Monday, July 22, 2024
Aspiring scientists, doctors, and other talented UNT Dallas students had the opportunity to present their unique, insightful research projects
on and off campus, as far away as California, during the 2023-24 academic year.
Students Who Presented Their Projects with Two Faculty Advisors at the 2024 UNT Dallas Student Research Symposium
Seven students from the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences traveled to Lubbock, TX, for the annual Texas Tech University Research Conference (TTURC). At the same time, two students went further west for the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, CA.
From the desert-like conditions of West Texas to the sandy beaches of Southern California, these off-campus visits are not about fun and games. They are about showcasing important research that could significantly impact people’s lives.
Donna Hamilton, Assistant Professor of Biology, UNT Dallas Natural Sciences Dept. in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
“It’s not pretend; they’re doing science,” said Dr. Donna Hamilton, associate professor of biology in the Department of Natural Sciences at UNT Dallas School of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
On campus, the 2024 UNT Dallas Student Research Symposium served as a platform for 18 student researchers to shine. These students presented a wide range of projects, some of which had already garnered attention at TTURC and NCUR, showcasing the depth and diversity of research at UNT Dallas.
Dr. Mario Casa de Calvo Introduces Isabelle Chung, Connor Hester and Nicole Everitt at the UNT System Board of Regents Meeting on May 16, 2024
Also on campus, three students had the privilege of presenting their research projects to the UNT System Board of Regents when they met at UNT Dallas in May. Dr. Mario Casa de Calvo, Interim Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, introduced them as “some of our finest undergraduate scholars.”
At each meeting, regents enjoy hearing stories of success in the “Spotlight on Students” portion of their agenda. “As a lifelong educator, and a believer in public education, you make my heart proud,” said regent Dr. Cathy Bryce. “It’s so fun to hear about the research going on (at UNT Dallas). You’re educating me. I am so impressed,” said Dr. Michael R. Williams, UNT System Chancellor.
Juana Salas and Valerie Torres with Their Research Poster About CTABs at NCUR in Long Beach, CA.
For senior Juana Salas and sophomore Valerie Torres, their journey to NUCR in California began with an open invitation from Provost Betty Stewart. After submitting an abstract, they were selected to present their research on CTABs, which are contained in personal care products that consumers buy in stores or online. It was the first time either had traveled outside Texas and the first time they flew in an airplane.
The pair credits their faculty advisor, Dr. Aubrey Frantz, an assistant professor of biology in the Department of Natural Sciences at the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, for preparing them well. “She is a perfectionist in the best sense, so we knew our material backward and forward,” said Salas.
Dr. Aubrey Frantz Teaching Students in an Anatomy-Physiology Lab
She and Torres presented to individuals and groups who stopped to view their research poster and hear their explanation of the CTABs project (more details later). Salas said their greatest reward was “seeing people understand our presentation and why it is applicable to the real world.”
The students who presented at TTURC in Lubbock included Isabelle Chung, Fatima Enriquez, Nicole Everitt, Connor Hester, MeSha McClanahan, Asia Penelton, and Hope Rico. Chung was mentored by Dr. Frantz; Everitt by Dr. Richard Chandler; Hester by Dr. Mehdi Eslamieh; Enriquez, McClanahan, Penelton, and Rico by Dr. Nicholas Lorusso.
“It’s pretty prolific,” said Dr. Muhammed Yousufuddin, an associate professor in the Department of Natural Sciences and colleague of the four mentors. “It’s high level, tailored to the audience.”
Most expenses for the trips to Lubbock and Long Beach were paid with funding from the Louis Stokes Alliances Minority Program (LSAMP) Scholar Program through the National Science Foundation; the Dean’s Office covered the costs of Enriquez’s visit to Lubbock.
One of LSAMP’s goals is to increase the amount of STEM degrees earned by underrepresented populations. The UNT Dallas BAT-LSAMP Scholarship Program partners with Texas Tech University, Dallas College, South Plains College, and Texas Southmost College to provide programs, resources, academic experiences, and financial support to students pursuing STEM degrees.
A Rendering of the New UNT Dallas STEM Building Scheduled Open for the Spring 2026 Semester
A new $100 million dollar state-of-the-art STEM Building is currently under construction at UNT Dallas, which will provide pathways to healthcare and medical careers and boost the pipeline of career-ready professionals for the North Texas workforce.
“This kind of mentorship is the greatest gift we can give our students,” said Dr. Casa de Calvo. “One of the traits that sets UNT Dallas apart is our faculty’s joy in working directly with undergrad students on research, which is a very rare attribute for a public institution of higher education.”
Student Research Symposium participants included Christopher Blair, Melany Carpio, Jesus E. Cazares, Isabelle Chung, Naphtali Duarte, Keiona Ellzey, Nicole Everitt, Adilene Garibay, Jtermal Harris, Connor Hester, MeSha McClanahan, Diana Paulin, Asia Penelton, Hephzibah Sajeeth, Juana Salas, Nekiaya Sims, Shanice Smith and Valerie Torres.
“They’re all discovering novel things,” said Dr. Hamilton.
