Fall 2026 : Poster Session II

Stream and wetland restoration is intended to enhance carbon and nitrogen cycling by shifting sources, storage, and fluxes. We characterized this process across restored and unrestored reaches of Little Conestoga Creek, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We measured stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N) and elemental (%C, %N) composition of vegetation, soil, and flood-deposited sediment, along with CO2, CH4, and N2O soil gas fluxes. Foliar δ15N increased with restoration age, while δ13C showed no clear difference. Flood-deposited sediment also became enriched in δ15N upstream to downstream, despite stable %N. Sediment %C increased downstream along with a more depleted δ13C signature, suggesting greater organic carbon input. Soil C and N stocks did not vary substantially with restoration age, though the most saturated site had the highest, most variable stocks. Finally, N2O and CO2 flux did not differ significantly between wetland and non-wetland soils, whereas CH4 flux was higher and more variable in wetland soils. This project was supported by funding from the Steinman Foundation Grant.

Project Mentor: Professor Christopher Williams, Department of Earth & Environment.

In the Plass Lab, we study how ion exchange can modify copper sulfide nanorods while preserving their size and shape. Previous work shows that tellurium can be incorporated through anion exchange and that cation exchange can produce complex nanoparticles.¹˒² This summer, I studied how tellurium exchange affects later cobalt and nickel exchange, individually and simultaneously. Using PXRD, TEM, and SEM-EDS, I examined changes in crystal structure, particle shape, and composition. Cobalt exchange caused a partial transition from the original hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structure toward a cubic close-packed (CCP) cobalt sulfide phase, while nickel exchange largely preserved the HCP structure. Simultaneous cobalt and nickel exchange produced mixed structural features. These results suggest that changing the anion framework before cation exchange influences how competing cations react and provides greater insight into controlling the structure of complex nanomaterials. This project was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.

Project Mentor: Professor Kate Plass, Department of Chemistry.

We analyzed data from data cubes observed by the Keck Cosmic Web Imager (KCWI) and explored different methods of spectral analysis over targeted regions of the circumgalactic medium in the Mariposa Nebula. Utilizing Python, graphs were created of the four initial emission lines observed in Mariposa: Lyα, CIV, HeII, and NV. We created 2D Spectrograms similar to what was seen in previous observations.  These clearly designate the positions of the brightest regions along the slits and identify the peak wavelengths. After extracting spectra from two regions of the same shape and size but slightly different orientations, we compared data between the two regions and across the different emissions. In conclusion, we examined the line flux and computed the ratios relative to Lyα, which indicated elevated ratios of CIV and HeII. This finding supports the hypothesis that a supermassive black hole resides at the center of the galaxy. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Research Corporation Grant.

Project Mentor: Professor Ryan Trainor, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Lanthanum oxyhalides are known to be efficient phosphors and scintillator materials. Recent work has also shown that, due to the layered atomic structure, these materials are promising starting materials for anion exchange processes. We report the synthesis of europium doped lanthanum oxychloride by dissolving lanthanum and europium oxides in hydrochloric acid and then drying the solution at 70 C followed by heat-treating at 700 C for several hours. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD and found to be of good crystal structure with no identified secondary phases. Laser-induced luminescence of the europium impurities was compared to spectra from samples made by solid-state reactions and the microstructure around impurities was found to be similar between the two synthesis processes. This project was supported by funding from the Daniel Observatory Scholl Fund.

Project Mentor: Professor Ken Krebs, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Previous research suggests that disability pride and positive autistic identity are associated with beneficial psychological outcomes, including higher self-esteem, greater psychological well-being, and lower social anxiety. We therefore hypothesized that greater neurodiversity pride would be sassociated with lower sensitivity to interpersonal rejection. 82 neurodivergent participants completed a neurodiversity pride measure adapted from the Questionnaire on Disability Identity and Opportunity (QDIO) as well as the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (A-RSQ). Contrary to our hypothesis, neurodiversity pride was not significantly associated with rejection sensitivity, r(80) = -.06, p = .598. A Bayesian Pearson correlation provided moderate evidence in favor of the null hypothesis (BF₀₁ = 6.32), indicating that the data were 6.32 times more likely under the null hypothesis than under the alternative hypothesis. These findings suggest that proudly embracing one’s neurodivergent identity may not, by itself, be associated with lower sensitivity to interpersonal rejection. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Megan Knowles, Department of Psychology.

