Salisbury University’s campus does not close and students don’t stop learning once the summer months hit. SU students get some of their most immersive experiences during this time between semesters. Over the summer, undergraduate and graduate students take part in research projects and have the opportunity to get up close and personal with their passions.
Since being introduced to the Mid-Atlantic region, blue catfish and northern snakeheads have been causing issues in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the nearby Nanticoke River. Zach Crum, a graduate student in SU's Applied Biology Master's Program, under the guidance of Dr. Noah Bressman of SU's Biological Sciences Department, has conducted sponsored summer research studying the dietary habits of the two invasive fish to determine their impacts on the ecosystem. Crum and Bressman even got the community involved in the project. They partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the United States Geological Survey to host an invasive species fishing tournament in July to collect specimen, educate anglers and eradicate some of the fish from the area.
Sebastian Acosta understands how important virtual communication is in today's digital age. As part of sponsored summer research, he is putting his computer science and mathematics majors to the test, working with physics faculty Dr. Steven Binz to develop an augmented reality video call app. He hopes to create a video call experience that is more realistic and personal.
Salisbury University biology major Lydia Bradshaw has a passion for working with animals — and now, she is bringing that passion into the field. As part of her sponsored summer research, she and her faculty mentor Mary Gunther are studying the interactions between humans and animals in zoos, after a long absence of activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to a longstanding partnership with the local Salisbury Zoo, SU students like Lydia can find out how to use their skills and education for causes they care about, such as wildlife conservation.
Chronic and communicable diseases can be combatted through public policy aimed at prevention. This summer for sponsored research, SU student Kasey Schlack is conducting a literature review of research from the past five years to examine historically successful policy intervention and the effectiveness of using policy as a prevention tool, and evaluate other countries' public health policy. Results will be used in the open educational resource textbook Chronic and Infectious Disease: A Public Health Approach by Schlack's research mentor Dr. Brandye Nobiling of SU's School of Health Sciences.
How many college students can say they’ve done research on flying squirrels? Salisbury University biology majors Joanna Diaz-Ocana and Katie Ekholm took their education into the field this summer with sponsored research on the neuroendocrinology, hormones and the social lives of flying squirrels. Mentored by biology faculty Dr. Angela Freeman, they are learning more than they ever thought they would in their college careers and gaining numerous skills for the future.
When we hear the complex sounds of songbirds along the East coast, we might think it is only the male singing. But recent findings have shown that some females sing as well. In her sponsored summer research, SU student Kellee Toler is studying 11 species of songbirds under the guidance of mentor Dr. Jeremy Corfield of SU's Biological Sciences Department. By investigating the song control regions of these birds' brains, Toler's research will help us understand how these regions of the brain differ between the sexes of different species and how they determine singing abilities.
Philip Becnel knew he wanted his future career to involve studying insects – and as a rising sophomore at Salisbury University, he is already doing just that. For his sponsored summer research project, Becnel is investigating the presence and role of scarab beetles on the urban SU campus. Under the guidance of his mentor, SU biology professor Dr. Dana Price, he will get a better understanding for the health of the ecosystem on campus based on the scarab population.
Future Eastern Correctional Institution inmates may have different viewpoints on ethical situations after a sponsored summer research project with SU student Carly Nascimbeni, under the guidance of mentor Dr. Grace Clement of SU's Philosophy Department. Nascimbeni is leading ethical discussions with a group of incarcerated men and is developing an ethics curriculum for the ECI program. The work will inform her fall 2022 honors thesis on philosophical questions of epistemic justice. Nascimbeni is also preparing the group for a fall ethics bowl where they will compete against SU's ethics bowl team in preparation for regional and national competition.
An elementary school teacher, Salisbury University graduate student Melissa Reid has learned from her Literacy Studies Ed.D. program that literacy goes beyond just reading and writing – including conversations about diversity, inclusion and equity. For her sponsored summer research, Reid with her faculty mentor Dr. Judith Franzak is studying how Berlin, MD community members came together to develop exhibits at the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum focused on local African American storytelling.
Students conducting research in Dr. Eric Liebgold's biological sciences lab at SU often have the opportunity to work with the endangered spotted turtle. As part of sponsored research this summer, SU student Karsin Bachran is studying how predatory-induced injuries affects the movement of spotted turtles compared to those of uninjured turtles to determine how nonlethal injuries may impact the species. SU student Rebecca Pritt is tracking the movements of the spotted turtles to determine the home ranges of the males and females to understand their movement and migration patterns. Both projects could benefit conservation efforts for the declining population.
Animals at the Salisbury Zoo now have homes better than the average bear thanks to a SU art student. Art major Jeri Alexander spent her summer learning how to apply the design concepts she learned in class to a real-world project to build new doors for the zoo's bear and lynx enclosures. With guidance from faculty mentor Bill Wolff and fellow student Jared Alexander, Jeri worked in the sculpture shop on SU's campus to show how students can use an art background to help the community.
