All Poster Projects | Behrend Sigma Xi 2022

Chaperones and Proteases Regulate Two-Component System Signaling in the Bacterial Pathogen Bacillus anthracis

Xinjiie Yi, Hannah Lin – GCC – Biology II – 02-01P

Testing Anti-Bacterial Effects of Cordyceps militaris

Chelsea Spatara, John Benjamin (Tamrya d’Artenay) – PSU Shenango – Biology II – 02-02P

Detecting Microbial Contamination in Ground Beef Products at Various Locations in Erie, PA

Lily Zheng, Liliya Steblak, (Matthew Gacura, Gary Vanderlaan) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-03P

The Microbiome of Erie, PA Sour Dough Bread Starter Cultures.

Michaela Smith – (Matthew Gacura, Gary Vanderlaan) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-04P

Creating Biodegradable Fungi Based Material for Sustainable Multiuse Purposes

Rabab Alamairy, Alison Doverspike – (Matthew Gacura, Gary Vanderlaan) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-05P

NIMBUS: Near-Earth, Investigative Mycological & Bacteriological Ubiquity Surveyor

Jenna Sins, John Vieira, Timothy Edwards, Landen Mayher, (Gary Vanderlaan, Nick Devine, Matthew Gacura, Nick Conklin) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-06P

Water Quality & Microbial Diversity in Lake Pleasant, PA: Physical, Chemical and Nutrient analyses in a Local, Glacial Lake

Abigail Palotas, Jenna Sins, John Vieira, (Chris Dempsey, Matt Gacura, Gary Vanderlaan) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-07P

SURYA: Speedy, Ultraviolet Radiation Yielding Antimicrobial Effects

Landen Mayher, Jenna Sins, John Vieira, Sasha Lewdin, Timothy Edwards, Abigail Palotas, Oluchukwuka Owunwanne, Arvin Sharifbaev – (Gary Vanderlaan, Davide Piovesan, Mike Ganger, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-08P

Pandemic Hopscotch: from African Swine Fever to COVID-19

Billie Caruso – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-09P

Investigating the Osmotic Stress Tolerance of the Tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris

Lucas Foster – (Tricia Humphreys, Matthew Venesky) – Allegheny College – Biology II – 02-10P

WITHDRAWN – RNA Vaccine Design Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Ellen Madden – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-11P

Proposed RNA Vaccine Design Against Ebola Virus

Gwendolyn Ciletti-Dougheri – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology II – 02-12P

Therapeutic Methods to Reduce Nerve Pain: A model of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Jordan Mehalko – (Lauren French, Lauren Rudolph) – Allegheny College – Biology III – 03-01P

Effects of Acute Nicotine Exposure on Anxiety-like Behavior in Rats Chronically Exposed to Methylphenidate

Sam Accordino – (Deanne Buffalari-Tenant) – Westminster College – Biology III – 03-02P

Role of Tanycytes in Individual and Social Behavior

Olivia Kelly, Leah Grady, Jillian Sullivan – (Prasad Dalvi) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-03P

Astrocytes and Anxiety Disorders

Jack Kloecker, Natalie Carris, Eileen Phillips, James Colvin – (Prasad Dalvi) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-04P

Population Genetics of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Phoebe Will – (Adam Simpson, Lynne Beaty) – Penn State Behrend – Biology III – 03-05P

Deletion of Skn7 and Yap1 Reduces Delayed Oxidative Stress Responses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Zoë Snyder – (Quyen Aoh) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-06P

Genetic Characterization of Invasive Mysterysnails in Western Pennsylvania

Aaron Seymour – (Lynne Beaty, Adam Simpson) – Penn State Behrend – Biology III – 03-07P

Aqueous extract of cranberry powder downregulates expression of the E. coli gene fliC, which encodes a flagellar protein necessary for movement

Scott Zanella, Madison Deacon – (Michael Ganger) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-08P

RNA Vaccine Design Against Ovarian Cancerous TP53 Neoantigen

Sasha Ledwin – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-09P

RNA Vaccine Design Against Novel Onco-Antigens in Breast Cancers Involving MAP3K1

Sherin Puthenpurayil – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-10P

RNA Vaccine Design Against Novel Onco-Antigens in Renal Cancers Involving VHL

Oluchukwuka Owunwanne – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matthew Gacura) – Gannon University – Biology III – 03-11P

Secretory Carrier Membrane Protein 3’s (SCAMP3) Role in β-amyloid Production and Secretion

