2025
Symposium Schedule
(In person with an online option)
(Central Standard Time)
(updated on March 7, 2025)
Note: If a student misses their presentation time they will not be accommodated or rescheduled to a later time. Swapping of time and session is also not allowed. Students will receive a zero if they are not at their posters or presentations.
Topic: 2025 ARFS Zoom Meeting (Day 1)
Time: Mar 12, 2025 08:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84883793237?pwd=WQbMfwFZ9vSpR1I28mMmqC1Q5iNyJC.1
Topic: 2025 ARFS Zoom Meeting (Day 2)
Time: Mar 13, 2025 08:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81427120097?pwd=Cx6qHzu9wlDBRqbWQJSFDtCegzxybO.1
Overview of Events
>> Wednesday, March 12, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. (CST) Welcome
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Featured Speaker: Dr. Manoj Mishra (Alabama State University)
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Plenary Speaker: Dr. Arthur Grossman (Carnegie Institute of Science)
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Group Photo
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Session 1
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Session 2
3:00- p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Session 3
>> Thursday, March 13, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. (CST) Session 4
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Session 5
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. - 11:48 a.m. Session 6
12:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Poster Session (Lunch box)
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Panel Discussion
3:00- p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Symposium Award Ceremony
3:30 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. Session 7
5:10 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Closing Remarks
5:15 p.m. Departure
Detailed Conference Program
Talks: In person and Zoom meeting
Poster Session: In person and Microsoft Teams Meetings
>> Wednesday, March 12, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome
9:00 a.m. - 9:03 a.m. Harvey Hou (Chair of the 2025 Symposium Organizing Committee)
9:03 a.m. - 9:07 a.m. Kennedy Wekesa (Interim Dean of College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Alabama State University)
9:07 a.m. - 9:11 a.m. Carl Pettis (Provost, Alabama State University)
9:11 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Quinton Ross, Jr. (President, Alabama State University)
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Featured Talk
Empowering Communities through Innovation: Advancing Cancer Research Capacity at Alabama State University
Manoj K. Mishra (Alabama State University)
Chair: Ramakrishnan Alagan (Alabama State University)
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Plenary Talk
Reflection on a Scientific Journey of Fortunate Events
Arthur R. Grossman (The Carnegie Institution for Science)
Chair: Krishna Niyogi (University of California Berkeley)
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Group Photo
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. Session 1: Contributed Talks
Chair: Sapna Jain (Alabama State University)
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
(High school student, talk via Zoom)
Analysis of Microplastic Pollution in Albuquerque’s Water Sources Utilizing FTIR Spectroscopy
Sebastian Stoker and K. Joseph Ho* (University of New Mexico)
11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
(Undergraduate, talk)
Probing biodiversity of cyanobacteria for N-fixation in Missouri
Victory Obele, Khadijah Taite, Anindita Bandyopadhyay, Michelle Liberton, Harvey J. M. Hou*, and Himadri B. Pakrasi* (Alabama State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Washington University in St. Louis)
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(Undergraduate, talk)
Swine decomposition and insect succession
Nadia Parker, Kianna Harris, and Gulnaz Javan* (Alabama State University)
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Session 2: Contributed Talks
Chair: Olufemi Ajayi (Alabama State University)
2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
(Undergraduate, talk)
Probing biodiversity of cyanobacteria for N-fixation in Colorado
Lydia DavieBalogun, Jacob Sebesta, Eric Schaedig, Harvey J.M. Hou*, and Jianping Yu* (Alabama State University and National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
(Undergraduate, talk)
The Effect of Ciprofloxacin against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium
Kayla Love, Olufemi Ajayi, and Joseph A. Ayariga* (Alabama State University)
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
(M.S. student, talk)
