About me
Oral Presentation Abstracts Session #2
10:10 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 5, 2025
Location: SUB Top Floor Rooms
These abstracts were published unedited to reflect the author’s original submission
Alva, Diana - Major: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Northern Colorado
Mentor: Dr. Kyle Schutz , Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Isleta
Title: Unnatural Death: Microbial Succession on Bones Exposed to Corrosive Chemicals
Abstract: It is essential to investigate how microbial biofilms on skeletal remains are impacted by chemical tampering in clandestine body disposal. In forensic cases, perpetrators often use household chemicals like bleach, vinegar, or sodium hydroxide to destroy DNA and speed up decomposition. However, microbial communities may persist and offer valuable forensic information. My guiding question is: How do corrosive substances used in body disposal affect the formation and persistence of microbial biofilms on skeletal remains? This matters because microbial traces could serve as alternative forensic markers when DNA is no longer recoverable. As a body decomposes, the microbial community undergoes predictable changes over time, with biofilms typically forming in the later stages of degradation. Understanding these microbial patterns is crucial, as chemical tampering can interfere with soft tissue preservation and compromise DNA evidence. Deel et al. (2021) highlighted the resilience of microbial DNA on bone, while Flemming et al. (2016) described the protective nature of biofilms. Brantley et al. (2020) investigated the impact of bleach on insect activity, prompting me to explore microbial responses to chemical exposure. Few studies examine how chemical tampering affects microbial biofilms specifically on bones. My research aims to fill this gap and support forensic investigations when traditional evidence is compromised.
Anaya, Kane - Major: Biology, University of New Mexico
Mentor: Dr. Joseph Cook, Distinguished Professor, Department of Biology
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Lobo A
Title: Genetic structure and intraspecific variation of Five-Toed Jerboas in sympatric populations
Abstract: The three putative species of Orientallactaga (five-toed jerboas), O. balikunica (Balikun jerboa), O. bullata (Gobi jerboa), and O. sibirica (Siberian jerboa) are syntopic rodents distributed across Central Asia's Gobi Desert. While prior genetic analyses identified these sister species as distinct, significant infraspecific genetic structure suggests a complex history of diversification and coalescence. To refine our understanding of their evolutionary history and inform the historical biogeography of the Gobi Desert, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) for 75 specimens across Mongolia, an underrepresented region in prior studies. These sequences, combined with 321 GenBank records, were used to construct Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees, revealing three new clades and illuminating processes likely responsible for their complex genetic structure, Additionally, 2D geometric morphometric analyses of 60 specimens uncovered significant morphological variation within O. sibirica, which corresponds with geographic genetic variation and may reflect adaptative responses to the broad environmental range of this species. In contrast, the syntopic O. balikunica and O. bullata exhibited low interspecific morphological variation. To investigate niche diversification further, we compiled occurrence data from GBIF (624 individuals, we georeferenced 349 samples) to generate Species Distribution Models and conduct niche identity tests. Combined, these analyses provide new insights into the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of Orientallactaga in the Gobi Desert.
Bridgewater IV, Walter - Major: Screenwriting, Loyola Marymount University
Mentor: Michelle Amor Gillie, M.F.A., Clinical Professor, Screenwriting Department
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Fiesta A
Title: Greenlight to Cancellations: The Evolution of TV & Black Media
Abstract: Over the past decade, the entertainment industry has undergone a major shift. Streaming platforms have overtaken broadcast and cable networks, leading to a wave of series cancellations. A reoccurring theme emerged: Black-led television shows are cancelled at disproportionately high rates—even when they perform well. This paper argues that Hollywood’s flawed definition of ‘success’ fails to fully value Black creators. I examine this across three areas: the shift from cable to streaming, the financial pressure behind the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the industry’s inconsistent standards for success that leave Black stories behind. Finally, I offer potential solutions—focusing on how Black creators can create, own, and distribute content while expanding into underrepresented genres.
