Research | Center for Undergraduate Research
Research | Center for Undergraduate Research
Center for Undergraduate Research

2024 CUR Undergraduate Research Festival

Overview

In celebration of undergraduate research and scholarship, the SJU CUR (Center for Undergraduate Research) organized its 2024 Undergraduate Research Festival on April 8-11, 2024.

2024 CUR Undergraduate Research Festival 
Schedule of Events at a Glance
(April 8-11, 2024 )

Mon April 8, 2024

10 am Soft Opening, IMAGES OF RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBIT-COMPETITION SOFT OPENING (STC Atrium) "Images" participants mount poster entries at STC Atrium (UC). Entries viewable online at the CUR Instagram Page beginning April 8, 2024.

Tues April 9, 2024  

12:30 pm CUR RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES/RECEPTION FORMAL OPENING OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FESTIVAL AND IMAGES OF RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBIT STC Atrium (UC). "Images" participants present their posters. Refreshments served. 

1:30 pm RESEARCH ELEVATOR TALK COMPETITION, STC Atrium (UC)

  • Eric Lalu (Biology) "Clarifying the mechanism of an oncogen in dysregulating tumor suppressor" Mentor: Dr. Bela Peethambaran
  • Dan Vo (Biology) "Determining whether chronic sleep restriction decreases cerebellar mTOR activity in male mice" Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Tudor
  • Nicholas Dwyer (Biology) "Unveiling a Natural Compound with High Potency to Triple Negative Breast Cancer" Mentor: Dr. Bela Peethambaran ***Best Elevator Talk Award***
  • Justin Smith (Health Sciences) "Development of a Low-Cost Near Infrared Spectroscopy System for Monitoring Hemodynamic Changes in Human Tissue during Neuromuscular Activity" Mentor: Dr. Sinclair Smith
  • Deryk McGarry (Physics) "Applications of Superconductivity: Quantum Circuits and Error Correction" Mentor: Dr. Roberto Ramos
  • Maria Neatu (English) "Using Literature to Unlock the Personal Labyrinth: Exploring Virtue Ethics with James Joyce" Mentor: Dr. Richard Haslam

6:00-7:30 pm ALUMNI RESEARCH CAREER PANEL EVENT, Forum Theater, Campion Hall (HH) Refreshments served.

  • Kevin Cannon, Ph.D.
    Research Scientist, Quest Pharmaceutical Services
    Chemical Biology, SJU Class of 2012
  • Dan Ashley Fauni
    Engineer, EOS Energy Enterprises
    Physics, SJU Class of 2023
  • Tyler Pham
    Senior Trade Operations Analyst, AstraZeneca
    Business Administration: Pharmaceutical Marketing and Finance, SJU Class of 2020
  • Lauren Stwalley
    Territory Field Sales Manager, Reckitt
    Business Administration, SJU Class of 2023

Wed April 10, 2024

10 am CUR IMAGES OF RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBIT moves to Hawk Hill, Campion Lobby (HH)

4-5:30 pm CUR SYMPOSIUM: STUDENT RESEARCH TALKS AND AWARDS, North Lounge, Campion Hall (HH). Refreshments served.

  • Spencer Brackett, Small-Molecule Causes Selective TNBC Cell Death Via Caspase-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway. Mentor: Isabelle Mercier, Ph.D.
  • Gabrielle Cruz, An Investigation into the Effects of Invasive Red-Eared Sliders on a Turtle Community. Mentor: Scott McRobert, Ph.D.
  • Michaela Augusztin and Lucie Marin, Juvenile Detention Literacy Program, Mentor: Suniti Sharma, Ph.D.
  • Julia Oseka, Memoria Futuri - Remembering For The Future - Developing Educational Resources On Jewish-Catholic Relations Of Sobienie Jeziory Region. Mentors: Philip Cunningham, Ph.D. and Adam Gregerman, Ph.D.

Thurs April 11, 2024

5:30-8 pm RESEARCH DAY SYMPOSIUM: STUDENT POSTER SESSION (Athletic Recreation Center, UC). Undergraduate Posters are numbered according to Research Day Assignments.

