Undergraduate Scholars Program
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The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) is one of the largest multidisciplinary undergraduate research programs at MSU. We are here to help undergraduate students in all disciplines pursue research, scholarship, and creative projects.
The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) facilitates, supports, and promotes undergraduate research and scholarship by providing funding and logistical support directly to students.
The Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) facilitates, supports, and promotes undergraduate research and scholarship by providing funding and logistical support directly to students.
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Item Is Nuclear Energy the Most Promising Energy Source for a Sustainable Future?(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Kahle, Grant; Gannon, Paul; Catlett, DuaneThe use of nuclear power to produce electricity is a promising source for safe, clean, and reliable energy. Though in the past public opinion has inhibited the growth and success of this electricity source; today, with the pressure of climate change forcing the world to make a lasting change in the way our society generates electricity, nuclear power is the most prominent source for a clean energy future. The first main goal of our research is to gain knowledge to further understand Montana’s public opinion and knowledge of nuclear power, more importantly, the foundation and reasoning for their views. We have conducted a survey that asks whether the respondent is favorable or unfavorable and why they hold that opinion, then whether they feel knowledgeable or unknowledgeable about nuclear power to produce electricity. We have surveyed students at the end of two Montana State University energy and sustainability courses, and in the next semester will conduct the survey in the beginning and end of courses from the science and business backgrounds. The second main goal of our research is to gain an understanding of why nuclear power has such a high price tag associated with it. We are researching the costs through summaries of techno-economic analyses of the construction and operation of previous nuclear power plants. To achieve this goal, we have been in contact with Northwestern Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, NuScale Power, and other sources from the internet. These sources have been gracious enough to share abundant information and data regarding their economic and financial knowledge and research into the field. With this information, a further goal is to identify where nuclear power can decrease costs to make it more economically viable and competitive.Item Hepatic and intestinal responses to antibiotic-arsenic driven sepsis(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Rodini, Andreina L.; Wolfe, Trenton M.; Walk, Seth T.Arsenic is a potent group 1 carcinogen and immunosuppressant. Globally, it is estimated that 200 million people are exposed to unsafe levels in their drinking water. Previous work in the Walk lab has established that in murine models the microbiome is required for full protection against arsenicosis as antibiotic perturbation disrupts this protective mechanism. In epidemiological studies of humans, similarly exposed individuals exhibit high interindividual variability in arsenicosis outcome which is not explained by host genetics alone. We have developed a murine model co-exposed to the third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic cefoperazone and inorganic arsenic which recapitulates this interindividual variability. To the best our of knowledge, this is the only whole-organism arsenicosis model that does so. Currently, the reasons behind the interindividual variability in arsenicosis susceptibility remain unclear. However, recent work in our lab has demonstrated that co-exposed mice that succumb to arsenicosis exhibit altered blood chemistry indicative of liver and kidney dysfunction and decreased white blood cell counts indicative of immune dysfunction. Additionally, these sick mice have ceca with gross anatomical features suggestive of infection. In contrast, co-exposed mice that remain healthy exhibit normal blood chemistry and cecal anatomy. These observations suggest that co-exposed mice are succumbing to sepsis, which is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Current work in our lab is aimed at identifying septic infection through culture-dependent and culture-independent methods, and determining which immune cells are involved.Item Enhancing Language Comprehension in Neurodivergent Children of Rural Communities: A Multimodal Approach(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Hughes, Mackenzie; Modyanova, Nadya; Pliska, Kate; Wave, Kiaya; Storruster, Carter; McCrory, BernadetteThis research investigates the efficacy of incorporating gestures in enhancing language comprehension, particularly of determiners (e.g., “the”), in neurodivergent children from rural communities. Utilizing Electroencephalograms (EEGs) alongside eye-tracking technology, the study aims to provide deeper insights into the cognitive processes involved in language comprehension among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Existing studies highlight EEG abnormalities in neurodivergent children, underscoring the necessity of tailored interventions. However, past research often overlooks non-verbal and partially verbal individuals, particularly in rural areas, exacerbating accessibility barriers. Addressing this gap, our study employs an inclusive approach, involving non-verbal rural participants, to offer a more comprehensive understanding of language comprehension in neurodivergent children. Through the integration of gestures and determiners, the study hypothesizes improved comprehension, especially among children with ASD and younger typically developing (TD) children. Eye tracking complements EEG data, enabling the observation of gaze patterns and correlations with cognitive and language skills. Notably, EEG data analysis aims to identify semantic processing differences and abnormal brain wave patterns, potentially serving as biomarkers for ASD and DLD. This research builds upon previous findings, emphasizing the positive impact of multimodal