University of Georgia

Abstracts for the 2025 CURO Summer Research Fellows are listed in alphabetical order by the student’s name. The CURO Summer Research Fellowship Final Forum features our students’ work with their mentors over summer 2025.

Our students are:

 

Investigating q-Analogues of the Fibonacci Sequence

Tania Croicu
Majors: Mathematics and Finance
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Just, Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

In this project, we explore a newly defined q-analogue of the Fibonacci sequence by analyzing its properties and deriving its generating function. We investigate anti-palindromic compositions (compositions with no reflective symmetry among their parts) and examine their connection to the q-analogue. Additionally, we study tilings of 2 x n rectangles using 2 x 1 horizontal and 1 x 2 vertical tiles. We establish a bijection between these tilings of n and the anti-palindromic compositions of n + 1, illustrating how both are linked to the structure of the Fibonacci sequence.

 

Lectin-iDISCO (L-iDISCO) Volumetric Labeling of N- & O-Glycans in the Brain after Traumatic Brain Injury

Seth Darnell
Majors: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Lohitash Karumbaiah, Regenerative Bioscience and Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Additional Co-author: Nathan Gonsalves

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a devastating injury that currently impacts 1.7 million individuals around the United States. TBI is caused by blunt force or penetrating trauma sustained to the brain and can lead to secondary injury causing alterations in post translational modifications such as glycosylation in the brain. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and characterize the alterations in glycosylation that can exacerbate cascades such as secondary inflammation in brain tissue after injury.

Current methods to study post-translational modifications involve using traditional mass spectrometry-based glycomics to identify glycans but does not allow for full spatial imaging. Immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional imaging of solvent-cleared organs (iDISCO) has been a widely used technique for 3D volumetric analysis of large intact tissue samples. Currently this technique is only designed for immunolabeling proteins using traditional immunohistochemical antibodies. Therefore, we adapted it with traditional lectin labeling and imaging for the detection of N- & O-glycans. Combined, we established a working protocol to detect glycans as well as proteins through whole brain clearing, calling it Lectin-iDISCO or L-iDISCO. We hypothesize that lectins can be adapted to iDISCO protocol for three-dimensional spatial analysis of N- & O-glycans perilesionally, in the brain, after TBI.

We performed a pilot study (n=1) controlled cortical impact in Sprague Dawley rats in which the animal was immediately euthanized and perfused. The animal was transcardially perfused with tris-buffered saline (TBS) followed by 4% PFA in TBS. Brain tissue was then subjected to L-iDISCO clearing. Tissue was subjected to series of methanol dehydration steps followed by delipidation using DCM and bleached using H2O2. Periodate treated bovine serum album (pBSA) was used for blocking followed by lectin staining for Con-A (mannose residues) and MAL-II and SNA-1 (sialic acid residues – α2,3 and α2,6, respectively). Glycan markers will then be co-stained with markers for microglial activation such as IBA-1 and counterstained with nuclear marker Draq5. Finally, tissues were stored in DBE until imaging. Whole brain imaging was performed at the Biomedical Microscopy Core (BMC) at UGA using the LaVision BioTec UltraMicroscope II. Data was analyzed to quantify voxels of IBA1 in Sham and TBI brains using Imaris. IBA1 staining was colocalized with presence of Con-A, MAL-II and SNA-1 to assess glycan associations with activated microglia.

 

Ranking of Entities Based on Count Data through Hierarchical Bayesian Modeling

Deeya Datta
Majors: Statistics and Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Abhyuday Mandal, Statistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Reliable ranking of event rates underlies critical decisions across public health, industrial reliability, and disaster planning. Whether identifying regions with high disease incidence, prioritizing machinery maintenance, or benchmarking product quality, rankings guide where limited resources can have the greatest impact. However, when some units produce few observed events, such as water pumps with rare failures, simple count‑based rankings become unstable and can misdirect interventions.

This project uses pump failure data to illustrate and evaluate methods for stable ranking under data sparsity. We benchmark the frequentist Klein, Wright, and Wieczorek (2020; KWW) approach alongside two Bayesian strategies, demonstrating how each handles low‑count units. To facilitate practical adoption, we created R tools that implement these methods, automatically fit models to pump‑failure counts and exposure times, and produce clear ranking summaries.

