2020 Undergraduate Research Symposia and Conferences
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Item College of Business Student Research Day Student Research Summaries(Skyes College of Business and Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-01) Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, Sykes College of BusinessCollege of Business (COB) Student Research Day, during Undergraduate Research Celebration Week provides an opportunity undergraduate and graduate students from the Sykes College of Business to present their current or recently completed research projects in a poster format. Research may have been performed as part of a course, an Honors Research Fellowship or an independent project conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Projects that are in progress or in the early stages of development are also encouraged. The symposium provides participants with excellent preparation for future presentations in both educational and professional settings. Students who are not currently engaged in research projects are also encouraged to attend to learn more about student research within the College of Business.Item College Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intended Use of Mental Health Resources(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-12) Nerogic, Abigail; Marimyr Bosque; Hannah DeCosta; Nathaniel Mansour; Alexander Rolle; Erica YuenThe goal of this study was to examine how viewing informational/promotional brochures regarding mental health resources offered on campus will affect treatment attitudes, stigma, willingness/intent to seek treatment and knowledge/awareness of resources. A total of 64 participants were recruited from the University of Tampa and included in the preliminary results. Each participant was asked to read an informational brochure regarding mental health resources (Experimental group) or general campus facts (Control group) and then respond to the dependent measures. Our main hypothesis was that participants who view informational brochures regarding mental health resources will have more positive attitudes (e.g., less stigma) towards seeking treatment than those who do not view the mental health brochure. Preliminary analyses found that viewing the mental health resources brochure led to significantly increased scores on the Knowledge of Mental Health Resources Quiz and intentions to seek help from a formal source. Furthermore, willingness to engage in help seeking behavior trended towards significance. Perceived public stigma, personal stigma, self-stigma of seeking help, attitudes towards seeking professional help, and intentions to seek help from an informal source were not impacted. These results indicate that viewing a mental health brochure has an impact on willingness and intent to seek professional help.Item Spatial Analysis of Mark Recapture Data from an Endemic Seahorse Population from the Bahamas (Hippocampus erectus) Provides Critical Management Insights for Park Development(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-12) Pinder, Megan; Heather MasonjonesWe utilized both mark-recapture and facial recognition techniques to follow a saltwater lake population of lined seahorses (Hippocampus erectus). Sampling occurred between August 2018 and October 2019, using elastomer tags and facial patterns analyzed with the Interactive Individual Identification (I3S) program to confirm that facial markings work to identify individuals in a 25x25 meter grid established in the north and south ends of the lake. Closed population estimation techniques were used to determine that the southern population (0.065 seahorses m-2) was significantly smaller than the north (0.14 seahorses m-2) when measured directly, with estimations based on mark recapture 341% higher in the south and 825% higher in the northern populations. Additionally, ArcGis was used to assess differences in the spatial distribution, abundance and movement of the seahorses between the two populations. Northern differences exist in where males, females and juveniles are found, but in the South distribution did not vary by sex. At both locations, juveniles favor the shallowest part of the grid. The Southern population was mapped in more detail, illustrating the greater the disturbance by researchers, the further seahorses moved. Careful management planning will need to balance seahorse population demographics and human use of the ecosystem.Item Using a Carbazole Derivative as a Photocatalyst in the Dehalogenation of Aryl Halides(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-12) Chin, Melissa; Ashley LongstreetPhotoredox catalysis allows chemists to perform single-electron transformations through light excitation of a photocatalyst, which is either metal complex or organic molecule. This process is important compared to traditional single-electron transformations because it is selective, performed under mild conditions, generates less waste, and requires less toxic reagents. The purpose of this research was to determine if the molecule 9-mesityl-3,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-9H-carbazole could be used as a photocatalyst. This carbazole derivative would be useful as a photocatalysts due to it being affordable, metal-free, and exhibiting unique redox properties. Here in, the carbazole