Research Symposium

BIO

Madalynn Stackow is a first-year student at Florida State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child Development, completing her degree on an accelerated timeline through FSU’s Degree in Three program.
She began her undergraduate research experience through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where she worked under the mentorship of Dr. Phillips and Ms. Lexi Elara. This experience introduced her to the research process and helped shape her developing academic interests.
Madalynn currently serves as an undergraduate research assistant in the Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Suicide-Related Conditions and Behaviors under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Joiner. Her research interests focus on clinical psychology, particularly the understanding and prevention of suicide and other mental health challenges.
In addition to her research involvement, Madalynn is a member of Florida State University’s Global Scholars Program (2026 Cohort), where she explores global perspectives on psychological research and mental health.
She plans to continue engaging in clinically oriented research throughout her undergraduate career and intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with the long-term goal of becoming a clinical psychologist.

The Role of Text Features on Children’s Detection of Inconsistencies in Narrative Passages

Abstract

Young children are frequently exposed to stories and other narrative material, but it is unclear how consistently they retain and integrate this information as it is presented. To better understand the role of text features (macrostructure element, passage consistency level, inconsistency location) and how children make sense of the stories they hear, this study examines their ability to detect inconsistencies in text features while listening to short narrative passages. Kindergarten, first grade, and second grade children listened to three-sentence passages that were either consistent or contained an inconsistency in a key narrative element (setting, goal, or resolution). Students were then asked whether the story made sense and indicated their response nonverbally by raising a question mark sign and providing a verbal response. Preliminary results suggest there is not a significant difference across macrostructure elements. Future assessments will examine the role of consistency level, and inconsistency location on detection of inconsistencies.

Keywords: Psychology, Narrative Comprehension, Child Development, Text Features

BIO

Hello! My name is Lauren Talley, and I am a third-year undergraduate student from Coral Springs, Florida. I am pursing dual B.S. degrees in Psychology & Communication Science and Disorders with a minor certificate in Interdepartmental Developmental Disabilities. I am excited about pursuing a career in health care and plan on attending graduate school to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. I serve as the lead research assistant in the NoLab, Neurobiology of Language and Behavior, where I assist with research examining language processing and neurocognitive disorders. In addition to my research role, I work as a PCA in the Neurology department at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, gaining valuable clinical exposure to neurological conditions that affect communication. My academic and professional experiences have fueled my interest in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying language and cognition. I am grateful for the opportunity to present this research and engage with others in the field!

Impairment-Based Versus Dynamic Digital Language Therapy in Two Cases of Logopenic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia

Abstract

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive language decline. Although impairment-based treatments such as Verb Network Strengthening Treatment (VNeST) have demonstrated gains in PPA, improvements are often limited to trained items, with unclear generalization to broader language abilities or everyday communication. This study reports two cases of logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA), examining behavioral and neural changes following two distinct interventions.
A 58-year-old male completed 13 weeks of VNeST (52 hours), while a 70-year-old participant received 8 weeks of client-centered digital therapy using Constant Therapy (24 hours), targeting functional generalization. Both participants underwent structural and functional neuroimaging pre- and post-treatment. Baseline assessments indicated word-finding and repetition deficits, and structural MRI revealed left temporoparietal atrophy consistent with lvPPA.
The VNeST participant improved verb naming by 47% on trained items (ESh = 0.9), with no gains on untrained items (ESh = −0.2), and demonstrated at least 20% improvement on standardized measures. The Constant Therapy participant showed sustained engagement and task-based language gains across digital exercises, along with improved perceived communicative ability.
Findings highlight differential patterns of treatment response and underscore the need to evaluate generalization and real-world communication outcomes in PPA interventions.

Keywords: Primary Progressive Aphasia, Language, Therapy

BIO

Ava Knowles is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Vero Beach, Florida. She has long been passionate about the relationship between hormones and exercise, particularly how the endocrine system influences metabolism, physical performance, and overall health. Through the mentorship of Alayne J. Thompson, Knowles has continued to expand her academic interests and deepen her understanding of human physiology. This mentorship has supported her exploration of how exercise and hormonal balance interact to influence long-term health and well-being.
Knowles plans to attend Physician Assistant school after completing her undergraduate degree. She hopes to one day specialize in endocrinology, where she can work with patients experiencing hormonal disorders. By combining her background in exercise physiology with clinical training, she hopes to help patients better understand the holistic connection between hormones, lifestyle, and health. Knowles is committed to furthering her education and developing the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to support patients in improving their long-term health outcomes.

