Friday, April 24, 2015 8 am - 5 pm Lincoln Campus Center • UMass Amherst View presenters

110 Pages·2015·2.13 MB·English

View presenters‘ abstracts at: www.honors.umass.edu/conference
#MassURC
Friday, April 24, 2015
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Lincoln Campus Center • UMass Amherst
WELCOME
WELCOME TO THE 21ST ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS
STATEWIDE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE!
Student researchers representing 25 public higher education institutions in
Massachusetts have convened for this day of sharing and learning. With
nearly 1,100 students delivering presentations among peers and the public
today, the 2015 Undergraduate Research Conference includes more student
presenters than ever.
Throughout the day, students exhibit not only their original research, but
also their drive and effort to better understand aspects of our world.
In fields ranging from art history to public health to veterinary science,
students are conducting meaningful research and contributing knowledge
to their fields.
In addition to student presentations, the conference includes an afternoon
Networking Reception (2:30-3:00 p.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium),
offering students and faculty a scheduled break and a chance to connect
while sharing ideas and research interests.
This year’s conference introduces a new element, with representatives from
undergraduate institutions and graduate programs sharing information
about opportunities for continued study and research. These representatives
will have information for community college students looking to transfer
and students considering graduate work. Visit the representatives’ tables
following the keynote address and throughout the rest of the day.
The Undergraduate Research Conference is co-sponsored by
Commonwealth Honors College and the Massachusetts System of Public
Higher Education, comprised of the University of Massachusetts campuses
and the commonwealth's community colleges and state universities.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome 1 Mathematics & Statistics 42 Finance 63
Conference Schedule 3 Mechanical Engineering 42 Geography 63
Keynote Speaker 4 Microbiology 43 Geology 63
College and University 5 Nursing 43 Gerontology 63
Reps
Nutrition & Food Science 43 History 63
Acknowledgements 6
Philosophy 43 Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC 64
Venue Maps 7
Physics 43 Kinesiology 64
Oral Presentations 10
Political Science 44 Landscape Architecture 65
Poster Presentations 20
Psychology 45 Legal Studies 65
Public Health 46 Linguistics 65
Presenters/Oral 32
Social Thought & 49 Literature 65
Accounting 32 Political Economy
Management 65
Animal Sciences 32 Social Work 49
Marketing 66
Anthropology 32 Sociology 49
Mathematics & Statistics 66
Art 33 Sport Management 50
Mechanical Engineering 66
Art History 33 Theater 50
Microbiology 66
Astronomy 33 Veterinary Science 50
Nursing 67
Biochemistry 33 Women's Studies 50
Nutrition 68
Biology 33
Nutrition & Food Science 68
Presenters/Poster 51
Chemical Engineering 34
Philosophy 69
Accounting 51
Chemistry 35
Physics 69
Animal Sciences 51
Communication 35
Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences 69
Anthropology 51
Computer Science 36
Political Science 70
Art 51
Economics 36
Psychology 70
Astronomy 52
Education 37
Public Health 73
Biochemistry 52
English 37
Social Thought & 76
Biology 53
Environmental Studies 38 Political Economy
Chemical Engineering 56
Finance 38 Social Work 77
Chemistry 56
History 39 Sociology 77
Civil Engineering 58
Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC 40 Sustainable Food 80
Communication 58 and Farming
International Studies 40
Community or Public Service 58 Theater 81
Japanese 40
Computer Science 59 Veterinary Science 81
Kinesiology 40
Decision Science 59
Landscape Architecture 41
Index of Presenters 82
Economics 59
Legal Studies 41 by Name
Education 60
Linguistics 41 Index of Presenters 95
Electrical Engineering 61 by Campus
Literature 41
English 61
Management 42
Environmental Studies 61
Marketing 42
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2015 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Oral and Poster Session 1
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Welcome and Keynote
10:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. College & University Reps
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Oral and Poster Session 2
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 3
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 4
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Reception
3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 5
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 6
3 3
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Predicting Dengue Fever Outbreaks in Thailand
Nicholas G. Reich, PhD
Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health
and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Reich’s talk explores dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease
that annually infects more than 50 million individuals worldwide.