Chlamydia muridarum Regulates IFN-γ Signaling by Upregulating Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) 1 in Stimulated Murine Macrophages
Vanella Tadjuidje, Rajnish Sahu, Aguy C. Nguiakam Sipowe, and Vida A. Dennis* (Alabama State University)
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
GETAH VIRUS KILLS A72 TUMOR CELLS IN A CONCENTRATION-DEPENDENT MANNER IN VITRO
Bernard Efa, Sandani Wijerathne, Chioma Ezeuko, Ting Li, Hongzhuan Wu, and Qiana L. Matthews* (Alabama State University)
3:10 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Session 3: Contributed Talks
Chair: Ting Li (Alabama State University)
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Toward energy management in cyanobacteria: Chemical analysis of metabolite overflow
Ibrahim Alamin, Jacob Sebesta, Arnav Deshpande, Lieve Laurens, Vida A Dennis, Jianping Yu*, and Harvey J.M. Hou* (Alabama State University and National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS OF EXOSOMES AND ECTOSOMES FROM DIVERSE AD48 INFECTED CELLS AND THEIR IMPLICATION IN THERAPEUTICS
Chioma C. Ezeuko, Sandani Wijerathne, Rachana Pandit, Ayodeji O. Ipinmoroti, Brennetta J. Crenshaw, Bernard Efa, and Qiana L. Matthews* (Alabama State University)
3:45 pm - 4:00 pm
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Cationic lipo-oligopeptides (CLOPs) antimicrobial peptides are nontoxic and inhibit HSV-1 replication in eukaryotic cells
Othreniel A. Forte, Rajnish Sahu, Aguy C. Nguiakam Sipowe, Donald R. Owen, and Vida A. Dennis* (Alabama State University)
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Innate immune responses triggered in mouse macrophages by a PLA-PEG-encapsulated chlamydial MOMP nanovaccine are augmented in the presence of the dmLT mucosal adjuvant
Aguy C. Nguiakam Sipowe, Rajnish Sahu, Elizabeth B. Norton, Vanella Tadjuidje, Othreniel Forte, and Vida A. Dennis* (Alabama State University)
>> Thursday, March 13, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Session 4: Contributed Talks
Chair: Vida Dennis (Alabama State University)
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Novel Antimicrobial Peptides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains PAO1 and PA14
Amber Grace, Aguyclemence Nguiakamsipowe, Othreniel Forte, Vanella Tadjuidje, Rajnish Sahu, Donald R. Owen, and Vida A. Dennis* (Alabama State University)
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Feline Coronavirus Infection Influences the Biogenesis and Composition of CRFK-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Sandani V T Wijerathne, Rachana Pandit, Ayodeji O Ipinmoroti, Brennetta J Crenshaw, and Qiana L Matthews* (Alabama State University)
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
In silico Exploration of Cannabidiol Interactions with Outer Membrane Proteins in Salmonella Typhimurium LT2
Iddrisu Ibrahim, Junhuan Xu, BK Robertson, Olufemi S. Ajayi*, and Joseph Atia Ayariga* (Alabama State University)
9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
(Ph.D. student, talk)
Combining Biochemical and Mass Spectrometric Approaches to Elucidate the Mechanism(s) of Action of 3-DAs against Toxoplasma gondii
Miya Moon, Japhet Senyo. Kamasah, Homa Nath Sharma, Boakai K. Robertson, and Daniel A. Abugri* (Alabama State University)
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Session 5: Contributed Talks
Chair: Qiana Matthews (Alabama State University)
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
(Postdoc, talk)
Sorption and Oxidation of Rhizobium Tropici Exopolysaccharides on Birnessite (MnO2): Structural Interactions and Morphological Transformations
Huimin Zhang, Steve L. Larson, John H. Ballard, Yan Meng, and Fengxiang X. Han* (Jackson State University)
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
(Postdoc, talk)
Clocking NAMPT (Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase) levels in prostate cancer for potential chronotherapeutic interventions
Sreelakshmi Krishnakumar and Manoj K. Mishra* (Alabama State University)
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
(Postdoc, talk)
Engineering Surface-Patterned Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Optimized MSC Chondrogenic Differentiation
Amrita Natarajan, Derrick Dean, and Vineeth M Vijayan* (Alabama State University)
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
(Postdoc, talk)
Drug Binding Modulates Chiral Water Structures in DNA First Hydration Shell
Ty Santiago, Daniel Konstantinovsky, Ethan Perets, Matthew Tremblay, Sharon Hammes-Schiffer, and Elsa C. Y. Yan* (Yale University)
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. - 11:48 a.m. Session 6: The 3-Min Talk Competition
Chair: Derrick Dean (Alabama State University)
11:30 a.m. - 11:33 a.m.
