Biology
Martha Boiquaye, Matthew Abraham, and Malak Alkushtaree
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
In this study we will look at the biotic and abiotic factors that impact tree growth: how they accelerate, decelerate, or completely stop tree growth from happening. These factors may include everything from environmental conditions to micro-organisms that cannot be seen with a naked eye. To address this issue, we will be doing a biodiversity assessment which includes a tree census, understory plants, and environmental analysis.
Briana Chang, Logan Laflamme, and Jenny Kha
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
After the deconstruction of the Central Massachusetts railroad, the route of the trail was restored into a popular walking trail. Little is known about the plants growing within the region. The age and type of trees were identified through bark analysis, dendrochronology, and diameter breast height. Understory plants were identified as well as an analysis of the soil.
Jillian Corliss, Rafael Fahmy, Adam McCluskey, and Ayman Nashawi
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Tree growth rate is a manifestation of the biotic/abiotic interactions in the environment in which the tree is existing. Therefore, growth rate can serve as a surrogate to analysis of the overall conditions of the environment, including the symbiotic relationships that arise between the flora and other living organisms in that same environment. In our research we aim to identify organisms involved in a mutualistic relationship with the trees in our study plot.
Lucas P. Horan and Julia L. Fitzpatrick
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Aisiku Interdisciplinary STEM Research Team Initiative
Poster Presentation
The trailing plant Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) is a native, distylous perennial that is commonly found in New England forests. This study focuses on partridgeberry germination and what conditions were optimal for its success. This was achieved by exposing the berries to a variety of treatments simulating different abiotic and biotic factors. Our results suggest that a cold stratification and berry flesh removal were necessary for germination.
Caroline O. Moreira, Logan J. White, Shelby F. Brooks, and Joel N. Buabeng
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
To predict the ecological succession of a forest where trees were removed, multiple sites must be compared. Assessing understory plants will allow us to determine the species richness of the area in an effort to predict the ecological succession of the forest. We will also be taking our climatological data into account to predict how varying precipitation and temperature will affect the future generations of vegetation growth.
Hoang D. Vo
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
Understanding gene function provides us with key data needed to understand how organisms thrive in their environment. Gene function can be studied using transformation, a multi-step process to introduce foreign genes into the host's genome. This project investigated methods to transform the C4 plants Zea mays and Setaria viridis. Two transformation techniques, electroporation and polyethylene glycol, were compared for ease of use and transformation efficiency.
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Biotechnology
Emma K. Greenberg
Faculty Advisor: Yan Hu, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
In order for plants to grow in ideal conditions for them, it is necessary to test the effects that different additives to the media in which they are grown have on their growth. Two of the most common additives are α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and kinetin. To examine the effects of these components, different kinds of plants, including broccoli, carrot, and apple, were grown on media with and without these supplements. After four weeks of growth there was no significant observed difference between the plants grown on supplemented and unsupplemented media.
Phan Phan, Quynh Nguyen, and Nhu Le
Faculty Advisor: Weichu Xu, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Poster Presentation
The development of new antibiotics is crucial in the fight against the emergence of antibiotic resistance. This research focuses on the synthesis study of Thielavin T, a natural compound that poses potential antibacterial activities against Gram-negative and positive bacteria. With the final building block successfully synthesized, the project is in its final stage. Access to Thielavin T will be gained after all building blocks are joined together.
Chlamydia Incidence Rates over a Period of 12 Years in the United States Between High School and College-Aged Individuals
Louisa Noelle Tannous
Faculty Advisor: Maura Pavao, Ph.D.
Oral Presentation
In this research project, the change in incidence rates of the sexually transmitted infection, Chlamydia, between 2002-2014 was observed. Data from the Centers for Disease Control was compared against census data using qGIS. There are some noticeable differences that were seen when comparing high school-aged individuals to college-aged individuals. There were increases in the incidence rates in more recent years in both age demographics.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Kaitlin E. Young
Faculty Advisor: Maura Pavao, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Fermentation of apple cider involves the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that converts sugar to ethanol. However, wild yeast and bacteria may be present in low levels in the final product as a result of their presence on the apples at pressing. This project used next-generation sequencing to identify the key species present in home- brewed hard cider. In addition to fruit-associated microbes, a few opportunistic human pathogens were identified.
