Capitol Graduate Research Summit shows the benefits of research

LAWRENCE — Kansas residents are invited to see the impact of research performed by graduate students at the University of Kansas on Feb. 26 at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit in Topeka. Eight graduate students from the Lawrence campus and five graduate students from KU Medical Center will present research projects from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol building.

Founded by graduate students 16 years ago, the annual summit brings attention to the innovative research conducted by students at state universities and emphasizes the public benefits of graduate students’ research.

“Graduate students provide the intellect, industry and inspiration that propels research at KU,” said Audrey Lamb, interim dean of graduate studies. “The graduate student presenters at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit are representatives of the more than 5,000 master's and doctoral scholars at the University of Kansas. Their work is at the forefront of research on topics spanning the social, natural and pharmaceutical sciences and engineering. This summit provides an opportunity for Governor Laura Kelly, the state senators and representatives, and their staff to interact directly with our outstanding students, who will be the leaders and educators in the years to come.”

Free and open to the public, the summit will display a wide range of research, including flood prediction and prevention, methods for improving foster care, advances in strengthening cybersecurity and new treatments for antibiotic-resistant disease. More information is available here.

KU representatives will join graduate students from Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University at the event.

KU’s participants are listed below by name, degree, area of study and titles of their research projects.

From KU Lawrence

James Coll, doctoral student in geography, “Mapping Floods Anywhere in Kansas Using the National Water Model.”

Zoe Dimond, doctoral student in microbiology, “Using Antibiotic-Resistant Agricultural Bacteria to Understand Chlamydia Infections.”

Pamela Johnson, master’s student in bioengineering, “Growing 3-D Cartilage to Treat Osteoarthritis.”

Shravan Kaundinya, doctoral student in electrical engineering, “Monitoring Water Content in Soil Using Radar.”

James Lafikes, doctoral student in civil engineering, “Implementing New Concrete Technologies for Constructing Crack-Free Bridge Decks.”

Adam Petz, doctoral student in computer science, “Copland: A Semantics for Trust in Cyber Infrastructure.”

Katie Stone, doctoral student in clinical child psychology, “Mental Health Outcomes in Foster Youth: Promoting Cohesion and Conflict Resolution in Foster Families.”

Maria Tickerhoof, doctoral student in pharmacology and toxicology, “Understanding the Link Between Stress and Mental Illness.”

From KU Medical Center

Kaitlyn Carl, medical student, “Gene Expression Profiling Use is Associated with Reduction in Moderate to Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation After Heart Transplant.”

Hannah Cunningham, doctoral student in nursing, “Impact of a Low-Cost, Multicomponent Intervention to Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in a Primary Care Clinic in Rural Kansas.”

Miranda Macheck, doctoral student in pathology, “Elevated O-GlcNAc Exacerbates Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion from CD4+ T Cells.”

Andrew Trembath, doctoral student in microbiology, “Immune Regulation of CD8+ T Cells by NKG2D in Autoimmune Diabetes.”

Abdalghani Yahya, doctoral student in rehabilitation science, “Pinch Proprioception and Hand Dexterity: Are They Correlated?”