interventions on language comprehension. Collaborative efforts with experienced researchers and utilization of innovative technologies enhance the study's robustness and potential for real-world application. Ultimately, this study aims to inform the development of effective interventions tailored to the unique needs of neurodivergent children in rural communities, thereby improving their quality of life and fostering inclusive practices in language development research and intervention. Data collection and analysis is ongoing, and future results will be reviewed.Item Sampling Bounds for Topological Descriptors(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Fasy, Brittany; Millman, David; Micka, Samuel; Padula, Luke; Makarchuk, MaksymIncreasingly, topological descriptors like the Euler characteristic curve and persistence diagrams are utilized to represent complex data. Recent studies suggest that a meticulously selected set of these descriptors can encode geometric and topological information about shapes in d-dimensional space. In practical applications, epsilon-nets are employed to sample data, presenting two extremes: oversampling, where epsilon is small enough to ensure a comprehensive representation but may lead to computational inefficiencies, and undersampling, where epsilon lacks a grounded rationale, offering faster computations but risking an incomplete shape description without theoretical guarantees. This research investigates phenomena of oversampling and undersampling, delving into their prevalence across synthetic and real-world datasets. It experimentally verifies excessive oversampling in theory-guided approaches and examines the implications of undersampling, shedding light on the behavior and consequences of both extremes. We establish lower bounds on the number of descriptors required for exact encodings and explore the trade-offs associated with undersampling, contributing insights into the potential information loss and the resulting impact on the overall shape representation.Item An Analysis of Organic Ice Patch Materials(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) King, Colin M.; Dersam, Scott; Lee, Craig M.; Puesman, KathrynIce patches are a unique source of information that can be used to infer past environments. With support from the Matthew Hansen Endowment for Wilderness Studies, and the Beartooth Environmental Alpine Archaeological Research Group, I was able to participate in two archaeological surveys of ice patches in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2023. While both surveys were compromised by late lying snow, one resulted in the identification of non-rooted—and likely non-cultural—wood in association with two ice patches. Examination of Google Earth imagery indicates the presence of two small ice cores; a ca. 15 m long transverse core, as well as a less defined 10 m lateral core of ice in this location. The ice patch was identified by Lee’s 2019 revised assessment of snow and ice for the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee (GYCC) as “SB1_A.” With additional support from Montana State University’s Undergraduate Scholars Program, I was able to submit samples of the three collected specimens to Paleoscapes Archaeobotanical Services Team (PAST) for genus and composition analysis. PAST’s analysis suggests that two of the samples (1A and 2A) are consistent with Picea (spruce). The composition of the samples appears to be similar, and macroscopic observations suggest they are likely fragments of branches. The third sample (3A) is a species of Abies (fir), with the generally smaller size of the tracheids suggesting it is from a branch. With the financial support noted above, a fragment of the spruce and fir were submitted for radiocarbon analysis, the result of which will be compared to extant reports on dated wood from other ice patches in the Rocky Mountains.Item Investigating the Mechanism of Novel Anti-CRISPR in Type I-E CRISPR System(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Vierra, Kaiya; Burman, Nathaniel; Wilkinson, Royce; Wiedenheft, BlakeViruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) are the most abundant biological entity on earth, causing more than10^23 infections every second. As a result of this predation, prokaryotes have evolved diverse defense systems, including CRISPRs (Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeat), which use RNA-guided protein complexes to seek and destroy viral nucleic acids, blocking infection. In response, bacteriophages have evolved countermeasures called Anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins that block host immunity and rescue infection. Acrs are diverse and studies suggest that there is a unique Acr adapted to block most, if not all subclasses of CRISPR systems. Here we present our investigation of a novel Acr that inhibits a Type I-E CRISPR complex termed CASCADE. To provide a molecular understanding of how AcrIE9 blocks CASCADE-mediated defense, we have employed Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), a cutting-edge structural biology technique.Item Maternal and Pediatric Oral Health: Impact of Social Determinants(Undergraduate Scholars Prorgam, 2024-04) Ludwig, Margaret; Moyce, SallyPrevious research has determined a definitive relationship between maternal oral health and hygiene and pediatric health. This has especially been investigated in the context of pediatric oral health; it has been found that maternal oral health can serve as a direct predictor of whether a child will develop early childhood caries due to colonization of maternal cariogenic bacteria. It has also been shown that maternal oral health can predict whether children will struggle with caries in adulthood. This finding demands the question of how directly maternal oral health predicts pediatric outcomes. How much of an influence does maternal oral health have upon pediatric health and wellbeing, and how influential are social determinants of health upon these outcomes? This project consisted of a comprehensive literature review examining the impact of a mother’s oral health on the overall health of her children. Studies were chosen for review on the basis of their focus upon mothers in the United States, and upon their discussion of social determinants of health which could impact maternal oral health. The