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Business Administration
Anni Cappi, Payton Collins, Avery Oldakowski, and Karen Shalev
Faculty Advisor: Elaine Vescio
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
This research, conducted by the Entrepreneurship Ambassador Program’s Greater Worcester Ecosystem team, highlights businesses found to have been most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Research results are divided by sector, type of owner, and size of business. This research also identifies warning signs and provides effective recommendations for the Small Business Resiliency Grant.
Jonathan S. Vandersea
Faculty Advisor: Lagnajita Chatterjee, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
The mental health care marketplace has shifted from in-person interaction and flourished online due to digital advancements. This project investigates the evolution of the online mental health care marketplace and its role in supplementing traditional services. Using systematic review of popular media and associated research articles, the project aims to understand associated consumption practices, societal trends, and consumer attitudes.
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Chemistry
Bradley Montanez and Stephanie M. Cofske
Faculty Advisor: Margaret E. Kerr, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Imines were synthesized in high yield from amines and aldehydes using microwave irradiation with water as the solvent. The imines have been coordinated to metals, forming mono-, bi-, and tri-dentate complexes. Imines have known antibacterial and antifungal properties and coordination of imines to metals is known to enhance these properties. These complexes have been evaluated against various bacteria to determine their antibacterial activity.
Adam N. Bengtson
Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Murphy, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Aisiku Interdisciplinary STEM Research Team Initiative
Poster Presentation
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry) was investigated interdisciplinarily. The chemistry team characterized the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at different stages of the flowering process using Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) devices in unison with a GC/MS. Alpha-pinene was the most concentrated of the identified VOCs; its concentration decreased as the flowering process continued. The soil was analyzed via ICP-OES to compare 16 metals’ concentration.
Judy Le
Faculty Advisor: Susan M. Mitroka-Batsford, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
Nitroxyl (HNO) has been shown to have unique pharmacological chemistry as well as therapeutic advantages in comparison to other nitrogen oxide species. Research was conducted to determine the drug’s effect on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity in conditions of pH 7 and 10, with the goal of developing an assay that can be implemented into a biochemistry lab curriculum. Both direct oxidation and reversibility of this effect on GAPDH were examined.
Vivian Parker
Faculty Advisor: Meghna Dilip, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Poster Presentation
Chemistry has been crucial to understanding and fighting COVID-19. For example, chemists have helped define the structure of the virus and develop different diagnostic tests for COVID-19. The connection between chemistry and COVID-19 was researched and presented as an informative bulletin board for students and staff at Worcester State University. The bulletin board provided clarity to frequently asked questions and concerns the public/students may have.
Vivian Parker
Faculty Advisor: Meghna Dilip, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
In this study a standard addition method using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was used to calculate the concentration of dimethyl adipate and dimethyl succinate in a nail polish remover marketed as acetone-free and non-toxic. The results were used to determine if the product was truly green as marketed.
Organic Video-Making
Han Quynh Nguyen, Nhu Le, Emma Polak
Faculty Advisor: Weichu Xu, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Experiential Learning Experience Grant
Oral Presentation
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted education systems worldwide. Here at the WSU Department of Chemistry, the pandemic has forced all laboratory courses to limit in-person class hours, which reduces the hands-on lab experience of the students. To assist students’ learning during the pandemic, and to generate a library of graphic materials for students with special needs, a series of instructional videos on organic experiments has been created.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Rania R. Rezk
Faculty Advisor: Anne Falke, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
COVID-19 is a disease that has spread rapidly since 2019, and it has affected nations worldwide. Many researchers tried to develop a drug to treat COVID-19, but none of these drugs have been approved by the FDA. Some studies have concluded that psychotropic drugs could have some actions against COVID-19. These studies need to go through clinical trials for FDA approval. The FDA has approved remdesivir with baricitinib to treat COVID-19.
Jay Turner
Faculty Advisor: Kathleen Murphy, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Aisiku Research Grant
Poster Presentation
An analytical method using SPME and GCMS was developed to characterize volatile organic compounds produced by flowers of the native plant Mitchella repens. COVID-19 restricted research during the plant’s already brief flowering period, leaving no opportunity to determine the accuracy and precision of the method in the initial phase of research. The aim of the project was to determine sources of errant peaks and validate the method using a pure terpene standard.
