The following students were awarded undergraduate student research grants from the Fisher College.
The following students were awarded undergraduate student research grants from the Fisher College.
“Comparing Methods of Measuring Sodium Ion Concentrations in Solution”
Student: Adelabu Afe
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Single Particle Tracking in Poly(ethylene glycol): How the Water Content Defines
the Transport in Hydrogels”
Student: Ahmed Ahmed
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Polorization Reflectometry for Multilayered Metamaterials”
Student: Javier Arteaga
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Higher Resolution Imaging and Analysis of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared
Light Through Ferrofluids as a Gravity Analog”
Student: Nathaniel Chritopher
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Kinetics of Halosalicylate Chlorination at Low pH”
Student: Jacob Damrow
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Quantifying Active Halogen Residuls Using TMB”
Student: Vicent DiPietri
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Complement Immune Response Activation in TLR4 Knockout Cells”
Student: Mehnaz Falguni
Student: Phoebe Calkins
Student: Anique Aaron
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating Competition Between Fungi and Termites”
Student: Joseph Fowler
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
“Water Soluble Bimetallic Gold Nanoclusters”
Student: Zara Freeland
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis and Characterization of Fe(acac)3 and Co(acac)2 Ferrofluids for Sensing
Applications”
Student: Zolani Grady
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Termite Social Defenses Against Pathogens”
Student: Samantha Greenbaum
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation of DMTN Gene Expression Using a Cell Culture Model of Endotoxemia”
Student: Junela Hunat
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of Specific Amino Acid Mutations on AbT1R NADase Activity”
Student: Abra Koudjra
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Base Substitution and Structure/Dynamics of Fis-DNA Complex”
Student: Hannah Littlle
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)
“Factors Affecting the Transition and Stabilization of B to A DNA”
Student: Tsion Mekonnen
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Electromagnetic Surface Waves at Gold-Silver Interface”
Student: Cody Miller
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Synthesis of Halichonic Acid A and Halichonic Acid B”
Student: Emma Niner
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“The Molecular Response of Alternative Pathways Activated During Septic Shock”
Student: Kathryn Nunez
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“The Role of Exposure Route on the Toxicity of PFOS to the House Cricket”
Student: Alex Pellegrini
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Environmental Science & Studies Program)
“Designing and Building Semi-Natural Amazonian and North American Freshwater Ecosystem
Exhibits”
Student: Brianna Porter
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
“Quantification of Air Pollutants Found in Tree Leaf Samples”
Student: Solangel Senzano
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn E. Kautzman (Chemistry)
“SERS Detection of Gunshot Residue Using a Portable Raman Spectrometer”
Student: Taylor Shafirovich
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis and Dr. Mary Sajini Devdas (Chemistry)
“Photolithography for Gold-Silver Interface”
Student: Daryna Soloviova
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Synthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence”
Student: Samantha Topka
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Mechanically Optimizing Light Scattering Optomechanics”
Student: Cedric Wang
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Utilizing Galvanic Exchange to Synthesize Gold Based Ferrofluids”
Student: Maria Webster
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Generation of Structurally Diverse Lipid A”
Student: Zachary Williford
Student: Michael Lukianenko
Student: Michel Kane-Jackson
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“Method Development for the Quantification of Atmospheric Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons”
Student: Jessica Bodner
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“HPLC Quantitation of Furanocoumarins in Dietary Supplements”
Student: Miriam Bregman
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Impact of Furin on the Cytotoxicity of Anti-CD22 Recombinant Immunotoxins Derived
from Pseudomonas exotoxin A”
Student: Kavitha Brunner
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of Photomagnetic Dyes on the Magnetization of FeCo Ferrofluid Nanoparticles”
Student: James Bryant
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Presence of Autophagic Proteins in Human Cytomegalovirus Particles”
Student: Jessica Caple
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Single-particle Tracking of Microsphere Diffusion in Poly(ethyleneglycol) Hydrogels”
Student: Elizabeth Casillas
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Gold Cluster Doped Semiconductors for Art Conservation”
Student: Allejandra Chavez
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Halogenation of Product Characterization of Agricultural Dichloroacetamide Safeners”
Student: Bryce Collingwood
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Performance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems”
Student: Max Denn
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Bromination of Halosalicylates: Kinetics and Product Characterization”
Student: Olivia Driessen
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Imaging Single-particle Dynamics in Poly(ethylene Glycol): Does Size Matter?”
Student: Kathryn Foreman
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Immunological Profile of CD-1 Mice in an Adjuvanted Vaccine Model”
Student: Phuc Gin
Student: Kerri Keenan
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“Novel Application of qPCR Melt Analysis Following BRED”
Student: Feben Habtehyimer
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)
“Magnetic Properties and Losses of Iron/Cobalt-based Ferrofluid”
Student: Kent Hess
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Method Validation of Portable Raman Spectrometer for Gunshot Residue”
Student: Shawn Hess
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Magnetic Metal-doped Monolayer Protected Gold Nanoclusters”
Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Performance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems”
Student: Hanna Hudson
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Immunological Profile of CD-1 Mice Vaccinated with Ova-BECC438”
Student: Kerri Keenan
Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)
“Bacteriophage Treatment as a Potential Method to Clear Cell Culture Infection”
Student: Oliva Konen
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of Air-stable Gold-coated Iron Cobalt Nanoparticle-based Ferrofluid for
Chemotherapy”
Student: Lynn Krushinski
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Utilizing Gold Clusters in the Detection of Dopamine and Serotonin”
Student: Genaro Lavarias III
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Process Optimization for Tuning the Oxygen Stoichiometry”
Student: Caleb Maddux
Student: Jennifer Scheiderer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effect of Sequence on the Binding of YdaO Riboswitches”
Student: Maya Mastronardo
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Factors Affecting the Transition from B-DNA to A-DNA”
Student: Tsion Mekonnen
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Role of Electron Mediators in Microbial Fuel Cell Output”
Student: Caden O'Connell
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)
“Total Synthesis of Strychnuxianal”
Student: Neechi Okwor
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“Quantitative Analysis of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared Light Through
Ferrofluid, as Gravity Analog”
Student: Jonathan Perry
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Synthesis of Iron-Alloy Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids for Mechanical and Biomedical
Utilization”
Student: Alexandra Reifer
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Effect of Sequence on the Conformation of YdaO Riboswitches”
Student: Amber Rogers
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Safety and Efficacy of Antiherpetic Microneedles”
Student: Lauren Sadowski
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Development of an Anti-LMP2 Disulfide Stabilized Recombinant Immunotoxin Based on
Pseudomonas exotoxin A”
Student: Ruby Sprehe
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Electrochemistry of 6-(Ferrocenyl)Hexanethiol-coated Gold Nanoclusters”
Student: Nathaniel Stevens
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Discrimination of Organic and Non-organic Green Coffee Using UPLC-MS”
Student: Brianna Stang
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Investigating the Survival of Herpes simplex Viruses on Toothbrushes”
Student: Chad Suissa
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of Mixed Bi-Icosohedron Nanoclusters with Increased Fluorescence”
Student: Samantha Topka
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Investigating the Survival of Herpes simplex Viruses on Plastic Straws”
Student: Rista Upadhyay
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Determining Effects of Deicing Salt on Baltimore Country Department of Public Works
Surface-Water Reservoirs”
Student: Kathleen Usary
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Genetic Analysis of Gopher Tortoises from Barefoot Beach, Florida”
Student: Kalekidan Abera
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)
“Single-Molecule Studies of Ionic Interactions of Lithium Ions in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)”
Student: Kanika Ajmani
Student: Rose Willis
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Electrochemical Investigations of Linkage Isomerism in Ruthenium Sulfoxide Complexes”
Student: Connor Barrett
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Optimized Protocol for Automated Sexual Assault Sample Cleanup”
Student: Alison Bender
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
“Sorghum and Carcinogen Metabolizing Enzymes in Colon Cancer Cells”
Student: Heather Buck
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Antibiotic Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from the Gut Microbiome of the Dung Beetle
Onthophagus taurus”
Student: Kylie Brandt
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)
“Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Quantum Sized Gold and Gold-Iron Nanoclusters
for Biological Applications”
Student: Pierce Brown
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Mutations to Improve the Cytotoxicity of Recombinant Immunotoxins”
Student: Keeley Butters
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating Human Cytomegalovirus G Protein Coupled Receptor Encoded by US27’s
Role in Autophagy”
Student: Jessica Caple
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Structural Characterization of the Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Tir5 Domain-containing Protein”
Student: Destiny Carpenter
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Halogenation of Dichloroacetamide Safeners-kinetics”
Student: Bryce Collingwood
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Let’s Help the Snails Build a Phylogenetic Tree”
Student: Taylor Crider
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)
“Performance Evaluation of Corrosion Inhibitors for Oxidative Systems”
Student: Max Denn
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Bromination of Halosalicylates: Kinetics and Product Characterization”
Student: Olivia Driessen
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Quantifying Insect Diversity within Deer Exclosures”
Student: Mia Dubin
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Structural Characterization of the TIR Domain of TIR B, a D. discoideum TLR Domain Containing Protein”
Student: Sarah Elsayed
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Low Concentration Co-Analysis of Antiherpetic Through Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography
and Mass Spectrometry”
Student: Nicholas Giannasca
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of Petroleum Production Water on Metabolic Rate and Thyroxine Regulation
in Wood Frogs Lithobates sylvaticus”
Student: Matthew Godbey
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of Aristoquinoline”
Student: Priyansh Gujarati
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“Tuning Wavelength to Improve Nanoparticle Detection Via DLS”
Student: Daniel Guzman
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Determination of Optical Constants of Superconducting Metamaterials with Polarization
Reflectometry”
Student: Kent Hess
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Using Longitudinal Synoptic Sampling Methods to Understand Total Solute Inputs in