Alexandria Zarilla, Daniel Oar, Joshua Nel – (Quyen Aoh) – Gannon University – Biology I – 01-01P

Measuring miRNA Levels in Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) Released from Oligodendrocytes in Response to Cortisol Exposure

Noel Moore, Madison Jones, Samantha Manioci – (Ashley Russell) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-02P

Cortisol’s Effect on Iron Transport Proteins and Extracellular Vesicles in Placental Cells

Sophie Anderlind, Natalie Lazan, Madison Jones, Samantha Manioci – (Ashley Russell) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-03P

Evaluating the interaction between oxidative stress management and insecticide susceptibility in Chironomus dilutus

Grant Oishi, Tyler Long – (Adam Simpson, Samuel Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-04P

Influence of cysteine modulation on ERK2 spatiotemporal dynamics and its effect on PDGF-induced NIH-3T3 fibroblast migration and proliferation

Taylor Romania – (Jeremiah Keyes) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-05P

Role of trans-Golgi Network and Endosomal Adaptors in Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ellen Madden, Mia Krevh – (Quyen Aoh) – Gannon University – Biology I – 01-06P

Role of SCAMP3 in CXCR4 Trafficking

Mikyung Jang, Catalina Ordonez – (Quyen Aoh) – Gannon University – Biology I – 01-07P

Establishing protocols for the isolation of RNA, protein, and the metabolites from potato tubers treated with 1,4- dimethylnaphthalene

Ian Costello, Keegan Rupp, Emily Dobry – (Michael Campbell) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-08P

Optimization of Techniques for Extracellular Vesicle Isolation from Blood Plasma

John Golec, Alexander Chan – (Ashley Russell) – Penn State Behrend – Biology I – 01-09P

Utilizing Live Cell Imaging in Drosophila melanogaster Salivary Glands to Determine if Resveratrol Treatment Activates Heat Shock Factor DNA Binding

Riley Bricker, Tyra Skalos – (Martin Buckley, Stacy Hrizo) – Slippery Rock University – Biology I – 01-10P

Examining the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Academic Performance and Motivation

Julia Holody, Zachary Mosbacher – (Victoria Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-01P

Teacher’s Stressful Experiences: The Impact of COVID-19

Briona Bargerstock, Francesca Giardina – (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-02P

Classical Conditioning of the Anxiolytic Effects of Diazepam

Matthew Lazusky, Olivia Kraus, Stephen Cullinan – (Rodney Clark) – Allegheny College – Psychology II – 10-03P

Effects on having a Scarcity of Breaks on College Students’ Mental Health

Grace Lawson, Kaitlyn Lasher, Alexsandra Turowski – (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-04P

Isolation, Loneliness, and Social Interaction Due to COVID-19 Predicts General Anxiety

Rachel Sellers, Rachel Stryker, Angelina Marinaccio, Alyssa Graham – (Victoria Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-05P

Implementing Meditation in Single Intervention: Perception of Stress and Pain in College Student Athletes

Angel LaRiccia, Kayla Scarpaci, Emily Pollard, Shaw MacAdam, Gaige Ackley – (Victoria Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-06P

Effects of Anonymity in the Expression of Empathy Through Bystander Behavior in Online Social Media Interactions

Dionel Cabán Cordero, Wilson Ruiz, Yang Xiaochen – (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-07P

Live Simulation’s Impact on Dementia-Centered Empathy

Dionel Cabán Cordero, Rebecca Abraham, McKenzie Waslosky, Emily Pollard – (Dan Eaton, Omar Ashour, Victoria Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology II – 10-08P

Reporting, Tolerance, and Acceptance of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Francesca Giardina, Andria Rhodes, Brianna Grove, Laney Douglas – (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology I – 09-01P

The Effect of Engaging Vaccine Misinformation via Social Media on Mental Health

Colton Walters, Taylor Garrity, Brian Webb, Dario Gonzalez – (Melanie Hetzel-Riggin) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology I – 09-02P

Short Term Memory and Age

Sydney Gibson – (Luke Rosielle) – Gannon University – Psychology I – 09-03P

Screening for Traumatic Brain Injury Among Incarcerated Individuals Using the ImPACT Quick Test

Nicholas Glunt – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Psychology I – 09-04P

Stereotype Threat Susceptibility Through College Majors and Gender

Emily Clopp, Maggie Lawrence, Tamara Sablan-Freeling, Briona Bargerstock – (Victoria Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology I – 09-05P