BIOLOGY Undergraduate Posters

1.    The Function of Universal Stress Proteins in S Meliloti, Alex Nuckols, Julie Kleinot, Katie Geatens, Rumaysa Alam, Will Finnegan, Catalina Arango-Pinedo    

2.    Search for Proteins that Interact With Eiiantr in Sinorhizobium Meliloti, Marilynne Kozy, Ignacio Llorente Fernandez, Cecilia Ouyed Hernandez, Patrick Sarosiek, Catalina Arango    

3.    An Investigation into the Effects of Invasive Red-Eared Sliders on a Turtle Community, Gabrielle Cruz, Lauren Schnell, Clint Springer, Johnathan Fingerut, Scott Mcrobert    

4.    The Neuropeptide Receptor Npr-4 And the Neuropeptide Nlp-61 Regulate Stress-Induced Sleep in C Elegans, Quinn Howe, Matthew Nelson        

5.    The Glutamate Receptor Glr-5 Regulates Stress-Induced Sleep in C Elegans, Caroline Kominick, Matthew Nelson        

6.    The Neuropeptide Nlp-50 Regulates Stress-Induced Sleep in C Elegans, Caroline Curtin, Matthew Nelson        

7.    Finding a Function for Aim33 in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Thientrinh Nguyen, Julia Iacovella, Analise Sulentic, Deborah Duong, John Giovinco, Julia Lee-Soety

8.    Discovery and Characterization of Cluster O Bacteriophages With Prolated Heads, Jake Mcnelly, Leah Fries, Marlon Bogle, Paul Lacour, Olivia Graveley, Nicole Bowen, Alex Digiacomo, Ava Smith, Thientrinh Nguyen, Jesslyn Aquilino, Danielle Niblock, Anne Winkler, Leya Givvines, C. Nicole Sunnen, Julia Lee-Soety

9.    A Fungi-De to Mycobacteriophage Strobilo, Kate Mcavaddy, Farrah Ponnwitz, Emily Sudol, Valentyn Sukhyy, Rachel Vermula, Jesslyn Aquilino, Ava Smith, C. Nicole Sunnen, Julia Lee-Soety  

10.    Analyses And Comparisons of Mycobacteriophages Camproach, Lasagnacat, and Hartsy in the B1 Cluster, Kaylee Agostino, Corapi Ariana, Jiya Patel, Anna Porch, Skyler Reka, Sydney Matsuiak, Priya Aryal, Maryam Khan, Madison Mcentee, Jesslyn Aquilino, Julia Lee-Soety,

11.    Discovery and Analyses of Mycobacteriophages Phesterphotato and Jinglebell in the F1 Cluster, Julianna Abruzzi, Jijee Dhinesh, Shafy Jalal, Juliana Pitts, Abby Robinson, Alivia Colgan, Lainie Galdo, Emily Lehman, Aubrey Neary, Jesslyn Aquilino, Ava Smith,

12.    Annotating Phesterphotato Phage, Nature’s Pest Control, Deanna Capaldi, Alivia Colgan, Emily Gazoo, Aubrey Neary, Frankie Toppi, Jesslyn Aquilino, Rana Elshayet, Durva Joshi, Ava Smith, Julia Lee-Soety, Nicole Sunnen

13.    Novel Mycobacterium Phage Jinglebell is a Temperate F1 Cluster Phage, Shannon Travers, Emily Lehman, Paige Donaghy, Lainie Galdo, Grace Ryan, Jesslyn Aquilino, Rana Elshayet, Durva Joshi, Ava Smith, Julia Lee-Soety, Nicole Sunnen

CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY Undergraduate Posters

26.    Simulating Conformational Dynamics of Noncoding Viroid RNA, Owen O"Reilly, Michael Bruist

27.    Using Molecular Dynamic Simulations to Find Stability of Nickeled Viroid Cycle in Order to Find New Functions of RNA, Artiom Butuc, Michael Bruist        

28.    Effective Methods For Synthesis Of Coumarin Derivative In Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratories, Michelle Luu, Caroline Bouvier, Elisabetta Fasella      

29.    Robust, Sensitive, And Fast Ionization In Vacuum Using Filter Paper And Matrix-Assisted Ionization (Vmai) Mass Spectrometry, Hope Coffinberger, Catherine Bentzley, Sarah Trimpin, Charles Mcewen

30.    Developing A Computational Method Of Determining The Excess Chemical Potential Of Experimental Solutions Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Andrew Fadgen, Preston Moore        

31.    Controlled Swelling Of The Acrylamide/Acrylic Acid Copolymer Monitored Via Gold Thin-Film Interference Pattern On Silicon Wafers, Joseph Kepic, Amanda Huon, Alexander Sidorenko      

32.    Preparation Of Cyclic Borono-Nucleoside Analogs As Novel HIV-RT Inhibitors, Sarah Herter, Christopher Orme, John Tomsho      

33.    Investigation Of The Mechanism Of Action Of A Novel Antibacterial Compound, BOB-2, Claire Santangelo, Olivia Lutz, John Tomsho  

ENGLISH, WRITING, AND JOURNALISM Undergraduate Posters

44.    Narrative Medicine And SJU’s “Day Of Dialogue”: An Educational Initiative, Devina Mondal, Alec Mallari, Dalton Schengrund, Christine Flanagan      

