May 9, 2003

Biology and psychology seniors present research

The Department of Biological Sciences held its 13th Annual Undergraduate Symposium on March 28, affording biology seniors an opportunity to present their research, some of which has taken a year or more. The presentations were as diverse as the students' ideas, difficulties, experiences, inspirations, motivations, and future goals.

Presenting students included Philip Bucolo, Rachel Foley, Sarah Frost, Myra Hughey, Richard Ismais, Alicia James, Melissa Kaintz, Victoria Solderich, and Kathryn Watts.

The symposium is designed for seniors who have chosen to complete undergraduate research to get honors credit, or simply as part of their coursework. Each student has a faculty adviser and must take certain formal courses in order to participate. Participating students prepared videos and Power Point presentations to introduce their hard work and research. In addition to participating in the symposium, students must turn in a written version of their research and results. "It was terrific," said Craig Hood, professor and chair of the biological sciences department. "The student presenters did a fantastic job." Parents, family, and alumni attended the symposium.

Biology/pre-med senior, Sarah Frost, says she is relieved that she has gotten through the symposium stage, but "I wouldn't consider my research finished." She explains, "There is always something to investigate further or expand on with perfected technique." Frost, who is from Thibodaux, Louisiana, plans to attend LSU School of Medicine in the fall.

Frost's project, "Effects of fish body size and sex on swimming performance in Notemigonus crysoleucas (golden shiner)," had its difficulties. But Frost says it ended up producing significant, clear results. She says her fish did not always swim like she thought they should or live as long as she desired. Frost understands that difficulties are bound to occur in research, and she learned that if a problem could not be fixed, she just had to deal with it and push on with the research.

Richard Ismais, biology/pre-med senior, had doubts about being able to finish his project on time. His project, "Comparison among three different types of stents in the normal porcine trachea," was a daunting task that took about a year to complete. Despite the vendor giving him bad pigs, Ismais says he believes his project was a success. He says, "I am very happy that I have finished this project successfully because this thesis marks the end of the last big project of my college career, which means that I am one step closer to graduation."

Psychology seniors made oral presentations of their research projects at the second Semi-Annual Psychology Department Undergraduate Research Conference on May 7. Participating students included William Fagley, David Hampton, Angela Jacetti, Pam McLendon, and Emily Watson.

Students made oral presentations, which were the results of a year's research, or they made presentations in the form of posters, which are the result of a semester's worth of research. "The research helps provide them important, hands-on experience conducting research, which these days is imperative for gaining admission to graduate programs in psychology," said Mukul Bhalla, associate professor of psychology.

Through the SGA Richard Frank Grant and funding from the Honors Program, Emily Watson was able to travel in January to Bucharest, Romania, with the task of collecting data for her thesis on the environment of institutionalized Romanian children. During her seven-day stay, Watson observed the toddlers' care-giving milieus and came to her own conclusions based on what she discovered at three different institutions. She worked on her thesis for three semesters, and the experience was truly gratifying.

"I learned the research process," Watson stresses. "I feel confident now to do research and analyze data. I love the process and plan to do focus on research for the rest of my life."

The students' projects have or will be presented at the regional/national psychology conferences and will be submitted to psychology journals for publication. "The projects are creative, well designed, and well executed," Bhalla said. "I and the rest of the faculty of the psychology department are very proud of their accomplishments."

Pamela Kauveiyakul, A'05, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications