The 2026 University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Research Conference

• Ahmed, Alma - Major: Psychology, University of Colorado Denver. Title: Affective Impact based on Perceptual Characteristic: Evaluating Natural and Urban Images through Perceptual and Psychological Factors
• Al-Janabi, Bashar - Major: Political Science: Pre- Law; Philosophical Ethics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro . Title: In God’s Name: Christianity’s Role In Shaping American Society 
• Arce, Aliyah - Major: Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University. Title: Framing the Conflict: Ingroup Bias and the Good Guy/Bad Guy Fallacy in Moral Judgement
• Balyeat, Jon - Major: Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut. Title: Modeling Mock Human Mouth Device for In Vitro Dental Treatments Assessments
• 2 presenters--Barnett, Tara - Major: Computer Science, AND, Bishop, Ivan - Major: Information Technology, Grand Valley State University. Title: Accessibility in Video Games: A Framework for Developers
• Blaising, Brooklyn - Major: Psychology , University of Cincinnati. Title: The psychometric properties of the CES-D scale and its relevance for assessing depression among young adults in India
• Bright, Anthony - Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology, Concord University. Title: Bright S.W.E.E.P (Satellite Waste Extraction and Environmental Projection)
• Carter, Beau - Major: Optical Sciences and Engineering , University of Arizona. Title: Feedback Cooling of a Torsional Oscillator using an Optical Lever 
• Cota , Lazaro - Major: Biology with biomedical emphasis , University of Arizona. Title: Continuous monitoring of fracture healing using wireless sensors 
• David-Egbo, Victoria - Major: Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Title: Pretending and Protagonist: The Effect of Pretense on Children's Emotion Reactivity
• Fisher, Sam - Major: Psychology, Sociology & Dance , Grand Valley State University . Title: Perspectives of autistic college students on supports and services that address their mental health needs
• Flores, Michael - Major: Mechanical Engineering , University of Connecticut. Title: Finite Element Stress Analysis of Laser-Patterned Graphite Electrodes for Next-Generation Battery Applications
• Gaulzetti, Adriana  - Major: Majors: Criminal Justice, Police Studies, Eastern Kentucky University. Title: Psychological Patterns in Lone-Wolf Terrorism: Analyzing the Unabomber, Oklahoma City Bomber, and Boston Marathon Bombers
• Gonzalez, Sophia - Major: Biochemistry, Loyola Marymount University. Title: Towards the Synthesis of Albicidin
• Goodman, Hazel - Major: Psychology, Concord University. Title: The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Stress Response in Traditional College Students 
• Larremore, Bailey - Major: History, Sul Ross State University. Title: Animals of the Past: Faunal Analysis of Surprise Rockshelter
• Liang, Edmund - Major: Biological Sciences, University of Connecticut. Title: Isoform Variation Analysis of Cancer Immunology-Related Proteins Using PCR, Nanopore Sequencing, and Bioinformatics
• Mobley, Ka'Nysha - Major: Special Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Title: Navigating the Margins : How Race, Language, and Ability Shape Access to Mental Health Services -- and the Role of Educators 
• Nechnach, Malak - Major: Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut. Title: High-fat diet enhances negative affective behaviors and dysregulates stress-responsive activity of locus coeruleus and other medullary catecholaminergic neurons
• Parsons, Abraham - Major: Geology & Evolutionary Biology, Grand Valley State University. Title: Biological Processes Influence Shell Formation in Planktonic Foraminifera - Is This a Climate Proxy Issue?
• Patel, Garv - Major: Neuroscience / Pre-Medicine, University of Cincinnati. Title: Differential White Matter Correlates of Screen Time and Dialogic Reading in Children Born Extremely Preterm
• Rivera III, Raul - Major: Psychology, Loyola Marymount University. Title: The Relationship Between Chronotype and Circadian Phase on Memory Consolidation
• Spencer, Zachary - Major: Psychology, Grand Valley State University. Title: Toxic Work Climates: How Helpful Are They For Understanding Experiences of Workplace Sexual Harassment
• Sunlin, Kayla - Major: Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Title: The Psychological Impact of Childhood Trauma on Substance Addiction in Adulthood
• Tadesse, Esate - Major: Biology, Northeastern illinois . Title: Moss Biobags As An Affordable & Accessible Bioindicator Of Air Pollution
• Valle, Roman - Major: Physics, University of Arizona. Title: Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of Transition Metal (Ta, Cr, V; Mo, Fe) Based Inorganic Compounds for Magnetic Applications
• Villalobos Acosta, Galilea - Major: Criminal Justice, University of Colorado at Denver. Title: Types of Liquor Laws and Their Effects on Violent Crime and Incarceration Rates
• Walker-Gulley, Tori  - Major: Urban Planning , University of Cincinnati. Title: Diversity in Design: Integrating Community Development and Urban Planning for Inclusive Neighborhoods in Cincinnati
• Wysong, Jessica - Major: Medicine (Basic Medical Sciences Emphasis), University of Arizona. Title: Acid Ceramidase as a Therapeutic Target in Ulcerative Colitis
• Zoulek, Angel - Major: Biochemistry, Grand Valley State University. Title: Investigating Binding Modes of an Experimental Allosteric Inhibitor, BIBR-1532, to Human Telomerase

