2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) is a competitive program of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences STEM departments – Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Technology, and Physics. SURP allows undergraduate students to develop their research and problem solving skills over a 10-week period. Each student works closely with a faculty mentor and is compensated for their research work. The annual SURP Symposium provides a venue for the student/faculty teams to present their projects in poster form.

The 2024 SURP Symposium was held on July 26, 2024. To view the collection of past SURP Symposium programs, click here.

Schedule

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2024
Friday, July 26th
11:00 AM

A High-Resolution Photographic Guide for Identifying Fiddler Crabs from the Shores of the Atlantic Ocean

Abby M. Hutchins, University of Northern Iowa
Carl L. Thurman, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Additive Manufacturing: Investment Casting Prototype Pantera Using 3D Printed PMMA Pattern

Aini B. Constancio, University of Northern Iowa
Ana S. Martinez, University of Northern Iowa
Devani Gutierrez, University of Northern Iowa
Lesly M. Rubio, University of Northern Iowa
Mario Garcia, University of Northern Iowa
Rodrigo Molina, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

An Automated Method to Detect Tooth Brushing Activity with Smartwatch Sensors

Marina Avdonina, University of Northern Iowa
Rishiraj Adhikary
Sougata Sen
Dheryta Jaisinghani, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Developing a Cave Science Spectral Database for Fluorescence Inventory

Anna Van Der Weide, University of Northern Iowa
Evelyn Lopez, University of Northern Iowa
Jacqueline Heggen, University of Northern Iowa
Jordan Holloway, University of Northern Iowa
Celia Langemo, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sebree, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Development of a Multi-Sensor Circuit Board Integrating ESP8266, BME680, and SGP40 for Environmental Monitoring (VOCs, Pressure, Temperature, Humidity) to Produce Stronger Molds in a Metal Casting Foundry Process

Nathaniel A. Addo, University of Northern Iowa
Maurice Kuubata, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Development of Fluorescence Data Logger for Remote Exploration

Jordan Holloway, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sebree, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Effect of Pressure and Strain on Electronic and Magnetic Properties of V2CoAl

Brandon L. Schmidt, University of Northern Iowa
Paul M. Shand, University of Nothern Iowa
Parashu Kharel, South Dakota State University
Pavel V. Lukashev, University of Nothern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Effect of Seed Mix Design and Planting Time on Early-Summer Floral Resources

Madison Carleton, University of Northern Iowa
Rachel Lursen, University of Northern Iowa
Laura Jackson, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Effects of Seed Mix Design and Planting Time on Mid-Summer Floral Resources in CRP Plantings

Rachel G. Lursen, University of Northern Iowa
Madison Carleton, University of Northern Iowa
Laura Jackson, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Electronic, Magnetic, and Structural Properies of FeVTaAl Heusler Alloy

Caden J. Sadler, University of Nothern Iowa
Pavel V. Lukashev, University of Nothern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Fluorescence of Cryogenically Frozen Cave Water and Its Use as a Europa Analog

Jacqueline Heggen, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sebree, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Gene Looping in Brewer’s Yeast: Exploring the Role of DNA Mechanics in 3D Genome Structure

Thalia Torres Guzman, University of Northern Iowa
Justin Peters, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Geochemistry and Particle Size Analysis of the Surficial Geology of the Fulton Quadrangle in Jackson County, Iowa

Starr Claussen, University of Northern Iowa
Chad Heinzel, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

High Precision Localization With BLE Tags

Jackson Babb, University of Northern Iowa
Dheryta Jaisinghani, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Identifying Fungi and their Active Secondary Metabolites From Wind Cave National Park

Jack W. Noehren, University of Northern Iowa
Kirk P. Manfredi, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Improving Student’s Socialness with Neural Networks on Smartphones

Brandon Schmidt, University of Northern Iowa
Dheryta Jaisinghani, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Investigating the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Science Teaching Beliefs, and Science Teaching Practices in Pre-Service Science Education

Carolyn Kress, University of Nothern Iowa
Kiran Willis, University of Nothern Iowa
Jesse Wilcox, University of Nothern Iowa
Diva Dodiya, University of Nothern Iowa
Pranav Kota, Brown University
Jerrid Kruse, Drake University

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Is Tef (Eragrostis tef Zucc.) Trotter Suitable for Cultivation in Iowa?

Eliana Wulfekuhle, University of Northern Iowa
Enoch Bolaji, University of Northern Iowa
Tilahun Abebe, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Leveraging Multi-Modal Sensing to Detect Student Safety on Campus

Volodymyr A. Kiselov, University of Northern Iowa
Dheryta Jaisinghani, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Literacy and STEM Camp with Migrant Students from Waterloo Schools

Francis Dugbartey, University of Northern Iowa
Sherri Peterson, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Magnetic and Structural Properties of FeCrZrAl: Ab Initio Study

Samuel Smith, Cedar Falls High School
Pavel V. Lukashev, University of Nothern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Magnetotransport Properties of NiFe1+xMn1-xAl Heusler Alloys

Salimatou Diallo, University of Northern Iowa
Brandon Schmidt, University of Nothern Iowa
Jax Wysong, South Dakota State University
Gavin Baker, South Dakota State University
Parashu Kharel, South Dakota State University
Pavel V. Lukashev, University of Nothern Iowa
Paul M. Shand, University of Nothern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Mineralogy of the Duluth Complex Xenoliths

Charlotte Collins, University of Northern Iowa
Chad Heinzel, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Nanocellulose Production from Microcrystalline Cellulose

Bowen A. Downey, University of Nothern Iowa
Elizabeth E. Guevara, University of Northern Iowa
Colin L. Weeks, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Olivine Variability from the Nickel Lake Macrodike in Northern Minnesota

Katelyn Boege, University of Northern Iowa
Chad Heinzel, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Robotics Integration for Measuring Green Sand Properties Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Samuel D. Bast, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Tag You’re It: Producing Chemical Taggants and Identifying Objects with Them

Brianna A. Williams

Poster Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

The Future of Iowa’s Grain Cultivation: Finding the Best Tef (Eragrostis tef) Accessions

Enoch Bolaji, University of Northern Iowa
Eliana Wulfekuhle, University of Northern Iowa
Tilahun Abebe, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

The Physiology of Bacteria During Infection of Lepidoptera

Nick Duncan, University of Northern Iowa
Jaden Doehrmann, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sesay, University of Northern Iowa
Jerreme Jackson, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (Electronic Copy Not Available)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Towards Structural Protein Analysis of Stability-Selected Bacillus Cereus/Anthracis Bacteriophages

Brianna M. Blasnitz, University of Northern Iowa
Michael H. Walter, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Use of Analytical Instruments in Caves to Assess Biometrics, Water, and Air Quality

Celia W. Langemo, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sebree, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Using Generative AI for Design in 3D Modeling

Andrew Rhodes, University of Northern Iowa
Kaitlyn Hughes, University of Northern Iowa

Open Access Poster Presentation

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Water Quality Index of Coldwater Creek and Analysis of it's Subterranean Branch in Coldwater Cave

Zachary Harper, University of Northern Iowa
Mohammad Iqbal, University of Northern Iowa
Joshua Sebree, University of Northern Iowa

Poster Presentation (UNI Access Only)

John Deere Auditorium, Curris Business Building, University of Nothern Iowa

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM