BIO

My name is Shania Folkes, I’m a first-year undergraduate researcher through FSU’s UROP program. I am majoring in neuroscience on a pre-med track to specialize in neurosurgery! Some fun facts about me: I am the middle child of 9 children, and I am a licensed practical nurse in all 50 states. I’m incredibly passionate about research, and grateful to the UROP program and Catherine Fabiano for facilitating this opportunity for me. This lab focuses on the synthesis and application of semiconductor nanocrystals, which can be used in photo thermal therapy and semiconducting windows. My favorite part about this lab has been synthesizing nanocrystals and the comradery within the lab. In the future, I hope to continue in this lab. I will go on to research neurodegenerative conditions in my career. These conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are incredibly debilitating and progressive with very few treatment options available. Overall, I just hope to be an active contributor to society and use the privilege that I have as a student to learn more about these conditions and work with other professionals and people with such conditions to experiencing a better quality of life.

Exploration of Plasmonic Defect Tungsten Oxide Through X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Abstract

Working under Catherine Fabiano, a graduate student in the lab, we are studying the synthesis of plasmonic semiconductor nanocrystals via a microwave machine. Once these nanocrystals are synthesized, we will analyze the particles using XPS to determine the concentration of tungsten oxide in each (this will show us the degree to which tungsten oxide concentration relates to the conduction of materials). This is done it is believed to be the cause of the plasmonic effect (the change in the light absorbance of a particle/substance). Semiconductor nanoparticles are important, as applications range from targeting tumors using semiconductor lasers to specialized semiconductor windows that only let certain energy waves penetrate (for example, heat waves can be blocked, but light can be let in).

Keywords: chemistry, nanocrystals, engineering

BIO

I am currently a freshman at Florida State University majoring in biological sciences. I hope to pursue some kind of career in the medical field, specifically something relating to cancer research, and am considering attending graduate school. I would really like to explore different treatments for cancer, especially at the cell level. I am involved in the FSU chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) where I participate in volunteering opportunities and get to study and talk with other women who are on a similar path as me. I am also involved in CHAARG, an all women fitness group to help improve my health and wellbeing. I am so grateful for the opportunity that UROP has provided me to become involved with research on campus.

Purpose and Engagement in Everyday Life (PEEL)

Abstract

The progression of cognitive decline, in connection with personality and purpose in life, has not been fully explored in current research. New evidence suggests that psychological factors, such as purpose and motivation, largely affect the rate of cognitive decline. This research focuses on finding out if a sense of purpose in life is connected to cognitive performance in adults ages 65 and older. Purpose in Life “reflects a life that is goal-oriented and driven” and it can help lead one to better physical health, mental health, and improved episodic memory. An episodic Memory can help support better cognition because the brain is better at storing and retrieving information. The study that influenced PEEL occurred during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the United States, ultimately addressing the “depressed affect” among participants and Covid related memories.

Keywords: purpose, cognition, psychology

BIO

I grew up in Beijing, China, and moved to Tallahassee in 2018. At FSU, I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in biological science and minoring in chemistry, computer science, and mathematics. After college, I plan to go to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. Currently, my research interests include the structures and interactions of molecules in biological systems, but I am always excited to learn more about the fascinating science of life.

