The 2022-23 academic year comes to a close with this event where we celebrate the scientific work and discoveries of our students. Last year, the Title V STEM Research Festival was integrated into the campus-wide McMurry Academic Conference. This year we take a giant leap forward by becoming the STEM component of McMurry’s Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works slated for April 28th. This will be a day when all classes are suspended and the entire campus is encouraged to celebrate discovery, creativity, and innovation.
Once again, we will celebrate the awarding of the STEM Research Certificate for students whose projects encompass all aspects of research – preparation, execution, analysis, interpretation, and communication before a professional audience at the state or national level. The students will receive the Excellence in STEM Research medallion to be worn at Commencement. These awards are sponsored by corporate partner Intuitive Systems, Inc., creator of VUMIE Online software.
An evaluation rubric useful for scoring each presenter can be downloaded by clicking here.
For many of our projects, you can click on the NAME of the student(s) to see their video introduction, click on the TITLE of the project to see an abstract of their work, and click on the word POSTER to preview their poster.
Festival Events
McMurry Honors Presentations in STEM Fields
(consult event program for time and location)
- Caryn Lawrence: “Breast Cancer Cell Viability in Cyrene and Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives” . (Dr. O’Connell, McMurry Biomedical Science)
- Corbin Whitsell: “Evaluating the Upstream Regulatory Pathway of COL10A1″. (Dr. O’Connell, McMurry Biomedical Science)
- Hunter Jensen: “Creating an Educational Website for Computer Programming”. (Mr. Brozovic, McMurry Computer Science)
- Denae Volk: “Technology and Math Education“. (Dr. Martin, McMurry Mathematics)
- Hannah Bray: “Effects of Bipolar Disorder on the Family System: How to Therapeutically Intervene“. (Dr. Dunn, McMurry Psychology)
- Kaylee Berdoll: “Designing a Speaker Attachment for a Drone to be Used in Controlling Crow Populations in Pecan Orchards”. (Dr. Renfro, McMurry Physics)
- Honna Turner: “The Effects of Gaillardia pulchella Extracts on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines“. (Dr. Pyenta, McMurry Biochemistry)
Other Oral STEM Presentations
(consult event program for time and location)
- Kelleigh Brooks: “Antenatal Depression and Risk for Postpartum Depression“. (Dr. Broxson, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing)
- Luke Marshall: “Diversity Assessment of Herptile Populations at Firebase Libby, Callahan County Texas“. (Dr. Brant, McMurry Biology)
- Taryn Fambrough: “Building a Dobsonian Telescope”. (Dr. Keith, McMurry Physics)
- Faith Archambeau: “Patterns of Mercury Contamination in Fish from Three West Texas Reservoirs“. (Dr. Blackwell, McMurry Sustainability and Renewable Resources)
Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES)
Finch-Gray Science Center, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Angelica Abila, Daniel Morey, Abril Aguayo, Amanda Ward, and Katelyn Hernandez: “Relative Abundance of E. coli and Coliform Bacteria in Puddles“. (Wright, McMurry Human Health Science: HHSC 3199L Special Topics Lab ) POSTER
- Ashlee Massey, Ashley Beggs, Joel Ross, and Cooper Woodring : “Does Everything Get Better With Age?“ (Koshelyeva, McMurry Psychology: PSYC 3306 Research Methods) POSTER
- Blaine McDaniel, Daniel Morey, and Courtney Mayo: “Synthesis of ethyl 3-chloro-4-((6-ethoxy-6-oxohexyl)oxy) benzoate“. (Shin, McMurry Chemistry & Biochemistry: CHEM 3420 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Megan Keller, Herbie Martinez, and Brandon Martin : “Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Indanone Derivatives as HDAC2 Inhibitors“. (Shin, McMurry Chemistry & Biochemistry: CHEM 3420 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Chloe Valenzuela, Darian VanDyke, Joselin Moreno Torres, Tameronlyn Patterson, and Kinleigh Stotts: “Sleep Deprivation Effects“. (Koshelyeva, McMurry Psychology: PSYC 3306 Research Methods) POSTER
- Cierra Woodyard, Jocalyn Meyer, Kristen McCarty, Christian Heifner, and Elizabeth Stegh: “Autonomic Nervous System Responsiveness to Real and AI-generated Human Faces“. (Schneller, McMurry Psychology: PSYC 4345 Physiological Psychology II) POSTER
- Jocalyn Meyer, Joshua Hewlett, Roosevelt Birmingham, Glenda Parra, Brandon Martin, Ricardo Luna Rodriguez, Abdulmuhsen Albarnawi, and McKayla Ferguson: “Herbal Remedies During Bubonic Plague and Efficacy of Etheric Oils from Plants Againsts Bacterial Cultures“. (Saghatelyan, McMurry Biology: BIOL 4491 Advanced Topics in Botany: Medicinal Plants) POSTER
