2013 Undergraduate Research and Academic Showcase Winners

Student research was displayed during the 4th annual Undergraduate Research and Academic Showcase on April 16.

The event, sponsored by UMaine’s Center for Undergraduate Research and open to any undergraduate at the university, featured presentations from 117 students, consisting of 77 posters, 32 oral presentations or performances, and eight exhibits.

Following are the winning presentations:

Exhibits

  • Carolie Dapice (new media), “Study of Creative Storytelling,” mentor Joline Blais; first place, $200

  • Carolyn Pugliano (electrical and computer engineering), “A Lateral Field Excited Gas Sensor,” mentor John Vetelino; honorable mention, $50

Oral Presentations

  • Jing “Jacky” Deng (molecular and biomedical sciences), “Clinical Trial Comparing the use of Intravenous Tranexamic Acid with Aquamantys Bipolar Sealer for Blood Loss Reduction in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty,” mentor Kim Carol; first place, $200

  • Emily Hinkle (food science and human nutrition), “Cooking and Varietal Effects on Potato In Vitro Bile Acid Binding Capability,” mentor Mary Camire; second place, $100

  • Valerie Smith (chemistry), “Detection of Aqueous Hg(II) with Infrared Spectroscopy,” mentor Carl Tripp; third place, $75

  • Alex Nash (civil and environmental engineering), “Green Composites: From Under Foot to Under Hood,” mentor Douglas Gardner; honorable mention, $50

Posters

  • Conrad Rier (physics and astronomy), “Habitability of Exomoons,” mentor Neil Comins; first place, $200.

  • Joshua Jones (molecular and biomedical sciences), “Morphogenesis Mediates Candida albicans Dissemination,” mentor Robert Wheeler; tied for second place, $100.

  • Kendra Bird (anthropology), “Specialized Activities in the Middle Woodland Period: An Analysis of Feature 8, Holmes Point West,” mentor Brian Robinson; tied for second place, $100

  • Lydia Drown, Brett Radosti and Michelle Landry (communication science and disorders), “Effects of Mild-to-Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury on Speech in Adolescents,” mentor Nancy Hall; tied for third place, $75

  • Paige Martin (psychology), “The Effect of Cataract Surgery on Depression and Vision-Related Quality of Life,” mentor Lira Yoon; tied for third place, $75

  • Christopher Young (psychology), “The Relationship Between High Behavioral Inhibition and Cortisol Reactivity,” mentor Lira Yoon; honorable mention $50

Also announced at the showcase were the six winners of a $3,000 Summer Research and Creative Academic Achievements Fellowship:

  • Ruth Castillo, “Biofilm Formation on Medical Implants, A Zebrafish Model,” mentor Paul Millard

  • Jonathan Cole, “Virtual Simulations of Compensatory Techniques for Age-Related Vision Loss,” mentor Nicholas A. Giudice

  • Jameson Ford, “Effects of Ketamine on Motor Coordination and Pain Sensitivity in Ethanol-withdrawing Animals,” mentor Alan Rosenwasser

  • Audrey Maddox, “Abundance and Species Composition of the Pollinator Community on Squash in Northeastern Maine,” mentor Frank Drummond

  • Jonathan McCullum, “Developing Critical Thinking and Collaboration Skills in Science Education,” mentor Jonathan Shemwell

  • Nadine Nicke, “Multicolor Time-Lapse Imaging of Immune Damage to a Fungal Pathogen,” mentor Robert Wheeler