Modeling the Interaction Between Dengue Virus NS2B3 and Human cGAS

Abstract

The dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-transmitted human virus that has remained a significant public health threat. This virus has affected 50 million people worldwide and causes around 20,000 deaths yearly. To proliferate in the cell, DENV has found ways to bypass the immune response. The NS2B3 protease (consisting of NS2B and NS3) specifically interacts with the cGAS immune sensor to successfully stop the activation of the immune response. Previous studies have elucidated the structures of both NS2B3 and human cGAS. It has also been shown that NS2B3 cleaves the N-terminus of cGAS and mediates the degradation of the C-terminus of cGAS via autophagosomes. However, the molecular interactions between the two proteins remain unknown. In this study, we used protein docking and visualization software to model potential NS2B3-cGAS interactions. Specifically, we analyzed similar published structures and manipulated a peptide-bound NS2B3 model to show a possible interaction between the active site of NS2B3 and N-terminus cleavage sites on cGAS. For the interaction between NS2B3 and the C-terminus of cGAS, we used the ClusPro protein docking server to generate ten models and found that cGAS potentially binds to both the active site of NS2B3 and the N-terminal tail of NS2B. These results provide a useful starting point for the experimental validation of NS2B-cGAS interactions, which will deepen our understanding of the disease and lay the foundation for future vaccine and therapeutic developments.

Keywords: biology, immunology, virus, protein, structure

BIO

Hi, I am Juliana Youngman, a junior mechanical engineering student at Florida State University. My interest in creating practical solutions to address real-world problems led me to pursue a degree in engineering. After graduation, I intend to work in the sustainable energy field. I hope to contribute to designing and developing new technologies that will help combat climate change. In my free time, I enjoy hiking the beautiful trails that Tallahassee has to offer.

Reverse Engineering the Epilog Zing Laser Cutter

Abstract

A laser cutter is a computer numerical control machine that uses a focused laser beam to cut and etch materials into geometric patterns created by a designer via computer-aided design software. The Epilog Zing Laser utilizes a red laser to cut materials. However, it is a media device that has become
obsolete. Thus, the purpose of this project is to propose and document a method of repurposing it for a new and creative function. We explored how to replace the Epilog Zing’s standard red laser with a UV laser that creates designs on UV-sensitive paper. Our preliminary results lead us to believe that we will be able to produce a functional laser cutter. Evidence from this work suggests that outdated technology such as the Epilog Zing Laser Cutter can be remodeled to perform a new function.

Keywords: Laser Cutter, Engineering, UV laser, Photosensitive paper

BIO

My name is Rebecca Huang, I moved to Florida during my junior year of college and currently reside in Fort Lauderdale. I have two cats that have been with me for almost two years. I enjoy reading, skating, and coding in my spare time. After getting my Bachelor's I hope to find a career in UX design!

Backtracking CTE Students in Two-Year Programs

Abstract

A community college transfer program can be an exciting opportunity for students looking to continue their education at a four-year college or university. These programs are designed to help students transition from community college to a four-year institution by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need for secondary education. In this study, graduates of Tallahassee Community College alumni are backtracked and surveyed. The surveys gather information about their experiences and opinions. This information can be used to improve the community college experience for future students, as well as to identify areas of strength and weakness in the college's programs and services. This project aims to explore students’ pathways, especially that of women, minorities, and other underserved student groups.

Keywords: CTE pathways, associate of arts, associate degree, associate of science, community college

BIO

Emma is a freshman from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She is majoring in biological sciences on a pre-med track. At FSU she is an active member of the Honors Medical Scholars (HMS) Society and the Undergraduate Research Opportunities (UROP) program.

Understanding the Molecular Impacts of Sleep Deprivation in Mus Musculus

Abstract

Sleep deprivation is a widespread health issue that has adverse effects on neurobehavioral and cognitive functions. This is an increasing problem in all facets of society as there is a growing tendency to prioritize work and education over health. Sleeplessness accounts for an increased risk of developing metabolic, cardiac, and neurodegenerative diseases along with other health problems throughout the body. The hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum are regions of the brain that are particularly susceptible to alterations in gene regulation. What makes these brain regions of particular interest under the conditions of sleep deprivation are the hippocampus’ regulation of spatial memory, the cerebellum’s control of motor functions, and the alteration of neural networks in the frontal cortex. Sleep deprivation results in changes in gene expression as well as post-transcriptional impacts leading to changes in protein expression. Of particular interest is the long-term effects of sleep deprivation with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Our research seeks to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on the Tau protein, a neuropathological hallmark for Alzheimer’s Disease. In order to model the effects of sleep deprivation on our target regions of the brain, Mus musculus were sleep deprived with a particular emphasis on preventing micro-sleeps and their brains were then extracted for molecular analysis. The hippocampus, cerebellum, and frontal cortex tissue samples were fractionated and quantified using western blots to gain insight into the different levels of protein expression due to sleep deprivation.