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Communication Sciences and Disorders
Meagan M. Perro
Faculty Advisor: Keith Darrow, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
Tinnitus, a phantom auditory sensation heard in the ears and/or head, plagues more than 50 million people in the United States with varying severity. This study involves 91 participants and analyzes the efficiency of hearing technology as a treatment for tinnitus during a 45-60 day window. Each participant was surveyed pre- and post-treatment to evaluate patient changes in perception of their tinnitus experience and its impact on daily life.
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Computer Science
Faraaz Baig, Haoru Song, and Mohammed Jaber
Faculty Advisor: Elena Braynova, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Using visualization and statistical methods, we explored variations in graduation rates between private and public universities. We used numerical prediction methods to answer questions such as “Can we predict graduation rates?” and “How does the graduation rate vary for each university?” We used different data mining models and algorithms to compare efficiency of the constructed numerical prediction models. We found that the graduation rate is higher for universities that have a higher enrollment rate.
Michael H. Mendes, Kurt Maiser, and Delice K. Ndaie
Faculty Advisor: Shruti Nagpal, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Quality assurance testing is a large (and resource-intensive) part of software engineering as a whole. This research focuses on investigating and comparing software testing tools in order to reduce development time for software engineers and testers, as well as to ensure that all software is as reliable and safe as possible for the end-user. This study compares tools for software code coverage, defect detection, and mutation testing.
Migena Shkurti
Faculty Advisor: Elena Braynova, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Aisiku Summer Undergraduate Research Grant
Poster Presentation
The focus of this project was cleaning and preprocessing Worcester elections PDF data files containing scanned images. We converted these into accessible files, such as Excel files, and restructured data for further analysis. We analyzed the data sets for missing attribute values and detected and fixed errors that occurred under file conversion. We then analyzed attributes for dependency, outliers, and relationship by running machine learning algorithms such as K-Means, GMM, and Correlation.
Lesly Wawa
Faculty Advisor: Elena Braynova, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
We evaluated a global COVID-19 data set recording new cases, new deaths, total cases, and total deaths. We applied a visualization technique to draw comparisons between countries. The visualization techniques suggest the number of new/total deaths depends on the number of new/total cases when compared between countries. We constructed numerical prediction models for the number of deaths and compared them by countries.
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Earth, Environment, and Physics
John J. Arsenault and Prince Gyau
Faculty Advisor: Aleel Grennan, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Understanding climate change and local soil interactions will help us predict new successional growth in forested areas in Holden, Massachusetts. Soil processing and microbiome analysis will establish soil-ecological dynamics of the site resulting in historic and potential vegetation; forest cover will be analyzed using ArcGIS. Extrapolating dendrochronology data will support past and current climate conditions for comparison.
The Effect of Drought on Agriculture in Massachusetts
Kwaku Asare and Chloe Deviney-Dimarzio
Faculty Advisor: William Hansen, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Oral Presentation
Drought is an environmental disaster. Agriculture, which is part and parcel of our existence as humans, is significantly affected by drought. In 2016, drought affected 54,027 hectares of Massachusetts farmland and resulted in an estimated loss of $18,172,759. We use GIS to show how Massachusetts’ agriculture has been impacted by drought and suggest ways to prevent future occurrences.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Lauren Beckman
Faculty Advisor: Laura Reynolds, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Grant
Poster Presentation
Paleofire research is important in planning for future climate change, because it helps us understand anthropogenic impacts on fire regimes and how ecosystems respond. Using macroscopic charcoal as a local fire proxy, we observe charcoal abundance in tidal marsh sediment cores. The data will be used to identify charcoal peaks to establish individual fire occurrences. We expect to observe changes in fire events synonymous with human alteration of fire regimes in the area.
Katherine Burris and Kyle Splaine
Faculty Advisor: William Hansen, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
This paper describes the relationship between temperatures and the influx of various impairments in Worcester's Patch Reservoir. We are focusing on aquatic invasive plant species and the different invasive plant treatments as well. Aquatic invasive plants out-compete native plants and threaten the existence of these plants. We will use color infrared imagery to examine the spatial and temporal extent of these species through Geographic Information Systems.