Small gas-releasing molecules, or GRMs, are capable of releasing gas after undergoing a chemical reaction, thus providing a safer alternative to large pressurized gas cylinders and serving as a method for organic synthesis. Having succeeded in developing carbon monoxide (CO) releasing molecules, the focus in the Tasker lab has shifted to developing GRMs that release carbonyl sulfide (COS) gas, extending the design principles of the CO GRM. This summer, we worked on refining reaction conditions for COS release and synthesizing GRM derivatives containing different trigger groups. Three novel COS GRM derivatives were successfully synthesized and are considered viable options for further investigation. Using our previously developed methyl GRM, we also collected strong evidence of COS gas release and made progress towards eliminating its induction period. Continued research aims to further optimize reaction conditions for these COS GRMs and to test the viability of in situ delivery to synthetic reactions of interest. This project was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.

Project Mentor: Professor Sarah Tasker, Department of Chemistry.

Previous research supports the role of homophily in children’s judgments of social affiliation, showing that children expect social connections between people who share similarities, such as behavior or language and accent. However, little research has examined whether children use gestures as a way to determine social affiliation. We tested 24 children aged 4-10 years, showing them videos depicting people who gestured, did not gesture, or engaged in self-adapting behavior (e.g., fiddling with their hair, adjusting their shirt, or scratching their elbow). We then analyzed whether children were more likely to assume friendship amongst individuals who displayed the same type of behavior. Preliminary data from 21 children indicate that children matched targets to a friend above chance based on movement in gesture trials, but not self-adaptor trials. This effect was driven by older children, who selected movement matches on gestures trials significantly more than younger children. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Lauren Howard, Department of Psychology.

This study examines children's underlying stereotypical views of scientists by asking what they think a scientist looks like and where science happens. Prior research shows that children become more stereotypical in their conceptions of scientists as they age, with gender depictions closely mapping to the participant's gender (Ozel, 2012; Bozatto et al., 2021). Researchers recruited 147 4- to 10-year-old children from a science museum (n=114) or lab (n=33) to complete the Draw A Scientist (DAST) and a science-setting identification task. Unlike prior research, participants drew female scientists 50% of the time (vs. 27% historically; Miller et al., 2018). 61% of female participants drew female scientists, while only 4% of male participants did. However, as in prior work, we found a positive correlation with age and the number of stereotypical items in children's drawings (r (143)= 2.89, p<.001), suggesting that older children have more stereotypical implicit perceptions. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Lauren Howard, Department of Psychology.

Molybdenum impact on crystal formation is seen through interactions with more stable iron sulfides (FeS). We attempted to synthesize greigite (Fe3S4). To understand how Mo might combine with greigite, two experiments were attempted: Mo sorption to a previously-synthesized sample, and addition of Mo stock during synthesis, making a Fe-Mo-S co-precipitation. The goal was to compare the impact of added Mo to greigite, examining the crystal structure using powder x-ray diffraction. Both syntheses were unsuccessful, forming the more stable iron sulfide pyrite (FeS2).

Secondly, we aimed to synthesize sulfate green rust (GR), an oxygen-containing analogue for greigite (Fe3S4), for future work determining its importance for molybdenum and rhenium sequestration. Like Mo, Re is likely a proxy for past redox conditions, and is potentially reduced by GR in its sequestration process. Synthesizing GR is the first step in understanding its interactions with Mo and Re. The synthesis attempts yielded unidentified products. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program, the Snavely-Yoder Chemistry Student Research Grant and the National Science Foundation.

Project Mentor: Professor Jennifer Morford, Department of Chemistry.