We anticipate that our simulation experiments will reveal that Bayesian shrinkage when sharing information across pumps yields more consistent rankings and reliable uncertainty estimates for the lowest‑activity units. The KWW method should remain a straightforward baseline, while fully Bayesian techniques should better guard against erratic rankings. By focusing on pump failures as a concrete example, this work offers both guidance on choosing ranking methods under sparse data and ready‑to‑use R implementations that can be used for a range of applied settings.

 

Unraveling Age-Related Microglial Dynamics in the Striatum: Insights from LRRK2_R1441G Mouse Models

Zachary Dennis
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Hui Zhang, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine
Additional Co-authors: Yuanxin Chen, Subhan Ullah

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly one million people in the U.S., with aging as its greatest risk factor. While dopaminergic neuronal loss has been well studied, increasing evidence suggests that microglial dysfunction plays a critical role in PD pathogenesis. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene, particularly the R1441G variant, are the most common genetic cause of familial PD and may alter microglial behavior over time.

This study investigates how LRRK2 mutations impact microglial phenotype and motility across aging. I will analyze dorsal striatal microglia in LRRK2_R1441G transgenic mice and wild-type controls at 1, 2-3, 5-7, ~11 and ~22 months of age. I hypothesize that microglial motility declines with age and that this decline is exacerbated by LRRK2 mutations, promoting a more reactive, pro-inflammatory state.

To address this, two complementary imaging approaches were employed. Confocal microscopy was used to analyze IBA1 and CD68 immunostaining to assess microglial morphology and activation. Two-photon microscopy was used for real-time imaging of 300 μm thick acute brain slices to measure dynamic changes in microglial processes, including extension and retraction rates.

This study aims to elucidate how LRRK2 mutations influence microglial surveillance and reactivity throughout aging. By clarifying the role of microglia in age-related PD progression, these findings may inform novel therapeutic strategies targeting neuroinflammation in PD.

 

Designing a Biomedically Adaptive Leaping System

Amanuel Fesseha
Major: Electrical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Kyle Johnsen, Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Introduction
Inspired by kangaroo biomechanics, my research explores a biomedically adaptive bipedal robot that mimics two‑limb hopping to traverse uneven terrain. While current quadrupedal platforms excel in stability, they lag in peak speed and energy efficiency relative to natural hoppers. I ask: Does a leaping bipedal robot using adaptive control modeled on animal biomechanics reduce energy consumption and increase traversal speed compared to quadrupeds?

Methods & Results
I created a URDF model in ROS 2 and Gazebo, equipped with 90 kV brushless motors (≈18 Nm stall torque) driven by Moteus R4.11 controllers. An onboard IMU and rotary encoders supply state feedback, and PD control loops adjust thrust in real time. In simulation the robot demonstrated stable, adaptive traversal over flat and inclined surfaces, validating my hardware–software integration and control approach.

Discussion
These preliminary results show that an animal‑inspired controller can improve traversal speed and reduce energy use per step compared to similarly powered quadrupedal models.

Importance
This work may benefit search and rescue teams operating in rubble‑strewn environments and inform the design of next‑generation prosthetics. Future work will focus on energy optimization and physical hardware validation.

 

Encapsulated Composite Materials for Additive Manufacturing

Lane Holley
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Jaime Camelio, Engineering, College of Engineering

Additive manufacturing technology has opened a new world of prototyping and part production for hobbyists and industry alike. In most cases, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers are used to create these parts from a wound spool of plastic thread called ‘filament.’ Many different plastics may be used as filaments, and usually the entire spool will be made of a single material. When multiple materials are used, however, the user is able to take advantage of the unique material properties that are provided by composite materials. The goal of this research was to explore the possibility of creating a composite 3D printing material by implementing my own designs and open-source technologies into a filament forming process. By adapting the open-source Recreator3D device that I built for CURO in spring 2025, I was able to make great strides in this direction. The composite is made of a ‘core’ material entirely encapsulated in a ‘shell’ material which gives rise to unique properties and applications for the filament. Using a shell material of PET–plastic recycled from disposable water bottles–and TPU–a flexible consumer 3D printing material–I successfully produced and printed with the encapsulated composite material. The physical properties for this material are, as I had hoped, I blend of its individual parts. I have made progress towards producing both ABS-PET and PC-PET composites as well. There is much work still to be done in this experimental research that aims to push the boundaries of 3D printing materials.

