- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Winners of 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo Winners

John Hill — Thu, 19 May 2022 18:16:07 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has announced the winners of the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo. This year’s event took place outside between the Ottenheimer Library and the Cooper Fountain on April 8. It was the first in-person student expo that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has hosted in three years. More than 90 undergraduate and graduate students showcased their academic and creative work and community projects at the Student Research and Creative Works Expo. The winners and their awards include:

Computer Science/Information Science

First Place, Graduate Student, Dayo Banjo and Connice Trimmingham, ImageToon
Second Place, Graduate Student, Carlos Ochoa, Smartphone-based AR/MR video passthrough headset prototype
First Place, Undergraduate Student, Danica Mobley, Immersive VR Application for the Performing Arts

Creative Work

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Emma Chambers, Sourcing from Nature: Making and Using Paint from Locally Sources Pigments Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Kevin Davidson, Restoration of Fluid Circuit Apparatus Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Julia McPeake, Modern Life, A Satire of Modern Life

Economics

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Caleb Boutin, Destroying Ships or the Industry: Legal and Economic Consequences of Not Defining a Ship in the Shipbreaking Industry a Vessel

Education

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Samantha Cougill, Touching History
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, David Caldwell, Peer Engagement: In-person vs. Online using Learning Assistants

Engineering/Engineering Technology/Construction Management

First Place, Graduate Student, Phillip Bryan, Engineering Consistency in Large 3D Prints
Second Place, Graduate Student, Nilesh Chaudhari, Study of fluidization behavior of solid waste materials for sustainable production of carbon neutral/negative green fuels
Third Place, Graduate Student, Hatim Raji, Effect of Composition on Damping Characteristics of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students showcase their research and creative work during the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo. Photos by Ben Krain.

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Michael Frey, Modernizing Motorcycle Instrumentation and Display
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Noah French, EZ-Transport Folding Canoe
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Michael Flowers, Cost-Benefit of Adding Wind-turbine Generator
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Nuh Jakoet, Drowsy driving detection with EEG signals and sensor fusion.
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Ibrahim Suid, Reinforced Shape Memory Polymer Composites Actuator for Surgical Devices

Health Science

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Anabelen Rodriguez
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Cecile Barnes
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Khristina Huff

Humanities

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Jordan Hancock, Masculinity and Felinity in William Blake’s Fallen World as Told through Large Colored Prints
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Aiyana Burgess, Talking Knots – Quipu Theories and Narratives throughout the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Carmen Ramirez, Influences of Native Guatemalan Music on the compositions of Jesus Castillo (1877-1946)

Interdisciplinary

First Place, Undergraduate Student, Ahad Nadeem, Student-created H5P Practice Questions for Biology Students
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Nicholas Jaeger, Analyzing the Constitutionality of Blue Laws through the Scope of the Commerce Clause
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Mataya Duncan, The effects of different trellising systems on blackberries

Life Science

First Place, Graduate Student, Samantha Macchi, Investigation of cytotoxicity mechanism of porphyrin-based nanomedicine
Second Place, Graduate Student, Nazneen Begum, Osh6 down-regulates pro-aging TORC1 via Gga2
Third Place, Graduate Student, Andrew Ramirez, Elucidate the function of vacuolar-ATPase B subunit 1 gene on root structure and development
First Place, Undergraduate Student, Sadie Goss, Tunable filtration systems for pollutant removal
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Amie Brint, A Continuation of GSDMD’s Function in Multiple Sclerosis
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Gabrielle Roberts, The Study of Gasdermin D Mutation in Cancer Research
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Ibraheem Abbood, Mutagenesis of Staphylococcus epidermidis to inhibit Biofilm formation on polystyrene surfaces

Dr. Kirk Leach listens to Samantha Cougill present her project, Touching History, during the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo. Photo by Ben Krain.

Physical Science

First Place, Graduate Student, Ghusoon Al Bazzar, Synthesis and characterization of Low- cost, High-performance Cu2O – ZnO Core-Shell nanorods
Second Place, Graduate Student, Mavis Forson, Photophysical Characterization of Porphyrin-Fullerene Dyads
Third Place, Graduate Student, Karie Sanford, Catalytic degradation of macromolecules using benign method
First Place, Undergraduate Student, Meagan Herbold, Applied Physics for the Design and Construction of Articulated, Electronic Wings
First Place, Undergraduate Student, Ruby Trotter, Nanomaterial Effects on Degradation of Polymer Biomaterials
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Lauv Patel, MTA nucleosidase inhibition through mutant kinetic characterization
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Tayler Gamble, Studies in the hydridic reduction reactions of alkynyl hydrazones via sigmatropic rearrangement to form allenes

Service Work/Professional Application

First Place, Tyler Riley and Angelita Faller, Student Perceptions of Textbooks and Course Material: Program Assessment for Ottenheimer Library

Social Science

First Place, Graduate Student, Ronia Kattoum, Factors that Determine if Students See Themselves as Future Chemistry Learning Assistants
Second Place, Graduate Student, Trye Price, A Qualitative Examination of Victimization among LGBTQIA+ Adults in Arkansas
Third Place, Graduate Student, Lacey Roughton, Non-Religious Identity and Experiences of Crime
First Place, Undergraduate Student, Ahad Nadeem, Food Deserts in Little Rock
Second Place, Undergraduate Student, Cameron Russell, Examining the Evolution of ICC Funding
Third Place, Undergraduate Student, Anthony Best, Building a tool for measuring the Decibel Analysis for Research in Teaching

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Celebrates Student Work at Student Research and Creative Works Expo��

John Hill — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 13:32:47 +0000

More than 90 undergraduate and graduate students showcased their academic work at the Student Research and Creative Works Expo held April 8 at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. This year’s event took place outside beneath tents between the Ottenheimer Library and the Physics building. It was the first in-person expo in three years. The projects, some of which were inside the library, covered such major areas as applied bioscience, art history, biology, business information systems, chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, engineering, fine arts, history, mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, philosophy, physics, political science, public administration, and theatre. The gathering also featured research projects by winners of the Signature Experience Awards. The grants fund a signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community project. The goal is to enrich the students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Among those who completed creative work was Meaghan Herbold, a senior physics major. She presented her project “Applied Physics for the Design and Construction of Articulated, Electronic Wings.” Massive 14-foot-long red wings made of poplar wood, bamboo, faux fur, and goose feathers dominated a spot in the library. Herbold builds and designs costumes based on pop culture. She applied physics to construct the wings to be worn by a human. “I studied ornithology papers and I studied the anatomy of birds,” she said. What she learned was “impractical for human application and this design is more efficient.”

Emma Chambers showcases her homemade paint during the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo.

Nearby, senior Emma Chambers, who is completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting, presented her creative work project, “Sourcing from Nature: Making and Using Paint from Locally Sources Pigments.” “This is Arkansas-based paint,” she explained, pointing to sample colors that ranged from dark brown to pale yellow. Chambers collected soil and rock from Bauxite to make the paint which she used in three paintings. Chambers’ mentor is Krista Schoenin. Cool, windy conditions outside challenged a few students to keep their research posters upright. But for Michael Flowers, a senior mechanical engineering technology major, it was near perfect weather for his research project “Cost Benefits of Adding Wind-turbine Generator.” “This is a feasibility study to see how adding a vertical axis wind turbine can add efficiency to a solar panel array to reduce lithium battery storage,” Flowers said. By using a wind-powered generator, he predicted that about 6.4 solar panels would not be needed, and that battery storage requirements would be reduced by half thus creating “a more effective renewable energy.” Flowers worked on the research with fellow students Stephen David and Garrett Phelps. Dr. Mamdouh Bakr is their mentor. Ruby Trottor’s research focused on “Nanomaterial Effects on Degradation of Polymer Biomaterials.” The senior chemistry and Spanish major said biomaterials degradation is a very important aspect to consider when they are used for medical purposes – depending on how long the materials need to remain in the body. “At the intersection of materials chemistry and biomedical research, our polymer and graphene nanomaterials have shown remarkable promise in bone tissue regeneration technologies,” Trotter said. “Through an investigation of the degradation profiles of the polymer along and with graphene, we have determined that graphene materials may slow the degradation of the polymeric biomaterial.”