Costello, Katherine - Major: Planetary Geosciences and Math, University of Arizona
Mentor: Dr. Tyler Robinson, Associate Professor, Lunar & Planetary Laboratory
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Acoma A
Title: Advancing the Search for Life
Abstract: The next generation NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) telescope is currently in the planning phase. One element that needs to be decided is the spectral range HWO will have. Currently, the proposed range is roughly 0.2 to 1.8 micrometers; however, it is uncertain if this range is optimal, as the near-infrared (NIR) cutoff of 1.8 micrometers has not been thoroughly investigated to determine the effects of cutoff variance. A more limited range could save time and costs, but an extension could allow for detection of more information. This study explored biosignatures with features in the NIR, namely carbon dioxide and methane, and determined their detectability to inform on an optimal HWO cutoff between 1.6 and 2.2 micrometers. Using rfast, designed by Robinson and Salvador (2022), high-fidelity spectra based on Earth’s atmosphere during Archean, Proterozoic, and Modern eons were generated, with and without carbon dioxide and methane. These high-fidelity spectra showed methane does not have strong features past the Archean eon, potentially making it a poor candidate to inform on a cutoff. However, carbon dioxide may provide a compelling argument for extending HWO’s range, as it has a feature present around 2 micrometers in all three eons. Our next steps are to apply an HWO based instrument noise model to these spectra, then run retrievals on them with rfast to determine the detectability of carbon dioxide throughout history and the detectability of methane during the Archean eon.
Giokas, Emilia - Major: Advertising, Idaho State University
Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Kim, Professor, Communications
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: How the cookie crumbles: An examination of food related marketing, social media, and humor.
Abstract: Humor plays a significant role in everyday life, from laughing at a viral TikTok to enjoying a stand-up comedy show. Humor is a universal form of communication that connects people through shared emotion, cultural references, and cognitive surprise. In advertising, humor has long been used as a strategic tool to capture attention, enhance memorability, and positively shape consumer attitudes. Traditional advertising now competes with, or is complemented by, user-generated content (UGC) such as humorous posts, reviews, memes, and comment threads created and shared by everyday users. This study examines how humorous appeals in food-related UGC differ between TikTok and Facebook, and how these differences influence consumer behavior, including engagement and attitudes towards brands. By conducting a content analysis of humorous food content on both platforms, this research aims to explore the evolving relationship between humor, platform culture, and consumer response in the digital advertising space.
Lapahie, Krystal - Major: Psychology , University of New Mexico
Mentor: Dr. Jeremy Hogeveen, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: Prodromal symptoms of psychosis and their effects on learning and exploration in clinical high risk adolescents
Abstract: The onset of psychosis marks a period where one becomes disconnected from reality. The adolescent brain undergoes rapid cognitive development, involving increased neuroplasticity, synaptic pruning, and changes in structural asymmetry. Maladaptive patterns of these neurodevelopmental processes, such as excessive plasticity or pruning, increase the risk of transitioning to psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. However, identifying reliable, early behavioral markers to predict the onset of schizophrenia disorders and psychosis remain understudied. Here we investigate information-seeking behavior in potentially clinical high risk (CHR) participants and whether these patterns differ across age, sex, and the severity of their prodromal symptoms, if any. To achieve this, we used secondary analysis from a two-armed bandit task, where participants chose between options with uncertain rewards to evaluate their preference for exploring new options versus exploiting known ones. Additionally, we analyzed scores from the 16-item Version of the Prodromal Questionnaire to measure participants’ subclinical psychosis symptoms. While this project is still in the data collection phase, preliminary work has led to anticipation that CHR individuals will engage in higher instances of random exploration, even in conditions where rewards are clearly learned. Ultimately, focusing CHR research in the adolescent age group can help identify early indicators of psychosis risk, contributing to the improvement of preventative treatment.
Pierre-Louis, Ethan - Major: Electrical Engineering , Ethan Pierre-Louis
Mentor: Dr. Selcuk Uluagac, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Lobo B
Title: Security and Low Income Communities
Abstract: The Secure Safezone System consists of artificial intelligence, budget-friendly along with
excellent real-time detection and alerts as well as zone control, would serve the purpose of
confining private spaces. The power of Raspberry Pi with optional Google Coral TPU
acceleration uses simple computer vision techniques to establish intrusion point definition by
allowing unauthorized persons into designated no-go areas. When something is spotted
happening in real-time, Secure SafeZone can trigger alarm lighting; send alarm messages; send
text messages out to an external system or service using a programming interface provided by
the unsettled security option of the user's device. Unlike using cloud processing and expensive
arrangements like other systems, this project rests its emphasis on local processing, data privacy,
and cost-effective installation, which has huge benefits for communities made less fortunate."
