Past Projects

PI: Benjamin Stovall

Award Amount: $2,000

Abstract: The proposed project aims to provide UVU students with hands-on experience as production assistants on a motion picture film set, addressing the challenge of bridging the gap between theoretical film education and practical industry exposure. The central hypothesis is that immersive, real-world production experience will enhance students’ technical skills, teamwork, and career readiness in the competitive film industry by implementing the philosophy of practice as research. This initiative seeks to accomplish the professional development of 2-4 UVU students by immersing them in a professional film location, where they will assist with tasks such as set preparation, equipment handling, and coordination under industry professionals.

This project also draws from UVU’s prior success in collaboration with FanX studios' and UVU's Innovation Academy to provide research and experiential opportunities in the field of filmed entertainment. The anticipated outcomes include improved student portfolios, increased employability, and an improved resume for the students. This project will have a structured format, which includes: pre-trip training, on-site supervision by a faculty mentor and company professionals, and post-trip reflection sessions to evaluate the research experience and acquired skills. By integrating academic rigor with practical application, this project will enrich UVU’s film program and prepare future industry-ready talent.

PI: Kode Creer

Award Amount: $1,361

Abstract: In the smart grid, prosumers can sell unused electricity back to the power grid, assuming prosumers own renewable energy sources and storage units. The goal is to develop an - Artificial Intelligent and Machine Learning-based model that is able to maximize profit in electricity sales in addition to enhancing the energy utilization efficiency for prosumers.

PI: Alejandro Chavira

Award Amount: $1,200

Abstract: Airport environments are more tightly controlled and predictable than the environments autonomous passenger vehicles encounter, such as freeways or city streets. However, much less work has been done to characterize the airport environment and develop the datasets needed for autonomous vehicles to work in such a space. This research contributes to that effort by developing a labeled dataset of images for a commercial airport to be used with image recognition software and thus enables an aircraft tug to navigate autonomously in an airport environment. Researchers, with the help of assistants, gathered images from various sources including visiting an airport and taking photographs, videos, and scans, then uploading those and other gathered images to a central database. Researchers gathered over 650 images which include not only aircraft common to the airport, but other airport equipment such as fuel trucks, snow removal equipment, airport personnel, ground markings, and more. All objects that are necessary for an autonomous tug to identify were labeled manually and then the labeled images were trained on top of the pretrained YOLOv11 model provided by Ultralytics. After developing an initial prototype of the model, testing was conducted to evaluate its ability to recognize and track objects.The trained YOLOv11-based model demonstrated a reasonable ability to identify DA20, DA40, and Seminole aircraft, correctly distinguishing between them in many cases. However, its reliability has shown to be inconsistent at long ranges and when aircraft are partially obscured. To counteract these inconsistencies, a two-step classification process was implemented in which the standard pretrained YOLOv11 model first detects for any aircraft, which are passed to the customized model to further classify by type. Considering that the classification model was mostly trained on images of aircraft, other airport infrastructure like standard tugs, fuel trucks, and runway markings remain as areas for improvement.

PI: Sierra Phillips

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: Physical health is often the focus of most humanitarian programs. The other dimensions of health are commonly overlooked but play a huge role in overall well-being. This program and research will focus on the mental and emotional needs of high school students in Accra, Ghana. The Golden Gate Movement curriculum has been chosen to teach effective and broad topics that encourage development and education in the perspectives, attitudes, soft skills, and pro-social behaviors needed to function both in school and interpersonally. It can be challenging to know the exact needs of individuals, so gathering accurate detailed data is the key objective. This will be accomplished by conducting a needs assessment at the Grey Memorial school in Ghana, evaluating and scoring the results, and then sharing those results with the local school administrators and future humanitarian programs. This is crucial in helping the local school administrators understand the distinct mental and emotional needs of their students. This data will also be given to future humanitarian programs to help narrow down the curriculum and customize the educational materials to best impact the students’ mental and emotional well-being.

PI: Jeffrey Grant

Award Amount: $2,357

Abstract: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of AI-generated content versus human-generated content. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to when computers simulate human intelligence through machines (Oxford University Press, 2023). AI thrives in certain areas but has weaknesses that human-generated content overcomes (Arshad, 2023). My research seeks to answer whether human-generated content will outperform AI-generated content in terms of various engagement metrics: views, audience retention, comments, and subscribers gained in the context of YouTube Shorts. To test this, I designed a twofold experimental approach involving both a survey and the collection of real-world engagement data from social media posts (YouTube Shorts).

I attempted to be consistent with as many variables as possible across all posts, including the target audience, niche, background music, descriptions, hashtags, estimated video length, voiceover words, number of cuts within the video, length of each clip, etc. The experimental procedure involved creating 150 post ideas, generating two variations for each—one with AI-generated content and the other with human-generated content (keeping the same template generated by AI and replacing the creatives and voiceover with man-made content). This resulted in a total of 300 posts, with each pair of variations being posted simultaneously to ensure fairness. Posting times were fixed at 6 AM and 10 PM daily over 75 days, resulting in four posts per day. Engagement metrics were recorded seven days after each post was published.

Additionally, an experimental survey will be conducted to test the differences between AI-generated and human-generated content on metrics such as engagement with the post (i.e., views, comments, likes, etc.) and perceptions of the poster (i.e., trust, credibility, etc.). The final analysis will compare the survey responses with the actual engagement data to identify any discrepancies between perceived and actual performance.

This experiment aims to provide insights into the effectiveness of AI-generated content in comparison to human-generated content, contributing valuable information to the field of marketing, and giving insight on the public perception of AI

PI: Eleanor Evans

Award Amount: $1,435

Abstract: Students at UVU have limited opportunities for participating in hands-on research. Insect research can give students the opportunity to participate in research and learn about research methods. Cockroaches are often used in research due to their resilience and accessibility. While there is a lot of research on cockroaches in general, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (MHC) is understudied especially in biology and behavioral sciences. This gap in the literature presents a great starting point for students getting into research. To explore this, undergraduates will use models from other insects in the existing literature as a starting point for conducting research with MHCs. After establishing baseline behaviors for comparison, the MHCs will be divided into experimental and control groups. MHCs in the experimental group will be exposed to ethanol. The behavior of the experimental and control group MHCs will be compared. The experimental and baseline behaviors will be measured in a 2-compartment container with a light and dark section—looking at their habituation to the light and risk assessing behavior. This research will help to fill the gap in the literature regarding MHCs and will serve as a catalyst for students practicing the scientific method.

PI: Aaron Williams

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to form a more critical role in daily life, political decision-making, medicine, marketing, customer service, general inquiry from average individuals, and so many other social institutions individuals participate in. ChatGPT is a recent invention in AI that is able to continue to learn and develop beyond what many previous AIs have done in the past, even being used to replace employees in certain jobs and being used as an educational and research tool. It has developed many controversies around it but is also inspiring many people. However, it is difficult to know what can affect individuals’ attitudes towards ChatGPT and other similar AI.

One aspect that does have great effects on attitudes toward many things is religion, as it has been a moral standard for many individuals in the United States, heavily influencing public opinions and worldviews, including their perceptions of science, technology, and AI. The goal of this research project is to find how religious beliefs influence attitudes toward ChatGPT and what factors in those identities affect attitudes positively or negatively, allowing us to have a better understanding of the relationship between religion and science.

PI: Ellery White

Award Amount: $2,430

Abstract: This study will examine the influence that political affiliation and beliefs may have on students’ academic performance. Both the students’ and parents’ political beliefs will be measured.

Recent data shows that individuals who have attended graduate school are more likely to hold American liberal ideologies than their counterparts who received less education (Pew Research Center 2016). Research has also examined how parents can have a significant impact on their children’s political beliefs (Kraut and Lewis 1975). So, current research has shown that those with liberal values are more likely to pursue higher education, and that parents can have a profound influence on the values of their children. However, there is a current gap in research on the measure of academic performance of individuals raised in households with varying political beliefs. This study would help add to the academic discourse on the influence parents can have on their children in an academic setting.

PI: Karla Maldonado

Award Amount: $1,964

Presentation: The plan is to present the two presentations (one poster, one paper) at the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) conference in Seattle, WA in November 2024.

PI: Eleanor Evans

Award Amount: $1,300

Presentation: The goal is to use the Society for Neuroscience conference to better inform all students within the Taylor lab about what other institutions are researching, and inform students who are just getting started in the field of neuroscience to ask questions and explore what opportunities they could invest in should they continue down that education pathway.

PI: Sarah Begreson

Award Amount: $1,450

Presentation: I plan to present our findings at the annual National Council of Family Relations Conference in Bellevue, Washington, from November 20th to 23rd, 2024.

PI: Jack Charlesworth

Award Amount: $1,076

Presentation: The way I intend to disseminate my research is by presenting it at a conference. This conference is the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Conference. This conference is a national conference that is being held in Washington D.C. from 2 January 2025 through 5 January 2025

PI: Riley Weaver

Award Amount: $1,076

Presentation: I plan on presenting my research about the stigmatization of Native Hawaiians and leprosy in Utah at the Phi Alpha Theta biennial convention in Washington, D.C.

PI: Ethan Petersen

Award Amount: $1,076

Presentation: This will be presented at the Phi Alpha Theta National Biennial Conference this January in Washington, D.C.

PI: Jim Tucker

Award Amount: $1,076

Presentation: I plan to attend the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial Conference in January of 2025 with several other students in UVU's chapter of the honorary society

PI: Isabelle Eyre

Award Amount: $1,322

Presentation: I will be attending the Phi Alpha Theta Biennial conference held in Washington D.C. which will host historians from around the United States

PI: Adam Arnett

Award Amount: $777

Presentation: I will be presenting a conference poster at National Conference of Undergraduate Research which will take place April 7–9, 2025, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA

PI: Gary Lai

Award Amount: $1,227

Presentation: I have already been accepted to present my research findings via poster (and flash presentation) at the “Population Association of America: Applied Demography Conference” (PAA ADC), occurring on Feb 4-6, 2025 in Tucson AZ.

PI: Josi Woodhouse

Award Amount: $2,302

Abstract: The ‘ring-by-spring’ phenomenon entails the perceived pressure for college seniors on Christian campuses to become engaged by the end of the spring semester of their senior year. Ring-by-spring contains an inherent religious component, as a Christian college campus phenomenon, and those who are religious tend to marry at earlier ages than those who are not. The Goldilocks theory of marriage suggests a ‘just right’ age range for marriage (28-32). The religious marriage paradox presents the idea that those who are religious do tend to marry earlier, but protections against divorce may be available for religious couples. Little is known about how ring-by-spring pressures and religiosity may affect facets of well-being, and this study seeks to shed light on these connections. Results show religious and certain personal early-marriage pressures (or lack thereof) influence well-being.

PI: Amara Villalon

Award Amount: $1,470

Abstract: Madagascar hissing cockroaches (MHC) are invertebrate insects that are inexpensive, hardy, and easy to maintain even in small spaces. Due to this, they provide an excellent animal model for simple behavioral tasks frequently used to explore learning and risk assessment behavior. Previous work in the lab has shown that large variance in activity levels appear to be a consistent individual difference that can be problematic due to floor or ceiling effects in behavioral assessments. The current studies were conducted to explore the relationship between activity level and risk-assessment behavior with both males and females. Subjects were observed in single-session exploration of a custom open field apparatus. Video data was coded to determine activity levels as well as risk assessment behavior. Consistent with previous work in our lab, MHC subjects demonstrated high levels of individual differences in activity. Measures of central tendency in activity for were used as an initial separation into high activity (HA), low activity (LA) subjects. Subjects classified by median split revealed differences in patterns of activity throughout the session in addition to overall activity, with the HA cluster consistently moving throughout, whereas the LA were initially as active, but reduced activity over a short period of time. Interestingly, despite the significant differences in movement, there were no significant differences in risk assessment measures on the open field. Additional pilot observations using behavioral pharmacology, primarily with ethanol administration further support at least a partial dissociation between activity and risk-assessment related behaviors with the MHC. These results indicate that screening for activity level will allow us to use HA roaches to mitigate floor effects with assays for learning and risk-assessment behavior.