Chancellor Christina Drale, center, reviews student research projects during the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo. Photos by Ben Krain.

The expo is a place where “students see themselves as researchers,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of undergraduate research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We get students in contact with a faculty mentor as early as we can so it’s about building a community of research.” Ecke said the event also highlights “the diversity of our student population, various cultures, and ethnic populations. To be able to see yourself in this space and see people thriving is encouraging to our future students.” For Robert Elliott Hagberg, a business major contemplating switching to engineering, it was a chance to explore new areas. “I was hoping to strike up some good conversations with people on topics that I’m interested in,” he said. “I had a great time, and I got to talk to people and learn a lot of new stuff. I like art, construction, and design.”Several students and faculty members said they were glad that the research expo was in-person versus virtual (recorded videos) as it had been in recent years due to COVID-19. “It’s a great opportunity to practice my presentation skills,” said Tayler Gamble, a senior majoring in biology and chemistry. Her research focused on “Studies in the hydridic reduction reactions of alkynyl hydrazones via sigmatropic rearrangement to form allenes.” “So, in our lab we use the methods of synthetic chemistry to produce allenes,” Gamble said, explaining that allenes are an integral part of the synthesis of many pharmaceuticals and numerous natural products. “In order for us to produce these allenes, we first have to create alkynyl hydrazones which are molecules that will act as precursors to the final rearrangement step that will allow us to produce allenes.“ Gamble’s mentor is Dr. Brian Walker. Some faculty members said the event gives them the opportunity to support students. “I love having it in person because I can go up, we can talk to each other, and I can see and sometimes touch the work,” said Johanna Lewis, an associate dean in the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Science, and Education. “The enthusiasm is much better in real life. I am constantly amazed and delighted by our students.” For music professor Rolf Groesbeck, it was a chance to support those who are taking or have taken his classes and learn about the work that‘s happening on campus. “About three-fourths of the students exhibiting here are my students or my former students,” he said. “Plus, I appreciate the opportunity to see what other departments are doing.” This story was written by Bobbie Handcock.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Honors Winners of 2021 Student Research and Creative Works Expo

John Hill — Fri, 07 May 2021 14:16:19 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected the winners of the 2021 Student Research and Creative Works Expo. The annual event features the latest innovative research, service or professional work, and creative projects by the student researchers at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� The expo also featured presentations by the 2021 winners of the Signature Experience Awards, which provides students with grants to fund a signature experience, including a research project, creative activity, or community project, to enrich the students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� “In its fourth year, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Signature Experience has matured into a foundational pillar of undergraduate and graduate student research and creative work with the generous support of the Donaghey Foundation,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of undergraduate research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� The winners include:�� Undergraduate Creative Works Cristie Armstrong, first prize, “The Album Keeper” Logan Sellen, second prize, “Goodbye: An Exploration of Death and Grieving in a Time of Separation” Andrew Chun and Caleb LeFevre, third prize, “From Campus Tree to Campus Table” Economics Josiah Johnson, first prize, “Estimating the Impact of Small Businesses on Crime in the Local Community” Aleigha Smith, second prize, “NBA and the Tax Problem” Maximilian Holzmueller, second prize, “Detecting Plant Diseases with AI”�� Education Sarah Carlat, first prize, “The American Canon is Outdated” Engineering Elias Perez Reyes, first prize, “Crossbow Loading Mechanism” Chance Melby, second prize, “��Vlog��ý Little Rock Classified: An Intentionally Vulnerable Web Application Focused on Teaching K-12 and Undergraduate Students about Web Application Security” Phillip Bryan, third prize, “Continuous Improvement Web Application” Humanities Jaelan Nelson, first prize, “The History Behind Lorraine Hansberry’s Famous Play A Raisin in the Sun” Lindsey Carl, second prize, “The Mermaid Hunter” Alyia Goudeau, third prize, “Beyzus: The Duality and Complexity of the Nature of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles” Life Sciences Avery McLean, first prize, “The Future of Agricultural Herbicide Regulation: The Biological Evaluation and International Response in Regard to Impending Glyphosate Regulation” Tram Nguyen, first prize, “Removal of Estrogens from Drinking Water Using Graphene Oxide-Based Filtration Membranes” Gabrielle Roberts, second prize, “Enzymatic studies of F104G SaMTAN mutant enzyme from Staphylococcus aureus” Mataya Duncan, second prize, “Active Transport Processes of Dictyostelium discoideum Rab32C” Physical Sciences Hannah Krehbiel, first prize, “Novel FRET-based ionic materials for bio imaging applications” Tripti Shukla, second prize, “Refolding of S. aureus MTA nucleosidase to analyze biological activities” Stuti Chatterjee, second prize, “Tunable sized combination nanodrugs based on ionic materials” Kajal Desai, second prize, “Revisiting the chemical stability of molybdenum disulfide membranes” Lauren Langmaid, third prize, “Studies in the hydridic reduction reactions of alkynyl hydrazones via sigmatropic rearrangement to form allenes” Mariela Saavendra-Duran, third prize, “Carbon storage in Fourche Creek Wetlands” Hayley Turner, honorable mention, “Ouch! Determining Factors that Affect Kidney Stone Growth, Formation, Mineralogy, and Morphology” Shannon Bione, honorable mention, “Dirt on the street: Environmental and Health Impacts of Urban road dust” Shiraz Atif, honorable mention, “Cigarette litter-derived carbon materials for the adsorption of dye pollutants from water” Social Sciences Landon DeKay, first prize, “Community Issues in Little Rock: The Interplay of Religion, Politics, and Income” Savannah James, second prize, “The Effects of Political Party Issue Focus” Alex Corrales, second prize, “Statute of Limitations Reform: A Window of Hope” Graduate Education Codi Blackmon, first prize, “Begin Again: Reassessing Graduate Orientation” Engineering Awaad Al Sarkhi, first prize, “Building a Data Washing Machine for Unsupervised Entity Resolution of Unstandardized References Sources” Humanities Mackenzie Nunnally, honorable mention, “Women in Ceramics: Forms of Femininity” Life Sciences Ashley Esparza, first prize, “Localization and Functional Characterization of Dictyostelium discoideum Rab32c” Quinshell Smith, first prize, “Nanostructured Antibacterial Aluminum Foil Produced by Hot Water Treatment against E. coli in Meat” Qingfang He, second prize, “Molecular Mechanisms and Anatomical Development of Transfer Cells” Ilham Kadhim, third prize, “Up-regulation of Osh6 boosts an anti-aging membrane trafficking pathway toward vacuoles” Physical Sciences Zach Smith, first prize, “Calculating the Urban Contribution of Surface Water Quality through Cl and 87Sr/86Sr Mixing Models within the Fourche Creek Watershed” Thuy Le, second prize, “Conductive thin film characterization” Social Sciences Melissa Herrington, first prize, “Image-Based Sexual Abuse and Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery as Intimate Partner Violence” In the upper right photo, Josiah Johnson, a finance and economics major, completed a statistical analysis of the spillover effects and general efficacy of small business initiatives in small towns featured in the TV show Small Business Revolution for his first-place project for the Student Research and Creatives Works Expo. Photo by Ben Krain.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Research and Creative Works Expo Begins April 16