 

The Wealth and Culture Surrounding Carolina Gold

Shana Jackson
Majors: African American Studies and Fabric Design
Faculty Mentor: Barbara McCaskill, English, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

The cultivation and trade of Carolina Gold rice played a significant role in building the economy and cultural identity of South Carolina during the colonial and antebellum periods. When West Indian planters of Barbados were unable to commercially produce a variety of crops in the marshes of the newly established Carolinas, they discovered that the region’s landscape closely resembled rice fields that had been grown in Africa for centuries.

The expertise of Sene-Gambian farmers from West Africa was required to establish rice as a cash crop. Their labor, technology, and crop yields fostered the emergence of a prosperous class. This agricultural genesis in the American South not only transformed an emerging colony but also contributed to the establishment of a distinct Afro-Atlantic culture in America, highlighting the intertwined histories of agriculture, social class, and unexpected cultural immersion. The goal is to conduct Low Country field studies exploring regional sources in support of this research.

By traveling to South Carolina, I was able to gather historical documentation from local archives, sites, and first-hand conversations with members of the Gullah Geechee community. From this research, I collected data and evidence reflecting the quality of life and the culture of the enslaved and gentry class, and the economic gains of South Carolina as it pertains to a thriving American economy. These findings are central to the argument that the cultivation and trade of Carolina Gold rice established South Carolina as an economic powerhouse and a cultural anomaly during the colonial and antebellum periods.

 

Exploring the Relationship Quality of Couples Where One or Both Partners are at Risk of ADHD

Rebecca Kann
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Ted Futris, Human Development and Family Science, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Additional Co-author: Evin Richardson

Multiple studies have pointed towards the negative impacts of Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) on relationship quality and stability. While research has shown the positive benefits of couples’ relationship education (CRE) on enhancing relationship skills and quality, in general, there are no current studies assessing the effectiveness of CRE on couples where one or both partners are diagnosed with or exhibit high risk for ADHD (i.e., ADHD couples). The current study aims to address this critical gap by exploring changes in relationship quality among ADHD couples who participate in the CRE program Elevate: Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level. From an initial sample of 1,160 enrolled couples, the sample was reduced to 692 couples where both partners attended the program and completed a survey before starting the program (T1) and six weeks after the last session (T2). Of the 1,384 participants in the final sample, nearly 1 in 10 reported that they were previously diagnosed with ADHD. Further, 9% of those who were not previously diagnosed scored at high-risk for ADHD based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Preliminary analyses show very few differences across various individual and couple demographic characteristics between ADHD and non-ADHD couples. Future analyses will examine differences across various indicators of relationship quality from T1 to T2. We predict that ADHD couples will report lower relationship quality at T1 and greater change from T1 to T2 compared to couples where neither partner is at risk for ADHD.

 

Sugar Beyond Slavery: Land, Labor, and Autonomy in Post-Emancipation Ponce, Puerto Rico

Lilianna Kehnle
Majors: History and Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Faculty Mentor: Dan Rood, History, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Despite legal freedom post-emancipation, libertos (emancipated people) of Ponce, Puerto Rico, struggled to attain autonomy in a world of low-cost sugar that demanded a cheap and reliable labor force. In many cases around the Caribbean, owning land allowed libertos to partake in subsistence farming, or producing foodstuffs for their own consumption. While libertos looked toward a self-sufficient life separate from the hacienda (plantation) system, their lack of pre-abolition capital accumulation and land scarcity condemned many to unbroken dependence. This research will analyze municipal census records of agricultural wealth to investigate whether newly emancipated people were able to rely on subsistence agriculture to distance themselves from the sugar plantations which dominated Ponce. The small plots are predicted to increase in number while the haciendas maintain their landholdings, indicating that there was no top-down redistribution of lands due to financial pressure on planters. Instead, land already held by the lower classes was further subdivided. Confirmation of this hypothesis would suggest libertos remained economically vulnerable, influencing them to supplement their livelihood with wage labor and/or debt. Previous scholars have not fully considered the ways in which formerly enslaved people countered a system which demanded their submission. The historiography of Puerto Rico minimizes the significance of slavery and rarely takes into account how remnants of a slave-plantation hierarchy informed social relations as they relate to labor. Additionally, this research will further the body of scholarship on racialized economic dispossession that continues in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean today.

