Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Payton Femali and I am a 2nd year student at Florida State University majoring in Clinical Professions. I am from Naperville, Illinois, and I am looking to attend medical school post-grad and pursue a career in pediatrics. I am incredibly interested in psychology research and am eager to share some of the projects I have been working on.

Mindfulness and Parental Well-Being: Gender differences on parental mental health

Abstract

The current study focuses on how parental stress and mindful parenting impact mom and dad’s well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect) and mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression). Through the completion of an anonymous online survey, this study centers on data from biological, adoptive, step, and foster mothers and fathers with at least one child under the age of 18. The survey includes items that assess demographics such as age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and marital status, as well as established measures that assess parents’ mental health, well-being, and mindful parenting practices. Respondents are also compensated for their cooperation, allowing them to enter their email in a separate survey for entry into 10 separate raffles for $25 each. After 150 respondents completed the survey, a statistical analysis using SPSS was run to analyze associations found within the data. The primary aim of the current study is to consider how parenting stress and mindful parenting predict the mental health and well-being of parents. The associations between the demographics, predictor, and outcome variables will also be examined to determine the positive and negative relationships among the study variables, as well as any statistical differences between the results of mothers and fathers. The data from this study can be utilized to further understand the stress and mental health impacts experienced by parents and guardians, as well as the role that mindful parenting plays in alleviating these symptoms.

Keywords: Mindfulness, mental health, well-being

BIO

I am a sophomore studying cell and molecular neuroscience and I will graduate in Spring of 2026. I'm originally from Cincinnati Ohio and came to Florida State University for undergrad. My goal is to be accepted to medical school in order to become an oncologist. I've always been interested in research and would be comfortable working with anything chemistry, biology, or neuroscience related.

A Behavioral Analysis of the Impacts of Chronic Sleep Deprivation

Abstract

Sleep deprivation is a global health issue that is especially prevalent during the work week. A significant amount of the working population restricts their sleep to seven hours or less a night during the work week. This sleep restriction has been linked to cognitive impairment during the workday, leading to issues related to memory and performance. We have developed a chronic sleep paradigm to mimic the sleep deprivation experienced during the 5-day work week. We hypothesize that the mice will progressively get sleepier earlier in the day as the week goes on. For this experiment, mice were split into individual cages containing water, food pellets, and shredded filter paper bedding. Transition from water bottles to water gel packs occurred after one of the preliminary chronic sleep deprivations to avoid wetting the cage bedding. Each chronic sleep deprivation experiment lasted five days for 5 hours a day with two independent experiments performed. The method used to prevent sleeping was gentle handling through cage taps and cage shakes. After the experiment, brain tissues were collected from each mouse in order to perform future molecular studies. We found that the mean cage taps and shakes did not show any significant difference throughout the experiments. The results indicate that the mice were getting sufficient rebound sleep in between the days of sleep deprivation. Further directions include performing a molecular analysis of changes in gene expression using qPCR.

Keywords: Neuroscience, Sleep Deprivation, Biological Sciences

BIO

I am currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child Development, planning to graduate May 2025. Since August 2023, I've interned as a research assistant for two labs, immersing myself in intriguing research projects at FSU. Being part of the university honors program has been an honor as well, allowing me to maintain a 3.9 GPA while exploring various academic avenues.

The Influence of TikTok on the Attitudes of Young Adult Towards Eating Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of TikTok on young adult eating behavior and the objectives consisted of analyzing the algorithm that TikTok utilizes for promoting food-related videos, evaluating the various video formats that include food in some form, and gaining an understanding of the effect that this social media app has on the eating behaviors of young adults. “Food influencer” marketing is a new frontier in the marketing space, and research such as this brings into question how these social influencers that market a food brand may need more policies for more explicitly stated brand deals in the future.The study process began with an in-depth analysis of the current literature on social media and eating behaviors of young adults. A qualitative research approach was then used and a number of participants were interviewed on their social media usage, eating habits, and interaction with food-related posts. The interviews took place over Zoom, with discussions lasting 30-45 minutes. This study is significant in its promotion of an understanding on how technology, particularly social applications such as TikTok, impacts college students’ eating behaviors and self perception of their physical appearance. We hope to find evidence that supports our beliefs that social media plays a role in eating habits and perception of self. The implications of this study allow social media platforms and its users to consider the risks of benefits of frequent usage of food related media.