John Hill — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 17:29:25 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s 2021 Student Research and Creative Works Expo will debut to the public Friday, April 16, featuring the latest research and innovations of student researchers at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� The event will be hosted virtually through Whova, a free event app. The expo will be open to the public through July 12, allowing members of the Little Rock and campus community to attend the presentation of students’ projects. Judging will take place from April 16-19.�� Both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to present their ongoing research projects, service or professional work, and creative projects. Student researchers are exploring everything from using combination therapy to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria to the creation of micro droids inspired by the “Star Wars” universe to an assessment of the university’s graduate student orientation program. The expo will feature presentations by the 2021 winners of the Signature Experience Awards, which provides students with grants to fund a signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community project, to enrich the students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� “In its fourth year, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Signature Experience has matured into a foundational pillar of undergraduate and graduate student research and creative work with the generous support of the Donaghey Foundation,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of undergraduate research at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “As we look forward to our second virtual expo and celebrate the adaptivity and endurance of our students, we have made several important changes. Shifting to a mainly web-based platform will allow attendees and judges to experience enhanced portfolios with handouts, pictures, asynchronous videos, and even live-streaming presentations.” Some of the projects at the Student Research and Creative Works Expo include:�� In a project entitled, “Wireless Charging with Magnetic Resonance,” students Christa Hindman, Joshua Maxwell, Alexandria Smith, Samuel Zargari, and Hirak Patangia are exploring a more efficient method to charge electric vehicles. In “Detecting Plant Diseases with AI,” Maximilian Holzmueller plans to build and train a machine learning model to identify common plant diseases in hydroponic produce. The goal of the project is to develop a plant disease detection application and a business case with a local startup (Agrowponics). If the business model is feasible and Agrowponics is satisfied with the final concept and the analysis, it will be rolled out as a complementary service for the company’s customers. In “Estimating the Impact of Small Businesses on Crime in the Local Community,” Josiah Johnson is utilizing a contest among small towns for a $500,000 revitalization award to study the spillover effects and general efficacy of small business initiatives in small towns. By surveying towns nominated for the TV show “Small Business Revolution,” the project compares and quantifies the impact of the award on various economic outcomes of winning towns relative to non-winning nominees. The results of this project will be of interest to investors and policy makers for future small business initiatives and programs in the U.S. “As we have come to expect with the Student Research and Creative Works Expo, this year’s projects highlight the innovation and diversity of student research at its best,” Ecke said. “Please join us on April 16 to learn more about the many exciting projects at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.” To register for the event, you can sign up . Once you have been registered, participants will receive notification from an expo committee member and can sign in or create an account to join the event . A brief video outlining the registration process and Whova event platform is available .��

2020 Student Research and Creative Works Expo moves online

John Hill — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 16:39:59 +0000

The 2020 Student Research and Creative Works Expo launches April 17 and will be conducted through the free event app Whova. “We are excited to be able to continue the 2020 Expo as a virtual venue and hope you can join us to celebrate the hard work of our students, faculty, and the members of the Student Research and Creative Works Committee,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of undergraduate research and chair of the Department of English. Whova can host more than 700 free attendees. Members of the university community and the public are invited to attend this year’s expo to have the chance to check out the university’s student research. Those who would like to attend the expo can fill out this brief . ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will share the app download so attendees can start exploring the amazing work of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s student mentees and faculty mentors. During April 20-24, workshops will be held to orient presenters and judges who are new to Whova. Judging will begin April 27 and end May 1.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock announces 2019-20 Signature Experience Awards

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 15:16:50 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has selected nearly 125 students as recipients of 2019-20 Signature Experience grants.�� Since 2017, the program has provided ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students with a grant of up to $1,000 to fund a signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community project, to enrich the students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.�� This year’s 124 awards include projects that range from the delivery of drugs for bone tissue disease and cancer using nanotechnology and the creation of a voice-controlled drone to assist people with disabilities to the design and optimization of a portable medical scooter. For the first time, a subset of grants were awarded to freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students to encourage research projects by new college students. Also for the first time, Signature Experience grants were awarded to graduate students to encourage advanced research projects.�� “In support of retention efforts aimed at getting students involved in research so they identify with their majors or programs early in their academic careers, 19 percent of our grants went to support projects undertaken by freshmen, sophomores, or students in their first year as a transfer student,” said Dr. Ecke, director of the Signature Experience Program. “At the other end of the spectrum, for the first year since its inception, the Signature Experience Program funded 29 graduate student projects.”�� Recipients of the Signature Experience grants will exhibit their work at the 2020 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase on April 17, 2020.�� The Signature Experience grant winners and their respective colleges are as follows:

College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences

Zayna Abdulla, a junior studying English and biology, mentored by Anindya Gosh – “A Novel, Injectable Hydrogel Based on Guar Gum for Anti-cancer Drug Delivery” Reem Adai, a sophomore studying physics, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles By Laser Ablation” Anthony Aloi, a junior studying chemistry and biology – “Laser-induced Graphene Nanofiltration Membranes for Water Purification” Nabeel Alwan, a junior studying chemistry and biology, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “The Role of Functional Groups of Porphyrin as a Photodynamic Therapy Nanodrug” Emily Anderson, a senior studying biology, mentored by Shanzhi Wang – “Silver Nanoparticle Conjugated Glucose Oxidase for Prevention and Growth of Bacteria” Michael Appiah-Kubi, a senior studying chemistry, mentored by Wei Zhao – “Controlling the Pore Sizes of Graphene Oxide Nanostructures through Hydrothermal Reactions for Efficient Water Purification” Mujeebat Bashiru, a graduate student studying applied chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Room Temperature Phosphorescent Materials for Use in Optoelectronic Application” Assem Basurrah, a graduate student studying chemistry, mentored by Wei Zhao – “Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction to Ammonia Using MoS2-based Nanocatalysts” Alexis Boling, a freshman mentored by Sandra Leiterman – “Mom and Me STEM” Marvin Bonney, a graduate student studying applied physics, mentored by John Nichols – “Investigation of Strain Effects in Superconducting Magnesium Diboride Thin Films” Jess Brasher, a senior studying theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence Smith – “1,000 Cranes 10,000 Thoughts: Trans Narrative in Performance” Stuti Chatterjee, a junior studying chemistry and biology, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Effect of Nanoparticle’s Morphology towards the Cellular Uptake, Toxicity and Selectivity to Cancer Cells” Meghan Clark, a senior studying biology, mentored by Nawab Ali – “Effect of Oxidative Stress on Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis) Mediated via Endoplasmic Reticulum Multiple Inositol Polyphosphate Phosphatase 1 (Minpp1)” Sarah Coffman, a junior studying chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Esterification of Aromatic Aldehyde using Nickel” Thomas Coleman, a graduate student studying interdisciplinary studies, mentored by Heather Hummel – “Intersections of Poetry and Music” Ivy Crowe, a junior studying English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran – “Braddock Avenue Books Spring Catalogue at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, San Antonio, Texas, March 2020” Iris Denmark, a graduate student studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – Synthesis of Conductive Materials from Chemically Treated Renewable Carbon Precursors for Use in Energy Applications Kajal Desai, a junior studying chemistry, mentored by Wei Zhao – “Graphene Oxide-MoS2 Composite Membranes for Arsenic and Lead Polluted Water Purification” LaDarius Doaks, a senior studying dance and psychology, mentored by Robin Neveu Brown – “WithIN MOTION: BFA senior Dance Project Film” Yousef Elbalawy, a sophomore studying biology, mentored by Nawab Ali – “Effect of Microgravity on the Expression of Multiple Inositol Polyphosphate Phosphatase” Rad Elsaidi, a senior studying chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang – “Anti-Microbial Effects of GSDMD” Sakr Elsaidi, a post baccalaureate student studying biology, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Synthesis of Topological Nanomaterials” Taiwo Famuyiwa, a graduate student studying applied mathematics and statistics, mentored by Wei Zhang – “Develop New Machine Learning Methods for Integrative Analysis” Ashi Franke, a senior studying graphic design/web design and development, mentored by Lynne Ellsworth Larsen – “Bauhaus’ Renaissance and the Future of UI/UX Design” Luke Geoffrion, a graduate student studying applied physics, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Synthesis of Colloidal Topological Insulators” Cordell Gilreath, a senior studying chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang – “Examination of the Enzymatic Characteristics of Borrelia Burgdorferi” Taylor Green, a senior studying theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence Smith – “Uncovering Elaine: The Story of the Elaine Massacre of 1919” Carmen Gutierrez, a junior studying dance, mentored by Stephanie Thibeault – “Nature vs. Nurture: The Roots of Movement Preferences Amongst Dancers” Yanping Harville, a senior studying biology and geology, mentored by Scott Woolbright – “Toxic Effects of Acetaminophen on Bacteria from a Probiotic Supplement Utilized as a Surrogate for the Human Gastrointestinal Microbiome” Tina Hesabizadeh, a junior studying biology, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Quantum Structructure of Selenium Nanoparticles” Evan Hicks, a senior studying physics, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Synthesis of Tellurium Quantum Wires” Amanda Jalihal, a graduate student studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Near Infrared Ionic Dye Pairs for Optimization of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells” Travis Jumper, a transfer student studying chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Polyamide Formation via a Nickel Pincer Catalyst” Rawan Kattom, a junior studying biology, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Cellulose-based Doped Carbon Materials for the Efficient Degradation of NPs Under Visible Light” Caroline Kornelsen, a senior studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Investigation of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer in Ionic Materials” Hannah Krehbiel, a sophomore studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Application of Ionic Materials in Organic Solar Cells” Thuy Le, a graduate student studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Understanding of Stretchability and Conductivity Characterization of PEDOT:PSS/ionic Liquid for Flexible Electronics” Samantha Macchi, a doctoral student studying applied science, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Molasses-derived Nitrogen and Silicon Co-doped Carbon Material for Use as Electrocatalyst in ORR for Fuel Cell Application” Mary Melissa Miller, a graduate student studying History of art, mentored by Floyd Martin – “Titian’s Venus of Urbino: A New Interpretation” Brandon Moore, a senior studying biology, mentored by John Bush – “The Use of a Dominant-negative Rab32c Protein from Slime Mold, Dictyostelium Discoideum, for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Humans” Gary Morris, a graduate student studying biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright – “Urban Ecology of Pearl Crescent Butterflies in the Little Rock Metropolitan Region” Daniel Nde, a graduate student studying applied chemistry, mentored by Wei Zhao – “Investigating Algae-derived Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes for Ionic and Molecular Nanofiltration” Thao Nguyen, a sophomore studying chemistry, mentored by Hong Li Wang – “Enzymatic Characterization of Bgp from B. Burgdorferi, the Main Causative Agent in Lyme Disease in the United States” Anil Parameswaran-Thankam, a graduate student studying applied chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Guar Plant Based Injectable, Thermoresponsive Hydrogel for Bone Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery” Lauv Patel, a sophomore studying chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang – “Enzymatic Characterization of E11Q Mutant of Methylthioadenosine Nucleosidase from S. Aureus” Chandrasimha Penthala, a junior studying biology, mentored by John Bush – “The Synthesis and Testing of Nanostructured Stainless Steel Wires by In Vitro Antibacterial Studies for Dental Application” Humendra Poudel, a graduate student studying chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Synthesis of Nanomaterials and Its Application in the Biomedical Field” Atikur Rahman, a graduate student studying physics, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers – “Synthesis and Characterization of Core Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles” Olgaaurora Rodriguez, a junior studying chemistry and biology, mentored by Wei Zhao – “Biomass-derived Nanofiltration Membranes for Drinking Water Purification” Taylor Scifres, a junior studying chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj – “Soy Meal as Supercapacitor” Logan Sellen, a senior studying physics, mentored by Yslan Hicks – “Shelter We Seek: An Examination of the Cyclical Patterns of Abuse through Playwriting and Production” Tripti Shukla, a sophomore studying chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang – “Enzymatic Studies of a Triple Mutant of MTA Nucleosidase from S. Aureus” Kaitlin Simmons, a senior studying molecular biotechnology, mentored by Qingfang He – “Effects of Phosphate Limitation on Contamination of Synechocystis sp. PCCC 6803 and a Histidine Kinase Deletion Mutant” Damanpreet Singh, a senior studying biology, mentored by Qingfang He – “Metabolic Engineering of Cyanobacteria for Sustainable Production of Cinnamic Acid” Peter Szwedo, a graduate student studying applied chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh – “Small Molecule Activation Using a Nickel (II) Pincer Complex” Patrick Taylor, a junior studying biology, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers Jose Vivanco, a freshman studying physics, mentored by Tansel Karabacak – “Superhydrophobic Nanostructured Surfaces for Atmospheric Water Generator Application” Rebekah White, a graduate student studying applied bioscience, mentored by Qingfang He – “Functions of DspA in Photosynthesis and Cellular Fitness”

College of Education and Health Professions

Sedre’Auna Griddine, a graduate student studying health education and promotion, mentored by Katie Helms – “Exercise Incentive Programs: Motivation and Longitudinal Effectiveness” Eric Nix, a senior nursing major, mentored by Jennifer Bridges – “Nursing Students’ Knowledge of the Morse Fall Scale and the STRATIFY Tool” Kaylin Orrell, a senior studying communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Donna Kelly –” An Investigation of Evidenced-Based Treatments for Children and Adults who Present with an Acquired Language, Language-related and/or Cognitive Impairment”

College of Social Sciences and Communication

Mariam Bouzihay, a senior studying psychology and information technology, mentored by Sandra Leiterman – “Drone Rural: Classroom Exploration” Jacob Chisom, a graduate student studying applied communication, mentored by Avinash Thombre – “Diffusion of Climate Change Reducing Strategies in Farmers of Southeast Arkansas” Brandy Dailey, a graduate student studying public administration, mentored by Kirk Leach – “Evaluation of Batterer Intervention Programs as a Tool to Enhance Offender Accountability” Solomon Davis, a senior studying philosophy and interdisciplinary studies, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm – “Working Better Together: How Material and Symbolic Transitional Justice Affect Post-Civil War Peace” Desiree Doyle, a graduate student studying applied communication, mentored by Avinash Thombre – “Arrival of Hybrid K-Pop culture in Arkansas: An Examination of BlackPink Adoption Among Young Adults” Sadie Goss, a junior studying criminal justice and chemistry, mentored by Robert Lytle – “Paying for Past Crimes: Employment and Prisoner Re-entry amongst Former Serious and Violent Offenders” Zachary Jones, a graduate student studying applied communication, mentored by Louise Lowe – “Ottenheimer Library Space and Perception Study: Evidence-based Inquiry Using Student-Led Focus Groups” Tiffany Meeks, a junior studying applied communication, mentored by April Chatham-Carpenter – “Growth, Maturity, and Stress: Study of Identity Changes through Early Management” Madison Rodgers, a junior studying political science, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm – “Women in Government and the Relationship Between the State and Women’s Rights NGOs” Taylor Toombs, a junior studying political science, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm – “Transitional Justice and Gender” Marisha Twillie, a senior studying applied communication, mentored by Kristen McIntyre – “The Power of Biracial Women’s Code-switching” Ashley Walker, a junior studying criminal justice, mentored by James Golden – “Evaluating Domestic Violence Batterer’s Intervention Programs and their Potential to Reduce Recidivism for Domestic Abusers” Joshua Williams, a sophomore studying international studies, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm – “Arab-Israelis in Evolving Israeli Politics”