PI: Tannor Olsen

Award Amount: $2,978

Abstract: Despite divorce rates leveling off in recent years, the rate of first-time marriages ending in divorce remains high, with significant mental, emotional, and financial costs for couples. Preventative measures, such as premarital education and counseling, are increasingly recognized as valuable tools to help couples prepare for marriage and strengthen marital stability. This study sought to better understand the lived experiences of engaged and newly married couples, including both cohabitating and non-cohabiting individuals, as they navigated the transition into marriage.

Guided by Karney and Bradbury’s (1995) vulnerability-stress-adaptation model, we explored enduring vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptive processes that shape marital satisfaction. To gather qualitative data, we conducted 14 virtual focus groups with 46 participants (22 engaged and 31 married). These focus groups were separated by marital status and cohabitation status to allow for comparison across groups. Participants discussed topics such as finances, conflict resolution, merging lives, sexual intimacy, family backgrounds, division of household labor, and long-term planning.

Our thematic analysis revealed that finances were consistently the most frequently cited area of concern, while cohabitating participants emphasized the benefits of cohabitation in preparing for marriage, particularly with household management and future planning. These findings offer insight into both common and distinct needs among cohabiting and non-cohabitating couples. The results highlight the relevance of addressing practical and relational skills in premarital education and counseling programs, while also validating key elements of the vulnerability-stress-adaptation model.

The anticipated outcomes of this project include contributing to the literature on the unique needs of couples entering marriage, providing practical implications for family life educators and clinicians, and informing the development of premarital education and counseling interventions.

By centering the voices of couples themselves, this research underscores the importance of tailoring interventions to reflect their real-life experiences and challenges.

PI: Anna Blaser

Award Amount: $3,000

Abstract: Last fall, Leslie Simon and seven undergraduate students at Utah Valley University wrote a collaborative research paper on Great Expectations in a senior seminar on narrative theory, HUM 401R. One of the experimental objectives of the course was to challenge the tradition in literary studies and related fields to produce scholarship in isolation – and to work, instead, as a team. Another objective was to give students the opportunity to apply their learning to a professional (or professionally oriented) context. We sought to determine the following: Is it possible to translate the collaborative discourse of the classroom immediately into a publishable piece of scholarship? And could we do that work together, crafting the processes of brainstorming, drafting, researching, and revising a scholarly article into an undergraduate assignment sequence?

Two students from the class, Anna Blaser and Collin McNeal, are continuing to work on this project with Dr. Simon. We are finishing editing the essay on Great Expectations, which we will then submit to Dickens Quarterly, which has already shown interest in the piece. We are also researching the instructional aspect of this project, exploring how often undergraduate humanities classrooms incorporate high-stakes collaborative exercises into their assignment sequences, and why or why not. We are developing a survey to send out to all UVU faculty inquiring about how collaboration does or does not feature as a learning outcome in their classrooms, to be submitted to IRB in the coming week and hopefully sent to faculty soon.

PI: Peyton Graper

Award Amount: $4,988

Abstract: Microplastic pollution has emerged as an increasing public health concern as pollution and contamination of drinking water becomes increasingly more prevalent. Many sources of water can be contaminated by microplastics, but the most pressing issue would be drinking water. Research suggests that ingestion of microplastics can lead to inflammation, immune dysfunction, and disruption of general physiological processes in humans. Despite ongoing efforts to filter microplastics from water sources—such as through reverse osmosis—there remains a critical need for real-time detection and monitoring systems that can identify microplastic presence before consumption occurs.

This project proposes the development of a low-cost laser-based detection device that uses Mie scattering to identify microplastics in drinking water. Our device will build on previous work by another research group, which used Mie scattering to detect bacteria in samples with the goal of diagnosing urinary tract infections. In this new application, we will adapt the techniques to detect microplastics, which are present at significantly smaller concentrations than bacteria and vary significantly in terms of shape and size.

The detection system will use a custom-fabricated cuvette—approximately six inches in length—designed to maximize the interaction between a laser beam and suspended particles. As light scatters down the length of the sample, diffraction patterns will be detected and analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN). This network will be trained on scattering profiles from known microplastic samples and become proficient at categorizing images, which will enable the identification of microplastics based on size and shape characteristics.

The anticipated outcome of this project is a functional prototype capable of detecting and classifying microplastics in a variety of drinking water sources. This tool would have the potential to serve as a foundation for future large-scale monitoring systems and contribute to efforts in environmental protection and public health.

PI: Justin Webster

Award Amount: $2,486

Abstract: Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a technique that uses near-infrared light to non-invasively create images of biological structures, such as tumors or organs. The near-infrared (NIR) spectrum of light allows for light to pass through human tissue to greater depths than other wavelengths of light. Measurements of NIR light that scatters and transmits through the tissue is then used alongside reconstruction algorithms to create images that doctors can use to diagnose patients. Current algorithms used for DOT reconstruction include: the radiative transfer equation and diffusion approximation as well as optimization methods such as regularization minimizing norms. DOT image reconstructions using these algorithms have struggled to provide clear, detailed images and accurate measurements because light scatters and gets absorbed too much when passing through biological tissues. Current optical diagnostic techniques also face challenges in real-time, non-invasive tissue analysis due to the amount of time, equipment, and computational power required to perform reconstructions using conventional DOT methods. This project explores the use of a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to provide higher resolution reconstructions of light that has scattered through a diffusive media. A GAN is a type of machine learning network in which a generator model is trained to create extrapolated images that are representative of real objects. The goal of this project is to determine if the GAN model can create reconstructions from the scattered images with higher resolution than conventional DOT reconstruction algorithms. By training a GAN on experimentally measured scattering profiles from controlled samples, this research aims to recover higher resolution structural information about the scattering medium in a faster and less computationally intensive way. The development of a GAN that can provide higher resolution reconstructions of DOT scattering patterns would allow medical providers more accurately and confidently provide a diagnosis for pathological diseases such as cancer.

The primary objective is to develop a GAN machine learning model capable of accurately reconstructing higher resolution images from scattered light patterns, which could later be adapted into diagnostic devices for early detection of diseases such as cancer. The anticipated outcomes include: (1) a trained GAN model capable of reconstructing scattering patterns with high fidelity, (2) validation of the method’s accuracy through comparison with ground-truth images, (3) submission of a research paper for peer-reviewed publication, and (4) the creation of a repository containing the trained model and dataset for future student research. Success in this project could contribute to next-generation DOT methods that enable point-of-care disease screening, improving accessibility and early detection of pathological conditions.

PI: Tayler Fearn

Award Amount: $3,986

Abstract: The fluctuations in Global temperatures due to climate change have resulted in changes in habitat for a variety of plant species. Re-introduction of these plant species into appropriate environments has proven difficult in cases such as the mangrove in Southeast Asia. These plants play an important cultural, and environmental role in communities where they exist and as such reintegration into their natural environment is of paramount importance. Recent work has shown that mutualistic microbes are crucial to rate of out-planting success in plants and especially mangroves. This research is important for highlighting the need to analyze microbial interactions but suffers from lack of efficacy and reproducibility; further investigation into the "rules" of microbial interactions that determine microbiome transplantation outcomes is needed. Past efforts to understand these rules have resulted in a variety of theories, but they are difficult to extend to microbiome transplantation as microbial community assembly processes are not well-understood. Our goal is to develop a modeling framework for predicting the success of microbiome transplantations. As a first step, we are training Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models to detect ecological processes in simulated community datasets. CNN’s have shown great success in classification problems as they have the ability to infer multiple levels of relationships in images. By transforming pre- and post-transplantation microbial community matrices into spatial representations, CNNs may reveal the underlying simulated ecological processes. This approach offers a promising pathway toward informed and conditioned improvements to microbiome transplantation and is fundamental for developing next-gen modeling paradigms for these complex interactions. With greater predictability in microbiome transplantation, we can improve success rates in habitat restoration and agricultural interventions for mangroves, and later, plants in general.

PI: Dustine Rhodes

Award Amount: $4,955

Abstract: The main objective of this project is to clean and analyze a dinosaur skull and associated bones that were donated to UVU over 20 years ago and have been in storage since. Preparation of the bones will allow us to collect data and perform a comparative analysis with other individuals of the same species. The skull and bones are still partially encased in a plaster field jacket and embedded in rock. The skull and bones belong to the genus Camarasaurus, which is one of the most common dinosaurs collected globally, but also one of the most understudied. We will contribute in creating a more complete understanding of this ancient animal through our comparative analysis and a review of the literature.

PI: Cori Bailie

Award Amount: $5,000

Abstract: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe congenital malformations that occur when the neural tube, which forms the brain and spinal cord, fails to close properly during early embryonic development. This can result in conditions such as spina bifida, anencephaly, encephalocele, and iniencephaly, which may lead to lifelong disability or death. The incidence of NTDs can be influenced by environmental exposures—either increased by teratogens like fumonisin B1 (FB1) and ceramide (C2) or decreased by protective compounds such as folic acid (FA). While FA is known to reduce NTD risk, its ability to counteract specific teratogens and the underlying mechanism of protection remain unclear.

We hypothesize that FA mitigates teratogenic effects by modulating oxidative stress, which arises from the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alters the tissue redox state. This study will investigate two key questions: the extent to which FA protects against FB1- and C2-induced NTDs, and whether this protection correlates with changes in oxidative stress. Using chicken embryos cultured via the EC method, we will expose embryos to combinations of FA and teratogens. NTD rates will be assessed after 24 hours, and glutathione redox potential (GSH:GSSG ratio) will be measured via HPLC at multiple time points to evaluate oxidative stress.

PI: Josephine McCollough

Award Amount: $2,495

Abstract: The process of accretion in astrophysics, where material accumulates onto a massive body, is fundamental and occurs across a range of sizes and timescales – from the formation of asteroids and planets around stars to the growth of supermassive black holes. Accretion also provides one of the best ways to study and investigate astrophysical black holes, either in the case of supermassive black holes or on a much smaller scale with stellar-mass black holes in X-ray binary systems. An X-ray binary consists of a compact object (either a neutron star or a black hole) swallowing up material from its companion (or donor) star. Due to their proximity (there are ~100 black hole X-ray binary candidates in our Milky Way Galaxy) and their smaller scale, these X-ray binaries have been particularly enlightening when it comes to the physics of astrophysical black holes. These systems are naturally variable, and active accretion tends to happen in phases known as outbursts. The most recent outburst of the black hole X-ray binary AT 2019wey occurred in late 2022, and the source was observed twice during this outburst by the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). AT 2019wey was discovered with its outburst in 2019-2020, and most of what we understand about this binary system comes from the initial flurry of investigation of that outburst. The purpose of this research project will be to process the more recent 2022 NuSTAR data using the appropriate high-energy astrophysics data analysis methods, and then to model the source’s X-ray spectrum. By applying models to the X-ray spectrum, measurable properties of the accretion environment (and even the spin of the black hole) can be the result.

PI: Hozkar Toro

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: White noise machines are becoming more common in modern use in various environments. Their primary purpose being to block, or reduce, outside noise, or prevent sound from carrying far beyond the white noise source location. It is commonly assumed in public discourse that white noise generators all produce the same frequency spectra, but due to differences in their source mechanisms this cannot be physically possible.