 

Investigating the Connection Between the Hemodynamic Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex and the Muscle Activation Patterns in the Lower Limbs During a Physical Activity in Participants with Cerebral Palsy

Carson Kennedy
Major: Exercise Sports Science
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Modlesky, Kinesiology, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Additional Co-author: Alessandra Bento Matias

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a childhood neurological condition that affects movement and posture due to brain damage or abnormal development. A progressive lateral step-up test (LSUT) has been used to assess lower body function in children with CP. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), located at the front of the frontal lobe, is crucial for executive functions, including planning, decision-making, and working memory. However, a connection between the activation of the lower limb muscles and the activity of the PFC has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine if there are different hemodynamic patterns in the PFC in children with spastic CP when compared to typically developing children and if these differences are related to muscle activation during LSUT.

Methods: Fifteen children with mild spastic CP (5-11 y) were matched by age and sex with 15 typically developing controls. Hemodynamic data in the PFC and muscle activation data in five muscles in the lower limbs were assessed using functional-near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EMG respectively while participants performed the LSUT.

Results: Overall, children with CP exhibited lower PFC hemodynamic activity at each height of the LSUT compared to controls. Children with CP also didn’t demonstrate any significant changes in PFC hemodynamic activity between the different step heights whereas typically developing children had significant changes in HbR an HbT activity between 20 cm and 10 cm step height (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results indicate a different muscle and PFC recruitment pattern in children with CP during a progressive physical activity.

 

Effect of Type I Anaphylactic Food Allergies on Nitric Oxide-Mediated Cutaneous Vasodilation in Healthy Young Adults

Olivia Kirkman
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Tony Wolf, Department of Kinesiology, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Additional Co-authors: James F. Bangle, William E. Jennings, Melissa Gorejena

Anaphylactic food allergies are related to increased long-term cardiovascular disease risk. However, the precise mechanisms underlying that relation are unclear. Purpose: This study aims to determine whether Type I food allergy-induced immune changes lead to vascular endothelial dysfunction (an antecedent to hypertension and cardiovascular disease) in healthy young adults. We hypothesized that subjects with food allergies would have poorer nitric oxide (NO)-mediated cutaneous vasodilation responses compared to those without food allergies. Methods: An intradermal microdialysis fiber was placed in the forearm skin of five food-allergic (19-21 yrs) and four non-allergic (19-26 yrs) participants for local delivery of pharmacological agents. Lactated Ringer’s solution was perfused through the fiber during local heating-induced (42°C) cutaneous vasodilation. After attaining a stable elevated blood flow, 15 mM NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; NO synthase inhibiter) was infused to quantify %NO-mediated vasodilation. Red cell flux was measured (laser-Doppler flowmetry; LDF) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC = LDF/MAP) was normalized to maximal (%CVCmax; 28 mM sodium nitroprusside + 43°C). Results: There were no differences between groups at baseline (p=0.92) or in the magnitude of the local heating response (p=0.38). Likewise, there was no difference in the %NO mediated component of the response (p=0.58). Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that NO-mediated cutaneous vasodilation is not reduced in healthy young adults with Type I food allergies. Continued work will assess (1) whether circulating Immunoglobulin E, histamines, and/or inflammatory cytokines are related to NO-mediated dilation, and (2) whether duration of alterations from chronic food allergies relates to poorer endothelial function.

 

Chemical Kinetics of Combustion and Subsequent Speciation Measurements

Samantha Lewis
Major: Biochemical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Brandon Rotavera, Department of Chemistry, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Additional Co-Authors: Annabelle Hill, Daelyn Moore

Understanding reaction pathways during combustion contributes to predictive modeling of how hydrocarbons and biofuels undergo reaction, what products they will form, and the rate at which these reactions occur, which is critical to developing sustainable energy for transportation. Cyclopentene is a cyclic, five-carbon molecule that is a byproduct of cyclopentane combustion. The goal of this study is to determine the intermediates formed during combustion of cyclopentene, which can improve modeling of its reaction pathways and subsequently optimize efficacy of a chemical kinetics model for cyclopentane. Gas-phase cyclopentene (2500 ppm) is combusted in a 33 cm3 jet stirred reactor (JSR) at 1 atm while varying temperature in 25K increments from 700K – 900K and O2 concentration from 1.14 1017 – 3.431018 molecules/cm3. The products from cyclopentene combustion are then collected in a quartz cylinder and injected into a multi-channel gas chromatography-based (GC) diagnostic with mass spectrometry and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectroscopy. The VUV detector is then used to determine what species exist in the sample based on retention time in the GC and resultant absorption spectra. From the data, 36 different species were detected across 33 experiments. Of those, only 23 species were successfully identified using references previously obtained in the lab. The concentrations of all identifiable species were determined through data extracted from the absorption spectra and it was concluded that reactivity of cyclopentene begins at 775K and peaks at 875K. Understanding the reactive regions and intermediates formed provides critical input for forthcoming comparison with model predictions.