Impact of Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Indicators of Sleep Quality in Pre-Diabetic Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Menopause is an inevitable life stage impacting over half of the population, leading to significant mental and physiological changes. This study is on going and investigates the feasibility of exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for the treatment of symptoms in post-menopausal women with obesity and prediabetes. In our research, four participants were randomly assigned to resistance or endurance training groups. To measure objective sleep parameters, such as heart rate and distinct sleep stages, participants also wore an Oura Ring 4 throughout the six weeks. Furthermore, participants’ subjective sleep quality and menopausal symptoms were evaluated via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). We hypothesized that exercise would cause an increase in time spent in deep sleep and would improve perception of sleep quality. With a small sample size and the study still ongoing, we can only posit that our preliminary results indicate a trend towards improved strength, enhanced subjective sleep quality, and potential reductions in menopausal symptoms following the six-week exercise program. Further participant recruitment is necessary to enhance the statistical power to confirm these effects, yet our findings are promising in the potential application of exercise as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve sleep and menopausal health in this population.​

Keywords: Exercise, hormones, postmenopausal

BIO

Laila McCullers is a freshman at Florida State University, majoring in Biological Sciences. Laila is from Fort Myers, Florida. Laila has been apart of UROP this year and has loved every second of it. By helping develop a game for healthy eating habits, it has been a fulfilling project. Laila would like to thank her mentor Chaewon Kim, and her research partner Nicky Ven for always supporting her. Her goal is to go to PA school after graduation. She would like to thank the UROP team for creating this great experience!

NutriQuest: A Serious Game for Improving Eating Habits in Young Adults

Abstract

Video games have increasingly been used to improve health-related behaviors, including addiction, weight management, and eating practices. However, many of these interventions have primarily targeted young children, leaving young adults in their 20s and 30s, an age group particularly vulnerable to developing unhealthy eating habits due to stress and fast-paced lifestyles, largely unaddressed. Grounded in the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM), this study investigates the potential of NutriQuest, a serious game designed to promote mindful and intuitive eating, in supporting positive eating behavior change among young adults. TTM proposes that individuals progress through five stages of change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. By encouraging users to reflect on their daily eating patterns and cooking behaviors during gameplay, NutriQuest aims to guide players from precontemplation, where they are not yet considering change, toward contemplation, where they begin to recognize the value of adopting more mindful and intuitive eating habits. We tested the game with 28 participants in their 30s and 26 participants in their 20s. Results indicated a clear positive shift in readiness to improve eating habits, with users moving away from states of needing help or expressing no intention to change, and toward greater willingness and proactive engagement in the improvement process. Notably, no participants regressed to lower-readiness categories, suggesting that the game may effectively support forward momentum in behavior change. Future work will focus on refining the game experience and examining its long-term impact, particularly for individuals with disordered eating tendencies.

Keywords: Healthy Eating habits video game

BIO

Sofia Sierra is a first-year pre-medical student studying Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and gaining experience in both clinical and research settings. She is a Vires Scholar, a Dean's List student, and a part of the Honors Program. Her current research on Elasmobranchs is through her invested interest, but she is currently working as a lab assistant and studying neurobiology and behavior patterns of Chorus Frogs under the Lemmon Lab. With the support of Dr. Emily Lemmon and Domenica Aguirre, Sofia is able to gain technical lab skills and opportunities to advance her own research. Sofia is working to combine the fields between healthcare, research, and conservation, pursuing an MD/PhD in Biomedical Neuroscience. She loves learning about the brain, sharks, and how to better care for others.

Sustainable biomedical applications of Elasmobranchs: Synthesized Squalamine derived from Spiny Dogfish and inhibiting aggregation of α-synuclein.

Abstract

The bioactive compounds present in marine ecosystems have proved effective as major therapeutic treatments for the prevention of bacterial and degenerative illnesses. Elasmobranchs have successfully evolved over 400 million years, partly from a low incidence of disease stemming from an adaptive immune system. Given the rarity of the elasmobranch immune system, previous studies have gathered collections of compounds that contain potential for pharmaceutical therapeutics. Preliminary research on the immuno-components of Elasmobranchs have demonstrated promising antibacterial activity. Still, the biomedical implications are at the developmental stages due to scepticism surrounding long-term effectiveness and sustainability. In an effort to focus on one Elasmobranch-derived antibiotic that can be synthetically replicated, this paper will investigate the current research behind the genesis of Squalamine and its application to the aggregation of α-synuclein in human neurons. Derived from the stomach tissue of the Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias), Squalamine is an aminosterol that exhibits microbicidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, it serves as an antiangiogenic and antitumor compound against certain cancers. Aggregation of α-synuclein is associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's. Squalamine has been found to inhibit growth factor-dependent pathways and displace proteins on the cytoplasmic layer of the plasma membrane, both indicating its potential in inhibiting the aggregation of α-synuclein. In-vitro studies and in-cell human neuroblastoma cultures show modulation of aggregation of α-synuclein through displacement of the protein from the lipid membranes. The application of synthetic Squalamine in inhibiting aggregation of α-synuclein demonstrates promise as a therapeutic agent.

