Category: Oral Presentation
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The Effects of Estrous Stage on Voluntary Wheel Running and Anxious Behavior in Female CD-1 Mice
By Abigail Algeier and Emily Landry Faculty Mentor: Parrish Waters Abstract Women report having anxiety and other mood disorders at nearly twice the rate of men. The female menstrual cycle involves fluctuations in pituitary hormones, estrogen, and progesterone. Each of these hormones are psychoactive and can potently affect mood state, both acutely and chronically. In…
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The Effect of Social Isolation on Depression-like Symptoms in Mice
By Dylan Crann Faculty Mentor: Dr. Parrish Waters Abstract Humans who experience social isolation are at risk of developing depression disorders, such as Major Depression Disorder. This disorder can be typified by stress and forgetfulness. This study combines behavioral and physiological approaches to understand the effects of social isolation in a model organism, being mice.…
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Men On Boats
By Hannah Chester Faculty Mentor: Marc Williams Abstract “Ten explorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. Men On Boats is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and a crew of insane yet loyal volunteers set out to chart the course of the Colorado River” (Playwrights Horizons). This year, I was cast…
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R and RStudio Instructional Guides for Use in Biostatistics and Research Design Course
By Audra Young Faculty Mentor: Cartland Berge Abstract In the Biostatistics and Research Design (BIOL 260) course offered at UMW, students learn how to use R, a programming language, and its interface, RStudio, to run statistical tests on biological data. For many students in the biological or life sciences, this course is the first time…
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The Effect of Phage Resistance on Bacillus thuringiensis subps. kurstaki on Virulence to Manduca sexta Larvae
By Marianne Beaulieu Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lynn Lewis Abstract Phage therapy is the practice of treating bacterial infections with bacteriophages, viruses that are virulent to bacterial hosts. Phage therapy is a promising solution to the growing issue of treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, bacteria develop resistance to phages as well. There is literature to suggest that…
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The Use of AI in Oil Pipeline Cybersecurity
By Eleanor Haas Faculty Mentor: Dr. Xin-Wen Wu Abstract With the conveniences of modern technology comes the increasing risk of cyberattacks, and industrial control systems in infrastructure are particularly vulnerable. While they provide convenience and efficiency, there is also an increasing risk of disruption to these systems, whether by cyberattack, faulty engineering, or natural disasters.…
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From the Land: an Experimental Approach to Ancient Ink Composition
By Luka Molloy Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christine Henry Abstract The archaeological study of tattooing is a fairly new area of research, becoming a serious academic pursuit over the past decade. The foci of projects have ranged in date, region, and purpose; most recently, many scholars have engaged in experimental archaeology to further our knowledge of…
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Quiet Minority: The Language of Minorities in Right-Wing and Conservative Movements
By Maria Esquivel Faculty Mentor: Dr. Janie Lee Abstract The literature surrounding right-wing ideology has focused largely on the political and sociological aspects of right-wing movements. While Kosse (2022) studied right-wing groups in the 4-chan message boards, the work was purely observational and has not allowed us to gain a discursive understanding of the right-wing…
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Is the CPA Exam Dying?
By Annie Wadovick Faculty Mentor: Dave Henderson Abstract The CPA (Certified Public Accounting) exam has been around for over a century. The exam was created to show the qualifications of the test taker and ensure the United States has qualified and well-rounded accountants. Of course, the exam is not formatted the same way. The Exam…
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Gravity on a paper thin Earth
By Daniel Paluh Faculty Mentor: Desmond Villalba Abstract In science, we learn that the Earth is a sphere and the gravitational value for Earth is 9.81 m/s^-2. But where does the gravitational value come from? Furthermore, how does it differ as Earth’s shape changes? Over the past year, we have explored how the acceleration of…
