimulating cartilage repair by the body’s own cells.

Bridget Oei is an environmental science major with a focus in environmental chemistry. Bridget enjoys participating in environmentally focused as well as medical research. Her plans after graduation are to attend medical school and continue research, in addition to working and traveling to promote global health.

 

Vincent Pistritto

Major: Chemistry and Music
Project Title: Illuminating New Approaches to the Synthesis of Fluorine Containing Compounds
Committee: Nicholas Leadbeater, Chemistry (chair), Amy Howell, Chemistry, Eric Rice, Music

Project Summary: Nearly twenty percent of all current pharmaceuticals on the market today contain at least one fluorine atom; thus, the pharmacological importance of this element cannot be denied. The development of sustainable and scalable methods to access fluorinated products is desirable. This project will seek to use visible light as a “reagent” to power a dual catalytic cycle of an environmentally-friendly oxidant ACT and a photocatalyst. Specifically, trifluoromethyl ketones will be targeted through three distinct approaches. The ultimate outcome of these studies will be the formalization of cleaner and greener methods for fluorination that mitigates chemical waste.

Vincent Pistritto is currently pursuing a dual degree in chemistry and music with the intention of obtaining a Ph. D. in chemistry after graduation. He has co-authored one publication in addition to submitting another manuscript for review. He is active on campus as a member of the Wind Ensemble as well as serving as a student coordinator for Honors Initiatives for Prospective Students (HIPS).

 

Jared Quigley

Major: Political Science
Project Title: An Unlikely Populist: Donald Trump, the Language of Populism and the Politics of Resentment
Committee: Virginia Hettinger, Political Science (chair), Peter Baldwin, History, Kimberly Bergendahl, Political Science

Project Summary: Pundits and political scientists alike were stunned by Donald Trump’s success in the Republican primary and, even more so, in the general election in 2016.  For this project, I plan to examine Trump’s use of the language of populism and compare it to the use of this language by other conservative populists in post World War II America. The project will present a definition of populism based on existing literature and, using recordings of Donald Trump’s campaign rallies, show how his rhetoric made him a populist candidate. In addition, the project will examine groups he classified as “the elite” (as opposed to “the people”), including politicians and the media among others. 

Jared Quigley is a Political Science major with a minor in History and a Special Program in Law participant from Trumbull, Connecticut. In addition to participating in undergraduate research on congressional elections, Jared is the president of the Moot Court team, hosts a weekly radio show on WHUS and enjoys running in his free time. Upon his graduation from UConn, Jared plans to attend law school.

 

Elizabeth Rodier 

Major: Physiology and Neurobiology
Project Title: Validation of a Novel Inhibitor for Epilepsy Associated with KCNQ2 Channels
Committee: Anastasios Tzingounis, Physiology and Neurobiology (chair), Daniel Mulkey, Physiology and Neurobiology, Mary Bruno, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: KCNQ2 potassium channels are critical controllers of neonatal brain activity. A growing number of gain-of-function pathogenic KCNQ2 variants have been reported in patients with severe neonatal epilepsy. Currently there are no specific KCNQ2 channel inhibitors to block the activity of these channels. The goal of my project is to provide insight into the drug “HN38” as a potential treatment for the gain-of-function variants of KCNQ2 potassium channels. I will determine the selectivity of HN38 on KCNQ channel family members, as well as determine whether this drug can inhibit gain-of-function variants identified from pediatric epilepsy patients.

Elizabeth Rodier is a Physiology and Neurobiology major and Spanish minor from Avon, Connecticut. In her free time she enjoys going for long runs, knitting, and trying new food. After graduation, Elizabeth plans to attend medical school.

 

Nicholas Russo

Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Project Title: Effects of a Series of Predictors on Successful Avian Dispersal of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Committee: Morgan Tingley, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (chair), Chris Elphick, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Robert Bagchi, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Project Summary: The hemlock woolly adelgid is an invasive insect that parasitizes the eastern hemlock, thereby altering eastern forest ecosystems. The dispersible life stage of the adelgid is most abundant in the first weeks of May, coinciding with peak songbird migration in the northeast. This project tests the hypothesis that birds spread adelgid infestation by carrying adelgids to uninfested hemlocks during spring migration. The aim of this study is to determine the relative importance environmental factors conducive to this ecological process by monitoring the presence of adelgids on wild birds and quantifying transfer rates of adelgids from perching birds to hemlock branches.

Nicholas Russo is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major from Rhode Island, and a tutor at the Writing Center. An avid birder, he is president of the UConn Birding Club and plans to pursue a PhD in avian ecology.

