About me
Oral Presentation Abstracts Session #10
2:40 to 3:00 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025
Location: SUB Top Floor Rooms
These abstracts were published unedited to reflect the author’s original submission
An, Cris - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Mentor: Dr. Emese Ilyes, Doctoral Lecturer, Department of Psychology
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Fiesta A
Title: A Call to Reconsider Coercion as Carceral Practice: Analyzing the Absence of Critical Discourse of Coercive Measures in U.S. Child Adolescent Psychiatry Compared to International Contexts
Abstract: Coercion in care is a discourse with a great amount of critical research done on it already, except in the US. Staff perspectives on coercion in psychiatric care and child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) are a popular subject in essentially the rest of the world, namely Sweden, Australia, Norway, and Canada. When the US does come up in conversation, it is referred to in terms of our juvenile justice system or injustices against unhoused people. This work asks, how does the genealogy of coercion discourse reveal the mechanisms of power that maintain scholarly silence on coercive practices in U.S. child and adolescent psychiatry, particularly when compared to international contexts? A meta-ethnography, as well as Foucauldian discourse analysis, is implemented to answer this question of how coercion is problematized, conceptualized, and maintained in the US compared to international contexts. Overall, precedents within this discourse, especially in reference to carceral contexts and institutionalized care, are examined to critically assess the role historical and political knowledge has on coercion in CAP.
Brown, Collin - Major: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science | Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona
Mentor: Dr. Melville Wohlgemuth, Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Lobo B
Title: Adaptive Control of Spatial Orienting Behaviors During Dynamic Movement
Abstract: We live in a complex sensory environment, and the brain must filter incoming information to guide adaptive behavior. Under natural conditions, the brain supports short-term and long-term control of goal-directed actions. Humans rely heavily on vision for active sensing, selectively attending to relevant stimuli and ignoring visual clutter. In contrast, echolocating animals like bats adapt these active sensing behaviors through auditory information returning from the environment. By emitting vocalizations and analyzing returning echoes, bats dynamically reorient to avoid obstacles and navigate cluttered environments. In previous research on stationary bats, we stimulated the brain to drive a sequence of orienting behaviors, specifically stimulating the superior colliculus, a midbrain structure important to spatial attention behaviors. Here, we investigate whether bats naturally perform similar behavior sequences during free flight. We trained Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) to navigate a controlled flight space under open-air and cluttered conditions. Sonar call production was recorded using a single ultrasonic microphone, while 3D motion capture (16-camera system) tracked head, ear, and body movements. We analyzed behavioral components such as head and ear movements and sonar call production to characterize how the bat sequences its natural behaviors when changing spatial attention. This study provides a foundation to analyze how targeted brain stimulation during natural flight could modulate orienting behavior sequences. Ultimately, our work contributes to understanding the neural basis of active sensing and spatial attention in dynamic, real-world settings.
Canaday, Candis - Major: English, University of New Mexico
Mentor: Adrienne Warner, Undergraduate Engagement Librarian, College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Accessibility and diversity in Open Educational Resources
Abstract: Open educational resources (OER) are a new development in higher education. In the last 10 years, as OER have become more commonplace, criticisms around diversity and accessibility in content have arisen. The level to which OER are accessible and diverse can have an impact on student learning outcomes. Three main frameworks have been developed with the intent of providing a guide for how to create OER and evaluate their effectiveness in learning processes. Only the latest of these frameworks has taken accessibility and diversity into account. By developing a survey based on this framework and administering it to undergraduate students, an inference can be made on how students’ learning outcomes correlate to the levels of diversity and accessibility that they reported experiencing in their course materials. Preliminary results from a survey sent to introductory English Composition and General Chemistry courses show that students who use accessibility software programs report having a more difficult time navigating their course materials. If this result is found to be true among a broader range of courses that utilize OER textbooks, it could be concluded that OER textbooks might not be very compatible with some accessibility software programs, which is putting disadvantaged students at an even further disadvantage.
Castro, Gilberto - Major: Double Major: Criminology & Psychology, Our Lady of the Lake University
Mentor: Dr. Jazmine Garcia, Visiting Professor, Criminology & Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Thinking Like the Predator:
Cognitive Profiling and Behavioral Analysis in Serial Killer Investigation
Abstract: This study explores the psychological and tactical triggers of a serial killer's mind to commit repeated acts of violence. While traditional profiling methods often emphasize a serial killer’s demographic characteristics and behavioral histories– this research shifts the lens towards the immediate stimuli influencing violent behavior during the act of the murder. Through the analysis of several case studies and transcript interviews with notorious serial killers, the researcher integrates psychological theories to identify common tactical triggers. The goal is to enhance criminal profiling models by prioritizing behavioral context over static characteristics; ultimately providing law enforcement with improved strategies for investigation and apprehension. Current profiling techniques are limited because they do not have predictive models for ongoing investigations that outline how the serial killer mind operates. Much like technical warfare, to be able to overcome your enemy, you must know how they think; this research aims to apply that mentality to apprehending and understanding serial killers.