PI: Parker Jorgensen

Award Amount: $2,493

Abstract: Earth’s continents are primarily composed of granitic rocks, making granite fundamental to understanding how continents form and grow through time. Granites originate as magmas that move and accumulate in cracks and spaces within the crust. As these magmas cool and crystallize, they evolve chemically, recording some conditions of emplacement. Many of these conditions are impossible to understand without measuring the chemical composition of individual crystals within a rock. Instruments such as scanning electron microscopes, laser ablation mass spectrometers, and electron microprobes allow scientists to observe or analyze the chemistry of specific minerals. Petrochronology is an emerging branch of earth science that uses these instruments to study the relationship between rock chemistry and time. Measuring the ratio of uranium to lead in the mineral zircon is one method that is widely used in petrochronology (Kylander-Clark, 2013). This measurement allows scientists to determine the age of individual zircon crystals. This project will apply U–Pb zircon dating and complementary analytical methods to investigate the emplacement history of the Ibapah stock, a granite pluton exposed in the Deep Creek Range of Utah. The stock displays two distinct compositional phases: an outer phase that resembles a typical granite, and a central phase rich in aluminum, fluorine, and rare-earth elements. These contrasting phases may record changes in magmatic conditions during emplacement. Understanding their relationship will help determine how the Ibapah stock evolved chemically and temporally.

PI: Elise Johnson

Award Amount: $2,494

Abstract: Gilia yorkii and Gilia capitata are closely related, interfertile, annual plants with excellent potential to be a genetic model for understanding morphological variation and the genes that underlie plant growth and development. Members of the genus Gilia may hold key insights into plant development in terms of branching, flower coloration, ecology, and more. To utilize Gilia as a genetic model organism, we need to be able to generate genetic tools, which requires the ability to develop a tissue culture and transformation protocol. Plant tissue culture is a technique for growing plant tissues, in sterile, controlled conditions on a nutrient rich medium to produce new plants. The development of a tissue culture protocol is required as part of the transgenic plant protocol and to ensure that the plants can be cultured and survive when transferred to soil. Transgenic plants are plants with genes introduced from a different species. We are developing a series of agar-based growth media which will help the plants through these protocols. We will use the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens to produce transgenic organisms. Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil dwelling bacterium that has been widely used in plant tissue culture and biotechnology to generate transgenic plants. It works by inserting genes into cells to create these organisms. With our research, these protocols will allow for the use of both G. yorkii and G. capitata as model organisms. We plan to present our findings at the Botanical Society of America’s Botany Conference this coming August in Tucson, Arizona, as well as publish our findings in the peer reviewed journal, Applications in Plant Sciences.

PI: John Gailey

Award Amount: $2,479

Abstract: During the Cold War years, Utah was a booming hub for uranium mining. According to the Bureau of Land Management, the San Rafael Swell region of Utah is home to over 200 abandoned uranium mines that are not closed off. This is just one region of Utah that has been combed over for this rare-earth element. Active uranium mines are still present in the state, such as the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah.

Uranium, like many rare-earth elements, is capable of being leeched from the soil by plants, with some species having a higher rate of uptake than others. Indian ricegrass, galleta, and sand dropseed are examples of local flora that have dietary or medicinal uses and have the ability to gather uranium from the soil. A group of plants that is of particular interest due to their well documented uptake of radioactive materials are tumbleweeds. Their high mobility makes them a prime candidate for spreading uranium across southeast Utah.

Because of its negative connotations, communities that live near historic or current uranium mining operations have understandable concerns about proximity radiation poisoning. This project seeks to assess the uranium content in soil and flora near these historic and current mining operations and report back on whether the concentrations of uranium are cause for concern.

The area of interest for this project is Bears Ears National Monument and any surrounding areas that the Bears Ears Inter-tribal Coalition indicate concern for uranium uptake and deposition. This project seeks to work under the Coalition’s guidance and meet their needs for experimentation and analysis.

PI: Dylan Bryant

Award Amount: $4,998

Abstract: With the progression of climate change and an increased need for water, water resource management is becoming a critical issue, especially in the American West. Rock glaciers are geomorphic landforms created from the (current or former) movement of subsurface ice (permafrost or glacial ice) overlain by debris and talus. This rock and debris shields them from ablation (melting), which means they can persist in areas where melt rates might be too high to sustain large alpine glaciers. For this reason, they can be found in many mountainous areas where there are no glaciers.

Rock glaciers are a potentially significant, yet often overlooked, component of hydrologic systems, as well as mass wasting processes. Despite their significance, they are not frequently studied. As managing water becomes more integral in our community, different aspects of the hydrologic cycle become more important to address and integrate when solving water issues. Rock glaciers are a hidden storage source of water, potentially contributing to watersheds, rivers, snowpack, and melt in the water budget. In addition to being a role in the hydrosphere in Utah, rock glaciers can be an important climate relevant variable and a source of geologic hazards. The hazard comes through the transportation of loose rocks and disruption of slope stability in mountainous areas. This research, in conjunction with the UGS and University of Utah, aims to quantify the existence of rock glaciers in the state of Utah, in the effort to contribute to a greater understanding of the hydrology, cryosphere, and water budget of Utah.

PI: Riley Jackson

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: Roses (Rosa spp.) are beloved ornamental plants known for their flowers and for their formidable prickles, often referred to as thorns. These prickles are an important part of herbivore resistance in these plants. While varying in shape and abundance, these mechanical defense structures are commonly found along the length of the stems and even the underside of leaves. Although the mere presence of these prickles can cause immediate damage to potential herbivores, they also may act as vectors for infectious microbes. Previous studies have shown that other piercing physical defense structures in plants can harbor infectious bacteria, sometimes resulting in conditions such as gangrene, anthrax poisoning, or septic arthritis. This raises the question about their potential implications for human safety particularly when these plants grow in areas of high human use. While roses have similar sharp structures, it is currently unknown if they harbor any pathogenic or defensive bacteria. Additionally, how plants acquire the microbiomes on their aerial organs is currently under explored, as most plant microbe studies have focused on the soil and roots. Excitingly, evidence discovered by researchers studying the microbiomes of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves has suggested that the composition of these microscopic communities influences the plants’ resistance to pathogens. Similar breakthroughs in this field would be of great importance in many disciplines ranging from horticulture to agriculture. My study seeks to explore whether local roses (both native and non-native) have similar or distinct microbiomes, and if they possess pathogenic microbes. Additionally, I hope to further the progress in understanding plant microbiome acquisition through my research. Understanding these potential differences would allow light to be shed on the ecological relationships between microbes and native versus non-native plants, and potential health risks associated with rose prickle injuries.

PI: Christine Fowles

Award Amount: $5,000

Abstract: Human disturbance and climate change have increased both non-native plant invasion and the frequency and severity of wildfires across the Western United States (D’Antonio and Vitousek 1992). Increased invasion and fire frequency affects dryland ecosystems by creating a positive feedback loop where invasive grass-fire cycles can be established. Grass-fire cycles are reliant on functional traits possessed by invasive grass species which allow the grasses to grow abundantly in post fire areas. After invasive plant communities are established, the likelihood for fire is then increased in these areas due to the grasses fast catching and wide spreading nature. This interaction results in a self-perpetuating, difficult to break cycle called an ‘invasive grass-fire cycle’. This cycle interacts with varying environmental controls which exude efforts in retaining ecological balance. Many of these controls' impacts have not been fully explored, among these controls are the behaviors of rodents as they eat and disperse seeds. Long-term effects of wildfire on dryland ecosystems and their potential for change can be studied through examining seed bank dynamics (SBD). Our project aims to identify if rodents and their impact on invasive-fire cycle conditions can act as a top-down control and reduce the number of invasive seeds found in the soil seed bank. If rodents' eating habits lower the distribution of invasive seeds, then less invasive grasses can establish introducing a break in the invasive-fire cycle.

We will be extracting soil samples from the experimental plots in the Mojave and Great Basin Desert managed by Dr. Bishop with treatments including fire and rodent exclusion. SBD will be assessed by growing seeds collected in the soil in the UVU Greenhouse to quantify species diversity and richness. We anticipate presenting this work at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in August 2024 in addition to, at minimum, 2 peer-reviewed publications in refereed journals that will support long-term career and graduate school goals of the co-investigators.

PI: Michael Ricks

Award Amount: $2,415

Abstract: While there are many field guides that provide a broad scope of intermountain flora and ecology, few exist to provide analysis of the specific regions within our local area. Through this research I plan to conduct strict procedures to help determine various features that connect the flora with their environment and record my findings through multiple steps of scientific procedures and measurements on each plot that I visit across Utah Valley. This comprises of completing tasks to determine key characteristics of the habitat within a given radius, both biotic (tree DBH, percent foliage cover, plant I.D., and approximate scape coverage) and abiotic (elevation, approximate water volume per area, soil depth, litter depth, light density, slope and range). Data will be analyzed to further provide understanding of plant ecosystems that surround Utah Valley, both urban and rural, and finally organized to fit into the Utah Valley Flora

The procedures that will be implemented help to process specific features that make up an ecosystem and thus provide additional data in giving background to plant species and the type of environments an individual can find in them. For students, particularly those that pursue botany or may have an interest in ecology, this portion of the project provides an excellent and intuitive resource to help further comprehension of the biota found within the Valley region and the varying scope that make up ecological sites. Further, this research will be presented at the 2025 Botany Conference held in Arizona, as well as in UCUR 2025.

PI: Alexander Goslin

Award Amount: $4,997

Abstract: Efficient induction of apoptosis in cancer cells is compromised by the resistance of these cells to programmed cell death. Aiming to address this, our research focuses on the synthesis of gold nanoparticles functionalized with the KLA peptide (KLAKLAKKLAKLAK), which is known to adopt an α-helical structure and disrupt mitochondrial membranes. However, poor cell membrane penetration of the KLA peptide limits its apoptotic efficacy. We propose enhancing cellular uptake and helicity of the KLA peptide via conjugation to gold nanoparticles, hypothesizing that multi-valency of surface-bound peptides will induce helicity and improve uptake. We encountered synthetic challenges, including peptide aggregation during solid phase synthesis and absence of a chromophore in our azido-polyethyleneglycol(PEG)13-(CH2)10-thiol linker, complicating purification. Modifications to the synthesis protocol and linker design are proposed to overcome these challenges. This project will also serve as a learning platform for students in peptide chemistry and analysis techniques. The ultimate goal is to assess the correlation between helicity of the peptide-functionalized nanoparticles and their cancer cell penetration efficacy, with preliminary results to be presented in student and professional platforms, and detailed findings to be published in peer-reviewed journals.

PI: Isaac Settle

Award Amount: $3,385

Abstract: While playing the clarinet one might experience what is called a squeak or grunt note. A squeak note is a note that is in a higher register without any change of the keys being pressed. Similarly, a grunt note is a lower shifted note with the same circumstances. Both tend to be undesirable while playing, but often happen when learning how to play the clarinet. A similar occurrence of tonal differences can be controlled intentionally when advanced students enact the technique called voicing to play the instrument in different registers. Our research will study the physical parameters that cause squeak and grunt notes. An airtight box will be built to hold the mouthpiece of the clarinet and attached to an air compressor. The effects on mode transitions between registers based on air pressure and where contact is applied on specific parts of the reed of the clarinet has begun and will be studied further. Additionally, we have and will continue to use a laser vibrometer to compare reed vibrations to that of the pitch of the clarinet. This data can help clarinet students as they learn the technique of voicing.