 

Dennis Scheglov

Major: Mechanical Engineering
Project Title: Using a Cylindrical Coordinate System to Facilitate Multi-Material 3D Printing
Committee: Xu Chen, Mechanical Engineering (chair), Iddo Ben-Ari, Mathematics, Jeffrey Meunier, Computer Science and Engineering

Project Summary: 3-D printing as a new form of manufacturing has shown great promise in terms of the novel geometries it can produce and its ease and efficiency in doing so. However, like many other forms of manufacturing, it produces parts in single materials to be combined with others later. This project aims to use the mathematical advantages of the cylindrical coordinate system to build a prototype printer that can use multiple materials simultaneously to create composite structures with useful properties.

Dennis Scheglov is a Mechanical Engineering major and Math minor from New Milford, CT. He is an undergraduate researcher in the MAC3 and AIM laboratories and plans to continue on to graduate school in either robotics or additive manufacturing.

 

Rebecca Schwartz

Major: Biological Sciences and Psychological Sciences
Project Title: Depression, Dopamine, and Drug Treatments Examining the Effect of Novel Dopamine Transport Blockers on Effort-Related Motivational Behaviors in Rats
Committee: John Salamone, Psychological Sciences (chair), James Chrobak, Psychological Sciences, Alexander Jackson, Physiology and Neurobiology

Project Summary: Mental illness is extremely common, affecting 1 in every 4 adults, and among all mental illnesses, depression is probably the most common.  Although depression is commonly labeled as an affective disorder, the most debilitating symptoms are psychomotor/motivational dysfunctions such as anergia, fatigue, and psychomotor slowing.  Not only are they extremely disabling, but they are also some of the most difficult symptoms to treat.  The goal of this project is to study animal models of effort-based choice that can be used as the foundation for developing drug treatments for depression and other mental illnesses characterized by these symptoms. Specifically, this project will be investigating the ability of two novel dopamine transport blockers to increase high-effort activities and reverse the effects of motivational impairments in rats.

Rebecca Schwartz is a double major in Biological Sciences and Psychological Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience. She hopes to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist after graduation. Outside of academics, Rebecca enjoys singing as the music director of Notes Over Storrs (one of UConn’s a cappella groups) and in the UConn Chamber Singers.

 

Helen Stec

Major: History and English
Project Title: The Tale of the “Fallen” Woman and the Influence of Sensation Literature on Journalistic Accounts of Prostitution in the United States. 1870-1917
Committee: Peter Baldwin, History (chair), Wayne Franklin, English, Michele McElya, History

Project Summary: In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, the “seduced” or “fallen” prostitute was a ubiquitous figure in American fiction. This portrayal decreased her responsibility for her “immoral” occupation and warned impressionable young women to resist sexual temptations. Journalistic accounts of prostitution during this period often echoed the language and themes found in popular fiction, and prostitutes themselves often adhered to the seduced woman narrative when recounting how they became involved in sex work. I will analyze how the journalistic discussion of prostitution in the U.S. from 1870 to 1917 echoes the themes and tone of fictional works on the topic, particularly sensation literature.

Helen Stec is a history and English double major and Honors student from Wethersfield, Connecticut. After graduating, she hopes to earn a Ph.D. in nineteenth-century American history. Her hobbies include long-distance running, knitting, reading, and writing.

 

Brendan Stewart

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: Identification of Novel Secondary Metabolites from the Trachymyrmex septentrionalis Symbiotic Community
Committee: Marcy Balunas, Pharmaceutical Science (chair), Spencer Nyholm, Molecular and Cell Biology, Jonathan Klassen, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Symbiotic communities have become a focal point in the natural product drug discovery field. The secondary metabolites that are produced in symbiotic communities are important as they provide the foundation for future therapeutic uses in the medical field. This project specifically focuses on host-microbe symbioses in the Trachymyrmex septentrionalis fungus-growing ant community in relation to drug discovery. This study aims to isolate and determine the chemical structures of novel secondary metabolites being produced in the symbiotic community. In addition, the bioactivity of the secondary metabolites will be tested to determine the antimicrobial properties which will help determine potential therapeutic effects of the compounds.

Brendan Stewart is from Wethersfield, CT and pursuing a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Spanish. He is on the club swim team and is also president of MEDLIFE: UConn, leading medical volunteer trips to South America to serve underdeveloped communities. After graduation, Brendan plans on attending medical school.