Keywords: Proteins, Parkinson's, Elasmobranch, Biomedical

BIO

Davion is an undergraduate student majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and is passionate about understanding the biological foundations of human health and disease. He plans to pursue a career in medicine as a physician, as his academic experiences have strengthened his interest in neuroscience, human physiology, and patient care, while also developing his critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As a first-generation college student, Davion is motivated to use education as a way to create opportunities for himself and to give back to his community. He is committed to lifelong learning, service, and making a meaningful impact on others' lives through healthcare. In the future, Davion hopes to combine scientific knowledge with compassionate patient care to improve health outcomes and support individuals and families navigating complex medical challenges.

Cognitive Skills Model for Predicting Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Dementia is a growing global health concern, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage of cognitive decline where measurable deficits occur while daily functional independence is largely preserved. Spatial navigation has emerged as a sensitive cognitive indicator of early decline and may reveal impairments that extend beyond traditional episodic memory measures commonly used in cognitive screening. This meta-analysis examined differences in spatial navigation performance between cognitively healthy older adults and individuals with MCI while evaluating study- and sample-level factors that may influence cognitive outcomes. Moderators included publication year, mean age, sex distribution, education level, MCI diagnostic criteria, task administration method, outcome measure, and spatial navigation task type. Analysis of 138 effect sizes across 52 studies showed significantly poorer navigation performance in individuals with MCI, with a large overall effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.81, p < .001) that remained stable across sensitivity analyses despite heterogeneity. These findings support spatial navigation as an important cognitive component associated with early decline and highlight the need for greater standardization in cognitive assessments used to study Alzheimer’s disease risk.

Keywords: Alzheimer, Dementia, Spatial Navigation, Prediction

BIO

Julia DeBardeleben is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in art history with minors in anthropology and museum studies. She will be defending her Honors in the Major thesis in April, written under the direction of Dr. Erika Loic in the Department of Art History. Julia was awarded the Bess H. Ward Honors Conference Award, and will be presenting her research in May at the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After she graduates in May, Julia will be pursuing a master’s degree in library science.

Man-Eating Manticores in Manuscripts: The Spread of Antisemitic Iconography in Relation to Jewish Expulsions

Abstract

Manticores were ascribed physical features that are considered stereotypically Jewish and
behavioral traits that reflect late medieval fears of Jews. My research focuses on the
presence of this iconography in manuscripts, and how it spread across western Europe
coinciding with the Jewish expulsion of 1290 in England. The 13th century saw an
increase in anti-Jewish literature and imagery, followed by legislation targeting Jews.
Reasons for this increase can be attributed to complex, interrelated political, religious, and
economic conflicts contributing to the popular sentiment that Jews, heretics, lepers, and
other minoritized individuals were a source of contamination to the Christian majority.
The depiction of Jews in 13th-century medieval art reflects beliefs of Jewish greed, blood
libel, and blame for the crucifixion of Christ. Using folio 25r from MS Bodley 764 as a
case study, the antisemitic iconography present in this depiction of the manticore can be
compared to other bestiary depictions of the manticore across England and western
Europe as expulsions occur. Inspired by the research of antisemitic medieval imagery in
relation to monstrosity and hybridity by Debra Higgs Strickland and Asa Simon Mittman,
I argue that the Bodley manticore is directly influenced by a variety of
factors preceding the English expulsion of Jews in 1290, such as increasingly violent
rhetoric against Jews, economic policies affecting the Church, and the Second Barons’
War.

Keywords: art history, medieval, monsters

BIO

Hi! My name is Jolynn Rodriguez and I am a sophomore at Florida State University, pursuing a degree in Criminology with a minor in Business. I am a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and I am working towards a future in law. I plan to attend law school and I am eager to pursue my passion for helping and advocating for others. My research project aims to highlight the discrepancies amongst police use of fatal force datasets across multiple crowd sourced reporting systems, such as The Washington Post, Fatal Encounters , and Mapping Police Violence. By comparing and coding specified datasets, my team was able to create a comprehensive dataset that researchers can utilize for understanding and applying police use of fatal force for future research.