Keywords: Sleep, Sleep Deprivation, Neuroscience, Mice, Biology

BIO

Hi! My name is Samuel Talevich, I am a pre-med chemistry major here at FSU. I was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL and I love all aspects of science. My research interests include chemistry, medicine, biology, and materials science- where most of my research is now. I hope to continue research in the future as a sugeon.

3D Printing of Ceramic Composites for Aerospace and Biomedical Applications​

Abstract

Compared to other materials, ceramics have high tensile strength, high melting points, low electrical conductivity, low thermal expansion, and are chemically inert. Combing these properties with the tough and flexible properties of polymers creates a ceramic composite with surprisingly powerful properties making them ideal materials for aerospace and biomedical applications. Unfortunately, current manufacturing techniques like sintering powders make synthesizing ceramic composites inefficient and cause errors in the form of cracks due to the brittle nature of ceramics. Additionally, sintering prevents the printing of complex shapes. Currently, 3D printing shows promising results for printing and curing ceramics in large quantities and complex shapes. Over the past year, the Yu Group has aimed to harness the powerful abilities of composite ceramics by successfully 3D printing a composite material. Additionally, the Yu Group has aimed to improve the mechanical and physical properties of composite ceramics using SMP-10 ceramic precursor, toluene, and boron nitrate nanotubes (BNNT), with my role consisting of determining the correct chemical ratio for the composite as well as the ideal printing process.

Keywords: Materials Science, Engineering, Chemistry, 3D Printing

BIO

Maia Erbes is a sophomore studying biology at Florida State University, where she is a member of the Moriarty Lemmon Center for Anchored Phylogenetics and the FSU Marine Turtle Research, Ecology, and Conservation group. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in marine biology research.

Temporal Analysis of Chorus Frog Vocalizations

Abstract

Acoustic signaling is vitally important in sexual selection, species recognition, and speciation across many taxa, including everything from reptiles to birds and mammals. Of these many taxa, anurans are an excellent choice for acoustic analysis, because acoustic signaling is known to be the strongest determining factor in their mate selection. Temporal variation across call sequences is known to be a factor in sexual selection, however fine scale temporal variation, such as within a single calling sequence, has been under examined.
Pseudacris feriarum is an ideal system for this analysis because the spectral properties of their call sequences are known to show significant differences between allopatric and sympatric populations, resulting in dramatic effects on speciation.
In this study, I analyzed recordings of male Pseudacris feriarum vocalizations to determine how the acoustic characteristics of a call sequence changed from beginning to end

Keywords: Evolution, Speciation, Acoustic Analysis

BIO

I am from Miami Florida currently studying Behavioral Neuroscience. Future interest in Clinical Psychology.

Substance Use, Misuse and Recovery Through Collaborative Autoethnography

Abstract

4 undergraduate research assistants (UGRAs) reflect on their participation in a dissertation study, Substance Use, Misusing, Recovery Identity Formation Among College Students.​ Baseline concept maps and interviews between the primary investigator (PI) and UGRAs were transcribed and then coded.​ The UGRAs participated in a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) to reflect on their own experiences with substance misuse and recovery.​ Insights contribute towards understanding how community shapes students' understanding of complex concepts such as substance misuse and recovery.​ We aim to provide meaningful insight into how substance use and misuse can be internalized amongst college students and how the acquisition of a recovery identity can help redefine previous notions of substance use.​

Keywords: Autoethnography collegiate recovery programs health and wellness

BIO

One of the main reasons I came to Florida State University was the chance to partake in the undergraduate research program. I have always been interested in research and wanted to determine if it was something I would continue pursuing. Being able to participate in Dr. Okten’s Impressions lab and getting the opportunity to receive a background in research have given me the opportunity to gain knowledge in the field of research. I worked in the Impression Lab due to my interest in the topic and would like to continue my research within that realm. I would also want to do research in the area of meta-cognition and psychopathology due to the career path I am interested in. I am currently pursuing my goal of going to graduate school for my Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I would like to continue doing research while pursuing my future career of working in the social justice system as a clinical psychologist.