Manifestations of Body Image and Self-Esteem in Virtual Avatar Creation

Debra Evans, Makayla Regel, Bethany Guldbrandsen – (Victora Kazmerski) – Penn State Behrend – Psychology I – 09-06P

The Role of Color in the Perception of Emotion

Zainab Albidhawi – (Luke Rosielle) – Gannon University – Psychology I – 09-07P

Social Media Use: The Effects on Self-esteem and Satisfaction with Life in iPhone Users

Allison Ahl – (Luke Rosielle) – Gannon University – Psychology I – 09-08P

Examining the Detectability of Dyson Swarms Surrounding Distant Stars

Nick Felker – (Darren Williams) – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-01P

Examining Which Exoplanets are in Their Habitable Zone

Dylan Free – (Darren Williams) – Penn State Behrend – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-02P

Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) Approach to Estimate Parameters of Burr Type III Distribution

Alyssa Kasmierski, Aran Bybee, Elijah McClymonds – (Woosuk Kim) – Slippery Rock University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-03P

Using Technical Analysis For Stock Trading

Brandon Sharp – (Nguyet Nguyen) – Youngstown State University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-04P

Relations Between Design and Parameters and its Influence on Reinforcement Learning Efficacy and Performance

Benjamin Lubina – (Ramakrishnan Sundaram) – Gannon University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-05P

WITHDRAWN – Optimization of Real-time 3D Object Detection Inference in Point Clouds

Anish Chougule – (Alina Lazar) – Youngstown State University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-06P

Effects of a Simulation on Dementia Awareness and Empathy

Rebecca Abraham, Dionel Cabán Cordero, McKenzie Waslosky, Emily Pollard – (Omar Ashour, Victoria Kazmerski, Dan Eaton) – Penn State Behrend – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-07P

Taking a Software Approach to Improve Accuracy of Commercially Available Methane Gas Sensors

Issac Dewar – (Andrew Zhou) – Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-08P

Physics-based Degradation Analysis of Lithium-ion Batteries for Health Monitoring

Chelsea DeSalve – (Shah Limon) – Slippery Rock University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-09P

The Effects of FDM Print Volume on Surface Finish for Investment Casting Applications

Chris Annear, Ben Fahrney – (Paul Lynch) – Penn State Behrend – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-10P

Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Plant Growth Chamber that Permits Video-Timelapse Recordings of Root Systems

Alexis Palmiotto, Abigail Palotas, Jenna Sins, John Vieira – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matt Gacura, Mike Ganger) – Gannon University – Physics, Mathematics & Engineering – 08-11P

Women’s Body Image in Art: With Rhetoric Criticism of Sonja Foss

Savannah Gill – (Tiffany Petricini) – Penn State Shenango – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-01P

Utilizing Interdisciplinary Multi-Modal Techniques to Express Thinking and Learning

Lauren Walsh – (Lisa Ciecierski-Madara) – Penn State Behrend – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-02P

Empirical Assessment of the Relationship Between Jail Population Size and County-level Crime Rates in Central Pennsylvania

Jazzmine McCauley, Abigail Harvey, Tyler Frye, Cassie Gartley – (Nicholas Rowland, Nathan Kruis) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-03P

Media Exposure and Perceptions of Police

Lindsay Fusco, Ziwei Lin, Tyler Frye, Rachel Kosak – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-04P

Sentencing Bias Against Lesbian and Gay Criminal Offenders

Rae Griffith – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-05P

Push for Police Reform in the United States: Understanding Residents’ Attitudes

Payton Perry, Makaylah Bangura – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-06P

WITHDRAWN – Crime Trends in Our West Bayfront Neighborhood

Lindon King – (Christopher Magno) – Gannon University – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-07P

Punitive Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders: Does Offender Sex Matter

Tyler Frye, Rachel Kosaka, Alicia Williams – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-08P

Comparing Perceptions of Local and Campus Police in Central Pennsylvania

Cassie Gartley, Mykala McGill, Rachel Kosaka – (Nathan Kruis, Nicholas Rowland) – Penn State Altoona – Humanities & Social Sciences – 07-09

Understanding Lepidopteran (Butterflies and Moths) Biodiversity on the Penn State Behrend Campus by Collection and Identification Utilizing DNA Barcoding Technology

Abigail Melendez, (Matthew Gruwell) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-01P

Evaluating environmental DNA as a Tool for Monitoring the Great Lakes and Ship’s Ballast Water for the Invasive Species Hemimysis anomala

