This the 15th year of the Eckerd College Research Symposium, showcasing >100 talented undergraduate researchers presenting 57 posters from a wide variety of academic fields.
The in-person Symposium is done, but you can view the abstracts, photos, and posters on the links below.
Symposium committee: Dr. Beth Forys, Professor of Environmental Science and Biology, Chair; Dr. Kelly Debure, Professor of Computer Science, Poster Printing Coordinator; Dr. Tim Bransford, Assistant Professor of Animal Studies; Dr. Louise Daoust, Assistant Professor of Philosophy; Dr. Scott Dobrin, Assistant Professor of Biology; Dr. Erin Griesenauer, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Lindsey Fox, Assistant Professor of Mathematics; Dr. Shannon Gowans, Professor of Marine Science and Biology; Dr. Stephanie Mallinas, Assistant Professor of Psychology; Dr. Amy Siuda, Associate Professor of Marine Science; Dr. Laura Wetzel, Professor of Marine Science, Past Chair; Inspired: Jacqueline MacNeil, Executive Director, Institutional Effectiveness; Dr. Kat Robinson, Assistant Dean of Faculty, Anna Ruth, Director of Grant Development
Behavior
Poster 1
1:40-3:10
Delany Arteaga and Dr. Jennifer Chapman
COLLEGE RELATIONSHIPS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER EXPERIENCING PARENTAL SEPARATION?
Poster 2
3:20-4:50
Zoe Valdepenas-Mellor, Mackenzie Maggio, Emma Stoner, Dr. Scott E. Dobrin
THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC, SUB-LETHAL PESTICIDE EXPOSURE ON LEARNING AND MEMORY IN A HONEY BEE MODEL
Poster 3
1:40-3:10
Dylan Davidoff, Marina Lourenco, Erin Frick, Eron Higgins
MAZE STUDY: AMERICAN HORSESHOE CRAB, LIMULUS POLYPHEMUS
Poster 4
3:20-4:50
Kayla Fulkerson, Madeline Kettner, Olivia Minney, Dr. Lauren Highfill, Kristina Przystawilk, Christi Reiter, and Mike Burns
PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN ELEPHANTS (LOXODONTA AFRICANA) ON A COOPERATIVE TASK
Poster 5
1:40-3:10
Jin YuHan Burgess and Kelly Debure
INCREASING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH SINGLE-USE PLASTIC APP
Poster 6
3:20-4:50
Jenna Williams, Sarah Rhodes, Edith Gallegos, Jason Sears, Lauren Highfill, & Sara Hofmann
AN INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEIR DOGS
Poster 7
1:40-3:10
Ali DiZinno, Ashlee Minor, Daniel Hanley, and Clara Cebral-Marani
NESTING PLANT SPECIES PREFERENCE AND PARASITIC EGG REJECTION IN NORTH AMERICAN PASSERINE BIRDS
Poster 8
3:20-4:50
Duncan C. Beck, Sarah Duncan, Michael Hilton
WOOD FROG PERSONALITY ACROSS THE METAMORPHIC BOUNDARY
Poster 9
3:20-4:50
Montanna R. Hayslip and Tamar Shovali
Computer Science & Mathematics
Poster 10
1:40-3:10
Isaac Blackburn, Kath Fillman, and Lindsey Fox
MATHEMATICALLY MODELING THE ROLE OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF C. DIFFICILE
Poster 11
3:20-4:50
Karin Ebey , Mariana Olivares-Cely, and Lindsey Fox
MODELING THE EFFECTS OF RESISTANCE TO DISINFECTANTS ON THE TRANSMISSION OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS
Poster 12
1:40-3:10
Payton R. Bivens, Kelsey Weeden, and Lindsey Fox
MATHEMATICALLY MODELING THE TRANSMISSION OF KOI HERPESVIRUS IN COMMON CARP
Poster 13
3:20-4:50
Micah Lessnick and Dr. Holger Mauch
NEURAL NET ANALYSIS OF PEAK-CALLING ERRORS IN CUT&TAG DATA
Poster 14
1:40-3:10
Leonard A. Okiti, Dr. Kelly R. Debure
BUILDING AN IMAGE DATABASE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE IN DARWIN
Poster 15
3:20-4:50
Leah M. Knezevich, Mark T. Yamane, and Dr. Michael Hilton
USING MACHINE LEARNING TO IDENTIFY GOPHER TORTOISE INDIVIDUALS
Disease & Physiology
Poster 16
1:40-3:10
Karli Belgya, Kat Welch, Lisa Benecchi, Nicole Perekhodko, William Lawless, Wayne Guida, and Denise B. Flaherty
Poster 17
3:20-4:50
Aarushi Gandhi, Lisa Benecchi and Dr. Denise B. Flaherty
Poster 18
1:40-3:10
Anya Thomas, James Walker and Stephanie Bouley
TESTING A NOVEL MEK INHIBITOR (NFX-179) AS A THERAPEUTIC FOR NF1
Poster 19
3:20-4:50
Olivia Hernandez and Priscilla Winder
THE DISCOVERY OF SECONDARY METABOLITES FROM JASPIS. SP. EFFECTIVE AGAINST MRSA
Poster 20
1:40-3:10
William Stiffler and Steve Dennison
SURVEYING EPIBIONT PROFILES OF NERODIA SPECIES WATER SNAKES
Poster 21
3:20-4:50
Nelson Vayda, Stefan Anthopoulos, Sarina Baratta, Erinn Muller, Emily Hall, and Cory J. Krediet
Poster 22
1:40-3:10
Isabel P. Berry, Paisley L. Jeannette, Breanna E. Muldowney, and Jalisa H. Ferguson
DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL TRAF6 INHIBITORS TOWARD CANCER THERAPEUTICS
Poster 23
3:20-4:50
Anthony J. Gross and Greg A. N. Felton
BISLIGATED MANGANESE COMPOUNDS AS PHOTOCORMS: LIGAND VARIATION AND COMPARISONS TO RHENIUM CONGENERS.