Mapping Worcester's Segregation
Lucas E. Ferreira
Faculty Advisor: Alexander
Tarr, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Oral Presentation
This paper uses a geospatial analytical approach to study the degree of residential segregation in Worcester, Massachusetts, and several dimensions of its impact on marginalized communities. We use racial evenness-clustering and isolation-exposure to show how ongoing segregation at the local level of neighborhoods reproduces negative impacts on community well-being, education, and political participation across Worcester.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Mahlet N. Kelecha
Faculty Advisor: William Hansen, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Food access is identified as one of the social determinants of health; food insecurity and food scarcity are risk factors for poor physical and mental health. The report explores a distribution of food environments in environmental-justice neighborhoods using spatial analysis. Convenience stores, farmer's markets, and grocery stores were geocoded, and the spatial analysis of the data examined the intersections with public transportation and pedestrian access.
Zoe G. Krouner
Faculty Advisor: Laura Reynolds, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Studying coastal marshes provides useful information to evaluate marsh evolution. Here we reconstruct fire history of the Cheesequake Marsh by sieving sediment samples from the wetland cores and counting the charcoal particles and foraminifera shells. We expect to see differences in fire history over time related to human influence and differences in foraminifera shells in relation to sea level change.
Michael Mathews and Ziliang Jin
Faculty Advisor: William Hansen, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
The site at 25 Tobias Boland Way in Worcester used to be a steel factory, but was later converted to a shopping center. The factory operations caused significant ground contamination. Using MassGIS data on soil and water pollution, we examined how the environment changes through the postindustrial transformation.
Melanie R. Meadors and Briana Chang
Faculty Advisor: Douglas E. Kowalewski, Ph.D
.
Funding Source: Aisiku Interdisciplinary STEM Research Team Initiative
Poster Presentation
How might abiotic environmental factors affect the success of Mitchella repens, a native New England plant? Micrometeorological data collected by sensors in and above ground showed minimal climate variability between locations with and without Mitchella repens. However, a vegetative index analysis performed via remote sensing suggests the presence of Mitchella repens is closely associated with forests containing a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees.
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English
Neill R. Toohey
Faculty Advisor: Christina Santana, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
For many years, the Latin American community in Central Massachusetts and beyond has been underserved. The Hector Reyes House in Worcester does phenomenal work by assisting Latino men in recovery from substance abuse and addiction. This project reports on work done with the Hector Reyes House to improve the content of its website and produce informative literature. The result is a more vibrant, effective way to expand the impact of this vital organization.
Aspen Zheng
Faculty Advisor: Christina Santana, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
College students provide a unique perspective while writing for organizations. This project reports on the outcomes from a team that produced community-based documents for the women’s shelter organization, Abby's House, including increased community awareness, social well-being, and understanding of community organizations. The result demonstrates the importance for students of engaging with community organizations which benefit both individuals and communities.
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Environmental Science
Briana Chang and Melanie Meadors
Faculty Advisor: Douglas E. Kowalewski, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Aisiku Interdisciplinary STEM Research Team Initiative
Poster Presentation
An interdisciplinary research team studied the biotic and abiotic growth factors of partridgeberry (PB), a native New England plant, to investigate the factors controlling its reproduction. Soil was collected from PB-containing and non-PB-containing sites, then analyzed for gravimetric water content, grain size distribution, and total organic carbon. Finer soil texture and increased TOC likely led to elevated water content, preferential growing conditions for PB.
Effects of COVID-19 Regulation on the Worcester Urban Heat Island
Alex Dalelio
Faculty Advisor: William Hansen, Ph.D.
Oral Presentation
This study quantifies how the Urban Heat Island (UHI) has been affected due to recent regulations and guidelines implemented in Worcester in response to the COVID-19 virus. We will be looking at Landsat-8 Thermal Infrared Sensor data, which will allow us to evaluate the ongoing temperature changes over Worcester County to see how much of a mitigated effect the laws have had on the UHI both before and during the pandemic.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Will C. Darling
Faculty Advisor: Laura Reynolds, Ph.D.
Funding Source: Worcester State Foundation Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant
Poster Presentation
We describe the results of methods developed to separate microplastics from sediment samples from environments near Patch Reservoir in Worcester, Massachusetts. Methods used in this research include density separation, mechanical sieving samples, and UV light to detect microplastics under the microscope. We hypothesize that a combination of these methods will improve the quantity of microplastics recovered from the samples.