 

Modeling Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) Ecology: Applications of Geographic Information Systems in De-Extinction Studies

Richard Little III
Majors: Anthropology and Geography
Faculty Mentor: Suzanne Pilaar Birch, Anthropology, Geography, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a keystone species in Eastern and Central North American woodlands until its extinction in the early 20th century. Today there are over 1500 specimens preserved in museums around the world, which makes it a prime candidate for current de-extinction efforts. This research utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to digitize and model paleontological and archeological data from sources such as the Neotoma Paleoecology Database. This is achieved by mapping the habitat range of the passenger pigeon and its associated dietary species of mast producing trees (oak, hickory, beech, chestnut) from 15,000 years ago to the present. Kernel density estimation (KDE) is used in order to visualize the density of pollen and faunal samples across the United States and Canada. By mapping and comparing the historic ranges and associated habitats of these species, this study analyzes ecological shifts over time. We expect to observe an increase in both passenger pigeons and mast producing trees as glacial retreat progresses towards the present, followed by a decline post-colonization. The results will be significant in determining whether there were any noticeable ecological changes that impacted passenger pigeons or the availability of their habitat and food source prior to colonization. Furthermore, the findings will provide insights into the feasibility of passenger pigeon de-extinction and the suitability of modern ecosystems for potential repopulation, considering their reliance on vast forests for successful reproduction.

 

Evaluating the Relationship between Loading Rates and Areal Bone Mineral Density in Children with Cerebral Palsy During Gait

Peyton Macik
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Modlesky, Kinesiology, Mary Frances Early College of Education
Additional Co-author: Shelley Jakiel

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor disability in the United States and is caused by damage or abnormal development in the parts of the brain that control movement resulting in muscle weakness and spasticity as part of the symptoms. These symptoms often limit physical activity capacity in children with CP, reducing the forces applied to their bone, that plays a crucial role in bone growth, maintenance, and adaptation, which may contribute to weakened bone integrity. This study aimed to assess how these forces during gait are related to their distal femur areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and determine how children with CP differ from typically developing controls.

Methods: 28 children with CP (ages of 5-11 years old) were matched with 28 typically developing children by age, sex, and race. Participants walked barefoot at a self-selected speed along a ~10 m walkway while 3D motion capture and vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) were recorded using four force plates embedded at the walkway’s center. aBMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans.

Results: Both groups exhibited significant peak differences between heel-strike and toe-off; however, it is important to note that children with CP differences were much more significant than those seen in controls. The force produced at toe-off had the strongest correlation with Region 1 raw aBMD in CP.

Conclusion: These results could drive gait therapies to help patients with CP to optimize rate of force development during toe-off in order to support bone strength over time.

 

Impact of the Student Food Pantry on Academic Success and Engagement with UHC Nutrition Services

Mohana Malapati
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Emma Laing, Nutritional Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Additional Co-author: Amelia Ross

Food insecurity is a prevalent nationwide concern in college students, and is associated with poor dietary intake, diminished academic performance, higher rates of attrition, and adverse health outcomes. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the campus food pantry in mitigating these lasting negative impacts of food insecurity. The Student Food Pantry has been serving students for over a decade and has yet to be assessed for its effectiveness as an intervention.

Additionally, while nutrition services by licensed dietitians and referrals to campus resources are freely accessible to UGA students through the UHC, the efficacy of these interventions may be limited in scope by the students’ physical access to nutritious food. Thus, the objectives of this research are to assess the impact of food pantry utilization on academic success outcomes and engagement with medical nutrition services.

The methods to determine this will involve cross-referencing data on food pantry usage, pantry shoppers’ academic success outcomes, and their engagement with UHC medical nutrition services to identify trends. Findings may enhance future nutritional interventions and inform institutional efforts to improve student health and academic success.

