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USC Discovers Aiken's Top Student-Researchers

Aiken, SC (06/12/2019) — Several University of South Carolina Aiken student-researchers participated in the third annual Discover USC in Columbia just before the end of the spring semester.

More than 1,000 presenters participated in the day-long celebration of research, leadership and creative scholarly efforts. In total, 45 USC Aiken students from all disciplines presented posters at Discover USC. Of those, 95 percent were from the College of Sciences and Engineering.

"All five departments in our college were represented," said Dr. Chad Leverette, interim dean of the USC Aiken College of Sciences and Engineering.

He said that 14 Pacers received awards.

"They all did a great job. I'm so impressed by our students," Leverette added.

According to organizers, "Discover USC showcases research, scholarship, leadership and creative projects by undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and medical scholars representing the entire USC System, from the Upstate to the Lowcountry."

The USC Office of the Vice President for Research sponsors the annual event.

USC Aiken Students who earned awards at Discover USC were:

Morning Poster Presentation: Biology and Environmental Sciences A

Second Place

Does nesting behavior correlate with nesting success in American wood storks?

Lauren Smiley, senior, biology

Advisor: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Department of Biology and Geology
Advisor: Mr. Larry Bryan, University of Georgia - Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Biomedical Sciences F

First Place-Tie

Understanding the role of hdac4 in zebrafish craniofacial development

Maureen Kamanga, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. April DeLaurier, Department of Biology and Geology

Second Place-Tie

Designing and Cloning an anti-Vif shRNA to target HIV infection

Keileigh McMurray, junior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. William Jackson, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Biomedical Sciences G

First Place

Cloning a HIV-1 Vif-resistant A3G gene into a lentiviral vector

Mckenzie Spires, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. William Jackson, Department of Biology and Geology

Honorable Mention

Determining how often SNP rs4988235 can predict Lactose Intolerance

Shekinah Hampton, senior, clinical laboratory science major

Advisor: Dr. C. Nathan Hancock, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Biomedical Sciences H

Honorable Mention

Expression of pro-apoptotic Bax in a HIV-1 dependent lentiviral vector

Lance Reynolds, junior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. William Jackson, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Environmental Sciences C

First Place-Tie

Optimizing Tol2 transposition in Zebrafish

Allison Swiecki, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. C. Nathan Hancock, Department of Biology and Geology
Advisor: Dr. April DeLaurier, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Environmental Sciences D

Second Place

Determining if Arabidopsis-Produced Phage Proteins Can Inhibit Erwinia Amylovora

Reese King, junior biology major with a minor in music

Advisor: Dr. C. Nathan Hancock, Department of Biology and Geology

Honorable Mention

Development and Analysis of an Activation Tagging System in Wheat

Amanda Askins, senior biology major with a minor in geology

Advisor: Dr. Nathan Hancock, Department of Biology and Geology

Honorable Mention

Determining the function of phf21ab in craniofacial development in zebrafish

Rachel Moment, junior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. April DeLaurier, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Environmental Sciences E

First Place

Genomic population structure of American wood storks

Austin Herbert, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Department of Biology and Geology

Second Place-Tie

Determining the role of ldlrap1a in cholesterol metabolism in zebrafish

Kali Wiggins, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. April DeLaurier, Department of Biology and Geology

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Biology and Environmental Sciences F

Second Place

Effects of the herbicide triclopyr on the performance and corticosterone levels of juvenile Cuban tree frogs

Adam McFall, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. Kristina Ramstad, Department of Biology and Geology
Advisor: Dr. Stacey Lance, University of Georgia - Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Advisor: Ms. Julie Ziemba, University of Georgia - Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Afternoon Poster Presentation: U/P: Engineering, Computing, and Math D

Honorable Mention

Effect of Nanoparticles Shape on Thermal Conductivity of Ionic Liquids Based Nanofluids

Brandon Eberl, senior, industrial process engineering major

Advisor: Dr. Titan Paul, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Afternoon Poster Presentation: Biology and Environmental Sciences G

First Place

Investigating the Transposition of the Harbinger3n_Dr Transposable Element in Yeast

Sarah Zamiela, senior, biology major

Advisor: Dr. Nathan Hancock, Department of Biology and Geology
Advisor: Dr. Clint Page, Department of Biology and Geology

Media Attachments

USC Discovers Aiken's Top Student-Researchers

Thomas Burgess, left, a junior chemistry major, participated in the annual Discover USC research showcase. More than 1,000 presenters participated in the day-long celebration of research, leadership and creative scholarly efforts. In total, 45 USC Aiken students from all disciplines presented posters at Discover USC. Several Pacers' presentations earned awards.