Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program
Abstract Booklet
TheSummer Undergraduate Research andCreativeActivities (SURCA) program offersa high-impact experience through faculty-mentored undergraduateresearch, collaborativeengagement,and astudent-facultylearning community.
Studentsandfacultyfrom all collegesandschoolsat Widener Universityparticipatedin this program andpresentedtheir projects.
SURCASymposium
Friday, September 26, 2025
University Center Atrium
Dear SURCA Symposium Attendee,
Welcometo the16th Annual SURCA Symposium! TheWidener SURCA community had another wonderful summer! Theweekly luncheswereabuzz with interdisciplinary chatter and support Wehad experiencesthat focused on professional and personal development,relationships,consent and inclusion.SURCA continuesto makecampusbuzz,even in thesummer.Thissummer wasevidenceof thepower of theSURCA program and theWidener community at large Each project you will seetoday will leavean impression on you Thestudentsand faculty mentors weretruly impressiveand shinesa light on theimportanceof faculty-student projects,interdisciplinary work,and high-impact practicesin education Wethank theWidener Administration for their support of theprogram Wehad another record-breaking summer.Wehad our highest student and faculty participation in thehistory of theprogram,with 100 undergraduatestudentsand 48 faculty mentorsparticipating Wehad representativesfrom theCollegeof Arts& Sciences,School of Engineering,Collegeof Health and Human Services,School of BusinessAdministration,and theSchool of Nursing participating in SURCA this summer Thiseffort resulted in 68poster presentationsthisevening,which nearly matchesour all-timehigh.
Our Summer Program hostseventsintended to createlasting connectionsand working relationshipsamongst our faculty and students Our participantshad the opportunity to hear from Widener community memberson topicsof inclusion, relationships,consent & boundaries,and how to navigatetheever-changing professional world Our group spanned all collegesand schoolsat theUndergraduate level at Widener;they had theopportunity to hear from alumni and their peersin different disciplines.Our engaging eventstook a holistic approach,focusing on scholarly and professional development in equal measureaspersonal development Weengaged in activitiesthat fostered cross-disciplinary discussionsand collaborationsby highlighting projectsand theconnectionsbetween them Other activitiesincluded Starsand S?mores,a talk with President Stacey Robinson about how invaluablerelationshipsare,a career development session,and a trivia game.
Wealso want to thank thefaculty.They taketimefrom their summer to play a large& activerolein SURCA They mentor,they lead discussions,and they help facilitatethe program Without them,thisprogram would not exist,they arethebackbone Weare grateful for their support,and their contributionsto their studentsand theWidener community
Wehopeyou thoroughly enjoy learning moreabout theprogram and theprojects from thissummer!
With sincerity and warmth, Drs MikeCorcoran and Rob Mishur,SURCA Program Co-directors
Widener University Summer UndergraduateResearch andCreativeActivitiesProgram
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
Opening Remarks: 3-3:15pm
SESSION A:3:15-4:15pm
SESSION B:4:30-5:30 pm
AwardsCeremony:6pm
STUDENT PRESENTATION SCHEDULE
SESSION A
BIOCHEMISTRY/ MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY/ BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING A
Bordarrampe 25
BIOCHEMISTRY/ MOLECULAR BIOLOGY/ BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING B
Dothecrime,dothetime:Understanding youth court andimpact of juvenile incarceration
SOCIAL SCIENCE/ SOCIAL WORK B
Indwija Bhatta (Advisor:Dr Maria Luiza Pinho)
Assessingtheeconomicimpact of street vendor removal policiesin Kathmandu: Implicationsfor entrepreneurship,local economyandsocietal well-being
SOCIAL SCIENCE/ SOCIAL WORK C
Sarah Coupland (Advisor:Dr.Robin Goldberg-Glen)
IdentifyingtheIgnored Demographic? AnalyzingAspectsof Anti-Semitism in Social Work LiteratureAcrossVariousSpectrum
Widener University Summer UndergraduateResearch andCreativeActivitiesProgram
ABSTRACTS
Underst anding Mot ivat ion in Cr eat ive Wr it in
Jada Allen
Research Advisor:Prof.JayneThompson
When it comesto daily writing habits,a question that still lingersiswhat keepsindividualsmotivated to write consistently Thestudy conducted looked at thecorrelation between writing and motivation among individualsranging from high school studentsto adults Thepurposewasto determinewhether peoplewho try to writedaily activities aremost likely to achievetheir goalsdueto intrinsic motivation or extrinsic motivation Using a qualitative approach,data wascollected from numerousarticlesabout individual experienceswith daily writing and different platformssuch asNaNoWriMo Then a mini study was conducted whereparticipantswho participated in ?Final Friday?shared their experienceswith their writing goals Thefindingsrevealed that for many,extrinsic motivation wasmoreprevalent than intrinsic motivation Also showing that thelack of intrinsic motivation madeachieving their daily writing goalsmoredifficult
Invasive Species Assessment and Bior estorat ion in t he West Field of Taylor Arbor et um
Hashir Alvi
Research Advisor:Dr.BruceGrant
Urban ecosystemsareincreasingly threatened by invasive species,habitat destruction and fragmentation,and neglect,yet they play a critical rolein biodiversity conservation and human well-being TheTaylor Arboretum,a 33acregreen spacewithin urbanized southeastern,PA,providesecosystem servicessuch asair and water filtration,flood regulation,and pollinator support Biodiversity research by Dr BruceGrant hasbeen ongoing continuously in theWest Field since1994,and we continuewith thisstudy by measuring plant diversity and identifying restoration priorities Surveysconducted in Junerecorded plant speciesacrosssampleplots,with particular attention to invasiveand non-nativespecies Several invasiveor aggressivetaxawereidentified, including Spiraea japonica,Allium vineale,Taraxacum officinale,alongsidenativebut dominant speciessuch as
Vitisriparia and Solidagorugosa Whileno singleinvasive speciesdominated thesite,theoverall presenceof non-nativeplantssuggestsincreasing invasivepressure compared to previousyears TheWest Field servesasa valuableliving laboratory for ecological education about urban biodiversity valueand management by engaging studentsin activerestoration strategies Thesefindings highlight theimportanceof sustained monitoring and proactivemanagement to preserveecosystem biodiversity and resilience However,with Widener University no longer having an on-sitefield manager at thearboretum, thesitefacesfuturerisksof neglect,reduced biodiversity, and diminished educational opportunities Continued investment in restoration and ecological stewardship would ensurethat Taylor Arboretum remainsboth a model of urban conservation and a resourcefor thesurrounding community
Girls w ho cr eate: Explor ing Generat ive AI Thr ough Ar t & Et hics
Tamiya Anderson
Research Advisor:Dr.Yana Kortsarts
Asartificial intelligence(AI)becomespart of everyday life, it isimportant for young peopleto seeboth itscreative potential and itsethical challenges.Thisproject studied four categoriesof generativeAI:text,image,music,and video through hands-on use,comparison,and research using theACM Digital Library.Each category wasreviewed for accessibility,educational value,and ability to inspire creativity Theproject also looked at ethical issuessuch as bias,misinformation,and ownership of creativework.The goal wasto design abeginner-friendly AI curriculum for GirlsCamp that introducesparticipantsto thesetools whileencouraging them to think about how AI affects society Theresearch will concludewith a 50-minute workshop whereparticipantswill try each category,make small projects,and discussreal-world impacts.Thisproject aimsto giveyoung women both creativeskillsand critical thinking to becomethoughtful digital creatorsand future leadersin technology.
ABSTRACTS
PLA Filament Recycling System
JeffreyArra,NicholasCampanella
Research Advisor:Dr Steven Pagano
Thisresearch investigateswhether modificationsto the basic design of aPLA filament extruder can enablethe recycling of old 3D printed partswithout requiring a separatefilament extruder and grinder By integrating the recycling processinto a singledevice,thegoal isto reduce cost,improveaccessibility,and promoteamore environmentally sustainableapproach to reusing PLA components To achievethecreation of such a device,the group focused on thedevelopment and design of a transportation component to movePLA between a two-step grinder system Thegroup approached its development by creating an item list of all partsnecessary to createthedesired PLA recycler Of thetwo-part grinder system,a hammer grinder and aHamilton Beach Electric Burr CoffeeGrinder werechosen to completethe comminution process Oncethepartswerereceived,the coffeegrinder wastested by placing manually reduced PLA partsinto thegrinder and discerning if it comminuted the piecesto thedesired size After confirming thegroup was satisfied with theresults,all partsand thegrinding mechanism of thecoffeegrinder weremeasured and modeled within 3D AutoCAD inventor Designsand conceptsfor thetransportation deviceweremodeled within AutoCAD inventor based on theparts?models Iterationsof thedevicewereprinted and tested for compatibility with existing parts However,thegroup concluded that moretimewould need to bededicated to designing thepart and no fully functioning iteration was created
Look into The Tr ump Administ rat ion
JasmineAyadi
Research Advisor:Dr.J.WesleyLeckrone
Politiciansand presidential leadersareoften known for their appeal to thepublic,their policies,or for their character.Onemight wonder whether thepower of languageand influenceboostsa presidential candidateand affectselectoral outcomes Thisresearch examinesthese
topicswith aspecific interest in thecurrent presidency of Donald J Trump For thispurpose,I studied hispast asa celebrity and hiscareer in politicsto analyzehow thismay haveinfluenced hisfameand overall public support Additionally,I reviewed hisspeaking tacticsand compared them to charismatic leadersof thepast to help understand voting behaviorsand supporter mentalities I found that hisusageof social media,confident languagepatterns,and authentic character all contributed to hisreelection in 2024 From thesefindings,I wasableto extract six different categoriesof affinity for Trump,ranging from most supportiveto least supportive I decided to call them the 6Americasof Trump" Grouping thevotershelped explain what thereasoning wasbehind voters' electoral decision and how Trump may haveinfluenced that Each category wasnamed after thegroup'sgeneral opinion of him both asa person and politician From themost to least supportive,thesecategoriesare:Evangelical Trump supporters,Die-hard Loyalists,Regular Conservatives, Disgruntled Liberals,Never-Trumpers,and Resistors I found that theintensity of thetop two categoriesfitsthe criteria of apersonality cult Linking Trump'spublic outreaching tacticsand personaback to their exaggerated opinion of him Theother groupsarenot asintensebut werealso tied to Trump'sprofileonline,hispolicies,and his general way of speaking,whether thismay bein hisfavor or not Futureresearch may want to consider analyzing presidential speechesand specific word-usagefor more in-depth detailson how that may manipulateor influence public opinion
What is Social Media?
Sanaiah Baker
Research Advisor:Dr.Loretta Simons
My SURCA project investigatesthedifferent typesof content that arepopular on major social mediaplatforms and thetrendsused by influencers I used randomized samplingsby creating new accountson Instagram,TikTok, Snapchat,Pinterest,and YouTube,recording 25postsper platform,and viewing every third post Thesepostswere categorized by each content type,and thesecommon themeswerequantified to identify trends My findings revealed popular content,such asdancechallenceson
The Pow er of Language and Inf luence Wit hin U SPolit ics: A
ABSTRACTS
TikTok,lifestylecontent on Instagram,and room makeovers on YouTube Instagram and insight into how social media shapesengagement and showsthehighlight strategiesused by influencersto connect with their audience.
