Biology Commons^™

Endangered Bat Conservation In Wsu Woods, Olivia Norris, Josh Miller, Mitchell Link, Molly Nelson, Susan Fike

Runkle Woods Symposia

Our project focused on two endangered bat species in the Wright State Woods, the Indiana Bat and the Little Brown Bat. Our presentation covers topics such as general info, social behaviors, current threats, bat boxes, and conservation methods and goals.

Wright State Prairie Expansion, Kailani Sparrow, Reynold Kojo Papa Afful Ephraim

Runkle Woods Symposia

Our plan is to convert the northern edge of Wright State Woods along Kaufman Ave. into a prairie to provide a habitat for pollinator species that are declining due to habitat loss and other factors and to provide a scenic and educational area

Your Mom Isn’T Here To Pick Up After You… In Your Dorm Or On The Rest Of Campus, Madison Glass, Jonathan Hume, Mckenzie Stefanoff, Brandon Butler

Runkle Woods Symposia

Research and the litter that plagues the Wright State University Woods and what we can do about it as a campus community.

Wsu Woods Trail: Recreational Usage, Ada Compliance, Education, And Conservation, Amber Massie, Emily Ramey, Brooklyne Baldwin, Sarah (Sam) Potter, James (Tyler) Retherford

Runkle Woods Symposia

Our group will be discussing the Wright State University Woods. We will reveal tips on how to make the trails in the Wright State University Woods more accessible and ADA compliant as well as how to educate the community about wildlife and plant species in the woods.

The Honeysuckle Issue, Amanda Wibel, Madyson Vanhoose, Ava Jones, Katie Karr, Ashton Shephard

Runkle Woods Symposia

Our group will be discussing the Wright State University Woods. We will reveal tips on how to make the trails in the Wright State University Woods more accessible and ADA compliant as well as how to educate the community about wildlife and plant species in the woods.

Changes In Flowering Times In The Wsu Woods, James Runkle

Runkle Woods Symposia

Many studies have shown flowering patterns and other climate-based phenomena to be in flux. I wish to determine whether changes in first flowering dates can be shown in the Wright State University woods.

Testing The Inefficient Task Stimulus Hypothesis: A Simple Computational Model For Hypometric Scaling Of Metabolism In Social Insects, Colin Lynch

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

The Nature Of Genes Expressed Differently After Environmental Drug Exposure, Nicci Siffel

Scholars Week

The Nature of Genes Expressed Differently after Environmental Drug Exposure

N. Siffel, S. Anderson, B. Subedi, D.R. Hammond-Weinberger

Drug use, of prescription or illicit varieties, alter bodily functions in different ways, especially in the nervous system. These drugs are found in sources of drinking water because they are not removed by wastewater treatment facilities. To investigate the effects of these drugs as they appear in mixtures, we exposed groups of zebrafish embryos to cocktails of drugs and screened for genes that were differentially expressed between the experimental and control groups and could thus give more insight into their biological functions. …

Science Alive, Shweta Zinzuwadia

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Science Alive is a not-for-profit organization based at NSU started by Dr. Emily Schmitt Lavin and Dr. Aarti Raja. This organization promotes community outreach and engagement by volunteering at Nova Blanche Forman Elementary School. Through this weekly afterschool program, NSU students promote and encourage STEM-related topics to the elementary students through various interactive activities. The main goal of Science Alive is to get kids excited about Science and be engaged within the Broward Community. If you have any questions, please email Shweta Zinzuwadia (sz241@mynsu.nova.edu) or Dr. Schmit (eschmitt@nova.edu)

Dermatology Office, Michelle Volis

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

I intern at a local dermatology office where I primarily shadow the head dermatologist but also shadow another dermatologist, a nurse practitioner, and a physician assistant. I shadow surgical procedures such as Mohs surgery which is a technique used to remove cancerous cells from the skin one layer at a time for the purpose of preserving healthy tissue. I also shadow cosmetic surgeries like injections and laser procedures. During my internship, there have been interesting clinical cases, so I am working on publishing articles about them with the help of the head dermatologist. I have also spent time in the …

Effects Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Derived Sphingolipids On Osteoclastogenesis, Geena Song, Michelle Hoang

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

This was an independent study focused on literary research about the effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis on osteoclastogenesis. This opportunity was gained by emailing Jeff Hartman (jhartman2@nova.edu) and setting up a meeting with the professor, Dr. Movila. We gathered variety of research papers and analyzed it to write a peer reviewed article ourselves. Throughout this experience, we learned variety of skills, such as organizing materials into a coherent narrative and learned materials that showed up in future classes, such as microbiology and cellular molecular biology.