George W. Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology

Alejandro (Alex) Alvarez-Barreiro, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering technology and Spanish, mentored by Sandra Leiterman – “BB-8 Continued” Andrew Bomberger, a senior studying computer science, mentored by Philip Huff – “Cyber Security Cloud Competition Controller” Jannice Bonilla, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar Sharma – “Multi-Configuration Tower Building Robot: An ASME Student Design Competition Contender” Justin Bullard, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Mamdouh Bakr – “Portable Folding Laptop Stand” Josh Carlat, a senior studying computer science, mentored by Sean Orme – “A Look into the Feasibility of Teaching Game Engine Design at the Undergraduate Level” Gabriel Castro, a transfer student studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash Jajam – “Measurement of In-plane Surface Deformations of Planar Solids using the Method of Digital Image Correlation” Trey Chancellor, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Mo Bakr – “Development, Design, and Testing of Folding, Mobile Carpentry Work Bench” John Clements, a senior studying computer science, mentored by Ivan Rodriguez-Conde – “HMD-based Teleoperation of Wheeled Mobile Robots” Jamison Conatser, a senior studying electronics and computer engineering technology, mentored by Steve Menhart – “Voice Controlled Drone with Camera for Disabled Persons” Brandon Crawford, a junior studying e-commerce, mentored by Thomas Wallace – “Optimizing Workflow with Modern Technology and Ergonomics: A STEAM Project” Michael Davis, a junior studying information science, mentored by Philip Williams – “Heifer International Aquaponics Project” Merak Dyer, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth Pidugu – “Kitchen Appliance Automatic Storage and Retrieval System” Jacob Earley, a junior studying geology, mentored by Margaret (Beth) McMillan – “Using Short-range Photogrammetry for 3D Digital Reconstruction of Arkansaurus Fridayi Fossil Bones” Gaige Ehrenworth, a sophomore studying computer science, mentored by Jan Springer – “Consumer Ray-Tracing in Real Time” Denver Ellis, a sophomore studying computer science, mentored by Jan Springer – “Student Exploration in Computer Graphics Through the Creation of a Rasterization Pipeline” Brandon Norman, a freshman studying computer science, mentored by Ivan Rodriguez-Conde – “Web System for the Visualization and Dissemination of Three-dimensional Content in the Field of Paleontology” Jack Gaston, a freshman studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash Jajam – “Influence of Layer Thickness and Interface Bonding Strength on Energy Absorption Response of Polyurea Coated Glass Plates” John Graham, a junior studying engineering technology, mentored by Kailash Jajam – “Strengthening Behavior of 7075 Al Alloy After Strain Hardening Versus that of Precipitation Hardening” Anna Gayle Griffiths, a senior studying geology, mentored by Michael DeAngelis – “Improving ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Recycling Program” David Hough, a graduate student studying applied science, mentored by Michael DeAngelis – “Synthesis of Targeted Composition Nanoscale Olivine” Jacob Jackson, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar Sharma – “Removal of Water Turbidity Using Natural Coagulants” Matthew James, a sophomore studying computer science, mentored by Albert Baker – “Financial Literacy for Adolescents through Technology” Marcus Johnson, a transfer student studying computer science, mentored by Jan Springer – “Playlistify: Multi-User Application Interfacing with the Music Streaming Service Spotify” Michael (Tyler) Kee, a senior studying geological sciences, mentored by Laura Ruhl-Whittle – “Strontium Isotopic Ratios in Central Arkansas: Insight into Rock Formation and Water Quality” Nigel Kelly, a junior studying mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Jin Wook Lee – “Design and Fabrication of a Novel Flight Saucer” Joseph Kready, a junior studying computer science, mentored by Xiaowei Xu – “Neural Code Search” Trigun Maroo, a graduate student studying engineering science and systems, mentored by Andrew Wright – “Design of a Microphone Array to Facilitate Acoustic Localization” Amanda Martin, a senior studying Geology, mentored by Rene Shroat-Lewis – “Digitization of Economic Mineral Resources of Arkansas” Noah Mejia, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth Pidugu and Ashokkumar Sharma – “Semi-Autonomous Multi-System Integration Tower Robot” Daniel Myers, a sophomore studying computer science, mentored by Chia-Chu Chiang – “Study of Open Source Operating System for Use as Instructional Aid” Uche Nwali, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar Sharma – “Design Modification of an Existing Hydraulic Ram Pump System to Improve Its Overall Performance” Brenda Nyangweso, a junior studying information science, mentored by Ningning Wu – “Application and Benefits of Cloud Development in the College of Engineering and Information Technology” Tarang Parikh, a senior studying electronics and computer engineering technology, mentored by Steve Menhart – “Solar Powered Raspberry Pi Car Audio-video and Camera System” Garrett Phelps, a transfer student studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash Jajam – “Synthesis and Characterization of Epoxy Composites Modified with Micron-size Stiff and Compliant Fillers” Ryan Ronquillo, a junior studying information science, mentored by Philip Huff – “Reversus: Education in Reverse Engineering Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities” Shadrach Rubio-Pelayo, a freshman studying civil engineering and construction management, mentored by Srikanth Pidugu and Ashokkumar Sharma – “Unmanned Aerial Racing Cargo Vehicle: An ASME IAM3D Competition Contender” Sherif Selim, a senior studying mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash Jajam – “Processing and Mechanical Characterization of Aluminum Foam Based Interpenetrating Phase Composites (IPC) Infiltrated with Solid and Hollow Glass Microspheres” Ramiro Serrano-Vergel, a graduate student studying information science, mentored by Ivan Rodriguez-Conde – “Enhancing User Experience in Custom Closets Prototyping Using Handheld-based Mobile Augmented Reality” Zachary Smith, a graduate student studying applied geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl-Whittle – “Quantifying the Impact of Urbanization on the Fourche Creek Watershed, Little Rock, Arkansas” Tiwari Snehil, a senior studying information science, mentored by Elizabeth Pierce – “Furrow Irrigation Web Application” Eric Sutherland, a junior studying mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Soheil Saedi – “Damping Capacity of Additively Manufactured (AM) NiTi Alloy” James Teem, a freshman studying computer science, mentored by Chia-Chu Chiang – “Integrating Voice Commands into Web Pages for Accessible Interactions” Stephen Vang, a senior studying mechanical engineering, mentored by Srikanth Pidugu – “Design and Optimization of a Portable Medical Scooter” Xingqiao Wang, a graduate student studying computer and information sciences, mentored by Xiaowei Xu – “Hierarchical Neural Language Model for Question Answering” Hunter Wright, a senior studying information science, mentored by Thomas Wallace – “MAACS: Multipurpose All-around Awesome Clustered Server”

College of Business

John Fetherston, a freshman studying business information systems, mentored by Kent Layton – “Water Purification for Maroa, Venezuela” Claire Herman, a junior studying economics, mentored by Casey Rockwell – “Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: Ethical Concerns in the Supply Chain of a Consumer’s Raw Material through DNA Testing” Snehil Tiwari, a junior studying economics, mentored by Moiz Bhai – “A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Implementing Riparian Buffers in the Buffalo River Watershed”