Olfactor y Lear ning Using Third Inst ar Dr osophila Lar vae: Associat ive Lear ning Thr ough Chemosensor y St imulat ion
AshleyBanner,JordyChery,Laura V Wallon
Research Advisor:Dr.Loretta Williams
In neuroscience,researchersseek to unravel how thebrain shapesbehavior,and thisstudy focuseson chemo-sensation and chemosensory learning in larval Drosophila The olfactory processesof insectsand mammalsaresimilar, Drosophila servesasapowerful model for investigating olfaction and learning Whiletheadult fly brain iscomplex, thelarval stageoffersasimpler yet adult-likeolfactory system,making it ideal for demonstrating and analyzing evidenceof olfactory learning A behavioral conditioning techniquehasbeen developed in which odorsarepaired with a positivegustatory reinforcer,such asfructose, allowing researchersto probeassociativelearning in larval Drosophila By comparing theperformanceof individuals trained with different odorant?reinforcer pairings(X+/Y?or X?/Y+),thismethod not only demonstratesrobust olfactory learning but also providesareliableframework for linking behavior to underlying chemosensory pathways
Preliminary resultsconsistently confirm that larvaecan acquireand retain olfactory associations,with reproducible findingsacrosstrials,laboratories,and investigators, underscoring thestrength and validity of thisparadigm for uncovering thecellular mechanismsof learning The simplicity of thelarval chemosensory system,coupled with theexperimental accessibility of Drosophila at genetic, electrophysiological,cellular,and behavioral levels,makes thismodel an ideal platform for advancing our understanding of chemo-sensation and chemosensory learning Using thislarval learning paradigm,researchers can bridgebehavioral observationswith synaptic physiology,deepening insight into thefundamental interplay between neural function and behavior
Modeling Hepat ic Senescence: Doxor ubicin-Induced Aging in HepG2 Cells
Kaila Barnes,Kohlen Kpuyuf
Research Advisor:Dr Aylin Acun
Liver diseasehasemerged asa major global health crisis, causing many deathsannually.From cirrhosisto liver cancer,theseconditionsoften progresssilently until they becomelife-threatening Our research focuseson theaging processof theliver and itspotential impact on other organs. Thegoal of theproject isto develop arealistic aged liver model that showssimilar levelsof senescenceand other age-related challenges.Weaged HepG2liver cellsby exposing them to Doxorubicin,achemotherapy medication that causescellular stress By varying theduration and concentration of treatment,wediscovered different stages of senescenceand studied how thecellsresponded over time Treatment durationsvary between 16 hoursto 14days, and concentrationsvary between 25nM to 2500nM.Our goal after each treatment wasto reach about 30-50%cellular senescence Thisstudy focuseson how liver cellsmaturein thepresenceof toxic stress,and overall,could help usbetter understand theearly stagesof chronic diseases Asthe number of liver-related diseasesincreasesworldwide, understanding theseorgan systemscould becrucial for predicting,preventing,or addressing damagebeforeit spreads
Ref raming Ment al Wellness f or Black/Af r ican Amer ican St udent s at Pr edominant ly White Inst it ut ions: St r engt hs-Based and Cult urally Responsive Appr oaches
Tymir Barnes
Research Advisor:Dr.Marina Barnett
Black/African American studentsat predominantly white institutions(PWIs)facea uniqueconvergenceof systemic barriers,racialized stressors,and cultural isolation that directly impact their mental health and academic success Adverseoutcomesfor Black malesareparticularly well documented:they experiencedisproportionately high rates of incarceration,homicide,exclusionary school discipline, special education placement,truancy,dropout,and retention Theseinequitiesarenot only educational but
ABSTRACTS
reflect broader systemsof racialized oppression that underminesocial,emotional,and behavioral well-being Despitethesedisparities,psychological research has historically underrepresented Black malesand too often framed them through deficit-oriented narrativesthat obscureresilience,achievement,and cultural strengths
Thisresearch situatesthemental wellnessof Black studentsat PWIswithin abroader historical and systemic context,integrating findingsfrom PromotingthePositive Development of Black Males(School Psychology Review, 2023)and theOfficeof Minority Health?sreportson mental health disparities Thesesourceshighlight both the challengesBlack studentsnavigate? including disproportionateexposureto bias,trauma,and structural inequities? and theurgent need to center culturally responsive,equity-driven approachesin research and practice
Thestudy arguesfor aparadigm shift from risk to resilience,underscoring theimportanceof fostering belonging,affirming racial and cultural identity,and implementing strengths-based practicesin higher education Such strategiesincludeculturally adapted mental health services,peer mentoring programs,systemic biasreduction in academic and disciplinary processes,and theintegration of Afrocentric perspectivesinto curricula By highlighting solutionsrather than solely deficits,this work advancesa framework for supporting theholistic mental wellnessand academic achievement of Black/African American students,particularly Black males, in PWI settings My hopefor thisproject isfor Widener faculty and staff membersto gain a better understanding and insight onto how studentsof color feel that thereisa lack of representation in alot of areasin administration as well asmental health services
The People St rategy: How Face to Face Mult i-Level
Market ing Is Thr iving in an AI-Dr iven Era ? A Case St udy f r om Philadelphia?s Field Market ing Indust r y
automation,predictivealgorithms,and digital-first outreach Yet among thesetransformations,face-to-face Business-to-Business(B2B)Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)is not only surviving but it?sthriving Thisstudy exploresthe ongoing relevanceand competitiveedgeof in-person, MLM-based salesstrategiesthrough a casestudy rooted in a high-performanceinternship with a marketing agency representing T-Mobilein Philadelphia
Over thecourseof onesummer,I progressed from entry-level salesto becoming thetop-performing rep in the country,earning national recognition and being flown out by T-Mobile Through thisexperience,which included door-to-door B2B outreach,team training,and networking with repsfrom parallel campaignsfor companieslike Verizon,I gained a unique,inside-look into how these decentralized field marketing officesoperate,scale,and outperform expectationsin atech-heavy marketplace
Using a mixed-method research approach that blends firsthand field experience,interviewswith sales professionals,and surveysfrom clients,thispaper highlightshow thehuman-driven,relational natureof MLM and direct marketing distinctly standsapart from AI-powered marketing WhileAI offersefficiency and scalability,it lackstheemotional intelligence,adaptability, and trust-building essential for successin complex B2B environments In contrast,MLM empowersindividualsto grow through merit,lead teams,and generatetangible valuethrough personalized,face-to-faceinteractions Importantly,thismodel also providesopportunitiesfor entrepreneursto climb thesalesladder and eventually branch out,launching their own businessesor ventures beyond theMLM structure
Thisresearch positionsmodern MLM asa resilient, high-impact alternativeto traditional corporatesales structuresand impersonal digital marketing It also addressesthecontroversiesand stigmassurrounding MLM models,particularly concernsabout sustainability, transparency,and recruitment ethics Thepaper concludes with strategic recommendationsto evolveMLM-based field marketing toward greater legitimacy Theseinclude enhanced training programs,clearer and morestructured career pathways,increased transparency,and closer alignment with professional salesstandards
ABSTRACTS
Such improvementsarevital for MLM and direct salesto becomerespected and sustainableforceswithin the broader marketing ecosystem
Ultimately,thisstudy showshow MLM marketersnot only succeed in salesbut also gain theskillsand networksto launch other businesses,demonstrating themodel?s potential for long-term entrepreneurial growth The people-first strategiesrevealed hereoffer valuablelessons for marketersacrossindustries By balancing human connection with technological advances,businessescan build moresustainableand effectivesalesstrategiesfor thefuture
In Sit u Fused Deposit ion Model (FDM) Elect r oplat ing: An Expansion of 4D Pr int ing
Boston Blake
Research Advisor:Dr Babak Eslami
Thisproject expandstheconcept of 4D printing,where external stimuli areapplied to enhanceor transform printed structures,by integrating electroplating directly into thefused deposition modeling (FDM)process A commercial 3D printer wasmodified with an automated plating system capableof depositing copper onto designated regionsof a part whileit remainson thebuild plate A custom softwareworkflow wasdeveloped to insert plating commandsinto standard G-code,enabling seamless coordination between printing and plating operations Thisin-situ approach eliminatespost-processing and allowsprecisecontrol of plated featuresduring fabrication Beyond surfacemetal plating,theprocessenabled the creation of embedded conductivepathwaysinsidethe polymer matrix,effectively forming circuitswithin printed parts Electrical testing of thesetracesshowed that conductivity increased with plating time,demonstrating an adjustablerelationship By merging electroplating with additivemanufacturing in real time,thiswork showsa pathway toward multifunctional 4D-printed components that integratestructureand electronicsin a singlestep
The Inf luence of Epit helial-Mesenchymal Transit ion and Cell Number on MCF10A Cell Pr olif erat ion
LukeBordarrampe?
Research Advisor:Dr.Michael Toneff
An estimated 90%of cancer-related deathsarecaused by metastasis,theprocessof cancer spreading from the primary tumor siteto a distant site.It ishypothesized that metastasisispromoted by theepithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Normal epithelial cellshavestrong adhesion to neighboring cellsand form a tightly packed tissue,with a non-invasivephenotype Through EMT,cells can changetheir phenotypefrom anon-invasive,adherent stateto ahighly invasive,mobile,and mesenchymal state. When in thismesenchymal state,themobilecellscan escapefrom theprimary tumor siteand intravasateinto theblood stream.It ishypothesized that when these mesenchymal statecellsextravasatetheblood stream they can escapeeither asasinglecell or assmall cell clusters Thesemetastatic cellsseed a tumor,but to do thisthese mesenchymal cellshaveto reversetheEMT process through mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET)to begin proliferating again.If MET doesnot occur,lifethreatening tumorscannot grow Wehypothesized that EMT will reducecell proliferation and that different cell numbers will also affect proliferation.Weused MCF10A mammary epithelial cellsasa breast cancer model to test this hypothesis EMT wasinduced with TGF- ? Thecellswere then seeded at different densities(low,medium low, medium high,and high) Proliferating cellswereidentified using EdU,which isincorporated into any cellsreplicating their DNA.Weconfirmed EMT by observing cell morphology Our data show decreased proliferation of both EMT and control cellsat high cell numbers Our data also suggeststhat theEMT signalsfor cellsto become invasiveand mobileimpairsa cell?sability to proliferateat medium-low/-high cell numbers,but not at low and high cell numbers.Thus,whileEMT may inhibit proliferation when therearefewer cellspresent,it may confer a proliferativeadvantagein tumorswith high cell numbers Understanding thedynamicsof cell proliferation and its dependenceon phenotypecould help usbetter understand how thosecellsbehavein patients
ABSTRACTS
Mapping scent chemotypes of f loral mimic Symplocarpus foetidususing GCMSand PRIMER-e
Jaheara Brown
Research Advisor:Dr KatherineGoodrich
Pollination iscrucial to thesexual reproduction of many flowering plants,often facilitated by visiting animals (usually insects)with expectationsof food likenectar or pollen Floral mimicry isa phenomenon whereplants utilizevisual and olfactory traitsto advertiseareward they don? t actually have-a strategy that can successfully ?trick?insectsinto accidental pollen transfer,resulting in ovary fertilization Symplocarpusfoetidus(common name eastern skunk cabbage)isa floral mimic with a pungent carrion-likesmell mainly attracting fly pollinatorsseeking rotting flesh,fermenting fruits,or dung Evolution of unusual floral traitssuch asfoul odor and dark coloration might increasefitnessfor a plant sinceit attractsrangesof insectsseeking decomposing matter Skunk cabbagevaries in scent composition but frequently identified volatile organic compounds(VOCs)includedimethyl disulfide (DMDS),isoamyl isovalerate,sabinene,cis-beta-ocimene, and trans-beta-ocimene,(Goodrich & Gibernau 2024) Some of thesecompounds,which occur consistently in skunk cabbageAND carrion/yeast/dung,areresponsiblefor the uniquescent profileand pollinator audienceof Sfoetidus
Two chemotypesof skunk cabbagehavebeen previously identified,onewith high levelsof DMDScarrying a pungent carrion smell,and theother with high levelsof cis and transbeta ocimenethat hasa mellow more?typical?