Maryland Streams”
Student: Kathleen Hohweiler
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Electrochemical and Optical Properties of Ligand-Exchanged Gold Nanoclusters”
Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Determination of the ”Origin of Honey Samples via Trace Mineral Analysis and ICP-MS”
Student: Priscilla Hounkponou
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Stokes (Chemistry)
“Effects of TirB on Dictyostelium discoideum Cells”
Student: John Jones
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Selenium-mediated Epigenetic Regulation of Selenoprotein Expression in Colon Cancer”
Student: Zeguela Kamgate
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Graphene Oxide Based Metal Hybrid Systems: Sensing Capabilities”
Student: Hadi Kelani
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Iron/Cobalt-based Ferrofluid as Hyperbolic Metamaterial”
Student: Will Korzi
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Generation of a Model Cell Line Expressing CD22 for the Study of Recombinant Immunotoxins
in Tissue Culture”
Student: Samantha Kouneski
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Chemistry)
“Synthesis of Air Stable Gold Coated Iron and Cobalt Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids”
Student: Lynn Krushinski
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Electrochemical Analysis of Organic and Water-soluble Gold Nanoparticles”
Student: Genaro Lavarias
Student: Nathanial Stevens
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Stereotypic Behavior in Mammals at the Maryland Zoo”
Student: Zenobia McCants
Student: Molly Minnick
Student: Rachel Prosser
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Comparative Genomics of Seven Bacillus Isolates from Dung Beetle Larvae”
Student: Alison Moss
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)
“Study of Nonlinear Effects of Transmission of Infrared Light”
Student: Jonathan Perry
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Quantitation of Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine in Kratom”
Student: Kira Piccone
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Characterization of an Endonuclease VII in the Genome of Mycobacteriophage Ph8s”
Student: Kate Riccardino
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)
“Super Atom Clusters of AU: Synthesis and Optical Characterization”
Student: Nicholas Ruszala
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Formation of Trihalomethanes via Halogenation of Natural Organic Matter Precursors”
Student: Marella Schammel
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“YfaT Characterization in Escherichia. coli”
Student: Katrina Schmidt
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of High-polyphenol Sorghum Extracts on Catalytic Activity of Selenoproteins
in Colon Cancer”
Student: Ashish Singh
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of the Small Protein CydX Through Short Open Reading Frame Substitution
in E. coli”
Student: Bradley Stansbury
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Termite Antifungal Protein Activity as a Mechanism Against Their Entomopathogens”
Student: Alanna Stefano
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
“Discrimination of Organic and Non-Organic Green Coffee Using UPLC-MS”
Student: Brianna Stang
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Single-Molecule Studies of Ionic Interactions of Lithium Ions in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)”
Student: Michaela Sumilang
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Characterization of MerR-like Gene Product from Alexphander”
Student: Melissa Temkov
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)
“Bromination Kinetics and Reactivity of Salicylic Acids”
Student: Garrett Alexander II
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Structural Characterization of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylo-coccus aureus TIR Protein”
Student: Ahmed Al Khafaji
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of Ions on the Conformation and Stability of an RNA Riboswitch”
Student: Bryan Bahoua
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“SERS Detection of Nerve Agent Simulants”
Student: Dustin Baird
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Investigating Human Cytomegalovirus G Protein Coupled Receptor Encoded by US27 Role
in Autophagy”
Student: Soumia Bekka
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Development of a Mitochondrial DNA Assay for SNP Screening Using PCR High-Resolution
Melt Curves”
Student: Allison Bender
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
“HPLC Quantitation of Furanocoumarins in Dietary Supplements”
Student: Miriam Bergman
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Single-Molecule Tracking Studies of Lithium Ion Diffusion in Poly(Ethylene Oxide)”
Student: Benjamin Bilik
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Characterization of the Small Protein CydX Through Short Open Reading Frame Substitution
in E. coli”
Student: John Biondi
Student: Bradley Stansbury
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Kinetically Controlled Synthesis of Quantum-Sized Gold Nano-clusters for Biological
Applications”
Student: Pierce Brown
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Dietary Polyphenols and Sulforaphane: Impact on Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and
Metastasis in Colon Cancer”
Student: Christopher Burkhardt
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Dietary Micronutrients: Impact on Hallmarks of Colon Cancer”
Student: Michelle Darkwa
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“In Vivo Release Study of Matrix-Based Antiherpetic Intravaginal Ring”
Student: Amanda Evans
Student: Jennifer Suon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“A Dietary Study of a Maryland Population of Northern Map Turtles Upriver of the Conowingo
Hydroelectric Dam”
Student: Matthew Gacheny
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)
“Low-Concentration Analysis of Acyclovir through Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography
and Mass Spectrometry”
Student: Nicholas Giannasca
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Single-Molecule Investigations of Molecular Partitioning into Poly(Ethylene Oxide)
Films”
Student: Priyansh Gujarati
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Hexanethiolate Protected Super Atom Clusters of Gold: A Kinetic Study”
Student: Nicole Hondrogiannis
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis and Optical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles Using Anthracenethiol Ligand”
Student: Brianna Hutson
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Increasing Viscosity to Slow Down the Nanoparticles for Size Characterization Using
Dynamic Light Scattering”
Student: Hristo Ivanov
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Synthesis of GOx-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrids for Sensing and Catalytic Applications”
Student: Hadi Kelani
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Chemical and Absorptive Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols”
Student: Zackary Kinlein
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Furin Gene Expression Systematically Reviewed via qPCR”
Student: Oliva Konen
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Using Polarized Reflectometry for Determination of Optical Anisotropy of Multilayered
MgB2-based Metamaterials”
Student: Will Korzi
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Synthesis of Air Stable Iron and Cobalt Nanoparticle Based Ferrofluids”
Student: Lynn Krushinski
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Measuring Force of a Single-Beam Optical Trap for Manipulation of Gold Nanostructures”
Student: Kameron Langford
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Chemical Identification of Cocoa Geographic Origin Using UPLC-MS”
Student: Gabrielle Lembo
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Developing Long-Acting Implants for Breast Cancer Prevention”
Student: Chloe Lissauer
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Diphthamide-deficient Elongation Factor 2 in HeLa Cells”
Student: Elliot Lowe
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Survival of HSV-2 on Various Fomites”
Student: Ricardo Mack
Student: Imani Pearson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Characterizing Storm Event Concentration-Discharge Relation-ships Using High-Frequency
Data”
Student: Melinda Marsh
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Phenotypic Characterization of Bacterial Isolates from the Gut of Dung Beetle Onthophagus taurus”
Student: Alison Moss
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)
“Bromination and Chlorination Kinetics of Dichloroacetamide Herbicide Safeners”
Student: Mark Niedzwiecki
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy of Steric Interactions in Type‑I Collagen”
Student: Jainik Patel
Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry)
“Creation of a Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUS27-GABARAP Expressing Cell Line to
Screen for Novel Antiherpetic Drugs”
Student: Kiam Preston
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Relationship Between Furin Cleavage and Cytotoxicity in a Recombinant
Immunotoxin Based on Pseudomonas exotoxin A”
Student: Danielle Reifer
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Establishing Baseline TSS and DOC Prior to Stream Restoration”
Student: Nicole Reifer
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Bushey (Chemistry)
“Effect of Urban Sedimentation on Blacknose Dace Feeding Performance”
Student: Oliva Saliger
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Breaking the Lag Phase: Demography of an Invasive Tree in Arboreta”
Student: Laura Schammel
Mentor: Dr. Laura Gough (Biological Sciences)
“Comparing the Bromination Kinetics of Dimethenamid in Natural and in Synthetic Waters”
Student: Marella Schammel
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Effect of Sequence and Length on M. tuberculosis Riboswitches”
Student: Spiridon Sevdalis
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“The Presence and Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Microbiome of
WildCaught Onthophagus taurus”
Student: Sarah Smith
Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of Ultra-Small Cysteine-Capped Gold Nanoparticles by pH Switching of theAU(I)-Cysteine
Polymer”
Student: Stephanie Spickard
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Structural and Electrical Properties of Oxygen Deficient Strontium Titanate Films”
Student: Francis Walz
Student: Azriel Weinreb
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Identification and Characterization of Small Proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae”
Student: Yishak Woldetsadik
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“Dissecting the Catalytic Fragment of Pseudemonas Exotoxin A”
Student: Alec Ahearn
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Chemistry)
“Vibrating Sample Magnetometer for Materials Characterization”
Student: Bryan Augstein
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effect of flgA Reinsertion into E. coli on Cell Motility and Erik Signaling within D. discodeum”
Student: Harpal Bains
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Chemical Weathering of the Mount Washington Amphibolite and Hollofield Layered Ultramafite”
Student: Luke Barragan
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Metal Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Sensing Using Raman Spectroscopy”
Student: Landon Bechdel
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Three-Dimensional Analysis of Combination Drug Therapy for Herpes Simplex Virus 1”
Student: Soumia Bekka
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Determination of Nicotine Content in Dokha by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry”
Student: Amanda Belunis
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Stream Restoration Monitoring”
Student: Christopher Bower
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effect of SELENOF-Expression on Selenium-Mediated DNA Methylation”
Student: Veronica Canarte
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Affordances of an iPad-based Physics curriculum: Prospective Teachers’ Physics Conceptual
Understanding and Technology Self-efficacy”
Student: Matthew Conway
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Mennon (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Spectral Characterization of Pterin Molecules: Implications for Detecting Life on
Mars”
Student: Christopher Cook
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Selective Quantification of Chlorine and Bromine in Water Using Halogen Trapping
Agents”
Student: Ryan Dias
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Determining Ancient Tectonic Processes in East Africa via Rhenium-Osmium Isotope
Analysis on Mantle”
Student: Alexandra Ducatte
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Does the Reappearance of a Dorsal Fin in the Black Ghost Knife Fish (Apteronotus albifrons) Affect Swimming Kinematics and Sprint Speed?”