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Health Sciences
Sydney K. Howe
Faculty Advisor: Mariana C. Calle, Ph.D., and Jaime F. Vallejos, M.D., MPH
Funding Source: Worcester State University Foundation Grant
Poster Presentation
COVID-19 has caused widespread unrest among college students in the United States. An anonymous survey was distributed using social media and yielded responses from May to July 2020 regarding undergraduate students’ (n=575) self-perceived stress levels and coping mechanisms. Preliminary data showed that 37 percent of the undergraduate students had high levels of anxiety during social distancing, and coping mechanisms were primarily cognitive activities over physical activity.
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Mathematics
Alexa M. Bobbin
Faculty Advisor: Jason Hardin, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
The mathematics involved in sports around the world often goes unseen. Because field hockey is not a popular sport worldwide, many people also do not recognize how the mathematical aspects of sports can be connected to field hockey. Putting these two elements together forms the purpose of this paper, which is to identify the mathematics utilized in baseball, basketball, and golf, and relate them to the mathematics behind field hockey.
Investigations of Mathematical Logic
Pasquale Doucimo
Faculty Advisor: Jason Hardin, Ph.D.
Oral Presentation
First-order logic, intuitionistic logic, and constructivism are introduced, and their impact on mathematics is discussed via axiomatic set theory.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Emma Poplawski and Lacey Nguyen
Faculty Advisor: Maria Fung, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
In basketball, a free throw can be considered an easy scoring opportunity because the ball is thrown from a fixed distance from the basket. In order to score, the ball cannot be thrown too high, too hard, or too low. The goal of this problem is to use the mathematical modeling process to determine and explain which ball path, out of all the paths, will score.
Shaylee J. Puleo
Faculty Advisor: Jason Hardin, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Training for a triathlon and other multidiscipline sports has proven to be quite the athletic feat. I aim to dissect each element of a triathlon to come up with some valuable advice for athletes training for their first race. I have grouped the information by the three different legs of the race consisting of swimming, biking, and running and in each section there are multiple mathematical analyses that aid in providing helpful training recommendations.
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Nursing
Meaghan Campbell, Ashley Cotting, Quinn Ferreira, and Leah Fitzgerald
Faculty Advisor: Julia McNeil
Poster Presentation
A major problem in the field of nursing is the high turnover rate from the significant amount of stress nurses face, especially new nurses. The lack of experience, combined with the inability to cope with a high-stress and high-stakes job, leads to exhaustion and burnout. This poster explores the factors that lead to burnout, the underlying causes for nurses to leave the profession, and intervention strategies to prevent burnout.
Bethany A. Irish, Hailey R. Baldwin, Hannah Crandall, and Lucia V. Revetria
Faculty Advisor: Melissa D. Duprey, Ed.D., MSN
Poster Presentation
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion related to excessive stress. Due to the physical and mental demands of nursing, this makes nursing a career with a high rate of burnout, which can be seen in great detail under current circumstances due to COVID-19. An integrative review was conducted to determine if mindfulness training reduced the stress experienced by nurses. Ten studies were selected and cross-matched for relevancy. Initial findings support mindfulness training as an effective strategy in reducing burnout.
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Occupational Therapy
Isabel Badeau and Laura McCarthy
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Occupational therapists do not always consider leisure activities in their treatment. This study investigated walking as a meaningful leisure activity for adults over 50 and the benefits it has on life satisfaction, social health, and habits. The survey results showed that there are many common reasons for and barriers to leisurely walking, but the impact walking has on daily life for participants was not as closely related as the existing literature has concluded.
Isabell Baldrate
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Although the field of occupational therapy has engaged in strong advocacy efforts, the profession is still not well-known to the public. The study aimed to determine the nature of public knowledge about and perception of occupational therapy as compared to other professions in the health care field. An online survey was posted on Facebook to gather quantitative data from 50 participants. The results suggested that the majority of the public is not well-educated on occupational therapy.
Emma V. Caneira
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
The purpose of this study was to determine the psychological state of undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Results from this study showed that half of students had higher anxiety levels caused by disrupted routines, loneliness, perceptions of the virus, and changes in quality of education. Universities should provide effective services during crises to promote student success in their studies, occupations, and everyday life.