Stability of First Impressions and the Role of Openness to Others' Perspectives

Abstract

People form first impressions of others without much thought on how they actually do so. Still, based on their past experiences, they may evaluate their first impressions as relatively stable or changeable. This research focuses on how stable people view their first impressions of others and how much these views are associated with their tendency to be affected by outside information. How do people's perceptions of how stable their first impressions are relate to the extent to which they change their impressions based on a third party’s perspective of the target person? We tested this question through a survey distributed on an online survey platform called Prolific. Three hundred participants answered questions on their overall perceptions of the stability of their first impressions and how much their impressions would be affected by acquaintances and trusted others. The results showed significant associations between overall perceptions of stability and the tendency to change impressions based on information from others. Those who construed their first impressions as stable tended to ignore new information even from trusted sources. Considering these findings, we encourage further research targeting stable first impressions, and their potentially biasing consequences in interpersonal relations.

Keywords: impressions, openness, opinion, meta-cognition, scale development

BIO

A motivated and personable 2nd year student eager to join research teams targeting congestive heart failure and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. I personally feel that the secret to success is knowledge, and I strive to align my passion for medicine with my desire to promote and support the best quality of life. Exploring medicine turned my tentativeness into personal resilience, my selfconsciousness into tenacity, and my fears into courage. Through that, I expect to use all these characteristics and traits as a lifelong learner.

Does the introduction of elliptical responses prime participants to respond in an elliptical manner?

Abstract

With this research project, we wanted to understand why people frequently give elliptical, linguistically empty answers to questions. We investigated the cognitive and social aspects that influence our decision to respond in an elliptical manner (or not). During this experiment, the participant and experimenter will take turns asking each other general questions. The experimenter will respond elliptically to determine if that will prime the participant's response. Based on their responses, we researched whether social factors shape our choice to make an elliptical response. When gathering data & information, we hypothesize that social factors will shape the participant's choice to make elliptical responses.

Keywords: elliptical responses, priming, psychology

BIO

Play sports as a hobby, from Inverness, FL, and I want to become a doctor.

“What About Me”: IER On The Regulator in Dyad Sports

Abstract

Interpersonal Emotion Regulation, IER, is often used by athletes and when done effectively may positively relate to motivation, affect, team performance outcomes, sport commitment, and enjoyment (Tamminen & Crocker, 2013; Tamminen et al., 2016). Despite knowledge of numerous IER strategies athletes employ, minimal research has explored the impact of IER on the regulator, although findings from Foti et al. (2022) suggest there may be an interrelationship of providing IER between the regulator and target teammate, with the regulator’s emotions receiving more predominant impacts. However, emotions are subjective (Wagstaff & Tamminen, 2021) and the contextual and social factors that impact IER experiences must be interpreted. This study aims to (a) explain how the regulator’s emotions, ego depletion, and effort are impacted by providing IER, (b) explore how athletes perceive the receipt of IER to impact their emotions, (c) understand the relationships and team dynamics involved in IER, and (d) understand the factors that contribute to IER strategy selection and implementation. Multi-level descriptive interviews are being conducted with five dyads, 10 competitive adult beach volleyball and tennis athletes, from an interpretivist position focused on recognizing subjective meaning (Goldkuhl, 2012) within the athletes’ experiences. Results are anticipated in March/April 2023. The results will inform athletes’ utilization of IER resources in an effective manner both for themselves and their teammates. This will prompt the ability to conduct future experimental studies to determine causation between constructs for practitioners to use evidence-based practice to advocate for the most effective and least detrimental IER behaviors in sport.