Building on a long-standing collaboration with the Ministry
of Public Health in Thailand, Reich discusses the challenges in
creating accurate and actionable forecasts of dengue fever for
the Thai government.
Dr. Nicholas Reich is a biostatistician whose research focuses on
developing statistical models for infectious disease. After earning
a bachelor of arts in English literature from Carleton College in
Minnesota, Reich worked at Harper’s Magazine in New York and
a non-profit car-sharing organization in San Francisco before
returning to academia to study public health and biostatistics.
Reich received his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins School of
Public Health. He has developed methods and tools for analyzing
infectious disease surveillance data to help predict outbreaks
of dengue fever and influenza. His recent research has yielded
important insights into the complex global dynamics of dengue
fever.
4 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference
FURTHER STUDY: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES
Conference attendees—whether community college students intending to transfer to four-year
institutions or students planning to pursue graduate studies—are invited to visit with representatives from
these Massachusetts undergraduate institutions and graduate programs to collect information about
opportunities for continued study and research.
Representatives will be at their tables throughout the day, beginning after the keynote address. The tables
are located in the Campus Center Auditorium, in front of the stage.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge all of the faculty members who volunteered their time and expertise to review
abstracts and give invaluable guidance to student presenters. We would like to express our great appreciation
to the following campus contacts for their time and support of the conference.
Stacy Evans Berkshire Community College
Theresa King Bridgewater State University
Susan McCourt Bristol Community College
Michael Dubson Bunker Hill Community College
Libby Dunphy Bunker Hill Community College
Delores Bird Cape Cod Community College
Sara Pollak Levine Fitchburg State University
Katelyn Christopher Framingham State University
Judi Greene-Corvee Greenfield Community College
Vanessa Martinez Holyoke Community College
Matt Silliman Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Susan Edgerton Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Jennie-Rebecca Falcetta Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Jeanie Tietjen Massachusetts Bay Community College
Mark Patrick Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Susan Martelli Massasoit Community College
David Kalivas Middlesex Community College
Sheila Murphy Mount Wachusett Community College
Marcey Marold North Shore Community College
Ginger Hurajt Northern Essex Community College
Susan McPherson Quinsigamond Community College
Kimberly Stieglitz Roxbury Community College
Joanna Gonsalves Salem State University
Jeff Theis Salem State University
Diane Sabato Springfield Technical College
Michael Metzger University of Massachusetts Boston
Letha Gayle-Brissett University of Massachusetts Amherst
Avery Plaw University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Jim Canning University of Massachusetts Lowell
Glen Brewster Westfield State University
Francisco Vivoni Worcester State University
We would also like to give special recognition to Conference Coordinator Letha Gayle-Brissett, Conference
Assistant Danielle Hecht, Meredith Lind, Melissa Woglom, Shonda Pettiford, Peter Brown, Nick Wojcik,
Vance Chatel, Andrea Robbins, Justin Campbell, the Lincoln Campus Center staff, and the faculty, staff, and
students at Commonwealth Honors College.
6 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference
FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Lincoln Campus Center, First Floor
Auditorium
A
Registration Desk
Men’s Restroom 177
Women’s
Restroom 162 174
Concourse
C 163
Elevators
Elevators
k
TV Lounge er & Chec
ostat 165
Po
C
168
101
Auditorium A
Concourse C
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FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Auditorium, Poster Sessions
STAGE
College and University Reps A19
A18
A57
A56
A17
A16
A55
A54 s
n A15
Mo
Usi A14
A53 RIes
A52 TOg S A13
AA5510 AUDIMornin AA1112
A10
A49
A48 A9
A8
A47 A7
A46 A6
A45 A5
A44 A4
A43 A42 A39A38 A35A34 A31A30 A27A26 A23A22
A41A40 A37A36 A33A32 A29 A28 A25A24 A21A20
E
N S
W
1
= Poster Board
2
8 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference
FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES
Concourse
Registration Tables
Es C1
c
a
C la
onc tor C2
o
u
rs C3
e
C
D
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t
a
il
C58 C60 C62
C59 C61 C63
C64 C66 C68
C65 C67 C69
C70 C72 C74
C71 C73 C75
C76 C78
C77 C79
C80 C81
POSTER
& COAT
S CHECK
T
A
IR
S
1
= Poster Board
2
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