Poster Presentation Session #2 - 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM in the SUB Atrium (bottom floor)
-----Scroll to the bottom to view abstracts in the Sched App or PDF----
(listed alphabetically by last name)
Aguayo, Jessica  - Major: Astronomy, University of Arizona. Title: Stars and Black Holes: Exploring the Fitting of AGNs in Galaxies at z~2-3

Bartlett, Landon - Major: Psychology , Grand Valley State University . Title: The Role of Deservingness and Social Status in Shaping Envy and Attitudes Toward AI

Blickfeldt, Joe - Major: Plant Sciences, University of Arizona. Title: Complementation of Tripartite Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana

Burey, Taylia - Major: Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro. Title: Systemic Neglect: Racial Disparities in African American Health Outcomes in the U.S.

Clarke , Kayanna - Major: Psychology and Human Development Family Sciences , University of Connecticut. Title: The Role of Structural Sexism in the PTSD Gender Gap: A Systematic Review 

Clincy, Ari - Major: Chemistry, University of Cincinnati. Title: Efficient Conversion of CO2 and Styrene Oxide into a Cyclic Carbonate Using a Readily

Elrefaei, Abdulrahman - Major: Analytics Information Management, University of Connecticut. Title: Interactive Client-Side Platform for Time Series Analysis and Visualization

**2 presenters--Flowers, Kristina - Major: Psychology, AND, Hartwell, Erica - Major: Psychology, Concord University. Title: The Effect of CBD on Anxiety-Like Behavior in Rats.

Gaona, Jasmine - Major: Public Health , Eastern Kentucky University . Title: Barriers in the United States Healthcare System that Affect the Quality of Care Women of Color Receive

Hall, Danielle  - Major: Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati - College of Allied Health Sciences. Title: Gait Retraining Using Real-Time Biofeedback to Minimize Tibial Acceleration in Long Distance High School Runners

Hogan, Makayla - Major: Biochemistry and Biology, The University of Minnesota-Duluth. Title: Uncovering the pathogenic mechanisms facilitating the neurotoxicity of excessive sphingolipids

Issa, Samir - Awaiting Abstract

Koulla, Akeva - Major: Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut. Title: Lesions and the Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis: A Comparison of Automated Detection Algorithms for Central Vein Sign and Paramagnetic Rim Lesions

Laporte, Alexa - Major: Applied Biotechnology, University of Arizona. Title: Novel Bio-Inspired Xylolipids: Toward Heavy Metal Remediation Strategy Development

Leyva, Brianna  - Major: Neuroscience and Cognitive Science , University of Arizona . Title: Impact of Light Exposure on 5-6 Year Olds’ Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Health 

Marcinko-Hernandez, Andrew  - Major: Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona. Title: Regenerative Interventions to Prevent Amputations Following Bone Loss

Medrano, Martin - Major: Psychology, Concord University. Title: The Effects of Different Types of Light on Anxiety

Morris, Brandalyn - Major: Behavioral Neuroscience, Grand Valley State University. Title: Opening the Black-Box of Mental Disorders: An Actor-Network Theory Analysis of Schizophrenia

Newcomb, Michael - Major: Biochemistry, The College of St. Scholastica. Title: Using qPCR and eDNA to Track Aquatic Invasive Species In Oregon Waterways: Zebra and Quagga Mussels

Rios, Lisbett, Awaiting Abstract

Sah, Niraj - Major: Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). Title: The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor-Inducible 14 (Fn14) In Rhabdomyosarcoma(RMS)

Sanson, Marcos - Major: Computer Science, Grand Valley State University. Title: Artificial Intelligence Spacecraft Control Using Reinforcement Learning 

Sarmiento, Maria - Major: Political Science, Eastern Washington. Title: The Ideological Root of Stigma For Children In Care

Solomon, Saron - Major: Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver. Title: Preliminary Feasibility of a Multi-Sensor Protocol for Nighttime Care Monitoring

Strunk, Mollie - Major: Geochemistry, Grand Valley State University. Title: Seasonal and Land Use Influences on Soil Carbon Sequestration in Grazed and Ungrazed Fields

Tesfay, Luwam  - Major: Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Title: Early Sensory Inputs During Passive Anterior Tibial Translation: A Case Study Comparing Fraternal Twins with Similar Knee Laxity Levels 

Timmer, Ellis - Major: Biology, The University of Alabama. Title: Long-Term Effects of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Additions on Soil Characteristics and Arthropod Communities in Dry Rangelands

Wako, Lensa - Major: integrated health , university of colorado denver. Title: Work, Life, and Health: Examining the Relationship Between Work-Life Spillover and Cardiovascular Health  Canceled on Aug. 26

Wincherhern, Gabrielle - Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut. Title: Foraging rates of roseate terns nesting under rocks vs. in nest boxes

Witt, Tapanga  - Major: Computer Science, Grand Valley State University. Title: Designing an Interactive Exit Ticket System to Enhance Learning in Engineering Education 

Xanthos, Zoe  - Major: Biochemistry & Applied Biotechnology , The University of Arizona . Title: ComEA Protein Assists DNA Uptake in Pseudomonas stutzeri