This study explores the impact of the legal profession on the welcoming standard in Lancaster city from a historical and modern perspective. The study was conducted via extensive archival research at Lancaster History Archives and professional interviews with lawyers, non-profit workers, and accredited representatives. The study determines that modern-day immigration lawyers, non-profit employees, and accredited officials are carrying on the legacy of Thaddeus Stevens, who was a politician and lawyer from Lancaster that fought to protect the human rights of non-citizens. Stevens’s legacy continues in Lancaster city, which us a hub for refugees and immigrants due to the workings of legal figures and Church World Service employees. Non-citizens’ basic human rights to safety and life without fear are often in question in the United States. Therefore, the impact of workers in Lancaster who give non-citizens access to basic needs and opportunities for success is extremely important in today’s environment. This project was supported by funding from the Mellon Humanities for All Times: Reckoning with Lancaster Grant.

Project Mentors: Professors Giovanna Faleschini Lerner, Department of Italian Studies & Hebrew and Anne Stachura, Department of Spanish and Linguistics

This project investigates whether 1-dodecanethiol (DDT) can serve as both a reaction medium and surface ligand for the cation exchange of Cu₂₋ₓS nanorods. Neocuproine is examined as a Cu-bonding reagent that may promote the entry of incoming metal ions to the crystal structure. Co and Ni are used to study how metal identity, precursor loading, and reaction time influence the exchange process. Particular attention is given to particle dispersion, metal–DDT interactions, exchange kinetics, and nanorod reshaping. PXRD and STEM-EDS are used to examine crystal structure, elemental composition, and particle morphology.  Co and Ni show different exchange behavior: Co reacts more strongly but can form a gel-like Co–DDT complex, while Ni remains easier to characterize. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and the National Science Foundation.

Project Mentor: Professor Kate Plass, Department of Chemistry.

Widespread landmines in Ukraine require reliable sensing technologies to support autonomous humanitarian demining. This study experimentally characterizes the CEIA MIL-D1 metal detector mounted at a fixed height and offset on a remotely operated robotic platform. Controlled laboratory experiments evaluated the detector's two-dimensional footprint using inert simulants of four common plastic landmine types found in the region across varying sensor heights and lateral offsets. Results establish a quantitative performance baseline for linear motion, demonstrating that maintaining target distances within approximately 10 cm of the coil centerline provides high-confidence detections. This project was supported by funding from the Committee on Grants student independent research award.

Project Mentor: Senior Teaching Professor Timothy Bechtel, Earth and Environment.

The Power Packs Project (PPP), a Lancaster, PA nonprofit, distributes weekly recipes and associated boxes of food to families facing food insecurity. Planning each week's distributions requires PPP to match available ingredients to suitable recipes while keeping overall expenses within their budget. Simply using spreadsheets to carry out this task has several limitations. Our system uses AI-based string-matching to identify the nutritional value of each recipe, builds a pricing model to forecast recipe costs over a planning horizon, and uses linear programming optimization to recommend a recipe schedule. Building on the pipeline developed by past students, we refined the cost-prediction model by incorporating the frequency of ingredient donation, using Bayesian shrinkage to improve pricing accuracy across recipes.  We also standardized the record entries for all ingredient costs and measurement units.The resulting model and software improves PPP’s ability to anticipate recipe costs, and help families browse recipes within their budget. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Christina Weaver, Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Our research team sought to reconstruct the life histories of Carlisle Indian School students who were placed to work in Lancaster County as part of the school’s Outing Program. The Outing Program was an essential component of the School’s goal to educate and assimilate Native American children. I wrote reports on 4 Carlisle students. I consulted archives from the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center (CISDRC), U.S. Census records, ancestry websites, and newspaper periodicals. I also met weekly with local Indigenous community members Lynette McCall (Hopi), Jess McPherson (Susquehanna), and MaryAnn Robins (Onondaga, Carlisle Indian School descendant) to contextualize information found in my research. I chose to highlight the story of Rachel Penny Arthur (Nez Perce). Rachel was an active member of the School community, went on 4 four outings (two in Lancaster, PA), and later became a figure of cultural preservation within the Nez Perce Nation. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Mary Ann Levine, Department of Anthropology.