Keywords: Emotion, Sports, Psychology

BIO

I am a first year international student from Barbados majoring in chemistry. I hope to explore research in various areas of chemistry, from physical chemistry to organic chemistry.

Investigation of the Photophysics of W03-x

Abstract

The interaction between incident light and nanoparticles leads to a confined high intensity non-propagating wave known as localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The LSPR can be tuned across the optical spectrum from visible to far-infrared by controlling the concentration of free carriers. This can be done by altering the dopant type, concentration, and distribution in the nanoparticle. Increasing dopant concentration increases the free carrier concentration, shifting the LSPR to a higher energy level. Furthermore, the type of dopant and is distribution changes the overall electron scattering which also impact the LSPR. In this review I studied the impact of dopant type and concentration on determining the LSPR characteristics of semiconductor nanoparticles. Specifically, how doping the metal oxide, tungsten oxide, with varying concentrations of manganese will impact the LSPR of the metal oxide. This was done by synthesizing a sample of manganese doped tungsten oxide. The samples are still undergoing analysis as to how this impacts the LSPR characteristics and results are currently still in development.

Keywords: chemistry, nanoparticles, tungsten oxide

BIO

My name is Tarek Dahman. I am a second-year public health major and pre-medical student at FSU. I plan on working in the medical field in a clinical specialty, however, I am undecided as to which specialty. I chose public health as my major because I feel more compelled to do population-based research and I enjoy understanding disease transmission pathways and modes of prevention. I was born and raised in Weston, Florida, but I am originally from Syria, and I visit each summer. I look forward to continuing global work with an emphasis on the public health of the arab world.

Literacy Gaps of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs)

Abstract

The United States has the highest percentage of unintended pregnancies among developed countries at an inflated 45%. Unintended pregnancies have been shown to be correlated to risks including the mother experiencing postpartum depression and the child scoring lower than average on development tests. These unintended pregnancies are typically the result from the misuse or failure of contraceptives. The most commonly used contraceptive methods (oral contraceptive pills and condoms) have around a 10-20% failure rate whereas less commonly used long-active reversible contraceptives (LARCs) have around a 0.8% failure rate. Previous research found that women who obtained and currently use LARCs had experienced multiple barriers before beginning their LARC use. The goal of this study is to examine the most prominent barrier, which was healthcare providers passing recommendations to patients that were not supported by clinical contraceptive guidelines. This barrier is why LARCs are less commonly utilized compared to other, less efficient modes of contraceptives. To gain a better understanding of healthcare providers’ health literacy of contraceptive guidelines, quantitative surveys were sent to hundreds of OB/GYN, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatric residency programs across the country. Residents were targeted for this study as they will be the future generation of healthcare providers that will pass recommendations regarding LARCs. These surveys will consist of 30 questions regarding contraceptive guidelines that will take 10-15 minutes to complete. The data received in the surveys will be interpreted through statistics software (SPSS) in order to assess and compare residents’ understanding of guidelines.

Keywords: LARC, Contraceptive, Literacy

BIO

Hi, I'm Ayanna Nesbeth. I am currently an undergraduate student at Florida State University, a humanities major on the premed track and one day hope to pursue a career in medicine.