floral scent Studiesshow that within-speciesevolutionary shiftsof scent can lead to thebroadening of pollinator audiencesand impact overall fitness(Wenzell,2024)thus, wehypothesized that Chemotype1(morecommon variant) with high levelsof DMDSmay beacarrion mimic, attracting mostly carrion seeking fliesand Chemotype2 (rare)with high ocimenepercentagesmight beattracting other pollinator groupssuch asbees,beetlesetc This summer,weanalyzed patternswithin skunk cabbagescent composition using GCMS(GasChromatography Mass Spectroscopy)technology and visualized resultsusing non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS)comparison software Other lab membersconducted a pollinator study to identify insectsattracted to VOCssimilar to skunk
cabbage Our work supported thetwo distinct skunk cabbagechemotypesbased on thedifferential percent composition of 3important VOCs:DMDS,cis-beta ociemeneand trans-beta ocimene
Synt hesizing New Plat inum-Based Chemot herapy Dr ugs
LaniseBrown,Sarita S.Yadav
Research Advisor:Dr Robert Mishur
Cisplatin isa chemotherapy drug that isused widely throughout theworld to treat avariety of cancerslike ovarian,testicular,and blader cancer Whilecisplatin is highly effectivein treating cancer,it inflictsmany harsh sideseffectson itsusersincluding hair loss,tinnitusand kidney toxicity,which can limit itsuse By altering the ligandson platinum-based drugslikecisplatin,the biological activity,selectivity,and therapeutic index,may beedited Phosphaplatins,defined by containing a pyrophosphategroup,represent oneclassof next-generation platinum drugswith promising therapeutic potential,with thelead candidate,PT-112, currently undergoing PhaseI/II clinical trials
In thisstudy,weaimed to synthesizea seriesof mixed aminephosphaplatins Two new compoundswere synthesized using pyridineand either cyclobutylamineor cyclopentylamine Thesecompoundswerecharacterized in situ by 13C-NMR,31P-NMR,and electrospray ionization massspectrometry (ESI-MS) Theserepresent thefirst known examplesof asymmetrical phosphaplatins
Belonging and Br ot herhood: First -Generat ion Black Men in College at Widener University
Timothy D Budd-Parker
Research Advisor:Dr.Angela Corbo
Thisproject explorestheexperienceof a first-generation Black malecollegestudent at Widener University,focusing on challengesof belonging,engagement in campus organizations,and theroleof mentorship Drawing on research and personal reflection,theauthor examines obstaclesfaced by first-generation Black men in higher education (eg,lack of family guidanceand underrepresentation),and how involvement in culturally affirming organizations(such asBlack Greek-letter
ABSTRACTS
fraternitiesand theBlack Men United support group)can foster persistence Literaturesuggeststhat extracurricular involvement and multiplementoring relationships enhancestudents?senseof belonging and retention (Beeks, 2023;Goodwin & Okojie,2024;Jarrells,2024) Theauthor describesinitiativeslikethe?Brother Bond?mentoring program and ?BrothersBreaking Bread?community events, which reflect best practicesin student engagement The findingssuggest that building community through brotherhood and mentorship networkscan transform the collegejourney from an isolating struggleinto a shared mission
Opt imizing a Gr eener Synt hesis of Met hyl Esters & Et hers w it h Dimet hyl Carbonate
GraceBurrell
Research Advisor:Dr Krishna Bhat
Methyl estersand ethersarecommonly synthesized to be used in many different areasand industriesfrom pharmaceuticalsto food preservatives Thetraditional synthesismethodsof theseestersand ethersareFisher esterification and Willamson ether synthesis,respectively, both of which includetheuseof hazardousreagents, creating a lot of waste,and requiring high amountsof energy to beconducted Dueto theselargedrawbacks, scientistsarelooking for a greener processto replacethe traditional methods Dimethyl carbonatewasfound to be an exemplary candidateasa highly economical and environmentally friendly methylating reagent It has already been used to methylateother functional groups such asphenols,alcohols,and aminesthrough a green procedureto offer a high percent yield of thedesired product with a high purity Wenow look to find how to conduct a successful synthesisof thesemethyl estersand ethersusing dimethyl carbonate,abenign base,and a microwaveto conserveenergy
Development of Non-Tradit ional Suppor t s f or Grandpar ent Kinship Car egivers
Abigail Bustraan
Research Advisor:Dr.Robin Goldberg-Glen
Kinship Caregiving refersto thephenomenon of family
membersother than aparent taking over theroleof primary caregiver for a child when theparent cannot fill that role Many societal factors,likepoverty,substance abuse,or thepresenceof abusein thehome,can necessitateanother member of thefamily to step in asa kinship caregiver Thisrolecan bring with it stress, financial burdens,and legal challengeswith custody disputes Grandparents,who makeup asignificant portion of Philadelphia?skinship caregivers,facea wholeother host of challengesdueto their age,likechallengeswith reparenting (understanding how parenting methodshave changed sincewhen they raised their kids),increased financial burden (sincethey may beretired or unableto work full time),and complicated family dynamics Furthermore,thetrauma that they endured becauseof whatever it isthat madetheir child unableto bea parent often remainsunaddressed asthey try their best to navigateparenting their grandchild Theroleof Grandparent Kinship Caregiverscannot beoverstated; their choiceto step up for their grandchild iswhat allows that child to stay out of thefoster caresystem
In connection with Grand Central,a social serviceagency dedicated to Grandparent Kinship Caregiversin Philadelphia,thisproject isdeveloping aworkshop geared towardsaddressing theneedsof Grandparent Caregivers in Philadelphia through psychoeducation,mindfulness, group connectivity,and technology training By using non-traditional elementsof mental health care,this workshop meetscaregiverswherethey areat and helps them build skillsin self care,emotional regulation,and processing of emotions Theseskillswill ultimately contributeto lessburnout for thecaregiver and better relationshipswith their grandchild
Per f or mance Analysis of Bin Packing Pr oblem?s Advanced Heur ist ics
Abdul Ghani Butt
Research Advisors:Dr.Yana Kortsarts,Dr.Edwin Dauber
How do you fit themost itemsin theleast space?Bin packing optimization isa fundamental problem affecting numerousreal-world applicationsfrom logisticsto cloud computing.Thisstudy systematically evaluated 10 heuristic algorithmsacross7problem scalesto determine
ABSTRACTS
optimal packing strategies.Methodsincluded testing algorithmsacrossarray sizesfrom 50 to 500 items, conducting 10,000 trialsper configuration for over 70,000 total tests,and measuring performanceusing 5metrics: averagebins,averagedifference,averageratio,normalized difference,and relativeexcess Resultsshowed that preprocessing itemsin decreasing order consistently improved algorithm efficiency by 20-25% acrossall tested algorithms,with performancebenefitsincreasing at larger problem scales.Thebest-performing algorithmswereFirst Fit Decreasing and Worst Fit Decreasing,requiring 264bins on averagecompared to 339 binsfor thepoorest performers.Thesespecific averagesarefrom the10,000 trialsconsisting of 500 itemswith weightsbetween 1to 30 lbs Futurework will exploregenetic algorithm approaches to further optimizepacking strategiesand investigate hybrid optimization techniques
Enhancing t he Ther mal Per f or mance of a Silica Sand Sensible Heat Storage System w it h Copper Addit ives and Fins
Connor Callahan
Research Advisor:Dr SaeedTiari
With theadvancement of technology and thegrowing demand for cleaner energy,numerousrenewableenergy methodshavebeen investigated Among these,solar power represented a promising option;however,itsintermittent naturelimited itsreliability Weather conditions,such as prolonged cloud cover,reduced itseffectivenessand made it lesscomparableto fossil fuels Oneapproach to improving theefficiency of solar power systemswasthe incorporation of thermal energy storage Thisactslikea buffer to help keep energy production consistent and reliableduring inclement weather and at nighttime Thermal energy storagecould becategorized into three primary types:thermo-chemical,sensible,and latent Sensibleheat storagefunctionsby increasing theinternal energy of a medium through thermal input and subsequently releasing thisenergy by lowering the medium?stemperature Thestoragemedium employed in thisstudy wasfine-grit silica sand,which,in different test cases,contained 0%,2%,5%,or 10% dispersed copper particlesby mass Both copper wiresand copper spheres
wereevaluated independently.Thestoragemedium surrounded a copper pipethat served astheconduit for theheat transfer fluid (HTF) TheHTF used waswater Four fin configurationswereexamined:10 annular,20 annular,4radial,and 8radials Oncetheinternal temperaturereached thetarget of 50 °Cthroughout the storagemedium,thetemperaturewassubsequently reduced using thesameheat transfer fluid,which had been cooled from 71°Cto 15°C Following each experimental run, thedata wasanalyzed to evaluateimprovementsin storage efficiency relativeto thebenchmark test Thebenchmark test involved a storagemedium composed solely of fine-grit silica sand with no dispersed copper particles,and thecopper pipein thiscasewasasmooth pipewithout fins In conclusion,by losing 10%of thestoragemedium and replacing it with 10%dispersed copper particlesthe system charged at a much greater rate
Conversion of Nanopor ous Carbons f r om Plast ic Wastes
LilyCampbell
Research Advisor:Dr.Dipendu Saha
Polyethyleneterephthalate(PET)isoneof themost widely used plasticsin packaging and consumer products Its extensiveusehasled to increasing environmental concerns,including pollution,threatsto human health,and harm to wildlife Thisstudy exploresathermo-chemical recycling approach to convert PET wasteinto porous carbon materialswith potential applicationsin de-pollution,catalysis,energy storage,sensing,and related fields Porouscarbon wassynthesized using a salt-templating method,in which PET wascombined with varying amountsof inorganic saltsand subjected to controlled thermal treatment During thisprocess,thesalt served asa template,and subsequent washing removed the salt to generateaporouscarbon structure Theresulting materialswerecharacterized to determineporesize distribution and adsorption capacity
Sof t Act uators (HASEL)
Emma Castellano
Research Advisor:Dr William Nagel
Actuatorsareapart of amachinethat createsforceor
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movement when they obtain power from electricity,fluid,or air Most actuatorsfound in daily lifeareheavy and bulky, which makesthem unsuitablefor robotic systemsmeant to replicatebiological systems Thisiswheresoft actuators comein,they aredesigned to overcomethoseissues,making them moreefficient in their modesof activation Soft actuatorswerecreated around the1960sand areused primarily in biomedical fieldsdueto their similaritiesto the human muscle Thespecific soft actuatorsresearched in this project arecalled Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic (HASEL) First invented in the2010s,it isa cutting-edgeresearch technology HASEL actuatorsuse dielectric liquidsencased in flexiblepolymersto deform under electric fields,enabling rapid,reversible,and tunable motion Their muscle-likeperformance,efficiency,and scalability surpasspneumatic and elastomer actuators, making them ideal for robotics,prosthetics,and adaptive systems Previousresearch conducted by another group has allowed for thecreation of HASELsin our own space The focusof theSURCA project differsfrom thepaper because thefactorsof interest arein themanufacturing process Based on theseguidelines,thefabrication processwas carried out by using polymer film pouchesthat were heat-sealed and filled with adielectric liquid to form the actuator body Actuation could beachieved by high voltage, which displacestheliquid and producescontrolled deformation Theexperimentsconducted haveshown that for thedonut profileactuators,thedirection of theshell material must faceinward,and thetemperaturein the sealing processmust beat least 250°F Based on theseresults, effectiveHASELsareexpected to bemanufactured and integrated into interesting soft roboticsystemswith biomimetic constructions
Phantom Flames: Rekindling Connect ions Af ter Ghost ing
Maria
Cerrato,KadieKutlus,Karr Small,Gabriella Tolassi
Research Advisor:Dr.Maureen Coyle
Ghosting refersto ending communication with someone without giving an explanation It isoften used to avoid conflict or difficult conversationsbut can havenegative emotional consequencesfor both parties Whilemuch research focuseson thosewho havebeen ghosted,less attention hasbeen given to ghosters,who may experience
guilt,emotional distress,and even regret Ghostersmay want to rekindle,or reconnect with,someonethey previously ghosted,but existing research hasyet to examine ghosters?perspectiveson rekindling To addressthisgap, participantsin thecurrent study completed an anonymous survey about their ghosting experiencesand their desireto rekindlepast relationshipsthat ended with ghosting Thematic analysiswasused to systematically examine participants?open-ended responses,identifying recurring patternsand ideasthat help explain participants? experiencesand attitudes Thisqualitativemethod allowed theresearchersto uncover underlying factorsinfluencing relationship dynamicsand thepotential for rekindling after ghosting Data collection isongoing,but preliminary responsesreveal notablepatterns Studying ghosting experiencesand attemptsto rekindlerelationshipsgives insightsinto thefactorsthat can makereconnection moreor lesssuccessful and shedslight on theemotional and relational processesinvolved
Character izing tet racycline r esist ant micr obes f r om grassland soils
Gianna Chapman,Eliana Guerrieri
Research Advisor:Dr.CarolineFortunato
Antibiotic resistanceisa major global health concern,yet the originsand distribution of resistancegenesin natural soils arenot fully understood Soil microbesnaturally produce antibiotics,and neighboring bacteria evolveresistance mechanisms,making soilsimportant reservoirsof resistance genes Grasslandsareecosystemsdominated by grassesand herbaceousplantswith few trees.They support diverse microbial communitiesand play key rolesin soil health and nutrient cycling Studying minimally impacted grassland soilscan help distinguish naturally occurring resistance from resistancedriven by human activity,such as agriculture Soil sampleswerecollected from three northeastern Pennsylvaniagrasslands:WanamieRecreation Area (2022),Nescopeck StatePark (2023),and RickettsGlen StatePark (2023) Sampleswereserially diluted and plated on both tryptic soy agar (TSA)and TSA supplemented with tetracycline(15µg/mL) Coloniesthat grew wereisolated through streak plating and characterized by colony morphology,Gram staining,and biochemical tests,
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including sugar fermentation,motility,citrateutilization, and ureaseactivity Six coloniesshowing themost robust growth wereselected for DNA extraction using the DNeasy? Powersoil? Pro Kit PCRwasperformed to detect specific antibiotic resistancegenes Resultsshowed diversebacterial morphologiesand metabolic profiles. Sample346(Wanamie)formed yellow colonieson TSA+tet platesand wasa Gram-negativerod,fermenting glucose and positivefor citrateand motility.SamplesM1and M2 (RickettsGlen)werefilamentousGram-positiverods, consistent with actinobacteria Samples440 (RickettsGlen), 446(RickettsGlen),and 452(Nescopeck)were Gram-positiverodswith varying sugar fermentation and motility Noneof theisolateswerepositivefor the resistancegenestested.Thesefindingsindicatethat antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur naturally in grassland soils,even in theabsenceof livestock or agriculture,and highlight theecological diversity of resistancemechanisms in environmental bacterial populations
Cr ossw ind Impact on Rotor craf t Lif t and Vibrat ion
Gavin Cooney
Research Advisor:Dr.Steven Pagano
Thisstudy investigatestheaerodynamic performanceand vibrational responseof arotor system?soperation under largewind conditions Testing wasconducted using a rotor test stand fitted with threeload cellsat therotor hub,a torquesensor,and an accelerometer,aswell asan anemometer to measurewind speed Using thistest stand, thisstudy will measurethewind interferencethrough the analysisof changing patternsin rotor torque(a measurement of total aerodynamic resistance)and strain pattern (a reflection of varying forcesacrosstherotor hub) Thetest procedurewill involvevarying baselinedata sets at a rangeof bladepitches,without and with crosswind conditionscreated by theexhaust of awind tunnel By comparing forceand torquemeasurementsfor various bladepositions,thisstudy will provideinsight into the impact of strong wind environmentson rotorcraft stability, power demand,lift characteristics,and in-flight safety, with direct applicationsto UAV,VTOL,and other rotorcraft operationsin unpredictableenvironments
