Seventeen students attended and presented at the 2023 Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB) Conference in Winston-Salem, NC, March 23-26. Students in attendance were: Jacob Hiatt, Makenzie Bonner, Summer Dobson, Emily Brasseur, Jalen Garner, Will Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Everette Rhymer, Ana Price, Yahaira Galan-Cruzes, Mackenzie Martin, Alicia Deras-Cruz, Xander Gehron, Kate Halstead, Salem Fleming, Tobias Mielke, and Katelyn Crabb. Natural Sciences faculty advisors attending were: Drs. Jay Bolin, Sue Calcagni, Francisco Camacho, Luke Dollar, Carmony Hartwig, Andrew Jacobson, Joe Poston, Amanda Rushing and Erin Witalison. Catawba College was the Featured Host Institution of the ASB conference this year. “As the host institution, our student researchers did an excellent job representing Catawba's Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Environment & Sustainability departments”, Dr. Witalison remarked.
The ASB conference made a strong positive impression on student attendee Mackenzie Bonner, “I personally think that ASB is very important for all Catawba researchers to attend. Not only does it give you the experience of presenting your research to other students and professors in the region, but it makes you more comfortable in your own research. I gained a lot of confidence in myself and my work through ASB and I think everybody deserves that. It was really amazing to be a part of something so big.”
Jacob Hiatt, a senior double major in Biology and Chemistry won Superior (1st Place) honors for the Frank G. Brooks Award for Oral Presentations in Microbiology for Districts I and II of the β β β Biological Honors Society (Tri-Beta) with his talk, entitled ‘Soil Solutions: Identifying Novel Sources of Antibiotics from Environmental Bacteria’. His research advisor is Dr. Amanda Rushing, Assistant Professor of Biology and Biochemistry. Of his experience, Jacob says, “I have performed undergraduate research at Catawba College for three years now, and it has been such an incredible experience. Initially, I had no clue how to get involved or what this work even looks like. However, simple conversations with the biology professors put me on the right path.” As first-place winner, Jacob has been invited to present at the National Tri-Beta 2024 Conference.
Students presenting at the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, NC in fall semester were Janiya Downs, Ana Price, Ben Bielby, Everette Rhymer, Kenny Dollenger, Cameron Shaffner, Jalen Garner, Emma Halstead, Salem Fleming, Will Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Jacob Hiatt, Kayla Henrickson, Kasey McLamb, Emily Brasseur, Makenzie Bonner and Mackenzie Martin. They were supported by faculty members Drs. Jay Bolin, Suzanne Bowser, Carmony Hartwig, Joe Poston, Amanda Rushing and Erin Witalison.
Student Jalen Garner and faculty member Dr. ChaMarra Saner presented at the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) Conference in Orlando, Florida in the fall. Jalen presented a poster of his research entitled ‘Trace metal exposure reduces the viability of in vitro cell models’ earning 2nd Place Honors for the Regeneron Poster Presentation Award in the Biochemistry Division 2022. Dr. Amanda Rushing advised him in his research. Dr. Saner presented a talk entitled ‘Who Want the Smoke?!: Navigating Conflict at Work’ as well as served as an invited Panelist on the ‘Women in STEM: Navigating Stages and Phases’ Session. Jalen says “Independent research has really changed my life, it allowed me to explore and find out what path I wanted to take in the science world. Working with Dr. Rushing has been an amazing experience, I have grown and learned so much from her. She has helped me develop as a scientist and also as a professional in the field as well. I am so grateful to have been able to do research over the last two years of my time at Catawba, I highly encourage/recommend that if students have the opportunity to do research that they do it.”
Dr. Rushing speaks to the faculty’s role and purpose advising student researchers, “The faculty at Catawba guide students through impactful research experiences to give them a glimpse of what a future in science might look like. When students engage in research, they not only have an active role in the scientific process, but they also have opportunities to interface directly with the community to share what they’ve discovered!”
Xander Gehron presented his research entitled ‘Mycoremediation of Mercury: Bioremediation Potential of Fungi’ at the North Carolina Academy of Sciences (NCAS) Conference this April, accompanied by Dr. Hartwig. Xander was one of only 6 students in the State of North Carolina to be awarded Yarbrough Grant Funding through NCAS last August for his proposed research. His research was advised by Drs. Poston, Calcagni and Hartwig.
Student researchers were supported through a variety of grant sources including: The Catawba College IMPACT Grant, the β β β Biological Honors Society Research Grant, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) Research Grant, and North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS) Yarbrough Grant. Student Emily Brasseur expresses great appreciation for the support she received from the Impact Grant. “The chance to do independent research with the help of the Impact Grant is something that I wouldn't change for the world. The ability to get hands-on experience doing research and presenting it is invaluable and I'm sure that the skills I have learned will follow me into any career I choose. I couldn't be more grateful for the people that made this possible.”
Dr. Carmony Hartwig praises the hard work of the students and their faculty advisors. “It is not only a joy, but an honor, to work alongside our students and be a witness to their growth as individuals and as future colleagues. I am so appreciative to the Catawba IMPACT fund, as well as outside agencies such as TriBeta, NCAS and NCICU, that help our students to not only be able to conduct their research but present their findings to the broader scientific community.”
