Senior Independent Study Theses from 2023
Ecology and Genetic Variation of the Invasive Aedes japonicus Mosquito in Wooster, OH: An Addition to Existing Cultural, Literary, and Artistic Symbolism of Insects Around the World, Tomoka Shannon-Rose Adams
Department: Biology; Spanish
Coinfection of Culex Flavivirus and Wolbachia spp in Culex Mosquitoes and Implication for Arbovirus Control, Cristian Amesbury
Department: Biology
Investigating the Suggested Inhibition of Pho4 by P. sojae RxLR Effector PsAvh110 Utilizing SDL Assays, Nathaniel Andrews
Department: Biology
Melanism in Abert's Squirrel: Investigating the Genetic Cause and Frequency of Melanism in Northern Populations, Lake Barrett
Department: Biology
Push it to the Limit: Exploring the Activity Threshold of the Myxococcus xanthus Arginine Kinase and Its Effects on Socially-Motivated Phenotypes, Macey Bennett
Department: Biology
A Tale of Two Morphs: Understanding the Influence of Temperature on Eastern Red-Backed Salamander Color Morphs, Mary Blair
Department: Biology
Two's a Crowd: Creating a Double Plasmid Expression System in E. coli for Biotinylated KLK3 PSA Protein, Collin J. Boissoneault
Department: Biology
An Assessment of the Conservation Status and Morphology of the Golden Tree Frog, Phytotriades auratus, Daniel Borowsky
Department: Biology
Not Such a "Fun-Guy": Infection Patterns of the Fungal Pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), on Northern Two-Lined Salamander Populations at Wooster Memorial Park, Caileigh Alexandra Briggs
Department: Biology
It's the Little Things in (a Grasshopper's) Life: How the Carolina Grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) Visually Signals to Conspecifics While Minimizing Predation Risk, Claire Campbell
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Are Your Water Systems Safe? A Study on CYP1A Expression in Brown Bullhead and Channel Catfish in Response to Sediment Exposure from Killbuck Creek Wooster, Ohio, Madison Carter
Department: Biology
A Review of the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog and the Methods of Biological Analysis in Crime Laboratories, Chloe F. Clear
Department: Biology
On the Interaction Between Tau and Nab2 Proteins: Implication on AD, Mahmoud ElAchwah
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Rotator Cuff Rehabilitation: A Literature Review Detailing Factors Affecting Rehabilitation Following a Rotator Cuff injury, Benjamin Greenwood
Department: Biology
Expression of ANXA3 in E. coli for the Development of Future Diagnostic Nanobodies, Carson Jack Gutierrez
Department: Biology
A Clonal Plant Gets Too Big For Its Breeches: Pollination And Clonal Population Structure Of Spring Flowering Dutchman's Breeches, Jade M. Hoff
Department: Biology
A Biomechanical Analysis of the Pitching Motion: Mechanical Predictors of Velocity and Spin Rate in DIII Pitchers, Christian G. Johnston
Department: Biology
Are the Arginine Kinase Functions Found in Myxococcus xanthus Conserved in a Sister Species, Myxococcus macrosporus?, Seula Kim
Department: Biology
Influence of Supplemented Micronutrients on Immune Response in Caenorhabditis Elegans During Pathogenic Infections, Emma C. Kurtz
Department: Biology
Effects of Phage Cocktail Compared to Antibiotic Treatments on Host Bacteria (Pseudomonas Chlororaphis), Minjin Lee
Department: Biology
Eat Your Heart Out: The Role of Food in the Health and Livelihood of a Free-Meal Site Community, Brianna Lyman
Department: Biology; Sociology and Anthropology
Differential Expression of OBP23 in Female Aedes aegypti Upon Mating and Blood Feeding, Nosherwan Mughal
Department: Biology