 

Prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Mesocarnivores from North Carolina

Adam Rose
Major: Health Promotion
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Cleveland, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine
Additional Co-authors: Seth Lattner, Kelly Douglass, Colleen Olfenbuttel, Michael J. Yabsley

Leptospirosis is a globally important zoonotic disease caused by spirochete bacteria in the genus Leptospira. In North America, Leptospira spp. are maintained in the environment through a variety of hosts, with mesocarnivores such as raccoons, skunks, red and gray foxes, coyotes, and striped skunks acting as reservoirs. These animals can shed Leptospira bacteria in their urine, contaminating water and soil, which in turn may expose other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans to infection. Clinical disease can range from subclinical infections to severe renal and hepatic damage in both animals and humans. Despite the public, environmental, and wildlife health significance of Leptospira spp., its ecology in wildlife populations remains poorly understood in the southeastern United States. Our primary objective is to assess Leptospira prevalence and its implications for animal, environmental, and public health by assessing geographic distribution patterns and host demographics.​ To date, 459 kidney tissues have been sampled from mesocarnivores across North Carolina in collaboration with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kidney tissues were obtained via damage control trapping, hunter/trapper harvest, roadkill, and clinical cases. Preliminary screening via real time PCR shows active Leptospira infection in 6.5% (30/459) of tested animals across eight species. Raccoons (n=282) had the highest number of detections (26, 9.2%). These findings span 12 counties in North Carolina and were collected between 2021 and 2024. Burke (13.7%), Catawba (19.1%), and Moore (19.1%) counties had the highest prevalence rates in the state.

 

The Effects of Live Versus Recorded Music on the Engagement of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Music Therapy

Lauren Smith
Majors: Music Therapy and Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Ellyn H. Evans, Music Therapy, Hugh Hodgson School of Music

For decades, music therapists have utilized music interventions to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving non-musical goals, including behavioral regulation, communication, motor control, cognitive skills, emotional expression, and social skills. While a large body of research in music therapy concerns children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), few studies focus on adults with IDD. In addition to research, this population is often excluded from healthcare benefits, public education, and community services. The purpose of this observational study was to examine the engagement levels of adults with IDD during active music-making interventions to determine if the presentation of music, live or recorded, changes these levels. A board-certified music therapist performed active music-making interventions using either live or recorded music for a rotating group of participants at a summer camp program for people with IDD. Participant engagement was operationally defined and recorded as active, passive, or not engaged using a time-sampling methodology. Based on preliminary data and previous literature suggesting the importance of live musical improvisation for engagement, live music is expected to correlate with increased engagement for this population. The data collected in this study will provide applicable insights for music therapists and other care professionals as they strive to supply more engaging and effective services to adults with IDD.

 

Improving STEM Education by Predicting Grade Outcomes Via Statistical Learning Models Trained with Student Social Dynamics

James Squires
Majors: Mathematics, Physics
Faculty Mentor: Nandana Weliweriya, Physics, Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Additional Co-author: Nicholas Young

Reducing attrition rates among STEM-enrolled college students is critically important to universities. Improved retention and higher graduation rates lead to better academic outcomes for both students and their respective institutions. This study investigates the extent to which social dynamics among co-enrolled students in introductory physics courses can predict which students are at risk of failure or withdrawal when used alongside data encapsulating student grades, self-efficacy, and academic preparedness. Key performance metrics are collected throughout the semester. These include grade data over tests, quizzes, and homework, along with responses to post-exam surveys. The surveys gather benchmark performance data and assess peer behavior by asking how motivated the students feel, what they expect their grades to be, how many peers the student study with, how much time they spend studying together, and where these interactions occur. Both survey and grade data are used to train a statistical learning model designed to classify students at risk. Improved model accuracy when incorporating social behavior variables would indicate a promising direction for predicting educational outcomes. Accurate models would enable instructors in large classrooms with the ability to preemptively identify and help at-risk students. This would support student well-being, academic success, and graduation rates in STEM majors, thereby increasing the available workforce for high-demand fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology.

 

A Large-Scale Systematic Discovery of Gene-Diet Interactions Modifying the Impact of Dietary Habits on the Human Circulating Metabolome

Eunice Stephen
Majors: Genetics and Applied Biotechnology
Faculty Mentor: Kaixiong Ye, Department of Genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Additional Co-author: Susan Adanna Ihejirika

