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Clarion University holds undergraduate research conference

Students explain their projects during the Undergraduate Research Conference.

Thirty-two research projects conducted by Clarion University students were on display during the Undergraduate Research Conference held in Carlson Library. The presentations were part of Academic Recognition Week programs.

Undergraduate students in any major or program at Clarion University may apply for up to $500 in funds from the Office of the Provost to support independent research or a scholarly project to be conducted in collaboration with a faculty mentor. These grants are competitive and a review committee evaluates proposals. Over $9,000 in grants was awarded for 2007-08.

Research is defined in a broad context to include any scholarly, creative, entrepreneur, or civic activity. It is not limited to the traditional concept of laboratory studies in sciences.

Presenting research were:

Lindsay Banner, “An Empirical Study of Emerging Stock Markets, Economic Growth, and Microfinance.” Banner, a senior international business major, is a daughter of Anthony Banner of Clarion and is a graduate of Clarion High School.

The project provided empirical evidence on the effects of the stock market on economic growth. The study also encompassed the research of microcredit lending and how a secondary market could be generated through the profits of emerging stock markets.

Marian Barber, “SGC Printmaking Conference.” Barber, a sophomore art major, is a daughter of James and Carolyn Barber of Littlestown and is a graduate of Delone Catholic High School.

She attended the Southern Graphics Council (SGC) Printmaking Conference in order to gain more knowledge of the art of printmaking. She observed and integrated new methods and ideas into her own work and brought back new knowledge to Clarion University.

Sarah Baumbach and Kelly Kuhns, “Polychromatic Screen Printing.”

Baumbach, a senior art major, is a daughter of Allen Baumbach of Middletown and is a graduate of Mt. Calvary Christian School.

Kuhns, a junior art major, is a daughter of Jean Kuhns of Connellsville and is a graduate of Connellsville High School.

They attended a biennial fabric surface design conference, where they learned new techniques, attended lectures and worked hands on with many professionals in their line of study. They used the techniques they learned to prepare work for their senior shows and have been invited to demonstrate this technique twice in undergraduate classes.

Carson Birney and MaryJo Clark, “A Radio Map of Interstellar Clouds.”

Birney, a senior physics major, is a son son of Barbara Birney of New Wilmington and the late James Birney and is a graduate of Wilmington High School.

Clark, a physics major, is a daughter of Herbert and Joanne Clark of Boyers and a graduate of Moniteau High School.

The project is part of an ongoing attempt to create a dynamic, three-dimensional map of the Local Bubble, an irregularly shaped plasma formed several million years ago by the supernovae of nearby stars. They studied diffuse clouds that may be located at or near the edge.

Michael Chislock, “Blinded by the Stink: Eutrophication Impairs the Anti-predator Responses of Freshwater Gastropods.” Chislock, a senior biology major, is a son of Michael and Deborah Chislock III of Huntingdon and is a graduate of Huntingdon High School.

The project revolved around pH shifts in lakes and streams and affects on animal sensory capability, but have not been studied. They hypothesized that predator recognition would be impaired at high pH because the structure of the peptides used to detect predators is pH dependent.

Kate Ehrensberger and Steven Potwin, “Effects of Contact Lens Composition on Formation of Bacterial Biofilms.”

Ehrensberger is a daughter of Charles and Jennifer Ehrensberger of St. Marys and is a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School.

Potwin is a son of Craig and Carol Potwin of Bemus Point, N.Y., and a graduate of Maple Grove High School.

The project examined two bacterial species that are common causes of eye infections and are known to form biofilms. Biofilms were grown on various brands of soft contact lenses and then quantified.

Christina Ferreira and Rhiannon Schultz, “The Multi-Drug Resistance Gene: Detection of Mutant Alleles in Purebred Australian Sheppard Dogs.”

Ferreira, a senior molecular biology major, is a daughter of Bonita Yogan of Jefferson Hills and is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School.

Schultz, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Sarah Schultz of Worthington and is a graduate of Kittanning High School.

The purpose of their research was to develop a method to determine if individual dogs carry the genetic mutation that results in sensitivity to drugs.

Fred Clark, Frank Rodgers, Scott Davies, Amanda Delach and Jason Roberts, “General Artist Statement from All Students Who Attended the National Ceramic Conference (NCECA.)”