Applications for Signature Experience Grants open until Oct. 31

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:08:44 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will accept applications for the university’s Signature Experience Program until Oct. 31 to encourage and support students in the development of high-impact research or creative projects mentored by a faculty member through the 2019-20 academic year. Applications must be submitted by midnight Oct. 31. The first round of grant applications will be reviewed beginning Oct. 15, so early applications are encouraged. The Signature Experience Grant program was created in 2017 to provide students up to $1,000 to fund a signature experience, such as a research project, creative activity, or community project to enrich students’ academic experience at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Past projects have ranged across disciplines and included a review of tenant-landlord laws in Arkansas, a study of coral reef disease in the Bahamas, an analysis of gold nanoparticles for growing neural cells, an examination of cross-dressing on Shakespeare’s stage, and the entrepreneurial design and development of a transparent fishing box. “This year, there will be several important changes aimed at formalizing the Signature Experience Program to support high-level research and creative work, as well as retention and recruitment initiatives,” said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, director of the Signature Experience Program. “As the Signature Experience Program matures, we hope to offer more research and creative support to students through workshops, speakers, and luncheons that will build a culture of collaboration between faculty and students at various levels of their academic careers.”�� This year, a subset of awards will be set aside for freshmen, sophomores, and students who transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during the 2019-20 academic year. “The grant gives new ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students the opportunity to develop a research project with a mentor and gain a better understanding of a given discipline and its methodologies,” Ecke said. “If new students work with a mentor and conduct research early on in their college careers, they are more likely to stay in school. They are far more likely to be engaged as an active member of the academic community and to identify with their majors.”�� For the first time, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock will also offer a set amount of grants for graduate students.�� “This funding will prioritize graduate students whose research projects are unlikely to move forward without a source of funding,” Ecke said. “These grants open up more research opportunities for our graduate students and give them the chance to conduct more competitive research projects in areas that are not as highly grant funded.” To be eligible for application, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member to mentor their project. They also must present their project during the 2020 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase in April 2020. Applications can be filled out at this link. Examples of abstracts, budgets, biographies, and past Research Expo programs are also available on the Signature Experience website.�� For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Ecke at jsecke@ualr.edu or 501-569-3475.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock English Department sponsors Cornbread Festival storytelling contest

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 13:42:39 +0000

Members of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock community are invited to enter a storytelling contest on the intersection of food, community, and culture in the American South. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Department of English is seeking short creative works of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and spoken work exploring the themes of food, culture, and community in the South. Submissions should be less than 1,000 words and submitted online through the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock English department by 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6. This contest is open to college students and the community at large. Individuals can use this opportunity to develop short, creative works and share their stories with the community.�� The first 20 submissions in the following three categories will be judged: Cornbread Lover (grades 6-12), Hot Skillet Cornbreader (college student), and Cornbread Aficionado (community member, no age limit). A panel of scholars and authors will select the winners from each category, and winners will be invited to read at a special event on Tuesday, Oct. 22,�� at South on Main in Little Rock. Select pieces will also be published in Rock City Eats and the Oxford American blog. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock got involved with the Cornbread Festival after Jeremy Ecke, chair of the English Department, reached out with the idea of creating a literature-themed event to accompany the festival. “I had spent the summer researching and designing a syllabus for a new offering in southern literature,” Ecke said. “One section of the class was dedicated to readings on food, community, and culture. In this section of the class, we crowdsourced cornbread recipes and selected a winner to compete in the competition: cornbread crostini with a side caesar salad.” For more information, contact Ecke at jsecke@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock awards $100,000 to students for research, creative works

Janea Snyder — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 16:19:24 +0000

More than 100 undergraduates at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will receive $1,000 grants to conduct original research, creative works, and community service projects this year as part of the university’s Signature Experience Award Program. Award winners will complete their signature experiences by the end of the 2019 spring semester and present their work at the 2019 Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Showcase on April 18. Students can use their grants to pay expenses related to their projects, which are designed to contribute to their academic development. This year, 144 students applied for the grants, representing an 82 percent increase in applications over last year, said Dr. Jeremy Ecke, chair of the Department of English and director of the Signature Experience program. Of the 144 applicants, 112 student projects received funding, and an additional 20 unfunded applications were recognized as Honorary Signature Experience projects and applicants were invited to present at the April showcase. To receive an award, undergraduate students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and have a faculty member to mentor the project. “The growth of the Signature Experience over the past two years reflects the serious engagement of our students and faculty in the support and development of undergraduate research and creative endeavors,” Ecke said. “The Signature Experience is a direct embodiment of the university’s five strategic goals: it directs resources toward student success, research, and creative endeavors while fostering community engagement and promoting projects that support diversity and global citizenship.” This year’s applicants come from all of the university’s colleges and reflect a diverse range of topics. Students are researching topics ranging from breast cancer and traumatic brain injury to soil composition in the Little Rock Zoo, bank erosion in Coleman Creek, adaptation of Micronesian immigrants, and culturally based responses to homelessness in French and U.S. cities. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson announced the program in 2017 to inspire students to conduct original research and creative projects with guidance of faculty mentors. Last year, 79 students received awards. Congratulations to the following students: College of Arts, Letters and Sciences