Comprehensive Overview on the Data Collections for Police Use of Fatal Force: Implications for Future Research

Abstract

Over the past several decades, police use of fatal force has driven public policy reform and subsequently amplified the racial disparities prevalent within police violence. Public outcry in the high-profile deaths of minority individuals, such as George Floyd, continue to drive police reform and the demand for transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policies within police work. Crowd sourced media such as Fatal Encounters, Washington Post, and Mapping Police Violence lack the ability to collect a comprehensive report on the rate of force, temporal trends, characteristics of officers and citizens, and inclusion of incidents for comparative purposes. A collective data pull from numerous public data sources was gathered and dispersed into datasets, followed with additional coding through Qualtrics. The focus was to refine the categorized incident reports that public datasets lacked in order to display a comprehensive report of police use of fatal force. The standard list of criteria includes ensuring compatibility with public law enforcement agencies and accurate definitions of police use of fatal force. This accurate definition excludes accidental deaths and differentiation if an officer is working in an official capacity, whether that is on duty or off duty at the time of the incident. The result of data collection is inconclusive thus far, however implications for future research will be valuable for long term use. Opportunities to analyze police use of fatal force continue to drive police reform, and comprehensive datasets produced in this study are intended to substantially support future research and reform.

Keywords: police use of force, data collection, fatal force

BIO

Izabella Blanco is a sophomore at Florida State University studying biochemistry from New York. She looks forward to attending dental school and getting involved in research after she graduates from Florida State. In the project, Izabella studied how children read and write and the various skills and components that affect an individual's ability to read and write. As a pre-dental student, Izabella joined this research project with the intent of expanding her knowledge and connecting what she learned with the individuals she interacts with as a 12U softball coach and a summer camp assistant director.

Examining the Contributions of Oral Language and Literacy Skills to Spelling Performance in Young Learners

Abstract

The relationship between language variation and spelling production is a critical, yet under-researched, aspect of literacy development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of children’s oral language skills, literacy skills, and word-level characteristics on spelling production for child speakers of African American English. A sample of 75 students in grades 1-2 completed measures of phonological awareness (CTOPP-2), word reading (TOWRE-2), language variation (DELV-ST), and oral language (CELF-5). For analysis, item-level responses will be modeled using cross-classified random effects models to examine the effects of oral language, literacy, and word features for spelling production of words with regular past tense (e.g. “jumped”). Results of this study will inform our understanding of the influence of oral language, literacy, and word features on spelling production for child-speakers of AAE.

Keywords: Language, Literacy, Spelling

BIO

Aubrey Barotti is a sophomore at Florida State University. She is originally from Lancaster, PA, but decided to come to FSU to pursue nursing in hopes of being a CRNA in the future. She also has a minor in education, which is one of the reasons she has chosen to participate in this project. Her passion for research stems from her IB Diploma Programme, during which she conducted research across subjects such as Physics and History. On campus, she is involved as a Captain for Morale in Dance Marathon, a Hope Leader for Relay for Life, and a learning assistant for Microbiology. To further expand her time in UROP, she is currently training to be a UROP leader for the next year as well.

Shaping Learning and Collaboration in Nursing Escape Rooms

Abstract

The goal for any nursing student is to be able to make quick decisions and perform under pressure. However, according to the study, many students fail to apply what they are learning in the classroom to actual patient care. Interactive learning has increased over the years as a tool to support students’ learning, and, specifically, educational escape rooms (EERs) have been studied to identify which skills can be enhanced. An EER is a game-based environment where the aim is to boost collaboration and critical thinking. In the study, a baseline escape room on the recognition and management of hypovolemia was designed. Here, students participated in a group of 4, each taking a pre-test and a post-test. The 30-minute escape room was designed to have a clear sequence, as in the nursing process. The findings revealed significant knowledge gains, as well as patterns that favored a common ground approach where strategies were negotiated. In the absence of a designated role, there was a tendency to loop back to strategy talks before advancing. Overall, the results suggest that EERs with meaningful, defined roles yield beneficial outcomes for collaborative reasoning, and at the same time, they retain the potential for robust cognitive learning in nursing.

Keywords: Education Escape Rooms, Collaboration, Role Assignment

BIO

Oscar Gurdian is a student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with interests in law, history, and public affairs. As a first-year student with junior-level credit standing, he has been named to the President’s List and is a recipient of the FSU Vires Scholarship of Achievement and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.

Gurdian participates in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) at Florida State University, where he works under the mentorship of Professor George Williamson. His research focuses on domestic terrorism in nineteenth-century Germany, contributing to collaborative historical analysis and presentations for the university’s Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Beyond research, Gurdian serves on the Standards Committee of the Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity and has pursued professional experience through internships in both government and legal settings. He previously served as a Constituent Services Caseworker in a district office of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, assisting constituents with federal agencies and case coordination. He later interned at Lydecker LLP, where he conducted legal research, analyzed case materials, and contributed to litigation preparation.