- Nathaniel Pyenta, Hannah Bowers, Jasmine Hunter, and Atalia Escalon: “The Effects of Infidelity and Male Competition on Female Bird Fitness“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Jack Miller, Eddie Garcia, and Hailey Soto: “Mechanisms of Evolution: Bird Mating Simulation“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Bobbi Brosamle-Norton, Lauren Callahan, and Laisha Marentes: “Coliforms Isolated from Surface Waters in Cisco Lake, Eastland County, Texas“. (Hatton, Cisco Biology: BIOL 2421 Microbiology) POSTER
- Adrianna Rich and Cooper Wright: “Coliforms Isolated from Surface Waters in Eastland Lake, Eastland County, Texas”. (Hatton, Cisco Biology: BIOL 2421 Microbiology) POSTER
- Kylie Medford, Bree Zellers, Kayla Camacho, and Leeah Alapic: “Coliforms Isolated from Surface Waters in Lake Leon, Eastland County, Texas“. (Hatton, Cisco Biology: BIOL 2421 Microbiology) POSTER
- Dallas Gomez, Damien Henderson, Isabel McCurdy, and Zoe Harmon: “Coliforms Isolated from Surface Waters in Ringling Lake, Eastland County, Texas”. (Hatton, Cisco Biology: BIOL 2421 Microbiology) POSTER
- Luke Marshall and Reagan Owen: “Ecological Niche Modeling of the Reptiles Found on Firebase Libby“. (Saghatelyan, McMurry Biology: BIOL 3330 Biogeography) POSTER
- Christopher Baker, Harry Collins, William Edwards, Baylee Fulps, Bethany Guzman, Cheyenne Lavender, Timothy Leatherman, Dylan Lee, Herman Lee, Jenna Lewis, and Elizabeth Ryan: “A Comparison of Diaphragmatic Breathing and Yoga Poses on FMS Scores“. (McMurray, McMurry Kinesiology: KINE 3365 Functional Movement) POSTER
- Meriah Gonzalez, Breana Barajas, Mikah Grisham, and Chloe Clark: “The Sexual Selection of Passerine Birds“ (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Tamara Ramirez, Aubrey Batten, Janeth Chacon, and Brennan Abbate: “Sleep on It” (Koshelyeva, McMurry Psychology: PSYC 3306 Research Methods) POSTER
- Brinson Sharp, Canton Kempf, Greyson Havens, and Coryell Fillmore: “Bird Reproduction Lab“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Dylan Abbott, Reid Brock, Luke Marshall, and Baylee Kindrick: “Microwave Synthesis of Methyl 4-((7-ethoxy-7-oxoheptyl) oxy)-3-methoxybenzoate as a Metallo-beta Lactamase Inhibitor”. (Shin, McMurry Chemistry & Biochemistry: CHEM 3420 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Sara Quarles, Corrine Monje, Kelly Torres, and Hope Turner: “Minimizing Resistance to Antibiotic Therapies With Metallo Beta-lactamase Inhibitors“. (Shin, McMurry Chemistry & Biochemistry: CHEM 3420 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Faith Archambeau, Reid Brock, and Aaron Hines: “Greenhouse Gas Inventory for McMurry University“. (Blackwell, McMurry Sustainability and Renewable Resources: SUST 4300 Environmental Stewardship ) POSTER
- Savanna Danner, Tyler Mills, and Weston Hamilton: “Evidence of Non-Random Mating of Birds“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Herman Lee, James White, and Kyle Canada: “Bird Sex“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- Bobbi Brosamle-Norton, Leeah Alapic, Evan Brooks, Carlota Castelltort Pinto, Emily Dixon, Haley Ellis, Anastasia Hall, Lexi Matthews, and Misdy Rivas: “The Effects of Vermicompost and Fish Emulsion Fertilizers on Growth and Overall Plant Health Quality on a Selection of Five Popular Native Texas Landscape Plants.“. (Ceniceros, Cisco Biology: BIOL 1407 Biology for Science Majors II) POSTER
- Jessica Gribble, Mariah Rodriguez, and Akya Turner: “The Intricacies of Bird Sex”. (Boyle, McMurry Biology: BIOL 1107 General Biology II Lab) POSTER
- D’Asia White, Mariah Rodriguez, Mario Rodriguez, and Jazmin Chacon: “The Potentiating Effects of a Wearable Resistance Device on Maximal Sprint and Change of Direction Tests – 5-10-5 Change of Direction Biomechanical Analysis.“. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology: KINE 4220 Laboratory Testing in Exercise Science) POSTER
- Mariah Rodriguez, D’Asia White, Mario Rodriguez, and Jazmin Chacon: “The Potentiating Effects of a Wearable Resistance Device on Maximal Sprint and Change of Direction Tests- 5-10-5 – Change of Direction Performance“. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology: KINE 4220 Laboratory Testing in Exercise Science) POSTER
- Mario Rodriguez, Mariah Rodriguez, D’Asia White, and Jazmin Chacon: “The Potentiating Effects of a Wearable Resistance Device on Maximal Sprint and Change of Direction Tests – 20-Meter Sprint Biomechanical Analysis.”. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology: KINE 4220 Laboratory Testing in Exercise Science) POSTER
