Twenty-five students from Westminster College presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) held April 7-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

Two students—Dylan Kresak and Madison McClernan—delivered oral presentations, while the remainder presented research posters.

Kresak, a senior political science major from Sarver, Pa., presented “Policing Local Communities: Using Q Methodology to Study Policing Perspectives.” Kresak’s faculty mentor was Dr. Andy Bain, assistant professor of criminal justice studies.

McClernan, a senior psychology and mathematics double major from Glendora, N.J., gave a presentation on “Mind the Gap: Exploring Proposed Mediating Factors Between Sleep Quality and Dissociation.” McClernan’s mentor was Dr. Jessica Rhodes, associate professor of psychology. McClernan also presented a research poster, “A Numerical and Differential Analysis of Smoking Habits in Young Adults Following an SEIS Model of Disease Spread.” Her mentor for this research poster was Dr. Heather Muchowski, assistant professor of mathematics.

The presenting students were accompanied by Dr. Patrick Lackey, professor of chemistry and director of College’s Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research; Dr. Karen Resendes, associate dean of assessment and first-year experience; Dr. Jamie Chapman, associate professor of sociology and director of the College’s Honors Program; and Dr. Andy Bain, assistant professor of criminal justice studies.

Resendes, who is the treasurer and president-elect for the Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR), said the NCUR symposiums is one of CUR’s signature events. This year roughly 4,700 attended the event, with about 3,100 presenting.

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see so many of Westminster’s brightest present successfully at NCUR alongside students from a range of institutions across the country,” Resendes said. “This conference provides undergraduates with a national scale outlet to highlight the results of their hard work and dedication to scholarship, as well as a chance to network with other faculty and students with similar passions and connect with graduate programs and employers.”

Resendes also presented a symposium session, “Leveraging High School/College Partnerships to Build Research Interest and Experience,” about her work with creating research experiences for high school students with Seneca Valley High School.

Presenting research posters were:

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA
Reaghan Wilkerson, a senior criminal justics studies and psychology double major from Cranberry Township, Pa., presented "Public Policy and the Human Condition: A Study of Poverty, Crime, and Mental Health in Rural Pennsylvania.” Wilkerson’s faculty mentor was Dr. Jamie Chapman, associate professor of sociology.

COLUMBUS, PA
Rachel Brady, a senior biology major from Columbus, Pa., presented “Measuring the Distance of an Indoor Shotput Throw Using Computer Vision.” Brady’s faculty mentor was Dr. Adam Blumenthal, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science.

GREENVILLE, PA
Ella Hildebrand, a senior neuroscience major from Greenville, Pa., presented “The Delivery of Mitochondria-Containing Extracellular Vesicles to the Blood-Brain Barrier as a Treatment of Ischemic Stroke.” Her faculty mentor was mentor was Dr. Deanne Buffalari, associate professor of neuroscience.

HOOKSTOWN, PA
Ethan Moore, a sophomore biochemistry major from Hookstown, Pa., and Kevin Walker presented “Probing Membrane Binding of Alpha-synuclein Using Double Histidine Cu(II) Labeling and Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy.” Their faculty mentor was Dr. Jessica Sarver, associate professor of chemistry.

LEWISBURG, PA
Lauren Gross, a senior biology major from Lewisburg, Pa., presented “Ethanol Exposure Impacts Cardiac Development and Function in Zebrafish.” Gross’ faculty mentor was was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

NEW CASTLE, PA
Lexi Bender, a junior biology major from New Castle, Pa., presented “The Effects of Nature Therapy on Stress.” Bender’s faculty mentor was Dr. Helen Boylan, professor of environmental science.

NEW WILMINGTON, PA
Talia Morgenstern, a senior biology major from New Wilmington, presented “Effect of Neuropeptide Y on Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Formation.” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

OIL CITY, PA
Ashlee Douglass, a senior psychology and criminal justice studies double major, presented “Understanding Decision-making: Can Individual Differences Predict Dominant Decision-making Styles?” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology.

