* denotes NSF funded students
2020 Biological Interactions
Alexander Webb – University of Wisconsin-Madison – Mapping Amino Acids in SpoIIIE Important in the DNA Transportation/ATPase Cycle, Professor Briana Burton, Bacteriology
Deresha Billups – Campbell - Texas Southern University - Amyloid-Beta, the Natural Antibiotic for Alzheimer’s Disease, Professor David A. Wassarman, Genetics
Cody Martin – Texas A & M University - Investigating the Influence of Gene Expression, R-loops, and Chromosomal Conformation on Natural Transformation in Bacillus subtilis, Professor Briana Burton, Bacteriology
Colman Freel – University of Wisconsin-Madison - Role of CXCL2 in Preeclampsia-Dysregulated Fetal Endothelial Function, Professor Jing Zheng, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Diana Perales – University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez – The Degenerative Effects of the Nanophyetus salmincola Trematode on Coho Salmon and the Evaluation of Treatment Options, Professor Daniel Preston, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Fernando Vera – University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras – Drosophila Insulin-Like Peptide 4 (DILP4) Effects on Growth, Reproduction and Development, Professor Melissa Harrison, Biomolecular Chemistry
Jaitri Joshi – University of Wisconsin-Madison – Influence of Gestational Sleep Apnea on Offspring Pup Mammary Cancer Risk in a Rat Model, Professor Lisa Arendt, Comparative Biosciences
José Galván – John Jay College of Criminal Justice – Analyzing the Impact of Natural Selection on the Genetic Diversity of Drosophila melanogaster Populations, Professor John E. Pool, Genetics
Katelyn Duckworth – Cabrillo College – Is Horizontal or Vertical Gene Transfer a Great Threat to Antibiotic Resistance in ESKAPE Pathogens?, Professor Michael G. Thomas, Bacteriology
Kyla Knauf – University of San Diego – Changing Phenology Altering Plant-Pollinator Interactions in the Face of Climate Change, Professor Audrey Gasch, Genetics
Lauren Wartley – Fort Valley State University – Using Skin Biopsies to Find Biomarkers of Successful Treatment in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, Professor John P. Svaren, Comparative Biosciences
Roniche Wilson – College of William & Mary in Virginia – pbpG and Slt70 in the Regulation of Bacterial Outer Membrane Synthesis, Professor Nathan M. Sherer, Oncology
Tyler Geldmacher – Madison Area Technical College – Continuous Expression of FVIII in Canines for Treatment of Hemophilia A, Amanda Hurley, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
William Schroeder – Madison Area Technical College – Rate of Mutation in the rDNA Region of Haploid and Diploid Strains of S. cerevisiae, Professor Nathaniel Sharp, Genetics
Xanthe Rowe – Madison Area Technical College – Prognostic Value of the Ratio of FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells to CD8+ Effector T Cells Within the Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment, Amanda Hurley, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery
2019 SIGNALS
Aimee Clayton* - SUNY College at Geneseo - Comparing How the Behavior of the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee and the Bumblebee Affect Gene Flow in Alfalfa, Professor Johanne Brunet, Entomology
Alexa Stampfli* - Northland College - Analyzing Growth in FMR1KO Mice in Response to a Soy-Based Diet, Professor Cara J. Westmark, Neurology
Ana Armenta Vega* - San Diego City College - Relationships Between Gene Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens and Pair Bonding Behavior in Zebra Finches, Professor Lauren V. Riters, Integrative Biology
Andreas Endresen* - Elmira College - Contrasting Self-Generated and Externally-Generated Auditory Input: An fMRI Survey of the Auditory Cortex, Professor Caroline Niziolek, Communication Science & Disorders
Damaris Nieves Torres* - University of Puerto Rico – Ponce - Expression of Robo1 and Slit2 is Altered in the Subventricular Zone Upon Demyelination, Professor Jayshree Samanta, Comparative Biosciences
David Urbina* - University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras - Response of Bumblebees to Management in Burned and Unburned Prairies, Professor Claudio Gratton, Entomology
