Meet the 2020-2021 Undergraduate Research Fellows

Ellie Amerson Animal Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Assessing the use of biometric ear tags as herd health monitoring devices in swine.

Mentor: Terry Brandebourg

Elijah Carroll Organismal Biology-Conservation

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Potential hazard to beneficial insects from imidacloprid exposure in the honeydew of crape myrtle bark scale Eriococcus lagerstroemiae (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae)

Mentor: David Held

Daniel Carter Crop, Soils, and Environmental Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Exploring relationships between diet and other risk factors for colon cancer with novel circulating biomarkers in humans

Mentor: Drew Frugé

Madison Dees Poultry Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Do cyanobacterial toxins bioaccumulate in aquaculture-produced fish? 

Mentor: Alan Wilson

Emily Ennis Poultry Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Will replacement of reproductive hormone genes with the alligator cathelicidin gene result in disease resistant, sterile catfish exhibiting normal growth? 

Mentor: Rex Dunham

Ivy Graves Animal Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Discovery and curation of communication modalities surrounding animal welfare practices  

Mentor: Donald Mulvaney

Rachel Hollingsworth Animal Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Investigating the role that inflammation plays in unexplained heifer infertility

Mentor: Paul Dyce

Seth Ingram Agricultural Business and Economics

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Impact of the China-US trade war on the Alabama soybean industry

Mentor: Ruiqing Miao

Megan Justice Wildlife Enterprise Management

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Genetic and phenotypic characterization of a cryptic Largemouth Bass form

Mentor: Eric Peatman

Parker King Horticulture: Nursery and Greenhouse Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Exploring the role of type VI secretion system of pathogen in mediating interactions with the plant cell

Mentor: Neha Potnis

Rachel Osbourne Poultry Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Analyzing samples of raw poultry processing plant wastewater to determine the chemical makeup and microbial load present before treatment

Mentor: Dianna Bourassa

Mackenzie Pennington Environmental Science

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Effects of sodium bicarbonate on water alkalinity in a hydroponic system  

Mentor: Daniel Wells

Roshell Rosales Aguilar Agricultural Business and Economics

Sponsor(s): College of Agriculture

Project Title: Understanding the causes and exploring remedies for food waste and food loss

Mentor: Ruiqing Miao

Carley Robinson Management and Finance

Sponsor(s): Harbert College of Business

Project Title: The effects of abusive supervision on insubordination

Mentor: Jeremy Mackey

Molly Cassidy Kinesiology

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: Electromyographic analysis of shoulder rotation strength testing positions 

Mentor: Gretchen Oliver

Abigail Cramer Exercise Science

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: The effects of previously playing an overhead throwing sport in shoulder range of motion, strength, and humeral retroversion

Mentor: Gretchen Oliver

Daisy Hansana Exercise Science

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: Investigating preparatory movement about the ankle 

Mentor: Wendi Weimar

Alice Northcutt Exercise Science

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: The efficacy of adaptive aerobic exercise on sleep in adults with disabilities

Mentor: Melissa Pangelinan

Derrick Stephen Kinesiology

Sponsor(s): College of Education

Project Title: SuperHERoes of today: A biomechanical analysis of the anatomical adaptations during pregnancy

Mentor: Christopher Wilburn

Peter Abraham Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: RNA-sequencing analysis to identify links between the consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer and obesity

Mentor: Elizabeth Lipke

Peden Arnold Bio-Process Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Biofuels value of biomass of algal turf scrubber treating aquaponics wastewater 

Mentor: David Blersch

Mary Baird Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Polyether-based ion exchange membranes for heavy metal harvesting 

Mentor: Bryan Beckingham

Brett Cranston Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Inertial measurement and surface electromyography in advanced arm prosthetics

Mentor: Chad Rose

Megan Davies Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Engineered cancer tissues for application in disease modeling and personalized drug testing

Mentor: Elizabeth Lipke

Matthew Do Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Developing machine learning models to predict protein solubility through frequency of amino acids

Mentor: Chris Kieslich

Calvin Dulaney Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: 3D Printer accessory that prints two polymers while being able to manipulate their concentration 

Mentor: Edward Davis

Evan Ellison Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Development of MATLAB algorithms for determination and analysis of kinematic data from a split-belt treadmill 

Mentor: Jaime Roper

Sierra Eady Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: A physics-based gasoline particulate filter temperature model for feedback oriented vehicle applications 

Mentor: Mark Hoffman

Grace Gray Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Human impact study, testing the efficacy of customized 3D printed guards 

Mentor: Michael Zabala

Audrey Hall Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Investigation of the antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens and chemical composition of extracts and partitions of Psidium guajava

Mentor: Angela Calderon

Theresa Hardin Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Developing a tension driven telescoping arm

Mentor: Michael Zabala

Grace Hester Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Engineered 3D in vitro colorectal cancer models to investigate the link between obesity and cancer 

Mentor: Elizabeth Lipke

Jett Kik Industrial and Systems Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Engineering controls for hazardous noise: Researching and aggregating effective noise abatement solutions and creating media to disseminate the results of said research. 