- Caylee Parker and Bhavika Desai: “Antimicrobial Activity of a Common Household Item : Mouthwash“. (Chandrasekharan, Cisco Chemistry: CHEM 2425 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Bhavika Desai and Caylee Parker: “Zone of Inhibition : Antimicrobial Activity of Common Condiments and Spices“. (Chandrasekharan, Cisco Chemistry: CHEM 2425 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Philip Yendes and Fox Ballew: “Home-made Moisturizing Artisan Soaps“. (Chandrasekharan, Cisco Chemistry: CHEM 2425 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Philip Yendes, Fox Ballew, Caylee Parker, and Bhavika Desai: “Wood Lacquer from Gun Cotton“. (Chandrasekharan, Cisco Chemistry: CHEM 2425 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
- Jazmin Chacon, Mariah Rodriguez, Mario Rodriguez, and D’Asia White: “The Potentiating Effects of a Wearable Resistance Device on Maximal Sprint and Change of Direction Tests – 20-meter Sprint Performance.“. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology: KINE 4220 Laboratory Testing in Exercise Science) POSTER
- Taryn Fambrough: “Finding an Efficient Numerical Approach to Solve a 2D Laplace Equation for Electric Potential and Determine the Capacitance of a Microstripline“. (Bykov, McMurry Physics: PHYS 4312 Electricity and Magnetism II) POSTER
- Joshua Hewlett, Mateo Herrera, and Tristyn Barton: “Synthesis of Vanillate derivatives as HDAC1 Inhibitors for use in treating Ovarian and Breast Cancer“. (Shin, Chemistry & Biochemistry: CHEM 3420 Organic Chemistry II) POSTER
Research Team and Other Research Project Posters
Finch-Gray Science Center, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Bailey Speck “Ability of Pill Bugs to Remove Methylmercury from The Soil“. (Wright, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Abril Aguayo “How Much Mercury Concentration is in Canned Fish?“. (Wright, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Jesse Stephenson “Consuming Glycemic Pre-competition Meals Among Softball Players“. (Verhulst, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Christiana Perez “The Correlation Between Dynamic Single-legged Balance and Agility Performance“. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Leonor Escobar “Oh, My Tuna! Mercury Concentration in Supermarket Fish“. (Wright, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Courtney Mayo and Mateo Herrera “Survey of Bacteria from Farm Animals for Potential Health Risks“. (Wilson, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Abram Maldonado “Using Heart Rate to Estimate Energy Expenditure During Physical Activity With Regards to Body Composition.”. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Mason Scott “Mating Behaviors of Rhithropanopeus harrisii”. (Boyle, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- Samantha Hamilton “The Influence of Salinity on the Feeding Behaviors of Rhithropanopeus harrisii.” (Boyle, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- Jaetis Armand “Effects of Occupational Therapy on Social Skills and Sensory Sensitivity in Children with Autism”. (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Jaetis Armand “Different Methods of VO2Max Estimation and Their Relationship to Perceived Exertion Based on the Measurement of Heart Rate.“ (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Brandon Martin “Effect of Environmental Acoustic Cues on the Behavior of an Invasive Crab”. (Boyle, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- A.J. Allen “Acoustic Activity of Bats During Spring Migration in Abilene, Texas“. (Ritchie, Cisco Biology) POSTER
- Reid Brock “Effects of Size, Age, and Trophic Position on Mercury Concentrations in Chinook Salmon“. (Blackwell, McMurry Sustainability and Renewable Resources) POSTER
- Elijah Gregory “Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Propeller Thrust Testing”. (Upshaw, McMurry Physics) POSTER
- Natalie Heitz “Bat Communities in the Big Country: Diversity and the Question of Bat Detector Accuracy“. (Brant, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- Bhavika Desai “Morphology and Biodegradability of Plastic Nylon-2,6”. (Chandrasekharan, Cisco Chemistry) POSTER
- Jazmin Chacon “Differences between performance, efficiency, shock and motion metrics while running with high mileage and low mileage shoes” (Dalton, McMurry Kinesiology) POSTER
- Roosevelt Birmingham “Assessment of Odonata Communities of the Texas Big Country“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- Isaiah Ramos “The Ectoparasites of Rodents at Firebase Libby“. (Boyle, McMurry Biology) POSTER
- Dustin Ledesma “Sporulation and Spore Morphology for Bacillus cereus Family Cultures Grown on Tryptic Soy and Sporulation Agar”. (Wilson, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Dustin Ledesma “Sporulation and Spore Morphology for Bacillus subtilis Family Cultures Grown on Tryptic Soy and Sporulation Agar”. (Wright, McMurry Human Health Science) POSTER
- Christopher Brown “Isolation and Identification of E. coli 0157:H7 from Farm Animal Fecal Matter“. (Benoit, McMurry Biology) POSTER