Coe College Student Research & Discovery Symposium
Coe College Student Research & Discovery Symposium
Embedded Files
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Schedule
Poster Session: 9:00-10:30 AM | Stewart Memorial Library
Presentations Session 1: 10:45-11:45 AM | Hickok Hall 207, 224, 305, Perrine Gallery
Lunch: $5 lunch in the Caf! Join your students and colleagues. Look for a special performance by the Concert Choir in the Caf at 12:45 PM
Art Exhibition: Defining Identity Through Photography in the Student Gallery from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Presentations Session 2: 1:30 - 2:30 PM | Hickok Hall 207, 224, 305, 324
Presentations Session 3: 2:45 -3:45 PM | Hickok Hall 207, 224, 305, 324
Celebration & Recognition Hour with Invited Alumni: 4:00-5:30 PM Clark Alumni House
NEW! BIG BRAINS little words
Happening during the Celebration & Recognition Reception: BIG BRAINS, little words. This session is in the style of an open mic challenge where students explain their research, internship, or other academic experience in the simplest, clearest, and most fun way possible.
Whittney Morse
Whittney Morse
How much is too much, how far is too far? Are the things in these books the future? Will society continue to give their rights away for the sake of complicity, for the sake of ease? If there is an app that can tell you if someone is lying or not would you give away your privacy? If society could stop child abuse or other societal issues for the low price of constantly being tracked and listened to, would you do it? What does this mean? Was Huxley right when he said to much information would make people give their rights away?
Rachel Weishman
Rachel Weishman
I have been reading the novel Cloud Atlas for my English seminar and one of the things that has become most prevalent to me is the decline of society and literacy in this novel, which I find to be similar to our current world and new generations. I would like to explore this theme of loss (of literacy, social responsibility, and social development) while thinking about today's social climate.
Lauden Edwards, Amit Sharma, and Mylz Foreman
Lauden Edwards, Amit Sharma, and Mylz Foreman
Small businesses are like superheroes who do not fully understand their powers yet. Our company (Nexus Visions LLC) helps these businesses unlock their full potential and master their "digital powers" using custom digital solutions, automation, and software creation.
Ducks
Ducks
Boiled Vegetable Juice, Ink, Acrylic, Watercolor Paper
10 x 8 inches
2025
Maren Kagin is a mixed media artist who transforms household, construction, and unconventional materials into compelling works of art. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Cristi López and Anna-Laura Sullivan, Maren’s creations range from intimate, cozy paintings to expansive sculptural installations, often exploring the internal struggles that individuals face. Maren has been actively exhibiting her work since 2017 in various school art shows and galleries. She is set to showcase her senior exhibition in April 2025. Born in Kansas in 2002, Maren is currently pursuing her studies at Coe College, where she will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics.
Invited Alumni
Invited Alumni
Allison Darling, 2024
Allison Darling, 2024
Bio: Major: Business Administration and Environmental Studies; Minor: Economics
During her time at Coe, Allison was extensively involved on campus. She played an integral role in founding Phi Alpha Delta, Coe's new professional pre-law fraternity, participated in Student Senate, Clay Target Club, and Pre-Law Society, served as a CAP Leader, International Student Mentor, and Peer Tutor, and was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and the Clay Target Team, where she was a part of the college's first ever national championship team. Since graduating from Coe, she has continued her studies at the University of Iowa, pursuing her Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Occupational and Environmental Health. She also currently holds an internship with the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition, where she is working to provide low-income families access to solar energy. Upon graduating from her current program in May of this year, she will attend law school.
image: University of Iowa
Poster Sessions Preview
Poster Sessions Preview
Please drop in to Stewart Memorial Library, main floor, between 9:00-10:30AM to see posters and chat with student researchers. Click thumbnails to see full poster.
Jessica Adams (2025), Rosie Cobb (2025), Kylie Kordick (2025), Chloe Zimmerman (2026).
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Drew Westberg
Public Health and Kids in Linn County
Graham Atz (2025), Rebecca Havel (2027), Isaac Hinze (2026).
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Michael Stobb
Digitizing the Coe College Catalog
Allison Barnhart (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Intership
Alyson Collins (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ellen Lee
Potential biases against individuals who live in low-income housing: A Phenomenon
Virginia Walker (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ugar Akun
Artificial Grain Boundaries in Solid State Lithium batteries to study the growth and mechanics of lithium dendrites
Sophia Fain (2027).
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Internship Poster
Allison Fradin (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Unity Point Psychiatric Internship
Aidan Garcia (2026), Alli Hagness (2027)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Steve Singleton
Optical Properties of Europium- and Cerium-Doped Lead Borate Glasses.
Xavier Garcia (2026).
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Cassy Cozine
The Effects of Curcumin on Survival and Inflammatory Pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans During Enterococcus faecalis Infection
Xavier Garcia (2026), Maggie Fulong (2026), Hailey Meacham (2025).