Lear ning about mat hemat ics educat ion by par t icipat ing in pr of essional r eading gr oups
Isabella Dauphinee
Research Advisor:Dr Dana Olanoff
Reading groupsor book clubsallow individualsto come together and learn about a common area of interest Participantsin reading groupsdiscussinformation,learn from each other,and grow both individually and together. Reading groupsalso help individualsgain confidenceand problem-solving skillsby providing opportunitiesfor participantsto sharetheir interpretationsand questions within asupportivecommunity,creating a senseof belonging for themembers Reading groupscan bea great placeto start research,asthey enableindividualsto exploreand research a topic and then discussit with otherswho sharesimilar interests Thissummer,I participated in two professional reading groupswith teams of mathematicseducators Thefirst group,comprised of mathematicseducatorswho had an interest in early childhood education,read and discussed Mathematics Through Play in theEarlyChildhood Classroom by Amy NoelleParks Thesecond group consisted of myself and two mathematicsteacher educators,and weread Rough Draft Math:RevisingtoLearn by Amanda Jansen
Participating in both groupshelped methink about different waysto focuson teaching math to elementary students,by looking at waysto connect children?splay to mathematics,and by thinking about doing math in the sameway onethinksabout writing:creating a rough draft, and revising that draft,rather than creating afinished product on thefirst attempt My advisor and I plan on trying to incorporatesomeof what welearned into our futureteaching
Social Media r esponses to Gun Violence: Insight s f r om Chester, Philadelphia, and Camden
Alyssa Davis,Adriana Hemphill,IsisWilliams
Research Advisor:Dr.MichelleLyttleStorrod
Gun violenceimpactscommunitiesin numerousways, causing thecommunity membersto loseloved ones, friends,neighbors,and familiar facesthey seeevery day At thesametime,social media hasbecomeamajor sourceof information,breaking news,and a way for people
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to stay connected with their communities Many community membersnow usesocial media to share updatesabout gun violence,including alerting othersto incidentssuch asgunshotsor informing them about individualswho havebeen affected To test this connection,our research focused wason threelocal communitiesthat haveahigh rateof gun violence: Philadelphia,Chester,and Camden,New Jersey To collect thisinformation,a social media account on Instagram was created to track what community groupswereposting about from May 2025to August 2025 Findingsfrom the social media analysisdemonstrated threethemes: community safety,community resources,and community grieving
Living Low : Ment al Healt h in Yout h Type One Diabet ics
Alexandra Deeble
Research Advisor:Dr.Robin Goldberg-Glen
Adolescentsdiagnosed with Type1Diabetesfacecomplex challengesthroughout their life,asthisdiseaseisnot only physically,but mentally demanding Mental health and socioeconomic statusplay pivotal rolesin disease outcomes,and quality of lifefor thesechildren Therehas been much research conducted on thephysical alienatesof Type1Diabetes,but few studieshaveshown themental effectsof living with thischronicdisease Thisresearch is aimed at investigating how lower incomelevelscontribute to both poor physical and mental health outcomes,and how psychological distresscan impair self-management behaviors,leading to worsened control and increased risk of physical complications
Thecaregiver?sroleemergesasacritical factor in mitigating theseoutcomes,which thereiseven less research into However,based on theresearch that has been conducted,high levelsof caregiver involvement correlatewith improved diseasemanagement,a higher moraleof thechild,and thereforelessmental and physical harm to theadolescent Caregiversthemselvesmay experiencehigh levelsof stress,sleep deprivation,and emotional burnout,especially in low-incomefamilies This poster aimsto highlight theconnection between caregiver and Type1Diabetic,and how simpleinvolvement in social settingsincreasesthechild?schancesof living alonger, healthier life
Expr ession of Isof or m B in Zw, t he Drosophila Or t holog of G6PD, is Absent in an Oregon R (OreR) Fly Line
AnandDickson
Research Advisor:Dr.AlexisNagengast
Glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase(G6PD)enzyme deficiency resultsin acutehemolytic anemia caused by the rapid breakdown of red blood cells G6PD istherate limiting enzymeof thepentosephosphatepathway (PPP) that isresponsiblefor theproduction of nicotinamide adeninedinucleotidephosphate(NADPH),which isused to produceglutathione,an antioxidant that protectsred blood cellsfrom oxidativestress Zwischenferment (Zw)is theDrosophila ortholog of G6PD and producesthreeRNA isoforms,each with alternativetranscription start sites. IsoA codesfor aprotein that is22amino acidslonger than theproduct of IsoB/Cdueto alternativestart sites These alternativestart sitesand protein length variation are conserved from fliesto humans,suggesting a functional significance PreviousqPCRanalysisof mRNA using primersspecific to IsoB detected product under starvation conditions;however,recent qPCRresultsof starved and fed samplesfailed to show evidenceof IsoB in Oregon R (OreR),a wild typefly linecommonly used in thelab.PCR resultsof genomic DNA from putativeCRISPRinduced mutantsfrom yw;cas9parental stocksshow IsoB product whileOreRdoesnot.Using different combinationsof forward and reverseprimersspecific for thegenomic region surrounding IsoB,consistently shorter products wereobtained using OreRtemplateDNA than from yw;cas9 PCRusing OreRgenomic DNA templatewith primersspecific to IsoB exons(previously designed for qPCRanalysis)also did not amplify any product.Overall resultssuggest a deletion in theOreRgenomethat eliminatestheproduction of theIsoB mRNA product Thus,OreRmay bea useful stock to study thefunction of theproductsof IsoA and IsoCto better understand G6PD enzymedeficiency in humans
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Fr om Translat ion to Transf or mat ion
Leticia Clara Eyenga Dondo
Research
Advisor:Dr Maria Luiza Pinho
In an increasingly interconnected world and in today's globalized economy,multilingualism isno longer a soft skill -it'sa strategic asset Multilingualism ismorethan a communication tool - it isacatalyst for strategic growth, innovation,and inclusiveleadership Thispaper explores how multilingual talent transformsglobal business outcomesacrossdiversesectors,including sports, hospitality,healthcare,and technology Through real-world examplesand sector-specificanalysis,wedemonstrate how languagefluency enhanced cross-cultural collaboration,customer engagement,and organizational agility Thispaper arguesthat multilingual professionals arenot merely translators,but strategic assetswho drive transformation in global enterprises
3D Modeling of an FSAE Seat w it h Emphasis on Saf ety and Ergonomics
Colin Duong,Christian Wannamaker
Research Advisors:Dr.Ria Mazumder,Aaron Selnick
In Formula SAEracecar design,thedriver?sseat isacritical interfacebetween human and machine,requiring abalance of safety,ergonomics,and performance Thiswork presents a methodology for 3D modeling an FSAEseat with emphasison driver support,fatiguereduction,and regulatory compliance Thedesign processbeginswith the integration of anthropometric data,accommodating driversfrom the5th-percentilefemaleto the 95th-percentilemale,ensuring inclusivity and comfort acrossa widerangeof body types.Prototypesgenerated through 3D printing allow form and fit verification prior to compositelayup in materialssuch asfiberglassor carbon fiber,balancing lightweight performancewith rigidity to enhanceboth driver safety and control Thedesign incorporatescompliancewith FSAEsafety standards, ensuring correct belt routing,visibility,and firewall integration whilecontributing to chassisenergy management in crash scenarios Evaluation of seat geometry and material propertiesthrough simulation and driver feedback guidesiterativeoptimization,resulting in a
structurethat minimizesvibration,supportsdriver comfort during high-Gmaneuvers,and reducesfatigue during prolonged operation By uniting ergonomic science, CAD-based workflow,and compositemanufacturing,the 3D-modeled FSAE seat achievesasynergy of comfort and safety
Using admissions t r ends and cr edit hours f or f or ecast f inancial decisions
Mesoma Ezeiruaku
Research Advisor:Prof.Vaughn Hopkins
Widener University?sfinancial health isclosely tied to tuition revenue,which dependson student enrollment and course loads Admissionsoutcomes? applications,acceptancerates, yield,and enrollment? shapestudent credit hours(SCH),and SCH in turn drivetuition revenueand resourceallocation This project analyzesadmissionsand SCH trendsfrom 2020 to 2024 and comparesthem to audited tuition revenuefrom FY21to FY24 Data from Widener?sFact Book and audited financial statementswereintegrated through calculationsof effective dollarsper credit hour,and Tableau dashboardsweredeveloped to visualizekey trendsand relationships
Findingsshow that applicationsincreased by 63%,whileyield remained steady at approximately 14% UndergraduateSCH ranged between 67,000 and 74,000 during theperiod,with a notabledip in FY23 Despiterelatively stableSCH,net tuition revenuedeclined from $1233million in FY21to $1149 million in FY24,highlighting thegrowing impact of tuition discounting Program-level analysisrevealed differencesin efficiency: Nursing and Engineering generated moreSCH per student compared to Businessprograms
Theseresultsindicatethat growth in student credit hoursdoes not automatically translateto higher revenue,sincefinancial aid policiesand program structuresmoderatetuition outcomes Thiswork providesa framework for forecasting financial resultsby linking admissions,SCH,and revenue Recommended next stepsincludefocusing admissionson high-SCH programs, reducing discounting to strengthen net tuition,enhancing retention to stabilizeSCH,and optimizing theprogram mix based on SCH efficiency
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The ef f ect of Lion?s Mane mushr oom ext ract on a Dr osophila model of Alzheimer?s Disease
Houman Fereidouni
Research Advisor:Dr AlexisNagengast
Lion?sManemushroom (Hericium erinaceus)hasbeen associated with neuroprotectiveeffects,including stimulation of theNerveGrowth Factor and potential therapeutic valueagainst neurodegenerativedisorders We hypothesized that an extract of Lion?sManemushroom (LMM)might slow theprogression of Alzheimer?sDisease (AD) Thisneurodegenerativediseaseistheleading cause of death in theUnited States To investigatethis,we utilized a transgenic Drosophila melanogaster model in which theGAL-UASsystem drivesexpression of the human APP-A?42genein theeye,producing an age-dependent ?rough eye?phenotype TheUAS-A?42 transgenewasinserted in two different genetic backgroundsto allow for comparisons:second chromosomeinsertionswerein a ywf background (yellow) and third chromosomeinsertionswerein a w1118 background (white) Theyellow linephenotypeprovided superior results,astherough eyephenotypewasmore easily distinguished,and thesefliesexhibited greater longevity than thewhiteline Food intakeassays confirmed that fliesingested ethanol-based LMM extract without adverseeffects,and experimental groupswerefed LMM extract whilecontrolsreceived ethanol-yeast mixture Preliminary findingssuggest that LMM extract not only enhancesfecundity but also prolongslifespan, particularly in yellow linefemaleflies Ongoing studieswill further evaluatethepotential of LMM asa therapeutic intervention for neurodegenerativedisease In further experiments,theability of thefruit flieswill beexamined to determinetheability of thefliesto climb to understand theeffect of muscle-nervecommunication
Invest igat ing t he ef f ect s of aged liver secr eted factors on healt hy hear t muscle cells
diseasehasbeen linked to systemic health issues,including cardiovascular dysfunction However,thespecific roleof aged liver secretionson healthy or aged heart function are not known Our goal isto fill thisgap of knowledgeby studying thechangesin heart tissueaging and function upon exposureto aged liver tissuesecretions To investigatetheseinteractions,theoverall aim isto chemically ageliver and heart musclecellsand to develop respective3D tissuesof aged heart and liver Weused human induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)to derive heart musclecellssinceprimary heart musclecellsarenot suitablefor long term culture iPSCswerethawed and cultured until a desired confluency wasestablished and then differentiated into cardiomyocytes(iCMs)following a nine-day differentiation protocol To induceaging,the iCMswereexposed to 200 µM hydrogen peroxide(H2O2), whilethecontrol group remained untreated Thecellswere lysed for RNA-isolation and RT-qPCRanalysisto assess expression of cardiomyocytespecific genesand genes activated in stressto confirm aging Preliminary results demonstratesuccessful differentiation of iPSCsinto cardiomyocytesasthey experienced physical changesfrom small,rounded clustersto stretched fiber-likeshapes In addition,theincreased level of stressrelated markersafter thehydrogen peroxidetreatment confirmsthesuccessof mimicking aging in theheart cells Current work focuses on aging liver cells,encapsulating them in a hydrogel to form aged liver tissue,and assessing their interaction with iCMsby applying secreted factorsfrom theliver tissueto heart cells
Fly scent pr ef er ences and it s implicat ions f or Symplocarpusfoetidusand Asimina triloba pollinat ion
AmyGoodman,Declan Adams-Campeau
Research Advisor:Dr KatherineGoodrich
Pollination isessential for reproductivesuccessfor many angiosperms Symplocarpusfoetidus(skunk cabbage)and Asimina triloba (pawpaw)exhibit floral mimicry of carrion and fermenting substratesrespectively They attract Diptera (truefly)pollinators,thereby differentiating themselvesfrom thetypical pollinatorsof bees,butterflies, and other Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera Thisproject compared thefly taxacaught on trapsusing either carrion or fermentation bait Eight traps,four of each bait,were
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set out in a two-row checkerboard pattern at Taylor Arboretum and collected after 4-5hours Compiling past data starting in 2022with therecent 2025counts,14 familiesof Dipteraarerepresented acrossboth bait types with themost prominent being Calliphoridae,Muscidae, Heleomyzidae,and Fannidae Within Calliphoridaeand Muscidae,themost numerousspeciesand genera show strong patternsindicating a preferencefor either carrion or fermentation Wealso caught Drosophila (fruit flies)on both fermentation and carrion baits,suggesting that the genuscould bemoregeneralist than previously thought Understanding thefly community and itspreferencesin Taylor Arboretum acrossseasonswill help to identify the pollinatorsof skunk cabbageand pawpaw Further trapping to increasesamplesizesand reveal stronger patternsin seasonsbeyond thesummer isongoing.This project pairswith a sister project that chemically analyzes thevolatileorganic compounds(VOCs)in Symplocarpus foetidususing GCMStechniques.Shared VOCsbetween thebaitsand flowerscould indicatetheimportant chemical factorsthat attract flies
Sust ainable Biomater ials f r om Food Waste
JacobGrossman,Matthew D?Angelo
Research Advisor:Dr.LiKangChin
Over 100 billion poundsof food wastearediscarded each year in theUnited States,causing environmental and economic impacts Thisproject exploresan alternativeuse for food wasteasbiomaterial scaffoldsfor cell culture modelsand potentially for tissueengineering Common produceitemslikestrawberries,broccoli,celery,potatoes, and carrotswereprocessed with detergentsto remove nativecellsand subsequently characterized for DNA content to determinedecellularization efficiency
Decellularized scaffoldsweremechanically tested under uniaxial tension to quantify Young?sModulus,which isa measurement of stiffness Finally,food wastebiomaterials wereseeded with fibroblast cellsand evaluated for biocompatibility using both acytotoxicity assay aswell as cell staining and imaging to visualizethepresenceof viable cells Theresultssuggest that food wastecan be repurposed assustainable,affordablebiomaterial scaffolds with a rangeof stiffnessvaluesthat support cell viability Thisresearch pavestheway for futuredevelopment of
other eco-friendly biomedical advances.