Impact Of Covid-19 On Global Education And Research In Healthcare And Stem, Stephanie Autore, Jessica Hallet, Michelle Hoang, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

The independent study focused on Covid-19 from the perspectives of global education and research in healthcare and STEM. Our aim was to determine the impact of the pandemic on each global sector and the associated transition to virtual modes. The research was conducted using peer-reviewed articles and papers. Each week, our group held zoom meetings to present our research and provide peer feedback. At the end of the experience, we all wrote three separate manuscripts on the topics regarding Covid 19 and global education, research in healthcare, and research in STEM.

Clear Vision Center Internship, Maria Sanchez

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Come to learn more about my experience at Clear Vision Center as I gained first hand experiences working with patients and immersing myself within a healthcare setting.

Medical Scribe Experience, Naziba A. Nuha

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

A medical scribe is a trained medical information manager who specializes in charting physician-patient encounters in real-time during medical exams. Come to learn more about my experience at Scribe America.

Development Of “Sharkavir”: A New Hypothetical Inhibitor For Hiv-1 Protease, Feza Abbas

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

HIV has infected approximately 37 million people worldwide and results in over 1 million deaths annually. A key component of the HIV life cycle is the enzyme HIV-1 protease, which is involved in cutting newly made protein components of the HIV virion. Our research focused on how can molecular models be used to simulate the binding of various HIV-1 prtease inhibitors including Darunavir, Ritonavir, and a novel combination of these two named "Sharkavir".

Expression & Localization Of The 14-3-3 Protein Family Within Mammals, Neha Kumrah, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

This past summer, I was able to complete a remote Independent Study with Dr. Santanu De. As a team of four, we interacted via Zoom meetings and shared documents. Together, we researched and analyzed the 14-3-3 protein family, a class of molecular chaperones found in essentially all mammals. I was able to conclude that this protein family has many implications in cellular biology, and that expression levels could potentially be used as a diagnostic tool for various cancers. Overall, this was a beneficial experience as I was able to strengthen my research skills, publish a manuscript, and gain a newfound …

Functions Of 14-3-3 Proteins And Their Isoforms Across Various Mammaliam Species, Cells, Tissues, Organs And Developmental Stages, Elizabeth Barley, Santanu De

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Throughout the Fall 2020 term, I had the opportunity to partake in an internship in biology with Dr. Santanu De as my faculty sponsor. The study that I completed focused on the 14-3-3 protein isoforms in various mammalian species, cells, tissues, organs and developmental stages. This experience allowed me to delve deeper into a topic in biology which supported my field of interest. Completing this study provided me with useful knowledge on an upper-level biology topic while providing me with a guided space to nurture my continued learning. The 14-3-3 proteins consist of seven isoforms in various mammalian species. My …

Survival And Development Of Zebra Longwing, Heliconius Charithonia, On Native And Non-Native Passion Vines, Passiflora Sp., In South Florida, Madelyn Rinka

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

Working on this project since last fall has given me a lot of experience regarding writing abstracts, making presentations, following methodologies, and much more. Also, I've learned about the challenges that can go hand in hand with research in environmental science, including the unpredictability of finding a specific species in nature and the potential roadblocks caused by weather. The project was accepted for NSU's Undergraduate Student Symposium for Winter 2020 and the Florida Native Plant Society's Annual Conference (both were cancelled due to COVID-19). Overall, working on this project has allowed me to get a better understanding of research in …

Blood Pressure Awareness Among University Of Northern Iowa Students, Abigail Weekley, Theresa Spradling, Robert Good

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

No abstract provided.

Tympanal Asymmetry In A Parasitoid Fly: Small Asymmetries Produce Big Gains, Max Mikel-Stites, Anne E. Staples

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Air Quality On Outdoor Aerial Microbial Diversity In Urban Green Spaces, Ashley Sango

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a stark reminder that we should continue to prioritize ensuring that every one of us maintains the highest quality of health. The biodiversity hypothesis states that living in natural environments is beneficial for the human immune system and nourishes the human microbiome, thereby promoting good health. When people are exposed to diverse microbes from the environment, they develop immunoregulatory markers which promote appropriate responses to pathogenic and non-pathogenic microbes. However, extensive land-use changes to accommodate population spurts in urban cities, are decreasing the area of urban green spaces where people directly interact with …

Testing The Climate Variability Hypothesis In Coast-Inland Systems Using The Widespread Plant Erythranthe Guttata, Alec Chiono

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

The Climate Variability Hypothesis (CVH) states that organisms in more climatically variable environments are adapted to a wider range of climatic conditions than organisms in less variable environments. The CVH was conceived to explain consistent trends of higher diversity and smaller geographic ranges in the tropics compared to temperate environments. Yet, the underlying assumption that organisms exposed to greater variability will have wider niches can be applied more broadly. Due to marine influence, coastal areas typically experience smaller temperature fluctuations relative to inland areas. According to the CVH, we expect coastal organisms to have more narrow thermal niches because they …