Keywords: criminal profiling, psychology, serial killers, law enforcement, tactical triggers, criminal mind, predictive models
Dalton, Edmonde Beverly - Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology, Florida International University
Mentor: Ashley Pierre, McNair Advisor, McNair Scholar
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Luminaria
Title: Culturally Responsive Mentorship: Addressing Conduct Behaviors in Second-Generation Immigrant Youth
Abstract: Second-generation immigrant youth in the United States often navigate a complex intersection of cultural identity development, systemic inequities, and psychosocial stressors, which can increase their vulnerability to conduct-related behaviors and delinquency. These adolescents may experience acculturative stress, bicultural identity conflict, and racial or ethnic discrimination, all of which can disrupt their behavioral and emotional regulation during key developmental stages. While existing research has documented elevated behavioral risks among immigrant-origin youth, few studies have isolated second-generation youth as a distinct subgroup, and even fewer have explored culturally responsive interventions that address their unique needs. This study proposes investigating the potential of culturally responsive mentorship programs
as protective interventions that foster resilience and reduce the likelihood of delinquent behavior among second-generation immigrant adolescents. By examining mentorship through a culturally grounded perspective, this study has the potential to inform more equitable youth intervention strategies and guide future research in adolescent development, public policy, and education systems.
Eddy, Emily - Major: Psychology, Washington State University
Mentor: Kristen Delevich, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Impact of Adolescent Isolation and Cannabis Exposure on Brain Development and Behavior
Abstract: Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, particularly in the dopaminergic system which plays a central role in the onset of psychotic disorders. Environmental stressors, including drugs and psychosocial stressors, experienced during adolescence may contribute to the emergence of psychiatric disorders in adulthood due to the disrupting of ongoing developmental processes. One remarkable example is seen through mice research demonstrating dopamine axon innervation from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in adolescence to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in adulthood. This late dopaminergic innervation of mPFC is pivotal for executive functions like behavioral inhibition and sociability. This study aims to investigate how adolescent cannabis exposure impacts dopamine axon innervation to mPFC (Experiment 1) and how combined effects of cannabis exposure and social isolation stress during adolescence impact mPFC-dependent behaviors into adulthood in mice (Experiment 2).
The first experiment will explore how cannabis vapor exposure during adolescence will affect dopamine innervation by collecting and analyzing brain tissue involved in the dopaminergic system for microscopy dopamine axon terminal quantification. The second experiment will introduce both cannabis vapor exposure and social isolation to assess their combined impact on behavior and brain development. The study aims to understand how certain stressors during the vital developmental period of adolescence influence the development of the dopamine system and adverse behaviors, providing insights into the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Although there are limitations in translating findings to humans, this research lays the groundwork for future studies on the interaction between environmental stressors, neurodevelopment, and psychotic disorders.
Ejekwu, Ugonna - Major: Biology and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park
Mentor: Seth Dickey, PhD , Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Acoma A
Title: mVenus as a Reporter for the saeS, braS, and graS Genes in Staphylococcus aureus
Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogenic bacterial species that can achieve adaptation through two-component signal (TCS) transduction systems. These systems typically consist of a histidine kinase (HK) that, when a ligand is bound, activates a response regulator (RR), leading to a programmed cellular response. Outside factors that modulate these systems in S. aureus leading to adaptation are poorly understood. The present study employed the fluorescent protein mVenus as a reporter for the activity of the three TCS systems saeS, GraS, and BraS. In order to observe this activity, we cloned plasmids that contained the saeP1 promoter, vraD promoter, and the vraF promoter and transformed them into S. aureus. We plan to induce system activity and sort activation signals based on flow cytometry.
