The Eckerd College Humanities Symposium was the final research event of Student Showcase Week. Students presented their work to an eager audience in the Triton Room on April 24. Photo by Penh Alicandro ’22
From marine invertebrates in the Gulf of Mexico to Brexit film analysis and climate fiction, the 19th Annual Research Symposium at Eckerd College on April 22 showcased the full spectrum of undergraduate research.
The symposium featured 83 student poster presentations spanning eight disciplines, including animal behavior, environmental science, geology and humanities.
It was the centerpiece of Student Showcase Week, a newly-imagined week of programs during Research Month designed “to celebrate all forms of liberal arts education—making student skills and interests visible and meaningful,” says Kat Robinson, Ph.D., associate dean of faculty for student success.
From April 20-24, students participated in the Research Symposium, Humanities Symposium, a Global Education and Academic Internship Showcase, Career Center workshops, and performances of the Shakespearean comedy “Twelfth Night” and the Eckerd College Orchestra. Student artwork was also on display in the Cobb Gallery to round out a full week of highlighting student achievements across disciplines.
Student Showcase Week provided dozens of sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to present their work.
Prior to the Research Symposium, the Career Center held its inaugural Industry Luncheon. Leaders from Colliers Engineering & Design, Inc., Florida Institute of Oceanography, Geosyntec, Mote Marine Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, Pinellas County Government, Pinellas County Schools, Rollins College’s Master of Public Health program, St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation and Zoo Tampa enjoyed lunch as they viewed a presentation that oriented them to the distinctive features of an Eckerd education and the qualities and skills our graduates bring to the workplace. Afterward, they attended the symposium to see the students in action.
“The caliber of education our students receive at Eckerd is outstanding, and we wanted to make sure that industry knows it,” says Dwayne Peterson, director of the College Career Center.
“This kind of exposure is great for students, helping them see that their academic work translates to careers and sets them up to network with and present their research to real industry leaders. That’s better than any interview!”
For many students, the symposia marked a first experience presenting academic research.
Mia Henrich, a senior in literature and environmental studies from Alpharetta, Georgia, explained that the Humanities Symposium was both exciting and nerve-wracking. “This was my first time presenting my research ever—I was really nervous.”
Mia, who worked on her project through a literature course with Professor of Literature Daniel Spoth, Ph.D., focused on authors such as William Faulkner and Toni Morrison. She says support from her professor played a critical role in her confidence leading up to the event.
Despite initial nerves, Mia describes the Humanities Symposium as a moment that reinforced her academic passions.
“It reminded me of why I love what I do,” she said. “I loved hearing everybody’s research.”
“My research was on authors from the 1900s, and others were working on things like climate fiction,” Mia said. “It was all a great variety of stuff, but it was also really relevant and tied together well.”
Former Eckerd College Organization of Students President Emma Kelliher ’26 (left) presented her own work at the Humanities Symposium.
19th Annual Research Symposium Winners
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
First Place: Emma Bakhshi, Kade Jackson, Noé Morales, Holger Beck
BAD BLOOD IN THE PECKING ORDER: PHYLOGENETIC RELATEDNESS AND BODY SIZE CORRELATE WITH AGGRESSIVE INTERACTION STRUCTURE IN A HUMMINGBIRD ASSEMBLAGE
Second Place: Leo Dutkewych, Sarrah Bristol, Grace Albrect, Hailey Hill, Avery Nesbitt, Johnny Owens, Melia Paat, Tanner Parks, Lola Southard, Ella Tevelde, Zoe London, Dr. Elizabeth Forys, Dr. Timothy Bransford
NIGHTTIME TORTOISES: NOCTURNAL ACTIVITY OF GOPHER TORTOISES ON A BARRIER ISLAND COMPLEX
Third Place: Sophia Nocera, Dr. Tim Bransford
FEEDING PERIODS DRIVE INCREASED SOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN MANAGED RED WOLVES (CANIS RUFUS)
CORALS
First Place: Raie Hess, Aiden Moriya, Sierra Bloomer, Dr. Lauren Toth, Dr. Chelsea Korpanty
USING CT IMAGERY TO EVALUATE THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE WITH ANNUAL LINEAR EXTENSION OF THE CORAL ORBICELLA IN DRY TORTUGAS, FLORIDA
Second Place: Mary McReynolds, Morgan Rose, Preston McMahon, Kelly Logan, Eva Laxo
EFFECTS OF FOUR SUBSTRATE TYPES ON CORAL GROWTH RATES
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
First Place: Madelyn Krischer, Riley Daniel, Dr. Tyler Cribbs, Dr. Benjamin Chemel
