Sciences Student Projects Day

Join the College of Arts & Sciences Science Division students as they present a full day of projects! 

Schedule of Sessions

8:30 – 9:50 a.m. Science Oral Session I University Center, Webb Room

Moderator – Dr. Caroline Fortunato

8:30 “Diversity and composition of rhizosphere microbial communities of Solidago rugosa in Northeastern Pennsylvania grassland soils”, Lily Kelleher (Dr. Caroline Fortunato), Senior Thesis

8:50 “Personality traits in Diamondback terrapins hatchlings and juveniles”, Laina Burgo (Dr. Itzick Vatnick)

9:05 “Using Mobile Genetic Elements in Drosophila melanogaster to Better Understand Fly and Human Genetics”, David Millar (Dr. Hemlata Mistry)

9:20 “Integration of Remote Sensing Data and Spatial Modeling to Support Conservation of Sialia sialis, Eastern Bluebirds, in Pennsylvania”, Emily Mills & Alexys Mateo (Dr. Chad Freed)

9:35 “Understanding the Biogeographical Patterns of Microbial Communities within the Grassland Soils of Northeastern Pennsylvania”, Zach Anderson (Dr. Caroline Fortunato)

10:00 – 11:35 a.m. Science Oral Session II University Center, Webb Room

Moderator – Dr. Krishna Bhat

10:00 “Synthesis, Characterization, and Acidity Constant Evaluation of a Monodentate Platinum Pyrophosphate Complex”, Brian Hoffman (Dr. Rob Mishur)

10:15 “Investigating the effects of coffee and caffeine on a Parkinson’s Disease model in Drosophila”, Justin Saporito (Dr. Alexis Nagengast), Senior Thesis

10:35 “A comparative study of cationic effects on thermal properties of selected ionic liquids”, Anna Lambert (Dr. Ismail Kul)

10:50 “Synthesis of Immunotherapeutic Anti-Cancer Antagonists of PD-1 and PD-L1 Interaction”, Dianne Wagner & David Millar (Dr. Rob Mishur)

11:05 “Determining the role of DNA methylation in promoting CDH1 los of expression and breast cancer aggression using bisulfate conversion,"Eliana Brophy-Goldwire & David Millar (Dr. Mike Toneff)

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12:30 – 2:15 p.m. Science Oral Session III University Center, Webb Room Moderator – Dr. Edwin Dauber

12:30 “Development of a Mobile App for Covid-19 News and Symptom Checker”, Ali Khogali, Dilin Oomen (Dr. Suk-Chung Yoon)

12:45 “2D Game Design and Development”, John Holden, Thuan Truong (Dr. Jeff Rufinus)

1:00 “Computer Security Concepts in Java”, William Hess, Suhail Mallick, Dominic Silvestro (Dr. Edwin Dauber)

1:15 “Designing and Implementing a Real-Time Database for BTR Trajectory”, Quinn Bleacher, Bennett Richman, Christopher Tocci (Dr. Suk-Chung Yoon)

1:30 “Hair Care Application: Making Hair Care More Accessible”, Kayla Alves, Elijah Brown, Desiree Junfijiah (Dr. Adam Fischbach)

1:45 “Database Website”, Matthew Dortu, Timothy Taylor (Dr. Suk-Chung Yoon)

2:00 “Rhythmic: Bringing People Together with Sound and Vision”, Achilleas Prokopakis (Dr. Suk-Chung Yoon)

2:15 – 3:30 p.m. Science Poster Session University Center, Atrium

Moderator – Dr. Loyd Bastin

“Sexual phenotype and sex determination gene expression in horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) during embryonic and juvenile stages”, Anna Conrad (Dr. Frances Weaver)

“Shell damage reveals differences in predation patterns on the marine snails Oxymeris maculata and Neoterebra dislocata”, Caroline Antony (Dr. Janice Krumm, Dr. Elizabeth K. Shea, B. Alex Kittle)

“Identification of CRISPR mutations in the Zwischenferment (Zw) gene in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster”, Kathleen Miller (Dr. Alexis Nagengast)

“Detecting phenotypic differences of Alzheimer’s progression using GAL4-UAS lines in Drosophila”, Michaela Jemison (Dr. Alexis Nagengast)

“Gene expression analysis of a thermal acclimation marker, α-tubulin, in wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)”, Evelyn Peyton (Dr. David Coughlin)

“Thermal Acclimation and Swimming Performance in Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis”, Jalen Wright (Dr. David Coughlin)

“The Effect of Rainfall on the Thermal Stratification of a Primary Forest at the Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies (ACTS) Iquitos, Peru”, Emily Mills (Dr. Stephen Madigosky)

“Lepidoptera of the Night "Save the Day"! Investigating Biodiversity of Nocturnal Lepidoptera in Gloucester County, NJ, and Delaware County, PA”, Grace Pansera, Angela Parashos (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 301 Course Project)

“Dynamic Change in Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Biodiversity Over 26 Years in Ridley & Crum Creeks in Delaware Co, Southeastern, PA”, Emilie Kalbach, Victoria Brown (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 301 Course Project)

“Urban Biodiversity, Genomics, and Bioinformatics of Our Fungal Neighbors in Southeastern, PA”, Mohammed Kenneth, Mason Beck, Noah Kaminsky, Joe Weeks (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 313/499 Course Project)

“The Search for Extraterrestrial Life in the Trappist, Kepler, Proxima Centari, and Other Exoplanet Systems”, Cole Cerchiaro, Sally Meyers, Jaden Sweely (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 313 Course Project)

“The Origin, Evolution, and Global Pandemic of COVID-19 and the Development of Vaccines”, Tatyanna Briggs, Julia Freney, Madeline Lolli, Kyle Snyder (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 313 Course Project)

“The Evolutionary Significance of Genetic Drift: Models and Case Studies from Animal Populations”, Josh Garland, Cory Keim (Dr. Bruce Grant – BIOL 313 Course Project)

“Raised Beds Raise Hopes: Academic Service Learning Courses Engage Widener Students in Teaching Stetser Elementary School 5th Graders in Science, Garden Ecology, and Making Healthy Food Choices.”, Zach Rosamalia, Rasheed Anthonio, Emily Budzyn, Isabella Dauphinee, Emily Frame, Alexys Mateo, Olivia Miller, Katie Suter (Dr. Bruce Grant – ENVR 172 Course Project)

“Lepidopteran Megadiversity at the Uyuca Biosphere Reserve in Honduras: Zamorano University at the Nexus of Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development”, Julianna Munoz, Emily Mills, Maura Kopaczynski, Owen Price, Joshua MacPherson, Lily Kelleher (Dr. Bruce W. Grant – ENVR 388/BIOL 188 Course Project)