KU students to present at Kansas Undergraduate Research Days
LAWRENCE — Ten University of Kansas students will participate in the 2022 Kansas Undergraduate Research Days, which will be March 2-3.
Undergraduate students from each Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) four-year public university are working on 30 projects that will be presented online. KU is the 2022 sponsor of this free and virtual event.
“This event is a great opportunity for undergraduate students at the University of Kansas to share their research projects with state lawmakers as well as other researchers and students across Kansas,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. “Following the success of last year, we at KU are excited to host the virtual conference and highlight the research being conducted by undergraduate students in the state of Kansas.”
The Kansas Undergraduate Research Day website will feature posters and accompanying student videos describing the research projects. Visitors will be able to comment and post questions for the student presenters. Students, faculty, KBOR members, state lawmakers and members of the public from across the state are invited to participate.
The event is intended to raise awareness of research being conducted by undergraduate students and to highlight the transformational educational opportunities available to students at each KBOR university.
"Undergraduate Research Days showcase research in Kansas, providing a forum for undergraduates from across Kansas to present their projects to our state legislators and other guests visiting the website,” said Dawn Tallchief, assistant director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and event coordinator. “This event is exciting. Last year’s event was held online for the first time, and based on its attendance, I anticipate we'll have many people from Kansas and beyond who will take part and engage with the presenters.”
The presenters are listed below by name, year of study, major, mentor and title of research project:
From KU Lawrence
Karlo Flores, senior in pharmacy from Liberal, mentored by Cambrey Nguyen, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy: “Accessibility of Ocular Drug Product Websites.”
Matt Gratton, senior in psychology from Kansas City, Missouri; mentored by Nancy Hamilton, associate professor of psychology: “Cross Sectional Associations between Nightmare Frequency and Mental Health within the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort.”
Christopher Kywe, junior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology from Leawood, mentored by Brian Ackley, associate professor, Center for Computational Biology: “Testing the role of mab-5/Hox in Innate Immune Response pathways in C. elegans.”
Mary Sevart, junior in chemical & petroleum engineering from Wichita, mentored by Susan Williams, Charles E. & Mary Jane Spahr Professor of Engineering: “Valorization of Residual Hemp Biomass Through Thermochemical Processing.”
Shay Whiting, senior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology from Paola, mentored by Andrew Fry, professor of health, sport & exercise sciences: “Effect of Stance in Squatting.”
From KU Medical Center
Kaitlyn Campbell, senior in nursing from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; mentored by Kristine Williams, E. Jean Hill Professor of Nursing: “Responses of Persons Living with Dementia to Caregiver Validating Communication: A Secondary Analysis.”
Macie Fulton, senior in nursing from Lenexa, mentored by Barbara Polivka, professor of nursing: “Home Air Quality and Asthma Study: Developing the Methodology to Measure the Momentary Impact of Cleaners/Disinfectants on Adults with Asthma.”
Ceara Funk, senior in nursing from McLouth, mentored by Danielle Olds, research assistant professor of nursing: “Predictors of Nurse Intentions to Leave Emergency Departments During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Kayla Kasaei, senior in nursing from Overland Park, mentored by Kelly Bosak, associate professor of nursing: “Association of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Biometric Factors, Exercise Levels and Revised Ejection Fraction Categories of Adults with Heart Failure.”
Tristen Rand, senior in nursing from Berryton, mentored by Kesa Herlihy, clinical assistant professor of nursing, and Maryellen Potts, education assistant professor of nursing: “Health Professions Students' Experiences with Identity-Based Patient Bias: A Cross Sectional Study.”