The 2026 University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Research Conference

Oral Presentation Session #8, 1:50 to 2:10 p.m.
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
Presentations:
Alexander, Summer - Major: Psychology and African American Studies , Loyola Marymout University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Acoma B
Title: Feelings on the Field: the relationship between emotions and sports performance 

Arevalo-Pio, Ahtziri  - Major: Human Development , Psychology, & Leadership, Washington State University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Santa Ana B
Title: Investigating the Experiences of Autistic Students and Families During the Transition from High School to Adulthood in Low-Income Families and Marginalized Communities

Banjo, Mobosola - Major: Philosophy, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Fiesta B
Title: Why Words Wins Cases

Barajas, Sofia  - Major: Marine Science, California State University, Monterey Bay
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Acoma A
Title: Exploring interannual variations in adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) energy condition as a proxy for changing environmental and feeding conditions in the Gulf of Maine

Corona, Laisha - Major: Biologu, Laisha Ruby Corona
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Trailblazer/Spirit
Title: Translanguaging in Stem education 

Davis, Arriona - Major: Cognitive Neuroscience, Harding University
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Lobo B
Title: Using Deoxyribose Assay to Measure Antioxidant Capabilities of Methionine

Gomez, Gema - Major: Agricultural Plant and Soil Science, University of Minnesota
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Isleta
Title: Improving Soil Health in High Tunnels: The Role of Legume Cover Crops and Rhizobia Inoculation
 
Jordan, Alani - Major: Data Science, Mathematics, University of Arizona
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Lobo A
Title: Counting Closed Paths Using the Ihara Zeta Function

Morel, Mariely - Major: Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Fiesta A
Title: What Works For Me? Participant Perceptions and Experiences of Substance Use Treatment in a Drug Court Setting

Sanchez Hernandez, Jason - Major: Economics, University of New Mexico
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Luminaria
Title: New Mexico's Crude Oil: A Tax Burden Analysis

Vork, Jasmine - Major: Psychology, University of Northern Colorado
Oral Presentation Session #8, Room: Santa Ana A
Title: How do human and AI-generated feedback differ in their effects on self-efficacy and motivation?

Oral Presentation Information for presenters:

• Format: 12-minute presentation, and 3 minutes for Q&A (15 min. total).  Please do not go over your allotted time so that everyone can have a full 15 minutes.
• Organization of presentations:  To enhance your presentation experience at our conference, there will be evaluators and moderators (faculty, staff and grad students) in attendance that will fill out evaluation forms to provide feedback to presenters. Therefore, your presentation will be at the exact time and location as it appears in the schedule. We will not deviate even if there is a no-show.
• Please bring your presentation saved onto a thumb drive/USB drive.  Please arrive at your presentation room early, locate the moderator and ask them to assist you in copying your presentation to the laptop desktop before the session begins.  Then eject your USB drive.  Open up your presentation and make sure it works properly.
• For more information about presentation format, equipment, etc click this link