findings of this literature review revealed that social determinants of health such as medical inequality, social status, discrimination, income, and education level have the potential to impact maternal oral health and therefore pediatric health. The implications of these findings are broad and could catalyze improvements within healthcare, education, and policy in Montana and across the United States.Item Creating a Hydraulic Vulnerability Curve for Two-Year Old Ponderosa Pine Seedlings(Montana State University, 2023-11) Kincy, Sarah; Hoy-Skubik, Sean; Ulrich, Danielle E. M.Anthropogenic driven climate change and subsequent drought conditions have negatively affected limber pine and ponderosa pine forests through mass mortality events, jeopardizing the future of these species and the overall health of montane and subalpine ecosystems. Hydraulic failure is pervasive in tree mortality caused by drought, and results in the loss of conductivity of the xylem through embolism. Complete hydraulic failure is likely not necessary for tree mortality; therefore, quantifying the levels of xylem percent loss of conductivity (PLC) associated with tree death is important for understanding and predicting landscape scale patterns of tree mortality. Hydraulic vulnerability curves can be utilized to quantify the percent loss of conductivity in the xylem at a given water potential, which can then be used to predict the lethal threshold for the species. We’ve created three hydraulic vulnerability curves, one found from limber pine leaves, one from limber pine stems, and one from ponderosa pine stems. These were created by measuring the water potential and PLC of 30 two-year old seedlings having undergone different levels of water stress, ranging from no stress to severe water stress. The lethal threshold for hydraulic failure on the curves were determined using logistic regression. These curves can be utilized to predict landscape scale mortality events of limber pine and ponderosa pine colonies due to ongoing water stress, and ultimately help to conserve and protect these species from future drought conditions.Item Using Photos to Improve the College Experience of Indigenous BSN Students(2023-04) Holt, NicolePurpose: To improve the enrollment, retention, and well-being of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students pursuing degrees in nursing through an environmental intervention to reduce cultural mismatch and highlight AI/AN nurses through history. Background: Enrollment of American Indian students in higher education has historically been low. Currently, around 19% of American Indian students enroll in college, while 42% of white students enroll. The population is affected by this lack of education by having the highest poverty rates of any race group. Of the 19% of American Indian students that enroll in college, only a small number graduate. Dropout rates are high among native students due to cultural mismatch, finances, and a lack of representation and cultural understanding at their universities. It is important to explore a variety of environmental approaches to address the obstacles to AI/AN students completion of the 4-year degree. Methods: The display will be in a location that nursing students will pass by frequently, which will help foster a sense of belonging among AI/AN students. Results: Copyright for photos of the nurses will be gained for educational purposes, and the photos will be displayed in the building that houses the Mark & Robyn Jones College of Nursing. Photos in the display will include nurses Elizabeth Sadoques (Abenaki), Virginia Rosebud Sneed Dixon (Cherokee), and Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail (Apsáalooke/Crow), among others. This project is a part of the (Caring for Our Own Program, which has been successful in increasing the enrollment and retention of AI/AN students. The goal of this project will be to continue to increase enrollment and retention but also to improve the well-being of AI/AN students, and then AI/AN communities. Implications: Most native students come from one of the seven American Indian reservations in Montana, and when they graduate, many will return to their communities for their careers. When the students serve their community through nursing, they also serve as role models for younger generations. This will likely encourage children to pursue nursing in college, increasing enrollment. Because they have role models from their communities, these students will likely graduate, increasing retention. Putting up the display is a relatively short-term project, but the effects will be long-lasting.Item Oral Health Education Through Illustration(Montana State University, 2022-04) Holt, NicoleAmerican Indian preschool children experience almost three times the rate of untreated decay as children from other groups. There are many aspects to this problem but among them is the slow arrival of information to rural and remote areas. GoodHealthTV (GHTV) is designed to address this information gap and equip parents and families with information to improve overall oral health literacy and confidence in pursuing treatments for their loved ones. This project will consist of two parts; the first is the creation of scientific illustrations explaining a new dental procedure, and the second part is a survey measuring the effectiveness of the illustrations. Broadcasting high-quality information using the GHTV Network depends on strong communication skills, which will be demonstrated through the illustrations. The illustrations will depict complicated chemical processes in a way that benefits the lay audience member. GHTV provides healthcare information to waiting-room patients in 48 Montana IHS clinics. The scientific illustrations will show how silver diamine fluoride (SDF) acts on the tooth so that people will be more likely to allow dental hygienists to use SDF on their children’s teeth. Illustrations will be paired with voice-over text, music, and live footage to create a quality production for statewide viewership. While the drawings are being aired on GHTV in the IHS clinics, surveys will be given to viewers to measure the effectiveness of the illustrations. If the illustrations are effective, parents will have an increased understanding of how SDF works and confidence in electing this new treatment.