Student: Mary Eisinger
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
“Determining the Safety and Efficacy of Antiherbetic Rings In vitro”
Student: Amanda Evans
Student: Nicholas Giannasca
Student: Stacy Overby
Student: Jennifer Suon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Comparison of Swabs at Absorbing and Releasing Blood for DNA Analysis”
Student: Karrah Findley
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
“Total Synthesis of Ineariifolianone”
Student: Ian Gilbert
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“Chemical Clues Associated with Death as Odorant Stimuli in the House Cricket, Acheta domesticus”
Student: Luam Haile
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis and Optical Characteristics of Magic Numbered Gold Nanoparticles”
Student: Brianna Hutson
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis and Characterization of a Graphene Oxide -Ag and Pd Nanoparticle Hybrid
System for Catalytic Applications”
Student: Hadi Kelani
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Potential Epigenetic Regulation of Selenoprotein Expression”
Student: Olivia Konen
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Measuring Hydrogen Gas Generation Using TiO2 - Gold Cluster System”
Student: Thomas Kountz
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis and Characterization of Vanadium based Type II Metamaterial Superconductors”
Student: Kameron Langford
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Petrographic and Chemical Analysis of the Baltimore Mafic Complex Serpentinites”
Student: Jeremy Leierzapt
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Developing Long-Lasting Implants for Breast Cancer Prevention”
Student: Chloe Lissauer
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Pre-restoration and Post-restoration Analysis of Rural to Urban Stream Sediments:
Particulate Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus”
Student: Christopher Manning
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Microtexture Characterization in Hydrothermal Sinter Cores from Alaska”
Student: JoAnna Guadalupe Marlow
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Cooperative Concentration-Discharge Hysteresis Patterns for Two Urban Watersheds
in the Maryland Piedmont”
Student: Melinda Marsh
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Factors Controlling the Selectivity and Rate of Alkylbenzene Bromination by Aqueous
BrCl and Related Brominating Agents: Influence of Steric and Electronic Effects”
Student: Kayla Martin-Cutlet
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Genotyping of Lithobates sylvatica by Sequencing of Microsatellite Loci”
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of Early Angiogenic Activation During the Avascular Regenerative Period in
Larval Axolotls”
Student: Rodrigo Montoro
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)
“Minimization of the Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Catalytic Domain via N-Terminal Substitutions”
Student: Nicolas Philip
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Combination of Sulforaphane and Selenium on DNA Methylation in Colon Cancer Cells”
Student: Sarah Price
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Furin Mutant Sequencing”
Student: Danielle Reifer
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Studies on Chemical Fate of Carbamate Pesticides in Tropical Freshwater Systems”
Student: Michael Rivera
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)
“Bromination Kinetics in Natural Waters: How Useful Are Data Collected in ‘Clean’
Systems”
Student: Marella Schammel
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Fabrication of Tin Calcium Fluoride Hyperbolic Metamaterial Superconductors”
Student: Sabrina Searfoss
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Exploring the Bromination Kinetics of Anisole and Salicylic Acid in Natural Water
Systems”
Student: Tyler Swanson
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Development of a Plasmon-Enhanced Single-Beam Optical Trap for Controlled Manipulation
of Metal Nanostructures”
Student: Timothy Szekerczes
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Nanoparticles for Ferrofluid Applications”
Student: Emmanuelle Nzouatcham Talsa
Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)
“Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles for Heavy Metal Sensing using Plants at Towson
University”
Student: Landon Bechdel
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Detection of Escherichia coli with a Plasmonic ELISA”
Student: Thomas Boise
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
“Determining the Minimum Catalytic Fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A Domain III”
Student: Earl Brooks Jr.
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Acquisition and Interpretation of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectra of
Complex Organic Molecules using the JEOL 400MHz Spectrometer”
Student: Hannah Burdge
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“A Metagenomic Analysis of the Feline Microbiome in Relation to Diet and Probiotic
Supplementation”
Student: Eric Dales
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Prospective Science Teachers' Understanding of 3-Dimensional: Successes and Challenges”
Student: Lyvia DaSilva
Mentor: Dr. Deepika Menon (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Method Development for Selective Quantification of Chlorine and Bromine in Water
Samples”
Student: Ryan Dias
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Sulfides in Spinel of the Ethiopian Rift Valley”
Student: Zachery Dick
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Quantifying Carbon Species form a Rural to Urban Gradient”
Student: Seth Dobbis
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Determining the Efficacy of Antiherpetic Vaginal Rings in vitro”
Students: Jensen Dunkling, Jennifer Suon and J. Brian White
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Phytochemical Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles using Extracts from Plants on TU's
Campus”
Student: Victoria Fusco
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Analysis of Drug Release and Viral Supporesion of Implant Devices through Plaque
Assay and High Performance Liquid Chromatography”
Students: Ariel Gordon and Ricardo Mack
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Onset of Angiogenesis in Regenerating Salamander Tails”
Student: Christopher Goss
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)
“Development and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to Determine
Nanoparticle Size”
Student: Samuel Harding
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Identification of the Cell Wall-associated Pneumococcal Protein Aminopeptidase N
as a Potential Target Degraded by the Neutrophil-derived Serine Protease, Neutrophil
Elastase”
Students: Scott Haynes and Charmaine Nganje
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“Population Demographics of Spotted Turtles in Central Maryland”
Student: Hunter Howell
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of Escherichia coli yfaT, a Gene Predicted to Function in Host-pathogen
Interactions”
Students: Jorden Lane
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis and Characterization of Vanadium-based Type II Metamaterial Superconductors”
Students: Kameron Langford and Timothy Szekerczes
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Petrographic Analysis of the Baltimore Mafic Complex”
Student: Jeremy Leierzapf
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Investigating Surface-associated Choline Binding Protein on Streptococcus pneumoniae
as Potential Targets that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases”
Student: Rachel Lent
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“Comparison of Gut Microbiomes between Wood Frogs and Spotted Salamandars throughout
Metamorphosis”
Student: Elizabeth Lyons
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Factors Controlling the Regioselectivty and Rate of Arene Bromination”
Student: Kayla Martin-Culet
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Analysis of Swordtail Fish DNA Using PCR to Detect Genetic Variation in Microsatellite
Loci”
Student: Crishia Martinez
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Electronic Behavior of Coumarin-labeled Quantum-sized AU Clusters”
Student: Angela Meola
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Synthesis of Methyl-naphthalene Sulfonyl Chlorides as Precursors to Chiral Sulfoxide
Ligands”
Student: Courtney Miller
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Determination of Relative Proportions of Lithobates catesbeiana eDNA in Environmental
Water Samples”
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“ICP-MS Detection Limits for Heavy Metals in Cocoa Liquors”
Student: Luke Monroe
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Chemical and Absorptive Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols”
Student: Ana Morales
Mentor: Dr. Katheryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Regulator RNA MTS 2282 ("B11") in Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
Student: Zelle Ndika
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“1870s/1880s and HSE Abundances of Boninites from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Forearc, IODP
Expedition 352”
Student: Daniel Niles
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Relationship between the 15kDa Selenoprotein and Colon Cancer Regulatory Genes
in Colon Tumorigenesis”
Student: Angelica Patterson
Mentor: Dr. Petra Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“Elucidation of Human Cytomegalovirus HCMV) US27 Protein-protein Interactions”
Student: Kiam Preston Jr.
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Role of Surface-associated Exoglycosidases StrH, NanB, and BgaA
in the Resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to Killing by Neutrophil Serine Proteases”
Student: Christine Qabar
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“Using a CRISPR-Cas9 System to Alter His-715 of eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (eEF2)”
Student: Jack Sanford
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Fabrication of Hyperbolic Metamaterial Superconductors”
Student: Sabrina Searfoss
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Towson University's Impact on the Water Quatlity of Local Streams”
Student: Derek Seibel
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Studies of the Reversible Hydroboration and Isomerization of Linear Alkenes using
Bulky Azaferrocene-boranes”
Student: Deanna Sersen
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Bioenergetic Response to Stress: Lipid Content in Surface Water and Caddisfly Larvae
Across an Urban to Rural Gradient”
Student: Madison Smith
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Salice (Biological Sciences)
“Determination of Cocoa Chemical Signatures Using LC-MS”
Student: Paige Sudol
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Detection and Quantification of Lithobates sylvaticus in Environmental DNA Samples
Using Species Specific Primers”
Student: Hassan Syed
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Regiospecific Rates and Steric Effects of Phenyl Ether Bromination by Aqueous Free
Bromine”
Student: Garrett Taggert
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Does Aquatic Hypoxia Affect Predation Intensity of Juvenile Striped Bass (Morone
saxatilis)”
Student: Anthony Tritz
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“The Use of ddRADseq, a Partial Genome Sequence Technique, to Identify Polymorphic
Microsatellite Loci”
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis and Characterization of a Graphene Oxide-metal Nanoparticle Hybrid System
for Dual Sensing Applications”
Student: Shelby Weatherbee
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Total Dissolved Silica in Stream Waters Across a Forested to Urban Gradient”
Student: David Wessner
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Evaluating Chloramphnicol as an Agonist in Recombinant Immunotoxin Mediated Cell
Death”
Student: Yu Yi Zhu
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Characterizing Small Protein yoaX”
Student: Charles Allen
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectroscopic Study of Desomorphine Attribution”
Student: Kayli Antos Mentor:
Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Characterizing of Small Protein YnfX in Escherichia coli”
Student: Andrea Bempong
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Quantification of Antiviral Efficacy of Anti herpetic Drug Released from Implant
Devices through Plaque Assay and High Pressure Liquid Chromatography”
Students: Kaitlyn Biles and Ariel Gordon
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Quantification on Inorganic Salt Aerosols around Towson, Maryland”
Student: Max Bloomberg
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Comparison of Detection of Food-borne Pathogens by a PCR HRM Assay to a Rapid, Commercial-off-the-Shelf
Water Test Kit”
Student: Thomas Boise
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry)
“Water Quality of Natural Springs on Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania”
Student: Tim Bredder
Mentor: Dr. Amy Williams (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Total Synthesis of Pyrophen and Campyrones A-C”
Student: Hannah Burdge
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“Investigating Choline Binding Proteins and Bacteriocins as Potential Targets on Streptococcus
Pneumoniae that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases”
Students: Cory Casal and Rachel Lent
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“Pyroxenite Xenoliths of the East African Rift”
Student: Alexander Cox
Mentor: Dr. Wendy Nelson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Water Geochemistry from a Rural to Urban Gradient”
Student: Seth Dobbis
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Expression and Purification of Diphthaminde-modified Human Elongation Factor 2 from
HEK293 Cells”
Student: Nathaniel Donahue
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Optimum Solvent and Extraction for Aerosols”
Student: Stacey Dougher
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Next - Generation Sequencing Analysis of the Impact of Urbanization on Coyote Gut
Microbiome”
Student: Ashley Firesryche
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Coyote Diet Comparative Analysis using Next - Generation Sequencing”
Student: Bruno Franco
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Confirming the Synthesis of Intragenic S.P. DsbB”
Student: Andrea Haupt
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“A Biochemical Approach to Identify Cell-wall Associated Proteins on Streptococcus
Pneumoniae that are Degraded by Neutrophil Serine Proteases”
Students: Scott Haynes and Charmaine Nganje
Mentor: Dr. Mara Shainheit (Biological Sciences)
“A Small Protein within Escherichia coli's Glutamine Synthetase”
Student: Jeffrey Hilditch
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Population Demographics of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in Central Maryland”