The Continental Consequences of the Assassination of August von Kotzebue

Abstract

On March 23, 1819, August von Kotzebue, a German playwright famous across Europe for his conservative commentaries on culture, was assassinated by University of Jena student Karl Sand. This assassination reflected the deep rivalry between conservative royalists and liberal nationalists, where the European ruling class feared a rise in revolutionary anti-monarchist thought after Napoleon’s rampage across Europe. Our research focuses on the extent to which this event was used to justify silencing dissent, censoring the press, and restricting academia across Europe. Our team analyzed, transcribed, annotated, and translated archived materials from English and French diplomatic envoys. To transcribe and translate, we adjusted image exposure and brightness and used Google dictionary to decipher French and English text. The main topic discussed was the tense situations in universities where political fraternity groups hostile to monarchies were organizing. Our research suggests that many German students sought a united German state, which they operated clandestinely in universities to oppose the monarchies. Although authorities believed few students adhered to these radical revolutionary ideas, they still proposed extensive restrictions on universities through the Carlsbad Decrees. The study of government responses to political violence is important to the stability of our political systems, as the potential for the exploitation of chaos threatens the permanent regression of civil liberties.

Keywords: German History, Politics, Study of Terrorism

BIO

Sarah Montero is a second-year FSU student from South Florida double majoring in Criminology and Psychology. Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to gain experience and develop her research skills in preparation for graduate school, where she intends to earn a Master’s in Public Administration and/or Criminology. She enjoys reading and learning about the ways in which psychological and criminological research informs the implementation and evaluation of current practices, accounting for the costs, benefits, and possible barriers to effective implementation.

Smart Use or Overuse? How Students' AI Patterns Shape Learning

Abstract

The use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, has become a common practice in academic settings among students to aid in productivity and enhance learning practices. The growing popularity and application of ChatGPT has elicited questions regarding the extent to which students rely upon AI, acknowledging that overdependence on AI could impede students’ formation of critical skills and overall knowledge acquisition. The present body of research involving students’ use has primarily gathered self-report data about patterns of use, neglecting to lend much attention to the content of the interactions between students and AI tools. The current study seeks to examine the interplay of individual differences, such as confidence in writing ability and epistemic beliefs, in predicting patterns of AI usage and overall performance in academic writing tasks. This ongoing correlational study aims to recruit approximately 200 undergraduate students who will be administered a Qualtrics survey comprising three main components. In addition to asking questions regarding epistemic beliefs, self-efficacy in academic writing and utilizing ChatGPT, and demographic information, students are presented with an academic reading-writing task, of which they have the option to use ChatGPT to complete. Participants are asked to upload their conversations with ChatGPT if they choose to use it in their writing task. We expect the distinctions in observed epistemic beliefs and self-efficacy to forecast the patterns of AI interactions among students and overall performance on the task.

Keywords: AI, ChatGPT, Learning, Reading-Writing Task

BIO

Brayden Duran is an Honors student at Florida State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (clinical professions) on the Pre-Med track. Currently a freshman, Brayden is a member of the Honors Medical Scholars Society, where he is actively involved in developing his clinical and research skills. He is conducting research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Visual Impairment (VI) in children, with the goal of improving early diagnosis and intervention for children with both conditions.

Brayden is passionate about scientific inquiry and strives to deepen his research and clinical expertise as he prepares for medical school. His experiences as a tutor and EMT have enhanced his communication skills and reinforced his commitment to patient care. Brayden is dedicated to contributing to healthcare improvements and supporting others in both academic and healthcare settings.

Brayden's research is guided by Saurym Quezada, whose mentorship has been instrumental in shaping his research journey. With aspirations to pursue a career in medicine, Brayden looks forward to continuing his work and making meaningful contributions to the medical field.

Exploring the Diagnosis Process and Educational Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Visual Impairment

Abstract

This national study investigates the processes behind a co-
occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and visual impairment
(VI) diagnosis in school-age children through parental-reported
experiences. Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for
improving developmental outcomes and ensuring access to
appropriate resources and support services (Okoye et al., 2023). To
examine this relationship, we worked on a Qualtrics survey aimed at
collecting both numerical and descriptive data on the assessment,
diagnosis, and service provision of ASD and VI across the 50 states
and Puerto Rico. A distribution list was compiled, including medical
and educational professionals, hospitals, clinics, schools for the blind,
and state deaf-blind projects to help reach eligible families. The
survey included an invitation for respondents to volunteer to
participate in follow-up interviews. Data collection is ongoing. The
findings aim to show typical diagnostic steps, reveal possible
obstacles, and highlight patterns in accessing services. The results
aim to inform healthcare providers, educators, and families about
opportunities to improve early identification and collaboration.​