Beware of The Yellow Jack: Yellow Fever Epidemic in Tallahassee, FL 1841

Abstract

The 1841 Yellow Fever epidemic in Tallahassee, Florida was a distressing event that affected the city's population and infrastructure. The outbreak began in the summer months and quickly spread throughout the community, causing widespread illness and death. Symptoms of the disease included fever, headache, jaundice, and vomiting, and it was particularly deadly for the elderly and young children. The epidemic overwhelmed local healthcare facilities and caused panic among the residents. Despite efforts to contain the outbreak, it continued to spread and ultimately resulted in significant loss of life and damage to the community. The exact cause of the epidemic is not well- documented; public officials at the time believed the epidemic was caused by contaminated water, mosquitoes, and gases from hot marshes. The event significantly impacted the city's s development and serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of infectious disease outbreaks. In our research, we go back 200 years in Tallahassee's past, by reading limited works of literature by historians who specialize in Antebellum Tallahassee history. From these sources, we gained knowledge on how Doctors would diagnose and treat Yellow Fever, how schools and businesses navigated during that tough time, and the culture surrounding the disease.

Keywords: Yellow Fever Tallahassee

BIO

Karelia was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where she grew up for most of her life. When she was fifteen, she moved to Miami and graduated high school Summa Cum Laude under the International Cambridge Program. She's currently a second-year student at Florida State University, pursuing a dual degree in Psychology and Chemistry. In the future, she hopes to go to medical school and specialize in psychiatry.

The Effects of NADPH Oxidase on Reactive Oxygen Species and Adipose Tissue Lipolysis

Abstract

Background: Rapidly increasing rates of cardio-metabolic diseases have become a major health concern in recent years due to high mortality rates and physiological complications. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox) is an enzyme present in adipose cells that has been previously correlated with the development of insulin resistance in mouse models of obesity. It is possible that the effects of Nox on changes in metabolism occur through increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lipolysis, which is the breakdown and release of triglyceride stores in adipose cells. Dysregulated lipolysis has been linked to several cardio-metabolic complications. However, it remains poorly understood how Nox influences lipolysis and cardio-metabolic health outcomes in human participants. The overall goal of our study is to research the correlations between Nox and lipolysis in the human body, analyzing the pathways in lipolysis that are stimulated by Nox.

Methods: Microdialysis and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedures were conducted in young, healthy males and females to collect in vivo data on local ROS production, microvascular blood flow, and lipolytic rates in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue.

Results: Preliminary results have demonstrated that ROS levels were significantly lower when the local Nox-inhibitor apocynin was introduced, suggesting that Nox stimulates increased ROS production in humans. Moreover, Nox seems to contribute to the increase of lipolysis through its β-adrenergic signaling pathway. Further experimentation will investigate if raised Nox levels in obese individuals diminish insulin’s anti-lipolytic effect and change microvascular function.

Keywords: lipolysis, NADPH oxidase, ROS, cardiovascular diseases, physiology, nutrition

BIO

Willow Hackett is an Art History major at Florida State University finishing her first year. She is double minoring in Museum Studies and Asian Studies. Her current concentration is Religious Art of East Asia and Chinese Contemporary Art. Willow has always loved learning about history and wishes to pursue a career in either museum administration, curation or as a fine art specialist at auction houses like Sotheby’s. When she’s not working, Willow likes to read, workout, travel and try every restaurant in Tallahassee. Willow was born and raised in South Florida but hopes to reside in Washington D.C. with her two cats in the future.

The Shogun’s Grandniece

Abstract

The Nagamine family features a long, affluent lineage of Japanese immigrants to the United States, one who married into a family related to the bloodlines of Japan's last Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu. This relative, the Shogun's grand-niece, currently lives in a sleepy Oregon town with a small population, low-diversity, and overall homogeneity. Her grandparents, Haruyuki and Yone Nagamine, immigrated to the United States in the late 1910s and established a life in Los Angeles, specifically in the Silver Lake area. Now a "hipster" part of the city, Silver Lake attracted many young people for its inexpensive cost of living and bustling film scene. Before this, it attracted affluent immigrants; Haruyuki was a fruit distributor while his wife Yone was a successful midwife. They took up residence in a Spanish Colonial Revival style house, common in L.A. due to its European and bourgeois look. This architectural style particularly attracted wealthy immigrants who wanted to assimilate into American society. However, during WWII, the Nagamines were separated by the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, and Yone could not return back to the US with her daughter, while her husband Haruyuki, as a business leader in the Issei (first generation) Japanese community, was arrested, and interned during the war. Their lives, and those of their daughter and grand-daughter, represent the ups-and-downs of US-Japan relations in the 20th and 21st century. My research focuses on the demographics of Japanese immigration throughout WWII, and how these global situations affected the decisions and image of these immigrants in America.