Luke Johnson, biology, mentored by John M. Bush. “Phages in different types of water and their effects”
Kimberly Maurer, English, mentored by Paul Crutcher. “Breaking “Single Story” Silence: Celebrating Positive, Diverse Girlhood”
Bonnie R. Young, dance, mentored by Stephanie Thibeault. “Fortune Favors the Bold: Confidence in Dance”
Thuy Le, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “A portable nanosensor for nitroaromatic detection”
Katherine Ashley Hall, theatre arts, mentored by Yslan Hicks. “Cross-dressing: The Transformative Power of Costumes on Shakespeare’s Stage”
Robert Hill, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “Tunable Porphyrin Nanoparticles As Combination Drug For Cancer Therapy.”
Emily Anderson, biology, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “Enzymatic Characterization of Bgp from B. burgdorferi, the Main Causative Agent in Lyme Disease in the U.S.”
Reem Al-Shukri, biology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Plasmonic Nanovectors for Selective Targeting and Killing of Cancer Cells”
Humam Shahare, biology, mentored by Noureen Siraj and Tito Viswanathan. “Use of Ionic Liquid Electrolyte to Enhance the Supercapacitance of Doped Carbon Materials”
KateLin Carsrud, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Braddock Avenue Books Spring Catalogue at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
David Alan Cline, physics, mentored by John Nichols. “Development and Implementation of a Miniature Musical Tesla coil”
Chandrasimha Reddy Penthala, chemistry and biology, mentored by Wei Zhao. “Synthesis of NiFe-Based Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets on Nickel Foams for Water-Splitting Electrocatalysis”
Sarah Harper, art education, mentored by Timothy Garth. “Curating Connections: Museum Skills and Pk-12 Learning Engagement”
Caleb Alexander-McKinzie, English/legal studies, mentored by Heather Hummel. “Blood Orange Review and Braddock Avenue Books Literary Reading at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019
Grayson Treat, English, mentored by Heather K. Hummel. “The Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference Undergraduate Resource Guide”
Madeleine Logan, biology, mentored by Robert Sikes. “Minimizing Stress in Wild vs Domesticated Mammals: The Effects of Anesthesia and Handling Time”
Bonn Belingon, chemistry, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “Potential Use of Enzyme Glucose Oxidase (GOx) as an Antimicrobial Agent”
Tyler Maxwell, biology and chemistry, mentored by Qingfang He. “De novo Biosynthesis of Resveratrol in Metabolically Engineered”
Madison Brown, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Presenting the 2019 Equinox Literary Magazine at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
Kathryn Bates, English, mentored by Jeffrey Condran. “Funding Undergraduate Literary Magazines: An Investigation at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, Portland, Ore., March 2019”
Noemi Garcia, biology/Spanish, mentored by Stephen Grace. “Gene Discovery for Health Promoting Phytochemicals in the Medicinal Plant Echinacea”
Jessica Yvonne Ley, theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith. “The Default: An Exploration of Heteronormativity through Stage Performance”
Serena Mykenzie Gordon, theatre arts, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith. “A Theatre of Cruelty Experience”
Caroline Kornelsen, chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj and Tito Vishwanathan. “Synthesis of a Betaine Ester Surfactant via a Novel “Green” Method of Esterification”
Grace Young, biology, mentored by Robert Sikes. “Minimizing Stress in Wild vs Domesticated Mammals: The Effects of Anesthesia and Handling Time”
Jessica L. Morris, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Evaluating Variation in Soil Composition among Habitats at the Little Rock Zoo”
Carol Ann Bowerman, biology and chemistry, mentored by Nawab Ali. “The Investigation of Silver-coated Gold Nanorods as an Effective Nano-drug Vessel”.”
Maxwell Rollins Campbell, biology/music, mentored by Carl R. Stapleton. “Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds on Ostracod Densities in Fourche Creek”
Arooba Ilyas, biology/chemistry, mentored by Noureen Siraj. “Tea Waste as an Adsorbent for Water Purification”
Ryan Mann, biology, mentored by Shanzhi Wang. “The Affects of Caspase-1 Cleavage on Alpha-Synuclein”
Travis Jumper, chemistry, mentored by Anindya Ghosh. “A Novel Synthetic Chemical Pathway for the Formation of Amides”
Lauren Humphrey, graphic design, mentored by Kevin Cates. “Children’s Bible for residents in Mongu, Zambia”
Aaron Prosser, graphic design, mentored by Kevin Cates. “Organo Guys Action Figures”
Tracy V. Cook, English, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “Brief Thoughts of the 21st Century”
Tina Hesabizadeh, interdisciplinary studies, mentored by Gregory Guisbiers. “Synthesis of Selenium-based Nanostructures”
Vardah Asad Sheikh, physics, mentored by Tansel Karabacak. “Nanorod Arrays for Flexible Photodetector Applications”
Lyle P. Arnett, Physics, mentored by Tansel Karabacak. “Growth of Metal Oxide Nanostructures (MONSTRs) by Hot Water Treatment/Deposition”
William James Avery King, molecular biotechnology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Evaluation of Gold Nanoparticles with Various Aspect Ratios for Use as Artificial Extracellular Matrices for Growing Neural Cells”
Thomas Jackson, theatre arts, mentored by William Marshall. “Scenic design for Fringe Festival”
Conor Van Lierop, theatre arts, mentored by William Marshall. “Lighting design for the Fringe Festival”
Brandy Rochelle Mimms, dance performance, mentored by Stephanie Thibeault. “Deaf can Dance.”
Taylor S. Green, theatre arts and dance, mentored by Lawrence D. Smith, “The Elaine Twelve: Aftermath of the Massacre of 1919”
Emily Nichole Fendley, French / anthropology and nonprofit leadership studies, mentored by Rosalie M. Cheatham. “Homelessness: Causes, Culturally-based Responses and NGO Engagement in Mid-sized French and US Cities”

College of Education and Health Professions

Emilia Zsuzsanna Rak, social work, mentored by David J. Namir. “Change Your Days”
Wesley C. Smith, nursing, mentored by Jeffrey K. Carmack. “An Assessment of Time Spent Teaching Hearing and Non-hearing Patients”
Tamara J. Martin, communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Dr. Donna J. Kelly. “Investigation of Interdisciplinary Assessment Measures of Acute and Persistent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) Sequela in Adults”
Darleene Rua and Michelle Henderson, nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios”
Jessica Swatzel, communication sciences and disorders, mentored by Dana Moser. “Effects of Applying Brain Stimulation during Language Intervention?”
Darrien Adams, health education and promotion, mentored by Janea Snyder. “Growing Healthy Communities Projects (Wellness Fair & Garden to Grill Cooking Class)”
Emily Junkans, communication sciences and disorders/ Spanish, mentored by Jeremy Ecke. “Language and Identity: Academic English and International Students”

Stuti Chatterjee, biology, mentored by Philip H. Williams. “Island project – Automated water quality sensors/wildlife webcam”

College of Business

Emelie Blennow, marketing, mentored by Dr. Casey Rockwell. “Analysis of Ethical and Legal Implications of Autopilot vehicles. Is Tesla the new Pinto?”
Maximillian Holzmueller, economics and Finance, mentored by Moiz Bhai. “A Case Study in Agrowponics”
Alexander Reid Palmer, Human Resource Management, mentored by John Hendon, “Medical Marijuana and Federalism”

College of Social Sciences and Communication

Nicholas J. Popowich, journalism, mentored by John A. Kirk. “Documenting the Black Power Movement in Arkansas”
Rhonda Thomas, professional and technical writing, mentored by Heidi Skurat Harris. “Alexander’s Stray Mare: Tracing an Ancestor from Georgia to Pre-territorial Arkansas”

Julie O’Hara, political science, mentored by Joseph Giammo. “The Effect of Elite Discourses on Secessionist Movements”
Dylan Wright, political science/Spanish, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “The Language of Truth: Exploring the Discourse of Latin American Truth Commission Recommendations”
Jordan Wallis, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “God and Country: Veteran Services in the Little Rock Religious Community”
Mary Katelyn McBrayer, applied communication, mentored by April Chatham-Carpenter. “Disrupting the Cycle of Mental Illness: Building up Intergenerational Family Resilience through Positive Communication”
Robin A. Freeman, applied communication, mentored by Avinash Thombre. “Understanding Communication Strategies for Women without Children”
Octavious Harris, criminal justice/law enforcement, mentored by Trisha N. Rhodes. “Exploring Predictors of Sentencing for Male and Female Prisoners in Arkansas”
Michael Meziere, criminal justice, mentored by Molly Smith. “Examining the Relationship between Religiosity, Rape Myth Acceptance, and Sexual Misconduct”
Asiah Bradley, criminal justice and psychology, mentored by Molly Smith. “Correlates of Sexual Misconduct Victims’ Use of Campus Resources”
Morgan Paige Topping, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “How Social Media can Increase Participation in Community-based Research: The Case of the Little Rock Congregation Study”
Rosalinda Roper, political science/international studies, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Exploring Variation in International Response to Refugee Crises”
Madeline Burke, international studies, mentored by Casey Rockwell. “The Unregulated Regulators”

CSSC & CALS

Nicole Ursin, anthropology/history, mentored by Juliana Flinn. “Adaptation of Micronesian Immigrants”
Katherine Roberts, philosophy/interdisciplinary, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “Diversifying the Discipline: An analysis of the 2019 Arkansas High School Ethics Bowl”
Emma Beth Williams, professional and technical writing/legal studies, mentored by Jana McAuliffe. “An Axiology of Public Philosophy: A Study in Public Intellectualism”
Solomon Ra’phael Davis, international studies/philosophy, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Making Human Lives Better: How Material and Symbolic Reparations Improve Post Civil War Peace”

Engineering & Information Technology

Andrew Mark Cherry, mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Jin Wook Lee. “A Quadcopter with Improved Lift Capabilities”
Rebecca L. Bishop, geology, mentored by Rene A. Shroat-Lewis. “Monitoring Coral Patch Reefs of San Salvador Island, Bahamas for Diversity and Disease”
Christopher Flocken, computer science, mentored by Steven Minsker. “Functional Programming Design”
Lamarcus Coleman, computer science/mathematics, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Applying Deep Reinforcement Learning to Economic Event Prediction”