Clark, a sophomore art major, resides in Brookville, with his wife, Margaret, and is a graduate of Brookville High School.

Rodgers, a senior mass media arts, journalism, and communication studies major, is a son Marge Rodgers of Franklin.

Davies, a junior secondary education/social studies major, is a son of Ellen Davies of Morrisville and is a graduate of Pennsbury High School.

Delach, a sophomore elementary education major, is a daughter of Jeff and Laura Delach of Canonsburg and is a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School.

Roberts, a senior art major, is a son of Dianne Roberts of Sandy Lake and is a graduate of Lakeview High School.

They attended the National Ceramic Conference in Pittsburgh. They visited art shows, watched demonstrations, attended forums, and met with artists from across the world. The experience helped them to incorporate what they learned into their current ceramic pieces.

Christopher Keener and Brandon Doverspike, “Augmentation of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Growth by the Manipulation of Surrounding Cell Populations.”

Keener, a junior molecular biology major, is a son of Avis Keener of Ringgold and is a graduate of Punxsutawney High School.

Doverspike, a sophomore biology major, is a son of Debra Doverspike of New Bethlehem and is a graduate of Redbank Valley High School.

The project studied Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and what factors might improve the proliferation and their sustained pluripotency in vitro. They tested the effect of increased stromal call numbers on the proliferation and differentiation of HSCs as compared to a culture with the normal amount of stromal cells.

Corrie Laughlin and Todd Delucia, “Effects of Acidification on Anti-Predator Defenses in Cyprinid Fish.”

Laughlin, a junior biology major, resides in New Bethlehem with her husband, Brendan, and is a graduate of Clarion-Limestone High School.

The project explored the ability of cyprinid fish to detect predators in acidic waters. They set up traps in eight streams and evaluated their results.

Gayathri Rajendran, “The Multi-Drug Resistance Gene: Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction of MDR1 mRNA in Human Adenocarcinoma SK-LU-1 Cells.” Rajendran, a junior molecular biology major, is from Coimbator, India,

The purpose of this project was to develop a method to assay the levels of the multi-drug resistance gene mRNA in the cancer cell line by qualitative, real time reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Jason Roberts, “Colonialism, Power, and Tradition in Contemporary Ghanaian Art.” Roberts, a senior art major, is a son of Dianne Roberts of Sandy Lake and is a graduate of Lakeview High School. The project explored the tension between traditional culture and globalization and the clash of traditionalism and the pressure to lead a more “Westernized” life and how these aspects affect the work of Ghanaian artists.

Corin Rombach and Carson Birney, “At the Bubbles Edge: Distances to High-Galactic Latitude Clouds.”

Rombach, a senior physics major, is a daughter of David and Karen Rombach of Prattsburgh, N.Y., and is a graduate of Prattsburgh Central High School.

Birney, a junior physics major, is a son of Barbara Birney and the late James Birney of New Wilmington, and is a graduate of Wilmington Area High School.

The project revolves around the Local Bubble, an irregularly-shaped region of plasma that exists within the Sun. They searched for stars’ spectra for interstellar Na-D absorption lines and bracketed the distances to each cloud. The data collected is useful in mapping the boundaries of the Local Bubble.

Andrew Thompson, “The Imperative Crayfish: Assessing the Importance of Predators in Aquatic Ecosystem Function.” Thompson, a sophomore biology major, is a son of Doug and Brenda Thompson of New Castle and is a graduate of Laurel High School. The purpose of the project was to determine whether predators alter ecosystem function through changes in prey behavior.

Randi Tyler, Lisa Marsh and Alison Bolinger, “Distribution of Butterflies and Moths in Clarion County.”

Tyler, a senior biology major, is a son of Robert Tyler of Byrnedale and is a graduate of St. Marys High School.

Marsh, a sophomore biology major, is a daughter of Mary Beth Marsh of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of North Hills High School.

Bolinger, a sophomore secondary education/biology major, is a daughter of James Bolinger of Clarion and is a graduate of Clarion High School.

The project sought to determine the butterfly and moth fauna of Clarion County and the surrounding region. A database was compiled of 44 species occurring in Clarion County and field studies were conducted.

