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