Student: Hunter Howell
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)
“Quantum Mechanical Tunneling Applied to Frustrated Total Internal Reflection”
Student: Nathan Hull
Mentor: Dr. Jia-An Yan (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Determining the Existence of Intragenic Small Proteins”
Student: John Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Opto-Electronic Properties of Monolayer-Protected Gold Clusters Functionalized with
a New Fluorescent Ligand”
Student: Thomas Kountz
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Using Acrylamide Gels to Determine the Allelic Diversity of Wood Frog Loci”
Student: Jessica Krummel
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“The Detection and Testing of Primers for Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction:
Detection of the American Toad (Anaxyrus americanum)”
Student: Melissa Lanborn
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters, (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation of the Magnetoresistance in Strained Thin Films of Electron-doped and
Hole‑doped Perovskite Manganites”
Students: Bridget Lawson and Samuel Neubauer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Characterization of the Small Protein DsbB*”
Student: Christina Lein
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of the Role of yiaX in the Cell”
Student: Jordan Lingo
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Development of Mitochondrial DNA Primers Specific to Genetic Loci in Cope's Gray
Tree Frog for use in Quantitative PCR”
Student Elizabeth Lyons
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Are the Athletic Ones the Handsome Ones? Linking Female Preference to Locomoter Performance
in Xiphophorus montazumae”
Student: Rachael Mady
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
“Determination of Cocoa Liquor Provenance Using Fatty Acid Signatures”
Student: Sara Maloney
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Proposed Synthesis of Cleroburyin A”
Student: James Mease
Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)
“Development of Primers for Identification of Lithobates catesbeiana in Environmental DNA Samples”
Student: Jacob Mitchell
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Properties of Atmospheric Aerosols Released During Biomass Burning”
Student: Ana Morales
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Characterization of Virulence Factors in Escherichia coli that Promote Intracellular
Survival Following Phagocytosis by Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Phillip Phan
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Stereospecificity in the B-to-Z DNA Transition”
Student: Kelsey Polak
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Determination of Drug Release Kinetics of Antiherpetic Vaginal Rings in Simulated
Vagina Fluid”
Students: Jaspreet Samra and J. Brian White
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Using a CRISPR - Cas9 Knockout to Evaluate the Role of Ferin in the Intoxication
Pathway of Pseudomonas exotoxin A”
Student: Jack Sanford
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Chromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between the Polymorphic Compound
mCyPU and Tailored Surfaces”
Student: Brandon Smiddy
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Development of Ruthenium Complexes of Chiral Sulfoxide Ligands as Redox and Light-Activated
Molecular Switches”
Student: Cassidy Stout
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Determination of Cocoa Liquor Provencance using Elemental Signatures”
Student: Paige Sudol
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Identification and Development of Lithobates sylvaticus Specific Primers for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)”
Student: Hassan Syed
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Nanostructures and Its Catalytic Applications”
Student: Sarah Talamantez-Lyburn
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Identification and Testing of Polymerase Chain Reaction Primers for NextGeneration
Sequencing Analysis of Environmental DNA”
Student: Jill Taylor
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Population Diversity Analysis by Identification of Polymorphisms in the Wood Frog
Genome Using ddRADseq, A partial Genome Sequence Technique”
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Chromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between the Polymorphic Compound,
mNPU and Tailored Surfaces”
Student: Taylor Watts
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Synthesis of a Graphene Oxide-Metal Nanoparticle Hybrid System for Use as an Electrochemical
Sensor”
Student: Shelby Weatherbee
Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry)
“Functional Analysis of Small Protein BybC in Escherichia coli”
Student: Jacob Wieland
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Magnification with Transformation Optics Lenses”
Student: William Zimmerman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Designing an RNA Model for Studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis ydaO Riboswitch”
Student: Yongyun Zhou
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Combination Therapy to Enhance the Efficacy of Recombinant Immunotoxins: Evaluating
the Role of Mitochondrial Translation in Toxin-mediated Cell Death”
Student: Yuyi Zhu
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Species and Strain Identification of Metarhizium Fungi through Culture-Dependent and Independent Methods”
Student: Tyler Biles
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
“Quantifying Carbonaceous Contributions to Light-Absorbing Atmospheric Aerosols”
Student: Amanda Brock
Mentor: Dr. Beth Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Evaluation of a Biodegradable Penciclovir Matrix Delivery System for the Long Term
Reduction in HSV-2 Reactivations in Guinea Pig Model”
Students: Hannah Burdge and Maria Palitino
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Major and Minor Element Analysis of Ocean Island Basalt Sulfide Inclusions from Reunion
Island”
Student: Brett Caldwell
Mentor: Dr. Michael Mengason (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“How do Male Mountain Bluebirds Discover that their Eggs have Hatched”
Student: Chelsea Connor
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Determining How Teachers' Attitudes about Mathematics Professional Development Impact
the Changes They are Willing to Make”
Student: Britaney Cosner
Mentor: Dr. Honi Bamberger (Mathematics)
“Comparing the Effects of Various Neutral Diol Osmolytes with Trisethylenediaminecobalt
on the Transition from B-DNA to Z-DNA”
Student: Aloise Diedrich
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“The Occurrence of Micro-Bead Pollution in Baltimore Harbor”
Student: Jeremiah Feldstein
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effect of Prophylactic Treatment of Penciclovir on Genital Herpes in Cotton Rats
(S. hispidus)”
Student: Jacqueline Hanfman
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies, (Biological Sciences)
“Application of the Brine Shrimp Lethality Tests to Electronic Cigarette e-liquids
and Produced Aerosols: A Toxicity Study”
Student: Jonathan Jopse
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Interaction of Tir Domains in Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Charrika Kelly
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Using Trace Element Chemical Signatures to Determine Cocoa Liquor”
Student: Ravleenkaur Khalsa
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Determination of Cocoa Liquor Provenance Using Fatty Acid Signatures”
Student: Sara Maloney
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Do Parent Male Mountain Bluebirds Control the Time of Nest-Leaving in their Offspring”
Student: Andre Nguyen
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci Identification in Wood Frog Populations”
Student: Erika Lugo
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Refolding of Unmodified Human Elongation Factor 2 for the Vitro Reconstruction of
Diphthamide Synthesis”
Student: Nirja Patel
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Geochemical Analysis of the Weathered Products of the Mt. Washington Amphibolite
and Hollofield Ultramafite in the Piedmont near Baltimore, Maryland”
Student: Lisa Perrin
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Transition of B-to-Z DNA in the presence of Alcohol Osmolytes and Salt”
Student: Kelsey Polak
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Antiviral Efficacy and Quantification of Antiherpetic Drug Released from Devices
Created by a Novel Drug Delivery Method: Volatile Acid Solvent Evaporation (VASE)”
Students: Amandeep Samra, Kaitlyn Biles, Thamar Eitienne and Benjamin Harding
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“The Formation of Vesicle Minerals of Summit Rock, Oregon”
Student: Matt Schuetzle
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Development and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to determine
Nanoparticle Size”
Student: Thomas Sebastian Jr.
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effects of Eukaryotic Elongation Factor-2 Kinase siRNA Silencing on the Cytotoxicity
of Pseudomonas Exotoxin A”
Student: Jamy Therres
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Applications of Silver Staining Analysis Technique to the Wood Frog Project”
Student: Alexandra Vlk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Chromatographic Investigation of the Interaction between a Polymorphic Compound and
Tailored Surfaces”
Student: Taylor Watts
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“The Role of Dictyostelium discoideum G protein in Signaling and Bacterial Responses”
Students: Theresa White
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“A Tale of Two Snails”
Student: Chelsea Winters
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)
“Decreased Micro-Nutrients in Soil Due to Road Salt Addition”
Student: Gregory Woodward
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Nanoparticle Size Dependence of Transition Temperature of Metamaterial Superconductor”
Student: Kathryn Zander
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Role of Annealing in Nanoparticle-based Metamaterial Superconductors”
Student: William Zimmerman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Evolution of Gene Expression Validated Using the rtPCR Technique”
Students: Candice Amo-Adade and Jessica Foley
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)
“Cross-Linker Effect on Molecular Imprinted Polymer Sensors”
Student: Daniel Baumann
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Characterizing the Expression of the puuP_puuA_1 Protein”
Student: Daniel Bennett
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Regioselective Bromination of Phenylalanine: Quantifying Reaction Rates Under Controlled
NaBr + NaOCL Conditions”
Student: Mark Bickley
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Development of Numerical Methods to Study Image Formation of Electron Scattering”
Student: Stephen Blama
Mentor: Dr. Jia-An Yan (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Transformation of an Herbicide's Active and 'Inert' Ingredients under Simulated Environmental
Conditions”
Student: Mark Burton
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Characterization of Small Protein argF_ISC1_3 in Escherichia coli”
StudentS: Baboucarr Ceesay and Kenneth Harris
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Elongation Factor 2 Levels and Immunotoxin Activity”
Student: Anne Chamoun
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“The B-Z-DNA Transition Under Elevated Temperatures and Osmotic Stress” Maimouna Cisse
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Analyzing and Manipulating Small Protein Expression in elba_ycgX_11”
Student: Aileen Delgadillo
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“The Evolution of Viviparity in Squamate Lizards and the Effect of Reproductive Mode
on Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism”
Student: Julia Dottle
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
“Effects on Surfacing Behavior of a Facultative Air Breather, Panaque maccus, in the Presence of the Predator”
Student: Molly Fisher
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Characterizing of caiT_fixA_0 Small Protein in Escherichia coli”
Student: David Fricker
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Characterizing Microsatellites in the American Toad”
Student: Allyson Genson
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Development of a Simple, Quantitative Assay for Unlabeled Acyclovir in Clinical Samples”
StudentS: Benjamin Harding and Kevon Sampson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Isolation and Characterization of a Small Putative Protein Encoded by the torR_torC_0
Gene in Escherichia coli”
Student: Shawn Hirsch
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“The Differences in Locomotion Between Species of Cichlids from Lake Mawai with Various
Habitats and Diet”
Students: Shannon Horan and Nicole Staton
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)
“Directed Evolution of a Small Protein”
Student: Aqsa Jamil
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Analysis: Instrumentation and Method Development”
Student: Jonathan Jopse
Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)
“Investigation of Expression Patterns in Small Protein dadX in Escherichia coli”
Students: Megan Karanfil and Kelsey Shiflett
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Mineral Content and pH of Soil Sampled in the Glen Woods and Its Effect on Land Snails
Found”
Student: Shivani Kharod
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in US28 and Enhanced Binding Affinity of Viruses
to the Mutant Strain Compared to the Wild-Type”
Student: Laura Kretzer
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
“Experimental Demonstration of Luneburg Lens Waveguides”
Student: David Lahneman
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Planetary Accretion from E-Chondrites”
Student: Elizabeth Leidich
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Shofner (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Transformation of the MYB13 Gene”
Student: Sarah Lynch
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of p53 Inhibition on Appendage Regeneration in Salamanders”
Student: Katelyn Marshall
Mentor: Dr. Renee Dickie (Biological Sciences)
“Transforming Brassica-Observing the Impact of Changes in Gene Expression in Wood
Development”
Student: Kristina Martin
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Function of coaE_guaC_O in Escherichia coli”
Student: Taylor Mcllquham
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Turning Off the GPA: A Furin's Involvement in the Intoxication Pathway of Recombinant
Immunotoxins Based on Pseudomonas Exotoxin A”
Student: Bryan Miller
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of Cullin 5 Expression in Breast Cancer”
Student: Ninna Nana
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
“Does Social Status Influence Air-Breathing Behavior of a Facultative Air Breather,
Panaque maccus?”
