2025 COSM Summer Research Showcase Program by Georgia Southern College of Science and Mathematics

2025 COSM Summer Research Showcase

Graduate student, Undergraduate student, High school student

Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics

66 - *Adepoju, Yetunde, and W. Eric Gato - Assessment of Vitamin C health benefit using A549 cell

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a vital micronutrient recognized for its antioxidant capacity and essential bodily functions, such as collagen formation, neurotransmitter activity, and regulation of the immune system. This study explores how vitamin C can protect and potentially heal cells under oxidative stress and inflammation, using A549 cells, a human lung epithelial cell line, as the model system The cells were exposed to varying concentrations of vitamin C dissolved in water, DMSO, and 5% DMSO To assess the outcome, cell viability was measured with an MTT assay. In addition, the expression of key genes related to oxidative stress and inflammatory markers (e g , DUOX1, GPX1, NCF2, SOD1, IL6, TNFα) was examined using quantitative real-time PCR Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and TNFα protein levels were further measured via colorimetric and ELISA assays. Results showed that higher concentrations of vitamin C improved cell viability and upregulated antioxidant genes, particularly GPX1 and SOD1, while down-regulating pro-inflammatory markers including IL6, TNFα, and NF-κB Notably, vitamin C mitigated the cytotoxic effects of DMSO, emphasizing its synergistic antioxidant activity These research suggest that vitamin C confers cellular protection by enhancing antioxidant defenses and reducing inflammatory responses, highlighting its potential role as a therapeutic agent in respiratory health and oxidative stress-related conditions

22 - *Bakare-Abidola, Taiwo, and Rocío Pérez - Removal of Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B from aqueous solutions using NADES-alginate beads

The widespread use of synthetic dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) in industrial processes has led to significant environmental pollution, necessitating the development of sustainable and efficient removal strategies. In this study, natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-alginate beads were synthesized and evaluated as environmentally friendly adsorbents for the removal of MB and RB from aqueous solutions NADES, composed of naturally derived, biodegradable components, were incorporated into alginate matrices to enhance the adsorption capacity and green credentials of the system. The performance of the NADES-alginate beads was assessed under varying experimental parameters, including adsorbent mass, solution pH, and contact time The results indicated that adsorption efficiency was strongly influenced by these conditions, with optimal performance achieved under specific parameter combinations The beads demonstrated high dye removal efficiency, highlighting their potential as a low-cost, biodegradable, and effective alternative to conventional toxic sorbents Overall, this study underscores the feasibility of employing NADES-based polymeric materials for the remediation of dye-contaminated wastewater, supporting the advancement of green chemistry principles and environmentally responsible water treatment technologies

8 - **Bekele, Wintana, and Shainaz Landge - Writing research article as proficient scholars

WRAPS (Writing Research Articles as Proficient Scholars) is designed to increase the interest and engagement of undergraduate students in writing peer-reviewed reviewed research articles by simplifying the writing process. This can be achieved by helping students develop confidence, exposure, and proficiency in writing scientific papers In addition to research focused skills such as time management, discipline, self- awareness, communication, teamwork and adaptability The workbook follows a structured 15-week format ideal for a

semester-long course where students complete weekly worksheets that gradually guide them through each stage of the writing process This project not only outlines the journey toward producing a complete, peer-reviewed article but also documents the data and insights collected throughout the program's implementation.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

16 - Chen, Gang, and **Elisa Smith - The size and shape-dependent roles of one-dimensional gold nanoparticles for colorimetric detection

One-dimensional gold nanostructures, such as gold nanobipyramids (GBPs) and gold nanorods (GNRs), exhibit tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties that make them promising candidates for plasmonic colorimetric sensing. However, the influence of nanoparticle morphology and uniformity on sensing performance remains underexplored In this study, we systematically compare the colorimetric glucose sensing capabilities of GBPs and GNRs with varying aspect ratios (ARs), using highly uniform particles synthesized through optimized seed-mediated methods. Glucose-induced etching, mediated by iodide ions and hydrogen peroxide, causes shape-dependent LSPR blue shifts, enabling visual signal generation GBPs exhibit higher sensitivity, especially at larger ARs, due to their sharp tips and enhanced local field effects, while GNRs offer broader linear detection ranges owing to their uniform cylindrical geometry. Morphological changes confirmed by TEM correlate with spectral shifts, highlighting the critical role of structural integrity in signal transduction. This work provides key insights into the structure–property–performance relationships of anisotropic gold nanostructures and establishes a foundation for designing efficient and reliable plasmonic biosensors

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Georgia Southern University Seed Grant, and Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics Summer Research Program

70 - **Connelly, Sydney, and Eric Gato - Assessment of the effect of dietary perfluorobutane

sulfonate (PFBS) ingestion on the brain of Sprague Dawley rats

Perfluorobutane sulfonate, or PFBS, is a common flame-resistant chemical found in a variety of consumer products It is known as a “forever chemical” due to its robust nature and inability to be easily broken down Numerous experiments have been performed exploring the degree to which PFBS is toxic Studies regarding PFBS effects on human health remain under way. The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of PFBS ingestion on the brain of Sprague Dawley rats Several methods of research will be used to analyze brain tissues from Sprague Dawley rats that have ingested 0 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm PFBS Brain injury will be evaluated by certain protein markers found in the brain and spinal cord that, when elevated in the blood, can suggest brain damage. Primary investigation will be followed up by analysis of specific inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the brain tissues Further evaluation of PFBS effects will be conducted through histopathological analysis of brain tissues The expected result of experimentation would be that rats with the higher dosage of PFBS (100 ppm) would show a higher metabolic response in the brain than rats who received the lower dosage of PFBS (50 ppm), both exhibiting a higher metabolic response than rats who received 0 ppm PFBS These results would indicate the toxicity of PFBS as well as short-term and long-term effects of PFBS exposure.

Dreyfus Research Scholar

33 - **Drummonds, Genell, and Jianzhou He - Investigating transformation efficiency of PFAS by dissolved black carbon-derived reactive species

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that enter the environment through consumer product waste, industrial discharge, firefighting foam, and other anthropogenic sources Their growing impact on ecosystems and human health through contamination of water systems, food sources, air, and other routes is concerning PFAS are environmental pollutants that are resistant to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation processes This study aims to investigate PFAS degradation through direct photolysis and the effects of reactive species (radicals) generated naturally by dissolved black carbon (DBC) under sunlight irradiation. In this ongoing laboratory experiment, aqueous solutions containing different PFAS compounds (1 mg/L) with or without DBC (10 mg C/L) are exposed to simulated sunlight irradiation (~400 mW/cm2) using a Xenon lamp with a 300 nm cutoff filter and recirculating water temperature control system At predetermined time intervals (0-180 min), aqueous samples are withdrawn and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry for PFAS concentration While results are pending, this research is expected to provide insights into the sunlight-induced transformation and degradation of PFAS by DBC-derived reactive species in aquatic systems, advancing strategies for the management and remediation of PFAS-contaminated water.

Funded by the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics Summer Research Program

26 - Durach, Maxim - Biaxial OAM beams in isotropy-broken media: structure, dynamics, and hidden momentum

This poster presents a new class of structured light biaxial orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams introduced through recent theoretical work on electromagnetic wave propagation in anisotropic and bianisotropic media. Unlike conventional OAM beams, which rely on azimuthal symmetry in isotropic environments, these biaxial OAM beams propagate in media with fixed broken isotropy (e g , biaxial crystals or magnetoelectric materials), where cylindrical symmetry is replaced by geometric constraints set by two distinct optical axes. Using the quartic dispersion relation typical for metamaterials, we construct beam solutions that carry quantized orbital angular momentum, yet exhibit nontrivial wavefront distortions, ray–wave tilt, and hidden momentum due to their interaction with anisotropic material parameter tensors The poster visualizes the internal structure of these beams, analyzes their angular momentum flow, and illustrates how they accumulate phase differently from standard Laguerre-Gaussian modes. These findings provide new insight into angular momentum transport in complex media, with implications for nonreciprocal beam shaping, OAM-based optical devices, and topological transitions in photonic systems The work bridges advanced electromagnetic theory with the geometry of structured light, opening a path toward the design of anisotropy-driven OAM modulators and torque-exerting beam systems.

25 - Durach, Maxim, and ***Anuj Agarwal - Algebraic and differential geometry of electromagnetic topological metamaterials

This poster explores the rich landscape of electromagnetic wave propagation in isotropy-broken materials through the lens of algebraic and differential geometry In these materials, the dispersion relations governing electromagnetic waves form quartic surfaces in momentum space, giving rise to a variety of exotic iso-frequency topologies including ellipsoidal, bi-hyperbolic, tri-hyperbolic, and tetra-hyperbolic geometries. Guided by the theoretical framework developed by Durach and collaborators, this project visualizes and classifies these dispersion surfaces by numerically solving the Fresnel equation derived from the constitutive relations of anisotropic and magnetoelectric materials. Using accessible, free plotting software the students at

all levels can construct detailed 3D models of the iso-frequency surfaces, analyzing their curvature, connectivity, and singular features The poster highlights how these topological classes influence electromagnetic ray propagation, group velocity, and optical anisotropy, providing insights into potential applications in beam steering, hyperlensing, and topological transitions in metamaterial design. This work demonstrates how students can bridge abstract mathematics with real-world physical phenomena, and how freely available tools can be leveraged to explore cutting-edge concepts in photonics

24 - Durach, Maxim - Discovery of electromagnetic "Om" ॐ

We introduce the Om-potential ॐ(r) a novel analytical vector field that underlies both sources and vector potentials in macroscopic electromagnetism. This construct enables a direct solution of macroscopic Maxwell’s equations in isotropy-broken media without resorting to point-source-based Green’s function methods, which face conceptual and technical limitations in such environments The Om-potential ॐ(r) generates both the source current J(r) and the vector potential A(r) via material-dependent differential operators This formalism allows us to bypass singular fields and provides a unified analytical structure across transitions in material symmetry and topology In analogy with generating fields in other areas of physics such as wavefunctions in quantum mechanics, partition functionals in field theory, or stream functions in fluid mechanics the Om-potential organizes the relationship between sources and fields through operator mappings. We demonstrate two analytical methods: the Inverse Helmholtz Equation Method, which derives source distributions for prescribed vector potentials, and the Om-Potential Method, in which the Om-potential acts as the primary object generating both fields and sources across a broad class of media This framework reveals new analytical solutions to macroscopic Maxwell’s equations and provides a powerful tool for exploring electromagnetic behavior in complex materials

14 - **Echezabal, Laura, Jannet Kocerha, Mark dela Cernal, and Karelle Aiken - Computational studies to guide the design of anti-cancer therapeutics targeting LAT1

Cancer therapeutics often have wide ranging and detrimental side effects due to low specificity in targeting cancer cells over healthy cells A protein called the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is overexpressed in cancer cells and minimally expressed in most healthy cells. This transporter facilitates intake of tyrosine and other amino acid nutrients to support rapid cell growth LAT1 can also be utilized for the selective and efficient uptake of pharmaceuticals Naphthoquinone-tyrosine conjugates are potential cancer therapeutics 1,4-Naphthoquinone structures are present in many cancer therapeutics due to cytotoxicity towards diseased cells and resensitization in drug-resistant cancer cells. LAT1 has specific structural requirements for substrate recognition, including bulkier neutral amino acids with backbones that have “free” amino and carboxylic acid groups Additionally, substrates must have a neutrally charged, hydrophobic bulky side chain attached to the backbone. We used in silico methods (computational) to guide the design of LAT1-compatible compounds. Investigations included assessing the interaction of proposed conjugate designs with the LAT1 system (docking) Findings from these studies will be used to strategically narrow down the selection of conjugates that are actually synthesized by our research team, and to guide enhancements to conjugates that show significant anticancer activity.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

80 - Edwards, Mark - Double-target BEC rotation sensor

We present a proof-of-concept design for an atomtronic rotation sensor consisting of an array of "double-target" Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). A "target" BEC is a disk-shaped condensate surrounded by a

concentric ring-shaped condensate. A "double-target" BEC is two adjacent target BECs whose ring condensates partially overlap The sensor consists of an mxn array of these double-target BECs The measurement of the frame rotation speed, Omega R is carried out by creating the array of double-target BECs (setup step), inducing one unit of quantized flow in the top ring of each member of the array (initialization step), applying potential barriers in the overlap region of each member (measurement step), and observing whether the induced flow is transferred from the top to the bottom ring in each member (readout step) We describe a set of simulations showing that a single instance of a double-target BEC behaves in a way that enables the efficient operation of an mxn array for measuring . As an example of sensor operation we present a simulation showing that a 2x2 array can be designed to measure in a user-specified range.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

