Emmanuel Undergraduate Students Present Pioneering Summer Research Projects

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Emmanuel College

Oct 03, 2016, 13:00 ET


Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) October 03, 2016 -- Forty Emmanuel students showcased their summer research and special academic projects at the College’s Summer Research Poster Session on Thursday, September 29 in the Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center. The multidimensional research and collaboration that occurred this past summer between faculty and students at Emmanuel was on display for the community at this signature event.

“At Emmanuel, we embrace collaboration across every dimension, encouraging faculty members and students to work diligently together on coursework and research projects that not only advance students’ knowledge, but also expand the frontiers of human knowledge,” said Dr. William C. Leonard, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Emmanuel College. “These summer projects exemplify Emmanuel’s commitment to academic excellence.”

Summer 2016 research projects on display included:

  • “Creation of Functional Fusion Proteins between E. coli GTPases and the Open Reading Frame from Green Fluorescent Protein,” presented by Ashley Skey and Mary Nahorniak and advised by Dr. Paul March.
  • “Establishment of tolerance to vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) via induction of mixed hematopoietic chimerism,” presented by Simone Thibault and Alexandra Mulligan and advised by Dr. Josef Kurtz.
  • “Prokaryotic protein/protein interactions,” presented by Cinthia Garcia, Brielle Favole and Felipe Farinha, and advised by Dr. Padraig Deighan.
  • “The Mitotic Exit Network,” presented by Courtney Sniffen, Matthew Powers, Michael Vannini and Victoria Mingione, and advised by Dr. Anupama Seshan.
  • “RNA,” presented by Courtney Whalen and James Kaufman and advised by Dr. Jason Kuehner.
  • “The contribution and function of bone marrow-derived progenitor cells to the CNS population of microglia,” presented by Marina Rocha, Elizabeth Repash, Jared Nasser and Jeremy Morrisette, and advised by Dr. Todd Williams.
  • “Microfluidic analysis of DNA templates; Selection and characterization of HAP-specific DNA aptamers; Enamel formation characterization; and Electrochemical rapid diagnostic tests for malaria,” presented by Katerina Luarasi, Jack Florek, Krista Meserve, Jason Miech and Robert Tzepos, and advised by Dr. Aren Gerdon.
  • “3 projects on Lysyl Oxidase (LOX): Optimization of purification procedure for LOX; Investigation in the role of the copper cofactor in LOX; and Computer-assisted design of the selective inhibitors of LOX,” presented by Zachary Foley, Chloe Pantano, Islam Baiev and Cameron Messier, and advised by Dr. Faina Ryvkin.
  • “Sheltered English Immersion Classrooms Study,” presented by Kierstin Giunco and advised by Dr. Christine Leighton.
  • “Population dynamics of migratory species,” presented by Connor Higgins and Sadie Piatt, and advised by Dr. Christine Sample, Dr. Benjamin Allen and Dr. Yulia Dementieva.
  • “Graph theory that investigates pursuit games on graphs,” presented by Nikolas Townsend and Mikayla Werzanski and advised by Dr. Brendan Sullivan.
  • “Study of development trajectory of autism and bipolar disorder using mouse models,” presented by Jessica Thanos, Alex Powers and Emalee Peterson, and advised by Dr. Melanie Leussis.
  • “Data gathering for Individual Acts of Courage and Conscience,” presented by Sofi Drago and advised by Dr. Marie Natoli.
  • “Microenvironmental Responses of V1,” presented by Meaghan Carey, Nicholas Rosenau, Lauren Clark and Rebecca Andrade, and advised by Dr. Michael Jarvinen.
  • “Using Standardized Patients in Health Assessment,” presented by Jonathan Rowe and advised by Dr. Diane Shea.

A majority of the 2016 summer research projects were in the natural and social sciences. Emmanuel offers a robust science curriculum and academic programs supported by teaching scholars, state-of-the-art facilities and unmatched research and applied learning opportunities resulting from our NSF- and NIH-funded research initiatives and our location within Boston’s Longwood Medical and Academic Area. Emmanuel’s liberal arts programs provide students with life-changing avenues that expand their capacity to analyze, reflect, communicate and grow.

About Emmanuel College
Located in the heart of Boston, Emmanuel inspires students to dream big and work hard as they discover—and begin to fulfill—their life’s purpose. Home to more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students from across the nation and around the world, the College provides boundless opportunities for students to expand their worldview through rigorous coursework, collaborations with distinguished and dedicated faculty, participation in a vibrant campus community, and countless internship and career opportunities throughout the Boston area and beyond. Emmanuel’s more than 50 programs in the sciences and liberal arts foster spirited discourse and substantive learning experiences that honor the College’s Catholic educational mission to educate the whole person and provide an ethical and relevant 21st-century education. For more information, visit http://www.emmanuel.edu.

Bob McDonald, Emmanuel College, http://www.emmanuel.edu, +1 617-735-9906, [email protected]