Student: Cheyenne Owens
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Purification of Unmodified Human Elongation Factor 2 in Vitro Reconstitution of Diphthamide
Synthesis”
Student: Nirja Patel
Mentor: Dr. John Weldon (Biological Sciences)
“Chromatographic Investigation of Humic Substance Adsorption on Calcite”
Student: Carrie Reed
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“The Effects of Osmolytes and Transition Metal Complexes on the Conformational Transition
from B-DNA to Z-DNA”
Student: Daniela Rey-Ardila
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Flavonoids as a Tool to Investigate Regulation of Thioredoxin Reductase 1 and the
15kDa Selenoprotein in Colon Cancer”
Student: Lauren Rosso
Mentor: Dr. Peko Tsuji (Biological Sciences)
“A Novel Approach to Quantify Halide Concentration in Drinking Water and Related Matrices”
Student: Nicholas Sapienza
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Cloning and Characterization of CMV US28 Variants”
Student: Rebecca Silver
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of zupT_ribB_0 in Eschericha coli”
Student: Ying Tan
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Reactivity of Anisole and Bromoanisola Regiosomers Towards Brominating Agents in
Solutions of NaBr+ Free Available Chlorine”
Student: Daniel Victor
Mentor: Dr. John Sivey (Chemistry)
“Measuring Nanoparticle Size Using Dynamic Light Scattering”
Student: Thomas Volpe
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Structural and Electrical Properties of Thin Films of Electron-Dopes Mixed Valent
Rare Earth Manganites”
Student: Zoey Warecki
Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani & Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Structural Characterization of TIR Domain of Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Theresa White
Mentor: Dr. Michele Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of Cullin 5 Expression in Breast Cancer”
Student: Sarah Wicks
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
“Identification and Characterization of a Small Protein in Escherichia coli”
Student: Justin Willstaedt
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Decreased Plant Micronutrients in the Critical Zone Due to Halite Addition”
Student: Gregory Woodward
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Metamaterial Rout to High Temperature Superconductivity”
Student: Kathryn Zander
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The role of Dictyostelium discoideum TirA in Signaling and Anti-Bacterial Responses”
Student: Ava Zapf
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of Small Escherichia coli Proteins”
Student: Fatimeh Abuikhdair
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Fabrication of Tapered Waveguides via Photolithography”
Student: Todd Adams
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Ferrofluids as Hyperbolic Metamaterials”
Student: Evan Bates
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Structural Characterization of TIR Domain of TirA, A TLR in Dictyostelium discoidium”
Student: Michael Berlett
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“The Effect of Relative Hydrophobicity of Osmolytes in the B-to-Z DNA Transition”
Student: Maimouna Cisse
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Development and Characterization of Dynamic Light Scattering Instrumentation to determine
Nanoparticle Size”
Student: Christopher DiFatta
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“CaMnO3-x: A Biomimetric Catalyst for Water Splitting”
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Comparative Structural Macroanalysis of the Middle to Upper Solariun”
Student: James C. Gossweiler
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effects of Hypoxia on Fitness in Juvenile Striped Bass, Morone saxatiles”
Student: Raven S. Gossweiler
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of the Small Protein yciX-can1 in Escherichia coli”
Student: Matthew Howard
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Quantifying Land Use and Lithology Across USGS Gaged Catchments in the Maryland Piedmont
Region”
Student: Katherine Hresko
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Spiropyran Dyes: A Comparison of Two Synthetic Methods”
Student: Navdeep Kaur
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Small Pool Analysis for Microsatellite Mutations in Spotted Salamanders”
Student: Brianna Lynn
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation of the Relationship between Tetradentate Aminosulfoxide Ligand Structure
and Geometric Isomerism in their Ru(II) Dichloride Complexes”
Student: William Nagel
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Provenance Determination of Dark Chocolates using Organic and Trace Element Chemical
Signatures”
Student: Naissem Le Nodjinam
Mentor: Dr. Shannon Stitzel (Chemistry)
“Trace Mineral Chemical Composition and Distribution in Common Carbonate Aquifer Materials
and Contribution to Risks in Carbon Capture and Sequestration”
Student: Allison Rico
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effects of Photolithography Processes on the Properties of Manganite Thin Films”
Student: Christopher Rubin
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Developing Thin Films of La1-x-yCaxPbyMnO3 for Uncooled Bolometer Application”
Student: Evan Schulz
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Behavioral Olfactory Responses of House Crickets to Plant Volatiles”
Student: Harlan Shafer
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Dictyostelium discoideum TirA Stimulates Generation of Reactive Oxygen in Response to Bacteria”
Student: Kierra Stephens
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of Reproductive Behavior in Male Spotted Salamanders”
Student: Katherine Sunderland
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Multiple Paternity Testing in Housed Southern Stingrays (Dasyatis amaericana) by Examination of Microsatellites”
Student: Joseph Szewczyk
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Designing a Ribosomal RNA Model for Understanding the Effects of Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
Student: Amber Truitt
Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Analysis of Circulating Strains of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Mali”
Student: Sarah Wicks
Mentor: Dr. Elana Ehrlich (Biological Sciences)
“An Investigation of Leaf and Stem Anatomical Features in Chrysothamnus. Do Anatomical Features Inform Evolutionary Relationships among Species?”
Student: Scottie Berk
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts, (Biological Sciences)
“Temporal Variation in the Structure of Aquatic Turtle Populations”
Student: Nathan Byer
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)
“Fine Structure of Olfactory Antennal Sensory Organs of the Cricket, Acheta domesticus”
Student: Curtisha Charles
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“The B-to-Z form DNA Transition”
Student: Charlotte Chaze
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“The Role of Chemical Denaturants and Helix Stabilizers in Inducing Conformational
Transition from B-to-Z DNA”
Student: Charlotte Chaze
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Seed Dispersal Pathways of Wavy Leaf Basket Grass”
Student: Ken Compher
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp (Biological Sciences)
“Optically Pumping a Dye for Resonance Raman Spectroscopy”
Student: Michael DeRito
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Development of Design Techniques for Accessible Data Visualization for the Blind:
The Weather Map Project”
Student: Rhian Driscoll
Mentor: Dr. Suranjan Chakraborty (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Biochemical Characterization of Small Cytochrome Oxidase Proteins”
Student: Caitlin Fagan
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Solidago sempervirens L.”
