Undergraduate and Graduate Researchers Awarded at UMSS23

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 14:39:50 +0000

More than 1,000 student researchers, co-authors, faculty, staff, event sponsors and community members attended the 2023 91�� Student Symposium, held at the Collins Center For the Arts on Friday, April 14, 2023.

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�� 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 – Brandy-Lee Soos

UMSS23 Undergraduate Category Awards

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

UMSS23 Graduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Ayodeji Olaniyi, “Investigating The Activity of Bacteria Isolated from Tank Biofilms in a Hatchery System for Sea Scallop, Placopecten magellanicus Larvae,” advised by Sue Ishaq
Arts: Walter Greenleaf, “Intermedia Nanocellulose Artistic Research Team,” advised by Susan Smith
Biomedical Sciences: Madeleine Nowak, “Hepatic Signaling Effects on Adipose Tissue Mest and Fat Mass Expansion,” advised by Robert Koza
Business: Caroline Paras, “The Maine Brand Study: A Statewide Survey of Maine Business Leaders on the Competitive Advantage of the Maine Brand,” advised by Norm O’Reilly
Education: Katherine Bishop-Dunphy, “Teaching Comprehension Through Visual Literacy,” advised by Susan Bennett-Armistead
Engineering and Information Sciences: Liza White, “Ultra-Low-Cost, Remote, and Continuous Water Quality Detection System,” advised by Caitlin Howell
Interdisciplinary Research: Elizabeth Leclerc, “Climate Change, Hydrological Dynamics, and Settlement Patterns in the Supe Valley, 5000 to 3000 cal. BP,” advised by Daniel Sandweiss
Natural Sciences: Stephanie Willsey, “Developing an Enhanced Forest Inventory in Maine Using Airborne Laser Scanning: The Role of Calibration Plot Design and Data Quality,” 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, “Citizen Preferences for Addressing PFAS: Factors Affecting Willingness to Contribute,” advised by Caroline Noblet

UMSS23 Student Profile: Nicholas Tiner

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 16:20:11 +0000

For Nicholas Tiner, getting involved in research at 91�� “presented an opportunity to make a positive difference, even if just a small one.” He received a Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) Fellowship award for summer 2022, saying “a lot of CUGR recipients work on projects that strive to make the world a bit better. […] Getting to spend a summer doing research is a unique experience and one I haven’t taken for granted.”

Tiner’s area of research focuses on two gyres, large circulation patterns of water, located in Frenchman Bay. Tiner says these gyres “may very well influence the accumulation of microplastics and harmful algal blooms, which can harm wildlife and people,” citing a 2016 bloom of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia which caused shutdowns in the shellfish industry.

Tiner took water samples and used probes to measure data points, which will improve understanding of how the gyres form and if they play a role in furthering aggregating toxic particulates. His hope is that his work will be “a small facet of a greater effort to protect the wildlife and livelihood of all those who live in and on Frenchman Bay.”

Tiner credits his faculty mentor, Dr. Lauren Ross, and doctoral student, Taylor Bailey, with his research success. “Both are not only extremely helpful in regards to their deep expertise on topics of coastal and environmental engineering, but also on how to approach the world of research.” Grateful for his exposure to research, Tiner said it was “an excellent chance to gain a panoply of writing, technical and academic skills, while also satiating my curiosity. Regardless of what I do with my degree, the skills I am developing doing this research will make me a stronger engineer and scientist.”

UMSS Awardees 2023 – 91���� Student Symposium

Undergraduate and Graduate Researchers Awarded at UMSS23

Special Awards

UMSS23 Undergraduate Category Awards

UMSS23 Graduate Category Awards

UMSS23 Student Profile: Nicholas Tiner

UMSS Awardees 2023 – 91�� Student Symposium