 

William Tait

Major: Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering
Project Title: Hydrated Sodium Carbonate Powders as a Solid Sorbent for Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Oxides and Nitrogen Oxides
Committee: Luyi Sun, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (chair), Daniel Burkey, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Alexander Agrios, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Project Summary: This project is an investigation into hydrated sodium carbonate powders (HSCPs) as a sorbent for carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. HSCPs are made from various ratios of sodium carbonate powder mixed with dry water, which is a powder composed of water droplets coated with silica The goal of this project is to find optimal conditions for uptake of these pollutants by HSCPs, and to use that data to develop a process for the industrialization of HSCPs. HSCPs would be most useful if they could be integrated into large industrial point-sources of air pollution to capture the gaseous pollutants.

William Tait is a junior chemical engineering and environmental engineering dual major in the honors program at UConn. William does research in Dr. Luyi Sun’s laboratory in the Institute of Materials Science. When not in class or the lab, William enjoys swing, blues, and ballroom dancing.

 

Hope Whitelock 

Major: Physics
Project Title: A Novel Approach to Strain Engineering Making Films Thick Again
Committee: Barrett O. Wells, Physics (chair), Norah Berrah, Physics, Jason Hancock, Physics

Project Summary: STO is a particularly enigmatic material. According to calculations, it should have a ferro- electric transition at about 35K, but in bulk this transition cannot be found experimentally. If, however, you do anything to STO, such as dope, reduce, or strain it, the ferroelectric phase is easily found. Additionally, it should have a superconducting transition at about 0.35K, which is easy to find in bulk and film. Recent work found that isotope substitution increased the transition temperature by a factor of 1.5, contrary to theory. Additionally, the isotope effect induces ferroelectricity in STO, which should kill superconductivity, not enhance it. The current working theory is that the superconductivity is actually coupling to the dielectric response, instead of the atomic vibrations. Strain enhances the dielectric response of a material, but does not significantly alter the vibrational structure, making it a good way to understand this unconventional superconductivity.  

Hope Whitelock is a physics major from Redding, Connecticut. She is an undergraduate research in the Wells group, and intends to pursue a doctorate after graduation. In her free time she enjoys climbing and playing the ukulele.

 

Skylar Wright

Major: Biological Sciences
Project Title: Structural Variations in Circulating Lipopolysaccharide May Increase Severity of Exercise-Induced Heat Illness
Committee: Elaine C. Lee, Kinesiology (chair), Nichole Broderick, Molecular and Cell Biology, Carol Pilbeam, Medicine Orthopedics 

Project Summary: Exercise-induced increases in circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS; a component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls) may result from LPS leakage from the GI tract following exercise, heat, and dehydration stress. Circulating LPS may trigger inflammatory responses including increased core temperature, cell pyroptosis, and septic shock. Variants of LPS inner heptose structure may trigger these responses differently. This project will explore whether LPS structural variants determine if an individual has increased risk for exertional heat illness or more severe related pathophysiology post exercise. The composition of the gut microbiome of individuals may play a role in which LPS variants are present post exercise, and the inter-individual variability in exertional heatstroke risk and severity of pathophysiology in field studies. 

Skylar Wright is a Biological Sciences major with minors in Psychology and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies from Bristol, Connecticut. She has research experience in the Lee Lab in Storrs and the Pilbeam Lab at UCHC. She plans to pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

 

Xiuyi Alexander Yang 

Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Project Title: A Novel Application of FRET Based Biosensors in High-Throughput Screening for Modulators of PKC Signaling
Committee: Adam Zweifach, Molecular and Cell biology (chair), Charles Giardina, Molecular and Cell Biology, David Knecht, Molecular and Cell Biology

Project Summary: Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a strongly implied target for therapeutic agents in the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). PKC activity is difficult to track in live cells largely due to the conformational and locational changes upon activation. We will utilize Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensors to detect PKC activation in live cells in real time with extremely fine precision. The innovation of this assay is the simple add-and-mix nature of the procedure which allows the assay’s use in plates. We propose to create a high-throughput assay which can detect PKC activation in live cells in response to compounds by using flow cytometry to analyze FRET efficiency in live cells transfected with FRET based biosensors. The long term goal of this project is to expand the assay from the lab to a fully machine automated industrial scale screening assay.

Xiuyi Alexander Yang is an MCB major originally from Arlington, MA and is working in Dr. Zweifach’s lab. He plans on pursuing the dual M.S./B.S. Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology with a concentration in Cell and Developmental Biology. He enjoys playing basketball and going to all you can eat buffets.