Julia C. Caristi and Emma A. Dyer
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
As the use of technology in health care continues to evolve, the incorporation of telehealth in all practice areas will expand. This study explored practitioners’ perceptions and experiences using telehealth through an electronic survey, in an attempt to understand the application of telehealth to the occupational therapy field. While face-to-face was the preferred method of service delivery, telehealth was considered a viable alternative by the majority of practitioners.
Stephanie R. Chapin
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Military families have been found to experience challenges with changes in roles and routines during the reintegration phase of the deployment cycle. This study interviewed military spouses to better understand military families' experiences during reintegration. Results showed that changes in roles and routines may lead to decreased family participation in occupations and well-being in the reintegration phase.
Margaret Daley
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Burnout is an issue that can affect many health care professionals — including occupational therapists — mentally, physically, and emotionally. This study examined the correlation between burnout levels and years of experience, job settings, and job title. It was found that although participants are affected by low to moderate burnout levels, there was no significant correlation between burnout and any of the aforementioned factors.
Impact of Service Dogs on Caregiver Burden for Parents of Children with Disabilities
Kacie DeSousa
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Oral Presentation
While research has been conducted on the impact of service dogs on their handler’s quality of life, little has been conducted on the impact of service dogs on their handler’s caregiver’s quality of life. This study investigated the impact of service dogs on the caregiver burden experienced by parents of children with disabilities. Results provided quantitative evidence that a service dog can have a positive impact on reducing caregiver burden.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Lindsay G. D’Onofrio
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Individuals with chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis experience several limitations that contribute to overall functional disability. In this study, interviews of adults with rheumatoid arthritis were conducted and several themes emerged regarding the areas most affected in their daily lives. Themes of occupational withdrawal, role incompetence, and occupational dependency were identified.
Allison L. Ekstrom
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
The purpose of this study was to determine staff members’ perceptions of the benefits of activities for nursing home residents. Results showed staff believe activities, such as music, are essential to residents’ well-being, as they create the opportunity for meaningful engagement and social interaction. Nursing home staff must be educated on the importance of activities to promote resident participation in meaningful activities that will support their quality of life.
Megan E. Foley
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
This study gave a memory assessment and demographics questionnaire to a set of Worcester State University students to study the connection between chewing gum and memory. Results of the study showed chewing gum improved participants’ scores on memory assessments. Gum is an effective, easily accessible, and inexpensive tool for occupational therapists to provide to patients with memory issues such as dementia.
Patricia D. Gagnon
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
This project examined the effects of demographics and participation in activities on the work-life balance (WLB) in police officers. The study used two surveys to obtain information about WLB and time spent partaking in activities and work. The WLB was not influenced by any demographic factors, but positive effects were noted from involvement in leisure and sleep. Officers who reported working more overtime scored lower on the WLB scale.
Haley M. Guyette
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Parents of children diagnosed with ASD often experience higher levels of stress when compared to parents of typically developing children. Parenting a child with ASD can limit participation in all areas of life. Due to this, utilizing coping strategies is needed for improved well-being. This study examined the challenges of parents who have a child diagnosed with ASD, their coping skills, and their perceived quality of life.
Hannah E. Joyner and Monica K. Tran
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
The purpose of this study was to evaluate how usable 10 websites were for older adults with visual impairments and assistive technology. The findings showed that websites need to become more cognizant of assistive technology for older adults with visual impairments.
Lily A. Keating
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of having a sibling with autism spectrum disorder and if typically developing siblings’ roles and routines are hindered by parentification. A survey based on the Parentification Inventory (PI) by Lisa Hooper was given to 45 participants who were recruited online. Results of this study show typically developing siblings are not more exposed to parentification, and most are able to participate in their everyday roles and routines.
Meagan Kelley
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
The purpose of this study was to explore the everyday technologies that adults are utilizing and how these devices affect participation in meaningful activities. Due to lack of knowledge and confidence, adults faced barriers to modifying their devices. These barriers included decreased vision and comfort handling their everyday technology. Participants who received modifications to their everyday device were more confident in their ability to use it.
Corrina N. McKelvey
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Military retirement and the transition to civilian employment is a significant change for veterans. This study examined the effect of military retirement and adjustment to civilian life on the occupational behavior of retirees. It was found that military retirement is a unique and dynamic transition involving occupational changes, role fulfillment, and workplace culture shifts. Social supports and retirement preparation influence this transition.