Poster 24
1:40-3:10
Sara Williams and Ray Ball
FLORIDA MANATEES AND THERMOREGULATION: A POTENTIAL THERAPY FOR COLD STRESS SYNDROME
Poster 25
3:20-4:50
Aiden Houck, Dr. Lisa Bonner, Brooke Foster, and Dr. Ray Ball
PROGRESS TOWARD A BLOOD COAGULATION STUDY OF THE FLORIDA MANATEE Trichechus manatus latirostris
Poster 26
3:20-4:50
Mackenzie Maggio, Emma Stoner, Katya Tjahaja, Scott Dobrin
EXPOSURE OF NEONICOTINOID INSECTICIDE ON A. MELLIFERA BRAIN SYNAPSIS
Ecology
Poster 27
1:40-3:10
Aubree Fisher, Laura Josler, Signe Renstrom, Beth Forys, and Timothy Bransford
UTILIZING CAMERA TRAPS TO COMPARE ANIMAL USE OF NATURAL VERSUS MAN-MADE TRAILS AT FT. DE SOTO PARK
Poster 28
3:20-4:50
Paige T. Hanson, Carrie C. Bell, David A. Mann, Peter Simard
CHANGES IN RED GROUPER (EPINEPHELUS MORIO) CALLS WITH VARYING AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS
Poster 29
1:40-3:10
Jayden L. Jech, Elizabeth A. Forys, and Lorraine Margeson
ROLE OF OUTBACK KEY IN SUPPORTING NON-BREEDING PIPING PLOVER (Charadrius melodus)
Poster 30
3:20-4:50
Nicole Szelistowski, Jeannine Lessmann, Olivia Stortz, Rose Born, and Drew Smith
Juvenile Mangrove Growth Rate and Survivorship in Created Mangrove Forests in Tampa Bay
Poster 31
1:40-3:10
Olivia N. Spicer and Elizabeth A. Forys
SEX-BIASED NATAL DISPERSAL AND PHILOPATRY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA POPULATION OF BLACK SKIMMERS (RYNCHOPS NIGER)
Poster 32
3:20-4:50
Renee Veldman
Poster 33
1:40-3:10
Courtney Cryan, Erin Vogel, and Timothy Bransford
USING CAMERA TRAPS TO SURVEY ANIMAL PRESENCE ACROSS A BORNEAN PEAT SWAMP FOREST
Poster 34
3:20-4:50
William Stiffler and Jeff Goessling
ASSESSING IMMUNITY, STRESS, AND SPATIAL ACTIVITY IN VULNERABLE TESTUDINE (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS).
Poster 35
1:40-3:10
Karsen Henwood, Michael Doraz, Annabelle Elsner, Skyler Paoli, Kelly Patrick, Shannon Gowans, and Amy NS Siuda
SEX RATIOS AND FIELD FERTILIZATION OF ACARTIA TONSA IN TAMPA BAY
Poster 36
3:20-4:50
Mathias Stamper, Jan Vicente, Ciara Bongolan-Aquino, Brendan Wong, Allen Tom and Malia Rivera
MONITORING INTRODUCED ORANGE KEYHOLE SPONGE Mycale grandis IN KĀNEʻOHE BAY
Poster 37
1:40-3:10
Nina I. Ramos, Danielle M. DeLeo, Catherine S. McFadden, and Andrea M. Quattrini
DEPTH-ADAPTED GENE DISCOVERY IN DEEP-SEA CORALS
Poster 38
3:20-4:50
Jerome Uy, Cam Larmer, Phillip Cleves, and Cory J. Krediet
Environmental Threats and Solutions
Poster 39
1:40-3:10
Sophia K Chernoch , Rebekka A Larson, Patrick T Schwing, Cassandra Guzman, Jodi Murray, Kattey Pass, Adrian Martinez-Suarez, Maickel Armenteros, Misael Diaz-Ascencio, and Gregg R Brooks.