45.    Using Literature To Unlock The Personal Labyrinth: Exploring Virtue Ethics With James Joyce, Maria Neatu, Richard Haslam        

HISTORY Undergraduate Posters

46.    Martial Migrants, Tanner Lamoreux, Christopher Close        

MATHEMATICS Undergraduate Posters

47.    Inquiry Into Logical Reasoning In Undergraduate Mathematics For Non-STEM Majors, Thomas Betterly, Tetyanna Berezovski        

48.    Training A YOLO Deep Learning Model To Detect And Classify Components Of Chest X-Rays, Nicole Angelini, Abolfazl Saghafi        

49.    Panel Data Regression Analysis for the 2008 and 2016 Presidential Elections, Logan Kentner, Bahaeddine Taoufik        

PHILOSOPHY Undergraduate Posters

50.    The Schism Between French Existentialism And Historical Epistemology, Jude Hill, Samuel Talcott        

PHYSICS Undergraduate Posters

51.    Microfluidics And An Evaluation Of The Organ-On-A-Chip Paradigm, Nathaniel O, Sergio Freire

52.    The Size Of The Fluidized Region Around A Sphere Moving In A Non-Newtonian Liquid, Shayna Sit, Piotr Habdas        

53.    Comparison Of Current-Voltage Characteristics Of Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline And Polymer Photovoltaic Cells, Deryk Mcgarry, Roberto Ramos

PSYCHOLOGY Undergraduate Posters

54.    The Effects Of Acne Vulgaris On The Perceptions Of Individuals By Others, Rachel Brown, Phyllis Anastasio        

55.    Sensory Adaptive Protocol For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder At Nemours Children's Health - Primary Care, Sarah Halupa, Lizabeth Kaminoff, Roseann Schaaf, Robin Brehm      

56.    Medical Professionals Bias Towards The Neurodiverse, Samuel Vizzeswarapu, Samantha Riggleman 

SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Undergraduate Posters

57.    Giving To The Mirror: A Study Of Social Distance, Compassion Collapse, And White Guilt, Ian Rowe-Nicholls, Kim Logio        

58.    Experiences Of Stress And Well-Being During Didactic And Clinical Training In A Professional Pharmacy Program, Jasmin Duong, Jessica Sautter        

59.    Food Insecurity And Community-Based Medical Nutrition Therapy In The Greater Philadelphia Area, Ian Rowe-Nicholls, Jessica Sautter

THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES Undergraduate Posters

60.    “Memoria Futuri - Remembering For The Future” - Developing Educational Resources On Jewish-Catholic Relations Of Sobienie Jeziory Region, Julia Oseka, Philip Cunningham, Adam Gregerman      

61.    Creation Of A College-Oriented Program To Raise Awareness For Stem Cell Donation And Its Major Implications On Different Blood-Related Diseases, Shubham Agrawal, Nithya Ramesh, Shanjeev Kumar, Maanav Patel, Emily Wang, Timothy Trapp, Caroline Curtin, Peter Clark  

DECISION AND SYSTEM SCIENCES Undergraduate Posters

63.    Automated System For Course Scheduling, Kathryn Brutzman, Meg Iatesta, Marcello Balduccini

64.    CHARM: A Neuro-Symbolic And Correct-By-Design Hybrid-AI Reasoning Model, Aidan Elm, Dylan Flynn, Francesco Fabiano, Marcello Balduccini      

65.    IR4D: Intelligent Robotic Companions For Individuals With Disabilities, Jackie Wurman, Nicole Balduccini, Ekawati Phiong, Sara Girotto, Marcello Balduccini    

66.    Declarative Models Of Supply Chain: Evaluation On Realistic Data, Dylan Flynn, Son, Marcello Balduccini      

67.    Algorithmic Trading With Declarative Programming Methods, Dylan Flynn, Marcello Balduccini

68.    Automated System For Course Scheduling, Kathryn Brutzman, Megan Iatesta, Marcello Balduccini      

FOOD, PHARMA, AND HEALTHCARE Undergraduate Posters

70.    The Use Of Artificial Intelligence To Better Manage Drug Shortages, Katherine Hilferty, Richard Minoff        

71.    Assessing The Viability Of A Centralized EHR Management System In The US, Rashid Elnagieb, Richard Minoff        

72.    A Potential Blister Packaging Solution To Help Increase Medication Adherence In Elderly Patients, Martin Nguyen, Richard Minoff        

73.    Analyzing Patient Choices Between Urgent Care And Primary Care In Navigating Reimbursement, Marisa Cruet, Richard Minoff        

74.    The Impact Of Insulin Patches On Adherence And Persistence With Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Patients, Louis Fresta, Richard Minoff        

