2026 Student Research Conference:
39th Annual Student Research Conference

Program

Program-At-A-Glance

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM • 
Asynchronous Virtual Presentations

8:30 - 9:45 • SUB Georgian B
SESSION 104-
SUB Georgian B 8:30 -

Presiding:

9:00

104- - 3  LAINIE M. MUELLER
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

The Neurobiology of Sex Differences, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

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8:30 - 9:45 • MG 2001
SESSION 106-
MG 2001 8:30 -

Presiding:

8:30

106- - 1  AUSTIN HUMBRECHT
Dr. R. Drew Sieg, Faculty Mentor

Austin vs the Crayfish: Assessing crayfish chemosensory behavior in arena and flume settings.

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8:45

106- - 2  ADDISON A. VANDEWALLE
Dr. Joanna Hubbard and Dr. R. Drew Sieg, Faculty Mentors

Effects of Human Activity on Bird Vigilance Behavior at Campus Feeders

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9:00

106- - 3  WILLOW C. REESE
Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University) and Dr. R. Drew Sieg, Faculty Mentors

Computational analysis of the Factor V Leiden mutation and binding differences with Activated Protein C

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9:15

106- - 4  ADISON P. MOSHER* and HANNAH E. RODRIGUEZ
Dr. Daniela Ostrowski (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Stephen Hudman, Faculty Mentors

Proteomics Analysis of Rats' Hippocampus Tissue Following Repeated Mild Hypoxia

 

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8:30 - 9:45 • MG 1098
SESSION 108-
MG 1098 8:30 -

Presiding:

8:30

108- - 1  GAGE J. DUDKOWSKI
Dr. Andrew Kauffmann and Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University), Faculty Mentors

Inhibition of the Amyloid-Beta Protein Aggregation with Polyphenol Drugs using Computational Chemistry

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8:45

108- - 2  DAGMAWIT KEBEDE
Dr. Andrew Kauffmann and Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University), Faculty Mentors

Allosteric inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in silico as a potential cancer therapeutic

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9:00

108- - 3  AUDREY BROWN
Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Andrew Kauffmann, Faculty Mentors

Computational Analysis of Factor V Leiden: APC and Protein S Interactions

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8:30 - 9:45 • MG 2007
SESSION 109-
MG 2007 8:30 -

Presiding:

109- -   RITIKA LAMA
Prof. Nazmul Shahadat, Faculty Mentor

Towards Precise Oncology

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10:00 - 11:15 • MG 2001
SESSION 206-
MG 2001 10:00 -

Presiding:

10:30

206- - 3  JENNA C. WOOD
Dr. Maria Beatriz de Souza Cortez and Dr. R. Drew Sieg, Faculty Mentors

Using Geospatial Software to Introduce Undergraduate Students to Spatial Distribution Maps

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10:45

206- - 4  HASSET H. KEBEDE
Dr. Hajee Mendis, Faculty Mentor

Identification of Pathogenic Fusarium Species in Soybeans

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10:00 - 11:15 • MG 1000
SESSION 207-
MG 1000 10:00 -

Presiding:

10:00

207- - 1  GENEVIEVE R. HUNTER*, AYDEN B. COCKRILL, and ANDREW J. SCHROEDER
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

Effects of C9ORF72 mutations in motoneurons of Drosophila larvae

 

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10:15

207- - 2  LAINIE M. MUELLER*, ALEECE WALKER, and MOLLY CERNICH
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

Is Cyclophilin 1 the fly version of Cyclophilin D?

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10:30

207- - 3  KAITLYN E. DONOVAN* and TIA NIDUAZA
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

The Effects of Fem-1 Mutations on the Lifespan of the Fruit Fly Drosophila

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10:45

207- - 4  ALICIA M. JORGENSEN* and AMELIA L. EVANS
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

Testing Cyclophilin Dependent Lifespan Extension in Drosophila

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11:00

207- - 5  ALEECE WALKER* and MOLLY CERNICH
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor

Cyclophilin 1 mutations alter Drosophila larval crawling

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10:00 - 11:15 • MG 1098
SESSION 208-
MG 1098 10:00 -

Presiding:

10:15

208- - 2  ISABELLE M. ZAGARRI
Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Andrew Kauffmann, Faculty Mentors

A computational study of the Factor V Leiden mutation and its effect on blood coagulation

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10:45

208- - 4  KAIDEN ZABOROWSKI
Dr. Andrew Kauffmann, Faculty Mentor

Computational investigation of the Human γS-crystallin protein associated with cataracts formation