PI: Robert Whitley

Award Amount: $2,483

Abstract: A common lament from students in introductory STEM courses is that computational problems tend to present greater difficulty relative to conceptual problems, take longer, and don't resemble examples done in class. Student's often lock up when seeing these questions on exams, citing that they did not know where to start. Some theories attest that this issue could be due to poor study habits focusing on rote memorization rather than complex learning. This project aims to create and test an assignment system designed to provide problem-solving strategies and resources to students. The goal is to make a System-Oriented Concept Map Extension (SOCME) that can be used by students regularly throughout the course of Chemistry Fundamentals 1 (Chem 1210) at UVU. The map will show the computational connections between the various chapters and topics and give students a resource that they can apply and reference while studying.

The plan is to create an assignment type within the Chem 1210 course, with initial implementation and assessment in the online section taught by Dr. Heider in Fall of 2024. After piloting in Fall 2024 it would be assessed and revised for future implementation. This assignment type will have a recorded demonstration problem using the concept map, and then students will demonstrate the use of the concept map. Students will then be required to assess each other's use of the tool as a form of feedback and learning. This assignment type will be directly compared to and replace other discussion-based assignments Dr. Heider has used in past online sections of the class. Scores for these discussions, quizzes, and exams will be compared between semesters to analyze the efficacy of this resource and practice mode.

This project aims to create a formative assessment that can be used regularly and enhance student's connection between the conceptual and computational aspects of general chemistry. It could also be a template that can be used in other courses as a resource for student learning beyond rote memorization. The final goal is to present this information at relevant conferences and potentially extend the research into a cyclical active model of research where the methodology is refined and iterated on.

PI: Brock Sheehan

Award Amount: $4,994

Abstract: The increasing incidence of infections by drug-resistant microbes, specifically by pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), is a global healthcare concern. In 2019, an estimated 2.86 million cases of ARB infections and 35,900 deaths due to such infections were reported in the United States [1]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is listed as one of the three most critical ARB pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO) [2]. P. aeruginosa causes lung infections in subjects with cystic fibrosis and respirator users, skin infections in subjects with burn injuries, systemic (blood and visceral) infections in people with a compromised immune system, and ear, nose, eye, urethra, and soft tissue infections in many healthy subjects. Many pathogenic strains of P. aeruginosa are multi-drug resistant (MDR), and some are extensively drug-resistant (XDR) [3].

Some lytic bacteriophages, viruses that infect and kill bacteria, are effective in treating infections caused by some ARBs [ reviewed in 4]. However, phage therapy is approved only on a compassionate, case-by-case basis in the United States because more knowledge on safety, efficacy, and quality control for phage therapy is needed. Fortunately, NIH and several other funding agencies have started funding phage therapy research [5]. This grant proposal aims at isolating and characterizing a novel bacteriophage to treat infections caused by MDR strains of P. aeruginosa. The proposal is significant as it addresses the urgent need for alternative treatments for ARB infections.

Methodology: Bacteriophages will be harvested from local wastewater facilities. The phages will be screened using MDR strains of P. aeruginosa using the overlay agar plate method. We have obtained several MDR strains of P. aeruginosa from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas VA) and optimized their growth for bacteriophage infection. We will characterize the selected lytic bacteriophages through a series of experiments, including analyzing the genome of the phages for the presence of toxin genes, determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), testing the ability of the phage to prevent biofilm production by the host bacterium, and examining if the bacteriophage increases the efficacy of antibiotics on killing the bacterium. We also plan to use beetle larvae as a model to test in vivo phage efficacy of reducing P.aeruginosa colonies.

Feasibility and Expected Outcomes: Dr. Kuddus' lab has developed basic infrastructures to characterize therapeutic bacteriophages in the past few years and reported a bacteriophage with therapeutic potential [6]. However, we need reagents and supplies to pursue the proposed research project. Identification and at least partial characterization of the phage will be presented at UCUR 2025 and/or NCUR 2025. We also plan to publish a research article on the bacteriophages by June 2025, as soon as the characterization of the phages is completed.

PI: Isabel Lykken

Award Amount: $4,968

Abstract: Agricultural practices on both a large and small scale are ever evolving in efficiency. A major challenge of agriculture is to increase food production without damaging the environment. As we advance, it is crucial to develop methods that not only optimize plant growth and health, but that prioritize minimizing impact on the environment and human health. Neem oil is a promising alternative to non-organic pesticides however, there are limitations to these organic pesticides. Short shelf life, photosensitive properties, and issues with residue make it difficult to use Neem on a large scale. By adding additional properties to neem such as essential oils from other plants, efficacy of these compounds may be increased. This study aims to increase the knowledge we have on the efficacy of neem oil as an organic pesticide as well as its effects on the growth of plants. By assessing neem oil as an organic pesticide, this research aims to test the efficacy of neem and neems based pesticides.. The methods for this study will consist of a number of experiments in a partnership with Young Living Essential Oils in which trials will take place to collect data on insect pest mortality rate using different concentrations of a Neem based formula. Trails will be conducted on live plants and in isolated chambers in which the model organisms are fed a mixture containing varying concentrations of the formula. Observations will be made on plant health and success throughout the trials.

PI: Korryn Narvaez

Award Amount: $4,986

Abstract: Despite the numerous benefits of plastics, their increased production in recent decades has significantly contributed to the pollution of natural environments. Secondary MPs, which are derivatives of larger plastics, are believed to consist of the majority of existing environmental microplastics, and the rate at which secondary MPs are created is expected to increase as existing and new plastic waste continues to break down. [1] Although MPs are known to have widespread, negative effects on natural environments, the effects of MPs on subterranean and karst environments is still widely unknown. [2]

This research will focus on the Timpanogos Cave system located in northern Utah. Timpanogos Cave experiences seasonal flooding and receives minimal human contact throughout the year through group tours, and interests currently lie in confirming the abundance and the potential sources of MPs in the cave system.

Raman spectroscopy is one of leading techniques used to identify and characterize MPs present in environmental samples due to its inherent ability to detect relatively low concentrations of certain molecules within samples. This project will utilize a Raman spectrometer in tandem with existing machine learning algorithms to characterize microplastics present in water samples taken from the three main lakes located inside the Timpanogos Cave system (Hidden Lake, Middle Lake, and Hansen Lake). This research aims to aid scientists currently working on-site at Timpanogos cave in research efforts that would elucidate how MPs travel through the cave, which has the hope of not only informing the future conservation decisions of the Timpanogos Cave system but also similar cave systems in the United States

PI: Spencer Smith

Award Amount: $2,005

Abstract: In and on an individual exists a community of living microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and archaea. These microorganisms are called the microbiome (Cusick et al. 2021; Petersen and Osvatic, 2018). An individual’s microbiome plays an important role in regulating process like how an individual responds to stress, their immune system, and their behavior (Berg et al., 2020). Differences in habitat can affect an individual’s microbiome (Hird 2017; Cusick et al. 2021). Thatch ants (Formica obscuripes) engage in mutualistic interactions with an insect called aphids. Both species benefit from the interaction: thatch ants defend aphids from predators and in exchange, thatch ants consume aphids’ sugary excrement as food. Because aphids reside and feed two different plant species (e.g., big sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata) vs. three tip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita)), some thatch ants are found only big sagebrush, while others are found three-tip sagebrush. Thatch ant differences in plant habitat may affect the composition their microbiome. To test the effect of plant species on thatch ant microbiome, we collected 31 samples (5-10 ants each) from two different species of plant (n=17 samples from big sagebrush; n= 14 from three-tip sagebrush). I am requesting funding to process these samples, which includes DNA extraction and sequencing to determine the diversity and composition of the microbiome found on Thatch ants residing in different plant habitats. This research will identify how habitat affects thatch ant microbiome, contributing to the understanding of behavioral ecology of Western Thatch ants and addresses an important question about the role of habitat in affecting wild animals’ microbiome, a field that still remains understudied.

PI: Aubri Johnson

Award Amount: $4,993

Abstract: Gene editing and RNA analysis/sequencing have become efficient tools in modern plant breeding, allowing more precise gene modifications of crops and deepening our understanding of how gene expression of plants differs when under stress conditions. This project aims to develop and refine gene gun methods specific to tomato tissue culture and combine them with RNA analysis to enhance drought tolerance in tomato plants. A gene gun is an instrument used to introduce genetic material into cells by physically shooting microscopic particles coated with DNA or RNA into plant tissues. This research project has three main phases/steps. Phase one involved growing select tomato accessions under drought conditions and conducting RNA extraction, after multiple failed attempts, these samples will soon be sent out for sequencing. In phase two (where we are currently), we will focus on understanding tissue culture techniques and creating an efficient gene gun transformation method for tomato plants by comparing the strategies of previous studies. This phase serves as a crucial step towards creating a transgenic tomato line, capable of withstanding drought conditions, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices here in Utah.

PI: Persephone Watson

Award Amount: $1,903

Abstract: Water Conservation across the Wasatch Front is becoming increasingly imperative as the growth of our population continues to rise rapidly while at the same time climate change is impacting our water resources. Of the water used for municipal services across the state, an estimated that up to 70% of that water goes towards outdoor landscaping and watering mostly turfgrass areas (https://www.utahwatersavers.com/). Although many cities across Utah offer financial incentives for residents who are willing to convert their landscapes to more water-conscientious setups, Provo and Orem are not a part of these rebate programs (https://conservewater.utah.gov/landscape-rebates/) (https://www.utahwatersavers.com/program-eligibility-page). Residents in these cities are not currently eligible for any rebates from state programs, and no programs exist at the city or county level. Still, there are some residents who convert their landscape. This research intends to discover various factors that either inhibit or encourage homeowners to convert their landscape. Data collected through interviews will help us understand the factors that drive residents to adopt water-wise landscaping without a program offering financial rebates. Spatial analysis of various neighborhoods in both cities will help us examine clustering patterns of xeriscape properties, their distribution across varying socioeconomic status, and the percentage of xeriscape properties within the cities. Understanding the various factors contributing to the decision-making process among residents will help scientists, policy-makers, and other citizens make informed decisions about their water usage and the ever-important need for water conservation across the Wasatch Front. Our findings will be presented at conferences within the scientific communities (such as the Rocky Mountain division of AAG in Fall 2025 and Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research), city council meetings, and interested residents who are unfamiliar with water conservation and/or water-wise landscaping.

PI: Brynna Jarrett

Award Amount: $4,986

Abstract: The main objective of this project is to continue to clean and analyze a dinosaur skull and associated bones that were donated to UVU many years ago and have been in storage since. Preparation of the bones began in April of the Spring 2024 semester, but the scope of the project will require further funding to complete. The skull and bones are still partially encased in a plaster field jacket and embedded in rock. The skull and bones belong to the genus Camarasaurus, which is one of the most common dinosaurs collected globally, but also one of the most understudied. Camarasaurus is a Macronarian sauropod dinosaur that lived during the late Jurassic Period of North America. This specimen was collected by a private company from the Morrison Formation in Wyoming at the Stego 99 quarry in the late 90’s.

Once preparation is finished, we will begin collecting data that will allow us to perform a statistical comparative analysis with other Camarasaur individuals to determine the species of our sample. Our data will help create a more complete understanding of this ancient animal through our analysis and a review of the literature. As a privately collected specimen, the data and analysis that we collect would have potentially never been contributed to the scientific study of these organisms.