Student: Nyshia Garcia
Mentors: Dr. Rolland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of Thermal Annealing Process on Magnetoresistance of Rare Earth Manganese
Oxide Thin Films”
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Neural Origins of Intraspecific Variance in Hypoxia Tolerance of Juvenile Striped
Bass (Morone saxatilis)”
Student: Andrew Gschweng
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation into the Essential Amino Acids for Small Protein Ybgt Function in Escherichia coli”
Student: Brittany Haynes
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“A Mammal Species Survey at Eden Mill Nature Center”
Student: Rachel Herbert
Mentor: Dr. Harold Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Fledging Behavior of the Mountain Bluebird”
Student: Rachel Herbert
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Cross Species Microsatellite Evaluation: The Case of Simarouba amara and Ailanthus altissima”
Student: Leteisha Hunt
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of Phosphanyl(Organyl)Boranes and their uses as Ligands In Transition Metal
Complexes”
Student: Anthony Jiang
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro, (Chemistry)
“Structural Characterization of Dictyostelium TIR Domain-Containing Proteins”
Student: Krista Johnson
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder, (Biological Sciences)
“Determining Drug Output in Two Types of Silicone Implant”
Student: Nicole Johnson
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies, (Biological Sciences)
“Invasive Ecology of Oplismenus H. undulatifolius (Wavy-Leaf Basket Grass) Based on Mycorrhizal Associations in Northern Maryland Deciduous
Forests”
Student: Cody Kepner
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp, (Biological Sciences)
“Biochemical Characterization of the Small Cytochrome Oxidase Protein YccB”
Student: Meighan LeGrand
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation of ADAD1 for Use in a Multiplex Real Time PCR Assay for the Detection
of Sperm in Forensic Samples”
Student: Carlo Mercado
Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Zeller (Chemistry)
“Dendrochronology of Heavy Metal Contamination of Extinct Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Zinc Smelting Site”
Student: Elizabeth Myers
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Can Female Mountain Bluebirds Control the Hatching Times of their Eggs”
Student: Felicia Napolillo
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Soil Speciation within Palmerton, Pennsylvania Zinc Smelting Site's Air Shed”
Student: Julie New
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Titanium (II)-Catalyzed Hydroborations of Novel Unsaturated Heteroatomic Substrates”
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)
“Effects of Base Substitutions on the Stability of Kissing Loop Complexes”
Student: Monica Padgett
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Identification and Quantification of Anthropogenic Aerosol Compounds and Levels in
Towson, Maryland”
Student: Kumaran Ramakrishnan
Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry)
“Carbon Cycling in an Urban Environment”
Student: Michael Reed
Mentor: Dr. Joel Moore (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Palepathology of Cetacean Vertebra from Pope's Creek, Calvert County, Maryland”
Student: Allison Ricko
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) of Y2Ba4Cu8O16 (Y248) Epitaxial Thin Films”
Student: Evan Schulz
Mentor: Dr. Grace Yong (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Role of Dictyostelium TirA in the Signal Transduction Response to Bacterial Prey”
Student: Bivor Shrestha
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Detection of Misidentified Plants in the San Juan Estate Cocoa Collection”
Student: Michael Smith
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“DNA Barcoding Polygyrid Land Snails within the Order Stylommatophora using Mitochondrial
Gene 12S”
Student: Thomas Swauger
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Winters (Biological Sciences)
“The Effects of Urbanization on the Hydrology of Upper Herring Run Watershed”
Student: Michael Thorpe
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Exploring the Utility of Microsatellites for Unraveling Evolutionary Relationships
Among Species of Lorandersonia”
Student: Joseph Walburn
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Identification of Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Naomi Ampofoh
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder, (Biological Sciences)
“Visual orientation behavior of gypsy moth larvae to emissive colors”
Student: Katelyn Bettie
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields, (Biological Sciences)
“Biochemical purification of cytochrome bd oxidases with the small proteins YbgT and
YccB”
Students: James Burton and Robert Hanna
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm, (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of variable stem length on RNA flexibility”
Student: Gordon Crews
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto, (Chemistry)
“Synthesis of Boron Nitride nanotubes via chemical vapor deposition and arc discharge”
Students: Michael DeVanzo, Gene Shanholz and Joshua Tyler
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Inveestigating the impact of caffeine on FOS protein expression in the nucleus accumbens
of the rat”
Student: Paulomi Dholakia
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Duncan-Vaidya (Biological Sciences)
“Strain relaxation and low field magneto-resistance in ultra thin manganite films”
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Cacie Hart
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Magneto-resistance studies of strained manganese oxide thin films”
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Cacie Hart
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani, (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Identifying the bacteria associated with the Dung Beetle, Onthophagus taurus”
Student: Karla Feeser
Mentor: Dr. Ann Estes, (Biological Sciences)
“Germination and competitiveness of Oplismenus hirtellus ssp. undulatifolius, new invader in Maryland forests” Megan Ghothane
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Beauchamp, (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of thermal annealing process on Rare Earth manganese oxide thin films”
Student: Tyler Goehringer
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Investigation into the role of small proteins YbgT and YccB in cytochrome oxidase
activity in Escherichia coli”
Student: Brittany Haynes
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm (Biological Sciences)
“Ellicott City Granite: cause of foliation and feldspar lath alignment”
Student: Lindsay Keeney
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks Rea (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Short term ingestive feedback mechanisms in gypsy moth larvae”
Students: Madiha Khalid and Jillian Sanford
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“How do environmental conditions affect animal reproductive strategies? Insight from
a study of Tree Swallows breeding under extreme conditions”
Student: Dovid Kozlovsky
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Effect of mutation in the binding of Kanamycin to Mycobacterium tuberculosis”
Student: Ying Li
Mentor: Dr. Ana Maria Soto (Chemistry)
“Determination of Nitrogen and Phosphorus surface runoff and groundwater leaching
of a Tall Fescue lawn with an application of granular 14-2-14 on lawns of varying
slope”
Student: Gregory Lomb
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Titanium (II)-catalyzed hydroborations of novel unsaturated heteroatomic substrates”
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)
“Quantifying Bumblebee (Bombus so.) population decline through microsatellite date”
Student: Travis Poulsen
Mentor: Dr. David Hearn (Biological Sciences)
“Strategies for breeding in an unpredicatbel and harsh environment: Do Tree Swallows
set up some of their offspring to die?”
Student: David Satterfield
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Measurement of nano-structured graphitic carbon using micro-Raman spectroscopy”
Student: Logan Scheel
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Caffeine-induced reinstatement of sucrose seeking in rats”|
Student: Catherine Vogel
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Duncan-Vaidya (Biological Sciences)
“Improved synthesis of Penciclovir [PCV; 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymrthtlbut-1-yl)guanine]”
Student: Steven Whitt
Mentors: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences) & Dr. Lev Ryzhkov (Chemistry)
“Homeland Security: Chlorine Transportation Optimization for the Chemical Security
Analysis Center”
Students: Jonathan Howe, Derek Morgan, Patrick O'Neill, Michael Orlitzky, Solomon
Stein, Samantha Stevenson and Alana Thompson
Mentors: Dr. Sergiy Borodachov & Dr. Alexei Kolosnikov (Mathematics)
“The Effect of Deterrents on Gypsy Moth Food Consumption: A Behavioral Investigation”
Students: Nnenna Aginam and Jillian Sanford
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Detection of Misidentified Plants in the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad”
Student: James Bardsley, III
Mentors: Dr. Roland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Isolation and Identification of Termite Fungal Pathogens”
Student: Roxann Cavey
Mentor: Dr. Mark Bulmer (Biological Sciences)
“Micro-Raman Spectroscopy and AFM Studies of Atomically-Thin Graphite”
Students: John Hasslinger and Kevin Mead
Mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“000100100 Questions”
Student: Michael Matthews
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer & Information Sciences)
“Sensitivity of B-to-Z- DNA Transition to Macromolecular Crowding”
Student: Crista Nguemeta
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Phylogepgraphy of Arabidopsis Lyrata ssp. Lyrata Inferred from the Distribution of G3pdh Haplotypes among Populations in the Eastern
United States”
Student: Abdulafeez Oluyadi
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Development of Chiral Azaferrocenes”
Student: Benjamin Roembke
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Brunker (Chemistry)
“Do Mammals Utilize Storm Water Retention Ponds as a Surrogate for Natural Wetlands?”
Student: David Satterfield
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Identification of Peptides which Effectively Modify Calcite Crystal Growth”
Student: Stephanie Stanley
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Evaluating Water Chemistry in Rural and Urban Watersheds on Trace Metal Uptake in
Black Nose Dace Otoliths”
Student: Elluz Chong Qui
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effect of Susbtrate and Thickness Variation in the Properties of Rare Earth Manganese
Oxide Thin Films Used for Infrared Detectors”
Students: Gilles Dongmo-Momo and Dou Dou Qian
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Autonomous Helicopter Software”
Student: Lynn Durholz, Josh Giltinan and Logan Scheel
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Assessing the Influence of Road Salting Techniques on Surface Water Chemistry in
the Red Run Watershed, Maryland”
Student: Kristen Lazzeri
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effect of the Conformational Flexibility between Monodentate Ligand and Bidentate
Ligand in B-to-Z-DNA Transition: Role of Hydration”
Student: Crista Tiyouh Nguemeta
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Investigating the Impact of Caffeine on Sucrose Self-Administration in Rats”
Student: Edward Retzbach
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)
“Identification of the Function and Mechanism of Autophagy in Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: Lauren Winter
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Impact of Short-term and Chronic Caffeine Effects on Anxiety”
Student: Whitney Marie Wolfgang
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)
“Transition Metal Complexes and the B-to-Z- DNA Transition: Investigating the Role
of Charge and Hydration”
Student: Ira Ashman
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Detection of Misidentified Plants in the International Cocoa Genebank, Trinidad”
Student: James Bardsley, III
Mentors: Dr. Rolland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Oolitic Limestone Bed within Appalachian Acadian Flysch”
Student: Alison Bradford
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Detection of Illicit Synthetically Prepared Hormones Found in Ground Veal”
Student: Shawn Callahan
Mentor: Dr. James Saunders (MB3)
“Avoidance of Chemical Cues by the Northern Two-Lined Salamander, Eurycea bislineata”
Student: Lisa Chicarella
Mentor: Dr. Donald Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Evaluating the effects of roadway derived Zn on the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, in an urban soil”
Student: Elluz Chong Qui
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Characterizations of Three Spiroplasma Strains Isolated from Leafhopper Insects”
Student: Grace Demehin
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“Synthesis of an Isotopically Labeled Acyclovir to Study Pharmacokinetics in Mice”
Student: Daniel Dougher
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“How are Arthropod Decomposer Communities Affected by Varying Deer Densities?”
Student: Daniel Ellis
Mentor: Dr. Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Genetic Analysis of Gopher Tortoises from Moody Air Force Base”
Student: Oluwarotimi Folorunso
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)
“Development of Perovskite Manganite Thin Films for Uncooled Night Vision Sensors
and Other Room Temperature Applications”
Student: Bao Ha
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effect of Magnetic Field on Photoinduced Effects in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3”
Student: Benjamin Hofmanng
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Building NXT Robot To Communicate With Existing Robots”
Student: Seungmin Kang
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)
“The Fabrication of a Vector to Report HHV-6 Infection of Oligodenrocytes Using Fluorescence
Microscopy”
Student: Eric Legenzov
Mentors: Dr. Barry Margulies & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Determining the Sensitivity of Gustatory Neurons in the Maxillary Styloconic Sensilla
of Gypsy Moth Larvae”
Students: Timothy Martin and and Khalid Srour
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Impact of Binge Eating on Anxiety in a Rodent Model”
Student: Heidi McGee
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Vaidya (Biological Sciences)
“Multi-Modal Communication Between Robots”
Student: Richard Murphy
Mentor: Dr. Darush Davani (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Isolation and Amplification of the psaI-R75 - accD Chloroplast Gene for Phylogenetic Inference among Species of Chrysothamnus”
Student: Helen Naylor
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Growth of Juvenile Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) Along an Urban to Rural Gradient”
Student: Jennifer Rollins
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)
“A Veterinary Use for Subcutaneous Implants to Treat FHV-1”
Student: Samantha Semenkow
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Development of an Easily Implemented Quantitative Assay for Unlabeled Acyclovir in
Clinical Samples”
Student: Carmine Sonzone
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Improving the Phage Display Technique for Identifying Calcite-binding Peptides”
Student: Stephanie Stanley
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Is Flow Preference of Individual Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) Dependent on Performance Ability or Environmental History?”