Diet plays a significant role in human health; however, the change in circulating metabolite levels in response to dietary intake varies greatly across individuals. One explanation for this variation is the modulation of dietary effect by an individual’s genotype at specific loci, known as gene-diet interaction. We identified genomic loci interacting with the Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED), Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII), or Healthful Plant-Based Diet Index (HPDI). We conducted association analyses between 279 metabolites and the four diet scores and found that 276 metabolites were significantly (p < 2.27 × 10-3) associated with at least one of the examined scores. To identify SNPs associated with the variance of metabolite levels, we performed variance quantitative trait loci (vQTL) analysis and identified 4,670 independents significant (p < 5.0 × 10-8) vQTL associations across 502 unique loci and 275 metabolites. Finally, we tested these associations for gene-diet interaction effect, altering the association between diet scores and circulating metabolites, identifying 127 gene-diet interactions affecting the level of a circulating metabolite. In one interaction, the aMED diet score had different effects on the polyunsaturated fatty acid/total fatty acid ratio across the CC, CA, and AA genotype groups of the TRIB1AL-rs2954038 SNP (β = 0.180, 0.182, and 0.157, respectively). Diet’s role in human disease risk and progression makes the study of its effects on individuals important for improving human health. Further investigation of the identified gene-diet interactions will aid the development of personalized nutrition recommendations that consider genetic information.

 

Heritage Textiles: Sustainability, Women, and Colonialism

Chandra Sunkara
Major: Fashion Merchandising
Faculty Mentor: Sha’Mira Covington, Textiles, Merchandising, & Interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

This paper explores how heritage textiles intertwine with women’s labor and colonial legacies within the global fashion-industrial complex, focusing on case studies from India and Peru. Using a decolonial feminist and slow fashion lens, we interrogate how textile traditions are sustained, commodified, and contested in postcolonial economies and neoliberal globalization. Employing autoethnography as both method and mode, we ground the study in the researchers’ lived experiences. Drawing from the first author’s diasporic identity and fieldwork with artisans and textile cooperatives, we reveal how women’s craft labor functions as economic livelihood, cultural resistance, and identity formation. We examine the historical disruptions of colonialism in indigenous textile systems; the gendered and caste-based dimensions of contemporary handloom industries; and the tensions between authenticity, commodification, and spirituality in artisan-led production. We also consider consumer-artisan interactions that shape preservation while risking cultural appropriation and reinforcing exploitative labor practices under the guise of ethical consumption. As an Indian American student-researcher and a Black American scholar, our identities shape a shared commitment to cultural sustainability as a justice-oriented practice centered on dignity, continuity, and community agency. Ultimately, we call for a reimagined sustainability in fashion that extends beyond ecological metrics, one that centers social, historical, and cultural survival of historically marginalized communities whose traditions embody sustainable ways of living.

 

The Role of Primary Cilia in Parkinson’s Disease: Exploring into Neurodegeneration and LRRK2 Dysfunctions

Breanna Tran
Majors: Biology and Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Hui Zhang, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine
Additional Co-author: Shiquan Cui

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by the loss of dopamine neurons (DANs) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), impairing motor function. Mutations in the LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) gene are a major contributor to PD and are known to disrupt mitochondrial dynamics, impair energy production, and increase oxidative stress.

Recent studies highlight the importance of primary cilia—antenna-like organelles essential for cellular signaling and homeostasis—in PD pathology. Cilia loss or dysfunction in DANs can impair signaling pathways like Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), crucial for neuron survival. LRRK2 mutations may disrupt ciliogenesis and contribute to neurodegeneration through impaired autophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction.

We hypothesize that restoring or maintaining primary cilia in DANs may reduce neurodegeneration in LRRK2 mutant models. Using immunofluorescence staining (ARL13B and acetylated α-tubulin) and confocal microscopy, we examined cilia morphology in three LRRK2 mouse models: LRRK2 knockout (KO), R1441G (RG), and G2019S (GS), each compared to wild-type (WT) controls.

We analyzed cilia in three major cell types: astrocytes, cholinergic interneurons (ChINs or TANs), and DANs. Notably, this is the first analysis of DANs in the RG model at 5 months of age. Preliminary findings suggest LRRK2 mutations differentially alter cilia across cell types, particularly shortening or loss in DANs.

These results support a novel link between LRRK2 mutations, primary cilia dysfunction, and neuronal vulnerability in PD. Targeting cilia preservation may offer therapeutic potential in modifying disease progression.