Amanda Welsbacher, Abigail Melendez, DavidMolina, Angela Laier – (Matthew Gruwell, Ivor Knight) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-02P

Histological Analysis of Ischyrhiza mira Rostral Spines

Jack Prothero, Michael Brudy – (Todd Cook) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-03P

Ecotoxicological assessment of neonicotinoid toxicity to Caenorhabditis elegans

Anvitha Ramagiri – (Adam Simpson) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-04P

Ecotoxicological assessment of pyrethroid toxicity to Caenorhabditis elegans

Alexia Natalia Torres Negron – (Adam Simpson) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-05P

Role of Phase III Metabolism in Insecticide Toxicity to Hyalella azteca

Madison Wager – (Adam Simpson) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-06P

Evaluation of Common, Acrylic Chemical Bonding Agents as Phytotoxins of Gametophyte Development in the Fern, Ceratopteris richardii

John Vieira, Jenna Sins, Alexis Palmiotto – (Gary Vanderlaan, Mike Ganger) – Gannon University – Biology V – 05-07P

Slave-maker Ant Formica subintegra Performs Waggle Displays to Nestmates During Raids on Host

Bryna Wilson – (Stephen Jenkins) – Grove City College – Biology V – 05-08P

Novel Kicking Behavior by Formica pergandei Ants in Response to External Stressors

Hanna Leach – (Stephen Jenkins) – Grove City College – Biology V – 05-09P

Surprising Relationships Between Body Size and Compound Eye Size of Silky Black Ants

Caroline Dill – (Stephen Jenkins) – Grove City College – Biology V – 05-10P

Examining the role of Phase III metabolism in insecticide susceptibility of Chironomus dilutus

Tyler Long, Grant Oishi – (Adam Simpson, Samuel Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology V – 05-11P

Determining the Influence of Surface Winds on the Behavior of Aquatic Invertebrates

Haley Altadonna – (Lynne Beaty) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-01P

Selection Preference of Hyalella azteca in Response to Environmental Contaminants

Miranda Johns – (Samuel Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-02P

ICP-MS Analysis of Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) Otoliths and Sediments from Four Sites in Erie County, PA

Nicholas Nichilo, Maggie Greenfield, Reed Coulson – (Greg Andraso) – Gannon University – Biology IV – 04-03P

Exploring Invasive Round Goby’s (Neogobius melanostomus) use of Lake Erie’s Tributaries

Jacob Uber – (Sam Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-04P

Fitness Effects of Metal Accumulation in Invasive Japanese Mysterysnails

Brooke Johnston – (Lynne Beaty, Sam Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-05P

Metal Accumulation in the Shell and Soft Tissues of Chinese Mysterysnails

Amanda Mullen – (Sam Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-06P

Biofluorescence in Larval Salamanders

Holden Cooper – (Lynne Beaty) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-07P

Effects of Bacteria on Timing of Male to Hermaphrodite Conversion in Gametophytes of the Fern Ceratopteris richardii

Andrew Samuels, Sam Wilczynski – (Michael Ganger) – Gannon University – Biology IV – 04-08P

The Effect of Mediterranean Aqueous Herbal Extracts on Escherichia coli K12 Population Growth

Emilie Hilliard – (Michael Ganger, Geoffrey Dietz) – Gannon University – Biology IV – 04-09P

Identification of Fern Orthologous Genes Implicated in Moss Rhizoid and Grass Root Hair Development

Timothy Edwards, John Vieira, Jenna Sins, Sasha Ledwin – (Gary Vanderlaan, Matt Gacura, Mike Ganger) – Gannon University – Biology IV – 04-10P

Seeing spots: An analysis of the factors influencing the number of spotted salamander migrants

Maille Larmon – (Lynne Beaty) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-11P

Investigating the Role of Environmental Contamination in Teratogenicity Rates of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Olivia Hodgson – (Samuel Nutile) – Penn State Behrend – Biology IV – 04-12P

The Search for Pyruvic Acid in Molecule-Rich Interstellar Sources

Riana Smith, Conor Wright – (Jessica Sarver, Matteo Luisi, Susanna Widicus Weaver) – Westminister College, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Chemistry – 06-01P

Effects of Confinement and Molecular Regulation on Biomineralization

Jenna Toohey – (Erin Wilson) – Westminster College – Chemistry – 06-02P

Density Functional Analysis of the Reaction of the Hydroperoxy Free Radical Species with the Selected Polyphenolic Antioxidants

Matthew Schlessman – (Timothy Laher) – Gannon University – Chemistry – 06-03P