Ahmed Alazzawi, systems engineering, mentored by Kamran Iqbal. “Altered Muscle Synergies While Walking Under Higher Postural Constraints”
Josh Carlat, computer science game option, mentored by Sean Orme. “A Look into the Feasibility of Teaching Game Engine Design at the Undergraduate Level”
Nikki Mullen, mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Andrew Wright and Alex Biris. “Characterization of Nanoparticle Scaffolding Polymer”
Luke Tyhurst, information science, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Developing an Online Platform: From Market Research to a Minimum Viable Product”
Zezhang Lin, computer science, mentored by Chia-Chu Chiang. “Automatic Customization of Web Pages to Enhance User Experience”
David M. Hough, environmental geology, mentored by Thomas Colby. “Investigating the Age and Significance of a Rare Occurrence of Metagabbro in the Ouachita Mountains, Central Arkansas, USA”
Jason Spencer, geology, mentored by Michael DeAngelis. “Mineralogical, Petrological and Geochronological Investigation of the Blue Ball Lamproite Dike near Waldron, Arkansas, USA”
Cody Smith, geology, mentored by Michael DeAngelis. “Reproducing and Improving the Sol-Gel Synthesis of Nanoscale Enstatite (Mg2Si2O6) and Diopside (CaMgSi2O6)”
Li Zhou Morrow, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design and Development of a Unique Transparent Fishing Tackle Box”

Michael Tyler Kee, geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Evolution of Contaminants in Weathered Coal Combustion Residuals: an Environmental Case Study”
Julian Reid Ervin, environmental geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Microplastics in Fourche Creek Wetlands”
Derrick Fuell, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth B. Pidugu. “A Novel Macro-mixer for Medical Applications”
Jacob H. Jackson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Water Recycling System for a Hydraulic Ram Pump”
Denver Ellis, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Improving Versatility of Smart Mirrors Through Facial Recognition and Rotational Measurements”
Joshua Ray, environmental engineering, mentored by Lashun Massey.“A Novel Collaborative Approach to Addressing Environmental Engineering”
Kajal Shukla, computer science, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Boosting Deep Learning Risk Prediction for Electronic Health Records”
Zaire Idalis Husband, computer science/information assurance, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Multi-Factor Authentication”
Taima Zidan Suid, computer science with mathematics minor, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Multi-Factor Authentication”
Malik Shakur El-Amin, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “MockSOC – A prototype Special Operations Center”
Sam Willis, computer science, mentored by Mariofanna Milanova. “Computer Vision System to Identify and Quantify Waste”
Chance Melby, computer science, mentored by Jan P. Springer. “Analysis of Red Team Coordination: Finding the Correct Attack Methodology”
Adam Ness, systems engineering/mathematics, mentored by Marc D. Glidden. “Ramifications of Bank Deserts on Financial Literacy”
Christopher F. Bohner, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design-for-manufacturing, construction, and testing of a thermochemical system to generate power from municipal solid waste”
Pablo J. Centeno, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma and Srikanth B. Pidugu. “Pick and place robot”
Bryan S. Wilson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design, construction, and testing of a re-designed gasifier”
Jonathon M. Horn, geology, mentored by Margaret E. McMillan. “Analysis of short-term changes in bank erosion and sediment transport in Coleman Creek, Little Rock, AR, using ��Vlog��ýV aerial surveys”
Patrick W. Paladino, geology, mentored by Margaret E. McMillan. “Analysis of Short-term Changes in Bank Erosion and Sediment Transport in Coleman Creek, Little Rock, AR, Using Field Surveys”
Mandolin Harris, geology, mentored by Laura Ruhl. “Evolution of Karst Spring Water in the Ozark Mountains: Impacts on Water Quality”
Elias Perez Reyes, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Srikanth B. Pidugu. “Effective Thermal Conductivity of Open Celled Copper Foam metals”
Alexandria L. Smith, electronic and computer engineering technology, mentored by Hirak Patangia. “An Evaporative Energy Harvester”
Sherif A. Selim, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Kailash C. Jajam. “Additive Manufacturing of Multiphase Syntactic Foams Modified with Glass Microballoons and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)”
Alex Alvarez, mechanical engineering technology/Spanish, mentored by Sandra Leiterman. “BB-8 in STEM Ed”
Nigel Kelly, mechanical systems engineering/mathematics, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Fabrication of Hafnium Thin Films for Optical Applications”
Ashley Strohmeyer, electrical and computer engineering technology, mentored by Alexandru Biris. “Fabrication of Titanium Disilicide Films Using Pulsed Laser Deposition”
Eric Nelson Sutherland Jr., mechanical systems engineering, mentored by Soheil Saedi. “An Investigation on the Effects of Heat Treatment Process on Phase Transformation of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys”
Evan Angle, computer science/physics, mentored by Albert Baker. “Can Enhanced VR Display Resolution Impact Application Effectiveness?”

Honorary Signature Experience Award winners

Gary Morries, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Survey of Climate Relict Populations of Varied Groundsnakes (Sonora semiannulatum) from Rare Arkansas Glade Ecosystems.”
Madison Victoria Rodgers, political science, mentored by Rebecca Glazier. “Engagement and Religion among Little Rock Congregations: ��The Reciprocal Relationship between Community Involvement and Political Involvement”
Christopher Tate, post-bac nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios”
Elizabeth Jarrott, nursing, mentored by Leigh Snead. “Students’ Perceptions and Skills Performance in Two Student-led Emergency Simulated Scenarios.”
Laura Ruiz Astorga, international studies and psychology, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “Women’s Empowerment in Conflict-Affected Societies”
Victoria Yvonne McHargue, biology/chemistry/ American sign language, mentored by John Bush. “Using Bacteriophages for Potential Bio-remediation for a Water Source”
Allie Woodville, political science and anthropology, mentored by Eric Wiebelhaus-Brahm. “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Information Technology: From a Public Involvement Perspective”
Katie Matthews, biology, mentored by Scott Woolbright. “Soil Microbial Communities Associated with a Prairie Restoration in Northwest Arkansas.”
Taylor Hudson, mechanical engineering technology, mentored by Ashokkumar M. Sharma. “Design Modification, Construction and Testing of Ram Pump – A Performance Improvement Study”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student Sylvia Szwedo talks about her chemistry project during the 2018 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase. Photo by Benjamin Krain

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to award $100,000 for 2018-19 Signature Experience Awards

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 13:30:26 +0000

Undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are eligible to receive a $1,000 grant to fund a signature experience during the 2018-19 academic year.�� Vlog��ý Little Rock is providing 100 $1,000 grants so students can participate in a signature experience over the course of the 2018-19 academic year, such as a research project, creative activity, or community service project, that will contribute significantly to an undergraduate student’s academic development. The priority deadline is Sept. 15 while the final deadline is Sept. 30. Chancellor Andrew Rogerson announced the program in 2017 to inspire ��Vlog��ý Little Rock undergraduate students to conduct research and creative projects to enrich their academic experience. To receive a signature experience award, undergraduate students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and have a faculty member to mentor the project. This year, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty members who are serving as mentors to students completing a signature experience are responsible for initiating an application and filling out the information necessary to be considered for a Mentored Signature Experience Project award. Students may propose a project to a mentor, but the mentor is responsible for submitting the application in full. Mentors may initiate an application without having a designated mentee, but the award will not be distributed until the project has a student mentee. Projects must be completed by the end of the 2019 spring semester. Student award recipients will present their findings at the 2019 spring Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Showcase. Applications can be. For more information, contact Dr. Jeremy Ecke at jsecke@ualr.edu.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Announces Winners of 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Expo Winners