FOX POND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION: USING NATIVE PLANTS TO ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE
Second Place: Ariana Cory, Dr. Patrick Schwing, Matthew Garrett, Dr. Rebekka Larson, Dr. Gregg Brooks, Thea Rind, Ja’Kiah Cooper, and Nilo Khoury
EVALUATION OF CHANGE IN BENTHIC HEALTH ON THE WEST FLORIDA SHELF
Third Place: Madison Thornton, Dr. Shannon Gowans, Dr. Amy NS Siuda
DIFFERENTIATION OF MICROPLASTIC PARTICLES FROM PHYTOPLANKTON CELLS USING FLOWCAM FLUORESCENT TRIGGER MODE
GEOLOGY
First Place: Jackson Wheat, Patrick Schwing, Rebekka Larson, Gregg Brooks, Daniel A. Rivera, Milena Lynch, Thea Rind, Bryan O’Malley
MINERALOGICAL AND ELEMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PRE-MINING GEOCHEMICAL CONDITIONS FROM VARIOUS GEOFORMS AND HABITAT TYPES IN THE CLARION-CLIPPERTON ZONE
Second Place: Helena Duarte
IDENTIFYING DOWNSLOPE TRANSPORT FROM SR/CA AND MG/CA RATIOS ON THE WEST FLORIDA SHELF USING X-RAY FLUORESCENCE
Third Place : Casper Graham, Dr. Chas Bolton, Dr. Laura Wetzel, and Dr. Kelly Debure
CYCLIC PORE FLUID PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS THROUGHOUT THE LABORATORY EARTHQUAKE CYCLE
Third Place: Nilo Khoury, Dr. Patrick Schwing, Matthew Garrett, Ariana Cory, Thea Rind, Matthew Price, Ja’kiah Cooper, Dr. Rebekka Larson, Dr. Gregg Brooks
CORRELATIONS BETWEEN BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA PRESENCE, SEDIMENTOLOGY, AND CTD DATA ACROSS THE WEST FLORIDA SHELF
HUMANS AND OTHERS
First Place: Zoe London, Dr. Jessica S. Leffers
TO SPLAT OR NOT TO SPLAT? INVESTIGATING THE INFLUENCE OF ANTHROPIC THINKING ON BEHAVIOR IN VARIOUS ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Second Place: Nicole Vogler
MIND THE GAP: BREXIT CINEMA, THE LONG TAKE, AND BRITISH NATIONAL IDENTITY
Second Place: Sofia Salko, Kayla Fenton, Dr. DeAnna Bay-Markins
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF DORMING WITH A PET THROUGH PHOTO ELICITATION
MARINE VERTEBRATES
First Place: Lydia Hughes, Nancy Smith, William Szelistowski
MARINE ECTOPARASITE COMMUNITIES ON BATOID HOSTS
Second Place: Lily Boucher, Anna Erftenbeck, Claudia Knickrehm, Kiara Gantt, Kinga Jung, Josh Foye, Emma Sorace, Morgan Macrobbie, Rory Laffey, Taj Sorensen, Dr. Shannon Gowans, Dr. Amy NS Siuda
CONCENTRATIONS OF MICROPLASTICS IN SPHYRNA TIBURO GASTROINTESTINAL TRACTS FROM TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA
Third Place : Myles de Szendeffy, Boa Lee, Harper Chrabascz, Olivia Lord, Will Freeman, Dr. David Durieux
SEASONAL AND DIEL TRENDS OF COASTAL FISH DIVERSITY IN TAMPE BAY, FLORIDA
MARINE INVERTEBRATES
First Place: Megan Reed, Katie Lankowicz
BIOFOULING IMPACTS ON EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) GROWTH AND OYSTER CONDITION INDEX
Second Place: Lilly Branton, Taylor Queen, Gillian Smith, Eliza Patty, Hannah Craft, Rebecca Meburg, Daniel Holstein, George Xue, Philip Gravinese
STONE CRAB LARVAE REVERSE THEIR PHOTOTAXIS SWIMMING RESPONSE IN REDUCED SEAWATER PH
Third Place: Gillian Smith, Taylor Queen, Jason Spadaro, Philip Gravinese
ASSESING THE IMPACT OF ELEVATED TEMPERATUES ON CARIBBEAN KING CRAB PHYSIOLOGY BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER KEY POPULATIONS
MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY
First Place: Akari Miura, Krishnakanth Kondabolu, Sydnee Dymock, Max Stern, Dadi Gao, Ricardo Simeon Harripaul, Anil Chekuri, Elisabetta Morini, Susan A. Slaugenhaupt
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL ORAL COMPOUND THAT RESTORES ELP1 SPLICING AND RESCUES GAIT ATAXIA AND RETINAL DEGENERATION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF FAMILIAL DYSAUTONOMIA
Second Place: Finn Topham, Shohei Takaoka, Xiangbo Ruan
FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF ZNF408 MUTANTS IN RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
Third Place: Emma Egan, Ieva Miceikaite, PhD, Michael Talkowski, PhD
SIZE SELECTION TO ENRICH FETAL FRACTION IN NON-INVASIVE DEEP EXOME FETAL SEQUENCING
Research Symposium Alumni Judges
- Animal Behavior: Joy Vincent ’18; Rayetta Henderson ’00; Madeline Ketner ’23; Kayla Fulkerson ’22
- Corals: Jennifer Flannery ’05; Thomas Moore ’99; Isabela Rios ’21
- Environmental Science: Kiana Sladicki ’17; Olivia Spicer ’22; Alexandra Barone ’17; Chris Bauer ’07; Michelle Durr ’16
- Geology: Rosemary Burkhalter-Castro ’19; Jacob Fillingham ’19
- Humans and Others: Kenneth Tremblay ’18; Lauren O’Dell ’16; Mary Hilgeman ’06
- Marine Invertebrates: Skye Dibner ’20; Melissa Berrien Elliott ’06; Dr. Jason Baer ’17
- Marine Vertebrates: Brittany Evans ’17; Cecilia Thompson ’21; Cat Brown ’88; Dominique Lazarre ’06; Michelle Carpenter ’15; Kelly Cuisick ’20; Celina Ceballos ’21
- Molecular and Cell Biology: Bill Tench ’71; Jane Petro ’68; Chris Dukes ’13; Guy Bradley ’85; Barbara Del Castello ’15; Diana Huestis ’03