PI: Lexi Olson (B McNay)

Award Amount: $4,997

Abstract: Pinyon-juniper (PJ) woodlands are vastly prevalent across southern Utah which includes many national parks and monuments. PJ forests significantly contribute to the availability of environmental and social resources but are at risk from management actions such as clearcutting. Since the 1800’s, PJ forests have been expanding into habitat known for cattle grazing in Southern Utah. Many farmers and agriculturalists have labeled these forests as encroaching and have urged the BLM to remove them as soon as possible. However, managers often do not have the information to identify old-growth PJ from young, encroaching PJ communities and therefore apply removal actions on any PJ woodland that may threaten grazing activities. The BLM acting on these requests without an accurate ID process in order to appeal to the public results in removal of more than just the young trees, but old-growth trees as well. The removal of established PJ trees depletes landscapes of critical habitat for threatened wildlife and cultural activities important to Indigenous communities. By partnering with the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) to identify areas of interest and collecting stratified samples of trees in said areas, our project aims to be able to classify whether Juniper and Pinyon trees in proposed removal sites are old-growth and established, and protect them if so. We project that our results will help build decision-making tools for monument managers and potentially extrapolate to surrounding areas to aid in building relevant decision-making tools regarding the management of PJ Woodlands in the drylands of Southern Utah.

PI: Stirling Todd

Award Amount: $2,491

Abstract: About forty-two percent of insect pollinators are close to extinction worldwide. This is due to habitat destruction, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. The purpose of this long-term experiment is ultimately to encourage Utah residents to incorporate Native pollinating Utah plants in their landscaping. The method to do this is by improving genetic diversity in four native Utah pollinating plants to find favorable traits. Exposing native Utah pollinating seeds to gamma radiation will cause mutations in their DNA sequencing, altering their genotypes and their phenotypes. Many mutations and unique genotypes will be created in a large collection of seeds of different species exposed to varying ranges of gamma radiation. The goal of this study is to create mutations through varying doses of gamma radiation and evaluate survival rates and seed vigor over a year before the plants begin to show significant differences in phenotypes. We will evaluate the optimal dosage of gamma-ray treatment for each species. This will be valuable for future researchers who wish to create genetic diversity in native plants.

PI: Carly Lader

Award Amount: $2,025

Abstract: With the recent publication and public data release of half of the all-sky data from the X-ray satellite eROSITA in late January 2024, it is a perfect time to consider X-ray source populations in the Milky Way galaxy, and to match eROSITA data with X-ray source catalogues from previous missions. The eROSITA data release is, to date, the most detailed and sensitive all-sky X-ray survey ever completed, providing stunning views of the sky in X-rays and nearly 1 million distinct X-ray sources. While eROSITA was launched recently in 2019 and only the first of several data releases has been published, there are three data releases that are public from the Gaia optical all-sky survey which launched in late 2013, and provides astrometric data that includes parallax distances for over 1 billion stars in the Milky Way. Since X-ray binary systems consist of one living star alongside a compact object such as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, it is often possible to match the X-ray source position to known, visible living stars. By examining the newly released eROSITA X-ray source positions with optical light from stars with known distances in the Gaia catalogues, we can create a three-dimensional map of the Milky Way's X-ray binary source population, at least out to the limits of the current published Gaia and eROSITA catalogues. In the future, by comparing the eROSITA X-ray source positions against other source catalogues from different X-ray and Gamma-ray missions such as NuSTAR, XMM-Newton, Chandra, and INTEGRAL, we hope to characterize source types that have not yet been classified such as black holes, neutron stars, etc.. As a result, this initial eROSITA data release provides a unique opportunity to better understand the population of extreme astrophysical objects in our Milky Way. Since future data releases from eROSITA and Gaia are scheduled to be released in the next few years, we hope to continue this work to update our three-dimensional map of X-ray binaries in the Milky Way galaxy.

PI: John Murdock

Award Amount: $648

Abstract: Preterm birth is a significant global health issue associated with increased mortality and perinatal risk. The emotional, financial, and long-term health implications of spontaneous preterm birth for both infants and their families can be overwhelming. Identifying pregnant mothers at high risk of early delivery based on socioeconomic and clinical conditions could empower doctors and healthcare providers to take proactive steps, enhancing the chance of a healthy start for the baby, reducing the rate of premature births, and relieving economic burden with them. Extensive research has explored the socioeconomic and clinical factors linked to preterm birth. However, it is often challenging to draw confident conclusions regarding the impact of these factors due to the numerous confounding variables at play. In this study, we investigate the influence of maternal smoking on preterm birth while controlling for confounding factors. This is achieved by creating comparable groups of smokers and non-smokers within the maternal population using the propensity score matching method.

PI: Brianna Searle

Award Amount: $2,495

Abstract: MAXI J1803-298 is a black hole (BH) X-ray binary that is in orbit with a low-mass companion (donor) star that went into outburst and was first detected in May 2021. An accretion disk is formed from material leaving the donor star, that is spiraling toward the black hole. Matter in the accretion disk heats up to tens of millions of K and primarily emits in X-rays. We get our data from four separate NuSTAR pointings. NuSTAR (the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) is an orbiting X-ray telescope sensitive to high-energy X-ray photons from 3 to 79 keV. Using both a high-density and a fixed density reflection model, we have compared the reflection features in the spectrum to learn about the inner accretion disk and the environment around the BH. Continuing this work will involve a deeper analysis of all four NuSTAR observations to understand changes in accretion throughout the black hole’s outburst. The primary goal of this research will be to apply additional reflection models which assume different coronal geometries, so that we can compare current results with a lamppost geometry, for example. This will be carried out for each of the four NuSTAR pointings, and the coronal geometry will be considered separately for each observation as well as considering the context of the full outburst.

PI: Daniel Glover

Award Amount: $2,332

Abstract: Conservation efforts in Utah are hindered by a lack of research into our ecosystems. We intend to test various seed germination treatments that have shown to increase the rate of seed germination on Utah native shrubs to identify best practices for restoration. Ten species seeds will be subjected to seven different treatments over the course of six months to determine which treatment is most appropriate for each species. This project will increase the information we have on Utah plant ecosystems and improve our ability to grow these plants from seed for restoration efforts, which improves the long-term resilience of these populations by increasing genetic diversity.

PI: Abigayle Burris

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: Cottonwoods (Populus fremontii), are a native species to Utah’s desert biomes and the Colorado River System and an important riparian plant. This species plays a vital role in maintaining the established, local ecosystems. Cottonwoods are a choice pick for beavers (Castor canadensis) for both diet and as a building material for their habitat structures. Tamarisk (Tamarix sp.), an invasive species spreading along the American West, poses a threat to the natural ecosystems currently in place. As with many invasives, it competes with native plants by out-competing them for light, water, and nutrients. As a result, the tamarisk population growing with cottonwoods is affecting the cottonwood's chemical profile. Specifically, their phenolics.

Research suggests that the cottonwoods growing in competition with tamarisk will exhibit different chemical profiles than those that do not, due to competitive stress. Cottonwoods typically respond to biotic and abiotic stress through the overproduction of phenolic compounds. It is suspected that the elevated phenolic values influence the tree’s palatability to beavers, potentially making the affected cottonwoods more appealing. This behavior causes the cottonwoods to be reduced in numbers due to increased beaver selection, allowing the tamarisk an opportunity to better invade the ecosystem.

The results will help to better our understanding of how native species will adapt in the face of invasive competition. Research on the topic will deepen our knowledge of the potential consequences for species that depend on them as a result of these ecological shifts. In addition, the findings of this research will also help botanists and zoologists alike, increasing our grasp of the dynamics of plant-animal interactions in disturbed habitats. This proves useful for wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, and ecological restoration efforts. Understanding the diverse ecological impacts of invasive species is essential for preserving the biodiversity and ecosystem health of native populations and ecosystems.

PI: Bailey Bennion

Award Amount: $4,130

Abstract: Microplastic pollution is an increasing concern due to both the ubiquitous nature of plastic pollution and the potential harmful effects. While many studies focus on microplastics in water sources, there are limited studies on the presence of microplastics found in snow. In Utah, snowmelt is the primary water source for the state’s population. The deposition of microplastics in snow is a source of microplastic pollution downstream in lakes and rivers as snow melts in the spring. This study aims to determine the extent of microplastic pollution in snow derived from outdoor recreation activities such as skiing and snowboarding. By differentiating microplastic deposition of atmospheric sources from winter recreational activities, the dominant sources of microplastic pollution in snow and, thus, the water supply are better understood. Snow samples were collected from two winter ski-resort locations in Utah, USA. Additional snow samples were collected before and after snowboarding, and control samples collected from a remote, untraveled mountain location. Our results indicate that skiing and snowboarding activities increase the microplastic content of snow, and outdoor recreation is a possible contributor to microplastic pollution in the environment.

PI: Megan Astle

Award Amount: $4,999

Abstract: Rucking, walking with a weighted backpack, has gained popularity in recent years due to its simplicity, affordability, and wide-ranging health benefits including improved cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and endurance. Despite its growing use, the biomechanical and physiological effects of rucking—especially with varying loads and terrain inclines—remain underexplored. This study aims to address this gap by investigating how changes in load weight and incline (flat, +8%, and -8%) affect biomechanics and metabolic demands during rucking. By examining key factors such as ground reaction forces (GRFs), joint angles, trunk lean, and energy expenditure, this research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of how different rucking conditions impact performance and injury risk. Specifically, we will analyze how increasing load and varying slope alter gait patterns, joint kinetics, and the body's metabolic response, including oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and the respiratory exchange ratio. Insights from this study could help optimize rucking for both recreational and professional participants by identifying the most efficient load and terrain combinations that minimize injury risk while maximizing performance. This research also contributes to a broader understanding of load carriage activities, offering valuable data for developing safe and effective training protocols for ruckers and other athletes involved in weight-bearing exercises. Ultimately, the findings will inform best practices for improving the effectiveness of rucking as an exercise while mitigating potential physical strain.

PI: Spencer Brown

Award Amount: $2,268

Abstract: Subcellular structures such as nuclei and other organelles undergo physical changes when the cell is interrogated either chemically or mechanically. These changes can be extrinsic in terms of size and shape (morphology) or intrinsic in terms of rearrangement of internal structures (as measurable via changes in an organelle’s optical refractive index). This project aims to revise a previous version of an imaging incubator, which maintains cell viability for days at a time while cells are imaged and monitored via a custom Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) microscope. In particular, modifications will be made to reduce convection currents within the imaging incubator, thereby limiting noise due to thermal variability measured in the previous system. With the improved imaging incubator and elimination of noise in acquired images due to thermal variations, time-lapsed QPI images will be collected of cells undergoing mitosis (cell division). Changes in the refractive index of cell nuclei are anticipated as the chromatin condense during cell division. Measurement of time-dependent changes in refractive index of cell nuclei during cell division will serve as proof-of-principle experiments to be expanded upon in future investigations.

PI: Feng Guo

Award Amount: $4,698

Abstract: Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing public health threat globally. Part of this stems from the fact that antibiotics are often prescribed before test results are obtained, as the methods used to determine the bacterial cause of a pathology typically take one to three days to obtain results. This amount of time is longer than many physicians want to wait before providing a preliminary prescription, addressing symptoms that are most likely caused by a bacterial infection. Once a full diagnosis is available from the lab results, unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are discontinued, but not before bacteria in the body have been exposed to the antibiotic, allowing some bacteria to become resistant without being completely eliminated. The proposed rapid bacterial detection system is aimed at creating a faster, more efficient testing method to determine bacterial type and counts that could someday be used to detect bacteria causing pathologies in human samples, to help decrease the incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Our group has previously used Mie scattering to detect cancer cells in diluted blood, and bacteria are hypothesized to exhibit similar scattering signatures, due to their size and morphology. As such, they should be detectable at quantifiable levels. Data analysis, including the use of a convolutional neural network, could also provide the concentration and morphology of bacteria suspended in flowing fluid samples. The primary objective of this study is to determine the sensitivity of the proposed system to variations in bacterial counts.

