KU students to present at Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

LAWRENCE — Undergraduate researchers from the University of Kansas Lawrence and Medical Center campuses will present their research projects March 1 as part of Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.

The KU students will join their peers from other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) public four-year universities to deliver in-person poster presentations at the Kansas Capitol Rotunda in Topeka. Presentations will be viewed by other students, faculty, KBOR members, state lawmakers and members of the public from across the state of Kansas. The event is intended to raise awareness of the research being conducted by undergraduate students at state universities.

The presenters are listed below by name, year of study, hometown, major, mentor and title of research project:

From KU Lawrence

• Elizabeth Miller, sophomore from Emporia in applied computing with a chemistry concentration mentored by Zarko Boskovic, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry: “Twisted Intramolecular Charge Transfer (TICT) State Addition to Electron-poor Olefins.”
• Joohye Oh, junior from Lawrence in English literature and Spanish mentored by Marta Caminero-Santangelo, University Distinguished Professor of English: "We Are Here: Latine Immigrants and Their Journeys to Kansas."
• Olivia Sourivong, senior from Kansas City in social welfare mentored by Claire Willey-Sthapit, assistant professor of social welfare: “Intergenerational Trauma, Domestic Violence, and the Potential for Healing: A Qualitative Research Study with Service Providers and Advocates Who Have Worked with Lao Domestic Violence Survivors.”
• Sivani Dayakar Badrivenkata, senior from Lawrence in pharmacy mentored by Michael Hageman, Valentino J. Stella Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry: “Assessing the Viability of Lactoferrin Protein as a Preventative Therapeutic for Vaginal E. coli Infections in Pregnant Patients.”
• Vivian Marshall, senior from Topeka majoring in biology with a concentration in ecology, evolution & organismal biology mentored by Raymond Pierotti, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology: “The Responses of Budgerigars to Different Emotional States.”

From KU Medical Center

• Isabel Basurto, senior from Basehor in respiratory care mentored by Dave Burnett, associate professor of respiratory care & diagnostic science: "Feasibility of a Digitally Enhanced Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.”
• Larry Massobos, senior from Cameroon, Central Africa, in respiratory care mentored by Dave Burnett, "Feasibility of a Digitally Enhanced Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program.”