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10:00 - 11:15 • MG 2007
SESSION 209-
MG 2007 10:00 -

Presiding:

10:45

209- - 4  MOHAMMED AYAN MAHMOOD
Dr. Hajeewaka C. Mendis and Dr. Kafi M. Rahman, Faculty Mentors

Automated Fungal Growth Analysis Application - Early Access Release

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11:45 AM - 12:45 PM • Magruder Hall 2001
Plenary Address - W. David Arnold, MD

W. David Arnold, MD is a physician-scientist and tenured Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Neurology, and Medical Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Missouri, where he serves as Executive Director of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Initiative and is a founding leader of the Center for Translational Neurogenetics. With a nontraditional training trajectory that bridges clinical medicine, translational neuroscience, and therapeutic development, his research focuses on translational neuromuscular physiology in the context of health, aging, and disease. His work has helped to define neural contributions to sarcopenia and mechanisms of neuromuscular decline across the lifespan, and his team has published the first efforts to develop neurotherapeutics for the treatment of age-related loss of physical function. Dr. Arnold has contributed to the development of gene-replacement therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), therapeutic development efforts in Charcot?Marie?Tooth disease (CMT), and advances in genetic and molecular therapies for neuromuscular disorders such as myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). He is the executive director of the NextGen Precision Health Initiative, the largest investment in translational research in the history of the University of Missouri System. He co-directs the MD/PhD program at Missouri, holds national leadership roles in physician-scientist training including the Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program (RMSTP), chair of the research committee of the AAP, and leads multidisciplinary teams advancing precision therapies for neuromuscular and neurogenetic disease.


1:00 - 2:15 • MG 1000
SESSION 307-
MG 1000 1:00 -

Presiding:

1:15

307- - 2  HALELUYA T. MERGA
Dr. Anne E. Moody, Faculty Mentor

Computational inhibition of Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) as potential cancer therapeutics

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1:30

307- - 3  ALEXANDRA M. KLIETHERMES
Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Stephanie Maiden, Faculty Mentors

Computational discovery of a small molecule inhibitor of APOBEC3B as a potential treatment for a variety of cancers

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1:45

307- - 4  WHITNEY A. PAVELY* and AIDEN MORIARTY
Dr. Stephanie Maiden, Dr. Daniela Ostrowski (A.T. Still University), Dr. Tim Ostrowski (A.T. Still University), and Dr. Byunghee Han (A.T. Still University), Faculty Mentors

Amyloid plaque size correlates with cellular changes in a genetic Alzheimer's disease model

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2:00

307- - 5  RHICHA RUPAKHETI
Dr. Tim Humphry and Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University), Faculty Mentors

Novel Complement Protein 5 Inhibitors as Candidate Therapies for Sepsis

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1:00 - 2:15 • MG 1098
SESSION 308-
MG 1098 1:00 -

Presiding:

1:15

308- - 2  DAGMAWIT KEBEDE
Dr. Brett A. Berke and Dr. Bill R. Miller (A.T. Still University), Faculty Mentors

Developing novel inhibitors for Striatal-Enriched Tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP) using computational methods

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1:30

308- - 3  LANEY P. HEADRICK* and MAX E. MCGOWIN
Dr. Hajee Mendis, Faculty Mentor

Evaluation of Mustard Plant Extracts to Reduce Spore Germination of Pathogenic Fungi, Fusarium oxysporum in Soybean Fields.

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1:45

308- - 4  MAX E. MCGOWIN* and LANEY P. HEADRICK
Dr. Hajee Mendis, Faculty Mentor

Identification of Pathogenic Fusarium Species in Soybean 

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2:30 - 3:30  • Activities Room
SESSION 400-
Poster Session -

400- - 20

JENNA C. WOOD
Dr. Maria Beatriz de Souza Cortez, Faculty Mentor

Exploring Truman State University’s Herbarium (NEMO) Through the Lens of Weed Science

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400- - 21

RACHEL N. RUSHMAN
Dr. Daniela Ostrowski (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentors

CRLF3 Expression in Rat Brains

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400- - 22

AUBREY N. WATKINS
Dr. Filiz Korkmaz (University of Iowa) and Dr. Joyce Patrick, Faculty Mentors

LOX-1 Engagement by oxLDL Modulates Alveolar Macrophage Response During Pneumonia

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4:00 - 5:00 PM • Ophelia Parrish Art Gallery
Studio Art Reception

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