Keywords: TikTok, Food, Eating Behaviors

BIO

Cameron Glymph is a student in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) from Broward County, Florida. Her research interest include accessible literacy, nonfiction writing, and multiethnic women's literature. In the future, she would like to purse a career in journalism.

Library in a Box

Abstract

The "Library in a Box" initiative is a project specifically designed to tackle the digital divide, literacy gaps, and information inequities in underprivileged areas, notably in the Global South and rural regions of the Southern United States. By curating library resources and designing them to fit into a singular box to be sent to rural areas, the Library in a Box project gives communities the resources to develop their own easily accessible libraries. To form the prototype of the Library in a Box, our research team compiled literature reviews on the conventions and practices of ethical and sustainable mobile libraries, researched the best technology to be used in a mobile library setting, and crafted a survey to hone in on the specific interests and demographics of the areas where the project will be implemented. The preliminary results helped our team find the best ways to go about implementing the Library in a Box project based off of previous similar projects. The findings also helped us to find the technology to best suit our project. The survey results will be used to gain perspective on the communities that we pilot the Library in a Box project with in the coming months. In the future, the project will be expanded to communities in Kenya and Uganda.

Keywords: libraries, literacy, mobile libraries, library building

BIO

My name is Isabella Ramirez, I am a junior at FSU double majoring in criminology and psychology. Outside of work and school, I enjoy crocheting, going on walks, and spending time with friends. After graduation I plan on getting my PhD or PsyD with a concentration in forensic psychology. My career goal is to work with the state as a forensic psychologist, combining both of my interests, psychology and criminology!

Internalizing Psychopathology Correlates with Emotion Regulation, but not IQ in Subclinical Undergraduates

Abstract

In psychopathology, the comorbidity of multiple psychiatric disorders can have a substantial effect on an individual’s treatment outcome. One commonly studied dimension of psychopathology are internalizing disorders, which encompass the experience of negative affect and include symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. Here, we sought to replicate the presence of an internalizing dimension in a sample of young adults and examine relationships with IQ and emotion regulation strategies. Past research suggests emotion regulation strategies have different outcomes on mental health, with cognitive reappraisal associated with better health outcomes versus expressive suppression.  The current study included 79 participants 18-35 years old recruited from Northwestern and Florida State University. We replicated previous work showing the existence of an internalizing dimension using the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, 7-up 7-down depression measure, and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. A significant negative correlation was observed between internalizing symptom severity and cognitive reappraisal, r(77) = -0.35, p=0.0009, but a non-significant positive was present for expressive suppression, r(77) = 0.19, p=0.0938. Thus, individuals who preferred cognitive reappraisal had lower levels of internalizing symptoms, and vice-versa for expressive suppression.  There was no significant relationship between IQ and internalizing symptoms, r(77) = -0.11, p=0.3548. As hypothesized, a clear internalizing factor was present in our data and it was associated with one’s choice of emotion regulation strategy. However, the IQ measure did not show a hypothesized negative correlation with internalizing symptoms. Future research should further examine the relationship between IQ and internalizing symptoms in young adults.

Keywords: Psychopathology, Emotion Regulation

BIO

My name is Lauren Yoakum, and I am currently a first-year Honors student from Tampa, Florida. I chose to participate in UROP to explore how research works, so that I may soon conduct some of my own.
I love Environmental Science and Geology, and plan to use my degrees to pursue a career in Paleoecology and Paleontology. On the side, however, I greatly enjoy learning more about politics and citizen dynamics, as expressed through my active participation in Model UN, as well as my UROP research project.