SU students Nanayaa Boaten, Lily Christiana, Liam McGinnes and Gabriella Seetoo-Ronk are spending their summer conducting sponsored research around the topic of love. The quartet, mentored by Dr. Cristina Cammarano of the Philosophy Department, are studying the works of bell hooks and Tullia D'Aragona through a philosophical lens. The research investigates the deeper and most unsettling side of love, including lies, abuse and neglect. But they also look through the weeds for what the truest meaning of what love should be.
The COVID-19 pandemic had many people remaining in their homes, inherently leading to a more sedentary lifestyle. Mason Cervantes of San Antonio, TX, a master’s student in the health and human performance program, dedicated her sponsored summer research project to studying home-based exercise and its impacts on blood pressure. Working with mentor Dr. Masoud Moghaddam of SU’s School of Health Sciences, she examined how health metrics can improve in just four weeks.
Fairy tales aren’t just stories we tell our children. For hundreds of years, fairy tale authors and storytellers such as Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and even Disney have been using these age-old tales help us navigate the chaos and realisms of our everyday lives—including plagues such as the Black Death and COVID-19. As part of sponsored summer research, Salisbury University literature graduate student Mikayla Wiseman of North Platte, NE, is working side-by-side with faculty mentor Dr. Ryan Habermeyer of the English Department to investigate the extent to which fairy tales have shaped cultural and artistic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, from storybooks and film to memes and political cartoons.
A sponsored summer student research project at Salisbury University explores socioemotional subjectivity theory (SST), which posits that as people age, their values and goals become more based in emotion than knowledge. SST has been studied in cancer patients and 9/11 survivors, but SU psychology major Samantha Walsh and faculty mentor Dr. Echo Leaver of the Psychology Department want to know how it applies to the COVID-19 pandemic. Samantha believes this undergraduate research opportunity will prepare her for future research in her career in psychology.
Current MRI contrast agents can pose health problems for patients who require repeated use, particularly pregnant women. Taking advantage of the opportunities that SU offers to work alongside dedicated faculty mentors, biology students Marrissa Izykowicz of Stroudsburg, PA, and Kyle Hensley of Delmar, MD, have devoted their summer sponsored research project to developing a lead-based contrast agent that could be safer and more effective.
Species evolution has helped ducks’ beaks adapt to suit their needs for finding food. Their brains have also changed. As part of hands-on summer sponsored research, SU psychology majors Alyson Madigan of Stevensville, MD and Thomas Sistek of White Hall, MD, are studying why these changes have happened over time. The two recent graduates, who are working with Dr. Jeremy Corfield of Biological Sciences, hope studying different duck species can influence understanding about the evolution of humans and other creatures, as well.
SU biology majors Brittany Grubb of Baltimore, MD, and Connor Morningred of Crofton, MD, have focused their summer sponsored research project on studying an endangered species. With the mentorship of Dr. Dana Price of SU’s Biological Sciences Department, they are locating the state-endangered king hairstreak butterfly to learn more about how they can be preserved. They will also work at the Salisbury Zoological Park with the common grey hairstreak, investigating color-changing properties based on location, environment, diet and more. The studies are being conducted in partnership with Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Over hundreds of years, landscapes slowly change. Just how much the Nanticoke River system has changed is the topic of a summer sponsored research project by SU Earth Science major Delany Midash. Working hands-on in the field with mentor Dr. Brent Zaprowski of SU’s Geography and Geosciences Department, Midash is exploring what the area looked like when John Smith traveled here. The study can help determine how the landscape may continue to change with rising sea levels and how to develop a mitigation plan.
Recent Salisbury University master’s degree recipient Nora Hetzler of Salisbury is conducting summer sponsored research looking at the use of cultural-sustaining pedagogy in SU’s May Literacy Center, a place where area students in kindergarten through eighth grade receive tutoring in reading and language skills. Working one-on-one with Dr. Brian Flores, her research mentor and the center director, the project will help shape the way students are taught in the center in the future, allowing them to learn in a way that is consistent with their background and identity, fostering a stronger and more inclusive educational environment.
As an undergraduate student at Salisbury University, Jessica Strange of Fruitland, MD, had the opportunity to conduct one-on-one research with Dr. Jennifer Nyland of SU Biological Sciences, looking at low-dose exposure to mercury. Now pursuing a master’s degree in applied biology, Strange has carried the work into a more extensive sponsored summer research project, looking at the body’s inflammatory response to certain bacteria along with mercury. The hands-on research project is possible due to her additional time to dedicate to the process in graduate school and her passion for a research pathway that she developed herself.
