WINCHELL SYMPOSIUM EVENT ARCHIVES

2024

Nearly 70 undergraduate students presented their research at the 2024 Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium. Student presenters and attendees also participated in panels of STEM professionals and graduate students, as well as breakout sessions on AI in academia and wildlife capture. Andy Robertson, RPFT, Executive Director, GeoSpatial Services, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, gave the keynote lecture, titled “From Green Infrastructure to Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Observations on the Nationwide Grassroots Response to Climate Warming.” See photos (scroll to middle of page) and Awards.

2023

Over 50 undergraduate students presented their research at the 2023 Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium. Student presenters and attendees also participated in panels of STEM professionals and graduate students. Dr. Lisa Jungbauer Nikolas of Medtronic gave the keynote lecture, titled “Medical Device Innovations: Who, Where & What do they ‘S.T.E.M.’ from?” See photos.

2023 Judge’s Choice Awards:

Oral Presentations
AN INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED DASHBOARD REPRESENTING MEDICAREACCEPTING RURAL HEALTH CLINICS AND GENERAL HOSPITALS IN MINNESOTA
Andrew A. Kotz and Huliyar Mallikarjuna (Advisor); Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Saint Louis University

CHARACTERIZING METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE-MEDIATED CHANGES IN THE INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF MURINE LABIAL SKIN FIBROBLASTS
Kevin A. Tovar and Elena Tonc (Advisor); Department of Biology Macalester College

INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF MAST CELLS IN MURINE MODEL OF VULVODYNIA
Gloriah Omwanda, Mady Chen, Kevin Tovar, Xiu Mei Golden, Devavani Chatterjea (Advisor) and Elena Tonc (Advisor); Department of Biology Macalester College

Poster Presentations
FINDING ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCERS FROM SELECTED SOIL SAMPLES
Sarah Anne F. Byacanda and Aeisha Thomas (Advisor); Department of Biological & Health Sciences Crown College

THE DESENSITIZATION OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Mason B. DeGross and Jennifer E. Schaefer (Advisor); Department of Biology College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

EXPRESSION OF GLUTAMINASE ISOENZYMES AND THEIR TRANSCRIPTIONAL VARIANTS IN LIVER CANCER: HCC VS FL-HCC GLUTAMINASE DYSREGULATION
Riki Mae C. Duevel, James D. Dinger, Sofia K. Dodge, Allysa C. Steinhaus, and Mong-Lin Yang (Advisor); Department of Science Concordia University - St. Paul

DYSREGULATION OF ARGINASE ISOENZYMES IN FL-HCC: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF NONSPECIFIC ARGINASE-ISOFORM ANTIBODIES ON THE MARKET
Sofia K. Dodge, Allysa C. Steinhaus, James D. Dinger, Riki Mae C. Duevel, and Mong-Lin Yang (Advisor); Department of Science Concordia University - St. Paul

POSITIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO EXERCISE AND THE INFLUENZA VACCINE IN YOUNG ADULTS
Ella E. Eibensteiner, Megan M. Lidtke, and Ashley L. Fink (Advisor); Department of Biology College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

FIBROUS MYCELIUM MATS AS ABSORBENT MATERIALS
Lauren P. Estepp, Grace M. Harper, Lindsay Bronstad, and William S. Boyle (Advisor); Department of Chemistry Anoka-Ramsey Community College

PLANT COMMUNITY CHANGE IN ROADSIDE REMNANT PRAIRIE FRAGMENTS OVER A 22-YEAR TIME SPAN
Isabel L. Haga, Diane K. Angell (Advisor), and Charles Umbanhowar Jr. (Advisor); Department of Biology St. Olaf College

INSERTING A SPECTROSCOPIC PROBE INTO HUMAN MITOCHONDRIAL MALATE DEHYDROGENASE
Mary E. Ludwig, Sonja J. Hoversten, Caroline R. Tuck, and Lisa N. Gentile (Advisor); Department of Chemistry College of Saint Benedict & Saint John's University

ALTERATIONS IN C:N RATIO TO UNDERSTAND TO UNDERSTAND PLANT METABOLIC PATHWAYS IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM GOAT GRAZING IN THE INVASIVE SPECIES: Rhamnus cathartica
Vivian Marchan, Sara A. Wyse (Advisor), and Brandon J. Winters (Advisor); Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Chemistry, Bethel University

INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF MUTATION F134Y AND F134N ON CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF MALATE DEHYDROGENASE
Adunya G. Mekonnen, Jen Valley, Tony V. Sambeek, Madison Rosen, and Betsy Martínez-Vaz (Advisor); Department of Chemistry & Department of Biology and Biochemistry Program, Hamline University

BIOINFORMATIC AND GROWTH CURVE ANALYSIS OF THE POORLY CHARACTERIZED YEAST GENE YLR407W
Joel W. Swanberg and Aeisha Thomas (Advisor); Department of Biological & Health Sciences Crown College

TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF THE XANTHOPHYLL CYCLE ENZYMES
Andre M. Thibodeau and Amy S. Verhoeven (Advisor); Department of Biology University of St. Thomas

2022

More than 70 undergraduate students presented their scientific findings at the 34th Annual Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday, April 23, at Hamline University in St. Paul. The symposium included oral presentations, poster sessions, panels with local STEM professionals, and a keynote lecture by 3M scientist Dr. John Banovetz on sustainability in industry.

Judge’s Choice Awards:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BBB National Biological Honor Society Awards:

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

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

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

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

2021

On April 24, 2021, 35 undergraduates from regional colleges and universities presented their original research virtually to STEM professionals. Dr. Aeisha Thomas, Winchell Symposium Planning Committee Chair, kicked off the symposium with opening remarks. Subsequently, Dr. Jim Maher gave a keynote address titled "The Dangers of Driving with a Broken Engine".

Each student gave a 10-minute presentation of their research, within a Zoom session of 5 student presenters plus judges and other attendees. After presenting their research, students participated in one of five breakout sessions. See Winchell Wisdom for perspectives on 2020-2021 research challenges.

2021 “Judge’s Choice” award winners are: Jessica Crosson (University of Northwestern - St. Paul), Gabriella Lott (College of St. Benedict - St. John's University), Kendall Luman (University of Northwestern - St. Paul), Sophee Schwanberg (Bethel University), Cole Van Houten (St. Mary's University of Minnesota), Mackenzie Waters (St. Mary's University of Minnesota), Maya Wills (Macalester College), Delaney Wolf (St. Mary's University of Minnesota), and Andy Yang (Crown College)

2020

Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2019

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jo Handelsman, University of Wisconsin - Studentsourcing Antibiotic Discovery

Host: Century College

2018

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Christie Haynes, University of Minnesota - Design and Redesign of Sustainable Engineered Nanomaterials

Host: University of St. Thomas

NOTE: In 2014, we discovered that there was a numbering error in 2007 for the Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium (but not for the Annual Meeting). All subsequent years bore the wrong number for Winchell. We corrected the error for the 2015 Winchell Symposium, which was the 28th.