UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Libraries presented its fifth annual Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy honors at the end of the spring 2022 semester to 86 students at 20 undergraduate Penn State campuses.
“The award recognizes outstanding undergraduate information literacy skills and gives the University Libraries the opportunity to see how students are using our resources to further their knowledge of the research process and their role in the scholarly conversation,” said Danica E. White, student engagement librarian and organizer of the award program.
University Libraries faculty librarians follow a unified set of judging and learning outcomes criteria for participants University-wide as they assess student research posters and presentations. Judges from the University Libraries considered or discussed with participants:
- research process, strategies, and selection of sources to support the research question and information on the importance of these sources, as space allows on the poster
- source integration to understand the scholarly conversation on the topic and to help influence the direction of the research project
- attribution and consistent citations for any quotes, tables, graphs, photographs, and other content used in the poster that are not the student's own work
- an understanding of the social, ethical, or economic considerations in accessing information and the student's understanding of their role as an information produce
Following are the 2022 Undergraduate Research Award recipients. Honorees are listed according to the campus event in which they participated.
Penn State Abington
Bridger Standiford, fourth-year, psychology/social sciences, “Autistic Traits, Alexithymia and Facial Emotion Recognition of Human and Anime Faces”
Kseniia Gromova, fourth year, computer science; and Youxin Zhuo, third year, computer science, “Defects Detection and Classification on Metallic Surfaces”
Samhita Chitturi, second year, creative writing, “Beating Writer's Block: How to Write a Story Based on Real Life”
Penn State Altoona
Megan McConnel and Zachary Bell, biology, “The Effects of Caffeine on Bacterial Growth,” First Place
Rachel Kosaka, criminal justice; Tyler Frye, criminal justice; and Alicia Williams, HDFS “Punitive Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders: Does Offender Sex Matter?” Second Place
Maleah Orr, English and political science, “Analyzing Anti-COVID-19 Vaccine and Anti-Mask Postings on Online Forums in Central Pennsylvania.” Third Place (tie)
Sally Ghannam, biology, "Determining the Optimal Substrate for the Invasive New Zealand Mud Snail." Third Place (tie)
Penn State Beaver
Alexander Pretka, second year, engineering, “Development of an Electronic Thermometer,” First Place
Kristen Marshall, fourth year, communications; and Kristina Hogue, fourth year, communications, “Does Excessive Social Media Usage Make Individuals More Superstitious?” Honorable Mention
Alaina Helbus, first year, agriculture, “Oxidation of an Iron (III) Chloro POSS Compound,” Honorable Mention
Penn State Behrend
Catlin Lowes, fourth year, history, “’Zeal for the Service’: The Quakers and Their Pacificism Go to War,” First Place
Anna Schmitt, fourth year, English, “Doomed to Repeat It: Queering a History of AIDS,” Second Place (tied)
Sierra Wells, psychology, “The Effects of Violent Crime Media on College Students’ Fear of Crime,” Second Place (tied)
Penn State Berks
Rana Moawad, fourth year, biochemistry/molecular biology, “An Inside Look on Eutrophication in the Blue Marsh Reservoir by Identifying Cyanobacteria and Their Associated Toxin Genes: A Method to Use Cyanophages to Decrease Harmful Algal Blooms”
Destiny Taylor, fourth year, applied psychology, “Who's Watching?: Covid-19 Impact on Binge-Watching Behavior & Media Consumption”
Penn State Brandywine
Himani Vommi, fourth year, cybersecurity, “Exploring Effectiveness of HIDS for Machine-Learning Data Defense”
Liam Fagelson, fourth year, CAS, “Sporting or Spite? A Rhetorical Critique of Social Media Replies to Athlete Criticism”
Penn State DuBois
Taylor Charles, third year, business management/marketing, “Augmented Reality Marketing Strategies: Moving from Traditional Structured Classrooms in Higher Education”
Penn State Fayette
Kenadi Erdely, second year, business and project/supply chain management, “Advertising Health Warnings to Smokers: Using Habituation to Guide Message Reception,” First Place