Bugs, rain and muddy conditions are no deterrent to SU biology major Aaliyah Beam of Denton, MD, who is dedicating her sponsored summer research to studying spotted turtles. Beam and Dr. Eric Liebgold of SU Biological Sciences are tracking the turtles, which are trending toward the endangered species list. Research is one of many opportunities for faculty and student engagement at SU.
SU graduate student Stephanie Miller, and biology major Aerin Rost-Nasshan of Silver Spring, MD, are getting hands-on learning experience with Dr. Michael Carter of SU Biological Sciences as they investigate a metabolic pathway within cells. Part of sponsored summer research, their work may help determine a way to increase the production of bioplastics – a biodegradable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemically produced plastics.
"Sliding into DMs" is a communication strategy that has developed organically, primarily in the college-aged generation, to use social media private messaging to connect for a romantic relationship or a casual meeting. SU student Kacie Cassar’s sponsored research project, with guidance from Dr. Lance Garmon (Psychology), looks at the intent and perception of the phenomenon.
Studying habitual routes of elephants in Zimbabwe, SU student Trey Wehlan and Dr. Andrea Presotto (Geography and Geosciences) are investigating plans to allow the elephants and humans to live together. The sponsored research project utilizes GPS tracking information from equipped collars worn by the elephants that help Wehlan and Presotto understand their tendencies.
In most songbird species, it is the male that does the majority of the singing. But in the Eastern Bluebird, the female sings an equivalent song. As part of sponsored research, SU student Colin Cassidy, with the mentorship of Dr. Jeremy Corfield (Biological Studies), is studying the differences in the song control region of the brain between male and female bluebirds.
In an effort to search for more “green” energy sources, solar power has been key, but current technology can only harness a third of the energy the sun offers. In a sponsored research project, SU junior Brandon Chang with the guidance of Dr. Lena Woodis (Chemistry) is creating quantum dots – tiny semiconductor particles – to test their efficiency in solar cell applications..
Beachgoers are faced with more dangerous waves than in the past as beach replenishment seems to have created a phenomena known as “shorebreak” where waves break directly on the beach instead of out in the water. Through his sponsored research project, SU student Bradley Cullen with the mentorship of Dr. Mark Muller (Physics) is building a wave tank to study the conditions under which this happens and develop a scientific definition.
How do low doses of arsenic impact the immune system? As part of summer sponsored research, Salisbury University student Jeremie Barbosa is exploring that question with guidance from her faculty mentor, Dr. Jennifer Nyland (Chemistry). Her research could help determine if maximum exposure levels set by the World Health Organization are too high, or help make the public aware of how low levels of arsenic could affect them.
A brain is composed of many regions that all have their own unique job. These brain regions not only compete for space, but can also cooperate with other regions. In her sponsored research, SU senior Elizabeth Wilson, with the mentorship of Dr. Jeremy Corfield (Biology), is researching duck brains to understand how the regions that process smell, sound, touch and sight compete for space within a brain and how these regions work with other brain regions to improve function.
As part of a sponsored research project, SU student Grace Burton, with the mentorship of Dr. Joseph Anderson (Math and Computer Science) will be working to design and implement software that allows people to represent and explain their social identities graphically.
Even on the fastest supercomputers, optimization of mathematical models is so complex that it can significantly slow some research projects. SU senior Jarrin Peters, with the guidance of Dr. Sarah Wesolowski (Math and Computer Science), is studying Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling to make optimization both more efficient and more accessible for scientists using mathematical models in their work.
Utilizing the power and sophistication of high-performance computing, computational linguistics, and artificial intelligence SU senior Caroline Mansueti, with the mentorship of Dr. Randy Cone (Math and Computer Science), is working to develop software that will help detect public hate speech in social media platforms.
SU student Sheridan Sargent will be characterizing the regenerative ability of the peripheral nervous system in diabetic zebrafish larvae. This sponsored research, under the mentorship of Dr. Jessica Clark (Biological Sciences), will be used in future studies to explore potential therapeutics in reversing damage due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
The stable matching problem was first introduced in 1962, but has many applications including speeding up the switching networks in the Internet and matching medical students to the hospitals for their residences. In his sponsored research SU junior Michael Mandulak, with the guidance of Dr. Enyue Lu (Math and Computer Science) is utilizing the power of parallel processing at the University’s high-performance computing lab to improve the efficiency of stable matching algorithms.
Stress granules form when a cell is under stress. SU senior Ashley Holloway, with the mentorship of Dr. Joshua Sokoloski (Chemistry), is studying stress granules as part of a sponsored research project looking for the minimal structural requirements needed to form the granules – as a potential model for the early protocells for the origin of life on Earth.
Many research projects at SU are collaborative works. SU students Ryan Joyce, Madison Jermain, Khadija Bhatti and Yadanar Naing, under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Carter (Biological Science), are working on a number of projects through their sponsored research this summer Together, the group members are identifying functions of novel genes and proteins to improve massive databases that are widely used by researchers from many fields