Why Knee Joint Replacement s?
Christopher Hackney
Research Advisor:Dr Rhonda Hazell
My research explorestheimportanceand relevanceof kneejoint replacements Thekneejoint isa crucial joint in thebody that helpsusto perform everyday activitiessuch aswalking,running,and playing sports Therearemany structuresin and around thekneejoint that help theknee to function Someof thesestructuresaremuscles, ligaments,and bones Over time,thesestructureswear down and becomeweaker and may causepain This increasestheprobability of getting a kneeimplant in the future Long term osteoarthritisisthecommon causeof why someonewould consider a kneeimplant Thereare many typesof kneeimplant materialsthat could beused surgically Thesematerialsincludeceramics,different metalsand polyethylene Beforethekneeimplantsare inserted into thenatural kneejoint,they arefirst tested with a stresstesting machine Stresstesting machineshelp to ensurethat each part of a kneereplacement isstrong under largeamountsof pressure Thepartsof a knee replacement includethefemoral,spacer,and tibial components When thesethreestructuresareformed into a singlekneereplacement they replicatea natural knee Each kneereplacement hasitsadvantagesand disadvantages Thetypeof kneereplacement someonegets dependson a person?sphysical activity Overall,knee replacementshelp to relievearthritispain whilegiving you a new functional knee,and anew outlook on life
Ecological consequences of post -tor nado salvage logging in Ridley Cr eek St ate Park: Invasive species outcompete nat ive r ecover y
Tyler Harper
Research Advisor:Dr BruceGrant
On October 31,2019,an EF2tornado struck Ridley Creek StatePark,causing significant damage However,the subsequent "salvage" logging operation proved to bea far greater ecological disaster Instead of merely removing fallen trees,theoperation pillaged theentirehilltop,
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greater ecological disaster Instead of merely removing fallen trees,theoperation pillaged theentirehilltop, creating hugefurrowsand causing massivesoil loss This mismanaged logging vastly exceeded theoriginal storm damage,creating a habitat catastrophe Such intensive logging isknown to degradehabitat quality,reduce biodiversity,accelerateerosion,and facilitateinvasive speciesestablishment A 2024study by Widener students and Dr BruceGrant reported that thelogging operation negatively impacted nativeplant regeneration and promoted invasivespecies Building on their findings,our summer 2025research revisited thesiteto document speciescomposition and evaluaterecovery Using thesame methods,wequantified theabundanceof treeseedlings, shrubs,and herbaceousplants,categorizing each asnative or invasive Our data highlight how intensiveloggingcan shift forest regeneration trajectories,favoring invasive species In themiddleof thefurrows,35uniquenative specieswereidentified,but only 386%of thetotal plant abundance In contrast,32uniqueinvasivespecies accounted for 538%of thetotal plant abundance On the edgesof thefurrows,theimpact wasslightly lesssevere, with nativeplantscomprising 540% of thetotal plantsand invasiveplantsmaking up 440% Wealso observed that invasivevinesareoutcompeting nativeshrubs Wepredict that it may behundredsof yearsbeforetheforest canopy can re-establish at thissite
Absorbance and r epr oducibility of met al-island f ilms on glass slide
ThomasHegarty
Research Advisor:Dr Domhnall OShaughnessy
Weinvestigated how UV exposurecorrelated to increased absorbanceon metal-island plating madewith titanium dioxidesubstrate Metal-island filmsconsist of thin films of metal nanoparticlesattached to a substrate,commonly a titanium dioxidesol-gel,by exposureto ultraviolet light Prior research hasshown that thesemetal nanoparticles form clustersof nanoparticlesthat havediffering sizes based on certain factors,with our study focusing on the timeof exposureto UV light To determinewhether the processwasreproducible,glassslideswerecovered in titanium dioxidesol gel and had silver bonded to them through photodeposition Fifteen slideswereexposed to
UV light for fivedifferent lengthsof time,with threeslides for each length Theseslidesweretested using UV-Visible spectroscopy scanning,and by removing a portion using Scotch Tape,to determinehow increasing theexposure timeaffected theabsorbanceand robustnessof the substrate Theresultsof thespectrometer and tapetests showed that increasing thetimethat a slidewasunder the UV light increased theabsorbanceand robustnessof the slides,but also found that theopacity of thetitanium dioxidelayer post-annealing also impacted theabsorbance of theslides,astransparent titanium dioxidelayershad higher absorbancethan opaquelayers Futureresearch will focuson how other metalsreact when exposed to UV light when bonded to thetitanium sol gel,such ascopper
Revisit ing Trauma: COVID-19?s Impact on LGBTQ+ Older Adult s Who Sur vived t he AIDSEpidemic
Ryan F.Holland
Research Advisor:Dr Robin Goldberg-Glen
Thisproject delineatesinitial stepstoward conceptualizing a qualitativestudy designed to investigatethemultifaceted impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ older adults who previously survived theHIV/AIDSepidemic The SURCA fellowship wasdevoted to developing an understanding of trauma asit isshaped by intersecting pandemicsand marginalized identities Through areview of related literature,I wasableto identify persistent themesof resilience,vulnerability,and cumulative adversity among older LGBTQ+ persons Employing a narrativeinquiry approach,thefuturestudy aimsto illuminatethepresenceand dynamicsof secondary trauma,drawing connectionsbetween participants?lived experiencesduring both public health crises
Invest igat ing t he Impact of Trauma on t he embr yonic Dr osophila CNS
Rashad Janneh
Research Advisor:Dr.Hemlata Mistry
Understanding theformation and maintenanceof the central nervoussystem (CNS)requiresprecise visualization of specific proteinsat key developmental stages.Thefunction of theCNSrequiresprecise connection between neuronsand their targets
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Thefruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster,isa powerful model organism for studying nervoussystem development becauseit iseasy to grow and therearemany genetic tools availablefor research Importantly,75%of disease-causing genesin humanshavea fly homolog
I first undertook an immunofluorescent and immunochemistry approach to label and visualizetarget proteinswithin thedeveloping embryonic CNS To achieve this,late-stagewild typeembryoswerecollected At these stages,theCNSisalmost fully developed Theembryos werethen prepared for antibody staining I used three different antibodies:anti-Elav allowed meto visualize post-mitotic neurons,anti-Repo marksglial cells,and anti-BP102stainstheaxonal scaffold within theCNS Thesestudiesallowed meto gain a good understanding of thestructureof theCNSin embryos My goal isto determinetheeffect of injury to theCNSon Liprin-a and Rim,two proteinsimportant for synaptic development Liprin-a protein iscrucial for scaffolding moleculesthat organizepresynaptic activezone,and Rim istheorganizer of thepresynaptic terminal I will harvest RNA from injured embryosand useqPCRto determinetheimpact on liprin-a and rim geneexpression Asa first step,I have designed primersfor thesegenesand tested their efficacy I haveidentified primer setsthat I can usein futurestudies to comparegeneexpression changesin injured vs mock-injured embryos
Bet w een cult ur e and just ice in Et hiopia Ret hinking FGM inter vent ions t hr ough a Feminist -Human Right s Lens
Ritza Jean
Research Advisor:Dr.ThomasWilk
Femalegenital mutilation (FGM)isstill awidespread human rightsviolation,affecting approximately 230 million women and girlsworldwide,with a prevalenceof 65%in Ethiopia.Despiteinternational condemnation under treatiessuch astheCEDAW,FGM persistsbecause too deeply ingrained cultural,religious,and patriarchal beliefs.Thisstudy promotesa culturally sensitive, community-led approach to FGM elimination in Ethiopia, combining feminist and human rightsframeworkswith Brian D.Earp'sethical model,which prioritizesautonomy and impartiality over moral absolutism Thestudy draws
on successful grassrootsinterventionslikeKMGEthiopia, which combinesstorytelling,economic empowerment,and open community discussion to demonstratehow locally driven effortsoutperform externally imposed ones A 2024 meta-analysispublished in BMCPublic Health reinforces thisstrategy by associating FGM to serioushealth outcomesand emphasizing theimportanceof context-awareinterventions By supporting ethical, participativemethodsthat areconsistent with Sustainable Development Goal 5,thisstudy providesa reproducible framework for eliminating FGM internationally while balancing cultural relativism and universal rights
Explor ing Machine Lear ning Using Py t hon
Ryan Johnson
Research Advisors:Dr Yana Kortsarts,Dr Edwin Dauber
MachineLearning isa branch of artificial intelligencethat usesstatistical data to recognizepatternsand make algorithmic predictionswithout user input Machine learning technology isused in many different fieldswith multipleapplications,such asin speech recognition software,fraud detection,computer vision,and recommendation algorithms In thisstudy,SingleVariable and MultipleVariableLinear Regression areused to predict outcomesfrom threedifferent data sets Linear Regression isa machinelearning method that comparesan independent variable/variableswithin thedataset to a dependent variable,thepredicted outcome,through creating a lineof best fit through thegiven data Single VariableLinear Regression usesoneindependent variable to createa linear graph from which theoutcomevaluesare predicted,whileMultipleVariableLinear Regression uses multipleindependent variablesto createa planeor hyperplane Using data setsfor wineprices,used car prices, and cereal quality,regression modelswerecreated in Python,an open-sourceprogramming languagethat supportslibrariesused for creating machinelearning models,with each model being tested for accuracy using R2 asa metric Theindependent variablesfrom themost accurateSingleVariableLinear Regression modelswere then used to createMultipleVariableLinear Regression modelsbased on their correlation
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iAll modelswerecompared in termsof accuracy to see what typesof data and data patternsaremost effectiven creating themost accurateLinear Regression models
Conf ir ming CRISPR/ Cas9-Induced Mut at ions in Zwischenferment (Zw), t he Drosophila Or t holog of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydr ogenase (G6PD
Ethan Kang
Research Advisor:Dr AlexisNagengast
Glucose-6-PhosphateDehydrogenase(G6PD)isthe rate-limiting enzymein thePentosePhosphatePathway (PPP) PPP isoneof two major metabolic pathwaysin red blood cells,with theother being glycolysis Red blood cells experienceoxidativestresswith impaired G6PD function Asthemost prevalent enzymedeficiency in humans,G6PD deficiency research isimpactful To study thegenetics underlying thedisorder moreeffectively,researchersused Drosophila melanogaster asa model organism and focused on Zwischenferment (Zw),thefruit fly geneortholog (related gene)to human G6PD Thetranscription of Zw makesthreedifferent mRNA isoforms:IsoA,IsoB,and IsoC Prior research found that CRISPR/Cas9 editsin exon 2of Zw shifted thereading frameand werepredicted to stop IsoA from being made To confirm theprior results and discern whether a morecost-effective,user-friendly and reliablePCRapproach could work just aswell asa high-fidelity onefor detecting mutations,experimentation wasdone Genomic DNA wasprepared from putative CRISPR-mutated and yw;Cas9 parental lines,amplified via PCRusing GoTaq (non-proofreading)polymeraseor Phusion (proofreading)polymerase,run on an agarosegel, purified and sequenced Thesequencing confirmed the expected mutationsin all threelines,and resultsdid not vary between polymerasesused;thus,themorereliable, non-proofreading GoTaq polymeraseissufficient in amplifying thesegenomic preparations Repeating experimentation with new genomic DNA preparations should help boost sequencing confidenceand analysisof Drosophila populationsshould reveal theeffectsof mutated lines
Implicit Bias Training and Mater nal Mor t ality: Explor ing Nursing St udent s?Aw ar eness
Mya Kennedy
Research Advisor:Dr.Jawanza Bundy
Maternal mortality ratesin theUnited Statesremain disproportionately high among Black women,with implicit biasidentified asa significant contributing factor to this disparity Nursing education presentsa critical opportunity to addresssuch biasesearly,prior to entry into clinical practice Thisstudy explorestheimpact of an implicit biastraining workshop in enhancing nursing students?awarenessof implicit biasand itsimpact on maternal health outcomesamong Black women Students will attend a structured educational session focused on the relationship between implicit biasand racial disparitiesin maternal health Participantswill completea pre-intervention assessment,using thetoolsAttitudes TowardImplicit BiasInstrument (ATIBI) and theBiasin Maternal HealthcareInstrument (BMHI),to evaluate baselineknowledgerelated to implicit biasand racial disparitiesin maternal mortality A post-intervention assessment,identical to thepre-test,will then be administered Data will beanalyzed to assesschangesin knowledgeand awareness It ishypothesized that the training will result in a statistically significant increasein student understanding of implicit biasand itsrolein maternal health disparities Findingsmay support the integration of implicit biaseducation into nursing curricula asastrategy to mitigateracial disparitiesin maternal mortality
Discover ing Taiw an?s Transgender Histor y
Noel Keryluk
Research Advisor:Dr.YufengMao