Mentor: Richard Sesek

Yevhenii “Jack” Kovryzhenko Aerospace Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: System developing, path planning and trajectory optimization for autonomous areal vehicles 

Mentor: Ehsan Taheri

Jin Kwon Electrical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Additive manufacturing of batteries using MXene-based inks 

Mentor: Majid Beidaghi

Andrew McGehee Software Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Computational modeling of protein 3D structures with optimization and machine learning 

Mentor: Debswapna Bhattacharya

Elizabeth Melby Biosystems Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Neutral lipid accumulation in algae induced by oxidative stress due to poultry wastewater antimicrobials 

Mentor: Brendan Higgins

Javier Nishikawa Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Polymer-coated sugar nanoparticles for encapsulation of biomolecules

Mentor: Allan David

Ernest “Steven” Porterfield Materials Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Optimization of biodegradable resins for additive manufacturing

Mentor: Edward Davis

William Rud Biosystems Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Identifying laboratory light conditions that are viable for use in an algae turf scrubber raceway with filamentous algae 

Mentor: David Blersch

Mollie Sabo Civil Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Pore network modelling of reactive permeability evolution

Mentor: Lauren Beckingham

Shelby Wales Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Fabrication of reactive rocks with 3D printing

Mentor: Lauren Beckingham

Duncan Wisniewski Wireless Engineering/Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Engineering

Project Title: Virtual muscle movement through EEG for motor learning 

Mentor: Mark Adams

Jamie Andersen Wildlife Ecology and Management

Sponsor(s): College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Determining the spatial and temporal patterns of fiddler crab use of tidal freshwater forested wetlands along two rivers of the Apalachicola River.

Mentor: Christopher Anderson

Virginia Betbeze Wildlife Ecology and Management

Sponsor(s): College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: The effect that culling of invasive species has on native bird populations in Kauai, Hawaii

Mentor: Christopher Lepczyk

Sarah Cain Wildlife Ecology and Management

Sponsor(s): College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Analyzing the accuracy of pellet count surveys to estimate density of White-tailed Deer (odocoileus virginianus)

Mentor: Stephen Ditchkoff

Allison Foster Wildlife Ecology and Management

Sponsor(s): College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Assessing the economic cost of managing invasive species across the United States 

Mentor: Christopher Lepczyk

Philip McMichael Substainable Biomaterials and Packaging

Sponsor(s): College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Project Title: Bio-based coagulation and flocculation systems to treat contaminants in concrete washwater

Mentor:Maria Soledad Peresin

Erin Casolaro Philanthropic and Nonprofit Studies/Accounting

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Financial implications of personal gardening among elderly in rural Alabama  

Mentor: Alicia Powers

Anna Fouty Nutrition Science and Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Telomere length and childhood obesity  

Mentor: Geetha Thangiah

Molly Grubb Global Studies

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Measuring the impact of humanitarian aid

Mentor: Alicia Powers

Tucker Kilgo Nutrition Science

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Basic needs coalition food security prevalence study 

Mentor: Onikia Brown

Megan Schaberg Nutrititon Science

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Determining the effects of health beliefs on dietary intervention adherence and change in inflammatory biomarkers

Mentor: Drew Frugé

Kristyn Waldron Human Development and Family Studies

Sponsor(s): College of Human Sciences

Project Title: Community-based youth programs: Examining utilization and perceived benefits to military families

Mentor: Mallory Lucier-Greer

Avery Agostinelli Art History and Political Science

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Perpetual patriotism and polarizing politics: The multifaceted implications of Childe Hassam’s Avenue in The Rain

Mentor: Emily Burns

Brannon Anthony Political Science

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage in The People’s Republic of China 

Mentor: Michael Brown

Hannah Evans Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Sexual development of adolescents adjudicated for illegal sexual behavior and adolescents adjudicated for general delinquent behavior

Mentor: Kelli Thompson

Samantha Guajardo Psychology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: The effects of pre-adjudicatory factors on therapeutic alliance and the existence of racial disparities within adolescents who have been adjudicated for sexual offending behaviors 

Mentor: Kelli Thompson

Nathan Holden English/Applied Math

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Employing Christianity: The role of religion in nineteenth-century American literature

Mentor: James Ryan

Carleigh Morrow Neuroscience

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Developmental olanzapine exposure on impulsive choice and behavioral flexibility 

