Undergraduate Exposition Poster Presentations

Anthropology & Sociology

Testing Decomposition Scoring Methods at FOREST in Cullowhee, NC
Student Presenter: Leilah Melerine
Faculty Sponsor: Rebecca George and Nicholas Passalacqua

 

Biology

Investigation of Stabilizing Mutations in N1303K-CTFR Protein
Student Presenter: Andrea Holguin
Faculty Sponsor: Robert Youker

Investigation of solubility of F508del and N103K CFTR mutations.
Student Presenter: Andrea Sibu
Faculty Sponsor: Robert Youker

Assessment of DNA extraction techniques for next-generation sequencing analysis of forensic cold case samples
Student Presenters: Callie Parker, Scarlett Domashinski, and Erica Franke
Faculty Sponsors: Frankie West and Brittania Bintz

Detecting protein interactions to understand plant stress response
Student Presenter: Jadyn Hutsell
Faculty Sponsor: Amanda Storm

Report of Predatory Behavior in Male Photuris
Student Presenters: Nicole Carrillo, Morgan Maddaluna, and Jada Gregory
Faculty Sponsor: Luiz Lima Da Silveria

Hypoxia’s impact on Glucose Usage and Autophagy in Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cells
Student Presenters: Tori Harper and Kendall Payne
Faculty Sponsor: Heather Coan

 

Chemistry & Physics

Synthesis of Quantum-Confined Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystals Using a Microwave Reactor
Student Presenters: Amber Pruitt and Kat Ferrell
Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Beimborn

A Computational Study of Terpyridine-Based Agents for Actinide Extraction in Aqueous Solutions
Student Presenters: Andrew Zink, Cameron Patterson, Ariel Colon Rodriguez, Hayden Privette, and Joaquin Gabriel Layno
Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva

Improving the Sensitivity of a Low-Cost Photoacoustic Spectrometer to Study Climate Effects of Aerosols
Student Presenter: Ashley Scott
Faculty Sponsor: Al Fischer

Determination of Microwave Times for Effective Strontium Fluoride Synthesis
Student Presenters: Ava Greene, Peyton Price, and Elvis Perez Galarza
Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva

Study of Novel Proteins Containing an Immunity Repressor Domain
Student Presenters: Brianna Reyes Soto and Hannah Bonogafsky
Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Wallen

Microwave-assisted synthesis of terbium-doped calcium fluoride nanoparticles for potential luminescent applications
Student Presenter: Candice Tidwell
Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva

Redox-Responsive Polymer-Protein Nanoparticles as an Effective Drug Delivery System
Student Presenter: Isabella Helms
Faculty Sponsor: Rangika Hikkaduwa Koralege

Cluster A Bacteriophage Anti-Repressor Protein Solubility Testing
Student Presenters: James Morris and Chloe Timmons
Faculty Sponsor: Maria Gainey

Determination of Ligand Binding on Calcium Fluoride Nanocrystals Using NMR Spectroscopy
Student Presenters: Kirsten Hahn, Annika Parikh, and Madelyn Gregory
Faculty Sponsors: Curtis Beimborn and Channa De Silva

Optimizing Closed-Vessel Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Calcium Fluoride Nanoparticles for Potential Luminescent Applications
Student Presenter: Madelyn Gregory
Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva

Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Biodegradable Zwitterionic Poly(carboxybetaine) Polymer Hydrogels for Protein Delivery
Student Presenter: Mage Naef
Faculty Sponsor: Rangika Hikkaduwa Koralege

Optimization of sample preparation procedure of bones for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Student Presenter: Malinda Bullock
Faculty Sponsors: Nuwan Perera, Rebecca George, and Frankie West

Determination of the Effect of a Novel Anti-Repressor Protein on Establishment of Cluster A Lysogeny
Student Presenters: Montana Pell and Jordan Edwards
Faculty Sponsor: Maria Gainey

Investigation of DNA binding and DNA synthesis activities of bacteriophage Larva primase-polymerase.
Student Presenters: Paiton Motley and Carter Bucholz
Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Wallen

Synthesis of Terpyridine Ligands for Formation and Characterization of Fluorescent Europium Complexes to Maximize Efficiency.
Student Presenters: Patrick Drake and Ella Whitehead
Faculty Sponsors: Brian Dinkelmeyer and Channa De Silva

Assessing DNA Degradation in Human Blood Meals Found in Mosquitoes Using Quantitative PCR.
Student Presenter: Sayumi De Silva
Faculty Sponsors: Brittania Bintz and Brian Byrd

Substituent Effects on Photoluminescent Properties of Terpyridine-metal Complexes
Student Presenter: Serim Park
Faculty Sponsors: Brian Dinkelmeyer, Channa De Silva, and Jamie Wallen

Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of zwitterionic, crosslinked, poly(sulfobetaine) polymer hydrogel particles for delivery of proteins.
Student Presenter: William Zielinski
Faculty Sponsor: Rangika Hikkaduwa Koralege

 

Criminology & Criminal Justice

The effects of wellness programs on the retention of public safety telecommunicators
Student Presenter: Marissa Czap
Faculty Sponsor: Jamie Vaske

An Analysis of the Executive Branch in State Supreme Court Elections
Student Presenter: Simon Gugerli
Faculty Sponsor: Andy Hansen

 

Geosciences and Natural Resource Management

Determining Habitat Availability for Muskellunge in North Carolina
Student Presenter: Delaney Whitson
Faculty Sponsor: Keith Gibbs

Tree growth response to rhododendron removal and prescribed fire in the southern Appalachians
Student Presenter: Devon Barbour
Faculty Sponsor: Yang Yang

Water Temperature may be a Limiting Factor for Species Reintroductions in the Upper Little Tennessee River Basin
Student Presenter: Fiona Thompson
Faculty Sponsor: Keith Gibbs

Exploring how canopy cover and land use affects flying insects in the city
Student Presenters: Isaac Jackson, Harlan Chapman, Elsa Youngsteadt, and Peter Willadsen
Faculty Sponsor: Sarah Parsons

Geochemical and Petrological Analyses of Mica Mine Adjacent Wetlands Located in the Blue Ridge Belt, Western North Carolina
Student Presenter: Lacie Larsen
Faculty Sponsor: Mark Lord

Geochemical and Petrological Study of Corundum Knob Lithologies​
Student Presenters: Sophia Platt, Lacie Larsen, Leah Bowers, and Mei Cornell
Faculty Sponsor: Amy Fagan

 

History

Gender Bias in Murder Cases Portrayed in the Media.
Student Presenter: Avery Luft
Faculty Sponsor: Rob Ferguson

Patriotism and Persecution: The Experiences of Queer Communities in the Wake of World War II
Student Presenter: Hayden Burris
Faculty Sponsor: Gael Graham

Global Black Studies and Student Organization Theory, Practice, and Struggle at Western Carolina University
Student Presenters: Jada Copper, Emma McGeady, and Jemiah Davidson
Faculty Sponsor: David Walton

Global Black Studies club
Student Presenters: Jemiah Davidson, Jada Copper, and Emma McGeady
Faculty Sponsor: David Walton

The Resegregation of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District
Student Presenter: Kaley Buckman
Faculty Sponsor: David Walton

How does intimate partner violence (IPV) effect LGBTQia African American women in their relationships with others?
Student Presenter: Khadija Davis
Faculty Sponsor: David Walton