The Different Factors In A Community That Influence Political Involvement On Social Media

Abstract

For the majority of U.S. history, politicians and potential leaders would spread their messages and policies through speeches, rallies, and conventions. Yet, in seemingly the blink of an eye, a new element has been added to the political strategy of spreading the U.S. policy message: social media. Now, ideals and opinions can be spread faster than ever, and any one person can have unlimited access to this new, unchartered technological landscape.
With all this unlimited access, and in such an abrupt way, there is little research that evaluates the impact on human’s social- and political- behavior. From the Donald Trump twitter campaign of 2016 to newly developed platforms made only for specific political parties, the part that social media has played in leadership styles has vastly changed; and its impact must be studied.
Unfortunately, because social media is a newly introduced concept, there isn’t much data at all that can distinguish its connection to leadership and political impacts. Meanwhile, as political leadership increasingly depends on social media platforms, many small communities in the U.S. that cannot afford internet, as well as communities with smaller populations who may not represent a “huge” following on social media, may not experience the same new involvement that other, larger communities do. Because there are so many factors up in that air that social media involvement depends on, it’s imperative these factors are further researched in regard to political involvement, because without political involvement, these communities will not receive the same representation that others do.

Keywords: Political involvement, social media, Twitter

BIO

Chloe Wain is a senior in the Honors Program pursuing majors in Political Science, Editing, Writing, and Media, and Economics with a Humanities minor. She hopes to address criminal and human rights violations through a future public service career as a Public Defender. Chloe was chosen as Florida State University's Student Star, the Charles S. Billings Service Award, and the Humanitarian of the Year Award for the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. With the DeVoe L. Moore Center, Chloe is writing an Honors in the Major Thesis about the City of Tallahassee’s usage of eminent domain through the displacement of working-class, Black neighborhoods. Chloe presented at the Johns Hopkins University Richard Macksey Humanities Symposium in March and will be presenting at the Association for Private Enterprise Education in Las Vegas in April. To develop a holistic approach to indigent representation, she has served as a Trial Intern Investigator with the Public Defender Services for the District of Columbia, an Investigative Intern at the Leon County Public Defender’s Office, and as a Legal Intern at do Campo & Thornton, P.A. in Miami. Chloe currently volunteers with the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights at the College of Law.

A Legal & Economic Analysis of the Expanded Definition of “Public Use” in Eminent Domain Proceedings in Tallahassee, Florida

Abstract

Residential displacement resulting from large public infrastructure projects can lead to the demolition of close-knit, working-class neighborhoods. Such displacement often disproportionately undermines the social and cultural fabrics of historically Black communities. Local and state governments use the right of eminent domain to acquire private property for public purposes, such as infrastructure and economic development projects. Legal precedents show governments are required to follow constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions to protect private property rights through transparency, accountability, and oversight. The research evaluates the following: What are the legal standards, frameworks, and historical precedents for implementing eminent domain practices that result in the displacement of working-class neighborhoods in Tallahassee, Florida? The research compiles eight historical and contemporary legal case briefs to analyze and evaluate legal precedents set by eminent domain policies throughout the years. Five of the briefs are court cases that set legal precedents for constitutional, statutory, and regulatory provisions. Rulings are applied as guidelines to assess three local residential displacements, which occurred as a result of public infrastructure projects in the highly economically segregated city of Tallahassee, Florida. A preliminary legal analysis revealed that more local, state, and federal government transparency, accountability, and oversight is needed to execute measures and policies to protect persons displaced as a result of economic redevelopment projects. Potential public policy recommendations include the development of a dispute-resolution program, Social Impact Assessments, addressing tangible and measurable community benefits, and providing transparency of government procedures.

