The tenth annual symposium provided an opportunity for the public to interact with student researchers and scholars as they viewed posters and exhibits presented by 91福利 students.

Over 430 projects were submitted to the annual event, which was free and open to the public. The symposium was organized and co-hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), Student Government, and the Graduate Student Government as part of Maine Impact Week. Supported and sponsored by the office of the vice president for research and dean of the graduate school, this event brings graduate and Undergraduate students together for a day of technical exchange. Additional sponsorships were received from Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Versant, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Northern Light Health, IEEE, Maine College of Engineering and Computing, President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Rick Mundy, 4Imprint, Hannaford Supermarkets, New Life Scientific, MaineHealth Institute of Research, Rhode Island Restoration, Specialty Products and Insulation (SPI), Texas Instruments, Fyzical Therapy and Balance Centers Twin City Bangor, Maine Lobster Now, Inclinator Company of America, 454 – 465 Piermont Ave, LLC, and Sitelines.

UMSS awards include an undergraduate and graduate winner for each of the ten UMSS academic categories, all of whom receive a medal and $500 cash prize. Congratulations to all the recipients for your excellent work!

Special Awards

Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award 鈥�  Liza White, Biomedical Engineering

3-Minute Thesis, First Place – Allie Conner, Microbiology
3-Minute Thesis, Second Place – Mandana Askarizadeh, Biomedical Sciences
3-Minute Thesis, People鈥檚 Choice – Ehasn Ullah Sardar, Chemical Engineering

Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award – Rakibul Hossain, 鈥淒eveloping Mineral-added Wood Fiber-based Wallboard Panels with Enhanced Fire Resistance and Mechanical Strength,鈥� advised by Mehdi Tajvidi

Susan J. Hunter Undergraduate Award: Brigid Mrenna, 鈥淭esting How Plant Traits Predict Survival of Northeastern U.S. Tree Seedlings Under Compound Heat and Drought Stress,鈥� advised by Jay Wason III

Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Liza White, 鈥淓ngineered Textured Surfaces: Scalable Solutions for Next Generation Technology,鈥� advised by Caitlin Howell

UMSS25 Undergraduate Category Awards

• Allied Health: Hannah Maker, Olivia Pelkey, Katherine Darling, 鈥淒owneast Population Health Initiative,鈥� advised by Jordan Porter
• Arts: Emily Voight, Shelby Philips, Cec铆lia Andrade, Grace Carlson, Nnenaya Lewis, Sean Schweizer, Grace Philips, 鈥淒rowning in Air,鈥� advised by Alexis Foster
• Biomedical Sciences: Emily Ledue, Samuel Kovacs, Annika Savage, Noah Adelman, Esther Biro, Gabriella Giftos, Julia Coombs, Mia Corradi, Veronica Doyle, Ashley Geydoshek, Vejune Griciute, Riley Jerome, Meagan Libby, Franklin Libby, Isaac Mains, Andrew Melanson, Randi Phillips, Mary Kate Pons, Alexandra Ruff, Mason Soares, Justin Solomon, 鈥淚nhibiting 伪-Galactosidase from Saccharomyces pastorianus A Comprehensive Analysis,鈥� advised by Jennifer Newell-Caito
• Business: Lucas Ronco, Cooper Williams, Brianna Townsend, Nicholas Swim, Rusty Stough, 鈥淐ompetitive Balance? Examining Division I Women鈥檚 Basketball and Soccer,鈥� advised by Nicholas Swim
• Education: Matthew Patterson, 鈥淥ur ClassXRoom: A New Dimension in Active Learning,鈥� advised by Justin Dimmel
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Ozwin Cordes, Octavian Anghel, Joseph Binette, Kobe Chasse, Aidan Bradley, 鈥淏lockchain-based Secure Sensor Data Tracking for Industrial and IoT Applications,鈥� advised by Laura Gurney
• Interdisciplinary Research: Erica Cunningham, 鈥淓ffects of Naval Sonar on Common Bottlenose Dolphins,鈥� advised by William Ellis
• Natural Sciences: Faith Flynn, Allie Andersen, 鈥淭he Gulf of Maine Pelagic Parasite Survey,鈥� advised by Ian Bricknell
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Ryan Allen, 鈥淢odeling the Mechanics of Avian Breeding and Migration,鈥� advised by Jane Wang
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Miles Jones, 鈥淭he Lewiston Effect: A Social Media Analysis of Gun Control Sentiment in Maine,鈥� advised by Asif Nawaz