Amanda Voorhis and Danielle Hulse, “Environmental Cues That Regulate Diapause and Freeze Tolerance in Eurosta Solidaginis.”

Voorhis, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Chris Voorhis of Panama, N.Y., and is a graduate of Panama Central High School.

Hulse, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Mort and Beth Hulse of Aspers and is a graduate of Biglerville High School.

The project’s purpose was to determine the dates that Eurosta enter and exit dispause and become freeze-tolerant for winter 2007-08. They looked for year-to-year variation in timing of dispause and cold hardiness by comparing the previous three years of data.

Shannon Baker, “Forecasting and Economic Conditions in South America.” Baker, a senior accounting and economics major, is a daughter of Joseph and Carol Baker of Hermitage and is a graduate of West Middlesex High School. The study analyzed the economic conditions of a number of important South American countries. Forecasting models were used to study the growth in real gross domestic product in these countries.

Zachary Bernard, “Ventilator Induced Pneumonia.” Bernard is a son of Randy Bernard of Parker and a graduate of Venango Catholic High School. The project was conducted to examine common procedures for pneumonia and how they hurt or assist the cultivation of disease.

Gretchen Cochran, “Wound Care Nursing Lab Project.” Cochran, a nursing major, resides with her husband, Richard, in Knox and is a graduate of Keystone High School. The focus of the project was to develop tools for the nursing school at Clarion University—Venango Campus to teach second year nursing students some of the basic concepts of wound care.

Alexander DeYoung, Joseph Thomas, Dustin McElhattan and Melissa Dean, “Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma on Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.”

DeYoung, a junior molecular biology/biotechnology major, is a son of Roger and Laura DeYoung of Cabot and is a graduate of Knoch High School.

Thomas, a graduate student seeking a degree in biology, is a son of John Thomas of Venus.

McElhattan, a junior molecular biology/pre medicine major, is a son of David and Shelley McElhattan of Franklin and is a graduate of Franklin High School.

Dean, a junior biology major, is a daughter of Mike Dean of New Castle and is a graduate of Mohawk High School.

The project revolved around autologous adult mesenchymal stem cells and its ability to develop tissues, such as bone, cartilage, fat and muscle with no threat of rejection.

Mary Heasley, “Residential Construction Companies in Relation to Housing Starts.” Heasley, a senior finance major, is a daughter of Larry Heasley of Leeper and is a graduate of North Clarion High School. The project analyzed the current housing slump and its effects on residential construction companies in the United States.

The project revolved around a type of pluripotent stem cells located in the bone marrow called HSCs. Research was conducted regarding what factors might improve the proliferation and sustained pluripotency of HCSs in vitro.

Dana Martz, Philip Mowrer, Julia Seitz and Julie Bondon, “Translation and Integration in Open Source Appropriate Technology Development.”

Mart, a sophomore political science major, is a daughter of Linda Martz of Erie and is a graduate of General McLane High School.

Mowrer, a French major, is a son of Mary Kay Mowrer of Gordonville and is a graduate of Pequea Valley High School.

Seitz, a freshman economics major, is an international student from Dueren, Germany.

Bondon, a freshman finance major, is a daughter of Dominique Bondon of Fere-Champenoise, France.

They broadened the Appropedia Web site, containing articles and projects for individuals to create a healthier environment, by translating the articles into German and French.

Levi Miller, David Rose, Jessica Geissler and Brendon Bachman, “Genomic Fingerprinting Via Field Inversion Gel Electrophoresis (FIGE) of Enterobacter Aerogenes Isolates Taken From the Clarion River.”

Miller, a sophomore molecular biology major, is from Coopersburg and is a graduate of Southern Lehigh High School.

Rose, a sophomore biology major, is a son of Roger Rose of Gallitzin and a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School.

Geissler, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Jill Geissler of Portersville and is a graduate of Lincoln High School.

Bachman, a senior biology major from Lincoln University is a graduate of Hill Top Preparatory School.

The project examined FIGE, which results in more defined banding of DNA in gels and can aid in the analysis of the larger pieces of DNA that are not normally resolved by standard measures.