69

- **Fullen, Saniyah, and Rocío Pérez - Evaluation of metformin-based organic salts (GUMBOS) for improved oral administration using chitosan-alginate hydrogel beads

Metformin Hydrochloride (MTFHCl), a highly water-soluble oral drug, is widely used for type 2 diabetes mellitus management. Literature indicates metformin's potential to inhibit cancer cell proliferation by targeting the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a key regulator of cellular metabolism In this study, we developed hydrophobic metformin derivatives as a Group of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS) to enhance the drug's chemotherapeutic potential and bioavailability. Two metformin-based GUMBOS were synthesized via metathesis reaction using sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF₄) and lithium bis(pentafluoroethanesulfonyl)imide (LiBETI) as counterions The synthesized organic salts were comprehensively characterized using FT-IR, ESI-MS, ¹H NMR, and TGA To enable controlled delivery, these GUMBOS will be encapsulated within chitosan-alginate biopolymer hydrogel beads at various loading ratios. In vitro drug release studies will assess the release kinetics and stability of the formulations under simulated physiological conditions, transitioning from gastric (acidic) to intestinal (basic) environments These investigations aim to evaluate the bioavailability of GUMBOS-loaded hydrogel beads as a metformin derivative delivery system. Future work will focus on elucidating the chemotherapeutic efficacy of these MTF-based GUMBOS within biopolymer hydrogel matrices

Funded by the COSM Emerging Researchers Program and Mayfield Research Program from the Coastal Georgia Local Section of the American Chemical Society

72 - **Gilchrist, Lafredrick, **Yessi Rodreiguez-Garcia, and Ji Wu - Water-based electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are essential for modern energy storage but face safety and environmental concerns due to their flammable and toxic organic electrolytes Aqueous lithium-ion batteries (ALIBs), which use water-based electrolytes, offer a safer and more sustainable alternative However, the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water (~1.23 V) severely limits the achievable energy density, posing a major barrier to high-voltage applications. This research aims to develop and optimize water-based electrolytes suitable for high-voltage LIBs by addressing both electrolyte formulation and electrode compatibility To achieve this goal, Mo₆S₈, a Chevrel phase compound, is investigated as the anode due to its high lithium-ion mobility, structural robustness, and suitability for aqueous environments. Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirm its phase stability and favorable morphology in water-based electrolytes To further expand the ESW and enhance electrochemical performance, the incorporation of alcohol-based additives is used to synergistically modify ion solvation and suppress parasitic side reactions. The anode is assembled into CR2032 full cells whose electrochemical properties are systematically evaluated using various electroanalytical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, linear voltage scanning, rate test,

electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and long-term cycling tests at constant current. It is expected that the ESW of the electrolyte with hydrogen bonding networks can be significantly increased up to 4 V vs Li+/Li, thereby dramatically stabilizing the electrolyte and suppressing water decomposition This impactful work will advance the development of next-generation aqueous lithium-ion batteries that combine safety, sustainability, and high performance.

Funded by the McNairs Summer Research Program

13 - *Heward, Jeffrey, and Mark Edwards - Applying the Lagrangian Variational Method to atom interferometry

We have studied 1D and 3D atom interferometry (AI) sequences carried out with Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in the presence of external potentials consisting of harmonic plus anharmonic terms. The process where a BEC is split into multiple clouds and then recombined to form an interference pattern was numerically simulated by solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) Approximate solutions to this equation were generated using the Lagrangian Variational Method (LVM) whose trial wave function consisted of a sum of Gaussian functions, one for each cloud. We derive the LVM equations of motion as well as a formula for the phase of the trial wave function The variational result is compared to the numerical solution of the GPE We will also compare these results with those given by time-dependent perturbation theory

Funded by the National Science Foundation

82 - **Jarra, Ibrahim, and Jeffery Secrest - Toy model quantum cosmology - Investigating the nature of the early universe with a variable gravitational parameter

A modified Friedmann–Lemaître equation, describing the universe’s expansion rate, was derived within Newtonian mechanics by allowing the gravitational parameter to vary and by incorporating quantum corrections Comparisons to the standard model of cosmology are made to assess deviations and potential signatures of a varying gravitational parameter .Different functional forms of the gravitational parameter with similarities to dark energy are investigated. This equation was solved numerically with Runge–Kutta methods to track how classical quantities the scale factor, deceleration parameter, and Hubble parameter evolved during the early universe Matter, radiation, and topological defects were each examined and their effects compared with those predicted by standard cosmology. Finally, the modified equation was quantized, yielding a Wheeler–DeWitt equation for the early universe from which a corresponding wave function was obtained

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

54 - **Jernigan, Evan, and Karelle Aiken - Design and synthesis of a LAT-1 targeting 9-aminoacridine-lysine conjugate for selective cancer therapy

L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) has emerged as a focus for research in anti-cancer therapeutics. This protein provides a carrier-mediated transport (CMT) strategy for facilitated diffusion across the cell membrane, specifically amino acid uptake that supports cell growth and other processes LAT1 is often overexpressed in cancer cells due to heightened nutrient demands. The transporter can be utilized to achieve greater selectivity for malignant cells over healthy cells with therapeutics that are strategically designed for uptake via LAT1, amino acid-drug conjugates The heterocyclic 9-aminoacridine (9NH-A) is known for its ability to intercalate into the DNA double helix, forming complexes that act as a cytostatic agent These characteristics make the acridine backbone especially promising for cancer treatment, particularly in hindering the progression of malignant cells The synthetic plan in this project involves coupling 9NH-A to the naturally occurring amino acid

lysine (Lys) to create LAT1-targeting 9NH-A-Lys conjugate.. This presentation focuses on the current findings involving the synthesis of 9NH-A-Lys

31 - *Jorgensen, Kyle, and Rocío Pérez - HPLC-based analysis of PAHs using dissolved deep eutectic solvents as an extraction media

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous environmental pollutants, known for their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, posing serious risks to human health and ecosystems. Commonly released through industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and incomplete combustion, PAHs like benzo[a]pyrene, naphthalene, and pyrene frequently contaminate soil, water, and air Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as a sustainable and efficient alternative for PAH extraction Their benefits, including low toxicity, biodegradability, and customizable chemical properties, make DES highly suitable for green chemistry applications, particularly in environmental analysis. Coupling DES extraction with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) enables accurate and selective quantification of target PAHs In this study, DES extraction variables such as pH, extraction time, and DES mass were systematically optimized to enhance PAH recovery from aqueous samples at low concentrations. The method demonstrated high reliability in quantifying benzo[a]pyrene, naphthalene, and pyrene at parts per billion (ppb) levels, establishing a foundational framework for environmental monitoring This integrated DES-HPLC approach represents a significant step forward in developing greener, more precise analytical techniques for PAH contamination assessment.

Funded by the Georgia Southern University Presidential Research Fellowship

83 - **Michael, Darvika, and John DiCesare - Synthesis of TU100 analogs focused on nitrogen bridge modification

TU100 is a naphthoquinone adduct formed through a 3+2 cycloaddition reaction between N-methyl-4-hydroxylisoquinolinium Iodide and 1,4-naphthoquinone, following the method established by DiCesare et al. Current research focuses on synthesizing TU100 analogs by modifying the nitrogen bridge substituent of the isoquinolinium. Specifically, analogs were attempted by replacing a carbon of the N-methyl-4-hydroxylisoquinolinium species with nitrogen The reaction between quinones and the modified N-substituted-4-hydroxylisoquinolinium iodides were attempted to produce novel analogs Following extraction, column chromatography was used to isolate the desired products from unreacted starting materials Product purity was assessed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was routinely used to monitor reaction progress Expanding the TU100 analog library through nitrogen bridge modification is essential for getting an analog with optimized biological activity and enhanced potential as chemotherapeutic agents.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

15 - **Moore, Kathryn, and Jianzhou He - Removal of emerging 6PPD-Q from water: a combined batch and column study

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is a chemical compound used as an antioxidant and antidegradent in tires and other rubber products. 6PPD-quinone is a recently discovered ozonation byproduct of 6PPD, which is ubiquitous in the environment and has been linked to increased mortality in coho salmon and other aquatic fishes However, research on this compound is extremely limited and its presence in source waters used for drinking make it a significant emerging pollutant. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of different sorbents in removing 6PPD-quinone from water samples to find potential applications for

wastewater treatment. Batch sorption experiments and small-scale column tests using sorbents commonly utilized for wastewater treatment were performed to evaluate removal efficiency of 6PPD-quinone under different water chemistry This research will not only have applications for treatment of water for human consumption, but also for the conservation of species like the coho salmon and other aquatic life.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

58 - *Nguyen, Catherine, and Mitch Weiland - Preliminary characterization of PahZ2KT-1 homologs

Polycarboxylates are water-soluble polymers possessing properties favorable for a number of applications from feminine hygiene products to industrial water treatment systems Though they are highly useful, the non-biodegradable and water soluble nature of these polymers means their accumulation poses great threats to the environment In hopes of combatting this, poly-aspartic acid (PAA), synthesized from naturally occurring L-aspartic acid, was developed PAA offers a promising alternative to these traditional water soluble polymers given its natural composition means it can be completely broken down by enzymes However, PAA’s increasing popularity necessitates further identification and characterization of enzymes capable of its biodegradation. At present, there are only three known enzymes, PahZ1KT-1, PahZ2KT-1, and PahZ1KP-2 from two different bacterial species, Sphingomonas sp KT-1 and Pedobacter sp KP-2 capable of degrading PAA Efforts to expand the family of known poly-aspartic acid hydrolases has resulted in the identification of six PahZ2KT-1 homologs. The focus is now directed at optimizing enzyme expression and purification, and assessing their ability to function as poly-aspartic acid hydrolases Preliminary findings from these efforts and future direction will be discussed

Funded by the Mayfield Research Program from the Coastal Georgia Local Section of the American Chemical Society and the Dreyfus Foundation

49 - *Osafo, Raymond, and Jannet Kocerha - Evaluating the anti-cancer potential of naphthoquinone derivatives on PC3 prostate cancer cells

Naphthoquinones, both natural and synthetic, have shown promising anticancer effects against PC3 prostate cancer cells These compounds suppress proliferation, disrupt the cell cycle, and trigger apoptotic pathways, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Most cancer cells overexpress L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), which carries vital amino acids into PC3 and other malignant cells. By linking a naphthoquinone derivative to an LAT1-targeting substrate, we can exploit the overexpression of LAT1 transporters in cancer cells By directing the substance straight into tumors, this delivery method allows for compound selectivity, which will aid in a more reduced cell viability.We investigated anti-neoplastic effects of 11 synthesized compounds (including LAT1 derivatives) in vitro. PC3 cells were treated with 50µM final concentration of the compounds and cell viability was measured 48 hours after treatment using MTS assay This assay is based on the reduction of the MTS tetrazolium compound by live cells, which produces a colored formazan dye Throughout the experiment, cell growth, cell confluency and cell counts were monitored with a Cell Monitoring Device (Olympus) which allowed us to continuously track the health and proliferation of cells in real-time Nine compounds significantly reduced cell viability between 26% - 30%, outperforming standard chemotherapy drugs in their cytotoxic effects. To test selectivity, we evaluated the LAT1-targeted derivative in HEK293 cells, which have low LAT1 expression. Importantly, the amino acid-conjugated derivative showed minimal harm to these healthy cells a key advantage for cancer therapies We are currently determining the IC50 values and conducting mechanistic studies to identify the molecular targets of the conjugated naphthoquinone derivative

Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Coastal Georgia American Chemical Society

50 - **Pavliscsak, Lily, and Rocío Pérez - A solution for plastic pollution: polyethylene terephthalate glycolysis using protic ionic liquids

The increasing accumulation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste presents a critical challenge for sustainable materials management and circular economy goals The use of protic ionic liquids (PILs), synthesized via Brønsted acid–base pairing, explores the use as tunable and thermally stable catalysts for PET glycolysis PILs derived from different substituted phenols, exhibited enhanced BHET recovery at higher catalyst PILs loadings, demonstrating the impact of effects on catalytic performance Catalyst structure and stability were confirmed through NMR spectroscopy and TGA, while SEM imaging tracked progressive PET surface degradation throughout the reaction. These findings support the development of scalable, solvent-based recycling processes that align with green chemistry principles and enable the recovery of high-purity monomers for use in next-generation materials

42 - **Pitts, Ruby, and Mark dela Cerna - Targeting the orphan PTP in Streptococcus pyogenes through combined in silico and in vitro screening