75.    Will a Medical Device Reapproval Process Reduce Data Breaches?, Frank Pollock, Richard Minoff

76.    Implementing a Safe and Accessible Psilocybin Assisted Therapy Program to Treat Patients Suffering with Treatment Resistant Depression, Ethan Gardner, Rich Minoff        
         
77.    Should Biosimilars be Interchangeable Like Generics?, Ryan Hueber, Richard Minoff        

78.    The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Preclinical Trials Would Provide a Viable and More Ethical Alternative to the Use of Animals, Johnny Nguyen, Richard Minoff

79.    Utilizing Blockchain Technology In Online Pharmacies Dispensing To The US Will Ensure Patients Receive Legitimate Medication, Daniel Bieter, Richard Minoff        

80.    The Sweeney Archivum, Sean Murphy, George Sillup        

81.    Can 3D-Printed Kidneys Reduce Mortality Rates Among Patients With Kidney Failure?, Rahul Patel, Richard Minoff

MANAGEMENT Undergraduate Posters

82.    Voluntary Living Wages In US Jesuit Higher Education, 2020–2023: Catholic Social Teaching And Mission-Market Tensions, Daniel De Lude, Ken Weidner  
   
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES Undergraduate

130.    Syntheses and Analytical Characterizations of Aryl Adamantylamines as NMDAR Antagonists, Deborah Adedeji, Brendon Chin, Ibrahima Diallo, Branden Stanley, Adeboye Adejare    

131.    Assessment of Neuroprotective Effects of Novel Nmda Receptor Antagonists using C. Elegans, Shawna Finck, Kaitlyn Dixon, Toan Luong, Adeboye Adejare      

132.    Small-Molecule Causes Selective TNBC Cell Death Via Caspase-Dependent Apoptotic Pathway, Spencer Brackett, Gwyneth Shermanski, Michael Dybek, Anush Abelian, Adeboye Adejare, Isabelle Mercier.    

133.    Investigation Of Lyophilized Surfactant-Protein Complexes For Reduced Dissolution Of Bovine Serum Albumin, Carli Caldwell, Nathaniel Yobb, Anil D'Mello      

134.    The Effects Of Incubation Conditions On Cell Viability In Human Hepg2 Liver Cells, Sohela Jain, Ruy Tchao, Peter Harvison  

135.    Identifying The Molecular Mechanisms Of Human Serum Albumin Fusion Proteins Targeting Cancer Cells With Ras G12D Mutation, Turan Miah, Sandy Lin, Zhiyu Li    

136.    Develop Kras Inhibiting Human Serum Albumin Fusion Proteins For Cancer Therapy, Sandy Lin, Zhiyu Li      

137.    Effect Of Buffer Composition On Cell Morphology In A Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line, Shailan Patel, Clyde Ofner III

138.    Preliminary Metabolism Comparisons between High And Low Passages Of A Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line, Grace Ho, Clyde Ofner III    

139.    Preliminary FRET Studies: Lysosomal Uptake Of Fluorescent Agents, Kathleen Kulha, Clyde Ofner III      

140.    Investigation Of A Novel Pimozide Analog In 3-Dimensional Tumor Organoids As Phosphorylated STAT3 (Tyr704) Inhibitor In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Caitlyn curtin, Jennifer Nguyen, Mike Dybek, Jason Wallach, Isabelle Mercier    

141.    Investigating The Mechanisms Of Decreased Migration Of TNBC Cells After GABAA Receptor Knockdown, Momita Paul, Yasmeen Ahmed, Jenny Bundy, Isabelle Mercier, Asha Suryanarayanan

142.    Investigating The Role Of Γ-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA), GABA Type A Receptor And Chloride Ions In Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), Jessica Shaw, Jenny Bundy, Yasmeen Ahmed, Isabelle Mercier, Asha Suryanarayanan    

143.    Investigating The Mechanisms Of Decreased Migration Of TNBC Cells After GABAA Receptor Knockdown. Momita Paul, Yasmeen Ahmed, Jenny Bundy, Isabelle Mercier, Asha Suryanarayanan    

144.    Investigating The Expression Of The GABA-A Receptor In Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), Seamus Weller, Jenny Bundy, Asha Suryanarayanan      

145.    Cell Membrane Integrity Under Fluid Shear And Cell Osmolarity, Tracy Lin, Ruy Tchao      

146.    Synthesis And Pharmacological Characterizations Of Benocyclidine Analogues At The N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor And Dopamine Reuptake Transporter, Michael Mclaughlin, Garrett Walker, Adam Knapp, James Gamrat, Jason Wallach    

PHARMACY PRACTICE Undergraduate Posters

156.    How Cultivated Are Healthcare Professionals In Understanding Geriatrics And Ageism?, Serena Fasola, Kavitha Sukumar, Dennis Phan, Kirsten Bautista, Michelle Hon, Catherine Oswald, Laura Finn