Faculty Sponsor, Dr.Paul Storer
Comparing Troponin Levels using Tn-I and Tn-T relation to Cardiovascular Catheterization Visit
Nicole Gasca (2026), Kimberly Contreras (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. David Nordman
South Korea Study Abroad
Sarah Giese (2026), Avery Babcock (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Chris Stead
Investigations into the Coxiella burnetii Phospholipid Modifying Protein CBU1267.
Jocelyn Grech (2025).
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Tanager Place Internship 2025
Autumn Grzenia (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Oluwadamilola Opayemi
Women’s Perspectives of Memorable and Stigmatizing Messages in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence
Viola Humpal (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Zach Johnson Foundation Internship
Cassie Jenecke (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ellen Lee b
Investigations into the Coxiella burnetii Phospholipid Modifying Protein CBU1267.
Logan Johnson (2025).
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Caio Bragatto
Elevating Elevators: Optimizing Counterweight Balanced Elevators
Ankita Kandel (2026, Natalee Kohl (2026), Amadou Sall (2027)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Vanessa Castillo & Dr. Alexander Toftness
Understanding Forgiveness: How Beliefs Shape Resilience and Health
Caden Kleemeier (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, ---
Climate Engineering Through Sustainable Cement
Maleah Kompsie (2026).
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Internship Experience with Freedom School
Maya Lindgren (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ellen Lee
Breaking the Cycle: Impact of Trauma on Crime
Megan Maliziola (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Kara Recker
The Growing Words Project
Megan Maliziola (2026), Blake Kilker (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ben Chikak
Exploring Behavior Toward Apertures via Optic Flow in Virtual Environments
Lennon McClanahan (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, --
IRIDIA: A Universal Model for Predicting IR Spectra
John McFadden (20250
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Michael Leonardo
Impact on Vibrio Parahaemolyticus virulence mechanisms by co-culture with various Shewanella species
Ashari Melvin (2025), Catherine Wood (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Samantha Brown
Student and Faculty Perspectives of Faculty Classroom Behaviors the Support Learning and Well-Being
Augusta Olander (
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Alexander Toftness
Life Experiences and Aphantasia
Brittany Ramirez (2025), Maddie Schultz (2025), Daisy Montalvo (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Vanessa Castillo
Does Altruistic Forgiveness Lead to Better Mental Health in Hispanic and Western Countries?
Kyle Reimnitz (2025), Geno Yarber (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Ellen Lee
Friendship Across the Spectrum: Analyzing Queer and Hetersexual Student Dynamics.
LJ Richardson (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, --
My Experience at the ARC of Eastern Iowa
Naomi Rojas (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Brittnay Miller
Exploring Matrix Structures with the Diamond Sampling Algorithm
Shamiso Zindoga (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Paul Storer
Effects of the cancer drugs Tamoxifen and Endoxifen on Microglial Inflammatory Responses
Abigail Shapley (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Psychology Internship: Expressive Arts
Brailey Tarbert (2025)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
Internship with Unity Point: Therapy Plus
Layla Vinson (2026)
Faculty Sponsor, Cher Stephenson
A Dive Into Four Oaks
The Outstanding Portfolio Prize recognizes First Year Seminar portfolios that exhibit exceptional promise in a developing writer. Honored portfolios are those that take risks and showcase inventive thinking, characterized by creativity in thought, sharp insight, and rich development and application of ideas. Portfolios are nominated by faculty readers.
The Outstanding Portfolio Prize recognizes First Year Seminar portfolios that exhibit exceptional promise in a developing writer. Honored portfolios are those that take risks and showcase inventive thinking, characterized by creativity in thought, sharp insight, and rich development and application of ideas. Portfolios are nominated by faculty readers.
Outstanding Portfolio Prize Winners:
Lia Maxwell
Dessa Snyder
Dylan McCauley
The Young Essay prize, established by Elisabeth Young in honor of her husband James P. Young, is open to all students, and recognizes superior works of nonfiction.
Young Essay Prize
Adele Dummermuth, "The Interpretive Mothers of Wuthering Heights"
Kylie Hoy, "Good Friends Over Good Husbands: Restaging Much Ado About Nothing"
Carlie Roberston, "A Technical Issue"
Photograph by Emma Rieser (2024)
Art Exhibition
Defining Identity Through Photography
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Student Art Gallery, Lower Gage
Photography plays a significant role in shaping personal identity. From selfies to family portraits, the images people create, keep, and share reflect who they are, what they want, and what they remember. These photographs give us a way to present ourselves—whether consciously or unconsciously—shaping how we wish to be seen and how we see ourselves.
For this creative project, students were asked to explore the theme of identity by creating a series of photographs that reflect what identity means to them. They were free to choose their own concepts, diving into themes like community, family history, personal habits, memories, and how they shaped or presented their identity.
Photography and identity are deeply connected, as images offer a way to explore and
communicate who we are. Whether through self-expression or collective representation, photographs play a huge role in how identities are formed and perceived. In today’s world, where visuals dominate so much of our communication, photography remains a powerful tool for both reflecting and redefining who we are.
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