Delia Zumpano – College of New Jersey - Characterization of Fe-S Cluster Regulation by a Novel Transcription Factor in Zymomonas mobilis, Professor Patricia J. Kiley, Biomolecular Chemistry
Derek Benson – Amherst College - The Genetic Basis of Wing-size in Drosophila melanogaster, Professor John E. Pool, Genetics
Edgar Robles* - University of Puerto Rico – Cayey - Discovering Binding Sites in the Intracellular Components of the Approximated Protein, Professor Seth S. Blair, Integrative Biology
Erica Irizarry Pagan* - Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Carolina Campus - Mechanisms of Environmental Enrichment in an Aging Rat Model of Tauopathy, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Joshua Perez Torres* - Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Carolina Campus - Oxytocin Influences Androgen Receptor Expression Resulting in an Age-Dependent Effect on Mice Behavior, Professor Anthony P. Auger, Psychology
Lucy Nwagbuo - University of South Florida - Role of IQGAP1 in HPV-associated PI3 Kinase Signaling in the Context of Head and Neck Cancer, Professor Paul F. Lambert, Oncology
Mallory Spencer – Shawnee State University - Engineering Lactobacilli to Produce Lactate Esters from Conversion Residue, Professor Ophelia Venturelli, Biochemistry
Manuel Alvarez – Arizona State University - Understanding Anaerobic Metabolism of Respiro-fermenter Budding Yeast, Kluyveromyces lactis, Professor Christopher T. Hittinger, Genetics
Mariah Manter - Brandeis University - Exploring Firing Properties of Parvalbumin Positive Interneurons in CA1 Using a Hybrid Voltage Sensor, Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Paola Miranda* - University of Puerto Rico – Cayey - Structure-function Analysis of Dachsous Intracellular Domain in Drosophila melanogaster, Professor Seth S. Blair, Integrative Biology
Pedro Estrada* - San Diego City College - The Effect of Electrolytes on Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes in a Fly Model, Professor David A. Wassarman, Genetics
Rhiannon Abrahams* - La Sierra University - Characterizing the role of PASTA Kinase in Listeria monocytogenes Cytosolic Survival, Professor John-Demian Sauer, Medical Microbiology
Sebastian Bosch – Skidmore College - Protein A Enzymatic Requirements for Nodavirus Replication Complex Crown Formation, Professor Paul G. Ahlquist, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research
2018 SIGNALS
Aubrie Stricker – Colorado College – Roles of Cdc42 in growth cone invadosomes, Professor Timothy M. Gomez, Neuroscience
Austin VanDenTop* - Grand Valley State University - Investigation of atypical α-SNAP proteins in soybean, Professor Andrew F. Bent, Plant Pathology
Bryce Kirby – Colorado College – Parvalbumin interneuron network functional organization in medial entorhinal cortex, Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Christina Ross - Bob Jones University - Mechanisms of intestinal enzyme induction in nestling house sparrow (Passer domesticus), Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Craig Kunkel* - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Effects of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic (2,4-D) Acid Herbicide Formulation DMA4®IVM on White Crappie (Pomoxis anularis), Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Damayanti Rodriguez Ramos - Interamerican University – Aguadilla - Engineering Kluyveromyces lactis for anaerobic growth, Professor Christopher T. Hittinger, Genetics
Doran Durant - Southern Utah University - Detecting HIV & HPV DNA and RNA in singly and co-infected cells, Professor Nathan M. Sherer, Oncology
Emily Burns – Bay Path University – Using shRNAs to knock down the expression of the histone modifier EZH2 in epilepsy, Professor Avtar S. Roopra, Neuroscience
Emily Reed - Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania - Transcription-translation coupling in Z. mobilis in vivo, Professor Robert C. Landick, Biochemistry
Hannah Cournoyer – Bay Path University – Vimentin-mediated proteasome trafficking to protein aggregates, Professor Darcie L. Moore, Neuroscience
