91�� Student Symposium

Student Presenters Awarded at UMSS25

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:57:44 +0000

More than 1,500 student researchers, co-authors, faculty, staff, event sponsors, and community members attended the 2025 91�� Student Symposium, held at the New Balance Field House on Friday, April 11, 2025.

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�� 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 – 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’s Choice – Ehasn Ullah Sardar, Chemical Engineering

Bruce and Joanne Fournier Award – Rakibul Hossain, “Developing Mineral-added Wood Fiber-based Wallboard Panels with Enhanced Fire Resistance and Mechanical Strength,” advised by Mehdi Tajvidi

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

Susan J. Hunter Graduate Award: Liza White, “Engineered Textured Surfaces: Scalable Solutions for Next Generation Technology,” advised by Caitlin Howell

UMSS25 Undergraduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Hannah Maker, Olivia Pelkey, Katherine Darling, “Downeast Population Health Initiative,” advised by Jordan Porter
Arts: Emily Voight, Shelby Philips, Cecília Andrade, Grace Carlson, Nnenaya Lewis, Sean Schweizer, Grace Philips, “Drowning in Air,” 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, “Inhibiting α-Galactosidase from Saccharomyces pastorianus A Comprehensive Analysis,” advised by Jennifer Newell-Caito
Business: Lucas Ronco, Cooper Williams, Brianna Townsend, Nicholas Swim, Rusty Stough, “Competitive Balance? Examining Division I Women’s Basketball and Soccer,” advised by Nicholas Swim
Education: Matthew Patterson, “Our ClassXRoom: A New Dimension in Active Learning,” advised by Justin Dimmel
Engineering and Information Sciences: Ozwin Cordes, Octavian Anghel, Joseph Binette, Kobe Chasse, Aidan Bradley, “Blockchain-based Secure Sensor Data Tracking for Industrial and IoT Applications,” advised by Laura Gurney
Interdisciplinary Research: Erica Cunningham, “Effects of Naval Sonar on Common Bottlenose Dolphins,” advised by William Ellis
Natural Sciences: Faith Flynn, Allie Andersen, “The Gulf of Maine Pelagic Parasite Survey,” advised by Ian Bricknell
Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Ryan Allen, “Modeling the Mechanics of Avian Breeding and Migration,” advised by Jane Wang
Social Sciences and Humanities: Miles Jones, “The Lewiston Effect: A Social Media Analysis of Gun Control Sentiment in Maine,” advised by Asif Nawaz

UMSS25 Graduate Category Awards

Allied Health: Kristie Spaulding, “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Primary Care,” advised by Colleen Marzilli
Arts: Matthew Liderbach, “Lotus Operandi,” 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, “Brown Adipose Tissue Activation and Inflammatory Modulation in Post-Cardiac Arrest Recovery,” advised by Matthew Lynes
Business: N/A
Education: Holly White, Alyssa Arscott, Katharine J. Ruskin, Debra M. Allen, Alison Jolley, “Building Belonging in First Year Students Through Research Learning Experiences,” advised by Katharine Ruskin
Engineering and Information Sciences: Erfan Najaf, Eric Landis, “Reducing Cracks in Concrete Bridges Using Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF),” advised by Eric Landis
Interdisciplinary Research: Melissa Godin, Caroline Noblet, “Geospatial Integration of PFAS Survey Data,” advised by Caroline Noblet
Natural Sciences: Nichole Blackmer, Kyle Brennan, Erin Grey, “A Transcriptomic Analysis of the Adult Atlantic Sea Scallop (Placopecten magellanicus ) in Response to Bacterial Challenges,” advised by Timothy Bowden
Physical and Mathematical Sciences: Tahi Wiggins, Kristin M. Schild, Martin Truffer, “Surface Water Dynamics at Echo Glacier, Lingít Aaní,” advised by Seth Campbell
Social Sciences and Humanities: Muhammad Hamza Imran, Katherine Simmons, “Co-Designing Microgrids for Energy Justice: A Literature Review Analysis of Best Practices, Barriers, and Pathways for Underserved Communities,” advised by Sharon Klein

91�� News Announces UMSS24 Awardees

Thu, 02 May 2024 15:18:48 +0000

91�� News recently shared a post listing all of the winners at the 2024 91�� Student Symposium.
The event was held on Friday, April 12th at the New Balance Field House on the 91�� Campus.

The article can be read here.

UMSS24 Keynote Speaker Announced

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:22:44 +0000

This year’s annual 91�� Student Symposium (UMSS), a celebration of student research and creative work, will be held at the New Balance Field House on Friday, April 12th, 2024. Graduate and undergraduate students from across all disciplines, from both 91�� and 91�� Machias are invited to submit their abstracts. The UMSS23 organizing committee is thrilled to announce this year’s keynote speaker, Sreeram “Ram” Dhurjaty, PhD, Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (SMIEEE).

