The University Research Symposium is held each spring and offers an exciting opportunity for enrolled Illinois State graduate and undergraduate students to present what they have learned through their research, scholarship, and creative endeavor to a large audience in a professional setting. This collection shows select abstracts and poster presentations from the Symposium.
Submissions from 2025
Exploring the Intersection of Art, Technology, and Nature: The Work of Hayk Zakoyan, Tonmoy Akter
Creative Technologies
The Role of Message Framing in Influencing Health Decisions Among International Graduate Students at a Midwest University in the United States of America, Beatrice Amissah
Communication
Examining Psychological Insights to Understand Attendance Behavior: The Role of Workplace Health Promotion Programs, Peyton Anderson
Psychology
The Perception of Students and Instructors on the Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages: The Case of University of Ghana, Dorcas Apaflo and Rachel Shively
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
Investigating Heterogeneity of Hydraulic Conductivity and its Influence on Groundwater Flow Dynamics within a Saturated Riparian Buffer in Central Illinois, Joseph Awuku, Eric Peterson, Wondwosen Seyoum, and Lisa Tranel
Quercetin’s Impact on Chicken Embryo Development Under Corticosterone Influence: A Comparative Study with Trolox, Ayomi Ayorinde and Ryan Paitz
Biological Sciences
Transnational Justice: The Fluidity of Struggle within the Global Black Body, Jazmine Benson
Politics and Government
The Liturgical Calendar of the Carthusian Breviary, Belle Chamness
English
Confidence and Success: Investigating Self-Esteem’s Role in Academic Performance, Michael Charles
Psychology
Promoting Student Success through Policy: Applying Culturally Responsive Principles to Teacher Advocacy, Anabella Chlada
Special Education
Deaf/Hard of Hearing Early Childhood Education Movement and Math Study, Annie Czirjak, Christy Borders, Michelle Gremp, Julien Corven, Mary Henniger, and Skip Williams
Special Education
Gender Norms and Violence: Attitudes Towards Rape and Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria, Tricia Ebubechukwu
Sociology/Anthropology
The Effect of Stress on Female Preference and Perception of a Socially Relevant Stimulus, Alyssa Enevold and Fernanda Duque
Biological Sciences
Shipwrecks and Sunken Stone: The Roman Empire's Economic Centralization, Amalie Fried
History
Multiple Derivatives of Composition, Anna Guo, Lydia Gomez, Ben Achammer, and Sunil Chebolu
Physics
Leadership Characteristics and Supports: Their Effectiveness in Empowering the Future of Teachers Post-Pandemic, Grace Halfman, Laura Gross, and Kelly Klein
Teaching and Learning
Structure of Subgroups in Products of Cyclic Groups, Sarah Huber
Evaluating Applied Theatre Interventions: A Case Study of the Asuboa Project, Fredrick Igwe
Theatre and Dance
A Board Game Approach to Climate Change Education and Advocacy, Jubair Islam
Creative Technologies
Enhancing Climate Change Awareness in Children Through Augmented Reality: A Study on Educational Engagement, Jubair Islam
Creative Technologies
Utilization of Golden Pennycress Meal in Broiler Diets, Marley Knowles
Accounting
Family Reflections: Associations between Maternal Bodily Comments, Body Image, and Sibling Closeness, Alannah Kolze
Psychology
Frozen Shoulder in Female High School Soccer Player: A Level 3 Case Study, Marissa Kunz, Chelsea Kuehner-Boyer, and Justin Stanek
Kinesiology & Recreation
Landing Techniques and Risk Factors for ACL Injury in Volleyball: A Critically Appraised Topic, Alivia Larson, Chelsea Kuehner-Boyer, Justin Stanek, and Hayley Ericksen
Kinesiology & Recreation
Understanding Phosphorus Load Trends and Controlling Factors in Illinois Watersheds, Hannah Lartey
Geography, Geology and the Environment
Demystifying Native Speakerism in English Teacher Education, Watsachol Narongsaksakul
Teaching and Learning
Transforming Teacher Preparation Programs with AI Literacy, Watsachol Narongsaksakul
Teaching and Learning
Unpacking AI Pedagogy for K-12 Educators of Multilingual Learners (MLs), Watsachol Narongsaksakul
Teaching and Learning
Impact of Employee Psychological Empowerment on Job Satisfaction in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of Hotels in a Midwestern City, James Nyamekye, Tracy Mainieri, Mike Mulvaney, and Rachel Smith
Kinesiology & Recreation
The Commodification of Silence, Sara O'Dowd
Philosophy
Stimulating Focus and Calmness Using Soft Fabrication: A User-Centered Approach, Emmanuella Oku
Creative Technologies
Ankara In Motion, Fikayo Olutomiwa
Creative Technologies
Implementation of a Course About Divorce in Higher Education, Emmanuel Owusu and Julie Campbell
Psychology