S pyogenes is a gram-positive human pathogen that has been linked to various diseases, from skin infections to necrotizing fasciitis and rheumatic heart disease. The orphan protein tyrosine phosphatase from S. pyogenes (SP-PTP) was recently identified as a major virulence regulator and a key determinant of pathogenesis About 50% of the genes in this bacterium, including those involved in virulence, appear to be regulated by SP-PTP Previous studies have shown that the knockdown of SP-PTP leads to reduced growth, impaired cell division, and decreased ability to invade host cells, exhibiting the importance of this protein in S. pyogenes pathogenesis With SP-PTP presenting as a central protein in pathogenesis, it is a viable target for new antibiotics, specifically targeting bacterial virulence To this end, this project aims to identify small-molecule inhibitors of SP-PTP. A crystal structure of SP-PTP is currently available, showing high similarity with other low molecular weight PTPs (LMWPTPs). Using this structure, computational analysis of potential druggable pockets was performed Consensus pockets, including close to the active site, were identified using FTMap and DoGSite and further validated by molecular dynamics druggability simulations A virtual screening of a panel of FDA-approved drugs was also performed targeting these pockets. Concurrently, a virtual screening of drug-like molecules (~3 5 M compounds from the ZINC library) is also ongoing Combined with the virtual screens, fragment screening by fluorine NMR and drug libraries in vitro has also identified preliminary hits. Future directions include validating these hits through protein-observed NMR and co-crystallizing SP-PTP with binders and potential inhibitors.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

35 - **Rodriguez-Garcia, Yessi, **Lafrederick Gilchrist, and Ji Wu - Water-based electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are essential for modern energy storage but face safety and environmental concerns due to their flammable and toxic organic electrolytes. Aqueous lithium-ion batteries (ALIBs), which use water-based electrolytes, offer a safer and more sustainable alternative However, the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water (~1 23 V) severely limits the achievable energy density, posing a major barrier to high-voltage applications. This research aims to develop and optimize water-based electrolytes suitable for high-voltage LIBs by addressing both electrolyte formulation and electrode compatibility To achieve this goal, Mo₆S₈, a Chevrel phase compound, is investigated as the anode due to its high lithium-ion mobility, structural robustness, and suitability for aqueous environments. Raman spectroscopy

and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirm its phase stability and favorable morphology in water-based electrolytes To further expand the ESW and enhance electrochemical performance, the incorporation of alcohol-based additives is used to synergistically modify ion solvation and suppress parasitic side reactions The anode is assembled into CR2032 full cells whose electrochemical properties are systematically evaluated using various electroanalytical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, linear voltage scanning, rate test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and long-term cycling tests at constant current It is expected that the ESW of the electrolyte with hydrogen bonding networks can be significantly increased up to 4 V vs Li+/Li, thereby dramatically stabilizing the electrolyte and suppressing water decomposition. This impactful work will advance the development of next-generation aqueous lithium-ion batteries that combine safety, sustainability, and high performance

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and McNair’s Summer Program

81 - **Russell, William, and Rocío Pérez - A novel synthesis of organic salts and ionic liquids (OS-ILs) via ion-driven phase separation of isopropanol

In this study, we report a novel and sustainable synthesis of organic salts and ionic liquids (OS-ILs) via ion-driven phase separation of isopropanol. This method circumvents traditional halide-based metathesis and hazardous organic solvents by utilizing aqueous isopropanol and sodium chloride to induce the salting-out of a monophasic system to biphasic separation of organic product salts OS-ILs including tetrabutylphosphonium dodecylsulfate [TBP][DS] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [BMIm][OAc] were synthesized through this proposed method with high yields and reusability of reagents. Structural and thermal characterizations of the synthesized OS-ILs were confirmed via ESI-MS, FT-IR, NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and TGA The analytical greenness and performance of this new method was conducted by the Analytical GREEnnes Metric (AGREE), which reveals significant improvements in safety, waste reduction, and solvent toxicity compared to conventional dichloromethane-based systems.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and McNair Summer Research Program

34 - **Smerjac, Seth, and Rocío Pérez - Synthesis of dye-based GUMBOS and biopolymer nanoparticle carriers for biomedical applications

Indocyanine Green (ICG), IR-820, and Rhodamine B (Rb) are near-infrared (NIR) dyes widely utilized in biomedical imaging due to their strong photothermal properties and capacity for cellular internalization However, their poor aqueous solubility and rapid degradation reduce their in vivo effectiveness To enhance their performance, hydrophobic GUMBOS (Groups of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts) were synthesized by pairing these dyes with long-chain organic cations and anions. Six GUMBOS were produced: [ICG][P66614], [IR820][P66614], [IR820][TPP], [Rb][CA], [Rb][DS], and [Rb][OS] A two-phase metathesis synthesis was used, involving vigorous mixing of parent dyes with corresponding counterions in aqueous and organic solvents to induce ion exchange. The resulting GUMBOS were characterized using FT-IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, LC-MS, and 1H/13C NMR. Hydrophobicity was evaluated via water–octanol partitioning to assess ion-pairing effects To develop nanoGUMBOS, two fabrication strategies were employed: nanoprecipitation and encapsulation in biopolymer matrices with pore sizes under 100 nm Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze nanoparticle size, zeta potential, and morphology These hydrophobic formulations aim to improve dye stability, bioavailability, and uptake in biological environments Future studies will evaluate NIR-triggered photothermal and photodynamic effects, as well as antibacterial and anticancer activities of nanoGUMBOS. Overall, this work presents a tunable

nanoformulation strategy to enhance the biomedical utility of NIR dyes through hydrophobic ion pairing and nanoscale delivery systems

Herty Research Scholar

21 - **Song, Samuel, and Mitch Weiland - Preliminary characterization of a putative poly(aspartic acid) hydrolase homolog

Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating units which are commonly seen constituting plastics and rubbers. While their utilities seem infinite, unfortunately so are their lifetimes in the environment. Additionally, there are uncertainties regarding their impacts on ecological health An emerging alternative to non-biodegradable polymers is poly(aspartic acid) (PAA) This polymer has unique properties affording it to be used in industrial applications ranging from removal of metals in water to functioning as a superabsorbent material in diapers and feminine hygiene products. The appeal of PAA lies in its derivation from a naturally occurring amino acid, aspartic acid, and its ability to be enzymatically degraded back to its monomeric form To date, there are only three enzymes, in the literature, which are known to hydrolyze PAA The mechanism of biodegradation begins with the enzyme PahZ1, from either the Sphingomonas sp. KT-1 (PahZ1 KT-1 ) or Pedobacter sp KP-2 (PahZ1 KP-2 ), creating a truncated form of PAA, digested PAA (dPAA), which is subsequently acted upon by the second enzyme PahZ2 KT-1 to produce free aspartic acid Utilizing bioinformatic techniques, we are interested in potentially expanding the number of known PahZ2 homologs, beyond one. Our initial search identified six putative homologs and here we present the results of initial activity assays on the first one we successfully purified Initial results support the potential of this newly identified enzyme as harboring dPAA degradation activity

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

71 - **Tarr, John, *Hubert Agamasu, and Rafael Quirino - The depolymerization of polymerized CNT/styrene composites via microwaves

The goal of this project is to establish the necessary conditions to promote the thermal depolymerization of polystyrene using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and microwaves as a heating mechanism CNTs have been demonstrated to be effective susceptors, generating intense heat when irradiated with microwaves. In this work, the heat generated by CNTs and microwaves will be used to trigger the depolymerization of styrene Previously prepared polystyrene composites containing 1 0 wt % of CNTs were placed in a distillation set up assembled inside an Ethos One Milestone microwave reactor with power control between 100 W and 1000 W. After systematically screening microwave power, irradiation time, sample size, and CNT loading, optimized conditions were established for the depolymerization of polystyrene, resulting in a liquid product consisting primarily of styrene and benzene, and a carbon-rich solid residue Analysis of the products by DSC, GC-MS, FTIR, NMR, and Raman spectroscopies will indicate the success of the adopted strategy, and TGA experiments will provide a basis for comparison of depolymerization kinetics carried out under regular heating, in the absence of microwaves

Herty Research Scholar

63 - *Ullom, Madison, and Ji Wu - Controlled drug delivery using porous, spherical nanoparticles Nanoparticles have broad applications for various kinds of drug deliveries with enhanced treatment efficiency Ideally, the drug release rate from nanoparticles shall be controllable without burst effect Nanoparticles can be constructed using biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, such as polycaprolactone (PCL), along with

biocompatible polymers such as polysulfone (PS), for pharmaceutical and medical applications. In this study porous nanoparticles made of PCL, PS, and ibuprofen (IP) were prepared using a unique electrospray/phase inversion method for the first time These nanoparticles were characterized using multiple analytical instruments to reveal the relationship among morphology, composition, structure and drug release rate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of polymer and ibuprofen functional groups Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the nanoparticles are porous and spherical Franz cell diffusion study was performed to determine the cumulative amount of ibuprofen released over time The concentration of ibuprofen was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a UV-vis detector. Our results suggest that the diffusion of ibuprofen from nanoporous PCL/IP particles is highly linear without significant burst effect The cumulative amount of IP released each hour increased by ~0 05-0 08 micro-mol, which supports the steady diffusion of IP in PCL nanoparticles Currently, we are investigating the ibuprofen diffusion behavior of PS/IP nanoparticles. Preliminary data indicates the structure, morphology, and diffusion rate are quite different from those of PCL/IP particles

48 - *Williams, Dylan, and Jannet Kocerha - Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives

Naphthoquinone based compounds have a heterocyclic structure that are both naturally occurring or can be synthesized and are being widely researched as potential cancer therapeutics. Some 1,4-Naphthoquinone derivatives are known to undergo redox cycling, which can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing various ROS related apoptotic pathways Our research focuses on identifying the increased production of ROS in the PC3 (human prostate) cancer cell line induced from novel 1,4-Naphthoquinone derivatives. Confocal Microscopy was used to visualize the production of ROS using a DCFDA cellular ROS assay kit, along with measure the nuclei morphological changes from staining with a Hoechst 33342 nucleic acid stain, after treating the cells with a 50M concentration of the compounds Preliminary data suggest a higher intensity signal for ROS production in cells treated with these derivative compounds as well as a noticeable nuclei morphology change. Future studies are to test for the production of these ROS in other cancerous and noncancerous cell lines as well as to begin quantifying them using a microplate assay method

Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH)

11 - Villa-Vargas, Jorge - Galactic warps induced by galactic interactions

Warps are vertical distortions on the structure of galactic disks. About 60% of disk galaxies show warped disks, thus the study of the formation and evolution of these features is key to understanding the internal dynamics of galaxies as well as the influence of the intergalactic neighborhood In this project, I investigate the mechanisms that shape warps in the context of a disk galaxy perturbed by a close flyby of a companion. Attention is given to the interchange of angular momentum between the interacting galaxies and the role of torques produced by tidal forces and dynamical friction I use N-body simulations of a target galaxy modeled with a disk and bulge embedded in a spherical dark matter halo, and a spherical perturber galaxy A set of simulations have been run to analyze how varying the inclination of the perturber’s orbit relative to the disk’s plane affects the formation of warps The simulated warped disks fit well a model of concentric mass rings with varying inclination and azimuthal angles and reproduce well morphological and kinematical signatures observed in real galaxies. I have identified two evolution patterns of the tilt and precession of warps which are mainly determined by the orientation of the perturber’s orbit. Preliminary analyses suggest that the warp of the disk is affected mainly by gravitational tidal torques, while the surrounding halo is affected mainly by dynamical friction with the perturber The distortions on the halo have only a secondary effect on warps

Biology

56 - *Andrew, Euan, and Lance McBrayer - Impacts of temperature on hydration status and locomotor performance

Increases in global temperatures may drastically alter the behavior and physiology of terrestrial lizards, which may result in population declines. While previous studies observed the impact of temperature on thermoregulation, few have measured the impact on water loss. I measured the field active hydration state across habitats and individuals, as well as determined the direct impact of rising temperatures on rate of water loss alongside the resulting impact on physiology Blood samples were collected from adult, female Sceloporus woodi from two differently managed habitats (longleaf pine and Florida scrub habitats) located in the Ocala National Forest and analyzed for blood osmolality to estimate hydration status Individuals were subjected to dehydration and rehydration experiments to measure the rate of change in water budget Preliminary data shows that lizards in dry habitats may show higher blood osmolality readings whilst still hydrated, and field individuals in the field operate at ~80% of their maximum hydration state for both males and females. Individuals in the lab expressed a ~8% loss in water mass per day Further experimentation will continue to look at rates of water gain and loss in individuals, and eventually use this information to test the effect of dehydration on sprint performance and endurance.