Gonzalez, David - Major: Mathematics (Pure and Applied) and Computer Science, University of Northern Colorado
Mentor: Dr. Joshua Guerin, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Lobo A
Title: Exploring the Efficiency of Neuro-Symbolic Generative AI with Logic-Based Learning
Abstract: We propose a study on the efficiency and performance of a neuro-symbolic Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that combines logic-based learning with neural networks. Neuro-symbolic AI has gained traction in recent years, especially for its potential to address two major challenges in current AI systems: sustainability and explainability. The sustainability problem comes from how resource-intensive AI has become, pushing the need for more efficient models. The explainability problem centers on transparency and the ability to hold model creators accountable to ethical standards. This project focuses on integrating Inductive Logic Programming (ILP), which produces logic rules, with Answer Set Programming (ASP) and Graph Neural Networks (GNNs). The idea is to test whether this kind of hybrid system can achieve comparable performance to standard models while using less data and computing power. While symbolic AI excels at reasoning and neural networks at pattern recognition, combining them offers the potential of both strengths. Despite several existing frameworks, there’s still not enough benchmark data showing how these systems perform when it comes to efficiency. To explore that, we’ll train and evaluate a custom model using public datasets like MNIST and IMDB. The main goal is to figure out whether this type of integration offers a viable path forward for building AI systems that are more transparent and less resource-intensive.
Murphy, Theo - Major: Microbiology, California Polytechnic University Humboldt
Mentor: Dr. Christine Foreman , Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Montana State University
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: From Moss to Microbes: Overcoming Microbial DNA Extraction Challenges in Sphagnum Moss
Abstract: Permafrost peatland ecosystems are expected to thaw at a large scale within the century. As the planet’s atmosphere rises in temperature, permafrost thaws, resulting in the release of organic carbon in soils. Sphagnum moss fixes over 50% of peatland carbon, a process that is attributed to gametophyte peatland coverage in addition to the plant’s microbiome. Sphagnum is host to diazotrophic methanotrophs, contributing to carbon and nitrogen cycles in permafrost peatlands.
The effects of climate warming, shifts in pH, and moisture changes on the Sphagnum microbiome with respect to carbon and nitrogen cycling in extreme cold environments is unclear. Based on experimental warming studies, we hypothesize that diazotrophy and methanotrophy decouple in Sphagnum-associated microbial communities as atmospheric temperatures increase.
In order to address our hypothesis, we need a reliable DNA extraction protocol for the extraction of 16S rRNA gene sequences from Sphagnum gametophyte samples. Due to Sphagnum’s complex molecular biology, DNA extraction may be inhibited throughout various stages of the extraction process. Using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Pro Kit, we explored varying treatments in order to maximize DNA yield and produce viable products for 16S rRNA gene amplification and microbial metagenomic sequencing.
Smith, Risa - Major: Biochemistry, University of New Mexico
Mentor: Eliane El Hayek, Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Isleta
Title: Identification of Potential Molecular Interference of Lipids and Micro(nano)plastics During Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Abstract: Micro and nano plastics (MNP), ranging from 500 μm to 1 nm in size, are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in human tissues, including the brain. Their small size allows them to infiltrate biological systems, raising concerns about their potential toxicity. MNP exposure has been linked to DNA damage, organ dysfunction, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. The brain is rich in lipids such as cholesterol and sphingolipid, which is essential for maintaining membrane structure, signaling, and aids in brain waste clearance. Any alterations in lipid turnover within the brain or disruptions in cellular lipid balance may significantly contribute to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to simulate potential interactions between brain lipids and plastics by spiking cholesterol and sphingomyelin with a known amount of polyethene or a mixed polymer standard. Here, our focus is on understanding how lipids and polymers interact and how chemical extraction techniques can aid in re-separating these components to improve molecular quantification in mass spectrometry analysis. The methodological approach consists of sequential digestion using potassium hydroxide (KOH) followed by secondary solvent washes (cyclohexane or nitric acid) to degrade lipids while preserving polymer integrity. Digested lipid samples with varying conditions will be analyzed using the pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py GC-MS) at the College of Pharmacy at the University of New Mexico. This project will provide insight into how lipids and plastics may interfere with molecular detection and quantification in Py GC-MS.
Vasquez, Kassandra - Major: Marketing, Information Systems and Art (Triple Major), New Mexico State University
Mentor: Dr. K.T. Manis and Dr. Blaugrund, Assistant Professor and College Professor (Respectively), Makreting (both)
Oral Presentation Session #10, Room: Acoma B
Title: Exploring Public Perception and Ethical Boundaries of AI in Marketing Systems through Social Media Discourse
Abstract: This study examines public perceptions of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
in marketing, with a particular focus on the ethical dilemmas arising
from AI-driven consumer engagement. As AI continues to evolve
and integrate into marketing practices—enhancing efficiency,
enabling deeper consumer connection, and at times replacing
human interaction—it raises critical questions about authenticity,
transparency, and responsibility. We began with a systematic review
of FT-50 business journal articles using PRISMA guidelines, followed
by thematic coding to identify core issues. To further enrich our
analysis, we explored public sentiment from X (formerly Twitter) and
incorporated secondary data from the World Values Survey. These
combined insights inform a set of proposed ethical promises,
pitfalls, and “guardrails” tailored to different types of AI-consumer
interactions.