Differential Expression of OBP23 in Female Aedes aegypti Upon Mating and Blood Feeding, Nosherwan Ahmad Mughal
Department: Biology
Differential Expression of OBP23 in Female Aedes aegypti Upon Mating and Blood Feeding, Nosherwan Ahmad Mughal
Department: Biology
The Truth About Probiotics? - A Study of How Probiotic Bacterial Produced 5-Ht (Serotonin) in the Microbiome of Caenorhabditis Elegans Alters Behavior, Jillian Murray
Department: Biology
Considered or Coincidence: Analyzing the Factors Affecting the Likelihood of Hybridization Across Different Populations: A Review, Natalie Nonno
Department: Biology
This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us; Do Apis mellifera Colonies Deter Wild Bee Visitation to Urban Pollinator Gardens?, Matthew Pardi
Department: Biology
Benzo(a)pyrene Induces CYP1A and p53 Expression in Brown Bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), Gracie Park
Department: Biology
A Quantification of Spring Ephemeral Pollen Carried on Queen Bumblebees: Implications for Temporal Mismatch Between Plants and their Pollinators, Antonia N. Ramos
Department: Biology
A Comprehensive Literature Review of the Current State of Knowledge of Phytophthora RxLR Effector Proteins, Keegan Daniel Smith
Department: Biology
More than a Hobby: Examining Dance as Communication in Honeybees and Humans, Katie Spence
Department: Biology; Theatre and Dance
Investigating Long-Term Effects of Birth Factors on Immune Performance and Development, Katherine Elizabeth Stephens
Department: Biology; Statistical and Data Sciences
Pollen and Resource Limitation of Seed Production in the Sexual Reproduction of Two Dicentra cucullaria Populations at Wooster Memorial Park, Huayu Sun
Department: Biology
Resting Heart Rate, Sleep, and Stress: The Physiological Stress Response of NCAA Division III Female Student-Athletes, Riley Marie Thorr
Department: Biology
Necessity of the Robo/Slit Signaling Pathway During Glial Migration in the Peripheral Nervous System of Drosophila melanogaster, Alexandra M. Wells
Department: Biology
Protecting Primates In Captivity And In The Wild: A Case Study For Costa Rica’s Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center, Alexander F. Wiseman-Rose
Department: Biology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2022
Decreased Expression Of Innate Immune Response Rel/Nf-Kb Transcription Factor Genes Relish And Dif In Cholinergic Neurons Alter Sleep Patterns In Drosophila Melanogaster., Kayla Audette
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
The Physiological And Psychological Effects Of Accelerated Rehabilitation, Visualization, And Virtual Reality On ACL Rehabilitation, Julian Mendez Ballesteros
Department: Biology
Phages, On The Rocks: Development Of A Bacteriophage Cocktail Infecting Pseudomonas Chlororaphis 14B11, Clara Becker
Department: Biology
Tau Masks Sleep Differences Found In High And Low Expression Of Drosophila Neurotrophin 1, Nathaniel James Berle
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Fatty Acids And The Innate Immune System: A Study Infecting Caenorhabditis Elegans With Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Shankar A. Bhat
Department: Biology
Studying The Effect Of The RNA-Binding Domain And Expression Level Of Nab2 On Tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration In The Fruit Fly, Drosophila Melanogaster, William C. Bodary
Department: Neuroscience; Biology
Eradicating Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms Through Synergistic Interaction Of Bacteriophage Pf7 And Manuka Honey, Emma Bossaert
Department: Biology