UMSS25 Graduate Category Awards

• Allied Health: Kristie Spaulding, 鈥淓valuating the Effectiveness of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Primary Care,鈥� advised by Colleen Marzilli
• Arts: Matthew Liderbach, 鈥淟otus Operandi,鈥� advised by Susan Smith
• Biomedical Sciences: Carolina Cora, Breanna Page, Ryan Reno, James Reilly, Wadak Harbi, Vlada Chekirka, Christian Potts, Mary Weatherbee, Joanne T. deKay, Juan Aristizabal-Henao, Michael A. Kiebish, David Gagnon, Richard Riker, Teresa L. May, Sergey Ryzhov, Douglas B. Sawyer, David B. Seder I, 鈥淏rown Adipose Tissue Activation and Inflammatory Modulation in Post-Cardiac Arrest Recovery,鈥� advised by Matthew Lynes
• Business: N/A
• Education: Holly White, Alyssa Arscott, Katharine J. Ruskin, Debra M. Allen, Alison Jolley, 鈥淏uilding Belonging in First Year Students Through Research Learning Experiences,鈥� advised by Katharine Ruskin
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Erfan Najaf, Eric Landis, 鈥淩educing Cracks in Concrete Bridges Using Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF),鈥� advised by Eric Landis
• Interdisciplinary Research: Melissa Godin, Caroline Noblet, 鈥淕eospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data,鈥� advised by Caroline Noblet
• Natural Sciences: Nichole Blackmer, Kyle Brennan, Erin Grey, 鈥淎 Transcriptomic Analysis of the Adult Atlantic Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus ) in Response to Bacterial Challenges,鈥� advised by Timothy Bowden
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Tahi Wiggins, Kristin M. Schild, Martin Truffer, 鈥淪urface Water Dynamics at Echo Glacier, Ling铆t Aan铆,鈥� advised by Seth Campbell
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Muhammad Hamza Imran, Katherine Simmons, 鈥淐o-Designing Microgrids for Energy Justice: A Literature Review Analysis of Best Practices, Barriers, and Pathways for Underserved Communities,鈥� advised by Sharon Klein

The article can be read here.

The eighth annual symposium provided an opportunity for the public to interact with student researchers and scholars as they viewed posters and exhibits presented by 91福利 students.

A record number of over 430 projects were submitted to the annual event, which was fully in-person for the first time since 2019. The free public event was organized and co-hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), Student Government, and the Graduate Student Government as part of Maine Impact Week. Additional sponsorships were received from Maine Technology Institute (MTI), Texas Instruments (TI), General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, President Ferrini-Mundy and Rick Mundy, POWER Engineers, Ironwood Maine, Northern Light Health, IEEE Main Section, Maine Hospital Association, Hannaford, Kinetic Wellness of Maine, Versant Power, SMRT, Wings for Children and Families, and Upstart Center for Entrepreneurship.

UMSS awards include an undergraduate and graduate winner for each of the ten categories, all of whom receive a medal and $500 cash prize. Congratulations to all the winners for your excellent work!

