View presenters‘ abstracts at: www.honors.umass.edu/conference #MassURC Friday, April 24, 2015 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Lincoln Campus Center • UMass Amherst WELCOME WELCOME TO THE 21ST ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS STATEWIDE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE! Student researchers representing 25 public higher education institutions in Massachusetts have convened for this day of sharing and learning. With nearly 1,100 students delivering presentations among peers and the public today, the 2015 Undergraduate Research Conference includes more student presenters than ever. Throughout the day, students exhibit not only their original research, but also their drive and effort to better understand aspects of our world. In fields ranging from art history to public health to veterinary science, students are conducting meaningful research and contributing knowledge to their fields. In addition to student presentations, the conference includes an afternoon Networking Reception (2:30-3:00 p.m. in the Campus Center Auditorium), offering students and faculty a scheduled break and a chance to connect while sharing ideas and research interests. This year’s conference introduces a new element, with representatives from undergraduate institutions and graduate programs sharing information about opportunities for continued study and research. These representatives will have information for community college students looking to transfer and students considering graduate work. Visit the representatives’ tables following the keynote address and throughout the rest of the day. The Undergraduate Research Conference is co-sponsored by Commonwealth Honors College and the Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education, comprised of the University of Massachusetts campuses and the commonwealth's community colleges and state universities. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome 1 Mathematics & Statistics 42 Finance 63 Conference Schedule 3 Mechanical Engineering 42 Geography 63 Keynote Speaker 4 Microbiology 43 Geology 63 College and University 5 Nursing 43 Gerontology 63 Reps Nutrition & Food Science 43 History 63 Acknowledgements 6 Philosophy 43 Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC 64 Venue Maps 7 Physics 43 Kinesiology 64 Oral Presentations 10 Political Science 44 Landscape Architecture 65 Poster Presentations 20 Psychology 45 Legal Studies 65 Public Health 46 Linguistics 65 Presenters/Oral 32 Social Thought & 49 Literature 65 Accounting 32 Political Economy Management 65 Animal Sciences 32 Social Work 49 Marketing 66 Anthropology 32 Sociology 49 Mathematics & Statistics 66 Art 33 Sport Management 50 Mechanical Engineering 66 Art History 33 Theater 50 Microbiology 66 Astronomy 33 Veterinary Science 50 Nursing 67 Biochemistry 33 Women's Studies 50 Nutrition 68 Biology 33 Nutrition & Food Science 68 Presenters/Poster 51 Chemical Engineering 34 Philosophy 69 Accounting 51 Chemistry 35 Physics 69 Animal Sciences 51 Communication 35 Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences 69 Anthropology 51 Computer Science 36 Political Science 70 Art 51 Economics 36 Psychology 70 Astronomy 52 Education 37 Public Health 73 Biochemistry 52 English 37 Social Thought & 76 Biology 53 Environmental Studies 38 Political Economy Chemical Engineering 56 Finance 38 Social Work 77 Chemistry 56 History 39 Sociology 77 Civil Engineering 58 Interdisciplinary Studies/BDIC 40 Sustainable Food 80 Communication 58 and Farming International Studies 40 Community or Public Service 58 Theater 81 Japanese 40 Computer Science 59 Veterinary Science 81 Kinesiology 40 Decision Science 59 Landscape Architecture 41 Index of Presenters 82 Economics 59 Legal Studies 41 by Name Education 60 Linguistics 41 Index of Presenters 95 Electrical Engineering 61 by Campus Literature 41 English 61 Management 42 Environmental Studies 61 Marketing 42 2 2015 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 8:00 a.m. Registration Opens 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Oral and Poster Session 1 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Welcome and Keynote 10:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. College & University Reps 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Oral and Poster Session 2 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 3 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch 1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 4 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Networking Reception 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 5 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Oral and Poster Session 6 3 3 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Predicting Dengue Fever Outbreaks in Thailand Nicholas G. Reich, PhD Assistant Professor of