Hand-Feeding Impacts Hunting Behavior: A Study On Behavioral Plasticity In Chinese Praying Mantis Tenodera Aridipholia Sinensis, Charles A. Burrows
Department: Biology
What Factors Play The Most Prominent Role In Knee Injury For Professional Football Players In The NFL? A Study Of Injury Risk And Career Longevity For High-Level Athletes, Kellen W. Calhoun
Department: Biology
Assessment Of The Association Between Male Ejaculate Parameters And Pornography Habits, Marissa Camacho
Department: Biology
Association Between Bisphenol A And Male Ejaculate Parameters, Kylie Reannon Davis
Department: Biology
Effects Of Melatonin On Physiological Behavior In Arginine Kinase Gene Deleted Caenorhabditis Elegans, Gun Ju Hwang
Department: Biology
Analyzing A Possible Role Of Nab2 RNA Binding Protein In Regulating Transposition In D. Melanogaster, Seokyoung Ji
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
What'S The Buzz? Presence Of A Honey Bee Hive Decreases Native Bee Visitation To Native Plant Gardens In Northeast Ohio, Ren M. Johnson
Department: Biology
The Effect Of Perceived Loneliness On Oxytocin Levels In Humans Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelsea Johnston and Sharon Lynn
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Physiological Anomalies In Bullhead (Ameiurus) Of The Cuyahoga River In Cleveland, Ohio, And Killbuck Creek In Wooster, Ohio., Damien Jouriles
Department: Biology
Pb-1 And Pp7 Phage Effects On P. Aeruginosa, Caleb T. King
Department: Biology
The Soybean–Soybean Aphid Interaction: Mounting Defenses And Overcoming Resistance, Nathan David Bohlke Kreuter
Department: Biology
The Effect Of The Adipokinetic Hormone On The Blood-Feeding Behavior And Digestion Of Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes, Ngoc Khanh Lai
Department: Biology
Interspecific Competition Between Eastern Redback And Northern Ravine Salamanders And Long-Term Effect Of Climate Change On Salamander Body Size, Sarah Jessica Longville
Department: Biology
Startling Colors: Coloration As Anti-Predator Defense In The Carolina Grasshopper Dissosteira Carolina, Z Martin
Department: Biology
Furthering The Usage Of Genetic Material From Blow Samples For Beluga Health Monitoring, Bailey Rae McKenna
Department: Biology
Making Sensory Neuroscience Comparative: A Review And Analysis Of Orientation Selective Retinal Ganglion Cells, Atticus Tannen Moats
Department: Biology; Interdepartmental
Understanding The Biological And Biochemical Properties Of A Conserved Peroxidase Responsible For The Suppression Of Genomic Instability, Douglass W. Morris II
Department: Neuroscience; Biology
Are Tropical Bromeliads (Guzmania Lingulata) In A Mutualistic Relationship With Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Oophaga Pumilio)?, Jacqueline J. Morrison
Department: Biology
Immune Function Of Salamander Species Plethodon Cinereus, Plethodon Electromorphus, And Hybrid Individuals Against Batrachochytrium Dendrobatids, Sarah P. Neuville
Department: Biology
Immune Function Of Salamander Species Plethodon Cinereus, Plethodon Electromorphus, And Hybrid Individuals Against Batrachochytrium Dendrobatids, Sarah Pennock Neuville
Department: Biology
Intermittent Fasting: A Cost-Effective Mechanism To Improve Productivity And Decrease Adverse Stress Response?, Nivedita Rathaur
Department: Economics; Biology
Knockout Experiment On A Neuronal Boolean Model, Aelon Samuel and Erśebet Regan
Department: Biology
Creating An Effective, Efficient, Engaging, And Accurate Evolution Module In Ohio (Aya), Carolyn A. Santos
Department: Biology; Education
Invasive Autumn Olive's Impacts On Native Red Oak Tree Growth Rate And Germination, Nathaniel S. Seeley Jr.
