St. Paul, MN [April 27, 2022] - More than 70 undergraduate students presented their scientific findings at the 34th Annual Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday, April 23, at Hamline University in St. Paul. The science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research symposium was chaired by Dr. Irina Makarevitch of Hamline University, and organized by the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS) with support from numerous regional colleges.

The symposium included oral presentations, poster sessions, panels with local STEM professionals, and a keynote lecture by 3M scientist Dr. John Banovetz on sustainability in industry. In addition to gaining important experience in communicating their scientific research, participants also made valuable connections to their peers in the scientific community through the symposium’s networking opportunities. “My favorite moment was getting to meet other undergraduate students with the same interests as me and getting to learn more about the research being done at other universities,” said participant Abby Lewerenz, a student at Concordia University-St. Paul.

The symposium culminated in an awards ceremony for Judge’s Choice Awards and Beta Beta Beta Awards. Judge’s Choice Award winners are:

PROTEIN ENGINEERING OF A SPECTROSCOPIC PROBE INTO MALATE DEHYDROGENASE, Equoia S. Gibson, Mary E. Ludwig, Olivia H. Thompson, Genevieve M. Woods, and Ella M. Young, and Lisa N. Gentile (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

CONTRACTILE EFFECTS OF Matricaria chamomilla ON Mus musculus ISOLATED UTERINE TISSUE, Brittany L. Kothari and Teresa F. DeGolier (Advisor), Department of Biological Sciences, Bethel University

CAPRYLIC ACID AND ITS RESULTING SIGNIFICANCE ON MALE RAT SPERMATOGENESIS AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS, McKenna M. Stoner and Jonathan Van Berkom (Advisor), Department of Biological Sciences, Bethel University

DISCOVERING CANDIDATES FOR ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION THROUGH THE TINY EARTH PROJECT, Christine V. David and Joanna Klein (Advisor), Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Northwestern

A MODEL OF A CHOLANGIOCARCINOMAGENIC PHENOTYPE WITH IDH1 MUTATION,       Jack Strotbeck and Megan Girtman (Advisor), Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

UNIQUE CHEMICAL SIGNATURES ACROSS TWO WILD BERGAMOT (Monarda fistulosa) ECOTYPES: A COMMON GARDEN STUDY, Olivia A. Meyer, Moni C. Berg-Binder (Advisor), and Brett R. Bodsgard (Advisor), Department of Biology & Department of Chemistry, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

EFFECT OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON VIABILITY OF EX OVO CHICK EMBRYO CULTURING SYSTEMS, Dylan Holtmeier, Abigail Lewerenz, Kora Kritzberger, and Mong-Lin Yang (Advisor), Department of Biology, Concordia University- St. Paul

MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS OF CATALYST FREE HYDROAMINATION, Michael L. Le, Max H. Marron, and Eric H. Fort (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, University of St. Thomas

INVASIVE EARTHWORM RESPONSE TO GRAZING MANAGEMENT OF EUROPEAN BUCKTHORN (Rhamnus cathartica), Mary M. McTeague and Molly McNicoll (Advisor), Department of Environmental Studies, Luther College

THE IMPACT OF NSD3 KNOCKDOWN AND THE EXPRESSION OF PRDM12 IN CHICK NEURAL CREST CELLS, Kendra J. Yoder and Bridget T. Jacques-Fricke (Advisor), Department of Biology, Hamline University

TOTAL PROTEIN AS A MORE RELIABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE INTERNAL CONTROL FOR CANCEROUS LIVER SAMPLE WESTERN BLOT ANALYSIS, Young Y. Vue and Mong-Lin Yang (Advisor), Department of Biology, Concordia University - St. Paul

EFFECTS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES BINDING ON THE ESTERASE-LIKE ACTIVITY OF HUMAN SERUM ALBUMIN, Jack Adamietz and M. Abul Fazal (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

TUNABLE ORTHOESTER MICELLES FOR USE IN CONTROLLED HYDROPHOBIC DRUG DELIVERY, Andrew K. Morse, Francesca M. Ippoliti, and Lisa E. Prevette (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, University of St. Thomas

PHOTOPROTECTIVE MECHANISMS OF RED VS. YELLOW DECIDUOUS PLANT SPECIES DURING AUTUMN SENESCENCE, Emma H. Miller and Amy S. Verhoeven (Advisor), Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas

DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF SILICA-COATED SWELLING POLYMERS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, Andrea T. Ligocki, Beza S. Tuga, Hyunho Kang, and Christy L. Haynes (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FLUORESCENT PROBE FOR THE DETECTION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE, Benjamin J. LeBeau, Hunter A. Backholm, and Katie L. Peterson (Advisor), Department of Chemistry, Bemidji State University

INVESTIGATING THE TROPHIC EFFECTS OF RAINBOW TROUT PREDATION ON Daphnia IN SQUARE LAKE USING A PALEOECOLOGICAL APPROACH, Indigo L. Rowland, Marcella G. Meneguzzi, and Leif K. Hembre (Advisor), Department of Biology, Hamline University

DYSREGULATION OF PROLINE PATHWAY ENZYMES IN HCC VS FLHCC, Young Vue, Heenu Kamboj, Gabe Nkumu, Richard Wauer, and Mong-Lin Yang (Advisor), Department of Biology, Concordia University - St. Paul

DISCOVERING THE TINY EARTH OF ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCING BACTERIA, Talila R. Baskaran and Joanna R. Klein (Advisor), Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Northwestern - St. Paul

BBB National Biological Honor Society Award winners are:

Oral Presentation, first place: DISCOVERING CANDIDATES FOR ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION THROUGH THE TINY EARTH PROJECT, Christine V. David and Joanna Klein (Advisor), Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Northwestern

Oral Presentation second place: CONTRACTILE EFFECTS OF Matricaria chamomilla ON Mus musculus ISOLATED UTERINE TISSUE, Brittany L. Kothari and Teresa F. DeGolier (Advisor), Department of Biological Sciences, Bethel University

Poster Presentation, first place: THE PREVALENCE OF MICROPLASTICS IN NORTH DAKOTA WATERFOWL, Duong Nguyen and Jennifer Sweatman (Advisor), Department of Biology/Environmental Studies, Concordia College – Moorhead

Poster Presentation, second place: DISCOVERY OF ANTIBIOTIC-PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM SOIL, Jade E. Le Bris, Annalisa M. Jordan (Advisor), Kim N. Ha (Advisor), and Tami R. McDonald (Advisor),  Department of Biology & Department of Chemistry, St. Catherine University

Founded in 1873, MAS is a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for Minnesotans of all backgrounds to engage in STEM  learning, inquiry, research, and networking. MAS sponsors STEM education programs and events for students in preschool through college. 

The 2022 Winchell Symposium was made possible through the generous support of the American Chemical Society, the Michael H. Baker Family Foundation, Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society, a gift in memory of M.I. (Buzz) Harrigan, and the American Heart Association, as well as the following institutions and departments: Bethel University, Natural and Behavioral Sciences; Carleton College, Department of Biology; College of St. Benedict and St. John's University, Department of Chemistry; Concordia University - St. Paul, Science Department; Crown College, Biological and Health Sciences Department; Hamline University, Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics; Macalester College, Departments of Biology and Physics & Astronomy; St. Catherine University, Math & Sciences Division; University of Minnesota, Department of Psychology and Department of Chemistry’s Dwight C. Legler Memorial Fund; and the University of St. Thomas, Departments of Biology and Chemistry.