Keywords: Economics, Eminent Domain, Gentrification, Compensation, Displacement

BIO

Amy is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student doing a dual-degree in Media Communication Studies and Psychology. Her research interests include media psychology, specifically individual media processing on emotional and cognitive levels. She is also interested in the intersections between media processing and cultures. She is currently working in the Nee Lab (Neuroscience) under Dr. Derek Nee, responsible for MRI, fMRI, EEG, and TMS data collection. Throughout her college career, she has worked as a Research Assistant in the FSU Cognition & Emotion Lab under Dr. Russell Clayton, and a DIS student in a Child Psychology Lab. The study she will be presenting is her Honors in The Major Thesis.
Besides research, Amy is also a dedicated student leader. She currently serves as the President of Psi Chi FSU Chapter, the Executive Chair of TEDxFSU, the Service Chair of PERIOD. FSU Chapter, and is an active member of the Garnet & Gold Key Leadership Honorary. She is also a third-year Resident Assistant, and has helped hundreds of students thrive in their first year of college.
In her free time, Amy enjoys doing vocal performance at local/on campus events, painting, performing with the FSU Belly Dance Troupe, and cooking.

Collectivism, Theory of Planned Behavior, & Responses to Ocean-Based Plastic Pollution PSAs

Abstract

The purpose of this Honors in The Major project was two-fold: (1) to investigate the impact of an ocean-based plastic pollution PSA (versus control PSA) on attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions to protect the ocean environment; (2) to examine individual differences in collectivism on message processing of the ocean-based plastic pollution PSA. An experiment was conducted wherein participants were randomly assigned to read an ocean-based plastic pollution PSA (N = 120 undergraduate students) or a control PSA (N = 122 undergraduate students). Self-reported attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intentions, and collectivism were collected from the participants following message exposure. Data analysis revealed that participants in the ocean-based plastic pollution PSA had greater perceived behavioral control, but there were no significant differences on other outcome variables. In addition, collectivism was positively correlated to self-reported greater attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions among participants specifically in the ocean-based plastic pollution PSA condition. This study provides important implications for environmental-message designers to take message content and cultural values/identities into consideration. Limitations of this paper are also discussed.

Keywords: Environment, TPB, Collectivism, Experiment

Keywords: Environment, TPB, Collectivism, Experiment

BIO

Growing up, my family dinners revolved around scientific or historical debates – my father conducted scientific thought experiments while my mother posed questions about the impacts of historical events. That upbringing has impacted every aspect of my life and allowed me to bridge the gap between STEM and Liberal Arts. As an industrial engineering student, I have analyzed current inefficiencies in material cutting technology and my research strives to eliminate that. As a French language student, I can communicate across cultures and borders. Going forward, I hope my career continues to provide me opportunities to problem solve and bridge people and ideas.

Exploring the Impact of Cutting Techniques on CNTy Composites

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT) composites and CNT yarn (CNTy) composites have the potential to produce high strength, lightweight composite materials for aerospace applications. There are issues cutting CNTy composites because of the poor interface between the yarns and the resin matrix, and the weak shear forces in the yarns. This causes delamination and compromises the structural integrity of the composite. This research explores the water jet, nickel bond blade, and sintered bond blade cutting methods to maximize the performance of CNTy composites by determining the least destructive cutting method. Using qualitative analysis with SEM and quantitative analysis with DMA and tensile testing, it was determined that UKAM Industrial Superhard Tool's "15HCU" sintered diamond blade is the best method for cutting CNTy composites and the water jet method is the worst.

Keywords: Carbon Nanotube, Composite, Cutting

BIO

Hello my name is Kayla Potts and I am a Jr participating in UROP. I am so excited to share with everyone my process and thoughts throughout the year. Please stop by.

Investigating the Influence of Comprehension Questions on Readers’ Gaze in Graphic Narratives

Abstract

This study employs eye-tracking technology to investigate visual attention patterns in response to multimedia stimuli, aiming to unravel the factors influencing gaze behavior. Participants will be exposed to a diverse set of multimedia content, including comics, while their eye movements are to be tracked using state-of-the-art eye-tracking equipment. The study incorporates a diverse participant pool to ensure a broad representation of demographic factors. Data analysis involved the examination of fixation durations, saccade patterns, and the identification of regions of interest within the stimuli. We conducted the study and expect to find results that align with previous works with eye tracking in comic book reading. Typically, the average reader, especially one who has never picked up a comic book, will jump from the book at the top left of the page to what seems to be the biggest box or the box with the most eye-popping action, even if it is not the next in chronological order. For our study, since our pool of participants will be random and assorted from various backgrounds, we expect most readers to follow the typical trend seen within parallel studies. This eye-tracking study provides valuable insights into the nuanced ways individuals navigate and engage with multimedia content. Understanding these visual attention patterns can inform content creators, marketers, and designers about optimizing their materials to capture and retain audience attention effectively. The results emphasize the importance of tailoring design elements based on content type to enhance user experience and engagement in digital environments.