1 - Arthur, Yazmine, and Risa Cohen - Herbicide and zooplankton grazing pressure alter freshwater phytoplankton communities

Atrazine, a widely used herbicide in the U S enters surface waters via runoff where it contacts non-target photosynthetic microalgae (phytoplankton) Phytoplankton provide food resources to grazers and subsequent energy transfer to higher trophic levels. Many species of phytoplankton are highly nutritious, but others are low quality/unpalatable If phytoplankton species have different sensitivities to atrazine and beneficial species are lost, food may become limited To investigate the effects of atrazine on phytoplankton abundance and species composition, experimental phytoplankton communities consisting of two nutritious (Scenedesmus sp. and Navicula sp.) and one unpalatable (Microcystis sp.) species were made. These communities were exposed to 0, 0 1, 1 0 or 10 μgL ¹ atrazine with or without zooplankton grazers (Daphnia magna) We hypothesized that atrazine inhibits Scenedesmus sp and Navicula sp growth, allowing Microcystis sp to become dominant Furthermore, beneficial phytoplankton abundance was expected to decrease more in the presence of both atrazine and zooplankton grazers. After 7 days, cell densities of each species, total chlorophyll a concentration, and D magna, mortality were measured Microcystis sp was the dominant taxon in the communities in all treatment groups (60%) and that total cell density in the absence of atrazine or grazers had nearly double the density of all other treatments. Chlorophyll a concentration and D. magna mortality were unaffected by the experimental treatments This research demonstrated that grazing and atrazine have the potential to reduce phytoplankton abundance and shift community composition toward unpalatable taxa, with important implications for food web support in aquatic ecosystems.

Funded by the Department of BIology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

2 - Brinton, Brigette, Heather Joesting, and Anthony Siccardi - “SARC Village”: Hands-on learning and research at Georgia Southern University’s Sustainable Aquaponics Research Center Smell it, plant it, clean it! Our student assistants get dirty learning about aquaponics. Hands-on experience in real systems is a tried-and-true method of engaging new learners with information Dozens of curious students (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate) and community members learn about aquaponics at the Sustainable

Aquaponics Research Center on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University every year. Even students who never set foot in the greenhouse connect with their environment more strongly when they find out “SARC Salad” is on the menu at our campus Eagle Dining facilities Interdisciplinary collaborations and creative undergraduate research projects are becoming the status-quo at our new facility, initially funded by the FORAM Foundation in 2016. Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Business, Marketing – each of these disciplines can be connected to aquaponics Our research students, interns, and employees learn a diverse skill set that they take back into the classroom and out into the world when they graduate. Recent research topics include: nutrient flow, bioremediation, optimizing basil biomass production, antioxidant production in basil, aeration of hydroponic beds, heat tolerance, fungal diseases, black soldier fly larvae, multitrophic systems, incorporation of algal turf scrubbers, local ecotypes of Spartina alterniflora, marsh restoration, and soil amendments We find ways for our students to get into research up to their elbows (sometimes literally), and they love it.

68 - *Brown, Hannah, and Isaac Park - Assessing climate-driven shifts in floral resource availability for bees on barrier islands in the Southeastern U.S.

As climate change alters the timing of biological events, mutualistic interactions between bees and their floral partners may become disrupted This project investigates how warming has affected the phenology of floral resources available to bee species on barrier islands in the southeastern United States, ecosystems that are ecologically important yet underrepresented in pollination and phenology studies. Using historical and contemporary climate data from ClimateNA, along with phenological models based on herbarium specimens and bee occurrence records, we will assess shifts in the timing and duration of bee activity and flowering periods for plants they are known to visit Floristic surveys and museum specimens will be used to estimate daily floral resource availability for each bee species throughout their flight periods. We will examine changes in the timing of peak floral richness and the number of days bees may encounter low floral availability under historical and contemporary climate conditions This study aims to identify phenological mismatches that could reduce floral resources during bee activity periods, potentially compromising bee fitness and pollination success. By focusing on barrier islands, the results will contribute new insights into pollinator vulnerability in coastal ecosystems and inform climate-adaptive conservation strategies

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

10 - **Bzdafka, Alex, and Isaac Park - Variation in bumblebee foraging habits across a special and temporal gradient

Human impacts on the environment are causing direct impacts on pollinator habitats as well as indirectly altering bee foraging habits. This is caused by flowers responding to climate change by altering their flowering time to be either earlier or later, resulting in distinct early and late season peaks in floral abundance with a reduction in mid-season abundance We collected bee pollen from 3 field sites with varying levels of invasion and human influence across the foraging season of Bombus impatiens We used microscopy to identify the pollen collected by the bees at each site, allowing us to compare foraging habits over a temporal scale, across different habitats We will use non-metric multidimensional analysis (NMDS) to assess the relative differences of the pollen community usage by B impatiens to understand if they have distinct foraging habits based on location. We intend to graph foraging over time to visualize foraging habits across the season to identify if they follow a bimodal trend in collection richness similar to flower abundance changes caused by climate change.

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

60 - *Calvert, Marissa, and Isaac Park - Differences in phenological sensitivity may lead to future asynchrony in timing of bird breeding and caterpillar prey availability

One of the major effects of global climate change is a widespread shift in the phenology, or annual timing of life history events, in response to changing environmental conditions For example, some bird populations have been shown to shift the timing of breeding in response to warmer temperatures, and some caterpillar populations have been shown to shift their activity periods However, different species shift their phenology at different rates, and differences in the rate of change may lead to phenological asynchrony, or mistiming of a life history event in relation to resource availability. Particularly, differences in phenological sensitivity between birds and caterpillars could lead birds to attempt breeding during periods of low caterpillar prey availability, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and decreased chick survival To investigate the risk of phenological asynchrony between bird breeding and caterpillar activity, models were created using long-term USGS bird banding data, iNaturalist citizen science data, and historical climate records to compare the phenological sensitivity of birds and caterpillars in the US and Canada These models indicate that the timing of caterpillar activity is more sensitive to changes in spring temperature than the timing of bird breeding, revealing the potential for phenological asynchrony between bird breeding and caterpillar activity as temperatures increase

55 - *Colombo, Elissa, and Lance McBrayer - The locomotor performance and escape behaviors of Sceloporus woodi on changing substrates

Lizards utilize several tactics to escape their predators including sprinting toward a hide and utilizing intermittent locomotion, bipedal locomotion, and crypsis. Locomotor performance has been shown to be influenced by substrate type However, habitats are often composed of a mosaic of substrates, as is the case with the Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) Little is known about how substrate changes might affect a lizard’s locomotor performance and escape behavior during an escape attempt. S. woodi are found in central Florida in longleaf pine and scrub habitats with the main substrates being sand and leaf litter. During the summer of 2025, I will make several trips down to both habitat types within the Ocala National Forest I will catch male lizards and bring them back to Georgia Southern University’s Animal Care Facility and randomly assign them to a racetrack with a single substrate or a track that changes the type of substrate partway down the track and film the trials with high speed cameras at 300 frames per second I will calculate the maximum sprint and acceleration of the lizards and analyze the trials with DLTdv8a in MATLAB to determine if they utilize different escape behaviors when forced to encounter a change in substrate. I expect the lizards to achieve their maximum sprint speeds on the leaf litter substrate and that they will demonstrate different escape behaviors when forced to encounter a substrate change regardless of habitat of origin

Funded by the McNair’s Research Program

47 - **Crunkelton, Dalton, and Yong Zhang - Comparative genomic analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes repertoire in Fusarium oxysporum species complex

Fusarium oxysporum is a fungal pathogen capable of infecting both plants and animals in a host-specific manner. As a plant pathogen, it causes vascular wilt diseases across a broad spectrum of crops, representing a major threat to global agriculture and resulting in substantial annual yield losses. Investigating the genomic diversity and carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families linked to host adaptation is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and identifying targets for disease control In this study, we examined the proteomes of four F. oxysporum strains using dbCAN3 and InterProScan (v5.36-75.0) to annotate CAZyme families Results from both tools were compared and visualized using Microsoft Excel This comparative analysis sheds light on how CAZyme diversity underpins host-specific virulence and identifies key

genomic features that may influence infection. These insights lay the groundwork for developing more targeted and effective control strategies against vascular wilt diseases

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

65 - **Falcon Santiago, Yahel A., and Scott Harrison - Genetic variation in the introduced land crab Cardisoma guanhumi

The blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi) is native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, and South America. Since 2008, it has become more common in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, either due to northward range expansion or introduction Although Cardisoma guanhumi has not yet demonstrated definitive invasive behavior in these regions, its presence outside of its natural range poses a potential ecological risk. This includes possible negative interactions with native fauna and alterations to local ecosystems To gain insight into the evolutionary dynamics of introductions and range expansions, and to collaborate on management strategies, we aim to characterize the genetic variation of C guanhumi during the introduction and utilize this data to investigate origins and dispersal pathways Specifically, this study will use museum specimens collected in South Carolina before 2004. We have optimized protocols for extracting genomic DNA from the muscle tissue of museum specimens We will characterize sequence variation in a mitochondrial gene and four nuclear microsatellite loci This variation can be compared to published data from native populations. Our study will contribute initial data to a broader investigation into the genetic structure and distribution of C. guanhumi in the southeastern United States, providing valuable historical context for the study of early establishment and potential dispersal routes

20 - **Forbes, Victoria, Georgianne Moore, and Charles Pell - The effects of salinity on soil greenhouse gas production

Barrier islands, like Sapelo Island on the Georgia coast, are important not just because of their ability to protect the mainland from weather events, but also because their wetlands sequester carbon Globally, wetlands sequester approximately 25% of the world’s carbon, storing it as peat and cycling it through the atmosphere. They also produce a notable amount of methane with methane production serving as an indicator for the transitional states of wetlands With rising sea levels and increasing inland salinity, the balance of wetlands is at risk. This research aims to understand the effects of salinity on wetland soil greenhouse gas emissions at a transitioning forested marsh edge. As saltwater intrusion worsens, methane production will decrease approaching the marshes edge We collected soil electrical conductivity (EC), groundwater depth, EC and temperature, soil oxygen levels, and soil air samples from inland Sapelo Island Air samples were collected from three different sites, each placed progressively inland starting from the marsh edge going into the forest. Using an airtight valved tubing system, syringes, and vacuumed vials, samples were taken from each site at three different depths, upper at 15cm, mid at 52cm, and lower at 90cm Using a greenhouse gas chromatograph the samples were analyzed for concentrations of CO2, CO and CH4 Findings show that CO and CH4 are most impacted by location and depth, suggesting that salt intrusion impacts the soils proportion and production of greenhouse gases

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

36 - **Garcia, Gabriel, and Josh Gibson - A native super colonial ant? Genetics and social dynamics of Dorymyrmex smithi

Dorymyrmex smithi, a species of ant native to the southeastern coastal plain of the United States displays a social behavior and nesting patterns characteristic of a super colonial ant In polydomous super colonies, the ants are polygynous, with colonies made up of large networks of nests that can span several square kilometers in area, or even across continents A previous study has documented extremely low aggression among D smithi workers from different nests regardless of distance and aggressive interactions with another species, Dorymyrmex bureni, suggesting a possible obligate temporary social parasitism. The aim is to investigate whether D. smithi exhibits genetic signatures consistent with the super colonial structure. We hypothesize that all sampled nests belong to a single colony To test this, we extracted DNA from 74 individual workers across five distinct sites and amplified neutral microsatellite loci using PCR Allelic variation will be compared among sites to assess genetic differentiation. If low genetic diversity is observed across all samples, this would support the hypothesis of supercoloniality Our findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of social organization and colony structure in Dorymyrmex species, as well as broader insights into the supercoloniality in ants

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

67 - Grant, Auden, and Anthony Siccardi - Effect of diet and gut microbiome on sea urchin (lytechinus variegatus) performance and toxicological outcomes

Sea urchins are frequently collected and utilized as model organisms in developmental and toxicological studies and also as a food source. Applied studies have used lab-acclimated sea urchins as subjects to demonstrate how sea urchin populations respond to various stimuli with minimal mention of the gut microbiome Changes in gut microbiome diversity have been observed in various animal models during lab maintenance These changes affect the host organism’s development, susceptibility to pathogens, and ability to metabolize and acquire nutrients can cascade to influence their animal host, potentially impacting research outcomes and their consistency Since urchin microbiomes are sensitive to abiotic and dietary conditions, standardization of husbandry is essential for researchers seeking reproducible experimental results The effects of probiotic supplementation and/or fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in sea urchins have not been explored to our knowledge. To test the effect of diet and gut microbiome on performance and toxicological outcomes, wild sea urchins (Lytechinus variegatus) were collected at Port St Joe, Florida Sea urchins were fed a standard reference diet, a standard reference diet with FMT and the EPA approved diet of lettuce for ten weeks. At the conclusion of the experiment, indicators of sea urchin performance were measured. Gut microbiome was compared across diet treatments and to wild-caught reference individuals Toxicological outcomes were measured between the wild and laboratory fed sea urchins This was done to examine the effect of toxicological outcomes on reproductive potential. Data from these outcomes will be presented.