Mentor: Christopher Newland

Megan Ondrizek Communication Disorders

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Allostasis and homeostasis in the NICU infant: Implications for use of NMES for habilitation of swallowing function

Mentor: Mary Sandage

Cassidy Powell Psychology and Music Performance

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title:  How neurosyphilis affected four 19th century musical composers and their works 

Mentor: Michael Pendowski

Allyson Pullen Neuroscience

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Social media use, health, and risk behavior among young women

Mentor: Sara Blaine

Kylie Seaton Psychology and Sociology

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: The influence on children’s ADHD symptoms by the interplay of various parenting behaviors and rates of child physical activity 

Mentor: Joshua Novak

Jessica Sullivan History

Sponsor(s): College of Liberal Arts

Project Title: Wray v. Wray: Public perceptions of women’s health in the antebellum courtroom

Mentor: Kelly Kennington

Nicole Anthony Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Characterizing the Structure-to-Function Relationship of an Antisense Long Non-coding RNA Associated with the β-myosin Heavy Chain Gene of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle for Potential Drug-targeting

Mentor: Joanna Sztuba-Solinska

Caroline Condon Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Evaluating the Perceptions of Healthfulness within Low-income Communities using the Behavior Environment Perceptions Survey

Mentor: Onikia Brown

Stella Cox Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Identification of Pesticide Isomers in Crops using Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Mentor: Ahmed Hamid

Laura Downey Biomedical Sciences, Pre-Medical

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Determination of Clinical Effectiveness of Novel Liposomal Formulation of Proteasome Inhibitors in Tumors.

Mentor: Alexei Kisselev

Meredith Forrester Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Using Computational Biophysics to Investigate the Effects of Mechanical Forces on Proteins

Mentor: Rafael Bernardi

Bethany Foust Geospatial and Environmental Informatics

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Glacial Archaeological Modeling of the Northwest Territories using Remote Sensing and GIS

Mentor: Stephanie Rogers

Rachel Fulda Physics

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  

Mentor: Guillaume Laurent

Corinne Gautreaux Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  A Cross Sectional Study of Temporal Diet Quality in US Adults

Mentor: Andrew Fruge

Emma Henderson Geology

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Continuous Monitoring of the Effects of a Storm’s First Flush on Nutrient Cycling and the Microbial Assemblage in Parkerson Mill Creek

Mentor: Ann Ojeda

Railey Herren Biomedical Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Addressing the Genetic Basis of Cytoskeletal Development and how Microtubules are involved in Scale Development using the Butterfly Vanessa Cardui

Mentor: Brian Counterman

Auburn Jordan Chemistry

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: A Fe(II) Complex Capable of Detecting H2O2 in Association with Oxidative Stress

Mentor: Chris Goldsmith

Emily Kable Chemistry Education and Chemistry

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Chord Diagrams as a Visual Tool in Chemistry Education Research

Mentor: Jordan Harshman

Taylor McKibben Microbial, Cellular, Molecular Biology

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Acquisition and Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiome in Lizards

Mentor: Tonia Schwartz

Emma Peacock Microbial Biology (Cellular/Molecular)

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Understanding Natural Product Biosynthesis in Blueberry

Mentor: Courtney Leisner

Avery Rajan Biochemistry

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Drugs from Dirt: Development and Characterization of Novel Antimicrobial Compounds

Mentor: Mark Liles

Tiffany Ramsey Medical Laboratory Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  The Effectivity of Duckweed as a Source of Biomanipulation to Develop a Sustainable Method for Controlling Toxic Levels of Ammonia in Commercial Catfish Ponds

Mentor: Alan Wilson

Alicia Taylor Biochemistry

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Antimicrobial Plastics: The Development of Novel, Rechargeable N-Halamine Polymer blends for use in Healthcare, Food Processing, and 3D Printing Industries

Mentor: Shelby Worley

Brandon Waldo Marine Biology

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Genetic Divergence of Gulf Killifish Across Salinity Gradients in the Gulf of Mexico

Mentor: Moises Bernal

Samuel Warren Geology

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title: Petrographic Characterization of Skarn Deposits in Puerto Rico

Mentor: Laura Bilenker

Laura Downey Biomedical Sciences, Pre-Medical

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Determination of Clinical Effectiveness of Novel Liposomal Formulation of Proteasome Inhibitors in Tumors.

Mentor: Alexei Kisselev

Madeline Kunze Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Integration of Bioactivity – Global Natural Product Social Molecular Network (GNPS): Proof of Concept

Mentor: Angela Calderon

Lucy Seay Computer Sciences

Sponsor(s): College of Science and Mathematics

Project Title:  Investigating Mechanisms of Memory Deficits and Altered Neurotransmission in Prenatal Cannabinoid Exposed Rodents

Mentor: Subhrajit Bhattacharya