The Poster by Students Christopher Blair, Naphtali Duarte and Diana Paulin, with Faculty Advisor Shikhar Acharya, Which Details Their Research Into the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Algebra Test Results in Southern Dallas County
Indeed, the research displayed at the Symposium spanned a wide spectrum of subjects.
Blair, Duarte and Paulin, with faculty advisor Dr. Skikhar Acharya, an assistant professor of business analytics at the UNT Dallas School of Business,
explored the relationship between socioeconomic factors and algebra test scores of
Dallas ISD students at schools south of I-30.
Adilene Garibay Explains Her Research Project to Provost Betty Stewart During the UNT Dallas Student Research Symposium
Other projects also explored connections between finances, education, and health. Garibay, with faculty advisor Dr. Aaron Bartula, an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, examined how much money Hispanic parents save and spend on their children’s education.
Nekiaya Sims Discusses Her Research Into Health Insurance and Alternative Financial Service Providers
Sims, with faculty advisor Sean Hubbard, a lecturer in the Department of History and Political Sciences at the UNT Dallas
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, investigated the relationship between one’s health
insurance and their likelihood of using an alternative financial service provider
(AFSP) during the pandemic. AFSPs are businesses other than banks, such as check cashing
outlets, money transmitters, car title lenders, payday loan stores, pawnshops, and
rent-to-own stores.
Asia Penelton Highlights Her Research Into the Ecological Impact of a Pig Carcass
Three research projects looked at different aspects of decomposition and biodegradation.
Penelton, with faculty advisor Dr. Nicholas Lorusso, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Sciences, focused on the ecological
impact of a decaying pig carcass on nearby animal populations and whether some of
those animals contribute to the pig’s decomposition. Carrion, a term for decomposing
wildlife, has the potential to influence food webs, which are the feeding relationships among species in a community.
MeSha McClanahan Shows Off Her Award and Research Poster About Fire Ants and Fungi
Pigs were also used by McClanahan and Lorusso to probe how fire ants and fungi affect decomposition and their relationship
to each other as the carrion deteriorates.
Connor Hestor Explains His and Isabelle Chung's Research Into the Biodegradation of Polystyrene
Hester, with faculty advisor Mehdi Eslamieh, a lecturer in the Department of Natural Sciences, studied the biodegradation of
polystyrene, a type of plastic that is a major source of pollution worldwide. This
project analyzed how the larvae of a superworm known as Zophobasas can affect the
biodegradation of polystyrene. In his remarks at the Board of Regents meeting, Hester
said he has a "love of learning, a desire to help others."
Isabelle Chung Speaks with a Fellow Student About Her Research of Chemical Disinfectants
Chung, with faculty advisor Dr. Frantz, delved into chemical disinfectants used by consumers, which increased during the pandemic. They chemicals are active for only a short time on cleaned surfaces, making them ineffective against recontamination. Studies show bacteria are becoming more resistant to these antimicrobial and antibiotic products.
Chung told the Board of Regents she "was really looking for a research opportunity,
it is very important to me."
Four of the Six Students Who Researched CTABs Display Their Project Poster and Awards at the 2024 Student Research Symposium
From bacteria and fungi to worms and wildlife, the research expanded to humans, specifically
their skin. The team of Cazares, Ellzey, Sajeeth, Salas, Smith, and Torres, with faculty advisor Dr. Frantz, analyzed CTABs, the active ingredients in many
personal care and hygiene products. They wanted to determine whether CTABs affect
bacteria found on skin and hard surfaces.
Jtermal "JT" Harris Clarifies Points About Her Research Into Repetitive Negative Thinking
Moving from the outside to the inside of the human body, Harris and faculty advisor Dr. Heekyeoing Park, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the UNT Dallas School
of Liberal Arts and Sciences, explored Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT), a condition
common in people with depression and/or anxiety.
Melany Carpio Highlights Her Research Into Organic Crystals
The spirit of collaboration spread beyond the boundaries of the UNT Dallas campus to Rice University in Houston. Carpio, with faculty advisor Yousefuddin, set out to confirm the structure of organic crystals provided by Rice researchers. The Rice team synthesized organic compounds, grew the crystals, and submitted them to UNT Dallas for inspection.
Nicole Everitt Points Out Key Findings in Her Research of Mathematics and Quantum Mechanics
Everitt’s research, with faculty advisor Dr. Richard Chandler, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Information Sciences and Head of Mathematics, involved mathematics and quantum mechanics. The goal was to analyze a mathematical structure known as an algebra that appears in quantum mechanics. These algebras are used to understand angular momentum, particle spin, and other principles and equations. Using geometry, Everitt and Chandler performed the analysis and compared their results to those of a similar classification by Chandler and a different research partner in 2020. In the Board of Regents meeting, Everitt said this was a "once in a lifetime opportunity."
With such a variety of projects and meticulous attention to detail, researchers who presented this year, both on and off campus, reflect the commitment of the university and the dedication of our students.
"UNT Dallas is an institution of access and opportunity that utilizes high-impact educational practices for skill and knowledge development, which in turn facilitates students’ academic, personal, and professional growth,” said Dr. Casa de Calvo.
That kind of growth is certain to generate even more fascinating research in the 2024-25 academic year and beyond.
From UNT Dallas – STEM students and faculty news