Presentations and Workshops:
Fall 2022 – Spring 2023
NOBCChE 2022 (Sept. 26-29)
Oral Presentation
- ChaMarra Saner. Who Want the Smoke?!: Navigating Conflict at Work.
Poster Presentation
- Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Trace metal exposure reduces the viability of in vitro cell models.
- Jalen Garner won 2nd Place Honors for the Regeneron Poster Presentation Award in the Biochemistry Division 2022.
Panel Discussion
- ChaMarra Saner (Panelist). Women in STEM: Navigating Stages and Phases.
SNCURCS 2022 (Dec. 2-3)
Oral Presentations
- Makenzie Bonner, Erin Witalison. Investigating the antibiotic-producing species isolated from commercial probiotic sources.
- Kenneth Dollenger, Carmony Hartwig. Investigating Heme Effects on Artemisinin-induced Ferroptosis in a Cancer Cell Model.
- Everette Rhymer, Carmony Hartwig. Activity of Crude Plant Extracts on an MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line.
- Cameron Shaffner, Suzanne Bowser. Blood Glucose and Nutritional Needs while Playing Golfing.
Poster Presentations
- Emma Halstead, Salem Fleming, Arilyn Lynch, Madison Kluge, Matthew Rodriguez, Jay Bolin. Measuring the decline of a green ash swamp forest over four years due to the emerald ash borer damage in North Carolina.
- Jacob Hiatt, Will Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Characterization of antimicrobial metabolite production in a novel strain of Pseudomonas.
- Mackenzie Martin, Jay Bolin. Documenting the spread of an incipient invasive fern, Crytomium fortunei.
- Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Trace metal exposure reduces the viability of in vitro cell models.
- Kasey McLamb, Emily Brasseur, Erin Witalison. Effects of BPA exposure on MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
- Kayla Henrickson, Erin Witalison. Exploring the effects of non-lethal bisphenol A exposure on cep-1 gene expression in C. elegans.
- Will Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Jacob Hiatt, Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Identification and characterization of an antimicrobial-producing, semi-aquatic bacterium.
- Ana Price, Everette Rhymer, Carmony Hartwig. Evaluating Larvicidal Efficacy of Plant-based Extracts from a Small Ecological Preserve in Rowan County, North Carolina.
- Ben Bielby, Carmony Hartwig. Survey of Soil Microbiota Strains with Poly 3-hydoxybutyrate (PHB) Degrading Capabilities.
- Janiya Downs, Carmony Hartwig. Exploring the Relationship between Human Behaviors, Oral Microbiota, and Periodontal Disease.
ASB 2023 (March 23-26)
Oral Presentations
- Emma Halstead, Salem Fleming, Arilyn Lynch, Madison Kluge, Matthew Rodriguez, Jay Bolin. The Leftovers: A four year study of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) decline due to the emerald ash borer in a NC piedmont swamp forest.
- Makenzie Bonner, Erin Witalison. Investigating the bacterial species isolated from commercial probiotic sources.
- Alicia Deras-Cruz, Joe Poston. Relationship between beak anatomy and bite force in Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis).
- Jacob Hiatt, Will Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Soil Solutions: Identifying Novel Sources of Antibiotics from Environmental Bacteria.
- Jacob Hiatt won 1st Place Honors for the Frank G. Brooks Award for Oral Presentations in Microbiology (Districts I and II).
- Mackenzie Martin, Jay Bolin. The historical distribution of an incipient invasive fern, Cyrtomium fortunei, in the eastern United States.
Poster Presentations
- Hannah Harper, Rachel Bentley, Adam Morrison, Tobias Mielke, Andrew Jacobson, Aaron Loucks, Luke Dollar. Development and early implementation of a new feral swine population control program in the Yadkin-PeeDee River Basin.
- Everette Rhymer, Carmony Hartwig. Activity of Crude Plant Extracts on an MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line.
- Ana Price, Yahaira Galan Cruzes, Ben Bielby, Carmony Hartwig. Survey of Soil Microbiota with Poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) Degrading Capabilities.
- Mackenzie Martin, Amanda Rushing. Understanding how Human T-cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV) infection alters host cell metabolic signatures.
- Summer Dobson, Erin Witalison. Effects of Ethanol on Liver Cancer Cells.
- Alexander Gehron, Sue Calcagni, Carmony Hartwig, Joe Poston. Mycoremediation of Mercury: Bioremediation Potential of Fungi.
- William Roque, Hunter Sjobom, Jacob Hiatt, Amanda Rushing. The antimicrobial activity of an environmental strain of Bacillus koreensis.
- Emily Brasseur, Kasey McLamb, Erin Witalison. Molecular effects of BPA-induced DNA damage in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
- Jalen Garner, Amanda Rushing. Acute exposure to trace metals reduces cell viability.
- Janiya Downs, Jalen Garner, Francisco Camacho, Carmony Hartwig. Exploring the Relationship between Human Behaviors, Oral Microbiota, and Periodontal Disease.
Workshop
- Carmony Hartwig, Amanda Bosch, Zachary Trivett and Andrew Jacobson. Honey, I Blew-Up the Molecules: 3D Printing as a Multi-faceted and Multi-disciplinary Pedagogical Practice.
NCAS 2023 (April 14-15)
Poster Presentations
- Alexander Gehron, Sue Calcagni, Carmony Hartwig, Joe Poston. Mycoremediation of Mercury: Bioremediation Potential of Fungi.