Lower Body Lean Mass Asymmetry is Not Associated with Performance Asymmetries in Collegiate Baseball Players, Taylor Parmentier, Isabelle Farm, Evan Semonis, Jadon Konkel, Kelly Laurson, Samantha McDonald, Michael Torry, and Marcel Lopes dos Santos
Kinesiology & Recreation
Grace and Free Will: Comparing Thomisic Views, Robert Reckamp
Philosophy
College Student Perceptions of Vaccine Safety, Jasmine Riley, Emily Drew, and Delaney Reynolds
Health Sciences
X Marks the Sunflower Seed: Impacts of an Urbanized Environment on House Mouse Navigation, Sydney Romps and Javier DelBarco-Trillo
Biological Sciences
Faculty Perspectives on Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging in STEM Disciplines, Blessing Soyebi
Biological Sciences
The Role of Key Characteristics in Sport Horses as Valued by Buyers, Whitney Stiverson, Michelle Kibler, and Jada Thompson
Agriculture
Impact of Winter Cover Crops on Corn Yield and Seed Quality, Ashley Stockmaster, Nicholas Heller, William Perry, John Sedbrook, Winthrop Phippen, Tad Wesley, and Robert Rhykerd
Agriculture
Supporting Youth and Young Adults with Chronic Conditions, Meg Sulak, Luke Russell, Hallie Castro, Sierra Smith, and Bailey Brower
Family and Consumer Sciences
Investigating Precrastination in Academic Scenarios, Sadie Szkapiak
Psychology
Trust in Personality Testing, Sean Taylor, Kara Cannon, Lindsey Tampa, and Burak Ozkum
Psychology
High-resolution mapping of soil moisture variation in a Saturated Riparian Buffer (SRB) using UAS thermal and Multispectral Imagery, Jackline Timah
Geography, Geology and the Environment
Where Art Thou Sk-3 Spore Killing Gene? Refining the Location of a Fungal Spore Killing Gene Through DNA Deletion Analysis, Ellana Tobin, Tim Kedzierzawski, Alexandra Spriggs, Danielle Aguado, and Tom Hammond
Biological Sciences
Navigating Emotional Uncertainty: A Study on Anxiety and Mental Health Challenges of International Married Students Living Apart From Their Spouses, Vera Turkson
Communication
Affect Frequency and Intensity as Determinants of Academic Major Satisfaction, Cory Tyler and Margaret Nauta
Psychology
A DIY Approach to Designing Full Body Freedom of Movement in Virtual Reality, Samuel Villalobos, Michael Tunberg, Nicholas Sears, and Devin Wanda
Creative Technologies
Submissions from 2024
INFLUENCE OF TILE WATER ON NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE GROUNDWATER: A CASE STUDY OF A SATURATED RIPARIAN BUFFER, MCLEAN COUNTY, CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Aminat Abdulsalam, Eric Peterson, and Jonathan Thayn
Geography, Geology and the Environment
Assessing the Impact of Water Salinity on Women’s health in Coastal Areas: An Analysis Based on the Right to Water and Sanitation, Md Imran Ahsan and Suriya Akter
Politics and Government
Influence of Tile flow on Transport-Fate of Nitrate in the Vadose Zone of a Saturated Riparian Buffer, Benedicta Karl Akrofi
Geography, Geology and the Environment
THE ROLE OF EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY IN PROMOTING POSITIVE CORPORATE REPUTATION: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF EMPLOYEES OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, Janet Laadi Anani
Communication
Application of Floating Wetlands to Improve Urban Stream Quality, Daniel Chukwunonso Chukwudi and Eric Peterson
Geography, Geology and the Environment
“Meme-ing” for Change: An Exploration of Ghanaian Socio-Political Memes, Millicent Elewosi
Communication
Global Citizenship One Step at a Time: Starting with Your Classroom, Ashlyn Fisk
Teaching and Learning
System Validation of a Virtual Reality-Based Teen Driver Training Programe, Dolly Gupta and Nathan Ji
Technology
Human Rights and Democratization: The Role of the Universal Periodic Review, Allison Henrichsmeyer
Politics and Government
The Interesting Effects of Tryptamine, Harmine, and Harmaline on Leishmania tarentolae in a Rocking Environment, Grace Hohman
Biological Sciences
EXPLORING NITRATE REDUCTION IN A SATURATED RIPARIAN BUFFER THROUGH A THREE-DIMENSIONAL REACTIVE CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT MODEL:IMPLICATIONS FOR DESIGNING BETTER RIPARIAN BUFFERS, Franklin O. Ijigade and Wondessen Seyoum
Geography, Geology and the Environment
The Connection Between Interest in Politics and Perceptions of Corruption, Zachary Johnson
Politics and Government
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A YOUNG ADULTS CANCER PATIENT PEER MATCH APPLICATION, Mojde Kalantari
Creative Technologies
Testing for loss of Sk-3-based spore killing after deletion of three Neurospora crassa DNA intervals: V377, V382, and V383, Makenna Klann, Carolina Okleiteris, Paulina Paulikas, and Tom Hammond
Biological Sciences
Determining the Best Predictor Variables for CMJ Performance in NCAA Division I Athletes, Jadon Konkel, Michael Torry, Samantha McDonald, Chris Carter, and Marcel Lopes dos Santos