Keywords: Eye Tracking Glasses

BIO

Hi! My name is Ella Alfassy and I am a first-year undergraduate student from Marlton, NJ. I am currently studying Cell and Molecular Neuroscience on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track. Throughout my entire life, I have always had a passion for studying how the human brain works, specifically how certain factors influence its development. As someone who one day hopes to have kids of her own, I was particularly fascinated with studying how the absence of parental affirmation shapes adulthood experiences, including adult romantic relationships and personality formation. After hearing many personal narratives, I have gleaned invaluable insights that will not only help me throughout my academic pursuits here at FSU, but also in my future parenting endeavors as well! Outside of research, I enjoy spending time outdoors and doing yoga. I am also an avid member of the Jewish community on campus through participation in Chabad, the Jewish Student Union, and Hillel, which have provided me with immense comfort and connection!

Lack of Affirmation in Childhood and Adult Romantic Relationships

Abstract

The developmental trajectory following early experiences varies among individuals, shaping their psychological well-being into adulthood. The family system, particularly the quality of parent-child relationships, is identified as a pivotal factor in setting the stage for defective paths, leading to psychological vulnerabilities and challenges in adult romantic relationships. A primary goal of this study was to examine individuals’ experiences who have a childhood history of a lack of parental affirmation using deductive qualitative analysis (DQA). DQA is a qualitative research methodology used to evaluate and refine the existing theory. Many of the interviewees experienced a lack of affirmation and many impinging factors on EDD during childhood. In adulthood, the individuals reported many emotional challenges, including negative emotions and emotional immaturity, as well as issues with self-esteem. Within interpersonal relationships, there were shared experiences of behaviors that were motivated by a need for safety. There were also a few parallel patterns between childhood and adulthood observed, including anticipation of relationships and the view of self. Despite this, many individuals displayed resilience. These results highlight how unmet emotional needs in childhood affect personality formation and adulthood experiences, which is meant to raise awareness of the effects of a lack of affirmation on adult romantic relationships and help clinicians develop appropriate treatment plans for their clients with such a history.

Keywords: Developmental Psychology, Parent-child relationship, Attachment, Childhood Trauma, Romantic Relationship Quality

BIO

Harrison Betz is in his final year of undergraduate studies as an International Affairs and Spanish student at Florida State University. In addition to his coursework, Harrison has been involved in various forms of research on Dante Alighieri and contemporary, Latin American receptions of his seminal text, the Divine Comedy. The recent recipient of the SAMLA Undergraduate Essay Award, Harrison also loves good books and coffee; two things he looks forward to a continued relationship with in graduate school.

Adapting Dante's Francesca: Re-imagining a Medieval Epic in Modern Latin America

Abstract

Adaptation has long been in the toolkit of artists of all media. As each source is taken up by a new cohort of adaptors, the time and place from which these adaptations emerge open novel discourses on the original work and the issues raised within it. In this presentation, I review the adaptive process as it develops around the Dantean character Francesca da Rimini (the memorable seductress of “Inferno V”). Specifically, I interrogate the adaptation of Francesca in cross-cultural references to her in Latin American texts and images from the last century. In doing so, I consider the complex relationship between Latin American and global literatures; specifically, how Latin American creators use the figure of Francesca to position themselves in relation to complex worldwide artistic networks. Addressing this question can also help us to contemplate the adaptive process itself and address notions of “global literature” and “postcoloniality.” Ultimately, this project is concerned with how one of the hallmarks of the Italian literary landscape has spread beyond its homeland and the changes it has undergone due to that diffusion.