PI: Bailey Jannuzzi

Award Amount: $1,428

Abstract: The goal for this project is to investigate the diet of forensically relevant blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to determine their effectiveness as wildlife monitors. Blow flies are found worldwide and are found feeding on wildlife scat and wounds and colonizing decomposing remains within minutes of an organism’s death. This makes them an ideal species to use in forensic cases and for environmental monitoring within the field of conservational biology. Traditional monitoring techniques can be time consuming and disruptive to wildlife and require experts to correctly identify animal tracks and samples. These methods are also specialized for mammals and more easily accessible locations. Developing methodologies that can lower these barriers will greatly improve researchers’ ability to accurately survey an area of interest and gain important insight into a region’s biodiversity.

This project will involve me receiving training on proper extraction, and sequencing methodologies, as well as providing experience in working with and analyzing large datasets. I will also develop and optimize a pipeline for analyzing genomic data on blow fly populations. This bioinformatic pipeline will be developed for use in identification of blow fly gut content using Oxford Nanopore Technology sequencing data, as well as a BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) pipeline for finding similar markers found in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) databases. This project hopes to result in the open-access publication of optimized pipelines and will be presented at the November 2025 Entomological Society of America meeting, and the April 2025 Pacific branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America.

PI: Christina Deaver

Award Amount: $1,952

Abstract: Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) are known to develop unique foraging strategies to fit the specific habitats that they live in (Wimpenny et al. 2009). This process is likely a large part of the reason the bottlenose dolphin is one of the more successful and highly distributed species of dolphin in the world, thriving in varied environments such as coastal marshland, heavily trafficked bays, and sandy beaches. Identifying the mechanisms by which these new behaviors are learned is a critical step to understanding how novel behaviors and foraging strategies are transmitted throughout the population

Bottlenose dolphin populations exhibit a variety of novel foraging strategies that are often specific to the location where the population primarily resides. This includes marsh bank feeding, strand feeding, mud ring feeding, circle feeding, and crater feeding. Bottlenose dolphins also alter their feeding habits and strategies based on human interaction. This can be as obvious as begging for fish at tourist spots (Foroughirad et al., 2013) to following shrimp trawlers in a bay (Kovacs et. al, 2017). Recently, shipside feeding was described in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina where dolphins were observed capturing fish against the sides of anchored container ships (Weinpress et al. 2021). Despite the documentation of this behavior, how these novel foraging behaviors developed and how it is transmitted through a population is still understudied in this area.

The unique shipside foraging tactic observed in Charleston, South Carolina occurs year-round. Observations suggest shipside feeding is not a coordinated group hunting tactic and instead involves single animals, although multiple dolphins may be present by the ship's side. Mothers and calves were often seen side by side along the container ships, calves were not observed performing shipside foraging (Weinpress et al. 2020). In dolphins, calves often learn new behaviors from their mothers (I.e., vertical transmission, Wild et al. 2020). Since beginning this study in 2017, 60 unique mother-calf pairs have been identified in this population and 57% were identified engaging in shipside foraging at least once within the study time frame. Previous documentation of shipside feeding has relied on opportunistic observations which have limited the ability to describe the behavior and the transmission process. For my undergraduate research, I will conduct systematic surveys of shipside foraging behavior to determine (1) which individuals participate in this behavior and (2) whether this behavior is learned through mom-calf relationships.

PI: Xander Greenwood

Award Amount: $2,498

Abstract: This research project, Digital Cartographies of Change: Reframing Utah Lake Through Historical Perspectives and Environmental Data, seeks to create an interactive digital map that chronicles the evolving relationship between Utah Lake and the communities surrounding it. Through systematically analyzing archives including newspapers, personal accounts, and government documents, I will map how public perceptions of the lake have shifted from a celebrated recreational hub to a symbol of environmental degradation.

The project will synthesize historical data on resorts, recreational facilities, and environmental concerns, paired with records of water quality and ecological change, placing them in geographical and temporal context through an accessible online platform. The resulting interactive map will illustrate critical moments in the lake’s ecological and cultural trajectory.

By making this resource accessible online, the project aspires to educate the public about Utah Lake's complex history and its ongoing restoration efforts. The digital map will not only serve as a tool for environmental and historical education but also as a platform to reframe Utah Lake's significance, fostering informed discussions about its future and providing context for current restoration efforts. Ultimately, this research contributes to environmental history scholarship while serving practical public education goals about Utah Lake's past, present, and potential future.

PI: Sarah Marchant

Award Amount: $2,500

Abstract: The primary goal of this project is to reconstruct the temperature of the Norwegian Sea, at shallow depths near the shore, throughout the last few hundred years. This reconstruction will allow us to better understand how sea surface temperatures have responded to rising greenhouse gas levels. We will work to reconstruct temperatures through the analysis of the Oxygen-18/Oxygen-16 isotope ratios present in shells of the bivalve Arctica Islandica.

Arctica Islandica bivalves have an incredibly long-life span (up to 500 years), clear daily and annual growth increments, and incorporate oxygen isotopes into their shells (which are made of the mineral aragonite) in equilibrium with the ambient seawater. The oxygen isotopic composition of a compound is dependent on the temperature and composition of the fluid from which it precipitates (in this case seawater). Because of this, the analysis of the oxygen isotopic ratios in the aragonite shells will allow us to reconstruct sea surface temperatures after making some assumptions about the isotopic composition of seawater. The shell’s daily and annual growth increments make it possible to find the ocean temperature at a very high resolution (up to monthly), which provides an in-depth look at the seasonal extremes and rates of temperature change. The species’ long lifespan will allow us to find temperatures over a considerable amount of time. For these reasons, Arctica Islandica shells make excellent climate indicators and will allow us to reconstruct past temperatures for the area accurately and in great detail.

A secondary goal of this project is to analyze the Carbon-13/Carbon-12 isotope ratios in the shells to gain information about the area’s primary productivity. Ocean primary productivity refers to the production of organic matter by phytoplankton. Phytoplankton preferentially uses the bicarbonate (HCO3- ion) with the lighter (12C) isotope, which means that both the water and aragonite shells are left with a greater ratio of the heavier (13C) isotope when productivity is high. Reconstructing productivity is important because phytoplankton “pump” CO2 from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, which decreases the greenhouse effect and helps to counteract global warming.

For this project we will be using Arctica Islandica shells collected alive from Rolvsoy, Norway in 2009. We will collect isotope samples using the ESI Micromill housed in UVU’s Geochemistry Lab. Once the samples are collected, I will take them to the stable isotope lab at Iowa State University for analysis. We will use the δ13 C and δ18 O values (δ values show the isotope ratio present in the sample compared to a standard) that we get back from the lab to find temperatures and productivity levels.

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the most significant global issues and has ramifications in almost all aspects of life. In order to understand and best respond to future climate change, we must understand how anthropogenic climate forcing has previously affected the climate and environment. Through reconstructing temperature and productivity for an area and looking at the patterns and how they correlate with greenhouse gas levels, we can get a better idea of how each factor responded to climate forcing. Studying the impacts of climate change on the Norwegian Sea is of special interest because high latitude regions are particularly sensitive to global warming. In addition, the area is close to the Greenland Ice Sheet, which will greatly contribute to global sea level rise as it continues to melt . Having better records of how sea surface temperatures and productivity in the area have responded to anthropogenic climate forcing in the last few hundred years will be tremendously beneficial when trying to predict how the area will be impacted by continued global warming.

PI: Andrew Knowlton

Award Amount: $2,274

Abstract: The central question of this research project is to figure out the amount of dust landing on the snowpack along the Wasatch Front in Utah, compared to recent years. There has been significant research done to show that dust is a major factor of earlier snowmelt because of the reduction in albedo of the snow, which increases the rate of melt. An earlier snowmelt generally leads to drier years in Utah, The Great Salt Lake is drying up and is potentially increasing this amount of dust blown into the snowpack on the Wasatch range. To me this project is really important to find out the increasing risk to our snowpack in Utah, the possible implications if The Great Salt Lake continues to dry up, and importantly more data to back up previous research that has been done to help mitigate this potential disaster.

PI: Veronica Richards

Award Amount: $4,950

Abstract: The majority of Utah’s population lives near the Wasatch Fault. There are five central segments of the fault which pose the greatest hazard due to earthquakes. Of these, the central three have been extensively studied due to high population density near the fault. As Utah experiences rapid population growth, development has accelerated in areas near less studied segments such as the Nephi segment, the southern most of the five most important segments. Consequently, it is necessary to further study these areas to understand potential earthquake hazards. Our project will be the first fault-wide study of the Nephi segment. We will use LiDAR imagery to map the slip distribution of the two most recent earthquakes along this segment in order to calculate the moment magnitude of these events and understand how similar these two earthquakes were. Additionally, we will use diffusion modeling to obtain geomorphic ages for fault scarp features. This information can be used to inform models of seismic hazard and risk.

PI: Dou, Xiaorui (Rachel)

Award Amount: $3,984

Abstract: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes memory loss, cognitive impairment, and language decline. Onset typically occurs at age 65 or older, although not always. The more severe late-stage symptoms include loss of judgment, disorientation, and significant changes in mood and personality. The physiological maker of AD is believed to be in the accumulation of b-amyloid plaques (outside of the cell) and neurofibrillary tangles (inside the cell). My hypothesis is that when the diet is enriched with antioxidants, specifically an acai supplement, it can help to prevent the deposit of b-amyloid and improve cognitive levels. The proposal in my research for the project is to supplement the normal drosophila diet with Acai powder, the symptoms of AD will decrease, and memory will improve. Wild-type (WT) flies, and AD flies were raised in normal food at the beginning of their life, and then some of the flies were transferred to an Acai-supplemented food. After the flies fully matured in different food, I will starve the flies for 24 hours before the conditioning session (training session). During the conditioning session, I will put the flies into different vials that contain either CS+ (odor 1 with sugar) or CS- (odor 2 without sugar) agar solutions. The purpose of this is to learn which odor is paired with the solution that contains sugar. After the training session, the follow-up Y-maze tests will be conducted 24 hours after the training session to test for memory acquisition and long-term memory. The Y-maze will have two chambers and each chamber will either have odor 1 or odor 2 in them. The flies with better cognition will be able to fly into the chamber that contains the odor that was paired with the sugar. Flies with AD do not retain long-term memory of the odors compared to WT flies. The expectation would be that the memory deficit in AD flies is apparent when compared with WT flies and that the acai diet-supplemented AD flies will do better than the AD flies without the supplementation.

PI: Nathaniel Lovett

Award Amount: $3,995

Abstract: My name is Nathaniel Lovett, I study applied mathematics at UVU. My career goals are to develop a functional knowledge of mathematics that I can use to model and/or analyze meaningful quantifiable phenomena, and utilize my education to improve the world I live in. Challenges I have faced in completing my education include working at least 20 hours a week while attending school full time, helping run the Math Student Association at UVU to promote math-related extracurricular activities for students, and getting a late start on my college education as a result of difficulties during childhood/young adulthood experiences.

Coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (CNLSEs) are an extension of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) that applies to multiple interacting wave systems. They occur naturally in many physical systems, including nonlinear optics, multi-component Bose-Einstein condensates, and shallow water waves. Solitons, self-contained, localized wave packets that preserve their shape and speed during propagation, are a significant application of CNLSEs. Solitons are prevalent in nonlinear systems and play a critical role in long-distance information transmission in telecommunications. Despite their widespread use in various fields, solving CNLSEs analytically is challenging, and numerical approximations are necessary. However, solving CNLSEs numerically is a daunting task because of their high nonlinearity and the existence of multiple spatial dimensions.

