FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Feb. 27, 2009
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

Thirty-five students from Marshall University taking part
in sixth annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – One hundred six students, including 35 from Marshall University, will take part in the sixth annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in Charleston on Thursday, March 12.

Joining Marshall at the Capitol are students from Alderson-Broaddus College, Bluefield State College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, the University of Charleston, West Virginia University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Wheeling-Jesuit University and WVU Institute of Technology.

Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol runs from 8:45 a.m. to noon. Students will present their discoveries in poster format and talk to legislators about their findings. The projects are original research and the posters have been designed for a general audience.

Students will present their posters in the areas of biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science and information technology, criminal justice, engineering, English, environmental studies, geography, geology, history, history/anthropology/sociology, mathematics, physics, political science and psychology.

“Marshall’s participation has grown over the years and we’re really pleased that the 35 students presenting at the Capitol is our largest group ever,” said Michael Castellani, chair of Marshall’s chemistry department and co-chair of the Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol Steering Committee. “We’re also really excited that the College of Information Technology and Engineering has a group of students presenting for the first time, which is a big plus for the university.”

The following is a list of Marshall University’s participants, along with their home counties or cities, disciplines, research posters and advisors:

·         Wendi Livingston, Cabell County, and Samantha Fox, Randolph County (Psychology) – “Automatic and Effortful Processing in Memory.” – Steven Mewaldt, advisor

·         Terry Boyce, Jr., Cabell County (Biology) – “Role of Pten in Mouse Oocyte Development.” – Guo-Zhang Zhu, advisor

·         Josh Hafer, Jackson County, and Paul Stokes, Cabell County (Physics) – “Numerical Relativity and Gravitational Waveform Modeling.” – Maria Babiuc-Hamilton, advisor

·         Emily Vargo, Putnam County (Environmental Studies) – “The Relationship Between Coal River Bacteria Levels and House Concentration.” – Tom Jones, advisor

·         Clyde Meador, Cabell County (Mathematics) – “Numerical Methods and the Rabinovich-Fabrikant System.” – Scott Sarra, advisor

·         Daniel Velazquez, Cabell County (Physics) – “Effect of an Electric Field on a Wannier-Mott Exciton in a Semiconductor Quantum Dot.” – Huong Nguyen, advisor

·         Nicholas Gardner, Cabell County (Biology) – “Investigations into the Structure of Lizard Mandibular Symphyses.” – Casey Holliday, advisor

·         Ashley Johnson, Cabell County, Sarah Wolfe, Logan County, and Anna Persinger, Kanawha County (Psychology) – “The Role of Attachment and Clinical Issues in SSRI Treatment of Depression.” – Marc Lindberg, advisor

·         Jill Moore, Cabell County, Allison Henry, Cabell County, and Brandee Marion, Cabell County  (Psychology) – “Pain Management: New Methods of Coping.” – Marc Lindberg, advisor

·         Camden Clutter, Harrison County, Shawn Cotton, Cabell County, and Gilbert Smith, III, Cabell County (Computer Science/Information Technology) – “Development of a Stereo Vision System for Unmanned Aquatic Vehicles.” – Venkat Gudivada, advisor

·         William Kelly, Jr., Wayne County (Biology) – “High-density Bioreactor Fermentation of the Microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa for Bio-diesel Production.” – Jagan Valluri, advisor

·         Danielle Clark, Cabell County, and Rachel Blake, Cabell County (Chemistry) – “Determining the Sites of Galactation in Human Blood Proteins.” – Menashi Cohenford, advisor

·         Dana Lycans, Wayne County (Biochemistry) – “The Structural Determination of Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Ribonucleic Acids.” – Bin Wang, advisor

·         Salina Lyter, Lincoln County, and Adam Cook, Russell, Ky. (Biology) – “Effects of Freezing on Soil Nitrogen Dynamics of a West Virginia Hardwood Forest.” – Frank Gilliam, advisor

·         Gregory Sammons, Mingo County (Biology) – “Development of Adult-Derived Stem Cells for Parkinson’s Disease Therapy.” – Elmer Price, advisor

·         Lauren Brooks, Mercer County (Biology) – “Effects of Excessive Nitrogen on Diameter Growth and Foliar Nutrients in Forest Trees.” – Jeffrey May, advisor

·         Adam Short, Kanawha County, Carrie Ferguson, Kanawha County, and Mallory Douthitt, Cabell County (Biology) – “Comparative Genomics of Diverse Isolates of Acanthamoeba.” – Wendy Trzyna, advisor

·         Ian McKenzie, Nicholas County, Hannah Mick, Jackson County, and April Morales, Cabell County (Biology) – “Altered Gravity Modified Gene Expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.” – Jagan Valluri, advisor

·         Laura Mitchell, Rock Hill, S.C. (Biology) – “The Role of Familiarity in Determining Group Dynamics among Crayfish.” – Brian Antonsen, advisor

·         Zachary Tackett, Proctorville, Ohio (Biochemistry) – “Analysis and Molecular Epidemiology of Common and Resistant Acienetobacter baumanni Isolates in a Micropolis Population.” – Menashi Cohenford, advisor

·         Cole Hale, Ohio County (Art & Design) – Program cover artist. – Mary Grassell, advisor

For more information on Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol, contact Castellani at 304-696-6486.

 

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