Keywords: Latin America, Dante, Adaptation Studies, Global Literature

BIO

I am studying Behavioral Neuroscience while pursuing Exercise Physiology as well, in order to study both physical and mental performance in athletes. I am from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and native from Bogota, Colombia.

Narratives Protect against Retrieval Induced-Forgetting of Naturalistic Information​

Abstract

Retrieval practice increases the likelihood of later recalling practiced information. Interestingly, it also affects the likelihood of later recalling unpracticed material. In some instances, this can cause retrieval-induced forgetting (RIFO), which is assumed to be driven by the inhibition of unpracticed items during retrieval practice. In other contexts, retrieval practice can facilitate recall of unpracticed information (retrieval-induced facilitation; RIFA), which is thought to reflect integration at the time of encoding. Here, we asked whether narratives, which promote integration, protect against RIFO using an experimental paradigm with three distinct phases: encoding, retrieval practice, and final test. During encoding, participants viewed naturalistic stimuli that either contained a narrative or did not. We used an unaltered episode of the television show “Seinfeld” as a stimulus in the narrative condition, and an edited version of “Seinfeld” containing scenes from multiple different episodes as a stimulus in the no narrative condition. Retrieval practice was completed for a subset of the scenes immediately after encoding. In the final test stage, they completed either a cued recall task (Experiment 1, 24-hour delay) or a recognition memory task (Experiment 2, 7-day delay). We hypothesized RIFO in the no narrative condition of both experiments, but not in the narrative condition, which would benefit from the protective effects of integration. We found mixed support for these predictions. Narratives did indeed protect against RIFO in the narrative condition when using a recall task (Experiment 1), but not when using a recognition memory task (Experiment 2).

Keywords: Retrieval-Induced Forgetting

BIO

Hi, my name is Louden Masters! I am a sophomore on the Pre-Exercise Physiology major on the Pre-Medical track. I am currently pursuing my dream of becoming a dermatologist. I am from Denver, Colorado and I love to hike and ski. I am an active member of UROP, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Best Buddies, and Phi Delta Epsilon.

Swipe For Heartfelt Connections: An Examination of Physiological Effects of Swiping on Dating Applications

Abstract

As humans, we are driven by a need to connect with others (Maslow, 1943). With the rise of communication technology since the late 20th century, it is easy to connect with people. Technology has rapidly become a main way of forming romantic relationships due to its ability to connect people at any time and place. The growing integration of technology in communication is also evidenced by the regular use of mobile dating applications (MDAs) among adults. While studies have shown why people use online dating applications, few have examined the physiological effects of using a dating application. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH, 2021), increased heart rate and blood pressure can hinder health. Therefore, the goal of this study is to understand how online dating may contribute to changes in physiological health. Data was collected from undergraduate students who were single and had a dating application (N = 30). Participants came to a lab, put on a heart monitor, and their blood pressure was measured. Next participants used a dating application for 15 minutes and then stopped, at which point their blood pressure was measured. Participants blood pressure was also measured at 30 minutes. Heart rate was measured continually throughout the 30-minute experiment. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that swiping right was positively associated with systolic blood pressure at 15 and 30 minutes. Attachment anxiety and avoidance were tested as moderators but were insignificant. Results show that using dating applications has some minor implications for physiological health.

Keywords: Relationships, physiology, psychology, dating

BIO

My name is Gisella David and I am a second-year psychology major from Weston, Florida. My research interests include the onset of Alzheimer's Disease, cognition, close relationships, and social psychology. I aspire to become a licensed psychologist in the future, and would also love to continue conducting research on the side.