To overcome this challenge, this project aims to introduce, analyze, and implement a higher-order Exponential Time Differencing (ETD) scheme in combination with the Fourier spectral method for simulating high-dimensional CNLSEs. The use of higher-order ETD methods will enhance the accuracy of CNLSE simulations while preserving their efficiency. Additionally, this project will examine. the proposed scheme’s stability and compare its performance in terms of accuracy and efficiency by comparing the numerical results with existing schemes of the same order.

PI: Cameron Miller

Award Amount: $2,497

Abstract: Biodiesel is classified as a renewable fuel source. Its use is particularly interesting due to the ease of its use. Biodiesel blends between 5% to 20%, referred to as B5 and B20 respectively, are used readily in diesel engines and require no major modifications. Blends higher than B20 can be found but have significant drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is the stability of the biodiesel. Biodiesel exposed to environmental factors such as heat, oxygen, and moisture, increase the viscosity, which leads to clogs in the different components of diesel engines. The purpose of this research is to investigate the oxidative stability of biodiesel with 3 novel antioxidants.

PI: Brittany Spencer

Award Amount: $2,430

Abstract: Stormwater is the runoff from precipitation (rain or snow melt) that is not absorbed into the ground and flows over land surfaces entering our Lakes and Streams. Stormwater within the Utah Lake watershed collects debris, sediment, yard waste, engine oils, lawn fertilizers, herbicides, and other pollutants that could negatively affect surface and groundwater sources, which could pose a threat to Utah Lake water quality (City of Saratoga Springs). Many storm drains collecting stormwater runoff are located within the city of Saratoga Springs. To improve stormwater monitoring and management, I propose to use the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial techniques to identify the stormwater outfall boundaries, digitize them on a map, assign them each a facility ID, calculate the area of each storm drain and its outfall, and create interactive map layers for the city of Saratoga Springs and the general public during the site permitting process. GIS spatial analysis techniques are powerful tools to help local communities make informed decisions on stormwater management. Upon completion of this project, the city of Saratoga Springs will be able to use the stormwater outfall maps and information for long-term water resource management and strategize the city planning. A sound stormwater management plan will help to improve the Utah Lake water quality for generations to come.

PI: Ian Eggleston

Award Amount: $2,454

Abstract: Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) is a very useful technique that gives us insight into species' present and future ranges, habitats, and niches. These models can also be useful for things like conservation. These models can help us determine/ define some of the major impactors of a species' habitat which include: climate, soil type, ect. By understanding what areas a species may inhabit we can help prevent things like destruction of habitation, impacts of climate change, and we can also use ENM models to try and find previously undocumented populations or areas for expansion of the species. For this project the goal is to create an ENM for the rare plant species Pediomelum aromaticum. Pediomelum aromaticum is a rare Utah desert legume with not a lot of occurrence data for it. This model would serve an important role in helping us more fully understand P. aromaticum and the areas in which it may inhabit. This model could also be used to help discover new populations, help conserve current populations, discover suitable areas for conservation management through propagation, and help us understand how climate change will impact Paromaticum.

PI: Melissa Rangel

Award Amount: $958

Abstract: Mayflies, also known as ephemeroptera, are members of the first group of insects that evolved the ability to fly(Gillott, 2005). Distinct developmental characteristics of the life stages of the mayfly are the reason that Ephemeroptera are of particular interest.The aquatic nymph stages do not have wings, but they do possess abdominal leaf-shaped gills, and in some cases gills associated with the legs. The abdominal gills can sometimes be used to help propel the insect through its environment (Eastham, 1936) in addition to performing gas exchange. Centroptilum triangulifer (family Baetidae), will be used for RNA extractions to study the developmental genetic profiles for characteristics such as wings and gills. Objectives for this research are 1) Acquire samples from different instars, subimago, and imago. 2) Perform 10 RNA extractions. 3) Use Qubit technology to ensure ≥ 20 ng/μL RNA concentration per ≥ 10 μL. 4) Samples will be packaged in thermo-stable shipping boxes and sent to Novogene where samples are tested for quality control. 5) Once quality is confirmed, using an in-house bioinformatics workflow, RNA data will be checked, trimmed, aligned, and assembled. The contents will be used to search for genes of interest. 7) The resulting RNA expression profiles will be compared across the instars, sub imago, and imago and to other expression profiles from other related insects.

PI: Elijah Allred

Award Amount: $1,388

Abstract: Persistent stereotypes and the underdevelopment of science identity among traditionally underrepresented groups—such as women and racial minorities—contribute to the ongoing lack of diversity in the STEM field. Grounded in Expectancy-Value Theory, this study examines how counter-stereotypical scientist role models can increase students’ motivation and interest in STEM by addressing both students’ perceived value of science and their expectations for success within it. Hypothesis: Expanding on the findings of Schinske et al. (2), we propose that integrating metacognitive homework assignments—known as "Scientist Spotlights"—featuring counter-stereotypical scientist examples, will increase motivation and interest in STEM. Methods: Using a quasi-experimental approach, surveyed students were enrolled in 100-level college biology (85 students, majors), general chemistry (211 students, majors), and anatomy and physiology courses (60 students, non-majors). Treatment and control groups were established in each course, completing "Scientist Spotlight" and "Science in the News" assignments, respectively. Qualtrics Likert-scale surveys and reflection questions were administered during weeks 3 and 14 of the course to assess students' viewpoints. Responses were anonymized. A Z-ratio test of response proportions compared pre- and post-course survey responses and examined differences between student groups. Building on the coding scheme developed by Schinske et al. (2), qualitative responses were coded to consensus (Pearson’s coefficient > 0.7991). Results: Analysis of quantitative data shows that chemistry and biology majors demonstrated an increase in interest in discussing the subject area with friends and family [31.8% to 45.7% (p = 0.01), chemistry; 27.8% to 63.9% (p = 0.003), biology]. Biology majors also showed an increase in science enthusiasm: 38.8% to 52.7% (p = 0.01). Qualitative data revealed a shift from stereotypical to counter-stereotypical views of scientists, as demonstrated by the language students used to describe scientists. For example, analysis showed a statistically significant increase in non-stereotypical descriptors (p = 0.0001), suggesting a shift toward a more inclusive and diverse science identity. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that counter-stereotypical scientist role models, presented through metacognitive assignments, may positively influence students’ perceptions and motivation in STEM. Further research with a larger and more diverse sample is needed to validate these trends and better understand their long-term impact.

PI: Sadie Jensen

Award Amount: $900

Abstract: Despite sustained efforts to improve diversity, many women and underrepresented minorities continue to experience unwelcoming environments in STEM, contributing to higher attrition from degree programs and careers (White et al., 2016. To address this issue, the Utah Valley University Biology Department secured a National Science Foundation grant to support mentored undergraduate research experiences—recognized as high-impact practices that promote engagement and persistence in STEM. These experiences are thought to strengthen key predictors of student success, including self-efficacy and supportive student-faculty relationships.

This descriptive study examines whether participation in mentored undergraduate research enhances students’ self-efficacy and the quality of student-faculty relationships. We hypothesize that sustained engagement in mentored research fosters measurable increases in students’ self-efficacy, self-regulation, and perceptions of mentoring support.

The three-year program admitted cohorts of ten students annually from 2019 to 2022. During the first semester, students rotated through several research labs before being paired with a primary mentor. At the end of each academic semester, participants completed surveys containing Likert-scale and reflection questions assessing self-efficacy, self-regulation, and mentoring relationships. Qualitative data were coded independently by two researchers, verified by a third, and demonstrated strong intercoder reliability (r less than 0.76).

Preliminary quantitative results indicate consistently high self-efficacy and strong student-faculty relationships, corroborated by qualitative reflections. When prompted to reflect on the intrinsic value of mentored undergraduate research, participants frequently identified the development of technical skills, interpersonal skills, and opportunities for career advancement as key benefits. Students consistently described their research experiences as personally and professionally valuable across all semesters of the study. Reflections indicated a strong growth mindset focused on perseverance and skill development through mentorship. In response to questions regarding mentor accessibility and support, participants overwhelmingly indicated that they felt comfortable seeking assistance from their mentors. Mentors were consistently portrayed as role models who demonstrated generosity with their time, expertise, and guidance.

Collectively, these findings support our hypothesis that participation in mentored undergraduate research enhances student self-efficacy and strengthens student-faculty relationships, contributing to greater persistence and success in STEM fields.

PI: Nash Jones

Award Amount: $800

Abstract: Understanding how students engage with real-world health decision-making is essential for advancing biology education that prepares learners for modern societal challenges. This project developed and validated SIMPACT (Simulation-based Public Health Attitudes and Choices Tool), a survey instrument designed to measure students’ attitudes, preparedness, and motivational drivers after participating in Operation Outbreak (OO), a Bluetooth-based interactive pathogen simulation. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness, SIMPACT evaluates how these constructs influence student learning within simulated outbreak scenarios.

The Qualtrics-based survey was administered with IRB approval across two OO simulations—the first involving two populations (N=42), and the second involving one population (N=125). Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, we identified a reliable four-factor structure: Confidence in Testing Accuracy (9 items), Confidence in Vaccination Reliability (8 items), Public Health Awareness (11 items), and Outbreak Preparedness (15 items). All items demonstrated strong loadings (≥0.82), confirming internal consistency and structural reliability. Measurement model analyses further validated the framework, revealing positive correlations among all factors (>0.35) and strong associations (≥0.695) with the overarching construct of Public Health Engagement.

Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SIMPACT is a statistically robust and theoretically coherent instrument for evaluating how outbreak simulations influence students’ preparedness, confidence, and engagement with public health decision-making. Beyond its initial implementation, SIMPACT holds significant potential for large-scale adoption across additional Operation Outbreak “embassies” nationwide and globally. Schools, universities, and public health partners can use the tool to standardize assessment across diverse populations, guide data-driven instructional design, and enhance the educational impact of OO simulations. Ultimately, SIMPACT provides a scalable framework for improving how experiential outbreak education cultivates scientifically informed, public health–aware learners.

PI: Taylor Tenbrink

Award Amount: $2,979

Abstract: We have begun a search for emission line galaxies in the center of the void FN2 using new software developed by our group. We are using images taken in three redshifted narrow-band filters. If a galaxy has strong emission lines and is far enough away, the galaxy will be brighter in one or two of the filters. By comparing a galaxy's brightness in the three filters, we can find galaxies which are possibly in the center of the void. In our preliminary study, we created a catalogue of any interesting objects that appear in the brightness comparison images.

PI: Andrew Budge

Award Amount: $1,093

Abstract: Heptageniidae, or flat-headed mayflies, is a diverse family with over 600 described species found across the Holarctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions. Inhabiting streams and rivers, heptageniids primarily feed on detritus and diatoms. Heptageniidae is supported as a sister group to Isonychiidae, yet their position to other families is unresolved (Ogden et al., 2009; Yanai et al., 2017; Ogden et al., 2019). Furthermore, these studies have supported Pseudironidae and Arthropleidae as derived lineages nesting within Heptageniidae. The family putatively consists of three subfamilies: Rhithrogeninae, Ecdyonurinae, and Heptageniinae, however, these subfamilies require additional scrutiny. To address these phylogenetic hypotheses, a more robust phylogeny of the heptageniids - both in terms of number of taxa and number of molecular loci is needed. Therefore, this study created two comprehensive datasets (phylogenomic and supermatrix) and carried out likelihood analyses to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the flat headed mayflies. The results provide new insights into the evolutionary relationships within Heptageniidae, test the monophyly of the subfamilies and genera, and clarify the placement of historically uncertain taxa.