Ivelisse Cappielo Cosme* - University of Puerto Rico – Ponce - Can non-living systems respond to selection?, Professor David A. Baum, Botany
Jennifer Koehler - Macalester College - Screening microbial communities and isolated strains for neutral lipids on residue, Professor Cameron Currie, Bacteriology
Joanna Lum - University of Maryland, Baltimore County - Identifying novel regulators of DAXX-mediated retrotransposon silencing, Professor Peter W. Lewis, Biomolecular Chemistry
Juliet Santiago – University of Florida – Role of Homer1c and mGluR5 interactions in memory formation, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Karla Anaya Aldrete* - San Diego City College - Inflammation of the brain in Tmem135 mutant mice, Professor Akihiro Ikeda, Genetics
Kristen Hirsch – Loras College – The inositol trisphosphate 3 receptor is a potential target for p7056 kinase, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Lizbeth Camacho - California State University – Northridge - Characterization of the interaction between ISTL-1 and Exo70E2 in Arabidopsis, Professor Marisa Otegui, Botany
Luis Rodriguez Ramos* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez – Directed evolution of EntF chimeric proteins, Professor Michael G. Thomas, Bacteriology
Mariah Dicksen* - Western Illinois University - Mutations identifying amino acids important to structure and function of Sindbis Virus Non-structural Protein 1, Professor Paul G. Ahlquist, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research
Megan Orr - Brevard College - Analyzing the rate of successful development at low temperatures in Drosophila melanogaster, Professor John E. Pool, Genetics
Miguel Lopez Cortes* - University of Puerto Rico – Arecibo - The influence of Toxoplasma gondii genes on host parasite infection metabolomics, Professor Laura J. Knoll, Medical Microbiology
Nassima Bouhenni* - University of Pittsburgh - Improving the efficiency of cell-free transcription-translation in bacteria, Professor Silvia Cavagnero, Chemistry
Nicole Woodhead* - Albion College - Effects of traumatic brain injury on the aging process of Drosophila melanogaster, Professor David A. Wassarman, Genetics
Oyinkansola Adenekan - Washington University in St. Louis - Multi-omics based characterization of GTP-induced death in Bacillus subtillis, Professor Jue D. Wang, Bacteriology
Rashika Budhathoki – University of Virginia – Maternal sleep apnea during pregnancy alters the peripheral immune reponse of adult offspring to an inflammatory challenge, Professor Jyoti J. Watters, Comparative Biosciences
Sara Minemyer – University of Pittsburgh – Does Fxr1 conditional knockout in PV+ cells affect the number of PV+ interneurons in the postnatal mouse PFC?, Professor Xinyu Zhao, Neuroscience
Sara Torres Robles - San Diego State University - Contributions of divisome proteins FtsB-FtsQ to bacterial cell division, Professor Alessandro Senes, Biochemistry
Sarah Isaac* - Washington & Jefferson College – Purposeful parental DNA in embryogenesis, Professor Francisco J. Pelegri, Genetics
Sierrra Strebe - New Mexico State University - Studying early development of oral microbial communities in dairy calves, Professor Garret Suen, Bacteriology
Silvette Ruiz Ramirez* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez- Characterization of the antimicrobial activity of L. reuteri R2lc-encoded pksR2lc02 cluster using in vitro competition assays, Professor Jan Peter van Pijkeren, Food Science
Tamara Scott* - Carleton College - Follicular fluid contents may prevent fallopian tube epithelial cell anoikis via FAK, Professor Pamela K. Kreeger, Biomedical Engineering
2017 SIGNALS
Aicha Quamine – Cleveland State University – A precision medicine approach to coorecting Long QT Syndrome using patient-derived cardiomyocytes, Professor Gail A. Robertson, Neuroscience