HURRICANE IRMA AND ANTHROPOGENIC SIGNATURES IN COASTAL SEDIMENTS: CAYO SANTA MARIA, CUBA
Poster 40
3:20-4:50
Lara Eade, Emma O’Brien, Jeffrey Schell, Skye Moret, Kara Lavender Law, and Amy N. Siuda.
OCEANIC PLASTIC TO PLANKTON RATIOS EXPLORED IN A LARGE SURFACE NET TOW DATASET
Poster 41
1:40-3:10
Cassandra Guzman, Rebekka Larson, Jodi Murray and Gregg Brooks
ASSESSING THE BENTHIC IMPACTS OF THE PINEY POINT DISCHARGE
Poster 42
3:20-4:50
Caroline Klunk, Hannah Mahar, and Elizabeth Forys
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROHIBITED REPTILES BAN IN FLORIDA AGAINST THE ILLEGAL PET TRADE
Poster 43
1:40-3:10
Jillian Campbell and Greg A. N. Felton
Poster 44
3:20-4:50
Cara DeLacluyse, Rebekka Larson, Gregg Brooks
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL OCCURRENCE OF BLUE GREEN ALGAL BLOOMS IN LAKE COUNTY, IL
Poster 45
1:40-3:10
Katherine Foree, Timothy Bransford, and John Kiringe.
THE THREAT OF INSULARIATION FACING THE AMBOSELI ECOSYSTEM - KIMANA AREA CONSERVANCIES
Poster 46
3:20-4:50
Bella Iannotta, Bryan O'Malley, Tristan Lam, Elida Nieves-Ortiz, Olivia Bickett, and Patrick Schwing
Poster 47
3:20-4:50
Sophie J. Strock, Haley E. McCartney, Tally R. Nesvold, Nicholas A. Hess, Shannon Gowans, Amy NS. Siuda
QUANTIFYING MICROPLASTICS IN SEDIMENT THROUGHOUT TAMPA BAY, FL
Genetics
Poster 48
1:40-3:10
Zoe Valdepenas-Mellor, Zach McLean Ph.D, and James Gusella
THE EFFECT OF GENETIC VARIATION ON BRANAPLAM SPLICE-MODULATION OF HUNTINGTIN
Poster 49
3:20-4:50
Dante Love, Dr. Jennie Roy, and Dr. Richard Mouro Pinto
Poster 50
1:40-3:10
Esaria Oliver, Rachel Silverstien, Ben Kleinstiver.
IMPROVED CRISPR-CAS NUCLEASES FOR GENOME EDITING
Poster 51
3:20-4:50
Sarah Shafer, Dr. Marina Kovalenko, Dr. Marion J. Riggs, Cameron J. Douglas, Zoe Burch, and Dr. Vanessa C. Wheeler
TOWARDS OVEREXPRESSING LIG1 IN A HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE MOUSE MODEL
Poster 52
1:40-3:10
Maiah Brush, Anil Chekuri, Emily G. Kirchner, Emily M. Logan, Jessica M. Bolduc, Giulia Romano, Federico Riccardi, Franco Pagani, Luk H. Vandenberghe, Susan A. Slaugenhaupt, and Elisabetta Morini
Poster 53
3:20-4:50
Matthew Larson, Dr. Philip Boone, M.D., Ph.D., and Dr. Michael Talkowski, Ph.D.,
CORNELIA DE LANGE SYNDROME DISEASE MODELING AND MEF2C MICROELECTRODE ARRAY ANALYSIS
Poster 54
3:20-4:50
Luca Montore, Uma Chandrachud and Susan Cotman
ANALYSIS OF TRIPEPTIDYL PEPTIDASE 1 IN NEURONAL CEROID LIPOFUSCINOSIS - CLN2
Humanities
Poster 55
1:40-3:10
Conall Rubin-Thomas
Poster 56
1:40-3:10
Camille Hoover
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO QUEERNESS IN CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL COMMUNITIES
Poster 57
1:40-3:10
Jonathan Wynn and Dr. Nathan Andersen