PI: Kyri Forman

Award Amount: $1,092

Abstract: Reproductive diapause is a survival tactic employed by temperate insects to endure harsh conditions, such as dry or cold seasons. It is an arrested state of development in the adult reproductive organs that allows individuals to live longer and wait until environmental conditions are more favorable. Diapause is induced by various environmental factors, including changes in temperature, photoperiod, or humidity, typically as seasons begin to change. However, little is known about the presence of reproductive diapause in tropical species, despite it being well-studied in temperate species. Various butterflies were collected in the Madre De Dios Region of Southeastern Peru during the onset of the dry season in June and July and dissected to analyze for signs of reproductive diapause. Strong evidence for reproductive diapause was found in females of Eunica pusilla (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae), and potential evidence was found in up to 6 species of Satyrinae. This signifies a possibility of reproductive diapause being used as a strategy in neotropical butterflies, a previously unknown phenomenon to occur within insects of the Amazon Basin.

PI: Olivia Frary

Award Amount: $1,343

Presentation: I am honored to have been selected to deliver an oral presentation titled “A phylogenetic analysis of genome size evolution and social structure in Hymenoptera” at the Entomological Society of America’s national conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

PI: Oakley Slade

Award Amount: $2,870

Abstract: Rucking has gained in popularity over the past several years due to accessibility, affordability, functionality, and wide-ranging health benefits. Despite its popularity, there are several unknown biomechanical and physiological areas that remain underexplored. PURPOSE: Investigate the effects varying loads and inclines have on biomechanical and physiological factors. METHODS: Fifteen recreationally active individuals were randomly assigned to six different conditions on the treadmill. Treadmill conditions consisted of being unweighted or wearing a weighted pack while walking 1.5 m/s inclined (4.5 degrees), declined (-4.5), or flat. The weight of the ruck was relative to the participant's mass and heart rate (HR) in each of the conditions were also observed and recorded. A repeated measures ANOVA with post hoc comparisons using Bonferroni adjustments was used for all comparisons. RESULTS: Maximum vertical GRF values increased by roughly 20% in every weighted condition versus unweighted, regardless of slope (p less than 0.001), with the decline weighted having the largest values. The loading knee abduction moment showed similar results with the level (p=0.006) and inclined (p=0.01) conditions, increasing 13% weighted to unweighted. In the decline condition, an increase of 20% (p=0.003), with the decline weighted again having the largest values. Additionally, there was a significant interaction in heart rate (F (8, 5) = 10.51, p less than 0.00). The inclined condition revealed a significant increase in HR in weighted versus unweighted (p = 0.001). In both the incline weighted and unweighted conditions, HRs were significantly higher than level weighted (p less than 0.001) and unweighted conditions (p less than 0.001). HR in both unweighted (138±11 bpm) and weighted incline conditions (152±17 bpm) was significantly higher than the unweighted decline condition (98±14; p less than 0.001) but no difference was found when compared to weighted decline (103±41 bpm; p=0.21). CONCLUSION: When GRFs are high during level and decline conditions, physiological effort (HR) is low. When GRFs are low during the inclined condition, physiological effort (HR) is high. Data suggests individuals may want to determine whether muscle overload (level or decline) or cardiovascular fitness (incline) is their goal for a given ruck and then plan their workout accordingly.

PI: Audrey French

Award Amount: $1,343

Presentation: I have already been accepted to the 2024 Entomological Society of America meeting, which is the largest meeting of entomologists in the USA. I am in the undergraduate 10-minute competition to present my research I've been working on for a few years now, which adds to the body of knowledge of chromosome evolution

PI: Barbara Jetton

Award Amount: $1,343

Presentation: I have the privilege of presenting a research poster titled “Decoding Diptera: Unraveling chromosome evolution across fly families” at the Entomological Society of America’s national conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

PI: Haylee Beck

Award Amount: $1,343

Presentation: The Entomological Society of America has selected me to present a poster at the Annual National Entomology 2024 conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

PI: Sarah Marchant

Award Amount: $1,500

Presentation: I plan to present my research project poster at the Geological Society of America's Annual Connects Meeting held at the Anaheim Convention Center September 22-25, 2024.

PI: Emmaline Saunders

Award Amount: $1,440

Presentation: I am presenting my research at the American Geophysical Union conference in Washington DC in December

PI: Brianna McHoes

Award Amount: $1,471

Presentation: This project has been submitted and accepted at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting. This conference is attended by neuroscientists all over the world to discuss new advancements and current research in the field of neuroscience. I will be presenting a poster presentation on the project titled "Measuring Estrogen Levels in POMC Deficient Mice".

PI: Tabitha Weir

Award Amount: $507

Presentation: This project will be presented at the 2024 meeting of the Entomological Society of America.

PI: Madison Leale

Award Amount: $2,700

Presentation: The findings from these presentations will be showcased at the regional SWACSM conference in Southern California from October 25-26.

PI: Jack Bakker

Award Amount: $2,620

Presentation: The results are planned to be presented at the Southwest ACSM Annual Meeting in Costa Mesa, California via poster presentation.

PI: Adam Hales

Award Amount: $1,475

Presentation: The results from this study will be presented at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting November 10 through 13, 2024 in San Antonio Texas.

PI: Hali Lukacs

Award Amount: $1,006

Presentation: I am presenting this research to the Geological Society of America conference at the end of September.

PI: Dylan Bryant

Award Amount: $2,999

Presentation: The abstract above has been submitted to the AGU conference meeting that is going to be held in Washington D.C.

PI: Brianna Searle

Award Amount: $1,496

Presentation: I will be going to the 245th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January 2025 to present this work as a poster.

PI: Brock Sheehan

Award Amount: $850

Presentation: I will attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and present my research individually via a poster presentation. The dates for the conference are April 7-9, 2025, and it will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

PI: Josh Hammond

Award Amount: $2,646

Presentation: Name of the Conference: NCUR. Dates of the Conference: April 7-9th (Travel dates April 6th-10th). Location of the Conference: David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

PI: Kade Sutherland

Award Amount: $1,323

Presentation: ACS San Diego Conference, 03/21-03/23, San Diego Convention Center, myself (Kade Sutherland) to present our poster.

PI: David Jensen

Award Amount: $2,938

Presentation: The results of our research will be disseminated at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2025, which will be held from April 7-9, 2025, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

PI: Daniel Jensen

Award Amount: $1,000

Presentation: The research was submitted and accepted to be presented at NCUR, and is going to be presented using a poster. The dates of NCUR are going to be April 7th through the 9th. The location of the conference will be in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

PI: Tessa Black

Award Amount: $1,450

Abstract: Acute and chronic social stress effects individuals of many species. The effects of long bouts of social stress on physiology and social behavior can differ among individuals, but what factors cause these individual differences is less clear. Manipulations to the maternal microbiome and maternal stress can have sex-specific effects on offspring social behaviors and may help explain variation in behavioral responses to prolonged stress. To test this, we investigated how maternal environment affects differences in offspring social behavior during long-bout stress in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Pregnant females were exposed to one of four treatments (social stress, microbiome manipulation, both, or no treatment) for ten days. Adolescent offspring were exposed to a same-sex intruder for 15 minutes to assess behavioral responses to long bouts of social stress. We compared differences in the frequency and duration of offspring aggression, investigation, and escape behaviors during the first and last five minutes of the trial. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate the effects of maternal environments on individual responses to single, long-bout stressful events.

PI: Thomas Wilkes

Award Amount: $1,030

Abstract: Outdoor recreational running is a versatile sport that forces participants to run in a variety of changing conditions. One variable to which runners may adapt is changing slopes. Both inclines and declines subconsciously force runners to change the way they run when compared to running on a level plane, thus altering individual running biomechanics [3,4,5,6]. Although some research has shown how biomechanical factors change during incline and decline running, more research is needed to better characterize these changing factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how downhill treadmill running at iso-efficient speeds (IES; a speed-decline combination resulting in similar metabolic output as determined by an initial measured VO2 [1]) influences peak ground reaction forces (GRFs) and sagittal plane moments. Previous research has shown increases in both force data and significant changes in sagittal plane moment data during downhill running [3,4,5,6]. Our study attempts to characterize these factors based on IES, which we predict will more accurately simulate an outdoor recreational running environment.

Nine recreational runners (body mass, 65.52 ± 6.85 kg; height, 172.9 ± 81.9 cm; age, 29.22 ± 11.57; average weekly mileage, 27.44 ± 14.61miles) visited the Human Performance Lab at Utah Valley University to run for approximately 5-7 minutes per treadmill running condition (C1-0% decline, C2-4% decline, C3-8% decline). Upon arrival at the lab, demographic information (shoe size, weight, height, age, weekly running mileage) was collected for each subject, runners were fitted into the correct size of Brooks Launch 2 running shoes, and reflective markers were then attached to anatomically specific points on the lower half of the body. Runners then completed C1 during which biomechanical data was collected for three 10 second intervals [using a 16-camera Vicon Nexus system (Vicon, Inc., Denver CO) and Bertec instrumented treadmill (Bertec, Inc., Columbus OH)]. Following the biomechanical data collection, physiological data was immediately collected for five 15-second intervals through indirect calorimetry (Parvo Medics TrueOne Metabolic Measurement System, Sandy Utah). Following C1, runners’ measured VO2 values were averaged and used to predict iso-efficient speeds for C2 and C3 based on the ACSM metabolic equation for IES [1]. Runners were then offered a brief resting period as treadmill decline parameters were altered to the randomly ordered C2 and C3 trials where the previously mentioned steps were repeated. Following data collection, all collected data was analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA test and JASP analyzing software with a significance value of p less than 0.05.

PI: Isaac Miller

Award Amount: $1,445

Abstract:Background: Widespread antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria has threatened public and veterinary health globally. The drug resistance rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae has approached 70% and fatalities related to K. pneumoniae infections have reached 40-70%. Bacteriophage therapy (BPT) presents a hopeful alternative to this dilemma. Here we report the isolation and partial characterization of a bacteriophage that potentially can be used as a BPT agent in treating some K. pneumoniae infections.

Methods: K. pneumoniae strain 700603, an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing clinical isolate was obtained from ATCC. Wastewater was collected from Orem Water Treatment Facility. The water samples were centrifuged and filtered before exposing to K. pneumoniae using standard protocols. Viruses were plaque-purified through five rounds of reinfection. The virus isolate that retained infectivity after freezing was expanded, virus particles were treated with nucleases, and then DNA was extracted. The purified phage DNA was sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MinION chip v10.4.1 using the Rapid DNA sequencing kit for 20 h. The FASTQ files were assembled into contigs using FLYE. The genome was annotated with Pharokka v 1.2.0.

Results: We isolated a novel bacteriophage related to Klebsiella phage KM18, sharing 86.36% nucleotide identity across the genome, that aggressively infects K. pneumoniae. The overnight infection produces a virus titer of more than 1010/mL. The virus remains infectious after freezing at -82°C, storing therein for months, and thawing at 4°C in a medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol. The virus has a linear dsDNA genome 51,251 bp in size, containing 121 predicted open reading frames (ORFs). We are currently in pursuit of determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), decimal reduction time (D value), and other pharmacological aspects of the bacteriophage as a therapeutic agent.

Conclusions: We have isolated and partially characterized a previously unreported bacteriophage that aggressively infects and kills an ESBL-producing clinical strain of K. pneumoniae. Further studies on the potential use of the bacteriophage as a BPT agent for managing K. pneumoniae infections are underway.

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