Marissa L. Molinari and Paige O. Silveira
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
The COVID-19 pandemic caused college students to transition from face-to-face to remote learning environments in spring 2020. College students’ interviews were transcribed, and themes emerged regarding the disruption in daily life. Themes that the study found related to the disruption were adapting learning styles to a heavier workload, decreased productivity and motivation, experiencing an unbalanced lifestyle, difficulty navigating technology, and peer isolation.
Olivia A. Morin
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
Physical activity is known to be beneficial for older adults in many ways, including increasing well-being and decreasing morbidity rates. This study was conducted in order to examine the impact of physical activity on six older adults residing in an assisted living facility. Findings revealed the barriers and motivations that hindered or aided older adults’ engagement in physical activity and how it affected their overall well-being.
The Effects of Support Groups on Caregiver Burden
Olivia I. Petrucci
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Oral Presentation
Participation in support groups has been shown to reduce levels of caregiver burden, which is the amount of stress experienced by a caregiver. There are many demographic factors that contribute to the level of burden experienced by a caregiver, including age, gender, employment status, and length of time spent in the role. The study examined these factors along with what types of support groups are most influential in impacting levels of caregiver burden.
Note: A recording of this oral presentation will be added following its conclusion.
Kelsey Snodgrass
Faculty Advisor: Joanne Gallagher-Worthley, Ed.D.
Graduate Project
Poster Presentation
This study explored how social participation (SP) affects older adults within assisted living facilities (ALFs) and if effects can indicate occupational therapy services. Three themes were identified: how social isolation affects well-being, barriers to social engagement, and whether SP increases happiness. Findings revealed an insufficient amount of SP has a substantial effect on older adults’ overall well-being and that occupational therapy services are indicated.
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Philosophy
Gina Endres
Faculty Advisor: Frank Boardman, Ph.D.
Commonwealth Honors Project
Poster Presentation
My question regarding the ethics of immigration is rooted in my participation in the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, a pilot clinic at Worcester State University. After being trained extensively on immigration law and then working with an attorney on asylum cases, I became interested in the issues of who is allowed access into the United States and on what grounds. I argue that, when considering whom to naturalize, the courts should view “social membership” as part of this process.
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Psychology
Haley Brann
Faculty Advisor: Brittany M. Jeye, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
This study will evaluate the specificity of memory for faces. Participants will be asked to remember a series of faces. They will then be shown old faces, related faces, and new faces and will indicate whether the second and third sets of faces are exactly the same as the originals. Participants will also take the Cambridge Face Memory Test to assess individual differences. Analyses will investigate memory specificity and whether this depends on inhibition and individual differences.
Ethan Guertin
Faculty Sponsor: Champika K. Soysa, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Among Vietnamese international students (n=44) and White American (n=40) students, striving for personal standards was significantly higher than evaluative concerns and parent-driven perfectionism in healthy perfectionists, but not in unhealthy perfectionists. From a social cognitive perspective, healthy perfectionists may have internalized early parental influences. These findings added to the literature on patterns of healthy and unhealthy perfectionism.
Isabella M. Quattrucci
Faculty Advisor: Brittany M. Jeye, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
The current study evaluates the specificity of long-term color memories. Participants are asked to remember a series of colored shapes. Participants are then shown old colored shapes, similar colored shapes, and new colored shapes and then indicate whether the second two sets of items were exactly the same as the original ones and their confidence in their answer. Analyses will investigate whether memory for color is very specific and if color memory specificity depends on inhibition.
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Sociology
Hannah L. Gianfriddo
Faculty Advisor: Alex Briesacher, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Atomwaffen’s extremist behaviors and violent tendencies came to be recognized quickly by the public. This research focuses on how popular media and news sources have depicted this hate group. Hate groups often feed off of the media attention they receive; because we are living in a highly technological era, the portrayal of the Atomwaffen group across media platforms may help us better understand why the group’s name has come to be known in less than five years’ time.
Hannah L. Gianfriddo
Faculty Advisor: Alex Briesacher, Ph.D.
Poster Presentation
Infamous male serial killers are usually depicted as outgoing, kind, caring family men throughout media statements when they are caught by law enforcement. This research analyzes media depictions of serial killers through the social psychological faces of symbolic interactionism and social structure and psychology through Mead's theory of “I” and “Me” as well as Goffman’s front stage and back stage behaviorism theory.
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