WSU Undergraduate Research Symposium to Feature Scholarly Studies from Broad Range of Disciplines
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State University’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, held on March 28 in the Shepherd Union Building, will give students the opportunity to share their scholarly research, ranging from a study on the impact dance has on romantic relationships to research on developing zebrafish brains in relation to our understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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“I look forward to seeing everyone’s research and projects,” said Ashleigh Steed, a senior who received her first research grant to study brain development in zebrafish. “It’s going to be cool.”
Oral presentations will begin at 10 a.m. Each presentation is limited to 12 minutes and will include additional time for questions and discussion. The event also includes a poster session, beginning at 1:30 p.m., where attendees can learn more about students’ research through one-on-one discussions. The symposium gives students a chance to meet others in their fields, and experience researching and presenting, which is desired by many graduate programs.
“I gained experience that I need to move forward into graduate school,” said Steed, who hopes to start a doctoral program in cell and molecular neuroscience after graduating this April.
According to the literature Steed relies on for her research, zebrafish share 86% of their genetics with humans. “It makes them a really easy model to use for pathologies and development,” she said.
Steed partnered with health sciences professor Jim Hutchins and zoology professor Elizabeth Sandquist on her research, which involved treating zebrafish embryos with valproic acid (VPA), and then studying the wiring of their brains. VPA is an anti-epileptic drug that has been shown to increase the incidence of ASD in children of pregnant mothers who take it. Specifically, Steed is examining cells in zebrafish eyes to determine whether or not the cells are dying or proliferating. It is hypothesized that ASD is an overwiring of the brain. Steed said her research is important, since it's not often done.
“Autism is a developmental difference. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but there’s such a gap in research on autism,” she said.
Sophia Pettit, WSU senior and lead author of the study on dance and relationships, said her research can help others as well.
Along with associate professor of child and family studies Daniel Hubler and WSU graduate student Nathan Bingham, she surveyed about 80 adults regarding their experiences with dance and intimacy in relationships. Their findings showed that couples who dance together, whether at home or out on the town, experience greater relational intimacy. Pettit and her team are now exploring possibilities for researching the inclusion of dance as a means of relationship therapy for couples.
Along with making a real-world impact, the symposium offers a chance for undergraduates to explore their passions.
Niharika Mishra, a fall 2021 WSU graduate who will soon start her graduate program at Utah State University, said she appreciated the opportunities she had to explore various topics as an undergraduate. “Once you get into a master’s, it’s a two-year degree, and you have to be very specific about things,” she said.
At WSU, Mishra had the chance to research methods for adding probiotics to almond or oat milk for those who are lactose intolerant, explore ways to increase the shelf-life of probiotics, and research using ozone gas to combat viruses.
At the symposium, she will discuss her research on cheese contaminant paucilactobacillus wasatchensis, which makes cheddar cheese deteriorate, leading to slits and cracks.
With WSU microbiology professors Michelle Culumber and Craig Oberg, she attempted to determine where the contaminant comes from. While they didn’t find an exact DNA match to show its origin, the research offers some clues, and Mishra said it’s an important topic.
“If you’re buying cheddar cheese, you want it to look like cheddar cheese,” Mishra said. “If it doesn’t, consumers are not going to buy it next time, so it’s bad for the industry as well as the consumers.”
Whether they involve fish, dance, cheese or one of many other topics, the symposium offers insightful, forward-thinking research.
Along with oral and poster sessions, the event will include a luncheon for students and their mentors, where the university will recognize outstanding student and faculty researchers.
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