derivative was demonstrated to work as a photocatalyst in the dehalogenation of aryl halides in the presence of an amine as a hydrogen donor. The reaction was first optimized using 4-bromobenzonitrile as a substrate. Once optimized, the 4-bromobenzonitrile was converted into the desired product, benzonitrile, in 88% yield after 48 hours. The method was then applied towards other aryl halide substrates. The substrates with electron withdrawing groups, such as 4-bromoacetophenone or 4-chlorobenzonitrile, were converted to their corresponding products in higher yields, whereas substrates without these groups only produced their desired products in low yields.Item There is Something in the Water! Correlation of Trihalomethanes with Head and Neck Cancer in the Tampa Bay Area(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-12) Hoch, Magen; Kimberly Dobrinski; Michelle CrosbyTotal Trihalomethanes (TTHM’s) are carcinogenic by-products that are formed due to the chlorination of drinking water. A headspace GC-MS method has been optimized for sensing the TTHM concentrations in a 30-zipcode region of Hillsborough county. These parameters were set in place to better detect the individual THMs: chloroform, bromoform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane concentrations, as well as to determine the free chlorine levels (determined by colorimeter) in the drinking water around the Tampa Bay area. For optimization of sensitivity, the following parameters were changed: flow rate from 1.0 mL/min to 0.8 mL/min, GC oven temperature from 80°C to 40°C, vial incubation time from 3m:ss to 5m:ss, speed of injection from 250µL/s to 500µL/s, and fill speed from 100µL/s to 200µL/s. These parameters have allowed the measurement of TTHM as low as ppb. The TTHM concentrations found in the drinking water were compared to the TTHM standards (EPA: 80 ppb, WHO:10 ppb, EWG: 0.15 ppb). Additionally, correlations between TTHM’s found in drinking water and head-and-neck cancer rates by zipcode in the Tampa Bay area will be evaluated.Item Qualitative Inquiry into Vaping among College Students(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-12) Lipski, Briana; Mary MartinasekBackground: The use of electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) such as Juul and vapes have become a public health concern over the past year. The use of these devices results in inhalation of heavy metals, carcinogens, and respiratory irritants, as well, as high levels of nicotine. Understanding college student attitudes, perceptions and behaviors can help to inform future programs and social marketing campaigns aimed at curbing the behavior. This research was utilized to inform a survey that was disseminated across campus. Methods: Fifty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted on campus at a medium sized liberal arts institution with both individuals who vaped and those who do not vape. Interviews were recorded for transcription and then coded using NVivo software. Results: Students were most often influenced by their friends or attending a social event for introduction into vaping devices. Many students started vaping prior to starting college. Emerging themes were centered around peer social acceptability, disconnect between harm perception and the vapers, intrinsic benefits, parental help and trusted health sources. Conclusions: Qualitative inquiry and literature reviews are the first steps in developing a social marketing campaign. By gathering differing perspectives to inform social marketing campaigns, deterrence from usage can be formulated and utilized on college campuses to influence those who are most likely to change their behaviors.Item The University of Tampa 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium(Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, The University of Tampa, 2020-05-01) Office of Undergraduate Research and InquiryAn online showcase of UT student research accomplishments. Abstracts of presentations are included in this program.Item Florida Statewide Symposium on Undergraduate Research(Office of Undergraduate Research at Embry-Riddle, 2020-10-23) Florida Undergraduate Research AssociationWelcome to the Florida Undergradute Research Association’s 2020 Florida Statewide Symposium on Undergraduate Research. As educators, we strive to create opportunities for our students to develop their intellect, creativity, professionalism, and personal skills through mentored research. This passion to engage students in research is something that we all share. As a community, we come together every fall to learn for one another and strive to bring the best ideas back to our campuses to serve our students better. I am excited to welcome you here, to join in wonderful conversations with other faculty, students, staff, and administrators from across the state. Even though we cannot meet in person this year, I hope that we can capture some of the magic from years past through this virtual symposium. Together, we are contributing to the success of the undergraduate research community within the state of Florida. Thank you for joining us today, we hope you have some great conversations and find some great ideas to take back to your campus! Sincerly, Wes Lewis Director, Undergraduate Research Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University