 

Are Lava Flows Benign? Insights into Lava Rheology and Hazards at Mt Etna (Italy)

Gail Verna
Majors: Mathematics and Geology
Faculty Mentor: Mattia Pistone, Geology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Additional Co-authors: Daniele Andronico, Rosa Anna Corsaro, Andrea Tonato

Effusive eruptions produce lava flows that can pose a threat to communities living close to volcanoes. Mt. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, producing multiple lava flows each year. Some of these flows crystallize before traveling beyond the flank, but historically, others have invaded areas tens of kilometers away from the volcano. For example, the lava flow of the 1669 eruption reached the coastline, destroying villages and crops from Nicolosi to Catania, before flowing into the ocean. Given the hazardous nature of these lava flows, this project aims to quantify their physics, or rheology, to better evaluate the potential for the lava to reach communities and important infrastructure. This study focuses on the most recent lava flow on Mt. Etna which occurred from February to March of 2025. Rocks were taken from 5 different locations along the flow, from the top near the crater it was emitted from down to the lava front. Geochemical and microstructural analysis will be done with these rocks to model the lava’s viscosity. Based on field observations, this flow shows variable thickness that first increases with increasing distance from the emitting crater and then decreases close to the end of the lava deposit. I hypothesize that the variation of thickness is a function of the lava’s viscosity, which may first increase with cooling, and then may decrease closer to the lava front due to gas porosity that allows the lava flow to run thinner prior to solidification.

 

Optimization of LicD2 Expression and Purification

Hanif Zaman
Majors: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Philosophy
Faculty Mentor: Camilo Perez, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Additional Co-authors: Isaac Kiefer, Eric Céster Díaz

LicD2 is a non-essential phosphocholine (P-Cho) transferase responsible for the decoration of precursor teichoic acid (TA) β-d-GalpNAc residues found in Streptococcus pneumoniae. This protein contributes to the TA biosynthesis pathway involved in producing lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) and wall teichoic acids (WTAs). Previous studies have focused on the host-pathogen interactions and metabolism of choline; however, not much is understood about the mechanism LicD2 utilizes to transfer P-Cho to β-d-GalpNAc. Additionally, while current models generated through AlphaFold2 give researchers an idea of the structure of LicD2, a high-resolution crystal or cryoEM structure has yet to be published. Thus, this study aims to characterize LicD2 with the intent of better understanding the mechanism it uses to catalyze the transfer. To accomplish this, a protocol will be necessary to express and purify high-quality LicD2 in a sufficient quantity for further downstream applications. Therefore, this presentation will focus on the optimization of this expression and purification protocol. By comparing different conditions through SDS-PAGE analysis for expression and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) for purification, an optimized protocol was determined, which considers the bacteria strain, expression conditions, and buffers for high yields of LicD2. The results of this study will ultimately further the fundamental understanding of bacterial membrane biochemistry and how TAs contribute to pathogen function.

 

Loss of Maternal Pericentrin in Oocytes Disrupts Early Embryo Development

Harel Ziv
Major: Biomedical Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Maria M. Viveiros, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Science
Additional Co-author: Claudia Baumann

Meiotic division errors in oocytes prior to fertilization can lead to aneuploidy in developing embryos, a major cause of pregnancy loss in women. The accuracy of chromosome segregation is critically dependent on meiotic spindle stability regulated by unique acentriolar microtubule organizing centers (aMTOCs) in oocytes. We previously demonstrated that aMTOC formation in oocytes requires a key scaffolding protein, pericentrin (PCNT). Moreover, we developed a unique transgenic oocyte-conditional Pcnt-knockdown mouse model and established that loss of PCNT disrupts spindle stability, leading to highly error-prone meiotic division, aneuploidy in ovulated oocytes, and female subfertility. Here, we assessed how loss of pericentrin in oocytes impacts the first cleavage division post fertilization. Control (WT) and PCNT-depleted oocytes from transgenic (Tg) females were fertilized in vitro with sperm from control males to assess the first mitotic division and development to the 2-cell stage. Embryos were fixed at 17.5 and 24hpf, then immunolabeled with antibodies to detect PCNT, spindle microtubules (ɑ-tubulin), and chromosome configurations (DAPI). Immunofluorescence analysis of 3 replicates at 17.5hpf showed similar rates of fertilization, denoted by initiation of mitotic division and 2-cell cleavage, between groups. However, in the Tg group there was a trend toward a higher incidence of chromosome errors, including misaligned and lagging chromosomes during mitosis and micronuclei in 2-cell embryos. Moreover, at 24hpf fewer (P=0.05) embryos derived from PCNT-depleted oocytes reached the 2-cell stage compared to controls. Detailed spindle analyses are ongoing. These data support that loss of maternal PCNT disrupts initial stages of preimplantation embryo development.