Keywords: autism visual impairment

BIO

Daniella Fernandez is a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance on the Pre-Law track at Florida State University. Her academic interests center on immigration law, public policy, and advocacy for underserved communities. Through UROP, Daniella has conducted research focused on the educational experiences of refugee children and families in the school system, where she has worked with qualitative data analysis to better understand barriers to educational support and access. Her research has strengthened her commitment to using policy and legal advocacy to address inequities affecting immigrant and refugee communities. Outside of research, Daniella is actively involved in campus student life and hopes to pursue a career in immigration or public interest law.

Strengthening School Experiences for Refugee Young People, Families, and Their Teachers in Florida

Abstract

The study will examine the challenges faced by refugee children and their families as they attempt to gain access to public school education. It will examine both the barriers to educational success (barriers to success) and the ways in which assistance is provided (access to support services). Furthermore, this research will explore how education can continue to be provided to refugee children/families in the long-term (i.e., continued access to educational opportunities). The study will use a qualitative methodology that analyzes interview data collected from both refugee children and their families, in order to identify similarities and classifications among the interview sample as it relates to barriers to educational success (including, but not limited to, language barriers, lack of access to resources (both at home and in school), and the challenges faced by families as they try to establish themselves in new school settings).



By coding and analyzing the interviews' data, we will look for evidence of the impact of Institutions and Structures on Educational Outcomes for Refugee Learners. It is expected that the results of this study will contribute to the body of literature about Educational Equity, but more importantly, they will be used to improve Interventions, Policies and Procedures in support of Refugees and Immigrant Families with regard to their children’s education. Furthermore, this study will provide an example of how Research can be utilized as a tool for Advocacy and to improve inclusive educational practices.

Keywords: Refugee, Education, Immigration

BIO

Francesca Maresma is a first-year Honors student at Florida State University majoring in Finance and Management from Miami, Florida. After completing my undergraduate studies, Francesca plans to attend law school and pursue an MBA in order to build a career in corporate and contracting law. Her interest in research began in high school when she completed a Capstone program focused on parent–child relationships. This experience sparked Francesca's interest in continuing research in college, ideally in the same area of study. At Florida State University, she is continuing this interest through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). Her current research project examines the momentary effects of parental stress on parenting and children’s self-regulation. After this year, she plans to continue working on this project with Dr. Longfeng Li and the HDFS Child Development Lab while further exploring research related to family and child development.

Momentary Effects of Parental Stress on Parenting and Children’s Self-Regulation

Abstract

Parental stress plays a critical role in shaping parenting behaviors and children’s self-regulation. However, most prior studies have relied on cross-sectional designs and overlooked how everyday, temporary stressors influence parents and children, particularly within higher-risk families. To address this gap and inform prevention efforts, we examined how temporary fluctuations in parental stress shaped parents’ immediate interactions with their preschool-aged children and children’s momentary self-regulation. This work aims to support the development of targeted, evidence-based interventions to buffer families from the adverse consequences of daily stress. We hypothesized that greater parental stress would be negatively associated with parenting behaviors and children’s self-regulation. Participants were 15 mother-child dyads from higher-risk families in Florida with children aged 2.5 to 3.5 years. Mothers completed an initial survey, followed by brief ecological momentary assessment (EMA) surveys three times daily (morning, afternoon, evening) for 21 days. EMA surveys assessed parental stress, parenting behaviors (i.e., how well they were getting along with their child), and children’s self-regulation of emotion, behavior, and attention. Multilevel models revealed negative within-dyad associations between parental stress and both parenting behaviors and children’s self-regulation (ps < .05). At moments when parents experienced higher-than-usual stress, they were less likely to report getting along well with their child and more likely to report difficulties in their child’s self-regulation. These findings highlight the dynamic, interrelated nature of parental stress, parenting behaviors, and children’s self-regulation in daily life, suggesting that family-system approaches designed to buffer families from everyday stress may be especially beneficial for higher-risk families.

Keywords: Stress in Children and Self-Regulation

BIO

Samuel is a freshman at Florida State University in the Honors College and a Presidential Scholar graduating in 2029. He is originally from Westchester, New York, and is passionate about pre-med related research topics, especially those connected to genetics, pulmonology, and patient care. Some of his main research interests include CRISPR and cystic fibrosis, because he is fascinated by how scientific innovation can improve treatment options and quality of life for patients. After completing his undergraduate education here at FSU, he hopes to attend medical school to continue building his knowledge and skills in the medical field. His long-term goal is to become a doctor and use both research and clinical care to make a meaningful impact on others and help those who have gone through similar pulmonary issues that I have.