(Undergraduate student, three-min talk)
Photoconversion of glycerol from CO2 using metabolite overflow in cyanobacteria
Emerald Britt, Jacob Sebesta, Arnav Deshpande, Ibrahim Alamin, Lieve Laurens, Vida A Dennis, Jianping Yu*, and Harvey J.M. Hou* (Alabama State University and National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
11:33 a.m. - 11:36 a.m.
(Undergraduate student, three-min talk)
Chemical analysis of alpha-ketoglutarate in cyanobacterial overflow metabolism
Alexzandria Stewart, Jacob Sebesta, Arnav Deshpande, Ibrahim Alamin, Lieve Laurens, Vida A Dennis, Jianping Yu*, and Harvey J.M. Hou* (Alabama State University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
11:36 a.m. - 11:39 a.m.
(Undergraduate, three-min talk)
Formate overflow in cyanobacteria: HPLC, FTIR, and enzymatic analysis
Kya Hamilton, Jacob Sebesta, Ibrahim Alamin, Vida A Dennis, Jianping Yu*, and Harvey J.M. Hou* (Alabama State University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
11:39 a.m. - 11:42 a.m.
(Undergraduate, three-min talk)
A Synthetic Method for a 2-Phenylindole Derivative
Brandon Mesias, Sergey Pushnikov, and Kamil Woronowicz* (SUNY Rockland County College)
11:42 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
(Undergraduate, three-min talk)
The Impacts of Heavy Metals on Protein Production in Lichens
Isa Ochman, Sergey Pushnikov, and Kamil Woronowicz* (SUNY Rockland County College)
11:45 a.m. - 11:48 a.m.
(Undergraduate, three-min talk)
The Role of Tetracycline and Sulfamethoxazole in the Metabolism of Escherichia coli
Gabriale Millender, Olufemi Ajayi, and Joseph A. Ayariga* (Alabama State University)
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. Poster Session (Lunch Box)
2:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m. Panel Discussion Sessions
2:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. Panel Session 1: Student Matters
Panelist: Ibrahim Iddrisu (Alabama State University), Jieun Shin (Yale University)
2:20 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. Panel Session 2: Graduate School Right for You?
Panelist: Ty Santiago (Yale University), Ross Walker (Oklahoma State Univesity)
2:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Panel Session 3: Training Programs
Panelists: Dunwei Wang (Boston College), Manoj Mishra (Alabama State University), Vida Dennis (Alabama State University), Derrick Dean (Alabama State University), Robert Green (Alabama State University), Hillary Freeman (Stanford University), Caterina Bristol (Alabama State University)
3:00 a.m. - 3:15 a.m. Break
3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Symposium Award Ceremony
Chair: Kennedy Wekesa (Alabama State University)
3:30 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. Session 7: Contributed Talks
Chair: Dunwei Wang (Boston College)
3:30 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.
(Faculty/Scientist, talk)
Role of CD1d Influencing Survival and Metastasis of African American and Caucasian American Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Ritis K. Shyanti and Manoj K. Mishra* (Alabama State University)
3:50 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.
(Faculty/Scientist, talk)
Advancing Artificial Photosynthesis by Improving Solar Water Splitting Reactions
Dunwei Wang* (Boston College)
4:10 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(Faculty/Scientist, talk)
Deep Learning to Enhance Investigative Lead Information from Automotive Clear Coats
B. K. Lavine*, C. G. White, and D. R. Heisterkamp (Oklahoma State University)
4:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
(Faculty/Scientist, talk)
Modeling protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions on the mating-type transcriptional activator complex: MATα1/MCM1/DNA
Doba Jackson*, Dawson Farni, and Luke Fisher (Huntingdon College)
4:50 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.
(Faculty/Scientist, talk)
Unlocking the Potential: Innovative Pathways in Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Sustainable Fuels
Sapna Jain* (Alabama State University)
5:10 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Closing Remarks
Harvey Hou (Chair of the 2025 Symposium Organizing Committee)
5:15 p.m. Departure