Amanda Martinez - University of Texas – San Antonio – Role of synaptogyrin in exocytosis and fusion pores, Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Anna Schmidt - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Spatial and temporal distribution of mercury methylating microbes within Lake Mendota, Professor Katherine D. McMahon, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Ariel Sorg* - Baylor University - Metagenomic characterization of methylotrophic freshwater proteobacteria in Wisconsin, USA, Professor Katherine D. McMahon, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Astrid Rodriguez-Vélez* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez - Development of a more efficient CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out method for critical genes in type II Toxoplasma gondii parasites, Professor Laura J. Knoll, Medical Microbiology
Avnika Bali – Miami University – The role of PI(3,4)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 in neural growth cone invadosomes, Professor Timothy M. Gomez, Neuroscience
Brianne Nunez – Old Dominion University – Does β4- β5 linker regulate benzodiazepine allosteric drug modulation of GABAA receptor function?, Professor Cindy M. Czajkowski, Neuroscience
Corey Andrews – Georgia State University – Identification of a phosphodiesterase isoform in T-stellate cells of the ventral cochlear nucleus, Professor Donata Oertel, Neuroscience
Daniel Osorio-Méndez - University of Arizona - Kinetics of MAP kinase activation in Arabidopsis, Professor Patrick J. Krysan, Horticulture
Elizabeth Gamillo* - Alverno College - Arabidopsis thaliana genes, SPDS1 and PLC4, have an effect on the cadaverine growth response pathway, Professor Patrick H. Masson, Genetics
Emily Perszyk – Washington and Lee University – Diminished contextual learning in autism spectrum disorder, Professor Ari Rosenberg, Neuroscience
Evan Knep – Macalester College – Investigating the relationship between juvenile social behaviors and phosphorylated synapsin in the rodent amygdala, Professor Anthony P. Auger, Psychology
Francis Ortega Mercado – University of Puerto Rico – Aguadilla – CLUH: A potential regulator of mitochondria adaptation in AT-1 sTg and AT-1S113R/+ models, Professor Luigi Puglielli, Medicine
Janice Reynaga - California State University Fullerton - Elevating serotonin pre-partum alters hepatic energy metabolism in transitioning dairy cows, Professor Laura L. Hernandez, Dairy Science
Jennifer Tran - Texas A & M University - Transcriptional properties of drug-resistant mycobacterial RNA polymerase, Professor Robert C. Landick, Biochemistry
Jessica Pederson - University of Wisconsin – Madison - House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) digestive physiology: the ability to modulate sucrase, maltase and aminopeptidase-N, Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Kimberly Gutierrez* - University of Wisconsin – Platteville - The role of Gasdermin D in inflammasome mediated host defense, Professor John-Demian Sauer, Medical Microbiology
Luisángely Soto Torres* - University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras - Influence of patch size and isolation distance on bumblebee residence, Professor Johanne Brunet, Entomology
Mark Horton - Benedictine College - Role of Pht1 phosphate transporters PtPT9 and PtPT12 in the maintenance of mycorrhizal associations in poplar, Professor Jean-Michel M. Ané, Bacteriology
Milon Hutchinson* - Carlton College - Mogat2 deletion attenuates diabetic phenotype in Ins2Akita mice, Professor Chi-Liang Eric Yen, Nutritional Sciences
Neil Poole* - California State University Los Angeles - Identifying biomarkers for traumatic brain injury in Drosophila, Professor David A. Wassarman, Genetics
Rachel Sundstrom* - Drake University - The role of Annexin 1 and 2 with the ESCRT machinery and endosomal trafficking in Arabidopsis thaliana, Professor Marisa Otegui, Botany
Sarea Recalde Phillips – Pennsylvania State University – Combined effects of tumor treating fields and microtubule-disrupting drugs in inhibiting glioblastoma proliferation, Professor John S. Kuo, Neurological Surgery
Shekina Gonzalez-Ferrer* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, Directed evolution of a nonribosomal peptide synthetase to be MbtH-like protein independent, Professor Michael G. Thomas, Bacteriology
Steven John* - College of New Jersey - Characterizing follicle development in Irx3 knockout mice, Professor Joan S. Jorgenson, Comparative Biosciences
Veronica Albrecht* - Eastern Washington University - Water transport from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus to its host plant, Professor Jean-Michel M. Ané, Bacteriology