Social Media's Impact on Career Choice of College Students: A Study of Accounting & Finance Professions

Abstract

As social media continues to engulf nearly every aspect of society, it increasingly shapes individuals’ attitudes and decision-making. Simultaneously, both the accounting and finance professions are experiencing a shortage of college graduates. This study examines how social media content and platform source influence students’ perceptions of accounting and finance, and further explores students’ willingness to enter these professions. Within our survey-based study, we manipulated the image source, content type, and the depicted major to examine how each factor or combination of factors influences students’ judgment. Participants enrolled in introductory accounting courses at Florida State University were randomly assigned to view a satirical or neutral meme depicting either accounting or finance. After viewing an assigned meme, participants completed survey questions assessing how the content influenced their perceptions and their longer-term intentions toward the profession. Once all of the survey responses have been completed, data will be analyzed using a factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test whether meme type and professional label produce significant differences in students’ career perceptions and effort outcomes. The results are expected to show that exposure to satirical content reduces positive opinions of accounting and finance. These diminished perceptions are expected to lead to lower students’ interest in pursuing these careers, particularly among those who are undecided or less committed to a specific career path. This research provides practical insights for educators and professional organizations seeking to improve recruitment messaging and counteract negative social media narratives.

Keywords: Social Media, Accounting, Finance

BIO

Morgan Brown is originally from Boca Raton, Florida. She is currently majoring in Psychology with a strong interest in internalizing disorders, particularly treatment-resistant depression and suicide ideation. Her academic focus centers on using neurophysiology techniques to explore the complex neural mechanisms that underlie psychiatric disorders & suicidality and how novel treatment paradigms, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), can support and enhance psychotherapies.

Over the past year, Morgan has been involved in various projects between two research labs (PI: Dr. Sarah Brown & PI: Dr. Justin Riddle). These projects include investigating the neural basis of cognitive control using frequency-specific TMS, assessing the role of suicide imagery in suicide risk, and evaluating the efficacy of cross-frequency transcranial alternating current stimulation in anhedonic depression. Additionally, she has been working to complete her Honors Thesis with Dr. Brown with the aim of assessing how negative mood states influence inhibitory control using an Emotional Stop-Signal Task. Outside of research, Morgan serves as a UROP Leader where she co-teaches a group of underclassmen the principles of research.

Moving forward, Morgan is looking forward to pursuing a career where she can intertwine her passion for research with clinical care utilizing neuromodulation tools such as TMS. Soon, she will be applying to Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs with an emphasis on understanding the neurobiology of depression and suicide risk.

Structural and Behavioral Correlates of Anhedonic Depression: A Voxel Based Morphometry Investigation

Abstract

Anhedonia, while transdiagnostic in nature, represents a core symptom of major depressive disorder and is characterized by diminished pleasure, reduced reward motivation, and impairments in anticipating positive outcomes. Clinically, individuals with elevated anhedonia demonstrate decreased reward-seeking behavior and a bias toward negative expectancy matching. Neurobiologically, anhedonia has been associated with dysfunction in dopaminergic reward circuitry and structural alterations across frontostriatal and limbic networks; however, the precise neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying anhedonic depression are not fully elucidated. The present study utilizes whole-brain & region of interest (ROI) voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine grey matter volume differences associated with increased anhedonic depression symptoms, as measured by the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS). Additionally, we aim to determine if there are distinguishable behavioral patterns between anhedonia groups in a reward-based effort expenditure paradigm. We hypothesize that higher prevalence of anhedonia symptoms will be associated with reduced grey matter volume in key reward-related regions, including the ventral striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and temporal lobe structures. Furthermore, we hypothesize groups higher in anhedonia will display deficits in goal-directed behavior. By identifying structural and behavioral markers of anhedonic depression, this work aims to inform targeted interventions for a population that often demonstrates treatment resistance and worsened clinical prognosis.

Keywords: Anhedonia, depression, reward, MRI

BIO

Nathan Sanborn is a junior majoring in History with a minor in Education at Florida State University. His research focuses on nineteenth-century European diplomacy and political violence. He works with archival diplomatic correspondence from the early nineteenth century, transcribing and analyzing previously unstudied letters to examine how European envoys described repression, alliance tensions, and political instability. His research uses rhetorical analysis and positioning theory to better understand how diplomatic language framed political actors and crises during moments of uncertainty.

Nathan plans to continue developing his research through conference presentations and further archival work. After completing his Bachelor of Arts in History, Nathan hopes to pursue graduate study and eventually teach and conduct research in the field of history.