Keywords: Japan, history, immigration

BIO

Elisabeth Antropova is a second year undergraduate student majoring in psychology and minoring in Russian. As a student in natural recovery herself, she currently serves as a research assistant on the Substance Using, Misusing, and Recovery Identity Formation of College Students under the mentorship of Chelsea Shore. She plans to obtain her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology.

Substance Use, Misuse and Recovery Through Collaborative Autoethnography 

Abstract

4 undergraduate research assistants (UGRAs) reflect on their participation on a dissertation study, Substance Use, Misusing, Recovery Identity Formation Among College Students.
Baseline concept maps and interviews between the primary investigator (PI) and UGRAs were transcribed then coded.
The UGRAs participated in a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) to reflect on their own experiences with substance misuse and recovery.
Insights contribute towards understanding how community shapes students understanding of complex concepts such as substance misuse and recovery.
We aim to provide meaningful insight into how substance use, and misuse can be internalized amongst college students and how an acquisition of a recovery identity can help redefine previous notions of substance use.

Keywords: Autoehnography, Collegiate Recovery Programs, Health and Wellness

BIO

I am a first year sophomore from Miami pursuing a degree in psychology. My goal is to become a mental health therapist and help people feel safe in their minds. I enjoy playing guitar and listening to music in my free time.

Montage: The Tallahassee Theatre Index

Abstract

This project is a culmination of theatre programs and companies in both the direct and greater Tallahassee area. It is created in the form of a digital library and contains both a theatre index and a calendar. The theatre index lists all of the companies in forms of profiles, each containing the same formatting. The information included in this format are the company’s social media sites and a summary of what the company does. The calendar is an extension of the profile’s information, for it lists any upcoming events for the companies included in the index. This is all found on a Wix website and was created for simple and direct access to the arts in Tallahassee. Through this index, we are hoping to incorporate more theatre in the area and allow for more direct communication between companies, thus enhancing a positive theatre morale in the city. If theatre companies are able to be in contact with one another, it is with hope that more cohesive projects can be created and initiatives in which societal issues are focused on can be developed. This will change the impact of theatre and showcase that there is more to the arts than one can simply perceive.

Keywords: Theatre, Tallahassee, Arts

BIO

I am a sophomore at Florida State University majoring in Biological Sciences. After graduating with my bachelor’s I plan to go to medical school and pursue a career in general pediatrics, and possibly own my own practice one day.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things: Building Mental & Emotional Resilience in Dancers

Abstract

This study evaluated an educational intervention targeted at building mental and emotional resilience in dancers and documents the prevalence of mental health stress in a university dance environment.  Five BFA dance majors completed the intervention: six modules in an application developed by a clinician who works with dancers and one-hour weekly meetings. This study observed the influence of mental resilience training on behaviors relevant to dance performance. The training was evaluated using a multiple-baseline-across-dancers experimental design with secondary measures of the RAND Mental Health Inventory, a Mental Health Knowledge Base Questionnaire, and Social Validity ratings. Results show targeted behaviors improved for every dancer who completed training with a mean improvement of 50%. Scores on the RAND and Knowledge Base questionnaires improved by averages of six and thirteen points respectively. Results support previous research, corroborating that dancers are facing mental stress. Findings also suggest that completing six application-based, individually coached, weekly mental resilience training sessions improved the quality of pre-professional dancers' interactions with their training environments and self-reported mental health levels. This study was run as a systematic replication of the study done in the 2021-2022 school year with similar results expected. 

Keywords: Mental Health, Dancers, Emotional Resilience