Student: Nicole Williamson
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Heteroepitaxy of Peroskite Metal Oxides Thin Films on Silicon: The Effect of Thermal
Stress”
Student: Sanjay Adhikari
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Sediment Delivery Into the Confluence of Potomac & Shenandoah River”
Student: Daniel Benbow
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Effects of White-Tailed Deer on Leaf Litter Ant Communities”
Student: Adam Busy
Mentor: Dr. John LaPolla (Biological Sciences)
“The Behavioral Effects of Chronically Elevated Stress Hormones”
Student: Charles Chambers
Mentor: Dr. Jack Shepard (Biological Sciences)
“Fluid Inclusion Analysis of Massive Anhydrite From the Manus Basin, Papua New Guinea”
Student: Michael Cotter
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Investigation of the Oxidation Growth Kinetics of Doped (La0.67Ba0.33MnO3) and Undoped (LaMnO3) Perskovite Films using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) lithography”
Students: Michael Earle and Marc Schneider
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Identification of TirA-associating Proteins in Dictyostelium discoideum”
Students: Mike Elwarner, Jessica Leuschner and Leila Logue
Mentor: Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“How are Arthropod Decomposer Communities Affected by Varying Deer Densities?”
Student: Daniel Ellis
Mentor: Harald Beck (Biological Sciences)
“Identification of Novel Gene Products Involved in Bacterial Recognition by Dictyostelium discoideum”
Student: James Foley
Mentor: Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Exploration and Analysis of Transition Metal Complexes: The roles of Charge, Hydrogen
Bonding, and Stereochemistry on the stabilization of Z-DNA”
Student: Bao Ha
Mentor: Dr. Richard Preisler (Chemistry)
“Identification of the Mechanism for Chiral Modification of Calcite Morphology by
Aspartic Acid Enantiomers”
Student: Sausan M. Jaber
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“High Temperature Electronic Transport Properties of Bi1-x (Sr1- y Cay)x MnO3”
Student: Khim B. Karki
Mentors: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“An External Morphological Investigation of the Labial Palp Organ”
Student: Neal Karlin
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Assessing the Presence of Antimony in Storm Water Retention Basin Soils in the Red
Run Watershed, Owings Mills, Maryland”
Student: Meaghan Kimmitt
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
“Has Evolution Occurred in Ragweed in Response to Urban Environments”
Student: Tiha Long
Mentor: Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of Microbial Communities Present During Post-Harvest Fermentation of Trinidadian
Cocoa”
Student: Ashley Kurzweil
Mentor: Dr. Joy Watts (Biological Sciences)
“Sensory Coding of Stimulants and Deterrents by Gypsy Moth Larvae: SA Neuropsychological
Investigation”
Students: Timothy Martin and Khalid Srour
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of Predicted Sea Level Rise on Block Island”
Student: Vivian L. Moran
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Decreasing Stereotypic Behaviors in Captive Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) with the Use of a Modified Foraging Enrichment Device”
Student: Shannon Murphy
Mentor: Dr. L. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Nest-site Selection by Northern Two-lined Salamanders (Eurycea bislineata)”
Students: Schyler Nunziata, Emily Anderson and Christine Chun
Mentor: Dr. Donald Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Investigation on Processes of Degradation of N-Methyl Carbamate Pesticides under
Environmental Aquatic Conditions”
Student: Demar R.G. Pitter
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)
“A Controlled Method of Raising Blacknose Dace, Rhinichthys atratulus, in the Laboratory”
Student: Jessie Salmon
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating the Microbial Diversity in the GI Tract of the Wood Eating Catfish”
Student: Damian Smoot
Mentor: Dr. Joy Watts (Biological Sciences)
“A Novel Chromatographic Approach to Select Effective Peptide Modifiers of Calcium
Carbonate Crystal Growth”
Student: Tissa J. Thomas
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry)
“Effects of Post-Deposition Thermal Annealing on the Properties of ‘CMR Manganite’
Thin Films”
Student: Gene VanMeter
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Grease Wipe: A Class Characteristic”
Student: Derrek Windsor
Mentors: Dr. Ryan Sours (Chemistry) & Dr. Dana Kollmann (Sociology, Anthropology and
Criminal Justice)
“Calibration of Magnetic Force Between Atomic Force Microscope Tip and Titanium Current
Nano-Ring”
Students: Sanjay Adhikari and Carey Baxter
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Examination of the Properties of CMR Thin Films under Different Deposition Properties
of the Development Manganite Sensors”
Student: Sanjay Adhikari and Katie Walker
Mentors: Dr. Raj Kolagani & Dr. Grace Young (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Characterization of Dictyostelium discoideum Acyloxaycl Hydrolase Gene”
Students: Daniel Cassily and Dave Samaroo
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Study of I-V Characteristics in La0.7-yPryCa0.3MnO3 Thin Films”
Student: Anthony Davidson, III
Mentor: Dr. Raj Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Enzymes of Energy Supply and Spring Swimming Performance of Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) at Two Levels of Training”
Student: Alex Fishman
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Measuring the Flux of Roadway Derived Metals in the Red Run Watershed, Owings Mills,
Maryland”
Student: Robert Flora
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Analysis and Characterization of a Novel Arabidopsis thaliana N-Methyltransferase”
Student: Kathleen Ketchum
Mentors: Dr. Cynthia Bolognese (Chemistry)
“Determination of the Rate of Guanosine from a Silicone Implant”
Student: Rachel Stephens-Kuester
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Population Structure of Solidago sempevirens: An Obligate Halophyte Distributed Along the Chesapeake Bay”
Student: Wanda Massey
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Genetic Diversity of terrestrial Snail, Ventridens ligera, Populations of Plummers Island”
Student: Rebecca McConnell
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)
“Characterization of Dictyostelium discoideum Receptor/Lys M Domain-Containg Protein”
Student: Uju Nnameka
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating Vulnerabilities of Bluetooth Technologies”
Student: Michael J. Orr
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Processing of Gustatory Information by Taste Organs in Gypsy Moth Larvae: An Electrophysiological
Study”
Student: Nick Rich
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Sensory Complement Belt”
Student: Julius Schlosburg
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Catalytic Hydroboration of Vinyphosphines as a Route to Phosphany(organyl)boranes”
Student: Sonia Thangavelu
Mentor: Dr. Clare Muhoro (Chemistry)
“A New method to Treat Herpesvirus Infections”
Student: Rachel Zinsou
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Are activities of enzymes supplying immediate energy to muscle related to sprint
swimming performance in blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)”
Student: Angela Amato
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Feeding Stimulant Mixtures on Deterrency in Gypsy Moth Larvae”
Student: Nicole Arnold
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Identification of non-biting midgen (Cricotopus sp.) from Baltimore area streams,
for use in the development of a DNA sequence catalog”
Student: Daniel Cassilly
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)
“Analysis of In Vivo Acyclovir Release in Murine Models Using High Pressure Liquid
Chromatography”
Student: Jason Cochran
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Development of NSMO thin films on Silicon for X-Ray Detector Applications”
Students: David Cox and Rajeh Mundle
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Study of Magneto resistance in La. PR. Ca3MnO3 thin films”
Student: Anthony Davidson
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Potential role of Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) in Mediating Stress Potentiated
Anxiety in Rats”
Student: Maudlyn Etekochay
Mentor: Dr. Jack Shepard (Biological Sciences)
“Extinction Patterns of the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary”
Student: Jamie Fleming
Mentor: Dr. Jon Filer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Structural Analysis of Soapstone in Montgomery and Howard County Quarries”
Student: Brandon Glass
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Nanolithography Using the AFM”
Students: Kyle Hall and Matthew Sneider
Mentor: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Compositional Analysis of Perovsike-Maganese Oxide Thin Films Using X-Ray Fluorescence
(XRF) Spectroscopy”
Student: Andrew Hurst
Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani and Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effect of Uptake Route on Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Larval Amphibians”
Student: Katherine Jackson
Mentor: Dr. Ryan Casey (Chemistry)
“Development and In Vitro Evaluation of a Transdermal Acyclovir Patch”
Students: Lucia Principe and Seyed Tofighbakhsh
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Investigating Phylogenetic Relationships among Species of Chrysothamnus: An Evaluation of the Phylogenetic Utility of Seven Nuclear Genes”
Student: Jonathan Soistman
Mentor: Dr. Roland Roberts (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of a Wetlands Drawdown on an Aquatic Snake”
Student: Nicole Wright
Mentor: Dr. Richard Seigel (Biological Sciences)
“Inertial Navigation Systemy”
Student: Jonathan Buck
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Setting up an Infrastructure for PYRO Robotics Experiments Based on the PYRO Software
Package”
Student: Matthew Brake
Mentors: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Characterization of a Novel Spiroplasma Strain & Design of Spiroplasma Specific PCR Primers”
Student: R. Thomas Koerbe
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“RNA Analysis & Differential Gene Expression in Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus): Effects of Urbanization”
Student: Elizabeth Tall
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“A Novel Therapy for Herpesvirus Infections”
Student: Michael Carr
Mentor: Dr. Barry Margulies (Biological Sciences)
“Photoinduced Resistivity Changes in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 Thin Films”
Student: Robert Kennedy
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Relaxation of Photoinduced Effects in Bi0.4Ca0.6MnO3 Thin Films”
Student: Robert Kennedy
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Car Tires as a Source of Zinc to the Environment”
Student: Elizabeth Hamilton
Mentor: Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Gene Identification in Corals: Understanding Gene Evolution for Cell Survival”
Student: Sovath Chum
Mentor: Dr. Colleen Sinclair (Biological Sciences)
“Determining the Provenance of Sediments Deposited During the Late Devonian Within
the Central Appalachian Basin”
Student: Jason Dinh
Mentors: Dr. Jon Filer & Dr. Steve Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Urban Environment, Global Warming and Genetic Diversity in Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Common Ragweed)”
Student: John Maciolek
Mentors: Dr. Roland Roberts & Dr. Larry Wimmers (Biological Sciences)
“Prehistoric Native American Soapstone Vessels and Quarries In and Around the Patuxent
River”
Student: Laura Cohen
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Burks (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Sentry Unit”