Dhurjaty’s UMSS24 keynote address is entitled “Consequences of Approximations in Science and Engineering.” All of us approximate. Engineering and science are full of approximations. When we approximate adequately, we reach our goals. Depending on the context in which they are made, improper approximations can be disastrous and can have tragic, even life-threatening, consequences. In this talk, Dr. Dhurjaty will illustrate, with simple examples, both adequate and inadequate approximations and their consequences.

Ram has an impressive educational background, having earned degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Yale University. His work experience spans various roles, including his current position as President of Dhurjaty Electronics Consulting LLC, and his past roles at Kodak and other companies, where he contributed significantly to the development of innovative medical devices and systems.

Ram’s contributions to the field of electrical engineering are remarkable. As an architect and R&D manager at Kodak, he played a crucial role in the development of wireless film-cassette-sized digital radiography systems, which became a multi-million-dollar business. He also led the electronics/electrical team for a radiographic laser printer and contributed to the development of several other medical devices and systems, such as computed radiography systems, fetal heart monitors, and portable X-ray systems. Ram has kept his productivity high since leaving Kodak with his work on hand-cranked defibrillators for the Indian market and other analog electrical engineering work as a consultant.

Ram holds 17 patents in various fields, including laser modulation, X-ray, hardcopy devices, digital and computed radiography, and defibrillators. He has published extensively and has been invited to present his work at numerous conferences and workshops. Furthermore, he is a Senior Member of IEEE, and active in various health and radiography professional societies.

Dhurjaty’s talk will begin at 2:00 pm in the New Balance Field House. The 91�� Student Symposium is free and open to the public. For more information regarding UMSS please navigate to umaine.edu/umss. Judging and sponsorship opportunities are also available. We hope to see you on Friday, April 12th.

UMSS23 Student Profile: Emilie Casey

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:08:21 +0000

Emilie Casey came to 91�� planning to focus on geology, but after connecting with one of their professors, glaciology is becoming a much larger part of their academic life. “I came to 91�� with a bright passion for Earth Sciences, eager to use my resources and apply myself. I think my professor picked up on that. She came to me with the opportunity and guided me through writing a CUGR grant about her ongoing research in Uganda. I didn’t know much, but the glaciers were fascinating and my professor’s passion for it was contagious.”

Casey’s research is focused on tropical glaciers present during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), about 25,000 years ago. “Using moraine and elevation data collected from the Rwenzori mountains in Uganda, I create visual models to recreate the ancient glaciers. From there, I can extract pertinent information relating to mass balance and freeze levels, which is the elevation at which glaciers start to either freeze or melt.” The data Casey gets from the models provides information about the climate at the time, which will expand our understanding of tropical ice age behavior. “When compared against mid-latitude ice age data, we will understand climate change and how it interacts on a global scale.”

Casey says that the help of faculty mentor, Dr. Alice Doughty, has been invaluable. “Dr. Doughty is an excellent teacher, my experience wouldn’t be the same without her. I am new to coding, but with her guidance and patience I have really gotten a grasp on the concepts and I’m finding a lot of fun in it. It is also amazing having a direct resource to work with me through everything, she seems like a genius at times with her problem-solving abilities. With her support, I am fully prepared to continue my research career.”

Casey’s advice to students thinking about getting involved with research: “just go for it. […] If you apply yourself, there is so much to learn in every corner of research, so many skills that are invaluable in the field. I can say with confidence that this research opportunity is one of those things that will butterfly-effect the rest of my life, and I’m so excited to see what comes.”

UMSS23 Student Profile: Hanna Brooks

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:34:13 +0000

Though she had always been good at science and interested in the natural world, it was a long while before Hanna Brooks thought of herself as a scientist. It wasn’t until a casual conversation during her sophomore year at Virginia Tech that led to her studying rock samples in Greece, that she first owned the title for herself.

Nowadays, Brooks is working toward her PhD at 91��, studying pollution found in ice cores of the North Pacific region. “The position of the North Pacific region (Alaska, USA and Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia) uniquely links the Asian and North American continents when examining historical trends in pollutants.” For her dissertation, Brooks is “examining changes in lead (Pb) values over the past two millennia (340 to 2022 CE) using ice cores from Begguya (Mr. Hunter), Alaska.” According to Brooks winds carry “dust and pollution from Asia across the North Pacific,” depositing them at Begguya. “Critical changes in culture (industrialization, globalization of world markets, Covid-19 pandemic), technology (advancement of industrial recycling), and policy and legislation (phase out of leaded gasoline) have direct impacts on Pb transported to and deposited at Begguya.”

The Begguya ice core project is “part of a global collaborative effort including researchers from the University of Maine, Dartmouth College, Colby College, University of New Hampshire, Oregon STate University, Colorado State University and Paul Scherrer Institute to understand the impacts of natural and anthropogenic climate change in the North Pacific in the time since the last ice age.” Brooks has had the opportunity to work with several faculty mentors and advisors, which she says has furthered her professional network and opened up future collaborative opportunities.

