Biology, microbiology majors present capstone research

Several biology and molecular biology majors from Westminster College presented their capstone research posters at a semester-end event on Friday, Dec. 1.

In these disciplines, the focus of the capstone project is the application of the scientific method through the design, execution, analysis and presentation of an experimental study.

Presenting posters were:

Aislinn Andrews, a biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “Variation in Offspring Sex Ratio in American Kestrels (Falco sparverius).” Andrews’ faculty adviser for her research was Dr. Kerri Duerr, associate professor of biology.

Jonathan Bates, a biology major from Cheswick, Pa., presented “A Descriptive Analysis of Opercular Socket Denticles in Paddlefish and Sturgeon.” Bates’ faculty adviser for his project was Dr. John Robertson, associate professor of biology.

Daniel Blank, a biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “Identification of Airborne Bacteria Inside and Outside of the Westminster Field House.” Dr. Joseph Balczon, associate professor of biology, was the faculty adviser.

Joshua Butcher, a biology major from Beaver Falls, Pa., presented “The Effect of Atrazine on Metamorphically Blocked Xenopus laevis Tadpoles.” Robertson was Butcher’s faculty adviser for this project.

Madison Conley, a biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “The Effect of β-alanine on the Rate of Axolotl Limb Regeneration and Digit Formation.” Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology, served as her faculty adviser on the project.

Erica Cunningham, a biology major from Grove City, Pa., presented “The Morphological Effects of Carbaryl on the Development of Zebrafish Embryos (Danio rerio).” Cunningham’s faculty adviser for her research was Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor of biology.

Srioviya Deivaprakash, a biology major and honors student from Mount Laurel, N.J., presented “Exposure to Dental Composite Resin Significantly Increases Reproduction of Ramshorn Snails (Planorbarius corneus).” Deivaprakash’s faculty adviser for the project was Dr. Ann Throckmorton, professor of biology.

Mackenzie Dunn, a molecular biology major from Canton, Ohio, presented “Using siHybrids to Target the fnbA mRNA in Staphylococcus aureus to Suppress Biofilm Formation.” Corrette-Bennett served as her faculty adviser on the project.

Jordan Fore, a biology major from Columbia, Md., presented “Exposure to 5 kHz and 10 kHz Ultrasound Disrupts Nuclear Transport of HeLa Cells.” Fore’s faculty adviser for his project was Dr. Karen Resendes, professor of biology.
 
Maximillian Furimsky, a biology major from New Wilmington, Pa., presented “Assessing Gill Pigmentation in Juvenile Acipenseriformes.” Robertson served as her faculty adviser.

Caitlyn Goodrich, a biology major from Chardon, Ohio, presented “The Developmental Impacts of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) on Zebrafish (Danio rerio).” Dr. Furimsky served as her faculty adviser.

Noah Gray, a biology major from Beaver, Pa., presented “(MSG) on Zebrafish (Danio rerio).” Duerr served as Gray’s faculty adviser.

Gage Hendrickson, a biology major from Irvine, Pa., presented “Effects of Cadmium on Zebrafish Caudal Fin Regeneration.” Robertson was Hendrickson’s faculty adviser.

Kathryn Lynn, a biology major from Meadville, Pa., presented “Growth and Total Protein Concentration of Phaseolus vulgaris Are Not Negatively Affected by Perfluorooctanoic Acid.” Throckmorton served as Lynn’s faculty adviser.

Grace Merkel, a biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “Embryonic Zebrafish Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastic Beads.” Dr. Furimsky served as Merkel’s faculty adviser.

Christian Pasquarello, a biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “The Effects of Isotretinoin on Daphnia magna Fecundity, Mortality, and Head Capsule Size.” Balczon was the faculty adviser for this project.

Nicholas Pasquarello, a biology major from New Castle, presented “Bortezomib Increases Nuclear Export While Decrease in Import in HeLa Cells.” Resendes was the faculty adviser for this project.

Victoria Peltonen, a biology major from Stoneboro, Pa., presented “An Investigation of Incubation Behavior in The American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius).” Duerr was the faculty adviser for this project.

Michael Petronzio, a molecular biology major from Gates Mills Road, Ohio, presented “mtor Inhibitors Trans-Resveratrol and Rapamycin Increase NPC Concentrations and Decrease Proliferation Rates.” Resendes served as faculty adviser for this project.

Mykenzie Riggle, a biology major from Ford City, Pa., presented “Investigating the Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Secondary Plant Compounds on Aedes albopictus Larvae.” Riggle’s faculty adviser for her project was Dr. Diana Ortiz, associate professor of biology.
 
Emma Rudolph, a molecular biology major from Santa Clarita, Calif., presented “Reduction of PCID2 in Breast Cancer Cells Decreases Mesenchymal Markers and Upregulates Epithelial Markers.” Resendes served as faculty adviser on this project.

Madison Scarmack, a biology major from Sharon, Pa., presented “The Effect of β-alanine on tgf-β1 Expression During Axolotl Limb Regeneration.”  Corrette-Bennett was Scarmack’s faculty adviser for this project.

James Sentz, a biology major from Catonsville, Md., presented “An Evaluation of Cues Associated with the Timing of Spring Migration in Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula).” Duerr was the faculty adviser for this project.

Rachel Smith, a biology major from Evans, Pa., presented “Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation Using Vinegar.” Corrette-Bennett was Smith’s faculty adviser for this project.

Taylor Stumpf, a biology major from Northern Cambria, Pa., presented “Characterization of a Red-backed Salamander Population in a Forest Fragment.” Duerr was the faculty adviser for this project.

Claire Tobin, a biology major from Battle Creek, Mich., presented “Physiological Effects of CBD and THC Introduced in utero on Zebrafish.” Dr. Furimsky was the faculty adviser for this project.

Amy Tutt, a biology major from Poway, Calif., presented “Implications of Hypothyroidism on Reproductive Development in Xenopus laevis.” Robertson was faculty adviser for this project.

Raina Vilsack, a biology major from Murrysville, Pa., presented “The Developmental Effects of Embryonic Exposure to Triclosan.” Dr. Furimsky was the faculty adviser for this project.

Savannah Weller, a biology major from Birdsboro, Pa., presented “The Potential Ovipositional Deterrence and Ovicidal Action of Phytochemicals Extracted from Piper nigrumon Adult Aedes albopictus.” Ortiz was the faculty adviser for this project.

Jocelyn Whalen, a biology major and honors student from New Brighton, Pa., presented “Suppressing Biofilm Production in S. aureus Using siHybrids Targeting the codY Gene.” Corrette-Bennett was Whalen’s faculty adviser for this project.

Karina Wilson, a biology major from Scenery Hill, Pa., presented “Impact of Vitamin C on Staphylococcus epidermidis Adhesion to Titanium.” Balczon was the faculty adviser for this project.

For more information about the students’ capstone projects, please contact Dr. Furimsky, chair of the Department of Biology, at furimsmm@westminster.edu.

To learn more about Westminster’s biology program, go to www.westminster.edu/biology.

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