My research seeksto study Taiwan?stransgender community through a historical lens In addition to reading scholarly and other secondary sources,I conducted archival research in Taiwan and interviewswith LGBTQ+ rightsactivistsduring my trip to Taipei in August Accompanied by Dr Mao,I visited theNational Archivesin Taiwan to find Nationalist material on Kong Lingwei,the trans-masculinenephew of Chiang Kai Shek
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I also visited theGrand Hotel,which featured a guided tour of theformer residenceof Kong,whosemasculinity shone through with each collection of guns/hunting gear, military memorabilia,and expensivealcohol However,the heart of theTaiwanesetransgender community I found not in thearchivesor historical sitesbut instead hidden amongst thebustleof everyday life Businessesand organizationsliketheDaybreak café,Fembooksbookstore, and Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+)HotlineAssociation are scattered throughout Taipei,availableto queer folks searching for political engagement,educational resources, or simply a safespace.At theDaybreak café,queer activists Brian Hioeand Yo-Ling Chen,shared their personal experiencesand political insightsaswritersand organizers.Yo-Ling,among other membersof the nonprofit tapcpr,areworking to addressTaiwan?smost pressing transissue:theelimination of compulsory surgery asa requirement for gender change.Thispolicy tracesback to the1950swhen intersexed Nationalist veteran XieJianshun wasforced to ?correct?hisgender through a seriesof invasivesurgeries.Taiwan hassince becomethefirst Asian country to legalizegay marriagein 2019,but Yo-Ling,Brian,and other queer Taiwanese activistsknow that thereisstill work to bedone,refusing to let progressbestunted by complacency within thesocial norm
Sow ing t he seeds of change: Cr eat ing an outdoor classr oom f or a community lear ning par t nership in f ull bloom at Stet ser Element ar y School
Maura R Kopaczynski
Research Advisor:Dr.BruceGrant
For thepast 11years,Widener University studentsin three academic service-learning courses(ASC-101,ENGL-101,and BIOL-172)havepartnered with Stetser Elementary School to maintain a 22-bed garden Thiscollaborativeprogram servesasa living laboratory,fostering community-based learning for both Widener studentsand 5th gradersand LifeSkillsstudentsfrom theschool Theproject isdesigned to addresssystemicinequitiesin Chester,PA,an under-resourced urban community In Chester,76%of studentsliveat or below thepoverty line,and only 10% are projected to graduatefrom college Theprogram confronts thesechallenges,which arefurther compounded by
disproportionately high ratesof childhood obesity and diabetes,aswell asa33% incarceration ratefor urban Black males.Thegarden servesasa uniqueeducational space that promotespersonal wellness,urban ecology,and food justice,allowing studentsto co-construct knowledgeand understanding.Thepartnership providesWidener studentswith invaluableexperience,fostering empathy and motivating them to bridgeeducational gapsthat are starkly visibleat Stetser,wheretheschool lacksa library, sciencecurriculum,and artsprogramming To enhancethis program,weproposecreating an outdoor classroom within theStetser Garden.Thisspace,featuring tables,benches, and a gazebo,will provideaversatilelearning environment that offersa welcomerespitefrom technology and engages studentswith hands-on,multi-sensory experiences.This new element will enrich our curriculum with activitieslike using microscopes,creating leaf prints,writing haiku,and engaging in garden-related math projects,further solidifying thegarden asapowerful context for learning
Combatt ing cr isis w it h community: A literar y analysis of older LGBTQ+ adult s being af f ected by t he COVID-19 and HIV/AIDSpandemic
Lani Kouroupis
Research Advisor:Dr Robin Goldberg-Glen
Older LGBTQ+ adults,who wereamong themost vulnerableduring thepeak of theHIV/AIDScrisis,arenow witnessing thecatastropheof theCOVID-19 pandemic Research on theimpact of panic and how trauma-informed carecan reduceretraumatization isstill lacking The complexitiesof trauma can beunderstood,but wemust open doorsto theoriesweneglect Addressing trauma through theframework of sexuality revealshow fear and stigma becomeinternalized,particularly for LGBTQ+ communities Older LGBTQ+ adultsand their experiences illustratehow community support can interrupt patterns of retraumatization and promotehealing By centering their stories,wecan reframehealth careand social services to not only reduceharm,but actively promotewellnessand dignity acrossaging queer populations Thesechallenges and strengthsarepresent in every community and reflect patternsof trauma and resiliencebeyond theLGBTQ+ experience
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Explor ing Glassy Relaxat ion w it h t he Random Energy Model
AmineLotfi
Research Advisor:Dr Xin Du
Glasses,eg metallic glassesand optical fibers,are amorphousmaterialswith diverging relaxation time The slow dynamicsareoften analyzed through their rugged high-dimensional energy landscapes,which illustratehow theglasssystemsarelikely to becometrapped in local energy basinsat low temperatures To investigatetheslow dynamicsof glasseson thepotential energy landscapes, weemployed theRandom Energy Model (REM),a simplified spin model in which each configuration is represented by a binary array and assigned an energy randomly drawn from a Gaussian distribution By simulating thedynamicsof REM glassesin C++ and analyzing theresulting data with Python,wesuccessfully computed theevolution of theenergy for glasseswith different spin sizesat varioustemperaturesover time Our resultsshow that theenergy decreasesover timeasthe system continuously exploresconfigurationsof lower potential energy,but therelaxation significantly slows after a critical timescale,? Thistimescalemarksthestart of an activated dynamicsregime,in which theglass system must overcomelocal energy barriersto escape from a local energy basin Our resultsareconsistent with theenergy landscapetheory Furthermore,weexplored thedependenceof thiscritical timescaleon both temperatureand thespin glasssize Wefind that thetime scaleincreaseslinearly with larger system size,but increasesto a plateau at lower temperature These findingssupport energy landscapetheory and demonstratehow simplified modelscapturekey features of glassy relaxation
Invest igat ing t he ef f ect s of branched-chained keto acids (BCKAs) on lif espan in Drosophila melanogaster
DavidMarcellino
Research Advisors:Dr.Robert Mishur,Dr.Alexis Nagengast
In thisstudy,weinvestigated thepotential of branched-chain keto acids(BCKAs)to modulatelifespan
in Drosophila melanogaster Theprimary objectiveof this experiment isto determinewhether
3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate,3-methyl-2-oxovalerate,and 4-methyl-2-oxovalerate,administered at 10 mM doses,can extend lifespan in Drosophila by influencing metabolic pathwayslinked to aging Thesecompoundshave previously been shown to extend lifespan in Caenorhabditiselegans,a widely used model organism for aging studies Understanding thesemechanismscould uncover therapeutic targetsfor age-related diseases
Survival wasmonitored daily to assesspotential longevity modulation,complemented by atriglycerideassay to evaluatemetabolic health
BCKAsinfluencing lifespan could revolutionizeaging research by uncovering key mechanismsthat control longevity.Moving forward,thisproject will explore varying dosagesof theseBCKAsto determineif optimized concentrationsyield moreprofound effectson lifespan, potentially amplifying their impact on metabolic health. Such discoveriescould lead to potential interventionsthat may help extend thehuman health span by mitigating age-related conditionslikecognitivedeclineand chronic diseases,ultimately enabling peopleto livelonger, healthier lives
Baxter Robot ic Wheel-Legs
Kristen Martinez
Research Advisor:Dr.XiaomengShi
Wheel-legged robotscombinethespeed of wheeled robots with theincreased ability to traverseunsmooth terrain from legged robots Leg designsthat convert between wheelsand leg modulesoften result in high vibration and low carry capacity for many larger scalerobots Other current designsthat involvea wheel attached to theend of leg link arelimited in their ability to handlerough terrain Thisproject setsout to decreasethesenegative consequencesof previousdesignsand createawheel-leg design compatiblewith largeremotelearning systems Therobot used for thisdesign istheBaxter robot created by Rethink robotics Thisrobot istwo-armed,6foot,and 306pounds,including theweight of itspedestal The wheel-leg design needsto support Baxter asit traverses 7-inch stairsand largecordstypically found in a lab space
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Thedesign of therobot consistsof eight robotic legs,only four of which wheelsarepowered by a motor Thisisto ensurethat thereisalwaysa powered wheel driving the robot forward asdifferent legslift to avoid obstaclesand step upward Themain componentsof each leg arealinear actuator,a guiderail,and a driving/passivewheel The motion and stressanalysiswereconducted to verify the requirementsof lift rangeand structural strength were met for thetask Thefuturesetupsincludeassembling and testing singlerobotic legsand thewholemobileplatform, verifying thecapability of teleoperation/autonomous navigation with Baxter installed
Evaluat ing phosphaplat in ef f icacy in br east and lung cancer
EmilyMcHenry
Research Advisors:Dr Robert Mishur,Dr Michael Toneff
Platinum-based chemotherapies,whileeffective,are limited by systemic toxicity and thedevelopment of resistancein many cancers Phosphaplatins,anewer class of platinum compounds,arebeing investigated to overcometheselimitations Unliketraditional agentssuch ascisplatin,which rely on labilechlorideligandsto form DNA adducts,phosphaplatinslack thesereactivegroups, potentially reducing DNA binding and resistancevia DNA repair pathways Prior studiessuggest they may act through alternativemechanismsincluding extrinsic apoptotic signaling,oxidativestress,and mitochondrial dysfunction,though additional pathwaysmay also be involved Thisstudy evaluated threephosphaplatins-(trans-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexan) (pyrophosphato)platinate(II)(RRD2), dicyclobutylaminepyrophosphatoplatinate(II)(cBuAm-2), and dicyclobutylaminepyrophosphatoplatinate(II) (cPnAm-2)-- in two human cancer lines: MDA-MB-231triple-negativebreast cancer cellsand A549 lung cancer cells Cellsweretreated with increasing concentrationsof each compound and viability was measured using MTT assays IC50 valueswerecalculated from dose-responsecurves,with phosphaplatinsshowing a broad rangeof efficacy (134?M to 980 ?M) RRD2 showed thestrongest dose-responseeffect among the phosphaplatinstested,with IC50 valuesof 307?M in MDA-MB-231and 134?M in A549 Cisplatin?sIC50 values
were144?M and 681?M,respectively Whilethese findingsarepromising,differencesin treatment duration limit direct comparisons Nonetheless,RRD2?sactivity highlightsitspotential asalead phosphaplatin for further research Futuredirectionsaim to determinethespecific mechanismsby which phosphaplatinsexert their effects on cancer cells
For mula SAE suspension comparat ive st udy AllyMeyers,KyleWeber
Research Advisor:Dr Babak Eslami
Formula SAE(FSAE)isan international student engineering design competition whereuniversity teams design and racesmall,open wheeled carsjudged on performance,cost,and innovation Thisproject investigated and compared suspension architectures applied to FSAEvehiclesto find optimal geometry for handling,manufacturability,and performance The research focused on push versuspull rodson a double wishbone(Short long arm)front suspension aswell asthe differencebetween thedoublewishboneand MacPherson strut rear designs Each design wasevaluated by criteria such ascamber gain,roll center height and migration, bump steer,unprung mass,packaging efficiency and pitch control
Each suspension geometry wasmodeled in Optimum Kinematicsand simulated under conditionslikeheave,roll, and pitch motionswhich they would beexposed to beused on a vehicle Resultsshow that push-rod designsimprove packaging and reduceunsprung mass,whilepull-rod setupslower thecenter of gravity and aid aerodynamics but requirecomplex tuning and precision
For rear setups,doublewishbonesystemshad better camber control and roll center stability,whileMacPherson strutsoffered simpler packaging with reduced tunability Futurework will completemodeling of all configurations, integratemanufacturability constraintslikematerial availability and cost,then confirm resultswith scaled frameprototype
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The met abolic ef f ect s of omega-3 on a D.melanogaster Alzheimer?s model
YeHtet Naing
Research Advisor:Dr AlexisNagengast
Alzheimer'sDisease(AD)affectsover 55million people worldwideand isprojected to reach 139 million by 2050. Theamyloid hypothesissuggeststhat amyloid-? (A?) peptidedeposition initiatesneurodegeneration through inflammation and synaptic loss.Omega-3fatty acidsin fish oil,particularly DHA and EPA,haveshown neuroprotective propertiesby reducing A? processing and inflammation
Thisstudy investigated whether omega-3supplementation and restrictivetimefeeding (RTF)could reduce inflammation and improveoutcomesin a Drosophila melanogaster model of AD expressing theA?42gene.Flies expressing A?42weresubjected to threedietary interventions:control diet,omega-3(fish oil,FO) supplementation,and restrictivetimefeeding.Locomotor assayswereconducted to assessmotor function decline with age Metabolic analysismeasured triglycerideand glycogen levelsin larvae(n=6males,6femalesper group). Lifespan analysistracked survival acrosstreatment groups Both omega-3supplementation and RTF significantly increased median lifespan compared to controls In females:control (1575days),FO (1680 days), RTF (1992days) In males:control (1153days),FO (1216 days),RTF (14.50 days).Femalelarvaeshowed significantly elevated triglycerideand glycogen levelswith FO treatment,suggesting sex-specific metabolic responsesto EPA/DHA conversion or utilization.Theseresultssuggest Omega-3supplementation and RTF demonstrate protectiveeffectsagainst AD pathology in thefly model, with RTF showing themost pronounced lifespan extension Thesex-specificmetabolic differencesobserved warrant further investigation Futurestudieswill examine inflammation markersin adult fliesto better understand theneuroprotectivemechanismsof thesedietary interventions