Yinghua Wang* - Michigan State University - Establishing a bacterial two-hybrid system and test the interactions between proteins in Type IV Pilus, Professor Katrina Forest, Bacteriology
2016 IBS-SRP
Abigail Scullin* - Upper Iowa University - Investigating the interaction of novel HIV inhibitors with the HIV frameshift site, Professor Samuel E. Butcher, Biochemistry
Alice Szeliga – Harvey Mudd College – A computational framework and R package for predicting regulatory and expression-modulating eQTLs by leveraging MPRA data, Professor Sunduz Keles, Statistics
Anna Muhich* - Gonzaga University - Assessment of disease susceptibility in midwest cereal lines, Professor Lucia Gutierrez Chacon, Agronomy
Anthony Amolo – Kenyon College – Antibody fragments to probe hERG potassium channel gating, Professor Gail A. Robertson, Neuroscience
Aryel Clarke* - University of Rochester - Exploring the role of Munc13-4 in exosome release, Professor Thomas F. J. Martin, Biochemistry
B. Malique Jones – Bennett College – Effects of sodium azide on plants: Development of a system to measure active uptake of pharmaceuticals and personal care product ingredients, Professor Joel A. Pedersen, Soil Science
Berliza M. Soriano* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez - Screening for a MLP-independent adenylation domain through directive evolution, Professor Michael G. Thomas, Bacteriology
Bikal Paudel – Virginia Tech – Evaluating inhibitory effects of DCG-IV on the dentate gyrus using hybrid voltage sensor (HVOS), Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Chris Muriel-Mundo – Universidad Del Este – Saccaromyces cerevisiae as a biosensor to study chemical mixtures and AHR, Professor Christopher A. Bradfield, Oncology
Edwin Jimenez Sanchez – University of Puerto Rico – Aguadilla – Dose response and time course of GDNF expression by AAV2 and AAV5 in rats, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Dominic Gray – Norfolk State University – Conditional motif finding: An approach to cluster analysis of multi-dimensional time-series datasets, Doctor Deborah Muganda-Rippchen, Center for Predictive Computational Phenotyping
Dylan Cronin – Bowling Green State University – Temporal phosphorylation and network analysis of yeast signaling, Professor Anthony Gitter, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Gregory Desjarlais - Madison College - When winter kicks your grass: Identification of genes influencing cold tolerance in lowland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), Professor Michael D. Casler, Agronomy
Idanis Garcia Sanchez - University of Puerto Rico – Ponce - Using nanoneedles to improve CRISPR technology in C. elegans, Professor Ahna R. Skop, Genetics
Jack Gellerman – University of Wisconsin – Madison – Examining the role of imputed epigenomic signals on the prediction of long-range regulatory interactions, Professor Sushmita Roy, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Jesslyn Park - Winthrop University - Functional characterization of novel GH10 xylanases
Professor Brian G. Fox, Biochemistry
Jordan Brown* - Ohio Wesleyan University - Metabolomic and thermodynamic analyses of C. thermocellum strains engineered for high ethanol production, Professor Daniel Amador-Noguez, Bateriology
Jossiemar Perez Horta – University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez – Determining the effect of dietary oxidized lipids consumption and immune response using swine model, Professor Dhnansayan Shanmuganayagam, Animal Sciences
Julio Cuevas Cruz – University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras – Predicting and validating targets of miRNA in Schwann cells, Professor John P. Svaren, Comparative Biosciences
Karla Martin - Xavier University of Louisiana - Phylogeography of East African Adansonia digitate, Professor David A. Baum, Botany
Kendra Musmaker - Truman State University - Defining a signaling module for vascular development in A. Thaliana, Professor Marisa Otegui, Botany
