KU, Haskell students to present research projects at 25th annual symposium

LAWRENCE — Research on hybridization of woodrat species, the role of T cells in mediating weight loss during chronic virus infection, environmental factors affecting fish health and early social isolation stress on the brain will be among student work presented at the 25th annual University of Kansas-Haskell Indian Nations University Student Research Symposium.

Eleven undergraduates and 13 postbaccalaureate scholars supported by the Office for Advancing Success in Science will present posters of their research from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 10 in the Stidham Union at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU).

The presenters include undergraduates from KU and HINU, along with postbaccalaureate scholars from KU. Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation focused on training and workforce development in the biological sciences, the four programs include:

• Bridges to Baccalaureate Research Training Program at KU/Haskell Indian Nations University | Principal investigators: Josephine Chandler, KU; Nana Allison-Brewer, HINU; and Melissa Holder, HINU.
• KU Maximizing Access to Research Careers | Principal investigators: Paulyn Cartwright and Paul Hanson, KU.
• KU Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program | Principal investigators: Gustavo Blanco, Adam Smith and Ilya Vakser, KU.
• KU BioGem Postbaccalaureate Research Program | Principal investigators: Paulyn Cartwright and Kirsten Jensen, KU.

The Office for Advancing Success in Science is led by Paulyn Cartwright, director.

Participants are listed alphabetically:

Brooklyn Anaya, of Hesston, has a bachelor’s degree in molecular, cellular & developmental biology from KU. Anaya is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by John Kelly, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Anaya’s research investigates the effects of polymorphic inversions on morphological and life history traits and the potential contribution of background epistasis in Mimulus quttatus (also known as the yellow monkeyflower).

Akhila Ayyadevara, of Overland Park, has a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from KU. Ayyadevara is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Zijun Wang, assistant professor of pharmacology & toxicology. Ayyadevara’s research studies the impact of early social isolation stress on both the brain’s natural and drug-reward processing system.

Felicity Barron, of Calimesa, California, has a bachelor’s degree of science from the University of California, Davis. Barron is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by Jocelyn Colella, assistant professor in ecology & evolutionary biology and assistant curator of mammalogy at the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum. Barron quantifies hybridization among five woodrat species in the south-central U.S. using RADseq on museum tissue samples.

Matthew Billie, of Fort Defiance, Arizona, is a student at Haskell Indian Nations University majoring in speech language hearing. Billie is a scholar of the Bridge program and is mentored by Matt Gillispie, professor of speech-language-hearing: sciences and disorders. Billie’s research utilized an anonymous survey to gain knowledge on information pertaining to AAC device usage within the Native American/American Indian community. Billie is affiliated with the Navajo Nation (Diné).

Mollie Coffey, of Lawrence, has an associate’s degree in natural sciences from Haskell Indian Nations University and is currently a junior at KU majoring in microbiology. Coffey is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Robin Orozco, assistant professor of molecular biosciences. Coffey’s research endeavors to understand T cells’ role in mediating weight loss during chronic virus infection in a snip mutation of an autoimmune linked allele called PTPN22. Coffey is affiliated with the Comanche Nation and Delaware Nation.

Myles Davis, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Haskell Indian Nations University. Davis is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by Jim Bever, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Davis’ research focuses on how AM fungi in different densities affect soil. Davis is affiliated with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Gabe Effiong, of Manhattan, is a senior at KU majoring in ecology, evolutionary & organismal biology. Effiong is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by John Kelly, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Effiong’s research aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms that reared Mimulus kellii and its subsequent morphological manifestation.

Myka Gilbert, of Window Rock, Arizona, is a student at Haskell Indian Nations University majoring in natural science and pre-pharmacy. Gilbert is a scholar in the Bridge program and is mentored by Josephine Chandler, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Gilbert’s research examines how freeloading individuals (cheaters) emerge from conditionally cooperative populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to better understand how cooperative actives evolve. Gilbert is affiliated with the Navajo Nation.

Paris Golder, of Beaverton, Oregon, has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Pacific University. Golder is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Justin Blumenstiel, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Golder studies the epigenetic silencing in Drosophila by small RNAs originating from transposable elements.

Brooklyn Harrison, of Wichita, has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from KU. Harrison is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Mark Farrell, associate professor of medicinal chemistry. Harrison’s research studies how the bacterium Enterrococcus faecalis, which is normally found in the human gut,  metabolizes the carbohydrate high-mannose N-glycans from its host.

Lawrence James-Osondu, of Fate, Texas, is a junior at KU majoring in behavioral neuroscience. James-Osondu is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Stephen Ilardi and Glenn Adams, professors of psychology. James-Osondu’s research investigates the effectiveness of lifestyle-based treatment for psychological disorders in veteran populations.