Dat a Mining Techniques and Applicat ions
Chukwuebuka Okonkwo
Research Advisor:Dr.Suk-ChungYoon
Thisresearch project exploresthefundamental patternsof data mining,focusing on association rulemining, classification,clustering,and anomaly detection.Thestudy also reviewskey algorithms,including AWSand Apriori, which support thesetechniques Theprimary objective wasto understand thevariousdata mining patternsand evaluatetheir relativeimportanceacrossdifferent application forms Findingsindicatethat association rule mining isparticularly valuablein market-oriented companiesfor uncovering product relationshipsand customer behaviours In contrast,classification techniques aremoreessential for predictivetasksand decision-making processesin diverseindustries
AI-Based Cr edit Card Fraud Detect ion Using Mult iple Machine Lear ning Algor it hms
Kalpan Patel
Research Advisor:Dr.Suk-ChungYoon
Credit card fraud posesa significant threat to financial security,with fraudulent transactionsrepresenting less than 1% of total volume,creating a challenging class imbalanceproblem Thisproject developsan automated fraud detection system using multiplemachinelearning algorithmsand a user-friendly web interface We implemented four modelsLogistic Regression,Random Forest,XGBoost,and Neural Networkson theKaggle Credit Card Fraud Detection dataset containing 284,807 transactionswith 30 features Our methodology includes data preprocessing with StandardScaler,80/20 train-test splitting,and evaluation using precision,recall,and F1-scoremetrics Thesolution featuresa Streamlit web application allowing usersto select models,upload datasets,and visualizeresults XGBoost demonstrated superior performancein handling imbalanced data This work showcasespractical machinelearning skillsincluding data preprocessing,model comparison,and web development,providing an accessibletool for financial institutionsto detect fraudulent transactions
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High on Responsibility: Reddit and t he Moral of Cannabis Use
Shannon Pfeifer,Isabel Rodriguez
Research Advisor:Dr.Matt Reid
Cannabislegalization and normalization haveexpanded acrossmany regions,yet stigma and moral debatespersist Onlineforumssuch asReddit provideuniqueinsightsinto how thepublic negotiatesmorality,responsibility,and etiquettein everyday contexts Thisstudy examined how Reddit usersevaluateacceptableand unacceptable cannabisuseacrossthemessuch asparenting, relationships,neighbor disputes,public use,and other dimensionsof social life A dataset of 583postswascoded for judgmentsof theoriginal poster and cannabisuser (e.g., "not theasshole," "you'retheasshole"),contextual variables (eg,legality,medical or mental health use,presenceof children,landlord or neighbor conflicts,romantic relationships),and engagement metrics(upvotes, comments) Frequenciesand cross-tabulationsidentified patternsin responses.Findingsindicatecannabisusewas most often judged in relational and social contextsrather than strictly legal ones Conflictsinvolving children and romantic partnersdrew harsher judgments,whilemedical or mental health useelicited greater sympathy but less engagement Although legality shaped someevaluations, responsesweremorestrongly influenced by perceived impactson others Overall,thisstudy highlightshow onlinecommunitiesnavigateevolving cannabisnormsand broader cultural negotiationsaround stigma, accountability,and acceptance
Real-Time Speech-To-Speech Chat bot f or Human-Robot Interact ion
Ethan Priore
Research Advisor:Dr.Daniel Roozbahani
Chatbotsoffer intuitiveand responsiveinteraction between a user and a machine,enabling a user to make requestsand commandsto a machinewithout theneed for a tangibleinterface To communicatewith modern Large LanguageModels(LLM),a program wasdeveloped to transform input audio to astring via VOSK (a local speech-to-text softwaremodule),query theconverted
string to an Application Programming Interface(API)for a local or onlineLLM (OpenAI or Ollama),and synthesizethe responsewith Microsoft TTS(an onlinetext-to-speech generator) Thepipelinewaswritten in Python and optimized for real-timecommunication Thesystem was designed to beinterruptibleto allow user overridefor urgent requests To mitigatetherisk of thechatbot interpreting itsown audibleresponsesasuser interruptions,an external robotic platform wasdesigned and implemented Theplatform utilizesaRaspberry Pi-4B with a RespeakerV2Hat with integrated Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC)and stereo microphones.A ?head? structurewasmounted and driven by dual Dynamixel servos,and aspeaker located in the?mouth?region providesaudio output.Thehead structureresembles?Iron Man?to encourageusersto interact with an iconic character Futureresearch will add another motorized axis for head yaw,incorporatestereo camerasfor machine vision,and enableuseful commandsfor external devices
Pr omot ing Belonging and Inclusivity t hr ough t he Br eat he Board Out r each HaileyRichmond
Research Advisor:Dr.Angela Corbo
TheBreatheBoard promotesmental health resourcesand strivesto reducethestigma of mental illness Thecurrent configuration of theBreatheBoard focuseson serving graduateand undergraduatestudents TheBoard also providesadvocacy for faculty support and training This SURCA project conducted a comprehensiveevaluativeto assessitscurrent operationsand develop strategiesfor enhancing thepromotion of mental health and wellbeing acrosstheuniversity community Employing astructured SWOT (Strengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities,Threats) analysis,theboard systematically identified internal and external factorsthat influenceitsability to meet theneeds of undergraduatestudents,graduatestudents,and employees Thisanalytic framework not only informed organizational prioritiesbut also illuminated new opportunitiesfor outreach,resourceintegration,and sustainableprogram growth Theassessment revealed the potential to expand theboard?sreach by leveraging alumni expertise,professional networks,and timecontributionsto
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strengthen thepromotion of campusresourcesand wellbeing initiatives Concurrently,theboard began piloting targeted interventions,including dedicated office hourswithin NURS-101SectionsCand H and FYS101(for COMS/DMI majors),to providedirect accessto resources and to embed mental health awarenesswithin the academic experience Thesepilot programsareintended to normalizedialoguearound mental health,reducestigma, and createintentional,accessiblepointsof engagement for studentsat varying stagesof their educational journey Futuredirectionsincludebroadening collaboration with key campuspartnerssuch asWAVE,CampusSafety,and Human Resources By integrating cross-departmental expertiseand reinforcing networksof support,theBreathe Board seeksto foster aholistic,community-wideapproach to mental health promotion
Underst anding cyanobacter ia blooms w it hin t he gr eat ponds of Mar t ha?s Vineyard, MA
Kealt Rodgers
Research Advisor:Dr.CarolineFortunato
Cyanobacteria arephotosynthetic bacteria that are present on virtually every continent and arethetheorized ancestor of thechloroplast Cyanobacteria arethebaseof marinefood websand providemuch of theoxygen in the atmosphere Somespeciesof cyanobacteria are bloom-forming,a processby which thepopulation of one or morespeciesincreasessharply within a concentrated area Thesebloomsmay producetoxinscalled cyanotoxins, and in high enough concentrations,thesetoxinsmay cause illnessin humans Our research focuseson thegreat ponds of Martha?sVineyard,MA,becausefor over six yearsat least oneof thepondshasexperienced a cyanobacterial bloom between July and September Becausebloomsmay becomposed of multiplemicrobial species,wemust first learn themicrobial composition of theponds.By determining themakeup of themicrobial community in thewater during bloom and non-bloom times,wecan understand theinterbacterial relationshipswithin these pondsand better understand why thesebloomsoccur To determinethemicrobial composition,weextracted and purified DNA from water samplescollected acrossfour pondsin Martha?sVineyard,MA:Chilmark,Edgartown,
Tisbury,and Crackatuxet from Juneuntil September during 2021through 2025 Notably,thesepondsrangefrom fresh to marinewater Wearecurrently using PCRto amplify the16SrRNA gene,a universal marker genein bacteria and archaea Wewill then send thesamplesout for sequencing and comparethe16Ssequencesto a databaseto match it with known speciesof cyanobacteria In addition,wesent four DNA samplesfor metagenomic sequencing,which will help determinethefunctional potential of thecyanobacteriacommunities Analysisof themetagenomesisongoing and wearemining published work on cyanobacteria to determinespecific functional genesto analyzein our samples In Fall 2025wewill receive new samplesto analyze By determining thetaxonomic composition and metabolic potential of cyanobacteria bloomswecan better understand why they occur and what can bedoneto stop them
Integrat ing Autonomous Dr iving Technology into Elect r ic-Pow er ed Wheelchairs f or Enhanced Mobility
Makia Salient Fausta
Research Advisor:Dr Xiaomu Song
In thisproject,a semi-autonomousintelligent electric-powered wheelchair wasdesigned to support individualswith delayed reaction timesby combining the traditional manual control with an autonomousdriving and anti-collision system In themanual operation mode, thewheelchair isdriven by ajoystick controller that directsmotor function for movement However,when the system detectsapotential collision,it overridesmanual control and activatestheautonomousdriving to prevent thecollision To achievea reliableenvironmental awareness,thewheelchair integratestwo front-facing 3D Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)sensors,two rear-facing 2D LiDARsensors,and four ultrasonic sensors (two in thefront and two in theback).Thesesensors continuously scan thesurrounding area,generating real-timerangedata to detect obstaclesand predict potential collisions.Thesensor data areprocessed using an onboard Nvidia Jetson TX2(embedded AI computing module)with theRobot Operating system (ROS1) Python codewasdeveloped to implement sensor data acquisition, processing,information fusion,and decision making
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A simultaneouslocalization and mapping method wasalso implemented,allowing thewheelchair to construct a local map of itssurroundings Thisenablesthesystem not only to detect nearby objectsbut also to identify open paths and plan safer trajectories Another effort wasmadeto implement a Kalman filter to estimatethewheelchair?s current and futurepositions Thispredictivecapability allowsthewheelchair to act proactively and minimizethe risk of collision Thisproject demonstrateshow themobile robot techniquescan beintegrated into awheelchair to advancesafety and autonomy in assistivemobility technologies
Br idging Digit al and Cult ural Literacy t hr ough Stor y telling: Stor ies Like Me
Riya Sembhi
Research Advisor:Dr Katia Ciampa
The?StoriesLikeMe?program wasafree,six-week summer literacy initiativethat integrated structured literacy instruction,digital storytelling,and culturally sustaining pedagogy to support early literacy development and identity formation among children aged 5?12at J Lewis Crozer Library in Chester,PA Thisqualitativecasestudy exploreshow structured literacy practices,culturally relevant pedagogy,and digital toolsintersect to foster student confidence,narrativedevelopment,and engagement Each week,thematic sessionsincorporated foundational literacy skillslikepronouncing multisyllabic wordsor sequential languagewith digital projectsusing Canva,GoogleEarth,GarageBand,and CapCut Students engaged in creativeexpression whileaffirming their cultural identitieslikehow they received their namesor appreciating heroesin their community Findingsreveal fivekey themes:structured literacy scaffolds, identity-building through namesand places,digital toolsas creativeenablers,vulnerability and voice,and peer affirmation serveascatalystsfor culturally inclusive learning Thework highlightstheimportanceof embedding fundamental literacy skillswithin identity-centered instruction,engaging thestudentsin digital creation and expression-based learning that they can takewith them wherever they go
How Envir onment s Ref lect Self -Ident ity
Dana Shaw
Research Advisor:Dr.Michael Corcoran
From childhood bedroomsto collegedormsto first homes, thespaceswecall homecan tell our storiesbeforewedo Peopleoften view their living spacesasextensionsof themselves,using their homes,bedrooms,and living spaces to communicatevalues,personality,and identity These spacescan becomeliving embodimentsof us They can also influencehow weareperceived by others Thisraisesan interesting question Do individualsintentionally curate their spacesto present an idealized version of themselves or doestheir environment reveal who they truly are? Are personal spacesareflection of who someoneisor of how they want to beperceived?Thiscurrent project explored theconnection between personal spaceand what that says about us To investigatethis,I examined my dorm room as a primary case,analyzing how elementssuch ascolor choices,organization,and personal objectsembody my identity and values Thisexploration served asa foundation and pilot casefor our ongoing research looking at thelink between personal spacesand personality, particularly in thecontext of collegedorm rooms
The Endur ing Legacy of Joshua C Taylor : The Taylor Arbor et um, it s past , pr esent , and f ut ur e?