Kinesiology & Recreation
Investigating Sk-3-based spore killing through DNA deletions in Neurospora crassa, Sophie Krivograd, Madison Lynn, and Tom Hammond
Biological Sciences
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: AN ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S UTILIZATION OF TWITTER, Isaac Asare Kwakye
Communication
Evaluating Student Stress In An Animal Science Course With Unsupervised Livestock Experience, Jayden Lawrence
Agriculture
Employing CRISPR genome editing to improve seed meal quality in the oilseed plant pennycress, Arjuman Lima, Liza Gautam, and John Sedbrook
Biological Sciences
INTEGRATING GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION (GCED) INTO YOUR LANGUAGE LESSONS, Watsachol Narongsaksakul
Teaching and Learning
TRACING SULFATE SOURCES IN GROUNDWATER FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AREA MCLEAN COUNTY, CENTRAL ILLINOIS, Christabel Obi and Eric Peterson
Geography, Geology and the Environment
Generative AI’s Risk of Copyright Infringement and Its Potential Intellectual Property Rights, Sara O'Dowd
Politics and Government
Factors Contributing to an MTSS Team Decision for Special Education Referral, Joie Pecoraro
Social Work
Addressing IoT Vulnerabilities: An Analysis of Risks Facing Smart Homes, Erik Peterson
Technology
QUEERNESS THE ILLNESS: THE VICTORIAN INVENTION THAT CHANGED HOW WE UNDERSTAND SEXUALITY, Louane Rimer
History
Questioning God: A Critical Media Analysis of Netflix's Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey, Courtney Smith and Andrew Ventimiglia
Communication
Impact of Winter Cover Crops on Soybean Yield and Seed Quality, Ashley Stockmaster
Agriculture
AI Chatbot for ISU Recreation Center, Amisha Suryadevara and Sowmya Suryadevara
Information Technology
U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan: A Critical Analysis of American South Asia Policy, Kerem Tasdan
Politics and Government
Effects of Delay on Short- And Long-Term False Memories for Semantic and Phonological Lists, Ece Yuksel and Dawn M. McBride
Psychology
Submissions from 2023
BEING IN A FOREIGN LAND: AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES USED BY AND WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, Agnes Amoakwa
Communication
Teachers in the Educational Overseas: Stress, Burnout, and Resilience, Robby Anggriawan
Teaching and Learning
Training a Physically Simulated Virtual Spider, Daniel Beyer and Joseph Wittrock
Techno-Economic Analysis to Optimize Solar Photovoltaic System Implementation on Illinois State University Campus, Michael Duncan and Melker Isaksson
Technology
Do Animals Use Streams As Corridors?, Lacey Fever, Catherine O'Reilly, and Michael Brown
Geography, Geology and the Environment
To Blame or Not to Blame: Beliefs on Why Crime Occurs, Kimberly A. Ingold
Criminal Justice Sciences
REDUCING CYBERSICKNESS IN VIRTUAL REALITY DRIVING SIMULATION, Savanah Kinney
Technology
Study Abroad Programs and Student Stress: An Animal Science Curriculum Case Study, Jayden Lawrence
Agriculture
It's Happening in Your Hometown: The Wrongful Convictions of Everyday People, Megan Lowe
Sociology/Anthropology
Assessing Educator Needs to Promote Well-Being, Jessica A. McKinley
Psychology
Overcoming Heterologous DNA Silencing in Neurospora crassa, James C. Mierendorf
Biological Sciences
Determinants of Loan Forgiveness in the Paycheck Protection Program, Rudy Morr and Wyatt Frere
User-Centered Approach to Interactive Mapping: A Case Study of District 87’s Community Wellness Resources, Zachary Mueller
Kinesiology & Recreation
Understanding Groundwater Flow in a Saturated Buffer Zone (SBZ) using Numerical Models: Case Study of T3 Site, McLean County, Central Illinois, Henry N. Nsude
Geography, Geology and the Environment
Ethos of Absence, Sara O'Dowd
Philosophy
HOW ORGANIZATIONS CAN CREATE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN GEN Zs, Ebuka Okoli
Communication
ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE OF CHARACTER CREATORS IN ROLE PLAYING VIDEO GAMES TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE GAMING ENVIRONMENT, Ellie Parvin
Creative Technologies
Spatializing Digital Drugs in Virtual Reality for Mental Health, Rochele Pereira Gloor
Creative Technologies
Use of social media by the international students to manage stress in their initial days at the university, Eshrat Rahman
Communication
You Go, I Go: Assessing Student Loneliness on Campus, Aubrey Richter
Health Sciences
Electron Affinity Equilibrium Studies of N1-and N2-Phenyltriazole Isomers, Joe Santarelli
Chemistry
Gender Offenders: Investigating Gender Representations of Serial Killers over 100 Years: A Critical Media Analysis, Courtney Smith
Communication