Kevin Liao – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill – Comaring similarity measures over RNA-seq derived gene expression profiles, Professor Colin N. Dewey, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Kiara Rodriquez* - University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez - Exploratory analysis of the correlation between fungal communities and common scab disease in potato tubers from Wisconsin, Professor Richard Lankau, Plant Pathology
Kimberley Aguilar – Old Dominion University – Structural and dynamic analysis of a ribosome-bound nascent protein, Professor Silvia Cavagnero, Chemistry
Lacey Lopez* - University of Missouri – Columbia - The contribution of the gut microbiota towards the development of atherosclerosis, Professor Federico E. Rey, Bacteriology
Luis Gutierrez* - Estrella Mountain Community College - Determining the function of GRHL2 in ER positive breast cancer cells, Professor Elaine T. Alarid, Oncology
Marissa Harjoe* - University Of New Mexico - Anchoring a sequence scaffold that encodes FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in the Brassica rapa (var. FPsc) genome, Professor Richard M. Amasino, Biochemistry
Meenakshi Nag - Vassar College - The interaction between Kin28 and Rai1 in the regulation of RNA synthesis, Professor Aseem Z. Ansari, Biochemistry
Melody Garcia Torres – University of Puerto Rico – Humacao – Co-translational interaction between delayed rectifier currents: hERG and KCNQ1, Professor Gail A. Robertson, Neuroscience
Michael Trevino – University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign – Characterizing catecholamine expression in Pink1 KO model of Parkinson’s disease, Professor Michelle R. Ciucci, Commmunication Sciences & Disorders
Miguel Angel Rosas* - California State University – San Marcos - The subcellular localization of ion channels involved in plant-microbe symbioses, Professor Jean-Michel M. Ané, Bacteriology
Mykala Sobieck - University of Wisconsin – Madison - Microbes that methylate mercury, Professor Katherine D. McMahon, Civil & Environmental Engineering
N. Carolina Mendoza Cavazos - California State University – Fullerton - Generation of mannose binding molecular probes for the analysis of the human gut microbiota, Professor Laura L. Kiessling, Chemistry
Priscilla Prem – Old Dominion University – The physiological role of the microtubule associated protein tau in dendrites, Professor Erik W. Dent, Neuroscience
Rochely Luna-Serrano – Universidad Del Este – AHR endogenous ligands assessment using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a biosensor, Professor Christopher A. Bradfield, Oncology
Ryan Brown* - Nicholls State University - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and folic acid interact in the mammary gland to regulate calcium homeostasis during lactation, Professor Laura L. Hernandez, Dairy Science
Sai Batchu* - College of New Jersey - Maximizing tyrosine accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana, Professor Hiroshi Maeda, Botany
Serge Aleshin-Guendel – Boston College – Predicting colorectal cancer risk using protein biomarkers, Professor Mark W. Craven, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Shelby Petersen - University of Wisconsin – Madison - Dietary modulation of pancreatic lipase in Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Stephanie Krislov – University of Wisconsin – Whitewater – Developing a protocol for expressing and purifying alpha synuclein, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Steven Queoff - University of Wisconsin – Madison - Investigating effects of herbivory on late-glacial vegetation change using Coprophilous fungal spores, Professor Jack W. Williams, Geography
Tamille Rhynes – University of North Carolina at Pembroke – Ischemia/re-oxygenation injury induces changes in cytokine expression in macrophages, Professor Robert Dempsey, Neurological Surgery
2015 SIGNALS
Allison Dawson - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - Investigation of an epigenetic role in epileptogenesis in KCNA1 mutant mice, Professor Avtar S. Roopra, Neuroscience
Amanda Dlugi – Alverno College – An RNAi-based suppressor screen reveals potential interactors of ATX-2 in C. elegans, Professor Ahna R. Skop, Genetics