In the summer of 2026, from July 6th to July 17th, we studied 32 different scientific papers on the validation of hormone measurements through numerous different analytical methods: immunoassays (EIA/RIA), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), HPLC, ELISA, and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Most importantly, as aligned with the main focus of our project, we investigated numerous techniques employed to stimulate or suppress the production of testosterone, as seen in Table I, including castration, hormone injections (GnRH challenge, hCG challenge, T injection), responses to social conditions (rank, territorial behaviors/ competitive events), and age differences (puberty or senescence). This project was supported by funding from the C. Richard Puff Endowment.

Project Mentor: Professor Meredith Bashaw, Department of Psychology.

The unnatural amino acid 4-cyano-L-phenylalanine (pCNF) can serve as a reporter of local protein environments. The nitrile stretch of pCNF appears in a quiet region of the infrared spectrum and does not perturb protein structure (Dippel et al., 2016, Kearney et al., 2018). Using FTIR, its sensitivity to hydrogen bonding provides information about local solvation. Superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) is a model system given its stable β-barrel structure. sfGFP-Y74 demonstrated that buried sites can exist in three unique subenvironments resulting from hydrogen bonding, internal water, and van der Waals interactions (Lee et al., 2022). From this, we identified three additional buried sites (F141, F101, Y93) and incorporate pCNF to characterize what and how different chemical factors change the nitrile vibrational frequency through FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations.This project was supported by funding from the Snavely-Yoder Research Fund and the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Eyler Fund.

Project Mentor: Professor Christine Piro, Department of Chemistry

Our study focuses on interspecies communication between experienced/veteran capuchins and amateur student trainers. With these power dynamics, we find features of genuine conversation, including both structured and unstructured turn-taking, initiated by both monkey and human participants during training. We hypothesize a three-way relationship between co-interest, monkey distress or frustration, and training efficiency. We developed two ethograms in BORIS software to analyze 16 previously-recorded training sessions. One analyzes the trainer’s gaze, taken from eye-tracking recordings, while the other analyzes the monkey’s behaviors. We looked for trends within each group’s ethogram as well as overall associations between monkeys and trainers. Observed videos revealed distress behaviors and approaches per reinforcer as indicators of training disinterest or interest, respectively, with differences in sex and rank also noted. From the eye-tracking recordings, we also observed that eye-contact and co-attention could be a sufficient measure of monkey’s interest, which highlights the monkey’s autonomy in PRT.This project was supported by funding from the Harring-Wittenbraker Student/Faculty Research Endowment, C. Richard Puff Summer Scholar Endowment, and F&M’s Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentors: Professors Meredith Bashaw and Elena Cuffari, Department of Psychology.

Recent interest in studying intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) has highlighted the importance of understanding energy flow in complex molecular scaffolds. From evaluating drug binding processes to designing molecular wires, these applications may benefit from understanding energy flow in conjugated and nonconjugated molecular scaffolds. Expanding on previous IVR investigations within aromatic scaffolds, seven new scaffolds are proposed, comprising of 21 novel compounds.

Successful syntheses of four scaffolds will be presented. The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Scaffolds 2S (sulfur spacer) and 2NM (nitrogen spacer with methyl rotator) were synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (NAS) in 41% and 14% yields, respectively. Csp2-Csp3 Suzuki coupling was employed for 2C (CH2 linker) (5.0% yield). Glaser coupling between two terminal aryl alkynes afforded 3AA in 53% yield. All nine compounds, in addition biphenyl derivatives, are currently undergoing investigation into IVR dynamics via 2D IR spectroscopy by our collaborator Prof. Tucker at UNR. This project was supported by funding from the Snavely Research Fund

Project Mentor: Edward Fenlon, Department of Chemistry.

Our study explored whether manipulating social norms on media violence will change people’s consumption and enjoyment of media violence, as well as their perception of how others feel about media violence and are influenced by media violence. We hypothesized that exposure to positive norms on media violence will lead to increased positive social norms on media violence consumption. Participants were randomly assigned to either positive ratings, neutral ratings, or negative ratings of the movie. They then answered questions using seven different measures on their evaluation of the movie, perceived norms on violent movies, and effects of violent movies on self and others. Our results partially supported the hypothesis that exposure to positive norms on media violence will lead to increased positive social norms and more enjoyment of media violence, with a significant main effect of sex. This project was supported by funding from the F&M’s Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor El-Lim Kim, Department of Psychology.