Kerstin Nutt, third year, psychology, “Comparing Treatment Methods for Childhood Sexual Abuse,” Second Place
Adriana Gebe, fourth year, psychology, “How is Perceived Sense of Control Related to Student Stress and Academic Performance?” Third Place
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Neila Raveen, “Exploring the Social Determinants of Breast Cancer in American Women,” First Place, fall 2021
Taylor Speeney, “Interpersonal Violence: Gender and Sexual Orientation Disparities,” Second Place, fall 2021
Sarah Kish, “Hypertension: Psychological and Neurological Contributions,” Honorable Mention, fall 2021
Samantha Marsden, “How Safe are Biometrics as a Method of Security?” Honorable Mention, fall 2021
Elijah Akinade and Neila Raveen, “Immunohistochemical Labelling of the Nervous System of the Tardigrade, H.” First Place, spring 2022
Kourtney Kelly, “Pre-term Birth in African American Women Associated with the Disruption of the Microbiome,” Second Place, spring 2022
Korrine McCutcheon, “What is Celiac Disease: Treatment, Symptoms, and Effects,” Honorable Mention, spring 2022
James Frankel, “Let’s Ditch the Fear of Nuclear Power for the Sake of the Environment,” Honorable Mention, spring 2022
Penn State Harrisburg
Nicole Lookfong, fourth year, life sciences, “Cannabinoid Pharmacology in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-Like Fear-Memory Behavior”
Matthew Post, fourth year, computer science, “Effective Network Configuration Strategies for the Mitigation of Denial-of-Service Attacks”
Melissa Cesaire, fourth year, biology, “Early-Life Exposure to Abuse Increases the Risk of Developing Diseases”
Aayushi Patel, third year, biology; Shrina Patel, fourth year, biology; Sivanaga Sanke; and Logan Cook, “Exploring the Effect of Selenium on the Cannabinoid Production of Cannabis sativa (Industrial Hemp)”
Oluwadamilola Ajayi, graduate student, electrical/electronics engineering,“Real-time Hardware-in-the-loop Microgrid Validation”
Isabel Quintero, graduate student, applied clinical psychology, “The Path to Healing: Exploring Factors that Impact Latina Women's Help-Seeking Behavior after Experiencing Interpersonal Violence”
Penn State Hazleton
Savannah Cothron, psychology, "Devaluation of Future Rewards as an Underlying Mechanism of Media Multitasking in the Classroom," First Place
Mark Brady, general engineering; Clayton Kimsal, senior, general engineering; and Nathan Pauselli, general engineering, "Foxdale On-Site Energy Generation Using Solar Carports," Second Place
Zakary Johnson, criminal justice, "When the Grim Reaper Comes Calling Tell Him I'm not home: Sentenced to Die but Eventually Exonerated," Third Place
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Justin Irwin, fourth year, psychology; and Hannah Irwin, third year, psychology, “Stress Effects on Memory for Social Content”
Penn State Mont Alto
Maegan Aleshire, nursing; Abigail Keiser; and Taylor Peachey, “CRISPR Technology and Congenital Disordered Development”
Hannah Kertes, nursing; Maria Burkett; Sofia Perez-Espinoza; and Kathryn Herr, “Induction of Labor and Cesarean Sections: An Ethical Issue”
Penn State New Kensington
Ally Albert, second year, biobehavioral health, “Cardiovascular Differences in Disease: Men Vs. Women”
Meredith Carter, first year, communications, “Abilities of the American Crow”
Laurel Cowling, second year, biobehavioral health, “Gender Differences in Depression”
Abigail Kane, second year, education, “Educational Inequities of Immigrant Students”
Michel Nafash, third year, biobehavioral health, “The Effect of Depression on Alcohol Consumption in Young Adults”
Sarah Offen, fourth year, biobehavioral health, “Exploring Complex Interactions: Drugs, Sex Work, Forced Deportation, Life, and Health Along the Mexican-U.S. Border in Tijuana, Mexico”
Michelle Rollinson, fourth year, biobehavioral health, “The Relationship Between Stress and Smoking in Young Adults”
Elizabeth Schachte, third year, biobehavioral health, “Psychiatric Comorbidities in Adults with ADHD”
Ashley Sovitski, third year, psychology, “Binge-Watching in Today’s Generation: Impact on Mindless Eating”
Sara Tresco, third year, psychology, “The Effects on Productivity When College Students Listen to Music”
Penn State Schuylkill
Katherine Joyce, “Seafaring Sirens”
Carol Reyes, “JLWOP: It Is Time to Raise the Bar to 21 and Up”
Elyssa Yeagley, “The Synthesis of a 1,3-pyridothiazin-4-one”
Penn State Scranton
Marceia Tanzini, third year, psychology,“Scientific Motherhood,” Oral Presentation Winner
