National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Western Carolina University has established itself as a national leader in undergraduate research having ranked in the Top 10 for the number of projects accepted to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research annually since 2006.

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.

A complete listing of all accepted projects is provided below. Projects are listed by titles, primary student presenters and their sponsors, and organized by discipline for NCUR35, hosted this year virtually.

Engineering

Biomaterial Printer
Student Authors: Riley Johnson, David Yang, Nicholas Umling, Jeff Albriton, Levi Johnson, Nazmul Ahsahn, Cameron Lewis
Faculty Sponsor: Nazmul Ahsan

A Simple, Real-Time Method for Measuring Firebrand Heat Flux using Semiconductor Devices
Student Authors: Birch Newell, Marcus Chester
Faculty Sponsor: Andy Ritenour

Load-Following Flexibility of Small Modular Reactors Coupled with Wind Farms in the Presence of Extreme Wind Conditions
Student Authors: Joseph Rolland, Carl Robinson, Elijah Bloom, Chris Rodriguez, Fawaz Alsubaie
Faculty Sponsor: Bora Karayaka

English and Literature

Something to Hold on To: Barry Lopez, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Finding Purpose in Art and Nature
Student Author: Carina Blomberg
Faculty Sponsor: Jonathan Bradshaw

The Final Stories: An Examination of Writing Therapy in Denis Johnson’s “The Largesse of the Sea Maiden”
Student Author: Autumn Boyles
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

The Biblical Paranoia of Macbeth: An Analysis of the Paranoid Effects of Christian Principles on the Life of Macbeth
Student Author: Valerie Dillard
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Adams

“Like the Worst, She’s a Woman”: Objectification and Degradation of Women in Salvage the Bones
Student Author: Dabney Doepner
Faculty Sponsor: Brain Railsback

“Reality’s Never Been of Much Use Out Here”: No Country for Old Men and Close Range: Wyoming Stories as Anti-Westerns
Student Author: Katelyn Hallman
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

Colson Whitehead’s Extinguished World
Student Author: Elias Hutchinson
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

The Folly of a Perfect Wife: Why Shakespeare Made Lady Macbeth the Beginning of Macbeth’s Downfall
Student Author: Grace LaMack
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Adams

9/11 and Zombie Apocalypses: How Zone One Mirrors Life Today
Student Author: Jessica Martin
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

Chestnut or Mahogany: The Relationship Between the Characters of Ron Rash’s Serena and the Environment
Student Author: McKenzie Twine
Faculty Sponsor: Annette Debo

Christ, the Devil, and Mark: An Examination of Addiction and Rehabilitation in “The Starlight on Idaho” by Denis Johnson
Student Author: McKenzie Twine
Faculty Sponsor: Brian Railsback

Health & Human Development

Task and Language Effects on Spanish-English Narrative Performance
Student Author: Jessica Cano
Faculty Sponsor: Claire Wofford

Linguistics and World Languages

Vocabulary Use in Writing Samples of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Student Authors: Amanda Davis, Yana Clarke
Faculty Sponsor: Johanna Price Vinyard

Task and Language Effects on Spanish-English Narrative Performance
Student Authors: Jessica Cano
Faculty Sponsor: Claire Wofford

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

1-Dimensional Lithium Dendrite Formation
Student Author: Rylan Paye
Faculty Sponsor: Hayri Sezer

Music

Music on the Porch: the Life and Legacy of Samantha Bumgarner
Student Author: Savannah Bennett
Faculty Sponsor: Andrew Adams

Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation in Western Art Music: A Look at Non-Western Influences in Classical Music
Student Author: Mattie Mabes
Faculty Sponsor: Tyler Kinnear

Batá Drumming: Ethical and Respectful Use by Non-Santeros
Student Author: Kendall Rhymer
Faculty Sponsor: Adam Groh

Electronic Music of Steve Reich
Student Author: McKenzie Squires
Faculty Sponsor: Christina Reitz

Philosophy, Ethics, & Religious Studies

The Pragmatic Methodist’s Trilateral
Student Author: Nathan Travis
Faculty Sponsor: Daryl Hale

Political Science

Rapid Urbanization of Melanesia: Effects on Future Healthcare Institutional Capacity
Student Author: Michaela Proffitt
Faculty Sponsor: Ingrid Bego

Psychology

Investigating Associations Between Women’s Interoceptive Awareness and Sexual Function
Student Authors: Sophia Frank, Kendall Poovey
Faculty Sponsor: David de Jong

Rhetoric and Writing Studies

Redefining Therapy: Writing’s Role in Eating Disorder Treatment
Student Author: Carina Blomberg
Faculty Sponsor: Jonathan Bradshaw

National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Art History and Visual Arts

Biochemistry

Biology

Chemistry

Criminology and Criminal Justice