Discoveries Unveiled at 16th Annual Student Research Conference

During the Annual Elmira College Student Research Conference, Nico Sackett ’27 was among the seven bold students to give an oral presentation about their undergraduate research to a room of faculty, students, and staff. Despite the intimidating audience, Sackett skillfully outlined what she has learned about the connection between thinking and mood disorders. This is a topic that, for personal reasons, Sackett wants to study further at the graduate level.

“My brother passed away due to mental health causes,” she shared. “I want to help those who suffer from mood disorders.”

This was the second year that Sackett gave an oral presentation during the conference, and the experience has had a significant impact on the Psychology major.

“These presentations have helped me know that I want to teach,” she said, explaining she would like to become a Psychology professor.

Experiences like these are a key part of the Conference, which encourages students to pursue topics they are passionate about while building the communication, research, and critical-thinking skills they will carry into their careers.

“Our students explored a wide variety of interests and topics,” shared Stephen Clar, Assistant Professor of Sports Management. “They were outstanding. Most of the topics discussed, if pursued, could help EC, New York State, and society.”

Clar was particularly intrigued by the presentation Ellery Mays ’26, a Mathematics major, gave about game theory.

“If schools like Elmira College, which don’t have the benefit of unlimited resources, explore ways math can help them succeed, it will help teams to level the playing field,” he said.

For several first-year students, the Conference gave them a chance to explore topics of interest while gaining research and presentation skills useful in their future careers. That was the case for Manushree Munagala ’29, who is in the Accelerated BS/DO program, and Devin Sullivan ’29, a Biology student focused on Physical Therapy.

Munagala’s research into solar cells steered her outside of the work she will do as a doctor and let her explore her interests in Chemistry and Engineering. “I found this interesting because it has environmental implications,” she said.

Sullivan took part in a study that identified the different tree species across the Elmira College campus.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s been enjoyable talking to people,” he said, adding that he feels inspired to present at next year’s conference on a topic that aligns with his major.

The Conference is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and organized by faculty volunteers Dr. Ping Zheng, Associate Professor of Psychology; Dr. Abbi Paulson, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program; and Dr. Susan Hohenhaus, Associate Professor of Business Administration. This year, 51 students participated, double the number from the previous year.

A panel of judges awarded special prizes for students based on the clarity and depth of their information:

• Best Research Talk: Abigail Belcher ’26 & Amanda Lai '29
• Best Poster Research Project: Viea Karthikeyan ’29 and Bhrugu Patel ’29
• Best Poster Presentation: Amanda Lai '29 and Isabella Zurlo ’29
• Best Poster Design: Rian Comeau ’29, Jaydn Wagner ’29, Gabrielle Boots ’29
• Student’s Choice - Best Poster: Jessica Yesensky '26

There were seven student research talks:

• Trisha Reddy ’28: The Effects of Blue Skullcap on Physiological Stress Response in C. elegans

• Nico Sackett ’28: Cognitive Functioning in Mood Disorders: A Clinical Perspective

• Cameron Manley ’26: Promoting Resiliency in Athletes: The Impact of Coaching Style

• Ellery Mays ’26: Differential Game Theory

• Amanda Lai ’29: Trends in Heart Disease Mortality: A Demographic Analysis (2016, 2022)

• Ava Scanna ’27: Eating Disorder Research and a Way to Combat the Rising Prevalence

• Abigail Belcher '26: Post-Hurricane Sediment Dynamics and Seagrass Resilience in Coral Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

The full line-up of student research topics included:

• Gargi Gupta ’28: Observing the Impact of Autism-Associated Genes on Associative Learning in C. elegans

• Abhimanyu Saji ’29: Assessing the Protective Value of Guardian Caps in American Football

• Ayna Khan ’29 and Kristen Le ’29: Effects of pH and Plant Protein on the Physicochemical Stability of C-Phycocyanin derived from Spirulina

• Bhadresh Amarnath ’29, Meera Patel ’29, Shloak Dalal ’29, Abhimanyu Saji ’29, Rishi Patel '29, and William Sanner '29: Characterization of Alkaline Peroxide Extracted Lignins from Spent Coffee Grounds

• Rachel Hevey ’26: Translating Biomechanical Motion into Electrical Output

• Allyana Bartram '26: DNA Purification and qPCR: A Study of Student Knowledge Retention

• Jaxon Troast '27, Megan Fuchs '26, and Aimee Bridges '29: Coral Bleaching in Proximity to Shoreline in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Viea Karthikeyan ’29 and Bhrugu Patel ’29: Hydrologic Exchange and Ion Concentration Variability and Fate with Emphasis on Nitrate in Hypersaline Ponds in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Brenna Andersen '28, Ashika Sugali ’29, and Allyanna Bartram '26: BoLA-DRB3 Alleles and Susceptibility to Mastitis in Lactating Holstein Cattle

• Amanda Lai '29 and Isabella Zurlo ’29: BoLA-DRB3 Allelic Differences and Parasite Resistance in Heifers

• Manushree Munagala '29, Zaira Desai '29, and Stefan Zygawski '29: Enhancing Structural Stability in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) with Kappa Carrageenan Gel Matrices and Carminic Acid

• Rutvi Sheth ’29: What are the effects of different antioxidants and pH on Betalin, Carmine, and Anthocyanin to maximize pigment stability?

• Verity Realmuto '26: Pascal’s Pyramid and its Identities

• Rian Comeau ’29, Jaydn Wagner ’29, and Gabrielle Boots ’29: Water Quality in Seneca Lake

• Piper Thompson ’29, Brianna Conger ’27, and Kamron Allen: Ecological Interactions at Gleason Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary

• Devin Sullivan, Darion Rodriguez, and Ryan Price ’29: Initiation of the Elmira College Tree Project

• Ellen Le '28: Role of Autism-Associated Genes in Response to Adverse Stimuli in Caenorhabditis elegans

• Genevieve Geiser '28: Apparent vs. Effective pH in Mixed Solvents: Spectroscopic Analysis with Ethyl Red

• Nathan Lowry '28: How does Pitch Decay impact pitcher outcomes?

• Reese Bowen '27, Indigo Smallwood '27, and Aynsley Belcher '28: Assessing the Impact of Large-Scale Hurricane Deposition on Seagrass Beds a Decade Later on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Brandan Roche '27 and Anahia Calderon '26: Building a Pallette of Analytical Techniques at Elmira College for the Routine Assessment of Wines in the Finger Lakes Region

• Indu Murugan '29 and Stefan Zygawski '29: Genotyping Paratrechina Longicornis Using General Purpose Agarose and Microsatellite Markers

• Jessica Yesensky '26: Quantifying the Impact of Anthropogenic Development on a Small, Tropical, Volcaniclastic Island Using a New GIS-Based Metric

• Reese Bowen '27, Abby Belcher '26, Owen Mascaro '26, Dr. Trevor Browning, and Dr. Kelly Smith: Post-Hurricane Sediment Transport and Preliminary Vegetation Impact on Dunes and Low Lying Coastal Areas

The variety of projects and depth of student research from students in each class year make the Research Conference a true showcase of curiosity, hard work, and learning in action.