THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 1 • 9:00-9:50 AM
Biodiversity, Evolution, and Pharmacology (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: John Mihic, Department of Neuroscience
| Macy Sloan | Tylenol Gets Me High: Proposals For Acetaminophen’s Mechanism Of Action And The Importance Of University Research |
| Colin Johnson | Re-Engineering The Use Of Engineering Terminology In Evolution |
| Isam Ahmed | Museums: A Tool For Biodiversity Conservation |
Geopolitics & Global Healthcare (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Julie Zuniga, School of Nursing
| Samuel Weiss | The Impossible Problem Of Neutrality: Perceptions Of The Red Cross In The Israel-Palestine Conflict |
| Sweccha Guntamukkala | The Wound Speaks: Barriers And Facilitators To Wound Care In Kenya |
| Loren Nix | Lost In Translation: Analyzing The Language Of Policy |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 2 • 10:00-10:50 AM
Disparities in Healthcare (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Steve Steffensen, Dell Medical School
| Hinano Morita | The Effect Of Socioeconomic Status On Health Behaviors And Outcomes: Analyzing Diabetes Control |
| Jordan Cheek | Empowering Patients, Reducing Disparities: A Literature Review And Educational Strategy For Hidradenitis Suppurativa |
| Eswar Gopalakrishnan | Institutionalized And Racial Disparities In Dementia Care |
Sports and the Law (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Amira Rose Davis, Department of African and African Diaspora Studies
| Emma Vorndran | Title IX, Media Representations, And The NCAA: The Case For Recognizing Collegiate Cheerleading As A Sport |
| Ben Tomasic | The Power Of Collective Action In Sports |
| Dev Rajagopalan | How Does Fatigue Affect Ground Reaction Forces In Sprinters? |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 3 • 11:00–11:50 AM
Healthcare Management (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Craig Hurwitz, Dell Medical School
| Niels Levy-Thiebaut | A Scoping Review Of Interventions To Help Practicing Physicians Address Nutrition In Ambulatory Care |
| Christina Hoang | Reframing Autism Care: The Role of Vision Therapy in Managing Visual Comorbidities |
| Miriam Yampuler | Examining Gaps In Healthcare: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Local Healthcare Access Programs For Low-Income And Homeless Adults |
Improving Health Outcomes through Communication (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Michael Mackert, School of Advertising & Public Relations, Moody College of Communications and Department of Population Health, Dell Medical School
| Pahul Ghumman | Empowering Change: Enhancing Dialogue Between Health Advocates And Lawmakers For Stronger Health Outcomes |
| Sydney Jordan | Promoting Compliance Among Younger Risk-Taking Individuals Using Contact Lenses |
| Amrita Punwasi | The Impact Of Physician Interactions With Minority Patients On Health Outcomes |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 4 • 12:00–12:50 PM
Education, Equity, and Wellness (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Sara Corson, College of Natural Sciences Honors Center
| Jordan Alvis | How Policy Impacts The Health Of LGBTQIA+ Youth: Equity Barriers, Resiliency Strategies, And Reform |
| Emma Romero | The Life Of Restraint For An International Student |
| Kevyn Salazar | Mindfulness In The College Classroom: Cultivating Calm, Enhancing Learning |
Midwives, Doulas, and Maternal Healthcare (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Jewel Mullen, Dell Medical School
| Jaiden Walker | Support Beyond Medicine: The Role Of Doulas In Reducing Medicalization Of Black Maternal Care |
| Tonia Taiwo | The Village Approach: Integration of Community-Centered Maternal Care for Better Black Maternal Health Outcomes |
| Canivan Anton | Impact Of Certified Nurse-Midwives On Maternity Healthcare In Rural America |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 5 • 1:00-1:50 PM
Advances in Physics and Chemistry (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Michael Aubrey, Department of Chemistry
| Yichao Liu | Unitary Designs In Quantum Information |
| Annabel Langan | Extracellular Matrix Made Into Cancer Therapeutics |
| Adar Ambar | Advancements In Multivalent Ion Electrochemistry For Rechargeable Batteries |
Global Perspectives on Music, Health, and Healing (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Noël Busch-Armendariz, School of Social Work
| Tishya Vadavala | Beats Across Borders: The Impact of Indian-Western Music in the United States |
| Neha Yawalkar | Assisted Reproductive Technology For LGBTQ+ Communities In India |
| Kena Desai | Creating The Ideal Environment For Healing From A Global Perspective |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 6 • 2:00–2:50 PM
Art, Emotion, and Psychosocial support (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Amy Bryan, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
| Yung Tseng | Recommendations For Improving The Psychosocial Support Of Young Children In Pediatric Emergency Rooms |
| Nicholas Bastia | The Influence Of Basic Visual Elements On Emotional Responses To Renaissance Artwork |
| Aveen Jafari | Arts Matter: The Impact Of Community-Based Arts Exposure On The Well-Being Of Children With Chronic Illness And Their Siblings |
Psychology and Philosophy (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Alison Preston, Departments of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Psychiatry
| Surendra Anne | Bayesian Connections In Human Reasoning |
| David Doan | Implications Of Neuromodulation In Associative Inference, Cognition, And Philosophical Physicalism |
| Ren Daley | Slumber With A Key: Where Do We Go Before We Sleep? |
THURSDAY APRIL 10 SESSION 7 • 3:00–3:50 PM
Music, Memory, and Emotion (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Amy Simmons, Butler School of Music
| Eric Quan | Harmonizing Memory And Place: Exploring The Neurobiology Of Nostalgia Through The Study Of Cuban Son |
| Rinka Ko | The Sound Of Empathy: Investigating How Musical Training Shapes Emotional Awareness |