Marie LaRosa, “The Triangulated Relationships of Victorian Society,” Oral Presentation Winner
Alexandria DeWolfe, third year, biology; and Marston Jamieson, third year, biology, “Plant Interactions Perceived as Stress Relieving During COVID-19 Pandemic,” First Place
Aless Agojo, third year, nursing, “Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Prevention in Older Adults,” Runner- Up
Elizabeth Trojan, fourth year, psychology, “Violence/Risk Assessments and Incarcerated Offenders: Examining the Reliability and Validity of the PCL-R,” Runner-Up
Kimberlyn Sanchez, fourth year, HDFS, “Maternal Gatekeeping Shortly After Separation and Divorce,” Runner- Up
Claire Taylor, fourth year, nursing, “Food During Labor,” Runner-Up
Penn State Shenango
Chelsea Spatara, second year, biology; August Menoza, second year, biochemistry; Jake Dyll, first year, DUS; and Alyssa Kelly, first year, engineering, “Effects of Wash and Dry Cycles on Disposable Face Masks,” Honorable Mention
Brooke Lees, second year, corporate communication, “The Engagement of Penn State Shenango Students in Zoom Classes vs. In-person Classes,” Honorable Mention
Michael Horstman, third year, criminal justice, “A Critical Review of International Organizations, the United States, and the Conflict in Ukraine,” Honorable Mention
Penn State University Park
Geneva Flarend, third year, biochemistry, “The Effect of Stress on Opioid Use Behaviors: A Review of Preclinical Literature,” John Sr. & Kimlyn Patishnock Grand Prize
Jessick Chyvonne, fourth year, soil science, “Manganese and Soil Carbon Dynamics Under Saturated Soil Conditions,” First Place
Melody Munitz, fourth year, psychology/musical theatre, “The Effects of Spatial Distance and Empathy on Emotional Responses to Theatrical Events,” Second Place
Rachel Blansfield, third year, psychology, “The Association Between Adult Attachment Style and the Therapeutic Alliance: A Meta-Analytic Study,” Third Place
Kathleen Cardone, “G-Quadruplex Formation Within SLC6A3, a Potentially Relevant Finding to Substance Use Disorder,” Honorable Mention
Nicole Lookfong, “Cannabinoid pharmacology in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like fear-memory behavior,” Honorable Mention
Natalie Babitzke, “Investigating the role of a HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, PiUPL1, in regulating the stability of SLF proteins involved in self-incompatibility in Petunia inflata,” Honorable Mention
Emma Cohen, “Seat Security and Tweet Extremity: An Analysis of Congress Members’ Tweets,” Honorable Mention
Glenn Hubbard, “Using Citizen Science to Generate Meaningful Research Questions,” Honorable Mention
Sopida Pimchareon, “Developing supramolecular heparin-peptide materials as injectable anticoagulant depots,” Data Visualization Award
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
KateLyn Krzysik, first year, biology, “The Effects of Various Types of Light on Wheat Germination and Growth,” First Place
David O'Connell, “Farnsworth House,” Runner-Up
China Morningstar, “Pennsylvania Gothic: Scotia Barrens,” Runner-Up
Hana Fall, first year, sociology; and Kiandre Smith, “In What Ways Does the Brain React to Trauma?: Taking a Look at Dissociative PTSD and DID,” Runner-Up
Paige David, first year, nutritional sciences, “The Effect of Differing Light Conditions on Winter Wheat Germination and Growth,” Runner-Up
Stephanie Jaramillo, “Negative Physical Effects of Drug Use,” Runner-Up
Penn State York
Monica Rivera, senior, political science, “The Crimean Conflict and its Consequences,” First Place
Brittany Stump, second year, microbiology; and Cassidy Martin, third year, biology, "Genetic Determination of Bacterial Endosymbionts in the Spotted Lanternfly," Second Place
About the awards
The University Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards: Excellence in Information Literacy awards are awarded at most of our campuses in the spring semester during undergraduate research exhibitions. To find out more about the award at your campus, and how students are eligible for the award, please contact your local librarian.
At the University Park campus, The John Sr. and Kimlyn Patishnock Undergraduate Research Award: Excellence in Information Literacy is awarded to students who had outstanding undergraduate student research at the Undergraduate Research Exhibition. The grand prize for this award is $500. For questions about this award and the overarching program related to undergraduate research, please contact Danica White, Student Engagement Librarian, dew5422@psu.edu.