Diplomatic Language and Repression in Post-Napoleonic Germany

Abstract

This project looks at how European envoys described political tension after Napoleon. Diplomatic correspondence is often treated as straightforward reporting, but the wording matters. Using positioning theory, I analyze letters written between 1808 and 1819 to see how language places political actors into roles and builds a storyline about instability. The documents were originally untranscribed. I transcribed them by hand and checked them with my faculty mentor while preserving original spelling and formatting. Across the letters, envoys portray certain figures as needing control, describe revolutionary pressures as growing toward a breaking point, and frame Paris and the French government as fragile and dangerous. They also show envoys actively passing along opinions in ways meant to shape what other decision makers think. Reading the letters this way highlights how diplomatic language could make repression appear reasonable and could affect how instability was understood inside the alliance.

Keywords: Political Violence, Repression, Germany, European Diplomacy, 19th-Century Europe

BIO

Kendall Knapp is a first-year undergraduate student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, she is passionate about neuroscience research and its applications to oncology and medicine. She is currently contributing to a research project under the mentorship of Dr. Richard Wagner and Dr. Dorota Kossowska-Kuhn, conducting a meta-analysis on developmental dyslexia. This work focuses on identifying the most commonly studied traits associated with developmental dyslexia across existing scientific literature. Through her academic and research experiences, Kendall hopes to deepen her understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying neurological and cognitive disorders. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

Meta-Analysis of Dyslexia Indicators

Abstract

Developmental Dyslexia is a multifaceted neurobiological learning disorder that is characterized by a large array of symptoms that vary in severity from case-to-case. Primarily caused by phonological deficits, which has a significant effect on word level reading and spelling; though secondary deficits are also observed in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge that could be traced to the foundational phonological deficit. With this study, our research question is how does the prevalence of the traits of dyslexia correlate with one another? This research is vital to provide an improved common understanding of the disorder, as well as identify deficits that correspond with one another for easier identification of developmental dyslexia in children for early intervention. Utilizing the program Covidence, a model-based meta- analysis will be done using research articles and dissertations sourced by PRISMA. Sorting through approximately 9,000 papers, screening first distinguished appropriate abstracts, then full text review was done. Currently 2155 studies are approved for data extraction to be used for the model-based meta-analysis, but due to how expansive this study is, results have yet to be established. Expected results are the correlations of the prevalence of dyslexia symptoms to one another. This study in the future will provide a clearer understanding of symptom correlation with developmental dyslexia, which in turn can improve the diagnosis of dyslexia, as well as reading intervention programs that aid in improvement in observed deficits.

Keywords: Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology

BIO

Izabella Alexis Hurst is a sophomore at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science through the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences program on the Clinical Professions track. She is interested in the intersection of neuroscience, pain management, and patient-centered care. Izabella Alexis is a researcher in the Complementary Health and Innovation Lab (CHIL) under the mentorship of Dr. Adam Hanley, where she studies brief mindfulness and breathing interventions designed to reduce pain and anxiety in orthopedic imaging waiting rooms. She aspires to attend medical school and pursue a career in anesthesiology, with the goal of improving patient comfort and outcomes through compassionate, evidence-based care.

Brief Tablet-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Acute Pain in Orthopedic Imaging Waiting Rooms

Abstract

Pain is highly prevalent among patients waiting for orthopedic imaging, yet many evidence
based mind body interventions remain time intensive, resource heavy, or difficult to
implement in busy clinical environments. This study investigates whether brief, tablet based
mind body interventions such as guided breathing or mindfulness exercises can meaningfully improve patient outcomes in a real world orthopedic setting. Specifically, the research examines their effects on pain intensity, patient engagement, self efficacy, and willingness to recommend care.

Using a quantitative experimental design, orthopedic patients in imaging waiting areas are
invited to complete a short tablet delivered intervention. Patient reported outcomes are
collected and analyzed to evaluate intervention effectiveness. The study is guided by a
biopsychosocial framework, recognizing that psychological and behavioral factors
significantly influence pain perception and overall patient experience.

It is hypothesized that patients who complete the intervention will report lower pain intensity,
greater engagement, higher self efficacy, and increased willingness to recommend care
compared to those who do not participate.

If supported, these findings would suggest that very brief, low cost, and scalable mind body
strategies can enhance patient centered care without disrupting workflow or increasing
clinician burden. This research highlights the potential for accessible, non pharmacological
interventions to complement traditional medical treatment and improve patient
empowerment, satisfaction, and overall healthcare experience

Keywords: Mindfulness, pain management, behavioral intervention