Ginny Ke, of Hays, is a senior at KU majoring in interdisciplinary computing (chemistry). Ke is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Prajnaparamita Dhar, professor of chemical & petroleum engineering. Ke’s research aims to highlight the importance of observing the surface activity of polysorbate-based surfactants, specifically Polysorbate 80, and understanding the degradation of light-induced polysorbate samples.

Evan La Cour, of Lawrence, has an associate’s degree in liberal arts and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Haskell Indian Nations University. La Cour is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by Ted Harris, associate research professor at the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research. La Cour’s research aims to investigate the environmental factors affecting fish health and community well-being on the Kickapoo Reservation in Kansas, focusing on water quality, contaminants and cultural impacts of fish deformities with the goal of restoring food sovereignty and promoting environmental health for Indigenous communities. La Cour is affiliated with the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, Forest County Potawatomi and Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

Tatenda Mafa, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Mafa is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Liang Xu, professor of molecular biosciences. Mafa’s research explores the pivotal role of HuR in regulating lactate secretion within the tumor microenvironment, identifying HuR as a potential therapeutic target to restore antitumor immunity.

Jared Melendrez, of Hacienda Heights, California, has a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from California State University, San Marcos. Melendrez is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Robin Orozco, assistant professor of molecular biosciences. Melendrez’s research studies the autoimmune-associated allele of PTPN22 and how it enhances antiviral immunity through the secretion of antibodies as well as antigen presentation in B cells.

Caleb Nichelson, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and neuroscience from Indiana University, Bloomington. Nichelson is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Adam Smith, associate professor of pharmacology & toxicology. Nichelson’s research investigates the sexually dimorphic role of oxytocin in modulating stress and anxiety responses in prairie voles by using molecular and imaging techniques to analyze how social defeat and pair bonding influence oxytocinergic activity.

Hannah Reid, of Purdy, Missouri, has a bachelor’s degree in ecology, evolutionary & organismal biology from KU. Reid is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by W. Leo Smith, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and associate curator of ichthyology at the Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum. Reid’s research studies the evolution of marine hatchetfishes in the genus Polyipnus by describing a new species using evidence from DNA, discrete characters and body shape.

Larissa Rockenbach, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a sophomore at KU majoring in biochemistry. Rockenbach is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Allie Graham, assistant professor of molecular biosciences. Rockenbach’s research aims to identify genetic variation and adaptations associated with survival in hypoxic and otherwise extreme conditions by analyzing whole-genome sequencing data from Peromyscus maniculatus.

Kate Rosa, of Emporia, is a senior at KU majoring in molecular, cellular & developmental biology. Rosa is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Robin Orozco, assistant professor of molecular biosciences. Rosa’s research focuses on the effect of an autoimmune mutation on natural killer cell development. Rosa is affiliated with the Sicangu Lakota Tribe.

Anjali Singh, of Wichita, is a junior at KU majoring in human biology and women, gender & sexuality studies. Singh is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Anthony Fehr, associate professor of molecular biosciences. Singh’s research focuses on inserting macrodomains from multiple coronaviruses into MHV, allowing for the use of a single viral platform to screen for Mac1 inhibitors of multiple types of coronaviruses.

Lucian Sours, of Pittsburg, is a junior at KU majoring in ecology, evolutionary & organismal biology and environmental studies. Sours is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Paulyn Cartwright, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Sours’ research centers around the analysis of genes that are differentially expressed in each stage of asexual replication in Staurocladia sp. to find out what genes are responsible for this uncommon process.

Maya Welcher, of Topeka, is a sophomore at KU majoring in ecology, evolutionary & organismal biology and environmental studies. Welcher is a scholar of the MARC program and is mentored by Paulyn Cartwright, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology. Welcher’s research investigates gene function using morpholinos to knock down gene expression in jellyfish and their relatives.

Liam Wrixon, of Spokane, Washington, has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Haskell Indian Nations University. Wrixon is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the BioGem program and is mentored by Victor Gonzalez, associate teaching professor of biology. Wrixon’s research focuses on insect pollinator thermal tolerance and ecology. Wrixon is a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation.

Christian Young, of Dilkon, Arizona, has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Haskell Indian Nations University. Young is a postbaccalaureate scholar in the PREP program and is mentored by Zijun Wang, assistant professor of pharmacology & toxicology. Young’s research utilizes the conditioned place paradigm to measure how mice develop addictive behaviors and uses various drug treatments to determine if they help attenuate drug-seeking behaviors. Young is affiliated with the Navajo and Tewa.