West Liberty, W. Va., July 16, 2024 – Combating diseases, studying dangerous pathogens, identifying diversity in wildlife, and measuring the effects of invasive species were all topics explored by students and showcased at West Liberty University’s 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposium.

The annual symposium took place Friday, July 12 at the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC) and marked the culmination of nine-week research projects conducted by undergraduate students in the College of Sciences. This year, twelve students presented their research and findings to an audience of family, faculty, staff and fellow students.

“The SURE Symposium is science in action,” remarks Dr. Deanna Schmitt, Associate Professor of Biology, student advisor and event organizer. “These projects provide students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to develop questions, and to answer them through scientific research,” she adds.

Perhaps most importantly, students see how their findings can have a broader impact on the world around them, leading to further study, potential new treatments and vaccines, species survival, better environmental practices, and more.

Zoo Science major Hannah Hobbs studied the bacteria Francisella tularensis, a pathogen, which if inhaled, can cause fatal pneumonia.

“I’m very proud to have been a part of this research,” exclaims Hobbs. “It’s my hope that what we’ve learned about the VBNC (viable but non-culturable) cells in Francisella tularensis bacteria opens doors for scientists to study more parts of the VBNC state of this cell,” she adds.

Faculty advisors guided students through their research and included Dr. Diana Barber, Dr. Stuart Cantlay, Mr. Jeremiah Dann, Dr. Zackary Graham, Dr. Deanna Schmitt, and Dr. Holly Racine.

The full list of 2024 SURE Symposium student projects, titles, and authors includes:

• Influence of Environmental Factors on Population Density and Growth of an Invasive Earthworm, Authors: Madeline P. Cecil, Alison K. Wyer, Jason E. Ake II, and Mr. Jeremiah Dann
• Bat Diversity in Developed and Underdeveloped Areas in the West Virginia Northern Panhandle, Authors: Kendra Clark, Brooke Shaffer, and Dr. Diana Barber
• Foreign leaf litter from invasive exotic plants and its effect on different macroinvertebrate communities in an urbanized, impaired low-order Appalachian creek, Authors: Noah Meyer, Reagan Bally, and James Wood
• Investigating endolysosomal trafficking of Viable but Non Culturable Francisella tularensis in murine macrophages, Authors: Lakin Plott, Nicole Garrison, and Dr. Stuart Cantlay
• Role of LpnA and KatG in Francisella tularensis LVS resistance to resazurin, Authors: Haeley Shaffer, Emily Young, Emma Beatty, Mackenzie Hall , Blaze Oxier, Rori Schreiber, Jordan Gibson, Siena McGovern, Claire Kelly, Kendall Souder, Justin Rice, Nicole Garrison, Ryan J. Percifield, Donald A. Primerano, and Dr. Deanna M. Schmitt
• Spatial Structure and Population Dynamics of Invasive Earthworms in West Liberty University’s Campus Woods, Authors: Alison K. Wyer, Madeline P. Cecil, Jason E. Ake II, and Mr. Jeremiah Dann
• Building a Better Ambassador: Impact of Experience on the Handleability of Hognose Snakes (Heterodon nasicus), Authors: Brooke Shaffer, Kendra Clark, and Dr. Diana Barber
• Exaggerated caudal anatomy of Long-tailed Salamanders (Eurycea longicauda), Authors: Tyler Schwisow, Zachary J. Loughman, and Dr. Zackary A. Graham
• Immunolocalization of peptidoglycan synthesis determinants, FtsZ and MreB in Francisella tularensis, Authors: Hannah Hobbs, Hayden Hess, Joseph Horzempa, and Dr. Stuart Cantlay
• Assessing Color Vision in Crayfish with Conditioning, Authors: Lydia A. DiBiagio, Katherine Torrance, and Dr. Zackary A. Graham
• Antimicrobial Activity of Novel Resorufin Analog Against Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates, Authors: Jasper Brown, Mackenzie Hall, Kh. Tanvir Ahmed, Jada Berg, Emily Young, Jordan Gibson, Gregory B. Dudley, and Dr. Deanna M. Schmitt
• Observed Unicornal Craniosynostosis in an Avian Model of Induced-Thyrotoxicosis, Authors: Lauren P. Baylor, Tyler P. Hill, and Dr. Holly L. Racine

TOPPER-SURE (Training Opportunity for Pre-Professionals, Educators, and Researchers Summer Undergraduate Research Experience), the program’s full name, is funded by a grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research under the direction of Dr. Juliana Serafin. This grant also rewards students with stipends of $3,500 each for their work and to cover housing.

West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.