National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Western Carolina University has established itself as a national leader in undergraduate research and has a long-standing tradition of acceptance and participation in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. 

Students accepted to NCUR have the opportunity to present their undergraduate research along with peers from across disciplines. Since 1987, NCUR has been a flagship conference for undergraduate researchers to share, celebrate, and promote their research achievements. 

Twenty-nine students from WCU will present their research at the conference scheduled April 7 – 9, 2025. The conference will be held in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania this year. Primary student presenters are acknowledged below by the College and Department they will represent. Congratulations to these students and their faculty mentors!

 

College of Arts & Sciences 

Chemistry and Physics 

The Relationship between Temperature and the Binding of Surface Ligands on Cesium Lead Bromide Nanocrystals   
Presenter: Annabelle Pentland

Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Beimborn

Synthesis of Europium (III) Thenoyltrifluoroacetonate Terpyridine Complexes and the Influence of Electron Donors and Acceptors on Fluorescent Efficiency.
Presenters: Ella Whitehead and Thomas Bolick
Faculty Sponsors: Brian Dinkelmeyer and Channa De Silva

Analyzing the Effect of Alkylamine Length on CsPbBr3 Nanocrystal Storage Longevity
Presenter: Kaitlyn Wingnean
Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Beimborn

Tuning Optical and Structural Properties of Lanthanide-Doped Calcium-Fluoride Nanocrystals 
Presenter: Madelyn Gregory

Faculty Sponsor: Channa De Silva

Optimization of Octadecylamine Passivated Cesium Lead Bromide Nanocrystals by Varying Reaction Conditions
Presenter: Rynn Oleszczuk
Faculty Sponsor: Curtis Beimborn

English Studies

Will The World Weep When We Are Gone? Ariel Francisco’s Guide to the End of the World
Presenter: Grace Pavel
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

Girl Math, Girl Dinner; “Girl” as A Modifier in Noun Phrases   
Presenter:
Mykah Green

Faculty Sponsor: Erin Callahan

Forensic Science

Optimization and Validation of an mRNA Multiplex Panel for Identification of Human Biological Fluids
Presenter: Sayumi De Silva
Faculty Sponsor: Erin Callahan

History

“Get the Boot off Our Necks:” The Impact of the United Packinghouse Workers of America in Chicago    
Presenter: Sara Rusi
Faculty Sponsor: Gael Graham

The Role of Newspapers in U.S. History’s Only Successful Coup D’etat: The Wilmington Insurrection of 1898
Presenter: Taleigh Verrault
Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth McRae

Philosophy & Religion 

The Butler Did It: Science and Religion’s Justifications of Transphobia    
Presenter: Amaranth Schmoyer
Faculty Sponsor: David Henderson

Political Science & Public Affairs

In Favor of Retrospective Learning in Political Science    
Presenter: Taylor Kissiah
Faculty Sponsor: Niall Michelsen

The Degradation of the Senate: Polarization and the Rise of Executive Power  
Presenter: Taylor Kissiah
Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Hayden

World Languages

The Accent of your Class: How Language Adapts and Changes Through The Movie Nueba Yol To Represent The Caribbean migrant Experience.    
Presenter: Allem Rojas
Faculty Sponsor: Michael Martinez

DISMANTLING MYTHS ABOUT LATINX IMMIGRATION AND THE U.S. ECONOMY    
Presenter: Angela Vidal
Faculty Sponsor: Lori Oxford

Language and Culture Struggles of the Latinx Community in the U.S.A.    
Presenter: Omar De Jesus-Gomez
Faculty Sponsor: Lori Oxford

College of Business 

School of Economics, Management, and Project Management 

Trapped by Design: Redlining, Government Aid, and the Cycle of Poverty 
Presenter: Tryston Weiss
Faculty Sponsor: Sean Mulholland

 

College of Education & Allied Professions

Psychology

The Brief Attitudes Toward Solo Masturbation Scale: Exploratory Factor Analysis    
Presenter: Christopher Ginn
Faculty Sponsor: David de Jong

The Brief Attitudes Toward Solo Masturbation Scale: Convergent and Divergent Validity    
Presenter: Gabriella Loredo Marquez
Faculty Sponsor: David de Jong

Short Interval Bright Light Therapy and Well-Being of College Students      
Presenter: Natalie Woolwine
Faculty Sponsor: Sam Castelblanco

College of Engineering & Technology

School of Engineering & Technology

Analysis of Synthetic Biodegradable Polymers and Their Blends for Medical Device Applications 
Presenter: Allison Thackery
Faculty Sponsor: Martin Tanaka

A Portable Educational Model for an Energy Management System of Duke Energy    
Presenters: Hardin Kennedy and Ben Griffith
Faculty Sponsor: Tarek Hassan Kandil

Method for Assessing Obstacle Height in Mountain Bike Trails Using a Distance Sensor Array      
Presenter: John Crain
Faculty Sponsor: Matt Clontz

Investigation of Time Impact of Power Flow Solver Algorithms on Transmission Outage Scheduling      
Presenter: Ariel Colón-Rodríguez
Faculty Sponsors: Bora Karayaka and Andy Ritenour

Analysis of Natural Frequencies and Mode Shapes of a Mountain Bike Test Stand Using CAD Simulations and Experimental Validation      
Presenter: Joshua Madison
Faculty Sponsor: Matt Clontz

David Orr Belcher College of Fine & Performing Arts

School of Art & Design

Multi-Residential Affordable Housing: SOP Theory & Environmental Psychology    
Presenter: Ashley Oglesby
Faculty Sponsor: Shelby Hicks

The Intersection of Homeless Shelters and Historic Preservation for Community Engagement   
Presenter: Lauren Koster
Faculty Sponsor: Shelby Hicks

History, Building, and Design Study for Historic Preservation of Rosenwald Schools in Wake County, NC 
Presenter: Minami Imamura
Faculty Sponsor: Patrice Brown