Methods for regulating the reduction potential of metal compounds are useful tools for optimizing reactivity. This summer, we investigated a series of 4,4’-substituted [Cp*RhCl(Rbpy)] complexes (R = bpy substituent) via Hammett analyses, which investigate the correlation between the midpoint potential for a specific electrochemical event (either oxidation or reduction) and the Hammett parameter for the relevant substituent. These analyses enabled calculation of the Hammett reaction constant (ρ) across this family of complexes, which represents the extent to which an electrochemical event is influenced when by a ligand substituent. 

Concurrently, we investigated “crossover” reactions in half-sandwich Rh complexes. Previously, we had observed that these compounds will undergo exchange of their bidentate ligand during electron transfer reactions The goal of this summer’s investigation into these reactions was to clarify the viability of a small number of possible crossover reactions, to gain a better understanding of what properties and conditions allow for these reactions to take place. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Davide Lionetti, Department of Chemistry.

Oomycetes are fungal-like microbial eukaryotes with diverse ecological niches. Certain species, such as Phytophthora infestans, are known plant pathogens that lead to significant crop loss.The goal of this project was to explore potential model systems to study host-pathogen interactions. Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet nightshade) is a weedy perennial that can be easily propagated as clones and is in the same genus as economically relevant potato and tomato crops. S. dulcamara samples were collected from various locations around Lancaster. After an initial four-week growth period, plant soil was inoculated with oomycete isolates. RNA extraction of plant root and leaf tissue was performed in order to quantify gene expression relative to uninfected plants at different stages of infection and assess plant immune response. Very little differences in gene expression between inoculated and control plants suggests that Solanum dulcamara is not a susceptible host for the oomycetes tested. This project was supported by funding from The Ellen L. and Carl S. Pike, Ph.D. Biology Department Endowment.

Project Mentor: Professor Jamie Blair, Department of Biology.

Cells produce immune responses to stress or pathogen invasion through a variety of mechanisms. Of these mechanisms, NOD-like receptor (NLR) proteins, are a vital class of protein sensors and immune regulators that detect pathogens and stress signals produced by cells. NLRC3 is a critical negative regulator of pathogen detection pathways, such as the NK-κB and cGAS-STING pathogens, hinging on its interactions with other signaling proteins. In this study, we examined NLRC3’s interactions with other proteins involved in the previously mentioned signaling pathways, like FMNL-1, SLC12A6, and TMCC-1. To accomplish the identification of this binding (needs a precedent), we performed confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitations to identify overlap and interactions between proteins. We show that NLRC3 measurably colocalizes and interacts with FMNL-1 and SLC12A6. This study provides more information on NLRC3’s interactions with proteins along its signaling pathways with possible applications in immune regulator therapeutics. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Eyler Fund.

Project Mentor: Professor Beckley Davis, Department of Biology.

The tumor suppressor APC (Adenomatous polyposis coli) is said to scaffold the destruction complex that targets β-catenin for degradation, and mutations in APC drive the majority of colorectal cancers. Its 15R and 20R repeats are the principal determinants of β-catenin binding. To investigate their requirements, we performed an evolutionary and computational survey of APC orthologs, combining genomic scanning across invertebrate lineages with OpenFold3 structure predictions of APC–β-catenin complexes. The orb-weaving spider Trichonephila clavipes was found to encode a remarkably reduced repeat architecture, retaining a single 20R repeat with no recognizable 15R repeats. We have designed multiple constructs derived from it, intended for yeast two-hybrid testing which will determine whether the reduced architecture is sufficient to bind β-catenin. This project was supported by funding from the Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Eyler Fund.