Special Awards

• Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award –聽 Brandy-Lee Soos

UMSS23 Undergraduate Category Awards

• Allied Health: Lydia Bradfield, 鈥淪takeholders Perspectives on Cognitive Fatigue,鈥� advised by Jessica Riccardi
• Arts: Santiago Tijerina, 鈥淐limate Action at the University of Maine: A Documentary (Short Film) that Engages with Qualitative Research Methods,鈥� advised by Michael Grillo
• Biomedical Sciences: Aiden Pike, 鈥淭he Role of Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase IV in Regulating JC Polyomavirus Infection,鈥� advised by Melissa Maginnis
• Business: Mikayla Reynolds, 鈥淓xploring the Influence of Work From Home and On-Site Benefits on Perceptions of Organizational Attractiveness,鈥� advised by William Obenauer
• Education: Laura Curioli, 鈥淎 Study in the Evolution of Educational Philosophies Across Three Centuries,鈥� advised by Joel Anderson
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Meghan Boos, Molly Olzinski, Julia Ross and Abby Houghton, 鈥淩edesign and Optimization of an Enteral Drainage Bag for Patients with Gastroparesis,鈥� advised by Robert Bowie
• Interdisciplinary Research:聽 Zachary Inniss, 鈥淭he Veterinary Immersion Plan: An Innovative Solution to Address Non Predictive Barriers to Entering the Field of Veterinary Medicinek鈥� advised by Sue Ishaq
• Natural Sciences: Madeline Williams (UMM), 鈥淧rey Preference in Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Carcinus maenas, and Cancer borealis,鈥� advised by Brian Beal
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Lucinda Slattery, 鈥淎n Investigation of Causes of Inaccuracy of Infrared Radiation Cameras for Large Scale Additive Manufacturing Applications,鈥� advised by Samuel Hess
• Social Sciences and Humanities:聽 Tamra Benson, 鈥淢utual Aid: A Community-led Solution to Economic Hardships at the University of Maine,鈥� advised by Robert Glover

UMSS23 Graduate Category Awards

• Allied Health: Ayodeji Olaniyi, 鈥淚nvestigating The Activity of Bacteria Isolated from Tank Biofilms in a Hatchery System for Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus Larvae,鈥� advised by Sue Ishaq
• Arts: Walter Greenleaf, 鈥淚ntermedia Nanocellulose Artistic Research Team,鈥� advised by Susan Smith
• Biomedical Sciences: Madeleine Nowak, 鈥淗epatic Signaling Effects on Adipose Tissue Mest and Fat Mass Expansion,鈥� advised by Robert Koza
• Business: Caroline Paras, 鈥淭he Maine Brand Study: A Statewide Survey of Maine Business Leaders on the Competitive Advantage of the Maine Brand,鈥� advised by Norm O鈥橰eilly
• Education: Katherine Bishop-Dunphy, 鈥淭eaching Comprehension Through Visual Literacy,鈥� advised by Susan Bennett-Armistead
• Engineering and Information Sciences: Liza White, 鈥淯ltra-Low-Cost, Remote, and Continuous Water Quality Detection System,鈥� advised by Caitlin Howell
• Interdisciplinary Research: Elizabeth Leclerc, 鈥淐limate Change, Hydrological Dynamics, and Settlement Patterns in the Supe Valley, 5000 to 3000 cal. BP,鈥� advised by Daniel Sandweiss聽
• Natural Sciences: Stephanie Willsey, 鈥淒eveloping an Enhanced Forest Inventory in Maine Using Airborne Laser Scanning: The Role of Calibration Plot Design and Data Quality,鈥� advised by Daniel Hayes
• Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Ethan Cronk, “Thermal Stability of Next Generation Double Perovskite-Halide Optoelectronic Materials,” advised by Nicholas Bingham and Robert Lad
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Charity Zimmerman, 鈥淐itizen Preferences for Addressing PFAS: Factors Affecting Willingness to Contribute,鈥� advised by Caroline Noblet

More than 1,000 student researchers, co-authors, faculty and community members attended the 2022 91福利 Student Symposium, held at the New Balance Field House and Memorial Gym on Friday, April 15, 2022.聽

The seventh annual symposium provided an opportunity for the public to interact with student researchers and scholars as they viewed posters and exhibits presented by 91福利 students.

Over 350 projects were submitted to the annual event, which was held in a hybrid format. Students submitted virtual presentations to be reviewed by judges, and had the option to present at the in-person event. The free public event was organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, the Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR), Student Government and the Graduate Student Government as part of Maine Impact Week.

In addition to awards for virtual presentations, the symposium also featured special awards sponsored by 91福利 research centers as well as People鈥檚 Choice Day of Event Awards. Congratulations to all the winners for your excellent work!