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

84 - *Koory, Kayla, **Ryan Reid, **Taylor Allen, **Victorias Chester, and Heather JoestingImpact of Olivine on Spartina alterniflora growth under simulated marsh conditions

Olivine is an abundant magnesium-iron silicate mineral present in the Earth’s upper mantle that has received considerable attention in recent decades as a natural carbon mitigation tool. As olivine is weathered, stable carbonate ions are produced, transferring atmospheric carbon to long term storage as inorganic carbon. Therefore, spreading fine grain olivine sand in marine and/or terrestrial ecosystems may sequester and store significant amounts of carbon Salt marsh ecosystems, already noted for their high carbon storage capacity, could be an effective ecosystem for olivine spreading. However, before implementation in a field setting,

controlled experiments are necessary to investigate the impacts of olivine on the growth of Spartina alterniflora, the foundational salt marsh plant along the US Atlantic and Gulf coasts Utilizing mesocosms to simulate a natural marsh ecosystem with semidiurnal tidal flushing (800ml of ~20ppt salt water), we filled 20 mesocosms with salt marsh soil and randomly assigned an olivine treatment to half, spreading 357 grams of olivine on top of the soil. S. alterniflora from the same site as the collected soil were planted in each mesocosm and weekly measurements of plant height, stem diameter, number of stems, and soil porewater salinity are being collected, along with bi-weekly leaf chlorophyll measurements The results will help elucidate the impacts of olivine on S. alterniflora growth. As a keystone species contributing to carbon storage in salt marsh ecosystems, negative impacts to S. alterniflora growth could offset carbon storage gains by olivine weathering and negate its use as a carbon mitigation tool

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

38 - **Lasseter, Alina, and John Carroll - Investigating the effect of phytoplankton availability on boring sponge infestations in the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

The aim of this project is to assess how varying microliters levels of live phytoplankton feed affects oyster growth with boring sponge infestations We started by collecting forty-two oysters, with and without boring sponges, from the field Then we took initial measurements of all oysters such as length, dry weight, and buoyant weight We then separated each oyster into jars with 1500 mL of sea water We had three treatment groups of phytoplankton feed, 500 µL, 1000 µL, and 2000 µL. We determined these groups by taking an average dry weight from the oysters Then from this average, we determined half of the recommended amount, the recommended amount, and twice the recommended amount of live phytoplankton feed The control for this experiment included oysters without boring sponge infestation. We ran the experiment for five weeks and treatments were administered every day for the duration of the experiment. We currently anticipate that the 2000 µL of live phytoplankton feed might provide more energy for the oyster to put towards growth while infested with boring sponge We also have noticed an increase in oyster deaths infested with boring sponge and were administered the 500 µL live phytoplankton feed. Currently in the 1000 µL live phytoplankton feed treatment, there has not been significant changes in rate of death as all have survived

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

32 - **Lundy, Anne, and Marylou Machingura - Identification of Arabidopsis alpha/beta hydrolase mutants involved in PAA degradation

Polyaspartic acid (PAA) is a biodegradable polymer with many industrial applications, and is thermally synthesized from the naturally occurring aspartic acid PAA is widely used in crop production to enhance plant growth and yield Bacterial enzymes PahZ1KT-1, PahZ2KT-1 from Sphingomonas and PahZ1KP-2 from Pedobacter belonging to the ��/�� hydrolase superfamily are implicated in the sequential degradation of PAA to aspartate, a key metabolite for plant growth. It is, however, not established whether in the absence of bacteria, plants can degrade PAA We conducted bioinformatics analyses and identified enzymes in Arabidopsis thaliana that are homologous to PahZ1 and PahZ2 The objective of this study is to characterize 7 Arabidopsis mutants impaired in selected hydrolase genes to identify those with potential to degrade PAA. We conducted bioinformatics analyses to generate sequence alignments of Arabidopsis and bacterial hydrolases and found sequence identities ranging from 11-61% (PaHZ1) and 18-20% (PaHZ2) We obtained A thaliana mutant seeds and grew plants in agar-based media under sterile conditions with continuous lighting. Preliminary results

show mutant specific differences in root length and root hair development in response to PAA. We observed delayed germination in one mutant We have selected and ranked mutants with impaired or interesting responses to PAA for protein expression analysis

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

9 - Marrero-Vera, Andrés O., and Lance McBrayer - Why the long tail: Do lizards with longer tails suffer lower predation?

Predator-prey dynamics play a driving role in phenotypic adaptation. In small prey, the level of conspicuousness is a major factor in the survival of predation attempts This can affect attack frequency especially by avian predators, as many birds are sight-based predators While many small animals develop cryptic traits, there are some lizards who have developed very long tails that can be two times longer than their body One hypothesis for such long tails is that it may distract predators, and can be autotomized if attacked The six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) has a very long tail which some studies suggest may increase its conspicuousness to predators We tested the effect of tail length on predation via the construction of clay models. Plastic lizards were covered with clay and deployed along transects in Florida scrub stands in Ocala National Forest, FL Three types of models were deployed; those with short (autotomized) tails, average tail lengths, and very long tails One-third of the models had the racerunner’s six stripes along their back, the remainder did not. The substrate type and color on which the models were placed was also recorded. Models were retrieved after 48 hours and inspected for avian peck and bite marks. The results of this study will improve our understanding of why some species have long tails and their relationship to predation pressure in species that have developed similar traits

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

37 - Mathis, Megan, Jamie Roberts, and Stephen Vives - Habitat Preference Spotted Seatrout Around Sapelo Island, Georgia

Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) is an important coastal fishery resource in Georgia, being sought after by both recreational and for-hire anglers. While the adult stage of Spotted Seatrout has been well-studied, less focus has been given to the juvenile life stage This gap in research must be addressed for the benefit of stock management and habitat protection Our project aimed to utilize trawl data collected from Sapelo Island, GA to better understand the habitat preference of juvenile Spotted Seatrout on the Georgia coast. These data were collected by Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve staff as a part of the larger Estuarine Fish Monitoring Cooperative Trawls were performed monthly at 22 total sites in Doboy and Sapelo Sounds beginning in 2021. Water parameters including salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature were collected during each trawl. All Spotted Seatrout occurrences were within the more riverine-influenced Doboy Sound. By comparing these capture locations with habitat information, we aim to identify important habitat characteristics for early life stage Spotted Seatrout This research will inform sportfish-related management practices and increase our understanding of the life history of one of Georgia’s most important recreational fish species.

Funded by the Department of BIology's National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

18 - Mauricio, Margalit, and Lisa Brown - Sexual dimorphism in the immune response of cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis)

The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is an important vector for bacterial transmission, as they carry chronic infections that they then pass onto their host via bite or defecation Although both male and female fleas are susceptible to infection, relatively little is known about the sex-specific variations in their immune responses. In this study, we will examine the capacity of male and females to overcome a systemic bacterial infection in their hemocoel Specifically, fleas will be injected with an ampicillin-resistant, GFP-expressing strain of Escherichia coli using a Nanoject III Automatic Nanoliter Injector. After two hours, we will record survival at 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 24-hours post-injection. At each time point, dead fleas will be removed, homogenized, plated on selective media, and the resultant colony-forming units will be used to determine the bacterial load upon death After 24 hours, the bacterial load in living fleas will be quantified Data will be collected as survival rates and colony counts to measure bacterial load. We plan to examine how bacterial load differs between sexes, as well as looking for any potentially significant trends in bacterial load between dead and living fleas or time of death post-injection Results are expected by the end of summer and could contribute to the development of a more targeted prevention of bacterial transmission at the vector level

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

57 - Melendez, Amanda, and Tyler Cyronak - Assessing the stability of calcium carbonate dissolution as a marine CO2 removal mechanism

Climate change presents an urgent global challenge, necessitating innovative solutions for carbon dioxide removal. Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) has emerged as a promising strategy for mitigating legacy CO2 emissions and advancing net-zero targets The primary advantages of OAE lie in its potential for long-term and stable carbon dioxide sequestration in the ocean Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) represents a novel approach to atmospheric CO2 removal; however, identifying suitable geological storage sites remains a significant challenge The dissolution of calcium carbonate in seawater through the injection of point-source CO2 from biomass power plants offers a viable solution to this storage dilemma This project aims to investigate the stability of OAE via calcium carbonate dissolution by testing three distinct alkalinity levels (+2000, +4000, +8000 μmol/kg) re-equilibrated to baseline pH and atmospheric partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) conditions The alkalinity treatments were incubated at various temperatures to evaluate their stability under differing environmental conditions Key objectives include assessing the stability of alkalinity across varying salinities, identifying precipitation thresholds, and examining the influence of temperature on OAE performance

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP

78 - **Miller, Bryant, and Georgianne Moore - Impact of salt stress on leaf physiology of pine saplings

Forested freshwater wetland ecosystems on coastal barrier islands provide critical habitats for biodiversity and valuable ecosystem services These forests, however, are vulnerable to saltwater Given the rapid rate of sea level rise along the Georgia coast, saltwater intrusions into coastal forests will continue to threaten to convert forests to open marshes This study aimed to evaluate the effect of salt stress on leaf-level physiology of loblolly and slash pine saplings. Leaf physiological measurements were collected from five individuals of each species in both a fresh and saline soil site on Sapelo Island using a Licor 6800 infrared gas exchange system

During summer 2025, measurements of net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance were recorded for pine leaves under controlled chamber conditions, which allows for the manipulation of

various environmental parameters including CO2, humidity, and light exposure. Leaves were exposed to both expected ambient conditions as well as a range of CO2 and light values to observe how the plant responds to both ideal and unfavorable conditions Both species experienced higher photosynthesis rates in the freshwater site comparatively to the saline site. When comparing between the two species, evidence suggests the slash pine is more resilient to salt stress due to higher regeneration in saltier sites, while Loblolly is more common within the forest interior Gaining a better understanding of how these changes will impact the environment will help preserve our coastal habitats

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

43 - Mondor, Ed - Forensic ecology: The role of invasive species in determining "time of death"

Insect evidence is increasingly being used to generate a minimum postmortem interval (mPMI), or "time of death," estimate in human death investigations. To improve the accuracy of these estimates, it is essential to better understand the factors that influence insect attraction to, and development on, decomposing remains One critical yet little known factor is the role of invasive species This poster highlights the role of the oriental latrine fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in a Georgia death investigation. Through this case, I will demonstrate how forensic ecology can contribute valuable insights to medicolegal contexts, ultimately supporting more accurate and reliable mPMI estimates

44 - Moore, Georgianne, **Stephanie Restrepo, **Pedro Zamora-Mendoza, and Charles J PellUsing simulated rainfall on large leaves growing in neotropical climates to determine convergent or divergent water flow paths among tree species

Some of the largest leaves globally occur on trees growing in tropical climates with abundant rainfall and frequent heavy downpours; ex: palms, banana, heliconia, cecropia, and papaya The aim of this study was to develop a rainfall simulator to quantify the amount of rainfall directed towards or away from the tree canopy, with a focus on preferential pathways that funnel water down the leaf petiole towards the trunk of the tree. Species of interest included sabal palms growing near the Georgia coast USA and additional trees that occur commonly in tropical rainforests of Costa Rica Uniform rain rates were simulated within a 1x2-m area over freshly collected leaves suspended by their petioles at a fixed angle Stem flow volumes were collected at the base of the petiole and compared among leaf angles (9 - 52° from horizontal). In sabal palm, stemflow increased exponentially at steeper leaf angles, capturing as much as 0 25 square meters equivalent leaf area down the petiole (i e convergent flow paths) This suggests that coastal sabal palms may be adapted to direct rainfall to flush excess salts from their root zone during storms. By contrast, tropical species such as cecropia had very little stem flow and tended to orient their leaves to shed water away from their stems (i.e. divergent flow paths) Extremely large, smooth waxy leaves of banana and heliconia had intermediate levels of stem flow that suggests that rapid flow rates help keep leaves dry between frequent rain events

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Georgia Southern University International Research Travel Fund

76 - *Omoregie, Esosa, and Christopher Cutler - Investigating the role and expression of aquaporin 10 paralogs in urea and other solute transport in Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias)

Aquaporins (AQPs), commonly known as water channels, play integral roles in facilitating the movement of solutes and water across biological cell membranes In this study, we investigated AQPs in Squalus acanthias, a species renowned for its unique urea retention abilities. Through a combination of mRNA expression analysis

using quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry, we characterized the tissue-specific expression patterns and subcellular localization of AQP10C1 and AQP10C2 Our results revealed distinct roles for these AQPs: AQP10C1 exhibited predominant expression in gill tissue, suggesting its crucial involvement in osmoregulation processes. Conversely, AQP10C2 demonstrated varying expressions in kidney and intestine cells, hinting at its potential contribution to urea transport and homeostasis mechanisms. These findings shed light on the intricate functions of urea transport and homeostasis in marine organisms, thereby advancing our understanding of osmoregulation processes Furthermore, this research holds promise for elucidating the functions of vertebrate AQPs and offers insights into the management of human intestinal water absorption disorders.