“I always recommend that you have lots of conversations with your professors and teaching assistants. Ask them what they research and why they are passionate about it. You never know where these conversations may lead, and what curiosity their passions may spark in you.”

UMSS 2023 Symposium Gallery

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:12:01 +0000

Gallery of UMSS23 Photos

UMSS23 Student Profile: Laura Curioli

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:10:24 +0000

“Always research something that really grabs your interest. Don’t skip topics just because they’re obscure or maybe not as well-known. Your love for a topic will really fuel your eagerness to learn and discover.” Recent 91�� graduate Laura Curioli has been involved with research since her freshman year and has taken her own advice to heart, researching and discovering new topics throughout her academic career.

The focus of her first research project was on smuggling practices in Maine during the prohibition era. Her winning AY2122 CUGR Fellowship proposal was focused on “the correlations between counterterrorism efforts in the United States and the decrease/increase of terrorist attacks using international databases.”

For her AY2223 CUGR award, she focused on “Some Thoughts Concerning Education,” by 17th century philosopher, John Locke. “I am hoping to draw correlation between Locke’s educational philosophies and current American education system values.”

Curioli says her faculty mentor, Joel Anderson, has been an invaluable resource as she works on her project. “It’s always a great experience to have someone mentor you, particularly when the area of research is a shared interest! A mentor encourages you to look at the materials you’ve collected and questions you’re asking and then approach them from several different angles. To have someone assist you ensures you have a well-rounded comprehension of the topic and successful research.”

UMSS23 Student Profile: Seth Ashby

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:13:50 +0000

For Seth Ashby, his chosen field of research was most interesting to him due to its unique nature. “The idea that we can work backwards to see what isn’t needed, to figure out what is essential, is fascinating.”

Ashby is working alongside Dr. Suzanne Angeli, assistant professor in the Molecular and Biomedical Department, to study RNAi, or RNA interference. Ashby’s work focuses on “using RNAi to change the expression of genes controlling the electron transport chain (ETC),” and observing how it affects the life span of C. elegans, an incredibly primitive organism that still shares many of the essential biological characteristics of humans. The goal of the project is to better understand the mechanism which controls the human aging process.

When it comes to research, Ashby says “having an advisor is essential to my research. While I’m fascinated by the subject of RNAi, I’m no expert and therefore need help to fill in the gaps where experience shines.” Ashby also appreciates having a second opinion on data from Dr. Angeli, as well as being able to troubleshoot with her. “An advisor is an important tool towards success and cannot be underestimated!”

When asked what advice he would give to others interested in getting involved with research, Ashby said everyone should know that “failures are important in research. Every failure is a great opportunity to not only learn from your mistakes, but also take a new perspective on your research.

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: Mary Milligan

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:40:31 +0000

Mary Milligan was first exposed to research when she was named a Maine Top Scholar and was introduced to advisors in the chemistry department at 91��. After talking with several professors she found a research project that piqued her interest. Milligan says, “since then, I have been able to apply a lot of the skills I’ve learned in the lab to classes I’m taking, conversations and even when applying to grad school.”

Today Milligan is working with her faculty mentor, Dr. Matt Brichacek, focusing on xylan, “a major component of plant biomass and secondary cell walls.” Xylan falls under a class of glycans, which are found in most plants and make them “an abundant source of fuel for renewable energy.” However, the chemical bonds of xylan can be difficult to degrade, impeding the process. Milligan is using the reagent, 4-MU Iodonium Triflate, to assess how to degrade those molecular bonds, hoping to apply it to other classes of glycans. “In the future, these reactions, in conjunction with the 4-MU reagent, can be transferred to sustainability studies concerning biofuels.”

Milligan says she “had the benefit of working with both a mentor and a graduate student,” saying their knowledge helped her understand not only portions of her research but also other aspects of chemistry she had been unable to previously apply. “I am forever thankful for Matt and Robin’s efforts in helping me become a better chemist and making my research experience so informative.”

For those who are just considering dipping their toes into research, Milligan recommends exploring lots of areas and talking to a variety of faculty mentors. Exposure to different areas and research projects gets students thinking about all the possibilities available to them. “Enjoy your time doing research and try your best to schedule time” for it. She says while college may be tough, the experience is only as rewarding as students make it.

91���� Student Symposium

Student Presenters Awarded at UMSS25

Special Awards

UMSS25 Undergraduate Category Awards

UMSS25 Graduate Category Awards

91���� News Announces UMSS24 Awardees

UMSS24 Keynote Speaker Announced

UMSS23 Student Profile: Emilie Casey

UMSS23 Student Profile: Hanna Brooks

UMSS 2023 Symposium Gallery

UMSS23 Student Profile: Laura Curioli

UMSS23 Student Profile: Seth Ashby

Undergraduate and Graduate Researchers Awarded at UMSS23

Special Awards

UMSS23 Undergraduate Category Awards

UMSS23 Graduate Category Awards

UMSS23 Student Profile: Mary Milligan

91�� Student Symposium

91�� News Announces UMSS24 Awardees