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)

Baron_Harrison_Patel_Fall_2020.mov
Steidinger_Fall_2020 2.mov

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)

Archie_Whitworth _Fall_2020 3.mov
Kiper _Fall_2020.mov

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)

Armstrong_Fall_2020 2.mov
Kiani _Fall_2020 3.mov

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)

Carr_Deters_Fall_2020.mov
Murray_Fall_2020.mov

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)

Benefited_Hazzard_Nowlin_Fall_2020.mov
Dinh_High_Fall_2020.mov

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)

Le_Nguyen _Fall_2020.mov
Miller _Fall_2020.mov

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)

Roberts_Fall_2020 2.mov
McBride_Fall_2020.mov

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)

Reinagle_Fall_2020 2.mov
King _Fall_2020.mov

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)

Kazigwa_Nguyen_Fall_2020.mov
Mueller_Fall_2020.mov

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)  

Krieger_Long _Fall_2020.mov
Crews_Sheelam_Stearns_Fall_2020.mov

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)

Carter_Heistand_Lam_Fall_2020.mov
Cox_Fall_2020.mov

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) 

Seaman_Fall_2020.mov
Herald_Fall_2020 2.mov