7 - Paul Jr., Herve Pierre, and Checo Colón-Gaud - Morphometric analysis of crayfish in the Ogeechee River Basin

Morphometric ratios have historically been an important tool in dichotomous keys for describing crayfish and can elucidate their ecological function, such as burrowing class, or taxonomic identification, such as species, subgenera, and genera Consequently, we set out to investigate the statistical significance of ratios as predictors for variation between species subgenera, genera, burrowing class, sex, and male reproductive forms For this study, adult crayfish collected in the Ogeechee River Basin underwent fourteen different measurements of various structures found on the specimen We used linear regressions to eliminate nonlinear relationships between potential measurement pairs of predictor variables. Multiple statistical tests (PERMANOVA, pairwise PERMANOVA, ANOSIM, SIMPER, LDA, and RDA) were performed to see if there were any significant differences between species, subgenera, genera, sex, reproductive form, and burrowing class

Preliminary results indicate that there are significant differences between all grouping variables except sex Furthermore, burrowing class had the strongest variation between the grouping variables with ratios such as rostral width by rostral length, palm width by chela length, postorbital carapace length by total length, and mesial margin by palm width explaining 78% of the variation amongst primary, secondary, and tertiary burrowers.

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

12 - **Pegues, Alettah, and Josh Gibson - Mortality in Nasonia F2 female hybrid wasps with affected nuclear DNA

Nasonia giraulti and N. vitripennis are two different species of the parasitoid Nasonia wasp. These two species can produce partially viable offspring when crossed in labs. In this research project, I will cross these two species to compare the number of eggs produced to the amount of viable adults Along with the ratio comparison, I will look at how the nuclear DNA is affected in these hybrids and why some are more viable than others. This project will help me to determine genes that result in the success of Nasonia hybrids and genes that cause overall mortality in the hybrid offspring In addition, I will be obtaining research skills that involve genetic crossing, molecular data analysis, and statistical analysis

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

64 - **Portillo, Grace, **Kayla Martin, Anthony Siccardi, and Jennifer Zettler - A comparative study of using algal turf scrubber biomass as a replacement for commercial diet to grow larval eastern oysters

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are coastal bivalves that rely on a steady diet of microscopic algae that they capture and filter from the water Oysters can be farmed for seafood production but hatcheries often rely on purchasing commercially available microalgae diets Alternatively, algal biomass harvested from algal turf scrubbers (ATS) might be a more cost-effective option as a diet substitute for use in large-scale aquaculture. The ATS system utilizes the natural capacity of algae to biologically filter excess nutrients to improve water quality A growing lawn of algae removes nutrients from polluted waters, but this biomass must be routinely harvested to maintain the system’s efficiency. Previous studies show that ATS biomass can improve the size and survival of juvenile eastern oysters; however, it is unknown if this substitute diet can likewise support the growth of larvae which are smaller and in an earlier stage of development This study aimed to compare the growth and survival of larval eastern oysters that were fed a diet substituted with ATS biomass at various proportions (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) over 10 weeks. For each treatment, 20 oyster larvae were randomly assigned to 7 tanks and fed the representative diet daily Initial measurements of oyster size were recorded and will be used to compare overall changes in larval growth It is anticipated that field-harvested ATS biomass will support the growth and survival of larval eastern oysters and can be a cost effective diet alternative for aquaculture hatcheries.

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

86 - Quarterman, Hazel, J. Checo Colón-Gaud, and Asli Aslan - The effects of increased salinity on the microbiome of decomposing leaf litter: Using BOD as a proxy of metabolic activity

Leaf decomposition is a vital component of the nutrient cycle of forested streams. For small order streams in particular, autochthonous input is the primary source of nutrients for organisms living within its channel. On isolated land masses like islands, the nutrient cycles in these streams are subject to more intense changes when faced with stressors like increased salinity With sea level rise projected to increase significantly by 2100, it is essential to understand how stressors like salinization may affect freshwater ecosystem processes. Sapelo Island, Georgia is one of the islands already facing this threat In an effort to understand the risk to the freshwater systems of Sapelo Island, we examined the impact of acute salinity on the microbial community of decomposing leaf litter A series of experimental trials comparing the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and microbial community of leaf litter colonized in water from a non-salt stressed channel and a salt stressed channel on Sapelo Island was conducted at varying levels of salinity exposure over a five day period Previous studies have demonstrated increased metabolic activity in response to acute exposure to salinity, however there is insufficient evidence to confirm to what degree fungi and bacteria are involved in the changes in rates of decomposition and the degree of salinization this response occurs. Our study strives to help fill this knowledge gap

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

41 - Richards, Laila I., Stephen Greiman, and Dmitry Apanakevich - Improving the systematics of the tick subgenus Scaphixodes of the genus Ixodes (Acari: Ixodidae)

Despite parasites' interactions with virtually all organisms and their role as vectors for disease transmission they are widely understudied. Ticks are ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates that mostly live outside their host and have wide geographic ranges Understanding the phylogeny of this group of organisms is a critical

step in bridging the current gap in knowledge about tick systematics. Species of the subgenus Scaphixodes in the genus Ixodes are primarily found on various birds in the Palearctic and Nearctic Regions Ticks categorized as Scaphixodes are especially unknown given that their ranges are relatively remote and there are very limited studies on the subgenus as a whole. This study aims to find the phylogenetic position of this subgenus and identify synapomorphies that define it. This was achieved through morphological assessments of the features of adult female ticks currently classified as Scaphixodes Morphological assessment was supplemented with genetic sequence data to determine phylogenetic relationships between the tick species This study found clear morphological synapomorphies that in conjunction with genomic data provide us with the evidence that two species currently categorized as Scaphixodes are misplaced and belong outside of the subgenus.

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

40 - *Rivera, Jessie, and John Carroll - Does local adaptation impact Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) resiliency to changing environmental conditions?

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) form structurally complex biogenic reef habitats that support commercially valuable fisheries, providing nursery, spawning, and foraging grounds for various species Oysters are found ubiquitously within estuaries along the Georgia coast; however, these systems are dynamic, as water quality conditions, such as salinity, pH, and food availability, vary on both spatial and temporal scales. Based on the long-term water quality data provided by the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, it is evident that changing climatic conditions are rapidly causing shifts in water quality that may be adversely affecting oysters and their associated communities. Importantly, the rate of change and conditions are not uniform due to inherent estuarine complexity. We aim to examine the impacts of variability in water quality conditions as drivers of oyster health using both physical and microbial indicators We conducted a 12-week field reciprocal transplant experiment in two tidal creeks on Sapelo Island, GA with different localized water quality conditions to investigate whether settlement location influences the resilience of oysters to changes in environmental conditions. We compared oyster growth, condition index, survival, and fouling within enclosed cages between the two sites for local and transplanted treatments This research builds upon previous oyster condition and water quality monitoring efforts conducted by the Carroll Lab at Georgia Southern University Future analysis will include investigating how shifting environmental conditions affect the composition of the microbial community within the oyster hemolymph as a novel approach for assessing overall oyster health

28 - Salazar, Nico, and Checo Colón-Gaud - Effects of saltwater and diversity of crayfish on Georgia's Coastal Plain

Crayfish are an ecologically important and taxonomically diverse group in the Southeastern United States That diversity is at risk due to anthropogenic disturbances including habitat destruction, climate change, and saltwater intrusion. This project aimed to survey the diversity of crayfish on the Georgia coast. Using a combination of active and passive methods including traps, dipnetting, seining, and burrow digging, crayfish will be collected from all twelve coastal watersheds With the last comprehensive survey of crayfish diversity in Georgia occurring in the 1980s, this project aims to compare current diversity and distribution trends to historical records. At the same time, we aim to examine the relationship between saltwater and crayfish community dynamics in coastal areas We hypothesize that crayfish diversity and abundance will be negatively affected by increased salinity levels By collecting and closely observing crayfish species distributions relative to salinity measurements, my project contributes to a better understanding of how climate-driven environmental changes, like saltwater intrusion and flooding, impact freshwater biodiversity

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

19 - Samek, Isaiah, and Lance McBrayer - Microgeographic variation in scale size correlates with habitat conditions in lizards

The Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) is a near threatened species that is endemic to Florida’s longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savanna and Florida scrub habitats These fire-dominated communities have experienced extreme habitat loss of 90% of the historic area for Florida scrub, and 95% for longleaf pine. Understanding how the Florida scrub lizard survives in these dry upland habitats is crucial because urbanization and climate change also threaten this species To better understand how the varying conditions of these two habitats may affect Florida scrub lizards, we determined the scale size of specimens of Florida scrub lizards collected across the state of Florida to investigate the relationship between the size of scales and a variety of environmental factors We demonstrate that lizards with smaller scales are found in habitats with more access to thermoregulatory opportunities and habitats that are closer to bodies of water We also show no relation between the size of scales and latitude, which is contrary to previous studies that have quantified at scale size via a macrogeographic lens Instead, our findings support studies that have demonstrated a relationship between scale size, aridity and desiccation

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

59 - Shaw, Aubrey, and John Carroll - Porcelain Crab impact on oyster settlement and recruitment

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) provide vital ecosystem services such as habitat formation, water filtration, food production, and shoreline buffering. Suspension-feeding green porcelain crabs (Petrolisthes armatus), an expanding non-native species, inhabit oyster reefs in high densities Prior studies in the lab suggest that the presence of porcelain crabs could reduce oyster recruit growth and survival, potentially inhibiting recruitment, prompting further investigation. This study seeks to explore the potential association of Petrolisthes abundance on oyster recruitment by leveraging a large-scale coastal dataset Specifically, we sampled oyster recruitment at 24 reefs from eight creek systems that span 150km of coastal Georgia using spat sticks, and also measuring crab abundances, reef metrics, and site characteristics We will explore the relationship between oyster recruitment and porcelain crab densities along coastal Georgia. By building on prior research, this study aims to expand our understanding of the interspecific interactions between these two suspension-feeding benthic invertebrates

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

17 - **Sims,

Luke, and Lissa Leege - An assessment of embryonic dunes on Tybee Island

Tybee Island, GA has recently undertaken a dune restoration project that reinstated coastal dunes onto a section of the coast. Embryonic dunes naturally form in front of coastal sand dunes, but research on embryonic dune formation in front of restored dunes is sparse This study aimed to assess the formation of embryonic dunes in front of the established and restored dunes on Tybee Island The wrack line and vegetation distances were measured using a 1m belt transect, and composition of vegetation was measured in 1m by 1m quadrat at the midpoint and endpoint of the distance to the furthest vegetation from the sand fence at the base of the original dune The beach was separated into three areas: Established, Center + (restored dunes) and Desoto + (restored dunes) Across the three sections of beach, embryonic dune width and species richness was greater in Established and Center +, while Desoto + had little to no embryonic dune formation. These results are promising, as they show embryonic dune formation is possible in front of a newly built dune

61 - **Soto Parilla, Marielisa, and Risa Cohen - Do microplastic types and concentrations in oyster tissue reflect environmental availability?