The intention of this system is to provide base security mechanisms, such as secure boots,
encrypted messages, and tampering protection, to protect against physical intrusions and online
intrusions. The Secure SafeZone project is a practical approach for experimentation and research
to allow one to experiment with embedded threat detection, firmware checks, and how well a
system will hold up with limited power. This research is contributing to the emerging field in
cyber-physical system security and pushes further into making current security technology more
accessible by harnessing edge AI to shed on embedded systems. This project forms part of a
larger initiative targeted toward securing marginalized populations via easily available hardware-
based security innovations.
Silva, Lizett - Major: Spanish, West Texas A&M University
Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Huaytán-Martinez , Director of Spanish program. Assistant Professor of Spanish, Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Academic Challenges of First Gen: A Comprehensive Study
Abstract: As we move forward into a new academic semester each year, we can see trends of growth in the enrollment of Latino students across the country into higher education institutions. However, we can also see a higher trend in
the amount of drop-out rates within this population, which begs the question as to what could be causing such disparities. In truth, many institutions with high enrollment rates of Latino students do not know how to increase retention at their institutions. This study seeks to find common challenges that these students are likely to face before, during, and after college to analyze possible solutions to common misconceptions/problems. Moreover, it examines how there are still racial and economic disparities that could prevent students from forming a "college-going" identity, therefore making it hard for them to persist until graduation. It also analyzes the mental health concerns involved with pursuing a college education that could negatively affect the college experience for this vulnerable population.
Torres, Joanna - Major: Sociology, Latina/o/x and Latin American Studies, Northeastern Illinois University
Mentor: Dr. Cristen Jenkins, Instructor, Sociology
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Acoma B
Title: Under Surveillance: How School Surveillance Measures Shape Students’ Perceptions of Themselves and Each Other
Abstract: This study seeks to analyze how school surveillance measures, particularly cameras, metal detectors, and student resource officers influence how students in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system perceive themselves and their peers. Schools in urban cities saw an increase in security measures in the 1980s, which replicated the policing of their communities as a response to the War on Drugs. Tragedies such as the Columbine shooting gave additional purpose to these measures and led to an uptick of security and safety measures, from an increase in surveillance practices to emergency procedures, such as lockdown drills. It was assumed these tragedies could occur at any moment and further reinforced the idea that schools and students need to be surveilled and policed to be kept “safe”. This study will utilize the school-to-prison nexus framework to analyze how students experience surveillance in CPS. While the “school-to-prison pipeline” framework focuses on how students are fed into the criminal justice system through the educational institutions they are a part of, the “school-to-prison nexus” emphasizes how surveillance, and ultimately criminalization of students’ actions, is a constant part of students’ lives. To conduct this study, qualitative research methods will be used, consisting of interviews with 10 CPS alumni on their experiences with surveillance measures in their high schools. This study seeks to highlight and amplify student voices, a population whose perspectives on and experiences with school surveillance measures are often overlooked.
Wynn, Gianna - Major: Psychological Science, University of Arizona
Mentor: Dr. Nell Maltman, Assistant Professor, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Oral Presentation Session #2, Room: Luminaria
Title: Evaluating Self-Report and Direct Assessment of Cognitive-Linguistic Abilities Among Female FMR1 Premutation Carriers
Abstract: The FMR1 premutation (PM) is a genetic mutation on the X chromosome that can cause differences in cognitive and linguistic abilities. These abilities can be assessed using self-report and direct assessments. Prior work shows that pragmatic communication and working memory differ in this population, and it's important to evaluate consistency between assessment types for research and clinical purposes. Anxiety may influence how participants perform in these domains and is present at higher rates in females with PM. The present study asked two primary questions: Are there consistencies between self-report and direct assessments of communication and cognition? Does anxiety play a role in communication and cognitive assessment performance? The present study utilized collected data from a larger study (PI: Maltman). Measures included the Pragmatic Rating Scale, La Trobe Communication Questionnaire, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Adult Version, Digit Span Task, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Participants included 32 females with PM and 24 controls (ages 30-60). Analyses included ANCOVAs and Pearson partial correlations, controlling for education. No differences were observed in pragmatics across contexts. For working memory, both groups performed consistently for direct assessments but not self-report, suggesting an interaction between group and assessment type. In the PM group only, but not controls, were associated with all assessments, with the exception of pragmatic direct assessment. Together, findings suggest that assessment type and anxiety type may shape performance on working memory measures in the FMR1 PM, with important implications for continued research and clinical practice.