Project Mentor: Professor David Roberts, Department of Biology

Clostridium botulinum is a dangerous, anaerobic bacteria responsible for botulism, a paralytic neurotoxin that can prove fatal when not treated immediately. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), known for its role in glycolysis as as a key metabolic enzyme, is consistently identified as a potential drug target in many illnesses, such as cancer. Through analyzing the molecular structure of Clostridium botulinum GAPDH (Cb GAPDH), we can better understand its multifaceted roles as a potential “moonlighting” protein, the various intricacies of the enzyme across species, as well as developing targeted therapies for inhibition. Through protein crystallography, we produce crystals of our Cb GAPDH, sending them to Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Proton Source for X-ray diffraction experimentation. As a result, we received strong structural data and diffraction at 1.88 Å and continue to perform activity assays on our protein to additionally determine standard enzymatic data such as a Michaelis-Menten value for Cb GAPDH. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Eyler Fund

Project Mentor: Professor Gabriel Brandt, Department of Chemistry.

This summer, the Lancaster Vice Project asked one big question: who were the doctors who worked in brothels in twentieth century Lancaster?  We tend to think of doctors as healers and maybe even saviors, professionals who used their new scientific knowledge to try to stop the spread of disease. Our research shows that there is much more to the story. Doctors did leap to the forefront of the campaigns to stop commercial sex and the spread of STIs. However, physicians were not always on the side of good health. In fact, they were accomplices in the brothel business and helped perpetuate STIs by issuing fake health certificates. We’ve found that the doctors in Lancaster fit this pattern. Some of them well-respected medical authorities in Lancaster were embroiled in crime and the corrupt city administration’s support for vice, while others became involved in the expanding state-wide public health effort. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and David Schuyler Urban Studies Fellowship Endowment.

Project Mentor: Professor Alison Kibler, Department of American Studies.

Cation exchange is a reaction where the positive ions in nanorods are replaced by different positive ions while the shape of the nanorods are maintained. By controlling the cation placement within nanoparticles, we can adjust and predict properties such as magnetism or conductivity. In our experiment, we investigate cation exchange using Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ under varying reaction temperatures, times, and solvent conditions. During cation exchanges, the same amount of Co and Ni complexes were added to the mixture but were not incorporated into the rods in the same amount. To understand this issue, heated UV/vis was conducted on the reaction mixtures to track how cations change during an exchange. Based on this, we hypothesized that longer heating times would create more stable cation conditions. We concluded that the difference in heating processes has an important influence on Ni and Co incorporation. This project was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.

Project Mentor: Professor Kate Plass, Department of Chemistry.

Skilled trainers let animals speak through movement and behavior, making training feel like conversation. Traditional philosophy calls this metaphorical, but recent studies suggest repeated, patterned interactions may lead to real, language-like exchanges between humans and animals. We tested this using animal training interactions. In videos of students training capuchin monkeys, we identified two signs of conversational exchange: joint commitment and turn-taking. Joint commitment means both sides agree to work together: starting with one side attempting to grab the other’s attention (EPF), continuing with interaction (AP), and ending when one side breaks the turn-taking framework (BPF). We observed clear establishing phases in which either the capuchin or the human solicited the other’s attention. Once formed, the participation framework included both ritualized and spontaneous turn-taking. We observed both capuchins and humans breaking the framework by turning or moving away, at which point the left-behind partner typically sought to re-establish joint commitment. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program and Harring-Wittenbraker Endowment.

Project Mentors: Professors Elena Cuffari and Meredith Bashaw Department of Psychology.

This past summer, we analyzed 2023 SAMHSA Mental Health Client-Level Data to identify patterns in mental health diagnoses and service use. Age was strongly associated with diagnosis patterns, with ADHD and childhood behavioral disorders more common among younger clients, while schizophrenia and depression increased with age. Significant racial and sex disparities also emerged, including higher schizophrenia rates among Black and Asian/Pacific Islander clients and higher female diagnosis rates. Substance use was closely related to mental health diagnoses, but results varied by region and measurement method. SAP screening flags showed a strong association between adolescent depression and substance use, while clinical diagnoses (MH1=12) eliminated or reversed these trends. EFA identified three consistent factors: youth behavioral complexity, psychiatric complexity/severity, and an independent depression construct. Major depression loaded near 1.00, suggesting a potential Heywood case requiring cautious interpretation. This project was supported by funding from the F&M Hackman Summer Scholars Program.

Project Mentor: Professor Yi-Ching Lee, Department of Mathematics/Statistics.