Microplastics are among the most widespread contaminants in marine ecosystems and are available in a variety of shapes In the southeastern United States, microplastic fibers (MFs), which have a 3:1 aspect ratio, are the most prevalent. This study aims to quantify and compare the concentration of MFs in water and oyster tissue samples collected from multiple sites in coastal Georgia We hypothesized that MFs are present in water and oysters on the Georgia coast, but because oysters select particles ingested, the type and number of microfibers in oyster tissue do not necessarily reflect the composition of microfibers in the water. Water samples will be processed using wet peroxide oxidation to remove organic matter, followed by vacuum filtration and microscopic analysis to identify and quantify microplastic fibers Oyster tissues will undergo a similar procedure; however, organic matter will be digested using a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution By comparing the MF concentrations in oyster tissue to those in surrounding water samples, we aim to determine whether microplastic levels in oysters correspond to environmental availability The results will help assess whether oysters are reliable bioindicators of microplastic pollution and provide insight into the relationship between environmental contamination and potential biological uptake

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

51 - *Turner, Reginald, and Checo Colón-Gaud - Assessing the greatest influences on the composition of crayfish assemblages in the Ogeechee River Basin Crayfish are prominent members of aquatic ecosystems, serving as both consumers and prey for many aquatic and terrestrial predators Approximately half of the crayfish species in North America are either vulnerable, threatened, endangered, or extinct due to habitat degradation, range limitation, and the introduction of invasive species The Ogeechee River is the longest unimpounded river in Georgia, and its lack of impoundments makes it an essential habitat for many aquatic species. It runs through the coastal plain and has a unique combination of habitat conditions, including its mostly floodplain-based flow regime, the position of its headwaters being in the Piedmont, and a distinct lack of impoundments Studies have been conducted on the influence of different scales of variables on fish assemblages, but few have focused on crayfish assemblages. We hypothesize that landscape variables, such as the contributing drainage size and the ecoregion of the site, have a greater influence on the composition of crayfish assemblages than site-specific variables, including water chemistry and channel morphologies Crayfish were collected along the main stem and tributaries of the Ogeechee River to determine their distribution, habitat preferences, and assemblage diversity We employed both active and passive sampling methods to collect samples and measure environmental and biological parameters at each site We used multivariate analyses (SIMPER, CCA, and PERMANOVA) to investigate the correlations between environmental variables and assemblage composition data. Our preliminary data suggest that the distance to the mouth is the most influential variable in explaining the correlations between habitat parameters and assemblage composition Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program, GA Department of Natural Resources, and Society for Freshwater Science Systematics

77 - **Wanner, Cameron, Johanne Lewis, and Checo Colón-Gaud - Understanding the physiological responses to changing salinity in Amphiuma means using flow-through respirometry and metabolic rate

In the southeastern coastal plain, there are many species of amphibians that occupy a diversity of habitats and play an essential role in these ecosystems. Amphibians are sensitive to environmental pressures or pollution,

making them great health indicators for the habitats they occupy. With saltwater intrusion becoming an increasing issue due to climate change, it is important to understand how this will affect different species, especially those residing in low-lying areas in the coastal plain, as these areas are more susceptible to saltwater intrusion. The Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) is a large fully aquatic salamander endemic to the southeastern coastal plain. This species plays a vital role in the food web but is largely understudied, specifically in regards to their behavior and physiology For my study, A means will be trapped throughout the coastal plain, and exposed to flow-through respirometry at varying levels of salinity Intermittent flow-through respirometry is a technique normally used on fish that will accurately calculate the metabolic rate of the organism. This is a novel approach for determining the metabolic rates of A. means. These results will be used to determine the efficacy of using flow-through respirometry to track metabolic rates of A means and the physiological responses of these organisms to salinity This study aims to provide novel information about A means responses to flow through respirometry and to better inform a larger project regarding how coastal and inland populations of A means respond to salinity changes

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) REU Program

52 - **Whitley, Taylor, and Ed Mondor - Different paths, similar struggles? Suicide risk factors in traditional and adult ccllege students

This study explores predictors of suicide among traditional and adult college students in the United States Using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), we examine demographic and circumstance variables associated with suicide in individuals aged 18–24 (traditional college-age) and those aged 25 and older (adult learners) By identifying distinct and shared risk factors across these two groups, this research aims to uncover specific precursors to suicide that may inform tailored prevention strategies and ultimately contribute to reducing suicide rates among college students.

75 - *Yasar, Samin, and John Carroll - Characterizing Labyrinthula zosterae infectivity, virulence and competitive fitness in the common eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Eelgrass meadows are important coastal habitats. They can support marine life and protect the shorelines. These meadows are being declined by Eelgrass Wasting Disease (EWD), which is mostly caused by the protist Labyrinthula zosterae In our study, we used two different strains- “normal” strain and “crescent” strain We collected 140 healthy eelgrass blades from Friday Harbor, WA, and exposed the blades to each strain alone and in combination with different concentrations We also calculated the ID50 the dose needed to infect 50% of blades We measured disease severity by comparing lesion area to total blade area However, we found no significant difference in disease severity between co-infection and single-strain treatments (p > 0.05), but co-infected blades had less variation. This suggests the two strains might compete with each other, which could lower the overall damage to the blades The crescent strain was more infectious, with a lower ID₅₀ (21 92 ± 2 7) compared to the normal strain (41 06 ± 2 1) It also caused symptoms to appear faster than the normal strain. These results show that different strains can affect eelgrass in different ways. When both strains are present, the disease may be less severe This is important for protecting and restoring eelgrass habitats In future, we plan to run qPCR to quantify each strain individually and study eelgrass genetic diversity in relation to resistance/ response to infection of different strains.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Friday Harbor Labs

- Zellner, Piper, and Lisa Brown - Investigating pH and serine protease dynamics in the Ctenocephladies felis midgut: Implications for pathogen transmission

Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are blood-feeding insect vectors capable of transmitting pathogens to humans and other animals The flea gut environment is the first site of pathogen-vector interactions, ultimately influencing infection outcomes. Serine proteases, enzymes are digestive enzymes that play a crucial role in breaking down proteins and other nutrients in the gut of other blood-feeding insects Their enzymatic activity is significantly impacted by pH impacts the pH levels in the gut, as the breakdown of blood releases various acidic or basic byproducts. Thus, understanding the temporal dynamics between serine proteases and pH in the flea gut has potential implications for pathogen transmission. This study aimed to measure the pH and concentrations of serine proteases (trypsin) in the flea gut over 48 hours post-bloodmeal ingestion We hypothesized that pH would become more alkaline, with the highest concentrations of serine proteases occurring within the first 24 hours. Flea guts were dissected at 0, 6, 24, 30, and 48 hours after feeding, and pH and protease concentrations were measured using colorimetric and fluorometric assays The results of this study provide insights into how flea gut pH and digestive enzymes fluctuate following blood meal ingestion, which could influence the transmission of flea-borne pathogens

Funded by the Department of Biology’s National Science Foundation (NSF) RaMP Program

Mathematical Sciences

73 - *Chowdhury, Raiba, and Yi Hu - Beam dynamics in nonlinear Schrödinger models

This study explores analytical solutions of the fourth-order nonlinear Schrödinger (4NLS) equation, which models the propagation of intense optical beams in Kerr-type nonlinear media The equation incorporates higher-order spatial derivatives to account for non-paraxial effects such as beam bending and high-intensity dispersion phenomena often overlooked in standard models. By assuming a stationary wave form u(t,x)= e^iωt φ (x), the partial differential equation reduces to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation for the spatial beam profile φ (x) The reduced equation captures a balance among three key physical effects: fourth order bending, second-order dispersion, and nonlinear self-focusing due to the Kerr effect. The goal is to identify localized beam profiles φ (x) that decay at infinity, ensuring confinement and physical stability. To approach this analytically, we investigate trial solutions such as Gaussian and hyperbolic secant (sech) profiles We formulate an associated energy functional incorporating bending, dispersion, and nonlinearity, and apply a variational approach under a fixed mass constraint. The resulting energy minimizers yield stable beam shapes which are potential solitary wave or soliton solutions that reflect the underlying physics of high-intensity propagation This work offers a theoretical framework for understanding beam dynamics in nonlinear, non-paraxial regimes and establishes a foundation for future studies, including numerical simulations It contributes to the broader field of nonlinear wave theory and the design of advanced optical systems operating under extreme conditions This study explores analytical solutions of the fourth-order nonlinear Schrödinger (4NLS) equation, which models the propagation of intense optical beams in Kerr-type nonlinear media. The equation incorporates higher-order spatial derivatives to account for non-paraxial effects such as beam bending and high-intensity dispersion phenomena often overlooked in standard models. By assuming a stationary wave form u(t,x)= e^iωt φ (x), the partial differential equation reduces to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation for the spatial beam profile φ (x) The reduced equation captures a balance among three key physical effects: fourth order bending, second-order dispersion, and nonlinear self-focusing due to the Kerr effect The goal is to identify localized beam profiles φ (x) that decay at infinity, ensuring confinement and physical stability To approach this analytically, we investigate trial solutions such as Gaussian and hyperbolic secant (sech) profiles We formulate an associated energy functional incorporating bending, dispersion, and

nonlinearity, and apply a variational approach under a fixed mass constraint. The resulting energy minimizers yield stable beam shapes which are potential solitary wave or soliton solutions that reflect the underlying physics of high-intensity propagation This work offers a theoretical framework for understanding beam dynamics in nonlinear, non-paraxial regimes and establishes a foundation for future studies, including numerical simulations. It contributes to the broader field of nonlinear wave theory and the design of advanced optical systems operating under extreme conditions

6 - Eisenreich, Heidi, **India Fleming, and **Tiffany Flanders-Jones - Growing together: Student insights from a Vertically Integrated Projects research team

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is a university program that integrates undergraduate students into long-term, multidisciplinary research teams led by faculty mentors This program strategically develops a system that enables students to enhance their research skills and leadership capabilities progressively. By intentionally designing a mentorship model that allows returning students to guide new participants, VIP cultivates a dynamic learning environment that promotes continuous knowledge transfer and skill development The poster aims to provide a nuanced, student-centered exploration of the VIP model, highlighting its potential to support undergraduate research engagement and mentorship practices by featuring reflections from current and past VIP participants, some of whom have participated since Fall 2022 These students will provide comprehensive insights into their research experiences, offering critical reflections on program dynamics.

Funded by COSM Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program

5 - Eisenreich, Heidi, **Tiffany Flanders-Jones, and **Trent Maurer - Students as partners: Supporting college students’ conference attendance

There is a growing body of research in which students collaborate with faculty on research projects, curricular content, classroom pedagogy, etc known as Students as Partners When collaborating with students on a research project, students may pose questions, identify topics that they want to research and determine ways to go about answering those questions. This is also aligned with the K-12 GA mathematics standards that focus on the statistical reasoning framework (GADoE, 2023) where K-12 students ask questions, collect data, analyze data, and interpret data This is important because undergraduate teacher education students will be teaching in the next few years, so are reasoning about statistical data in similar ways as their future K-12 students. This research project grew from the Students as Partners idea, where the faculty took more of a collaborative and supportive role with teacher education students having significant autonomy to lead it Students wanted to collect data from students and faculty/administrators/others at conferences to determine if student goals and non-student goals were aligned when supporting students to prepare for and attend conferences. In this poster, we share some literature on mentoring students, identify some questions we brainstormed, and allow attendees to add to the poster following a similar process as the Grand Challenges of Engineering (NAE, 2008) and the Grand Challenges of SoTL (Scharff & Hampshire, 2022) to gather input from a variety of stakeholders, both students and non-students related to this idea.

Funded by COSM Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program

4 - **Fleming, India, Trent Maurer, and Heidi Eisenreich - Beyond understanding: Turning math knowledge into meaningful teaching

This qualitative case study explores the experiences of 14 preservice teachers (PSTs) who attended a professional conference centered on K–12 mathematics education. Each PST attended at least four sessions

focused on effective strategies for teaching and learning mathematics. Additionally, they engaged in daily debriefing discussions to reflect on and share key takeaways PSTs also completed both pre- and post-conference surveys to highlight shifts in their confidence related to mathematics instruction The two questions we chose to further investigate from students' pre- and post-responses were, “I have a deep understanding of mathematics content in the grade I plan to teach, and could begin teaching students the content tomorrow” and “I can use various tools to support student understanding ” Preliminary findings provided insight into how attending the conference aided in the growth of PSTs' understanding and confidence in teaching mathematical content. A key goal of this presentation is to highlight how attending conferences supports PSTs in developing their current teaching practices and identifying areas for continued growth in delivering mathematics instruction that is both clear and engaging for students Funded by the COSM HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant and COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR)

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

45 - Hu, Yi - Damped nonlinear Schrödinger equation with potentials

The aim of the research is to study the long term behavior of the damped nonlinear Schrödinger equation with potentials. We mainly use analysis tools (including some improved compactness lemma and certain transforms) to study the problem. In the mass-critical case, we will characterize the threshold for global existence and finite time blow-up, including the log-log blow-up speed that the solution flow admits for certain initial data above the ground state

29 - *Liebenow, Sarah, and Arpita Chatterjee - Factorial design: A new look through overlap measure

This research paper explores the application of overlap measures to assess the similarities and differences between two or more datasets by estimating the area of intersection of their probability density functions. A well-known non-parametric approach, Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), is employed to generate smooth estimates of each distribution The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of overlap measures based on KDE and demonstrate their application on various example datasets to analyse relationships between distributions An R code is developed in RStudio, utilizing a factorial design framework to test systematically different overlapping measures across datasets Multiple example datasets are used to validate the approach

The R code calculates the overlap measures and provides a visual representation using KDE plots to illustrate the degree of similarity or divergence between the distributions.