Amarilys E.González Vázquez - University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla - Effects of 2,4-D on final oocyte maturation in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Andy Vega Caraballo - University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo - Bisphenol A exposure promotes gene expression change in prostate cancer, Professor William A. Ricke, Urology
Arman Siddiqui – University of San Diego – The functional role of the intrinsic ligand on EAG gating, Professor Gail A. Robertson, Neuroscience
Ayana McLeod - Medgar Evers College - Understanding the kinetics of lymphocyte activating ligands on cord blood derived B cells during early infection with lytic Epstein Barr virus (EBV), Professor Jenny E. Gumperz, Medical Microbiology
Bryson Bellefeuille - Western Washington University - AHR-dependent effect of particulate matter on the inflammatory response of the lung, Professor Joshua D. Mezrich, Surgery
Christina Knutson - Wartburg College - Triggering actin remodeling through optogenetics, Professor Matthew J. Merrins & Chetan Poudel, Medicine
Colin Nelson - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - An exploration of the modulating effects of D2 receptors on μ-opioid evoked impulsivity in rats, Professor Brian A. Baldo, Psychiatry
Darwin Ferng = Vanderbilt University - Munc13-4 regulates MT1-MMP exocytosis during cancer progression, Professor Thomas F. J. Martin, Biochemistry
Diana Macias - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Coordination of stem and leaf hydraulics in four co-occurring species, Professor Katherine A. McCulloh, Botany
Emily Balczewski - Carleton College - Spectral graph theory wavelet toolbox and neuroimaging applications, Professor Vikas Singh, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Erika Ramsden - University of Wisconsin-Madison - The effect of substrate and pH concentration on digestive intestinal enzymes of nestling house sparrows (Passer domesticus) fed different diets, Professor William H. Karasov, Forest & Wildlife Ecology
Evan C. Harris - St. Mary’s College of Maryland - Tradeoffs between industrial degradability and decomposition in Zea mays lines, Professor Randall D. Jackson, Agronomy
Gerardo Rodriguez-Orella - University of Utah - mGluR 2/3 agonist DCG-IV increases the epileptiform threshold in rat hippocampal dentate gyrus brain slices, Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Gina L. Cardona-Acevedo - University of Puerto Rico – Arecibo - Transcription and regulation of 6S RNA in E. coli, Professor Karen M. Wassarman, Bacteriology
Glenda Valdez - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Tree distribution in Southern Michigan prior to EuroAmerican settlement, Professor Jack W. Williams, Geography
Jason West – University of New Mexico – Albuquerque – Understanding the molecular nature of electric organs, Professor Michael R. Sussman, Biochemistry
Jennifer L. Johnson - University of Michigan-Ann Arbor - Analyzing the electronic health record data-capture process, Professor Eneida A. Mendonça, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Jessica Lora - University of Texas-Pan American - Extracellular matrix components characterized in fetal testes – A potential role in steroidogenesis, Professor Joan Jorgensen, Comparative Biosciences
John Spaw - Millikin University - Visualizing inferred phylogenetic networks using Julia, Professor Cécile M. Ané and Professor David Baum, Botany
José Pagán-Muñoz - University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez - 1-butene oligomerization over dealuminated ferrierite, Professor George W. Huber, Chemical & Biological Engineering
Joseph Sauder - Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico - Comparing a novel method with a standard method in personalized medicine, Professor Menggang Yu, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Juan A. Hernández-Bird - University of Massachusetts-Amherst - Contribution of (p)ppGpp synthetases to the survival of Bacillus subtilis to stress, Professor Jue D. Wang, Bacteriology
Kamyra S. Edokpolor - Bryn Mawr College - Prostatic stromal cell composition changes in mice with hormone-induced urinary dysfunction, Professor Chad M. Vezina, Comparative Biosciences
