Senior Jacob Barret conducted research this past summer and fall using the zebrafish model to characterize the effect of estrogen on regeneration in the caudal fin. His work demonstrated that embryonic zebrafish exposed to high concentrations of estrogen resulted in inhibited regenerated tail length, area, and morphology. Furthermore, differences in pigment formation were qualitatively observed between treatment groups. This spring, he has focused on elucidating possible molecular mechanisms responsible for this inhibited regeneration process. So far, he has observed the expression of two genes involved in regeneration in the presence of various estrogen concentrations following amputation. The expression of these genes in various estrogen treatments has been monitored using qPCR. The results of this molecular work will be discussed as a part of his senior thesis near the end of April! Fantastic work!
Senior Rebecca Shannon is conducting research to investigate stigma in relation to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). She is interested in looking at how age, sexuality, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and diagnosis mediate HIV/AIDS stigma for both PLWHA and those who do not have HIV/AIDS (non-PLWHA). Increasing knowledge is the traditional approach to decreasing stigma and she is trying to ascertain what other variables are at play in stigmatic attitudes. For her research, she surveyed PLWHA and non-PLWHA nationwide as well as some Roanoke College students. After analyzing the data, she presented her findings at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Wonderful work!
Senior Caylyn McNaul’s research has involved using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to discern the identity of potentially falsified pharmaceuticals from lower to middle income countries. Throughout her research, she has analyzed samples and was able to calculate some statistics based off the results that she has obtained. These results have shown that nearly 25% of all the antibiotics tested were substandard. Recently, Caylyn presented at the American Chemical Society Symposium. From her experience presenting, she has gained the ability to be more comfortable presenting her research as well as gaining experience speaking to those in the industry. Great work!
Repost: Sophomore Katherine Vaughan works at the Dilly Dally café in Salem and demonstrates her business background through her involvement in their Reading Rewards initiative. Katherine says, “The Reading Rewards promotion is a part of our effort to ‘spread some sunshine’ [Dilly Dally’s tagline]”. Here’s how Reading Rewards, which is open to preschoolers through fifth graders, works: Students can pick up a bookmark at the Dilly Dally. Once they’ve read five books, they write on the bookmark the titles of those five books. They can then bring the bookmark back to the Dilly Dally and receive a free kiddie scoop of ice cream. Through creating colorful bookmarks for kids, Katherine hopes, “that the project inspires kids of all ages to form a lifelong love of reading.”
Senior Selma Sosic has been working alongside Dr. Chad Morris to research the perceptions of mammography screenings from women in Palau. This past fall, Selma and her fellow research team analyzed survey data received from Belau National Hospital and created the data into a preliminary report which allowed the research team to establish significant barriers that women face when trying to receive mammograms. This summer, Selma plans to go to Palau with Dr. Morris to help conduct focus groups with Palauan women, as well as interviews with the medical staff and key stakeholders on the island. Using a Community-Based Prevention marketing framework, Selma will be using the data the team collects to create a preliminary report to be shared with the Palauan Ministry of Health and Human Services and other stakeholders. Great work!
Repost: Back when she was a freshman, Charissa Roberson ‘22 wanted to write a bilingual play. The French and creative writing double-major was researching World War II to find storylines to inspire her when she found two photographs that grabbed her attention. Three years of research later, Roberson has created an immersive, bilingual experience that she will present at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Wortmann Ballroom at the Colket Center. The presentation, “The Crossroads of Saint-Lô”, examines the lives of two men — Major Thomas Howie, U.S. Army Infantry Officer, and French resistance fighter Raymond Robin — who died in that area during the war. Wonderful work, Charissa! Find more about Charissa’s work here: https://www.roanoke.edu/about/news/charissa_roberson_french_crossroads_of_saint-lo_presentation?fbclid=IwAR0UiMExKVt–AONvSDb1GvJq9rXDB3IcXLQIPSvBaFNv1ajvVDnQ-hpc6k