| Arantxa Espinosa Rivera | The Role Of Music-Based Intervention In Preventing Cognitive Decline In Healthy Older Adults |
Robotics, AI, and Medical Technology (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Sean Upshaw, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations, Moody College of Communication
| Sami Khan | Tech It Or Leave It: Older Adults Embracing The Wearable Revolution |
| Nadia Kafil | Use Of Robotics In Nursing Homes To Improve The Quality Of Resident Care |
| Dharsan Selvakumar | Human Cognition: Powered By AI? |
| James Liu | Improving Interactions With Surgical Robotics |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 1 • 9:00–9:50 AM
Investigating Genetics (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Jonathan Pierce, Department of Neuroscience
| Ananya Bharadwaj | Investigating The Expression Of The Ptprn2 Gene In Glioblastoma Cell Migration Using Hydrogel-Based Models |
| Sayuri Jayawardena | Investigating Genes Involved In Regeneration Of The Zebrafish Retinal Pigment Epithelium |
| Reece Jones | Identifying Genetic Basis For Immune Cell Dysfunction In Down Syndrome Using C. Elegans |
Gaps in Healthcare and Medical Research (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Stacy Jorgensen, Department of Public Health, School of Human Ecology
| Akshata Badrayani | Bridging The Gap: Understanding How Cultural Competence And Disability Studies Affects The Doctor-Patient Relationship |
| Chandni Bhagtaney | Bridging the Sex Gap in Type 2 Diabetes Research and Its Implications for Healthcare Delivery |
| Chloe Fallek | Navigating The Gaps: Challenges And Solutions In Long-Term Mental Healthcare Approaches |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 2 • 10:00–10:50 AM
Biological Models (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Tepera Holman, College of Natural Sciences
| Avyay Katre | The Cognitive Cost Of Stress: How Social And Predation Stressors Influence Learning And Behavior In Swordtails |
| Nihita Sarma | Modeling The Brain: Understanding The Role Of Spmv In Language |
| Pranavi Garlapati | Linking Structure To Function: Role Of Hydrogen Bonding In Gabaar Modulation And Epilepsy Implications |
| Lauren Campbell | Rbm6 And Rbm17 Interaction With Sf3B1: Implications For Splice Site Selection And Tumor Suppression |
Sustainability and Environmental Health (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Michele Hockett Cooper, Department of Nutritional Sciences
| Katia Petrosky | From Sea To Sustainability: Examining Fishing Practices In Sweden And Vietnam |
| Haya Prasla | Beyond Sustainability: Using Nature's Genius To Design Regenerative Cities |
| Fiona Wyrtzen | Reimagining the Carceral Landscape: Green Spaces in Prisons |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 3 • 11:00–11:50 AM
Ethnicity, Identity, and Cultural Narratives (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Mohit Mehta, Center for Asian American Studies
| Ahya Elsayed | Recontextualizing Scientific Research About Sidr And Doum Trees In Sudanese Narratives |
| Katherine Cowser | The Effect of Geopolitical Tensions on Chinese Adoptee Identity Formation |
| Vibha Annaswamy | A Name For The Order: Ethnic Names In The United States |
Language and Cultural Barriers in Healthcare (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Steve Abrams, Dell Medical School
| Esmeralda Macias Frauzto | Lost In Translation (Perdidos En La Traducción): The Impact Of Language Barriers In Healthcare |
| Melanie Chavez | The Role Of Stigma In Latinx Mental Health |
| Mariana Mijangos | Language As A Barrier To Healthcare: The Effects Of Language Discordance On Patient Outcomes |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 4 • 1:00–1:50 PM
Early Childhood and Adolescence (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Natalie Ammon, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences
| Alyssa Garlepp | Evidence-Based Recommendations For Preschool-Aged Dual-Language Learners: An App Supporting English Vocabulary |
| Sharon Han | The Impact Of Ambient Heat On Preschoolers' Social Behaviors During Self-Directed Outdoor Play |
| Aishi Ranjan | Portrayals Of Substance Use In The Media And Its Effect On Adolescents |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 5 • 2:00-2:50 PM
AI, Machine Learning, and the Media (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Steve Rossmann, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations, Moody College of Communication
| Sarthak Reddy | The Effectiveness Of Science Animations In The Media |
| Zachary Daum | Automating Analysis Of Media Narratives |
| Nathan Feldt | Modern Machine Learning And It's Incompatibility With Intelligence |
Structural Racism and Historical Trauma in Medicine (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Jay Brown, Department of Public Health, School of Human Ecology
| Vinuthna Mallampaty | Understanding And Reducing Disparities In Access To Stroke Prevention And Post-Stroke Care Resources In Minority Communities |
| Hira Umer | Exploring The Biological And Psychological Pathways Linking Historical Trauma To Disease Susceptibility In South Asians |
| Emily Nguyen | Foundations Of Health: The Effects Of Structural Racism On POC Health |
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SESSION 6 • 3:00-3:50 PM
Equity and Ethics in Organ Donation & Transplantation (WEL 3.310)
Moderator: Joel Adler, Dell Medical School
| Cindy Hu | Increasing The Accessibility Of Kidney Transplant Care For Non-English Speaking Patients And Their Caregivers |
| Amey Chande | Improving Informed Consent and Patient Support in Organ Donation |
| Chandi Mulchand | Improving Equity In Access To Transplantation In Central Texas: A Dialysis Social Workers' Perspective |
Welfare and Wellbeing (WEL 3.320)
Moderator: Cortni Oluleye, College of Natural Sciences Honors Center
| Phoebe Boespflug | Species Management, Individual Welfare, And One Health: Moving Towards Compassionate Conservation |
| Neha Donthineni | Sustainability Tradeoffs In Costa Rica'S Ecotourism Industry |
| Rithvi Anakal | Wellbeing In The Bhagavad Gita: A Psychological Perspective |