The Effect of Sleep on Cognition in Aging Adults

Abstract

Background. Episodic memory and executive functioning are core components of human cognition that are necessary for recollection of events, focus, multi-tasking, and working memory. Sleep quality and age are both important correlates of cognitive functioning; however, their potential interactive effects on cognition are not well understood.
Methods. We completed secondary data analysis of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Wave 2 study (Mean Age = 54.52; N=1,255). Participant demographics and sleep quality were collected via survey, while cognition was assessed via a telephone cognitive assessment. We used hierarchical regression to evaluate whether poor sleep quality would have a greater negative impact on executive functioning and episodic memory in older adults compared to middle-aged adults and younger adults.
Results. Older age was significantly associated with poorer performance on measures of executive functioning and memory; however, there was no direct relationship between sleep quality and cognitive measures. There was also no significant interaction between sleep and age in either cognitive domain. However, there was a non-significant statistical trend for poor sleep quality to have a greater impact on the executive function of younger adults compared to older adults.
Conclusions. This study found that sleep quality was not associated with executive functioning or episodic memory regardless of age. This contradicts former literature, which indicates an association between sleep and cognition and age and cognition. Of note, participants were overall cognitively healthy at baseline, which may have limited our ability to detect a true effect.

Keywords: Psychology, Cognition, Sleep, Aging

BIO

Ann-Marie Gilliam is a sophomore Cell and Molecular Neuroscience student originally from Lexington, South Carolina. She began her research under the guidance of Dr. Marcos Vasconcelos in Fall 2023 through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program and plans to continue her research in quorum sensing. Her academic interests lie in neuroendocrinology and microbial endocrinology, with the career goal of attending dental school and becoming a dentist.

Quorum Sensing and Biofilm Production: Comparing the Efficiencies of AI-1 and AI-2

Abstract

While Quorum Sensing (QS) is performed by virtually all bacteria, the three main classifications of QS pose limitations to different species of bacteria. While primarily Gram-negative bacteria utilize Autoinducer-1 (AI-1) systems and only Gram-positive bacteria utilize Autoinducing Peptide (AIP) systems, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria utilize the Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) systems. We are interested in comparing the efficiencies of AI-1 and AI-2, particularly in the mechanism of biofilm production. Our experimental design consists of a computer-modeled simulation of biofilm production in AI-1 and AI-2, followed by an analysis of the efficiency and stability of the resulting biofilm. We hypothesized that biofilm formation would prove to be most efficient in AI-2 as opposed to AI-1, as AI-2 primarily relies on complex proteins to carry QS signals in and out of cells, reducing the prevalence of transcription errors.

Keywords: Microbiology, Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation

BIO

Hi, I'm Owen. I am a freshman from Milwaukee, WI, majoring in finance and accounting.

Accessibility to Healthcare: Perceived Barriers by Financial Status

Abstract

Almost 20% of adults in the United States are impacted by barriers preventing them from accessing sufficient and affordable healthcare-these consequences are estimated to surpass a cost of $230 billion on an annual basis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). A theory developed by Penchansky and Thomas suggests that this access is reliant on five different dimensions: affordability, accommodation, availability, accessibility, and acceptability (Penchansky/Thomas, 1981). Non-financial obstacles to healthcare (the 4 groups, excluding affordability) have been previously shown to exhibit high prevalence rates, even among those with insurance (Allen, 2017). These barriers are reported to disproportionately affect individuals who also experience financial barriers (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2018).
The study collected data from 269 participants in both urban and rural low socioeconomic settings. REDCap software was used to collect and manage survey data related to patient demographics and healthcare access. The study identifies four different groups in relation to the poverty line for the given area. Group 1 are households in the 0-100% threshold, group 2 being the 100-200%, etc. These different groups were then studied to identify the most significant differences in relation to what barriers they faced while attempting to access healthcare. The findings indicated that cost (p<.001 R=3.7) and transportation (p=.002 R=4.2) were the only statistically significant barriers. However, a key finding is that while distance was not found to be statistically significant among the groups, transportation was. These types of conversations can be had to facilitate better access to healthcare for everyone.

Keywords: Healthcare Finance Access

BIO

My name is Sarah Reed and I am a senior currently majoring in Psychology with a minor in Child Development. My current research interests involve ADHD and other developmental disability interventions. After graduating, I plan to continue my education in School Psychology here at FSU.