Department: Biology
Effects Of Microbiome Diversity And Indole On Candida Albicans Infections In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jacqueline Anne Spieles
Department: Biology
Bring Me A Shrubbery: A Study Of Native Amphibian And Mammal Responses To Native Deciduous Plant Community Restoration In Wooster, Ohio, Grant Sprague
Department: Biology
The Effects On Lepomis Macrochirus (Bluegill) Foraging Behavior After Chronic Exposure To Sublethal Toxins In Wayne County Creeks, Brandon R. Styers
Department: Biology
Identifying The Phosphorylation Status Of PhO4 Proteins In Yeast Expressing The Psavh110 Effector Protein, Brooke K. Swain
Department: Biology
Identifying The Phosphorylation Status Of Pho4 Proteins In Yeast Expressing The Psavh110 Effector Protein, Brooke K. Swain
Department: Biology
Does Having A Birth Plan Impact Your Birth Experience? A Deeper Look Into Birth Plans, Birth Assistants/Attendants, And The Microbiome In Birth Experiences, Elijah Winfield
Department: Biology; Sociology and Anthropology
Prescribed Burns In Remnant Prairies: Pollinator Fidelity For Echinacea Angustifolia And Plant Composition, Maris Catherine Woldin
Department: Biology
Seminal Fluid Adipokinetic Hormone Influence On Remating Behaviors Of Female Ae. Aegypti, Meghan Wright
Department: Biology
Does Positive Reinforcement Training Reduce Inter-Dog Reactivity In An Animal Shelter Setting?, Ellison Zupan
Department: Biology
Senior Independent Study Theses from 2021
No Evidence of Sexual Selection in Brassica rapa, a Hermaphroditic Plant, Julia Ann Ajello
Department: Biology
The Relationship Between Seed Set and Flowering Time in Autumn Flowering Wingstem (Verbesina Alternifolia) and the Implications of Climate Change, Michael D. Alber
Department: Biology
The Infection Dynamics of a Fungal Pathogen in Stream-Dwelling Northern Two-Lined Salamanders in Wooster, Ohio, Erica M. Berent
Department: Biology
Surveying & Educating: College of Wooster Students' Knowledge and Perceptions Surrounding Influenza Viruses and the Flu Shot, Hallie Bischoff
Department: Biology
Experimental Evolution in Daphnia magna: An Investigation into the Effects of Ammonium Nitrate Exposure, Lydia Bruno
Department: Biology
The Effects of Tetranychus Urticae (Two-Spotted Spider Mite) On the Cannabinoid Content Of Young and Mature Cannabis Sativa L. (Hemp) Plants, Johanna Bueno
Department: Biology
Effect of Presence on Conspecifics in Potential Signaling in Dissosteira Carolina (Band-Winged) Grasshopper, Oscar Carmona
Department: Biology
Cast Away: Examining Genetic Structure and Color Morph Genetic Differentiation of Polymorphic Garter Snake Populations on Lake Erie, Dillon Chipman
Department: Biology
Urban Pocket Prairies Support Bee Diversity in Cleveland, Ohio, Jena Nicole Copley
Department: Biology
How Do We Fight Climate Change? A Study on the Impact of Carbon Sequestration Using a Small-Scale Reforestation Technique, Caden W. Croft
Department: Biology
Developing a Tool to Study Bat Wing Inertia and Investigating Variation in Bone Volume across Different Bat Landing Styles, Andy D. Danison
Department: Biology
If a Tree Falls in a Forest: The Impacts of Coarse Woody Debris on Biodiversity and Species Abundance in Areas of Ongoing Reforestation, Oria Lee Daugherty
Department: Biology
Specialization in Youth Sports and Its Effects on Injuries, Jay A. DiBacco
Department: Biology
Variation in Hemoglobin-Mediated Response to Hyperthermal Stress Driven by Environmental Stressors in Daphnia pulicaria, Estelle Rose Dowling
Department: Biology
Involvement of PP1 in Calcium Channel Regulation in Paramecium Tetraurelia, Wyatt Foss
Department: Biology
Exploring the Relationship Between Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Oophaga Pumilio) And Their Tropical Bromeliad Hosts (Guzmania Lingulata)., McKenna S. Gassman
Department: Biology
Exploring the Impact of the Microbiome on Sleep Homeostasis in Drosophila melanogaster, Joshua Gluck
Department: Biology
SWS2 and LWS mRNA Sequences in Red and Blue Betta Splendens, Hannah Greenland
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Communicating Science to College Students: A Comparison of Infographic and Text Based Approaches, Rachel Greer
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Manipulating Maternal Care: methodology and function in early life stress experiments in rodents, Yuqi Han
Department: Biology
Investigation the Effects of dNab2 Overexpression on Human Tau in Drosophila Melanogaster, James M. Hill
Department: Biology; Neuroscience
Male Fitness of Perennial Plant Echinacea Angustifolia Is Not Significantly Influenced Through Visitation by Specific Bee Taxa, Lauryn Alicia Hill
Department: Biology
Investigation of Autophagy: Modeling the Cellular Responds to the Undernutrition Condition, Haoyu Jiang
Department: Biology
Developmental Fluoxetine Exposure Affects Offspring Anxiety-Like Behavior and Hormonal Response to an Acute Stressor, Bryce Knopp
Department: Biology