NexSTEM Research Showcase
2020-2021 Fall Oral Research Presentations
As part of the National Science Foundation-funded NexSTEM Program, our scholars participate in STEM research projects early in their academic careers. Scholars from across the STEM disciplines work individually or in groups on their projects and are mentored by STEM faculty researchers across our three NexSTEM campuses. Through their involvement, scholars gain practical experience conducting and communicating research.
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On Saturday, November 14, 2020, NexSTEM Scholars presented their research during our virtual 2020-2021 Fall NexSTEM Research Symposium. Together with their research mentor(s), scholars work individually or in research groups to identify STEM research projects and contribute to the development and implementation of these research efforts. These presentations represent a first look at new projects or an update on existing projects.
It's All in the Reach: An Analysis of Post-Stroke Reach Quality in C57BL/6 Mice
Presenters: Shivam Patel (IWU), Sarah Baron (IWU), & Jake Harrison (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Abbie Kerr (IWU)
Knee Replacement and Physical Therapy in a 60 Year Old Male
Presenter: Journey Steidinger (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joe Company (HCC)
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Flies and Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
Presenters: Shira Archie (ISU) & Devin Whitworth (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer (ISU)
Stimulating Membrane Repair in Neuroblastoma Cells That Are Compromised by APP Overexpression
Presenter: Joseph Kiper (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Thomas Kwiatkowski (IWU)
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Possible Effect of Thyroid Conditions on Recovery of Lasik Surgery
Presenter: Audrey Armstrong (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tyler Schwend (IWU)
Peptide Therapeutics
Presenter: Mahsa Kiani (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Brennan (IWU)
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Comparing the Annuity Market
Presenters: Tyler Deters (ISU) & Othniel Carr (ISU)
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Pei Geng (ISU) & Dr. Clara Wang (ISU)
Stocking the Shelves to End a Food Desert
Presenter: Kade Murray (IWU)
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Zahia Drici (IWU) & Dr. Dan Roberts (IWU)
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Exploring Information Technology (IT) Major Retention
Presenters: Preston Nowlin (ISU), RJ Benefiel (ISU), & Evan Hazzard (ISU)
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Winn Mahatanankoon (ISU) & Dr. Qi Zhang (ISU)
Security and Privacy of Smart Home Devices
Presenters: Daniel Dinh (ISU) & Allie High (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Shaoen Wu (ISU)
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The Effects of UV and Antibiotics on the Growth of Wild Type and Knockout Strains of Sulfolobus islandicus
Presenters: Amy Le (ISU) & Trang Nguyen (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chris Weitzel (ISU)
Discovering Bacteriophages in Local Water Samples that Infect Rhodobacter capsulatus
Presenter: Kai Miller (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Bollivar (IWU)
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A Smarter Sump Pump
Presenter: Russell Roberts (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. George Rutherford (ISU)
Bringing Family Members Closer Together
Presenter: Jacob McBride (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. George Rutherford (ISU)
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The Vet Lift Project
Presenter: Darren Reinagle (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. George Rutherford (ISU)
Comparison of a Programmable Circuit and a Nonprogrammable Electric Circuit
Presenter: Emilie King (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gabe Spalding (IWU)
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ISU Sugar Creek Savanna Restoration Project
Presenters: Kathleen Nguyen (IWU) & Benedicte Kazigwa (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ben Wodika (ISU)
Hydroponic Conditions and Optimizing Growth
Presenter: Daniel Mueller (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Kopsell (ISU)
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Geochemical Sampling of Potential Rare Earth Element-Enriched Pennsylvanian Phosphatic Rocks in Central Illinois
Presenters: Aiden Kreiger (ISU) & Gavin Long (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Malone (ISU)
Mobile App Development for Our Community
Presenters: Isaiah Crews (IWU), David Sheelam (IWU), Joseph Sterns (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mark Liffiton (IWU)
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Game Development with a Purpose
Presenters: Nicholas Carter (ISU), Audra Heistand (ISU), & Peter Lam (ISU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary Elaine Califf (ISU)
Exploration on the Uses of Neural Networks in Video Games
Presenter: Noah Cox (IWU)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brad Sheese (IWU)
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Beginning Basic Game Design with RPG Maker
Presenter: Sasha Seaman (HCC)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Lackey (HCC)
Making a Game: Heritors of War
Presenter: Jamison Herald
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Lackey (HCC)
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