Special Awards

Dr. Susan J. Hunter Presidential Research Impact Award – Zachary Doherty (undergraduate), 鈥淭aste and Odor Degradation in Water by Nanobubble-facilitated Ultrasonication,鈥� advised by Onur Apul, Sean Sibley (graduate), 鈥淔amily Nurse Practitioner Student Perceptions of Simulation Based Education,鈥� advised by Kelley Strout
Dean of Graduate School Undergraduate Mentoring Award –聽 Caitlin Wiafe-Kwakye
Provost鈥檚 Innovative and Creative Teaching Award –聽 Martha P. Gladstone
Student Innovation Commercialization Awards –聽 Jacob Snow, Md Ikramul Hasan, Richa Arya

UMSS22 Virtual Presentation Undergraduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Meg Lander, 鈥淓fficacy of the FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program in Maine High School Soccer,鈥� advised by Christopher Nightingale
Arts: Kimberly Hunt, 鈥淪ergei Rachmaninoff鈥檚 Interpretive Architecture,鈥� advised by Phillip Silver
Biomedical Sciences: Katie Southworth, 鈥淒MC9 Prophage Characterization and Impact on Group B Streptococcus Virulence,鈥� advised by Melody Neely
Business: Nicholas Johnson, 鈥淢easuring China鈥檚 Footprint in the United States,鈥� advised by Stefano Tijerina
Education: Nicole LaPlant, 鈥淐reating a Healthy Rural Ecosystem for Community Vitality: Developing Rural Business Research,鈥� advised by Catherine Biddle
Engineering and Information Sciences: Mackenzie Ladd, 鈥淓ffect of Interface Contact Conditions on the Electrical Resistance of 3D-Printed Conductive Filaments,鈥� advised by Brett Ellis
Interdisciplinary Research: Ainslie Allen, 鈥淒etecting Shared Touch Surface Contamination with a Deep Learning-Enhanced Smartphone and Nanopatterned Material System,鈥� advised by Caitlin Howell
Natural Sciences: Emily Holt, 鈥淢easuring Firn Thickness and Volume Change Using GPR Profiles Across the Juneau Icefield,鈥� advised by Seth Campbell
Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Jinyoung Park, 鈥淚solation and Analysis of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) Using TEAB Auxiliary,鈥� advised by Matthew Brichacek
Social Sciences and Humanities: Leah Savage, 鈥淥bjectifying the Classroom: An examination of self-objectification, appearance comparisons, and their effects on cognitive resources within video-class environments,鈥� advised by Amelia Couture-Bue

UMSS22 Virtual Presentation Graduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Lauren Jellison, 鈥淔irefighter Cancer Risk: A Qualitative Study of the Current Perceptions and Practices Surrounding Cancer Prevention in the Fire Service in Maine,鈥� advised by Patricia Poirier
Arts: Stephanie Winslow, 鈥淎ndante et Scherzo,鈥� advised by Elizabeth Downing
Biomedical Sciences: Caitlin Wiafe-Kwakye, 鈥淚nvestigating the Impact of Prophages on Bacterial Fitness of Streptococcus agalactiae,鈥� advised by Melody Neely
Business: Thomas Erick, 鈥淣IL Legislation and Sponsorship of D1 NCAA Athletes,鈥� advised by Norm O鈥橰eilly
Education: Anne Fensie, 鈥淭he Study of Adult Learners in Distance Education: A Scoping Review of the Literature,鈥� advised by Elizabeth Allan
Engineering and Information Sciences: Nicholas Soucy, 鈥淐EU-Net: Ensemble Semantic Segmentation of Hyperspectral Images Using Clustering,鈥� advised by Salimeh Yasaei Sekeh
Interdisciplinary Research: Rachel Church, 鈥淯nderstanding Sense of Place in Maine Through Community Cookbooks,鈥� advised by Susan Smith
Natural Sciences: Avery Lamb, 鈥淯sing Paleolimnological Tools to Evaluate the Links Between Climate Change and CyanoHABs in Maine Lakes,鈥� advised by Jasmine Saros
Social Sciences and Humanities: Amy Halpin, 鈥淣ow or Later? Decision-Making Preferences in Community-Dwelling Older Adults,鈥� advised by Rebecca MacAulay

UMSS22 People鈥檚 Choice Awards

Amanda Sandberg, 鈥�Evaluating Ca2+ Related Drugs for Inhibition of JC Polyomavirus Infection,鈥� advised by Melissa Maginnis
Jordan Miner, 鈥淩ole of the HU177 Cryptic Collagen Epitope in Differentially Controlling Breast Tumor Cell Behavior,鈥� advised by Peter Brooks
Sarah Hanscome, 鈥淪imulation-Based Learning in Nursing Education,鈥� advised by Deborah Eremita