PITTSFIELD, PA
Lyddia Rougeux, a senior molecular biology major from Pittsfield, Pa., presented “Effect of siRNA Knockdown of the icaA and icaD Genes on Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus Aureus.” Rougeux’s mentor was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

PITTSBURGH, PA
Hannah Coleman, a senior psychology major from Pittsburgh (15209), presented “Effects of Caffeine on Risk-taking Behaviors in Decision-making Tasks.” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology.

Abigail Guiste, a senior neuroscience major from Pittsburgh (15209), presented “Co-abuse of Nicotine and Ethanol: Effects on Working and Long-Term Memory Driven by Appetitive vs Aversive Stimuli.” Guiste’s faculty mentor was Dr. Deanne Buffalari, associate professor of neuroscience.

Sara MacMurdo, a senior biology major from Pittsburgh (15205), presented “The Effect of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB) on Rates of Axolotl Limb Regeneration and Digit Formation.” MacMurdo’s mentor was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

PULASKI, PA
Gianna LePore, a senior psychology major from Pulaski, Pa., presented “The Role of Sleep in Emotional Memory Encoding and Retrieval.” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology.

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA
Tyler Young, a senior criminal justice studies major from Punxsutawney, Pa., presented “Policing Local Communities: A Thematic Analysis of Tonality Trends and Perceptions of Media Coverage (2017-2023).” Young’s faculty mentor was Dr. Andy Bain, assistant professor of criminal justice studies.

WASHINGTON, PA
Lily Hefner, a senior molecular biology and criminal justice studies double major from Washington, Pa., presented “Investigating the Role of the Enzyme Monoamine Oxidase in Aggression.” Hefner’s faculty member was mentor was Dr. Marosh Furimsky, associate professor of biology.

BURTON, OH
Madyson Treharne, a junior creative media production and English double major from Burton, Ohio, presented “Awesome Mix, Vol. 2 Cassette: A Study on Soundtrack Dissonance.” Treharne’s mentor was Brad Weaver, broadcasting and sports communication faculty member.

EAST SPARTA, OH
Vada Mayle, a senior neuroscience major from East Sparta, Ohio, presented “Effects of Rape Myth Acceptance, Sexual Assault Experience and Gender on Risk Perception and Constructive Memory.” Mayle’s faculty mentor was Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology.

MILLERSPORT, OH
Makyla Wheeler, a senior psychology major from Millersport, Ohio, presented “Mental Imagery, Emotional Valence, and Item vs. Associative Effects on Memory.”  Wheeler’s faculty mentor was Dr. Eric Fields, assistant professor of psychology.

SAN BRUNO, CA
Lucas Esqueda, a senior molecular biology major from San Bruno, Calif., presented “The Effect of Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate on mTOR Expression During Limb Regeneration.”  Esqueda’s mentor was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

SAN DIEGO, CA
Anita Panatch, a senior biology major from San Diego, Calif., presented “Evaluating the Inhibitory Potential of Xylitol on Oral Biofilm Formation in Cariogenic Conditions.” Panatch’s faculty mentor was Dr. Joe Balczon, associate professor of biology.

RADCLIFF, KY
Kevin Walker, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major from Radcliff, Ky., and Ethan Moore presented “Probing Membrane Binding of Alpha-synuclein Using Double Histidine Cu(II) Labeling And Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy.” Their faculty mentor was Dr. Jessica Sarver, associate professor of chemistry.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.
Alondra Melendez, a senior molecular biology major from Rochester, N.Y., presented “The Impact of HMB on fgf8 Expression Levels During Ambystoma Mexicanum Limb Regeneration.” Melendez’ mentor was Dr. Josh Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology.

SPRING HILL, TENN.
Gabbie Garza, a senior biochemistry major from Spring Hill, Tenn., presented “Identifying the Chemical Composition of Kombucha Tea.” Her faculty mentor was Dr. Jessica Sarver, associate professor of chemistry.

NCUR is the largest undergraduate research conference in the country, and each year brings together thousands of undergraduate students from across the globe to present their research through posters, oral presentations, visual arts and performances. 

Westminster students were supported by the College’s Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research, which promotes and provides students with various research, scholarly and creative opportunities in all academic disciplines through support and resources for undergraduate work.  

The next NCUR symposium will be held April 13-15, 2026, in Richmond, Va.

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