39 - *Tunal, Jakia Jaber - Statistical quality control: A Bayesian modeling

In many industries, it is crucial to regularly assess whether a machine or system is operating within acceptable limits or has gone out of control This project applies Bayesian statistics to monitor a system over time and detect changes in its behavior. Initially, we collect some initial data from the system to understand how it typically operates. Then, we use that information to create a starting point, called a “prior.” As new data are collected at successive time points, the prior is updated using Bayesian inference, combining previous knowledge with incoming observations This iterative updating process allows for continuous monitoring of the system. If the updated results suggest that the system is no longer working like it used to, we can say that it has likely gone out of control The process follows a cyclic pattern data collection, belief updating, and control assessment without assuming a specific distributional form for the data, enhancing the method’s flexibility

The primary objective is to study the behavior of the out-of-control (OOC) performance of the proposed charts for several choices of shifts in the underlying distribution. While the analysis is ongoing, this Bayesian approach shows promise as a more adaptive and informative tool for quality control

- *Zaman, Tasbeha, and Shijun Zheng - Exact solutions of the Hydrogen atom and energy-critical harmonic oscillator in a magnetic field

The time independent Schrödinger equation is used to analyze the solution of the Hydrogen atom model and the critical energy situation of harmonic motion in a magnetic field For the Hydrogen atom, the separation of variables method in spherical coordinates yields a wavefunction which is the product of radial and angular solutions that defines familiar atomic orbitals The Legendre function describes the system’s time decay effect and dispersive nature Also, an electron's distance from the nucleus affects time decay Introducing a nonlinear term fundamentally changes the system’s independent behavior. Fixing the energy state change at ±1 led the system to collapse into a singularity. Consequently, an unperturbed wavefunction was employed to measure the energy shift due to this nonlinearity The Schrödinger equation for a charged particle in a harmonic potential under a uniform magnetic field is used to determine the critical energy of the system, where the symmetric scaling property of the Schrödinger equation is mainly used. A Hamiltonian equation is formulated considering harmonic trapping potential, the external magnetic field, and self-interaction The addition of a nonlinear term demonstrates how the solution stretches in space and time under scaling This nonlinear system exhibits energy-critical situations when the scaling of kinetic energy and nonlinear potential energy is similar. When the energy state changes, μ ≤ 0, the nonlinearity tends to focus the wavefunction, which can balance or overcome dispersion in the critical case

School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability

85 - *Agamasu, Hubert, and Rafael Quirino - Characterization of carbon nanotube/polystyrene composites prepared via microwave-induced polymerization

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with their excellent mechanical and electrical properties, are well suited to the production of composites that exhibit good strength-to-weight ratio, with applications in electromagnetic shielding and stealth technology The irradiation of CNTs with microwaves generates instantaneous, localized heating, employed in this work for the synthesis of nanocomposites This intense heating also holds promise for pyrolytic recycling of CNT-based composites. In this work, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) were covalently functionalized with three different groups: n-pentenyl, styrenyl, and phenyl. Pristine and functionalized CNTs were used as reinforcement during the production of CNT/polystyrene nanocomposites at 0 2 weight percent loading, in both conventional oven and microwave oven The composites were characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile testing n-pentenyl-functionalized CNTs showed the best dispersion while the addition of carbon nanotubes enhanced the mechanical properties of polystyrene Composites from microwave induced polymerization were more uniform than those made by conventional heating While there was no statistically significant difference in mechanical properties between composites of pure and functionalized CNTs, Microwave-induced polymerization occurred five times faster than conventional heating, representing substantial savings in energy

53 - *Ahmed, Rokeya, and Stephen Greiman - Cestode diversity of Sorex shrews (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from Mongolia

Shrews (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae), insectivorous small mammals, serve as definitive hosts for a diversity of cestode species, yet soricid parasites remain understudied. Mongolia is currently experiencing extensive anthropogenic change, which threatens its distinctive ecosystems. To establish foundational data on shrew parasite diversity, we collected a total of 162 shrews between June and August of 2015, 2016, and 2022 from seven major sites distributed across Mongolia and identified 20 cestode species within 12 genera across six

shrew species. Phylogenies based on complete mitochondrial genomes of each cestode species provide new insights into their evolutionary histories Elements of metacommunity structure (EMS) revealed coherent, dynamic cestode metacommunities, with parasite species replacement occurring between localities as well as host species. Boosted regression trees indicate that locality and host (shrew) weight have the greatest relative influence on parasite community structure, likely attributable to differences in host species occupancy and the average body size of infected shrews

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

87 - *Akanmu, Oluwatunmise, *Trevor Driggers, and Marina M. Eremeeva - Assessment of Legionella and microbial presence in campus water systems: A field-based investigation at Hendricks Hall, Georgia Southern University

This field-based study investigates the presence of Legionella and overall microbial activity in selected water sources within Hendricks Hall at Georgia Southern University Water samples were collected from various indoor taps and an outdoor pond using judgmental sampling. Parameters including temperature, pH, and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) were measured, and Legionella detection was performed using real-time PCR analysis Of the six sampled locations, one tested positive for Legionella, while all exhibited varying degrees of bacterial presence The outdoor pond had the highest colony count (150 CFU/mL), while the indoor kitchen sink also showed elevated bacterial levels. The findings highlight the importance of routine monitoring and proactive water management practices in institutional settings to prevent microbial risk and ensure safe water quality Recommendations are provided for improving disinfection routines, incorporating quality control, and expanding future sampling efforts.

79 - **Bailey, Thomas, Helen Rosko, and Amy Potter - Off the beaten path: Tracing Statesboro’s tourism evolution through highway development

This research investigates how highway development has shaped the trajectory of tourism in Statesboro, Georgia, from its mid-20th-century heyday along U S Highway 301 to its decline following the rise of Interstate 95, and its recent resurgence through rural and agri-tourism. Once a popular stopover for travelers en route to Florida, Statesboro experienced economic decline as interstate realignment redirected traffic and tourism dollars With a mixed-methods approach that uses archival research, oral history interviews, visual documentation, and GIS mapping, this study traces the spatial and cultural evolution of the town’s tourism economy. Building on prior work and guided by human and cultural geography frameworks, our project documents how infrastructure, place identity, and memory intersect in the making and remaking of small-town tourism The results aim to be applicable to decisions regarding local revitalization efforts such as the Georgia Grown 301 Trail, which seek to reframe Statesboro as a destination rooted in heritage and rural charm. THe findings will contribute to broader discussions on the spatial politics of tourism, infrastructural change, and rural economic development in Statesboro

Funded by the COSM Office of Undergraduate Research (COUR) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

62 - *Czoer, Zachary, and John Carroll - Effectiveness of shell-bag oyster reef restoration for the conservation of Georgia salt marshes

Salt marshes are highly productive intertidal ecosystems that provide numerous services such as wave attenuation, nutrient cycling, and notably carbon sequestration. In Georgia, conservation of the state's 350,000 acres of salt marshes is a priority for coastal land managers, especially as accelerated sea-level rise linked to

global climate warming threatens to displace these ecosystems. To prevent loss in acreage, salt marsh conservation strategies have been utilized, such as shell-bag oyster reef restoration This strategy aims to restore fringe oyster reefs using bagged recycled shells on pallets in front of existing salt marsh vegetation

After being deployed, these shell bags provide a hard substrate for spat recruitment, reduce wave energy, and enhance sediment particle capture. This study looks at the effectiveness of one such shell-bag oyster reef restoration project along the North Newport River in Liberty County, GA Conservation effectiveness was determined using orthomosaic aerial imagery and elevation data collected by Georgia DNR’s Coastal Resources Division before and in the months following shell-bag deployment to reveal changes in vegetation coverage and coastal geomorphology. Preliminary results suggest that at three areas where shell-bags were deployed, there was a gradual net seaward shift in salt marsh vegetation 5-, 8-, and 13-months, resulting in increases in salt marsh vegetation at rates greater than concurrent control sites Further analysis will be done to determine how factors like hydrodynamics, tidal creeks, and tidal regime position affect the success of shell-bag oyster reef restoration in salt marsh conservation

Funded by the Yamaha Righwaters Program

3 - Friedman, Sarah, *Jelil Olaoye, and **Abigail Lapp - Magnetic properties of ridge and trough basalts

International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expeditions 384, 395C and 395 recovered basalt cores from two ridge sites, two trough sites and one site of normally structured oceanic crust. These sites were strategically selected to test the 3 major hypotheses for how the V-shaped ridges and troughs formed. Investigations into changes in magma source, degree of partial melting, and cooling rate aim to constrain the processes responsible for the development of these V-shaped structures Titanomagnetite, a ferromagnetic mineral that forms upon the cooling of basaltic magmas, may additionally aid in the investigation of the formation of this area of the seafloor

46 - *Obeng, Emmanuella, and Christine Hladik - Evaluating spatiotemporal vegetation index variation to detect salt marsh dieback on the Georgia Coast

Salt marsh dieback has increasingly impacted coastal ecosystems, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various vegetation indices derived from Landsat imagery in detecting salt marsh dieback at three locations along the Georgia coast: Gray's Creek, Saint Simon's Island, and Point Peter. Landsat surface reflectance imagery from 1984 to 2024 was processed using Google Earth Engine, with rigorous filtering for clouds and floods Vegetation indices were computed, and annual mean raster stacks were generated for each study site Spatial early warning indicators, including variance, mean, skewness, and Moran's I, were calculated in R to identify thresholds and patterns associated with dieback onset, progression, and recovery. Climate data (temperature, precipitation, Palmer Drought Severity Index, and river discharge) were obtained from NOAA and USGS Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) in R were used to analyze relationships between climate variables and early warning indicators The approach was validated using field observations and Google Earth imagery. The results showed that spatial variance and Moran's I of NDVI served as reliable early warning signals, with significant change points detected around 2013 at all sites, corresponding to documented dieback events Temperature variables, particularly average, minimum, and maximum temperatures, consistently predicted NDVI variability and spatial indicators, while precipitation and drought had more site-specific effects. The predictive model successfully identified periods of increased dieback risk, corroborated by field data These findings demonstrated the value of integrating remote sensing, spatial indicators, and statistical modeling for the early detection and management of salt marsh dieback.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

23 - *Olaoye, Jeliil, and Sarah Friedman - A petrographic and visual exploration of alteration patterns in seafloor basalts

One of the goals of International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expeditions 395 and 395C is to reconstruct the evolving chemistry of hydrothermal fluids with increasing crustal age In order to achieve this goal, basalt cores were recovered from 4 sites, increasing in age and distance away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. A total of 14 thin sections were created across the four sites, targeting basalts with different physical properties, in order to capture snapshots of the various geochemical alteration processes that may be altering the initial geochemistry Visual inspection of the rocks is an important first step to determining the changes occurring with the crust. Macroscopic identification of the core occurred during the Expeditions, where bulk mineralogy, textural descriptions, and vein categorization was performed. Using these descriptions, thin sections were targeted to encompass as much diversity as possible Using a petrographic microscope with plain polarized light and cross polarized light we aim to identify the changes that take place in the seafloor and to quantify the amount of alteration that occurs as the rocks age. Primary mineralogy remains visible in all samples, including plagioclase laths, olivine (phenocrysts and groundmass), pyroxenes, titanomagnetite and glass Primary textures include vesicles and skeletal grains Secondary minerals include celadonite, palagonite, various carbonates and other clay minerals. The textures of these alteration products can include vein fill, vesicle fill, and amorphous.

Funded by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)

74 - Potter, Amy,*Kendell Grace Judy, and Jennifer O’Mahoney - “It Was Not Her House”: Remembering Eileen Gray through heritage tourism at Villa E-1027

Eileen Gray, a pioneering designer and architect from County Wexford, Ireland, was long overlooked in the male-dominated field of modern architecture despite her groundbreaking work in furniture design and spatial innovation gaining widespread recognition only in recent decades. This poster shares preliminary findings from a research trip in May 2025 to Villa E-1027, a modernist house in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France The villa was designed and built by Gray between 1926 and 1929, in collaboration with architect Jean Badovici Later additions to the home by Le Corbusier who painted murals on the walls without Gray’s consent have sparked ongoing debates about authorship and preservation. Today, E-1027 is open to the public as a heritage site and widely regarded as a key example of early modern architecture This project explores how Eileen Gray is remembered and represented in heritage spaces, focusing on how her role as the designer of Villa E-1027 is communicated to contemporary visitors. Research methods comprised observation of two guided tours led by different docents, interviews with each guide, and analysis of online visitor reviews. Preliminary findings suggest that although Gray is acknowledged and celebrated in parts of the visitor experience, her contributions are often downplayed especially in contrast to the attention given to Le Corbusier what geographers have termed affective inequality. This research contributes to broader conversations about gender, architecture, and the politics of memory examining how Gray’s legacy has been both preserved and sidelined, and how heritage sites like E-1027 are reinforcing that historical erasure

Funded by the Georgia Southern University Research and Study Abroad Grant

https://www.georgiasouthern.edu/colleges/science-mathematics

2025 COSM Summer Research Showcase Program

2nd Annual Summer Research Showcase