KU, Haskell students to present research projects 12th annual symposium

LAWRENCE — Research relating to cancer, genetics, medicinal plants and social relationships will be among student research presented at the 12th annual University of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Thirty-two students are expected to present posters of their science and engineering research from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at Tecumseh Hall at Haskell. This year’s event is sponsored by the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program.

The presenters include undergraduate- and graduate-level students at both universities. They participate in programs that encourage underrepresented students to pursue research careers in biomedical science, including the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program at Haskell and KU, the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program at Haskell, the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Program at KU and the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at KU.

Four guest students from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont., will be presenting as well as visiting the universities. Three students from the IMSD Pre-research group (Marcus Florez, Alexandria Roy and Julia Yang) will also be attending the event.

Prior to the poster presentation Haskell Indian Nations University will be hosting a guided tour. Faculty and staff are invited to participate. For more information, please contact Lynn Villafuerte at (785) 864-3641.

Symposium participants are listed below:
• Carl Ashmore, “Cattle Ranching in Osage County, Oklahoma,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Santa Fe, N.M., and son of Kimberly Ponca and David Ashmore.
• Lauren Beesley, “Using Normalization Techniques on Microarray Data to Determine Differential Gene Expression,” a KU mathematics major from Overland Park, and daughter of Kari Beesley and Darin Beesley.
• Matt Behymer, “Investigating the Tight Junction Modulatory Activity of EC-4 Hexapeptides from E-cadherin,” a KU biochemistry major from Tonganoxie, and son of Mark Behymer and Maylum Davidson.
• Tyler Berry, “Understanding How We Build a Vocabulary,” a Haskell Indian Nations University engineering major from Conroe, Texas, and son of Ronnie and Lea Ann Berry.
• Joshua Brinkley, “When ‘Single’ People Express Prejudice Against Their Own Group,” a KU PREP student from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and son of Maria Brinkley.
• Kimberly Box, “Identifying Novel Morphogenesis Gene in Caenorhabditis elegans,” a KU genetics major from Wichita, and daughter of Bradford and Andrea Box.
• Jimmy Budiardjo, “Designing Allosteric Control into Enzymes through Chemical Rescue of Structure,” a KU PREP student from Olathe and son of Agus and Tuty Budiardjo.
• Jamie Lee Cahoon, “The Salix Project: A Vertically Integrated, Project-Based, Chemistry Module,” a student from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont.
• Loretta Louise Grey Cloud, “Detection of Phage DNA in Host Genome During Lysogeny,” a student from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont.
• Alex Fondaw, “ZipA-FtsZ Interaction Disruption,” a KU biochemistry major from Wichita, and son of Glen and Zoraida Fondaw.
• Paulette Gonzalez, “Habitat Use & Distribution of 2 Mexican Frogs (Genus Lithobates) during Rainy Season in 2 Protection Areas in the State of Jalisco,” a KU PREP student from Los Angeles and daughter of Sergio Gonzales and Elka Sandoval.
• Michelle Jackson, “Human Steroidogenic Cytochrome P450 17A1: Roles of Key Active Site Residues,” a KU PREP student from Opelousas, La., and daughter of Robert and Helen Jackson.
• Maureen Wangare, “Defensive Pessimism in Low-Income Adolescents,” a KU pyschology major from Olathe and daughter of Godfrey Kamau and Anne Nyambura.
• Jordan Koch, “Algorithms for Calculating Pattern Class Probabilities on Phylogenetic Trees,” a KU mathematics major from Lawrence and daughter of Paul Koch and Candace Koch.
• Devin Lasley, “Elementary Girls’ Perceptions of a Positive Youth Development Activity,” a KU community health major from Wellington and son of Tracey and Fred Carley.
• Terra Lubin, “Below-Ground Processes in Crop-Wild Hybrid Sunflower,” a KU ecology and evolutionary biology major from Lawrence
• Anne Nzuki, “Adaptation of the Community Tool Box to the African Context and Dissemination for Capacity Building Efforts,” a KU human biology/concentration in applied behavioral science major from Olathe and daughter of Fidelis Munyao and Rhoda Nzuki.
• Kayla Sale, “Modeling Gas Exchange in Ancient and Modern Trees Samples Using Leaf Morphology,” a KU ecology and evolutionary biology/math major from Olathe and daughter of John and Jamia Sale.
• Joshua Selbe, “ Phylogeography of Two Polytypic Bird Species from the Philippines,” a KU microbiology major from Fort Scott and son of Cindy Larson.
• Briana Sprague, “Effect of Physical Activity on Executive Function and Working Memory in Older Adults with and without Dementia,” a KU psychology major from Valley Falls and daughter of Ron Pruyt and Kellie Pruyt.
• Watokapa Was'tewin Smiley, “Proposed Consumption Advisories for Lake Trout in Lake Pend d'Orielle, ID and Yellowstone Lake, WY,” a student from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont.
• Trey Onawa Saddler, “Mercury Exposure Among Flathead Indian Reservation WIC Participants,” a student from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Mont.
• Chelsea Steel, “Evaluation of Function-Specific Ligands for the LAR-RPTP and Syndecan HSPGs in Neuronal Development,” a KU neurobiology major from Gladstone, Mo., and daughter of Tamara Steel.
• Summer Afraid of Hawk, “Soil Morphology in Ziebach County, South Dakota, Bison Range Management in Ziebach County, South Dakota,” a Haskell Indian Nations University natural resources major from Eagle Butte, S.D., and daughter of Pam and Rocke Afraid of Hawk.
• Ashley Stiffarm, “Soil Moisture Dependent upon Amount of Ground Cover,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Grain Valley , Mo., and daughter of Larry and Becky Stiffarm.
• Marvin Stops Jr., “Work of Compression Studies for Design of Anti-HIV Microbicide Polymeric Delivery Vehicle,” a Haskell Indian Nations University environmental science major from Billings, Mont., and son of Kimberly LeBeaux and Marvin Stops Sr.
• Joel Tamayo, “Mutant Suppressor Screen to Identify MAB-5/HOX Target Genes that Direct Posterior vs. Anterior Neuronal Migration in Caenorhabiditis elegans,” a KU PREP student from Miami and son of Joanne and Andres Tamayo.
• Gabriela Toledo, “Xfrogs, Wolverine Frogs Found in Southeast Asia,” a KU PREP student from Havana, Cuba, and daughter of Armando Toledo and Ileana Lugo.
• Rodolto Torres-Gavosto, “Derivatization of the Azulenic Framework along its Molecular Axis for Charge Transport Applications,” a KU chemistry major from Lawrence and son of Rodolto Torres and Estela Gavosto.
• Chris Trezza, “EXC-9, a LIM Domain, along with Other EXC Genes Might Play a Role in Intracellular Transport,” a KU microbiology major from Smithtown, N.Y., and son of Charlotte and James Trezza.
• LaShawnia Tso, “Modeling Flood Impacts along Chinle Creek in Northeastern Arizona,” a KU PREP student from Rock Point, Ariz., and daughter of Eugene Tso and Patricia Yazzie.
• Crisandra Wilkie, “Synthesis and Purification of IDAC of MOG: Potential Therapeutic for MS,” a KU cellular biology major from Salem, Ore., and daughter of Pam Moore and Chris Wilkie.