Primer Bias In Finding Fungal Diversity In An Artificial Biome, Jason Krastins

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Studying soil microbial diversity in tropical ecosystems is of high importance to understanding global nutrient cycling. Soil microbes, as decomposers, are primary contributors to terrestrial nutrient cycling. In tropical systems, warm, moist conditions create ideal environments for microbial growth year-round. However, the ability to study these topics in the field is limited by the remoteness and ruggedness of many tropical forest locations, combined with the highly changeable and difficult-to-control conditions present in the field. To that end, proxy study systems have been created that allow researchers to approximate natural conditions, but with better accessibility in terms of location and controllability. …

Phylogenetic Relationships Of Foliar Bacteria Within Cover Crops In An Organic Cropping System., Marcello B. Kuan, Derek Newberger, Christina Tran

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

As the human population continues to grow, there is an increasing realization that there is a finite amount of land available to grow enough food to feed people in the long-term. Sustainable agriculture is one key part of the solution to this issue. One technique used in sustainable agriculture is cover cropping, which involves the planting of a non-cash crop that is used to restore nutrients or structure within the soil. Although these benefits of cover cropping are well documented, the effect that this practice has on the reduction of pathogens on cash crops has yet to be fully explored. …

Symbiosis Between Arabidopsis Thaliana And Colletotrichum Tofieldiae For Enhanced Phytoremediation Of Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds, Emre Ovet

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant native to Eurasia and Africa, is known to have the ability to reduce the concentrations of elemental pollutants such as mercury, lead, and cadmium and organic pollutants like benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from air and soil. This particular process of pollutant treatment is known as phytoremediation. There have been a number of studies investigating the beneficial effects of mycorrhizal fungi on phytoremediation, but almost all of these studies focused on heavy metal phytoremediation in soil. Despite these promising findings, the effect of plant-fungal symbioses on organic pollutant removal from air has not yet been …

Effects Of Plant Distribution On The Foraging Behavior Of Pollinators, Evangelina Bahu

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Understanding floral constancy is a vital tool used to establish foraging behavior among pollinators in urban and natural landscapes. Floral constancy is defined as the tendency of a pollinator to exclusively visit a specific floral species. Pollinators that show higher levels of floral constancy are more likely to transfer conspecific pollen. On the other hand, lower levels of floral constancy are associated with pollinators who transfer heterospecific pollen. We conducted two studies, the first aimed to find the effects of urbanization on plant-pollinator interactions. From our research, we were able to uncover a pattern that showed pollinators to carry a …

Using Scanning Electron Microscopy And Morphologic Characteristics To Identify Centric Diatom Species In San Francisco Bay, Ria Angelica Laxa

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Planktonic diatoms exhibit high biodiversity in marine systems and make a significant contribution to water column primary productivity. This makes research on planktonic diatoms particularly important in measuring the health of coastal marine ecosystems. At the University of San Francisco (USF), research has been conducted since September 2015 to study planktonic diatoms in San Francisco Bay. A previous study by Keith (2018), Planktonic Diatom Species Succession in San Francisco Bay, documented changes in species diversity over time, observing seasonal patterns in species richness as well as the effect of environmental factors such as salinity, temperature, and rainfall on species succession. …

Phage Therapy: Using Evolution To Our Advantage, Paola N. Carrion Colon

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Many harmful species of bacteria have evolved to gain resistance to most common antibiotics, leading to infections that are very hard to treat because of the overuse of antibiotics. As a solution for this problem we are using phage therapy and evolution to our advantage. Bacteriophage or also called phage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria and archaea. In this poster, I will describe the different experiments that I have conducted into developing a new therapy in my internship with Felix Biotechnology that could save us from the next global problem.

Internship At Kit.Com - Health Diagnostics Through Mail, Quentin Smith

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Currently the most common way to run a diagnostic test is to go to a doctor's office for a blood draw, but this has drawbacks - offices can be crowded, lead to exposure to illness, and take a large amount of time out of your day. At the Biotech startup company, Kit.com, we hope to provide the ability for clients to use our diagnostics kits in the comfort of their own home. Due to the use of the mail to deliver our kit anyone can use it and there are no needles involved to help assuage anxiety. We use a …

Investigations Of Southern Sea Otter Foraging Ecology At The Northern Range Extent, Sophia Lyon, Michelle Hartwick, Christina Weatherford

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are vital keystone predators within coastal ecosystems. Following near extinction during the fur trade, population recovery has proceeded slowly in California with southern sea otters currently ranging from Pigeon Point in the north to Point Conception in the south. Decades of research have revealed consistent evidence of inverse relationships between sea otter density and prey resources. Furthermore, population density is known to influence foraging effort and success rates, such that individuals in populations nearing carrying capacity spend more time foraging, with lower rates of energy return. These relationships likely play a role in species recovery and …