Lucas Schaeffer, “Wealth Differentials in Selected Latin American Economies.” Schaeffer, a junior Spanish/international business/economics major, is a son of Michael and Julie Schaeffer of Sligo and is a graduate of Clarion High School. The project examined the reasoning behind the deviations in development through a pooled cross section time-series statistical analysis of growth factors, including measures for education, foreign aid, capital formation and population growth.

Rozyland Vares, “Inside Sub-Saharan Africa: An Empirical Cross-Country Study of Factors Which Cultivate Government Corruption.” Vares, a senior economics major, is a daughter of James Vares of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and is a graduate of Kamehameha High School. The project investigated the conditions which allow government corruption in the majority of the mainland Sub-Saharan African countries to persist and escalate to levels of destructiveness marked by ethnic and religious genocide, poverty and widespread economic disparity.

Daniel Vikartosky, “The Effects of Age and Gender on Speech Rate.” Vikartosky, a senior communication and speech disorders major, is from Norvelt and is a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. The study investigated speech rate, as a function of age, in an effort to detect the decade of life during which a significant decrease was first noted.

Jacquelyn Yarzebinski, “Low Temperature Exposure Trigger Changes in Supercooling Point of Eurosta solidaginis.” Yarzebinski, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Joseph and Adela Yarzebinski of Wampum and is a graduate of Lincoln High School. The project examined the goldenrod gall fly larvae to discover an environmental cue that increases the supercooling point of E. solidaginis larvae that have yet to synthesize endogenous nucleators.

James Laurelli, “Increasing the Effectiveness of Photovoltaic Solar Cells Using Advanced Nonotechnological Methods.” Laurelli, a senior biology/physics major, is a son of Edward and Marilyn Laurelli of Warrington and is a graduate of Central Bucks East High School. The project examined photovoltaics, a steadily growing form of energy production over the years. He focused on improving an earlier attempt at using these cells to create power by adding a new monolayer of transparent conductive oxide on top of the indium tin oxide monolayer on the glass side.

Mila Heineman, “Comparison of Concept Development in Kindergarten Children With and Without Preschool Learning Experience.” Heineman, a senior communication sciences and disorders major, is a daughter of Karl and Linda Heineman of Seneca and is a graduate of Cranberry High School.

Justin Rock, Joseph Cairone, and Sean McFarland, “Further Characterization of a Uropathogen Biofilm Inhibitor.”

Rock, a senior chemistry major, is a son of Cynthia Rock of Alburtis, and is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School.

Cairone, a junior biology major, is a graduate of Crystal Lake South High School.

McFarland, a senior molecular biology major, is a son of Jeffrey and Ann McFarland of Macungie and is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School.

Lisa Kennedy, “Effective Learning Strategies for Science Teachers.” Kennedy, a senior elementary education major, is a daughter of James and Deborah Kennedy of Cranberry Township and is a graduate of Seneca Valley High School.

Charles Baran, “Detecting Acoustical and Electrical Resonance in Search of Sonolieminesce.” Baran, a senior physics major, is son of Barbara Baran of Leetsdale and is a graduate of Quaker Valley Senior High School.

Teagan Riggs, James Kane and Jeffrey Clark, “Induced Phagocytosis of Annexia 1 - Coated Gram Negative Bacteria by HL60 – Macrophages.”

Riggs, a senior biology major, is a daughter of Timothy and Marcia Riggs of Meadville and a graduate of Meadville Area High School.

Kane, a senior molecular biology/biotechnology major, is a son of Terrance Kane of Plymouth and Valerie Baham of Forty Four, and is a graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School.

Clark, a library science major, is a son of Leslie Clark of Brookville and is a graduate of Brookville High School.

Danielle Cicero, Lacey Egley, Kelly Surgalski, and Doug Nevick, “Identifying and Cataloging Bird Species in Clarion County to Evaluate Population Trends Over Time.”

Cicero, a junior environmental biology major, is a daughter of Catherine Cicero of Portage and is a graduate of Bishop Carroll High School.

Egley, a junior biology major, is a daughter of Linda Egley of Kittanning and a graduate of West Shamokin High School.

Surgalski, a junior environmental biology major, is a daughter of Jeannie Surgalski of Butler and is a graduate of Butler High School.

Nevick, a junior environmental biology major, is a son of Ruthann Moore of Chambersburg and is a graduate of Hazelton High School.

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