Luis M. Rivera-Pérez - University of Puerto Rico – Ponce - Regulation of the development of human neurons by substratum elasticity, Professor Timothy M. Gomez, Neuroscience
Mariana Ruiz-Belez – Barry University – Cre recombinase has no significant effect on dendritic complexity of cultured hippocampal neurons, Professor Xinyu Zhao, Neuroscience
Megan Seymour - Oregon State University - Soil pathogen fine-root dynamics of peach orchard replant, Professor Amaya Atucha, Horticulture
Nancy Garcia - St. Mary’s University of San Antonio - Increasing the stiffness of the extracellular matrix increases PRL signals to ERK1/2 in ER alpha-positive mouse mammary cancer cell lines, Professor Linda A. Schuler, Comparative Biosciences
Nathaniel Henning - Hamline University - Developing reverse genetic tools to study SUMOylation in Zea mays, Professor Richard D. Vierstra, Genetics
Neydis Moreno - University of Wisconsin-Madison - Expression of an insoluble histidine kinase portion of a bacteriophytochrome from Ramlibacter tataouinensis, Professor Katrina Forest, Bacteriology
Nicholas Escanilla - Lake Forest College - Finding gene-disease associations when hidden by gene-gene interactions, Professor C. David Page, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics
Oxmara Barrera - Texas A&M International University - Screening of aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands as novel chemopreventive agents for colorectal cancer, Doctor Gregory Kennedy, Surgery
Patricia Walker - Southern Illinois University-Carbondale - Finding connections between metabolism and biofilm transcriptional networks, Professor Daniel Amador-Noguez, Bacteriology
Pha Tran - California State University-Long Beach - Protein expression variation between papillary and glandular ERα+ mammary carcinomas, Professor Linda A. Schuler, Comparative Biosciences
Rey Hernández-Rodríguez = University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras = Effects of TAT peptide and membrane bending energy in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis of chromaffin cells, Professor Meyer B. Jackson, Neuroscience
Sarah Jayawardene - Loyola Marymount University - Role of zinc finger in a C. elegans stem cell regulator, Professor Judith Kimble, Biochemistry
Savannah Mills – Lake Erie College – Determining the most synergistic ratio of an enzyme cocktail for the hydrolysis of Cu(AHP) poplar seed in bioethanol synthesis, Professor Brian G. Fox, Biochemistry
Sayo E. McCowin - University of Maryland-Baltimore County - A DNA-based launch system for alphavirus manipulation, Professor Paul G. Ahlquist, Virology
Sean W. Rogers - University of Missouri - Functions of the yeast Sub2 DECD motif and its role in spliceosome subunit assembly, Professor Aaron A. Hoskins, Biochemistry
Shanika Kingston – Barry University - Preliminary results for an estrogen receptor heterodimer inducing compound, Professor Wei Xu, Oncology
Tanner K. Byer - Pomona College - Covalent cross-linking uncovers novel targets of Kin28 and Bur1, Professor Aseem Z. Ansari, Biochemistry
Theresa Devasia - University of Georgia - Impact of modeling assumptions on county health rankings, Professor Ronald E. Gagnon, Population Health Sciences
Thomas Bekman - New College of Florida - A Novel in vitro assay for Parkinson’s Disease, Professor Corinna Burger, Neurology
Tiffany Nguyen – North Carolina Central University – Defective GST-theta activity in canine livers, Professor Lauren A. Trepanier, Medical Sciences
Vir D. Patel - Duke University - Computationally predicting enhancer-promoter interactions in cell types from early development, Professor Sushmita Roy, Biostatistics & Medical Informatics
Zabdiel Alvarado-Martínez - University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo - 5-hydroxytryptophan infusion in dairy cows will induce change in milk calcium levels, and mammary gland alveoli size and number, Professor Laura L. Hernandez, Dairy Science
Zully E. Contreras-Correa - University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez - Comparison of bacterial and fungal xylose isomerases for the production of biofuels by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Professor Trey K. Sato, Wisconsin Energy Institute
* denotes NSF funded students