Students: Richard Snyder, James Cox, Katrina Howard and Andrew Ajello
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Electrophysiological Responses of Receptor Cells in the Galeal Styloconic Sensilla
of Gypsy Moth Larvae: Tuning, Sensitivity, and Temporal Coding Properties”
Student: Joshua Swearingen
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Taxonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques”
Student: Stephen Page
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“Near Field Scanning Optical Microscope for Photoinduced Effect Study”
Student: Luis Adalco
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Robot Morphology Studies”
Student: Jeffrey Berg
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Robot Morphology”
Student: Daniel Bittner
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski(Computer and Information Sciences)
“Biological Particle Adhesion and Materials Characterization Using the Inductively
Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS)”
Students: Michael Buck and Carolyne Gikunju
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Study of Macromolecular Bio-crystals Using Atomic Force Microscopy”
Student: Kevin Bunin
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Effects of Combining Selected Deterrent Phytochemicals on the Feeding Behavior of
Gypsy Moth Larvae”
Student: Don Bunney
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Searching for Potential RNA Interference Targets”
Student: Steven D. Callahan
Mentors: Dr. David Rawn (Chemistry) & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information
Sciences)
“Fluids Accompanying Tourmaline Growth Within Early Paleozoic Metasediments of the
Maryland Piedmont: Fluid Inclusion Evidence”
Student: Cassandra Cook
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Wireless Interfacing With Brain Stem Robots”
Students: Adam Durana and Kevin Mager
Mentor: Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Camera Based Object Identifier”
Students: Gleb Gudzenko and Julius Schlosburg
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski(Computer and Information Sciences)
“A Watershed Model for Minebank Run”
Student: Michael Hansei
Mentor: Dr. Brian Fath (Biological Sciences)
“The Geologic Character of the Former Upper Devonian Appalachian Mountain Belt”
Student: Maritza Mejias
Mentors: Dr. Jonathan Filer & Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Rare Earth Element and Trace Element Investigation of the Minerals Within the Loch
Raven Schist”
Student: Francis McCubbin
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“Pb-Pb Dating of Metamorphic Garnets from the Maryland Piedmont”
Student: Emily Neral
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“Measurement of Photo-Induced Resistance Change in Thin Films”
Student: Mason Overby
Mentor: Dr. M. Raj Rajeswari (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“Taxonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques”
Student: Stephen Page
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“802.11G Networking Research and Implementation for the Robotics Laboratory”
Student: Vassilos Pirpiris
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Victim Acquisition Agent”
Student: Daniel Stamate
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Victim Acquisition Agent Project, Part 2”
Students: Matthew Roberts and Daniel Stamate
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Charge Ordering in Bi1-xCaxMnO3 Thin Films”
Student: Luanje A. Tifang
Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences)
“Responses of a Headwater Stream Minnow to Various Stream Odors”
Student: Brittany Trushel
Mentor: Dr. Joel Snodgrass (Biological Sciences)
“Screening Deterrent Phytochemicals as Possible Biocontrol Agents Against Gypsy Moth
Larvae”
Student: Kismet-Gerald Tetteh Agbasi
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Effects of Adenosine and its Modulators on Regional Blood Flow”
Student: Haja Fatmata B. Bah
Mentor: Dr. Erik Silldorff (Biological Sciences)
“Imprinting to Chemical Cues: The Basis for Home Pond Selection by Marbled Salamanders
(Ambystoma opacum)”
Students: Jessica Blake and Richard Edmunds
Mentor: Dr. Don C. Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Measuring of Fungal Spore Adhesive Forces using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Techniques”
Student: Michael Buck
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Sources of Late Devonian Sediments in the Appalachian Basin”
Student: John Burkley
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“An Analysis of the Optimal Staffing Level of the Baltimore City Fire Department”
Students: Kristina Diaz, Michael J. Machovec, Peguy Pierre-Louis, Marco Radzinschi,
Melissa Helene Rosendorf and Ian Stalfort
Mentors: Dr. Coy May & Dr. Andrew Engel (Mathematics)
“How Plastic Are Feeding Preferences in Gypsy Moth Larvae?”
Student: Leila K. Dodson
Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)
“Fluid Inclusions in Anhydrite from the Manus Basin (Papua New Guinea)”
Student: Kathryn Elizabeth Gatton
Mentor: Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Characterization of Biological Materials Using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass
Spectrometer (ICP-MS)”
Student: Carolyne Gikunju
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Linking External Morphology and Sprint Performance in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)”
Student: Corey A. Handelsman
Mentor: Dr. Jay Nelson (Biological Sciences)
“Underpotential Deposition of Lead Atoms on a Silver Surface”
Student: Lori Korczynski
Mentor: Dr. David Larkin (Chemistry)
“Determining if VirF Positively Activates Transcription of Shigella Virulence Genes
by Direct Interaction with the Alpha Subunit of RNA Polymerase”
Student: Joseph Krecz
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“Biostratigraphic Correlation of the Middle Devonian Mahantange Formation, Northeastern
West Virginia and Southern Pennsylvania”
Student: Francis M. McCubbin
Mentor: Dr. Jonathan Filer (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“An Investigation of Chlorine Isotope Fractionation in Ordovician Black Shales from
Southwestern Wales”
Student: Patrick Thomas Morton
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“Thin Film Characterization for Photonic Device Application”
Student: Alozie Ikechukwu Nwoko
Mentor: Dr. Vera N. Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“Investigation of Virus-like Particles from Spiroplasma Strain 5398 Isolated from
Biting Midges”
Student: Marietta Oduor
Mentor:
Mentor: Dr. Gail E. Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“Male-Biased Offspring Sex Ratio in the House Wren”
Student: Nicole Pellerite
Mentor: Dr. Brian Masters (Biological Sciences)
“Establishing a Workbench Setup for Robotics Experiments”
Student: Albert Gary Williams
Mentors: Dr. Darush Davani & Dr. Goran Trajkovski (Computer and Information Sciences)
“Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering from Molecules Adsorbed on Colloids and Nanoparticles”
Student: Ying Lung Tse
Mentor: Dr. Boon Loo (Chemistry)
“Time Dependent Stability Studies of Chlorophylls a and b”
Student: Louie Alvano
Mentor: Dr. David Larkin (Chemistry)
“Investigating the Origin of Pegmatites in the Baltimore Area”
Student: Shaun Barrow
Mentors: Dr. Rachel Burks, Dr. Steven Lev & Dr. David Vanko (Physics, Astronomy &
Geosciences)
“Effects of Hydrin Z on Cutaneous Electrical Properties In the Northern Grass Frog
(Rana pipiens)”
Student: Dorothy Ann Borowy
Mentor: Dr. Jerry Robinson (Biological Sciences)
“Measuring Fungal Spore Adhesive Forces Using AFM Techniques”
Student: Michael Buck
Mentor: Dr. David Schaeffer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Soil lead concentrations of Natural and Anthropogenic Origins in Towson Maryland
USA and its Threat to Human Health”
Student: Justin Wayne Custer
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“The Role of Substrate-bourne Chemical Cues During Predator Avoidance by the Two-lined
Salamander”
Student: Jeanette Dawson
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Population Genetics of Eurycea junaluska in the Southern Appalachians”
Students: Andrew Eckert and Katie Smith
Mentor: Dr. Gail Gasparich (Biological Sciences)
“The Role of Substrate-borne Chemical Cues During Predator Avoidance by the Pigmy
Salamander”
Student: Matthew Evans
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“An Experimental Determination of Microcline Dissolution Rates in an Artificial System”
Student: Patrick Hetzel
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Nanomechanical Study of Silicon Using Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction
Techniques”
Student: Jeremy Robinson
Mentor: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“An Investigation onto the Mineralogy of Asteroid 4 Vesta”
Student: Amy Rosenberg
Mentors: Dr. Steven Lev & Dr. Alex Storrs (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)
“Tourmaline Occurences in the Setters Quartzite, Setters Schist, Cockeysville Marble,
and Pegmatite Intrusion”
Student: Eric Watt
Mentor: Dr. Steven Lev (Physics, Astronomy, & Geosciences)
“The Prevalence of Hematazoa in Cardinalis. Examining the Correlation between Plumage Brightness and Infections”
Student: Ms. Kimberly Briggs
Mentor: Dr. Scott Johnson (Biological Sciences)
“Cloning and Analysis of Plant PM H+-ATPases”
Student: Karen DeFeo
“The Effects of Predatory Fish on the Growth and Survivorship of Eurycea Larvae and Orconectes Crayfish in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park”
Student: Victoria Derr
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Microhabitat Preferences of Eurycea Larvae, with and without Orconectes Crayfish”
Student: Andrew Eckert
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Watershed Urbanization: Effects on Swimming Performance of Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus)”
Student: Portia Gotwalt
“Taxonomical Analysis of Subfamilies of Robber Flies (Diptera asilidae) Using Molecular Techniques”
Student: Anastasia Grigorieva
“Underpotential Deposition of Lead Atoms onto Silver Electrodes”
Student: Desmond Kaplan
“Dietary Analysis of Snakes in the Great Smoky Mountain Range in Correlation with
the Population Density of Streamside Salamanders”
Student: Thomas King
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Identification/Classification of Spiroplasma Strain 3597”
Student: Randolph Thomas Koerber
“The Study of Nanomechanical Properties of Silicon by use of Nanoindentation and X-ray
Diffraction”
Student: Josh Robinson
“Trophic Morphology and Resource Use Among Populations of Eurycea Salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park”
Student: Tonya Wolf
Mentor: Dr. Don Forester (Biological Sciences)
“Population Genetics Study of Eurycea junaluska Salamander”
Student: Annemarie Zabbara
“Cell Specific Expression Characterization of a Plant Ca 2+ ATPase”
Student: Christina Caplinger
“The Effects of Land Use on Algal Growth: Bioassay of Nutrient Stimulation and Toxic
Effects”
Student: Carl Cappelletti
“Characterization and Classification of the First Spiroplasma Isolated from a Biting
Midge (Forcipomyia gluaca) using Serological and Molecular Techniques”
Student: Adrienne Cottrell
“Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of Group VIII Tabanid Spiroplasmas”
Students: Abram Geisendorfer, Cheryl Gardyn and Lisa DiStefano
“Cross Species Amplification of Microsatellite Loci in Salamander Genomes”
Student: Chris Hofman
“Development of a Malaria Vaccine Using Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG”
Student: Erin Kelleher
“Kinematic Analysis of Indicators Within the Gunpowder Shear Zone, Eastern Maryland
Piedmont”
Student: Joseph Kopera
“Fiber degradation, energy loss, and digestive physiology of Panaque maccus”
Student: Toba Niazi
“The Use of Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis in Typing Group VIII Spiroplasmas”
Student: Anna Segal, Stephanie Harrod and William T. Foreman