Faatumah Sillah
Research Advisor:Dr BruceGrant
Thisposter outlinestheorigin,management history,and lasting impact of theTaylor Arboretum,a living testament to founder Joshua C Taylor?senduring legacy Opened in 1946by theChester lawyer in memory of hislatewife, AnneRulon Gray,the30-acrearboretum wasestablished as a public spacefor environmental education and nature appreciation To ensureitslong-term preservation,Taylor also created theTaylor Foundation Located along Ridley Creek in Wallingford,Pennsylvania,thearboretum isa cultural landmark and ecological sanctuary,promoting conservation and sustainableland management Its diversehabitatssupport a widerangeof nativeplantsand wildlife Beyond itsplant collections,it servesasa center for ecological research and community engagement, serving asa living classroom and outdoor laboratory
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Thearboretum?smanagement hasevolved over time From 1993to 2000,theNatural LandsTrust oversaw theproperty, focusing on ecological preservation and education In 2016, Widener University acquired thearboretum trust account Theuniversity integrated thesiteinto itsacademic programsand now managesitsdaily operationsand long-term planning,ensuring thearboretum continuesits legacy of conservation TheTaylor Arboretum features noteworthy treecollections,including Giant Dogwood (Cornuscontroversa),NeedleJuniper (Juniperusrigida), Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia),and variousspeciesof oaks, hollies,and magnolias Thearboretum'svaried plantings, including Bald Cypressaround thepond and ground-level plantingsof ferns,wildflowers,and mosses,createa diverseecosystem for public enjoyment,research,and conservation At themoment theTaylor Arboretum isat an important crossroad in its80 year history:on 30 September 2025,Tom Kirk will end histerm aspreservemanager of theTaylor Arboretum,and thefutureof arboretum management by membersof Widener'sFaculty and staff communitiesiscurrently uncertain
Reclaiming t he Understor y: A Restorat ion Init iat ive f or May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) at Taylor Arbor et um
Zahra Simmons
Research Advisor:Dr BruceGrant
Urban green spaces,such asWidener University'sTaylor Arboretum,arecrucial for nativebiodiversity but are susceptibleto invasivespecies Over threedecades,native May Apple(Podophyllum peltatum)populationsin the arboretum'sWest Woodshavedeclined dueto dense encroachment by invasiveEnglish Ivy (Hedera helix)and Honeysuckle(Lonicera sp ) A prior 2021study by Widener studentsand Dr Grant initiated a long-term experiment by manually removing invasivespeciesfrom eleven 9m2plots Follow-up censusesin 2023and 2024showed that this removal waseffective,leading to May Appledensity recovery in plotswhereplantswerepreviously present (successdriven by clonal growth from underground rhizomes) However,May Applerecovery wasextremely slow in plotswhereit had been completely eliminated, likely dueto low seed germination and seedling establishment rates Building on thesefindings,our 2025 project re-censused thesameplots,confirming these
results To acceleraterestoration,a new initiativebegan in summer 2024:May Applerhizomesweretransplanted from denseclustersby Ridley Creek to theupland West Woods Our 2025censusfound that thesetransplantswere successful However,an unintended consequencewasthe spread of Lesser Celandine(Ficaria verna),asitstiny tuberswerealso transplanted with theMay Apple rhizomes Wemanually removed theCelandine,aiming to avoid damaging theMay Apples Our findingsindicatethat activetransplantation isa necessary and effectivestrategy for rapidly restoring thiskeystonenativespecies However, it also highlightsthecritical need to develop methodsfor removing Lesser Celandinetubersfrom thesoil matrices beforetransplantation to prevent further spread of invasivespecies Thisproject aimsto demonstratethat activetransplantation isvital for enhancing biodiversity in urban woodlandspost-invasiveremoval
Deter mining t he Genet ic Chr onological Response in a Drosophila Model f or Spinal Cord Injur ies
LillyStiles
Research Advisor:Dr.Hemlata Mistry
Injury to thecentral nervoussystem (CNS)disruptstissue integrity and triggersinflammatory responsesthat complicaterepair In vertebrates,injury often resultsin scar formation,which limitsaxon regrowth and thefull restoration of neuronal communication Thefruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster,servesasa valuablemodel organism for studying theserepair processesdueto its conserved nervoussystem and annotated genome Prior studiesin Drosophila larvaehaveidentified kon,pros,ia-2, and dilp-6askey glial-specific genesregulating trauma Thisproject focuseson late-stageDrosophila embryosto investigatehow thesegenesand theNotch signaling pathway contributeto CNSrepair
So far,I havecollected fly embryosfrom control,injury,and mock-injury conditions.From each sample,I extracted RNA and verified itsquality Thegood quality RNA was then used to synthesizecomplementary DNA (cDNA), which actsasthetemplatefor later analysis.Using control cDNA,I tested multipleprimer pairsfor each geneof interest and selected themost efficient pairsfor specific generegion amplification.Theseoptimized primers providethefoundation for identifying geneexpression
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patternsfollowing CNSinjury in embryos Moving forward,I plan to utilizequantitativePCR(qPCR)to measuregeneexpression changesacrossinjury samples Thiswill help meachievemy goal of mapping the molecular eventsthat underliethetrauma responseand repair after spinal cord injury Ultimately,thesefindings could contributeto developing moreeffectivestrategiesfor promoting spinal cord regeneration in humans
A
River Tow n Review of Big Timber Cr eek
Lauren Taylor
Research Advisor:Dr BruceGrant
TheNational Park Service?sRivers,Trails,and Conservation AssistanceProgram created a?toolkit?for townswith riversflowing through them to assessand enhancetheir waterwaysfor recreation and tourism opportunities The goal of thisproject wasto usethistoolkit to perform a River Town Review of Southern New Jersey?sBig Timber Creek How can theriver beembraced,preserved,and celebrated asa resource?Community outreach,local workshops,volunteer sourcing,and a?fresh set of eyes? werecrucial in gathering thedata needed to improvethe experienceof Big Timber Creek Thefull review wasnot completed within thegiven timeframe;however,I wasable to finalizemajor stepsnecessary to reach thegoal of a final report and strategic plan to moveforward I wasalso able to improvemy communication skillsand widen my knowledgeof plant identification,agricultural engineering, and local government issues
Lif t And Vibrat ion Ef f ect s On A Rotor Over Uneven Ter rain
Jack Verhagen
Research Advisor:Dr.Steven Pagano
Theground effect isa well-documented phenomenon in aerodynamicswherean airfoil?slift performanceis increased whilenear a surface.Thevast majority of data surrounding theground effect isgathered over flat,even terrain;for thisstudy,only a small portion of therotor?s swept area waswithin therangein which any meaningful ground effect can beobserved Thiswasachieved using a plank of wood bolted beneath a rotor test stand,simulating a dock or a small section of elevated terrain.Thestand was
run at 1000 RPM with bladepitchesbetween 0 and 15 degrees,both with and without thewood obstruction,and lift and vibration effectsweremeasured Only minor increasesin lift forceand vibration in thevertical direction wereobserved;whilenot completely negligible,it is unlikely that a small portion of elevated terrain would affect rotor performancein asignificant manner It is possiblethat theeffect ismoreobservableon largescales, but further testing would berequired to verify this
Candidate Af f inity Dr iving Polit ical Polar izat ion and Tr ibalism
in t he US
Sean Walls
Research Advisor:Dr J WesleyLeckrone
American politicshavebecomeabreeding ground for division in today?ssociety Politicshavelong been a taboo subject that evokesdeep emotional reactionsand sparks individualsto lash out in uncivil ways But how did weget here?Theaim of thisstudy isto examinehow people identify with individual political candidatesasa potential explanation asto why weareso divided Candidate Affinity isthedegreeto which peopleareloyal to candidateseven if a politician?spolicy stancesconflict with their own stancesand interests Theworksof Amy Chua, Lilian Mason,theAmerican Academy of Artsand Sciences, Matthew Levendusky,Jenifer Wolak,and their peersform thebasisfor thisstudy I further their argumentsby examining their data,to seehow attached peoplehave becometo political candidates Thisstudy analyzesthe social and thepolitical effectsof candidateaffinity,as individualshavebecomemoreand moretribalistic This political tribalism hasnow affected our society in how we preview oneanother Lastly,thisstudy providespolicy and social recommendationsthat aim at bridging thedived in our society
Recover y of Elect r ochemical-Grade Graphite f r om Spent Lit hium-Ion Batter ies
DavidYoung
Research Advisor:Dr.Dipendu Saha
Aslithium-ion batteriesbecomeincreasingly important to industrieslikeelectric vehiclesand energy storage, recycling their componentsiscritical to sustaining
ABSTRACTS
increasing demand Current recycling processesfocus mainly on preciousmetal recovery dueto itsrelatively high value Graphite-thekey material in battery anodesand it hasbeen largely overlooked in therecycling process This research aimsto exploremethodsfor recycling graphiteto promotea morecircular economy,whereasmuch of a product aspossibleisreused In thisstudy, graphite-containing anodeswereseparated using various acidsand organic solvents Theresulting sampleswere analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD)to assesstheir crystallinestructuresand Energy-dispersiveX-ray spectroscopic techniques(EDS)to analyzethechemical purity Oneof therecovered graphitesamples,found to be 98-99%puregraphitewith only traceimpurities, demonstrating theeffectivenessof theseparation technique
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Widener University hasa strong institutional commitment to the SURCA program Wewould liketo thank President Stacey Robertson, former Provost Andy Workman,Interim Provost Mark Nicosia,Former SURCA co-directorsDrs.AngieCorbo & Loyd Bastin,Dr.Krishna Bhat, AssociateDean CatherineFeminella,Jessica Prince,Jessica Lista,James Gulick,and Dr Cynthia Sarnoski
Wethank our weekly session facilitators:(1)Widener alumni speakers Megan Brown,Nick Caputo John Mason,and Jessica Mereshensky;(2) Dr.Harry Augensen,Prof.John Conte,and Marty Schultz who hosted Starsand Smores;(3)Joi DallasShaw on inclusion and belonging;(4) JamieO?Leary and WAVEon consent (5)Janet Long from Widener?s Career Design and Development Office:(4)President Robertson on the valueof social connectionsan relationshipsboth personally and professionally,(5)Corina Evans,Jennifer Scuderi,and therest of the PrideRec staff in helping facilitateour SURCA Kickball Game,and (6)Widener alum Alec Lynch who curated and facilitated a trivia game
A special thank you to NicoleCarrera,Monica Connell,and Trudy Depew for their help planning theSURCA Symposium! And finally,a special thank you to our judgesfor helping uswith theimpossibletask of selecting thebest postersfrom such an impressivegroup of posters
With sincerity and warmth, Drs MikeCorcoran and Rob Mishur,SURCA Program Co-directors