The Parental Expectations and Socioeconomic Status of Florida Students with Learning Disabilities and Low Reading Performance

Abstract

We plan to investigate the parental expectations and socioeconomic status (SES) of low readers with and without diagnosed learning disabilities (LD). Past literature suggests parental expectations are lower for children with an LD diagnosis (Taylor et al., 2010). Studies also highlighted that students of high SES are diagnosed more with LDs than lower SES students (Kealy & McLeod, 1976). This poster will use data from the Florida Twin Project that collected information from twin children. Surveys were completed by parents and were linked with student’s state achievement exam scores. Parent expectations were measured by parent reporting of homework expectations and highest education level they expect their child to achieve. SES was measured by parents’ report of total household income and highest level of parent education. Students were grouped into 3 categories: LD (n= 75), low readers without an LD diagnosis (n= 53), and typical readers (n= 926). Those who scored under the 25th percentile of reading without an LD diagnosis, we considered to be our low reader group. These three groups of students were compared to each other on the four measures of parent expectations and SES, using a One-Way ANOVA model. We hypothesize that parent expectations will be lowest in students with an LD diagnosis in comparison to low and typical readers. We also expect to find that SES is lowest in low readers without an LD diagnosis. Learning about trends can help inform society about how parent expectations and SES can translate across students of different reading abilities.

Keywords: Parental Expectations, LD, SES, Reading

BIO

My name is John King and I am from a beautiful small town in New Jersey called Harrington Park. I am currently a sophomore studying and loving Applied Mathematics. Outside of my participation in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, I am a peer tutor at Academic Center for Excellence where I tutor for Chemistry and Math. I hope to continue my learning and education in graduate school and to one day become an undergraduate Mathematics professor.

on Peer Tutors: Their Understanding and Teaching of the Derivative

Abstract

The goal of this project is to describe the mathematical and pedagogical knowledge demonstrated by undergraduate mathematics tutors in the context of Calculus 1 and the derivative concept. Knowledge for teaching, specific to academic subject, has a long research history and this project aims to add to this literature by examining the knowledge of non-traditional educators (i.e., undergraduate students who provide tutoring to other undergraduate students). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four undergraduate students who were currently employed as mathematics tutors at a large research institution in the American Southeast. Using Ball et al.’s (2008) mathematical knowledge for teaching and Zandieh’s (2000) conception of the derivative frameworks as a priori codebooks, interview data were coded for her salient mathematical and pedagogical knowledge. This poster presents the preliminary findings from the analysis of one participant, Hannah who displayed an exemplary ability to communicate her mathematical thinking while continually emphasizing an understanding of underlying conceptual themes.

Keywords: Tutor, Calculus, Derivatives, Mathematics Education

BIO

Lovley Telfair, a second-year junior from Jacksonville, Florida, is pursuing a degree in criminology and philosophy, with a minor in African American studies. With a keen interest in criminal law, Lovley aims to advocate for marginalized communities within the justice system. She is particularly drawn to research on courts, policy, marginalized groups, and education. Lovley's dedication to understanding and addressing societal inequalities underscores her commitment to promoting equity and fairness in the legal system.

North Carolina Teen Court and Recidivism: The Survey Research

Abstract

Teen court is a program that aims to deter juveniles from criminal activity. The program serves as an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system. Juvenile first-time misdemeanor offenders are eligible to participate in teen court in hopes that they will avoid further offenses. This study aims to understand the structure of teen court programs in North Carolina and their impact on recidivism. This study will compare juveniles who completed teen court to juveniles who underwent other diversion programs. This study will also compare recidivism data of juveniles who participated in teen court and juveniles who went through the traditional justice system. This is done through site visits, observations, interviews, and a survey. A survey was created with a careful algorithm and sent to 68 teen courts in North Carolina. The survey will collect data on the type of teen court programs and the sentences typically given. A survey will also be sent to a control group of counties without teen court programs. Through these surveys and observations, we will compare teen court’s impact on recidivism to other diversion methods.

Keywords: Teen Court, Political Science, Law