Biostatistics Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst Reich’s talk explores dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that annually infects more than 50 million individuals worldwide. Building on a long-standing collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand, Reich discusses the challenges in creating accurate and actionable forecasts of dengue fever for the Thai government. Dr. Nicholas Reich is a biostatistician whose research focuses on developing statistical models for infectious disease. After earning a bachelor of arts in English literature from Carleton College in Minnesota, Reich worked at Harper’s Magazine in New York and a non-profit car-sharing organization in San Francisco before returning to academia to study public health and biostatistics. Reich received his doctorate from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. He has developed methods and tools for analyzing infectious disease surveillance data to help predict outbreaks of dengue fever and influenza. His recent research has yielded important insights into the complex global dynamics of dengue fever. 4 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference FURTHER STUDY: COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES Conference attendees—whether community college students intending to transfer to four-year institutions or students planning to pursue graduate studies—are invited to visit with representatives from these Massachusetts undergraduate institutions and graduate programs to collect information about opportunities for continued study and research. Representatives will be at their tables throughout the day, beginning after the keynote address. The tables are located in the Campus Center Auditorium, in front of the stage. 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge all of the faculty members who volunteered their time and expertise to review abstracts and give invaluable guidance to student presenters. We would like to express our great appreciation to the following campus contacts for their time and support of the conference. Stacy Evans Berkshire Community College Theresa King Bridgewater State University Susan McCourt Bristol Community College Michael Dubson Bunker Hill Community College Libby Dunphy Bunker Hill Community College Delores Bird Cape Cod Community College Sara Pollak Levine Fitchburg State University Katelyn Christopher Framingham State University Judi Greene-Corvee Greenfield Community College Vanessa Martinez Holyoke Community College Matt Silliman Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Susan Edgerton Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Jennie-Rebecca Falcetta Massachusetts College of Art and Design Jeanie Tietjen Massachusetts Bay Community College Mark Patrick Massachusetts Maritime Academy Susan Martelli Massasoit Community College David Kalivas Middlesex Community College Sheila Murphy Mount Wachusett Community College Marcey Marold North Shore Community College Ginger Hurajt Northern Essex Community College Susan McPherson Quinsigamond Community College Kimberly Stieglitz Roxbury Community College Joanna Gonsalves Salem State University Jeff Theis Salem State University Diane Sabato Springfield Technical College Michael Metzger University of Massachusetts Boston Letha Gayle-Brissett University of Massachusetts Amherst Avery Plaw University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Jim Canning University of Massachusetts Lowell Glen Brewster Westfield State University Francisco Vivoni Worcester State University We would also like to give special recognition to Conference Coordinator Letha Gayle-Brissett, Conference Assistant Danielle Hecht, Meredith Lind, Melissa Woglom, Shonda Pettiford, Peter Brown, Nick Wojcik, Vance Chatel, Andrea Robbins, Justin Campbell, the Lincoln Campus Center staff, and the faculty, staff, and students at Commonwealth Honors College. 6 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES Lincoln Campus Center, First Floor Auditorium A Registration Desk Men’s Restroom 177 Women’s Restroom 162 174 Concourse C 163 Elevators Elevators k TV Lounge er & Chec ostat 165 Po C 168 101 Auditorium A Concourse C 7 FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES Auditorium, Poster Sessions STAGE College and University Reps A19 A18 A57 A56 A17 A16 A55 A54 s n A15 Mo Usi A14 A53 RIes A52 TOg S A13 AA5510 AUDIMornin AA1112 A10 A49 A48 A9 A8 A47 A7 A46 A6 A45 A5 A44 A4 A43 A42 A39A38 A35A34 A31A30 A27A26 A23A22 A41A40 A37A36 A33A32 A29 A28 A25A24 A21A20 E N S W 1 = Poster Board 2 8 21st Annual Massachusetts Statewide Undergraduate Research Conference FLOOR PLAN OF CONFERENCE FACILITIES Concourse Registration Tables Es C1 c a C la onc tor C2 o u rs C3 e C D e t a il C58 C60 C62 C59 C61 C63 C64 C66 C68 C65 C67 C69 C70 C72 C74 C71 C73 C75 C76 C78 C77 C79 C80 C81 POSTER & COAT S CHECK T A IR S 1 = Poster Board 2 9