Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity
The Office of Grants and Research has created a virtual display of our exceptional undergraduate student research which would have been presented at multiple conferences and symposiums during the 19-20 Academic Year.
Please see below for each group's poster, and a brief description in their own words describing their research.
Low Cost Method for Detection of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) through Cleavage of Fluorine Bonds with Sodium Biphenyl by LeeAnn Bellow and Jacob Harper
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can be found within leachate produced from landfills. PFAS if left unmanaged for long periods of time in surface and groundwater can have negative effects on human life as well the environment in which it is found. By producing stock solution of Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the range of 1 to 1,000 µg/L in correspondence to sites with measured amounts of PFAS environmental contamination. This allowed us to be able to produce Langmuir batch isotherms to test the sorption of PFAS by biochars with specific characteristics (e.g. various oxidation sites, high surface area, etc.) for treatment potential. Once this process was finished, we separated the solutions from the biochars and analyzed the solution to find the equilibrium concentration. The analysis was done by converting the Fluororganic compounds into inorganic Fluoride by way of a Sodium Biphenyl reagent. The quantification of the resulting Fluoride was then performed by using a Fluoride probe to read the amounts in the solution.
Empirical Assessment of the Effects of Allowing Response Probing in Behavior Descriptive Interviews by McKenzie Diny, Emily Doran, Emily Fritsch, and Rosalyn Stoa
This research examined the impact of probing questions in behavior descriptive interviews. Participants (N = 25) were rated on the completeness of their interview questions before and after probing, as well as the quality of their responses. These ratings were then compared to job performance reviews from participants' supervisors and a social skills inventory. Results find a moderate association between interview quality and job performance after probing, as well as completeness and job performance after probing.
Sustainable Conversion of Contaminated Water Into Potable Water by Akanksha Gurtu
Today, 1 in 9 people across the world do not have access to clean drinking water (water.org). This amounts to approximately 844 million people without potable water. The aim of our study is to design a sustainable biotechnology by using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) for purifying water at low cost with high efficiency. Magnetic NPs can be chemically modified to interact with the bacterium cell membrane and hence, they can be employed to remove bacterial contaminations from freshwater by applying an external magnetic field.
Restoring wetlands in Green Bay for apex predator: Esox lucius by Claire Stuart
Northern pike are endemic to the waters of Green Bay and utilize restored wetlands to spawn, such as the Malchow wetland on the western shore of Green Bay. This wetland has been monitored for pike migration and population parameters every spring spawning season by UWGB fisheries students since 2014, and the data collected has been summarized and exhibited in this poster. These measurements help describe northern pike population dynamics, as well as determine if this wetland's restoration can be considered successful in its goal of supporting northern pike spawning.
Evaluating Synergism Between Vitamin D and ω 3 Fatty Acids in Ovarian Cancer Cells by Ruchita Patel and Brooke Breitrick
Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in women, with a 5-year survival rate of 47%, due in part to late stage diagnoses. Both preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies are needed. In more recent years it has been observed that an individual's diet is associated with cancer risk, including ovarian cancer. Specifically, ω-3 fatty acids, DHA, and vitamin D, calcitriol, have shown to exert anti-cancer effects in a variety of cancers. In this study, these molecules were evaluated on OVCAR4 cells. In high concentrations, the individual molecules inhibited cell growth. When in combination, the inhibition of cell growth was significantly greater.
Monitoring of Water Quality Within The Restoration Area and Headwaters of Centerville Creek in Manitowoc County, WI by Makenna Pucker, Kyle Deacy, Olivia Claybrook, and Jacalyn Crom
The purpose of this project is to analyze the Centerville Creek watershed in Manitowoc County, along thirteen sites, to determine water quality of this important Lake Michigan tributary. The parameters monitored were phosphate, ammonia, E. coli, turbidity, and rainfall. The main focus was to identify ammonia and phosphate trends in the stream, and specifically study the headwaters on the South Branch and sites within a downstream restoration area. The restoration area that we monitored was the site of a dam removal in 1996 and was restored to expel built-up sediment and restore flow of the stream.
Researching Diverse Learners: A Qualitative Study on the Use of Multimodality Instruction in the Classroom by Emily Wolf
This project really looked at the form of the information that we give to our students. Now more than ever, we are interacting with data and information in all sorts of different mediums. Whether it's visual, textual, audio, spatial, or kinesthetic our students need to learn to understand how to interpret it. By providing material in these varied forms, we can also support students' learning abilities as they interact with the different mediums.