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TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program

Eastern Washington University

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Ashley Destin

13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works Symposium

06/08/2022 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

13 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2022 Student Research & Creative Works SymposiumOn May 11, EWU held the 2022 Student Research and Creative Works Symposium. The Symposium has been held virtually for the last two years, and being back in person allowed for a different level of engagement as scholars discussed their research (both proposed and completed) with fellow students, faculty, and the EWU community. Many scholars shared their work in poster format in the PUB, while others had the opportunity to give longer talks to packed classrooms. McNair scholars shared their experiences with us for this article.

 

Graduating McNair scholar Lucia Roussa:

After a long couple of years of virtual meetings it was really nice to see all of the other student projects in one room. It felt so rewarding that so many people were interested in my research. Poster sessions are really great because they allow people to take in the information at their own pace. I had people leave and come back with more questions, which tells me that they were thinking about my poster even after they left! I really enjoyed being a part of an energetic room of student researchers.

New McNair scholar Alexander Dodson:

Presenting at Eastern Washington University's Research and Creative Works Symposium was an amazing opportunity. Everyone was super kind and excited for me to tell them about the research I am doing. I would recommend everyone attend or present at the symposium!

New McNair scholar Arcelia Madrigal:

I loved presenting at the symposium because it was a lot more personal since I had my professors and friends visit my poster. I was able to see the creative work of those in my community.

The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU is to increase diversity in academia by supporting first-generation and low-income and/or students underrepresented at the graduate level who plan to go on to earn a PhD. When scholars from diverse backgrounds become leaders in their fields, they bring forth exciting and relevant research questions. They grow to be role-models, increasing both representation and opportunities for future students. The 13 McNair scholars who presented at the symposium reflect the many different areas of study where our scholars are gaining expertise.

 

  • Christina Hudson with Travis Bonwell, Joscelyn Bradbury, and Jenna Sotin, with mentor Lynn Briggs, Transforming Yourself Through English
  • Ashley Destin with mentor Judd Case, Feline Red Blood Cell Shape and the Impacts of Cytauxzoonosis
  • Badradin Mohammed with mentor Kristin Edquist, Water Politics: A Case Study of Hydro Politics Among Nile River Stakeholders
  • Alexander Dodson, with Kelton Earl, and Shawn Stevens, with mentor Amani El-Alayli, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others
  • Serena Camacho with mentor Camille Frank, Understanding the Role Gender Might be Playing in Your Child's ASD Evaluation
  • Saul Bautista with mentor Joseph Lenti, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion
  • Lucy Roussa with mentors Jessica Allen and Camille McNeely, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts
  • Arcelia Madrigal and Kathleen Waldron-Soler with mentor Susan Ruby, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components
  • Haili Poss with mentor Jill Seiver, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work
  • Malek Chreiki with mentor Jason Ashley, Design and Delivery of Gamma-Retroviral CRISPR Plasmids
  • Marisa Janke with mentor Kevin Decker, Actualization through Constraint: an Analysis of Hegelian Self-Consciousness in Fascism-Exclusionary Expression and in Modular Orchestral Composition
  • Irie Browning with mentor Kevin Decker, The Necessary Passion of Religion in Hegel and Kierkegaard
  • Katie Gower with mentors Vandana Asthana and Matthew Anderson, Policy & Practice: Investigating Homelessness Discourse in Spokane, Washington 

We are consistently impressed with the breadth and depth EWU’s McNair scholars bring to their research, and we look forward to experiencing the impact of their work!

 

Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work
Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work.
Badradin Mohammed presents his research proposal poster, Water Politics: A Case Study of Hydro Politics Among Nile River Stakeholders
Badradin Mohammed presents his research proposal poster, Water Politics: A Case Study of Hydro Politics Among Nile River Stakeholders.
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components.
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components.
Katie Gower presents her research, Policy & Practice: Investigating Homelessness Discourse in Spokane, Washington.
Katie Gower presents her research, Policy & Practice: Investigating Homelessness Discourse in Spokane, Washington.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Malek Chreiki presents his research proposal poster, Design and Delivery of Gamma-Retroviral CRISPR Plasmids
Malek Chreiki presents his research proposal poster, Design and Delivery of Gamma-Retroviral CRISPR Plasmids
Serena Camacho presents her research poster, Understanding the Role Gender Might be Playing in Your Child's ASD Evaluation.
Serena Camacho presents her research poster, Understanding the Role Gender Might be Playing in Your Child's ASD Evaluation.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Christina Hudson presents her research poster, Transforming Yourself Through English.
Christina Hudson presents her research poster, Transforming Yourself Through English.
Ashley Destin presents her research poster, Feline Red Blood Cell Shape and the Impacts of Cytauxzoonosis.
Ashley Destin presents her research poster, Feline Red Blood Cell Shape and the Impacts of Cytauxzoonosis.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Saul Bautista presents his research proposal poster, Honduran Tribes and their Historical Erosion.
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components
Arcelia Madrigal presents her research poster, An Analysis of Character: Strong’s PurposeFull People Program Components.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Lucia Roussa presents her research poster, Freshwater Sponges in Eastern Washington: Environmental Constraints, Species Composition, and Associated Photobionts.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Alexander Dodson presents his research poster, Potential Effects of the American and Pride Flag on Our Judgments of Others.
Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work
Haili Poss presents her research proposal poster, Sex Guilt and Attitudes towards Sex Work.

Filed Under: 2020-2021 Cohort, 2021-2022 Cohort, 2021-22 Presentations, Africana Studies, Alexander Dodson, Arcelia Madrigal, Ashley Destin, Badradin Mohammed, Biology, Chemistry, Christina Hudson, English, Environmental Science, Haili Poss, History, International Affairs, Irie Browning, Katie Gower, Lucia Roussa, Malek Chreiki, Marisa Janke, McNair Mentors, Mentor, News, Philosophy, Psychology, Research, Saul Bautista, Scholars, Serena Camacho Tagged With: EWU McNair Faculty Mentor, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, EWU Student Research & Creative Works Symposium, Presentations, Undergraduate Research

EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin Completes Summer Research Internship

11/05/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin participated in two Summer Research Internship projects.EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin has had the opportunity to participate in two research projects during her time with McNair, both with Dr. Judd Case. While each research project was very different from the other, both align with Ashley’s passion for improving targeted care for cats. She notes that much of what we know about cats now comes from research done with other animals. Ashley’s mission is to shift the focus to the cats themselves, contributing to our understanding of cats and improving the ways we care for them.

For Ashley’s first research project Size Scaling in the Skull of North American Felids as Adaptations for Prey Acquisition, she and Dr. Case measured close to 50 felid skulls. Ashley worked with a local large cat rescue, Cat Tales Wildlife Center, and was able to include data on a mountain lion and an African lion. Despite some limitations on the project due to COVID-19, Ashley was proud to present research at multiple virtual conferences.

Ashley’s second research project with Dr. Case, Feline Red Blood Cell Shape and the Impacts of Cytauxzoonosis, was even more influenced by COVID-19. Initially, the plan was to research feline anemia, comparing humans and healthy cats. Unable to acquire the blood samples that they had lined up, the project changed significantly. What they did notice while looking into anemia was a variation in the blood cell shape within the felid family, which led them down an entirely different research path. While well-noted, the shape variation hasn’t been studied extensively. The rest of the project was spent looking at a parasite that uses these blood cells to proliferate and cause severe infection in domestic cats. COVID-19 protocols didn’t directly affect this phase of research, yet it’s the reason they ended up focused on this specific issue.

This research is ongoing, as Ashley and Dr. Case continue to look at other blood parasites to see if a trend appears. There is currently very little research into the blood cell shape variation and the possible impacts to cat care. Ashley is looking at taking this project to graduate school. Understanding the variation and its impacts has the potential to improve how we care for our cats.

Ashley has this advice for undergraduate researchers in her field:

Be flexible, but don’t give up on what you really want. Science is a big enough field that it’s possible to study what you want, it might just take some weaving to find your way there.

Filed Under: 2019-2020 Cohort, 2020 Summer McNair Research Internships, 2020-2021 Cohort, 2021 McNair Summer Research Internship, Ashley Destin, Biology, McNair Mentors, Mentor, News, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Biology, cat care, Cat Tales Wildlife Center, Dr. Judd Case, EWU McNair Faculty Mentor, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, EWU Summer Research Internship, Mentor

12 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

10/27/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

12 McNair Scholars Present at  EWU’s 2021 CSTEM and McNair Spring Research SymposiumIn June 2021, EWU held the CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium. This online event offered a chance for McNair scholars to present their research, as well as attend the Social Justice in Research Panel of EWU McNair alumni now working in academics and education. 

The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU is to increase diversity in academia by supporting first-generation and low-income and/or racially under-represented students in higher education who want to go on to earn a PhD. 

When scholars from diverse backgrounds become leaders in their fields, they bring forth exciting and relevant research questions. They grow to be role-models, increasing both representation and opportunities for future students. The 12 McNair current and former scholars who presented at the symposium reflect the many different areas of study where our scholars are gaining expertise. Breakout rooms focused on topics including Prairie Restoration, Social Sciences and Humanities, Fisheries and Water Science, Material Science, Regional Ecology, Microbiome, Disease Ecology and COVID, and Computation and Modeling. Presenters included:

Seth McCullough Effect of Biochar Additions in Palouse Prairie Restoration on Several Soil Perimeters 

Rachael Pentico Plant Soil Feedbacks Vary with Aspect in Palouse Prairie Remnants 

Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Diaz Indentured Servitude in the 21st Century? A Case Study on Agricultural Labor Employment 

Theresa Lee Prisoner Reentry: College Perceptions of Reentry Barriers in a Northwest Community 

Alexandria Coronado Impacts of COVID-19 on Food and Housing Student Resources at Universities in State of Washington 

Lizeth Bañuelos Latinx First-Generation Students’ Academic Experience: The Role of Institutional Supports During a Pandemic 

Christina Hudson The Characterization of African Religions 

Mori Williams Nutrient Concentration for Cyanotoxins at Turnbull  & Henry’s Law Constant for Chloroform and Deuterated Chloroform 

Lucy Roussa Freshwater Algae of Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge 

Ashley Destin Size Scaling in the Skull of North American Felids as Adaptations for Prey Acquisition 

Nyibol Thareek Mitochondrial excitability and its ability to support waves of calcium 

Aulane Mpouli Molecular Dynamic Simulation Study of ITPA-ITP Protein-Ligand Complex 

We are consistently impressed with EWU’s McNair scholars and we look forward to experiencing the impact of their work!

Filed Under: 2018-2019 Cohort, 2019-2020 Cohort, 2020-2021 Cohort, 2020-21 Presentations, 2021-22 Presentations, Africana Studies, Alexandria Coronado, Alexis Guizar-Diaz, Alumni, Ashley Destin, Aulane Mpouli, Biology, Chemistry, Christina Hudson, Environmental Science, Lizeth Banuelos, Lucia Roussa, Mori Williams, News, Nyibol Thareek, Rachael Pentico, Research, Scholars, Seth McCullough, Sociology and Criminal Justice, Theresa Lee

EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin Awarded Marjorie Benedict-Holman Scholarship

09/29/2021 by Liina Koivula Leave a Comment

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin! Ashley has been awarded the Marjorie Benedict-Holman Scholarship. The scholarship benefits undergraduate single parents.

 

Currently, Ashley is finishing a Biology major at Eastern Washington University. She recently completed research on Size Scaling in the Skull of North American Felids as Adaptations for Prey Acquisition with Dr. Judd A. Case. This comparative study explores the relationship between skull morphology and general body size among felids (house cat, lynx, puma), mustelids (minks, weasels, badgers), and canids (foxes, coyotes, wolves); with a focus on North American felids, as it relates to prey acquisition. Ashley is pursuing her dream of studying domestic cats, and cats as a whole. This scholarship will allow her to present early research on tick transmitted parasites and feline red blood cells.

EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin Awarded Marjorie Benedict-Holman Scholarship

Filed Under: 2020-2021 Cohort, 2020-21 Awards, 2021-22 Awards, Acceptances/Awards, Ashley Destin, Biology, Research Tagged With: Biology, Dr. Judd A. Case, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, Marjorie Benedict-Holman Scholarship

EWU McNair Scholars Present at Murdock College Science Research Conference 2020

01/27/2021 by Jaeger, Corinne Leave a Comment

Murdock College Science Research Conference 2020

Despite COVID-19, EWU McNair Scholars have persisted through their virtual research internships during the summer of 2020 and continued to present their research throughout the year. This last fall, two EWU McNair Scholars presented at the Murdock College Science Research Conference. This Northwest specific undergraduate conference focuses on sharing and advancing new knowledge in the natural sciences created or discovered through collaborative faculty-student research. Attendance at this conference is by invitation only. The two presentations from our McNair Scholars were:

 

Rachael Pentico Research 2020
Ashley Destin Research 2020

Rachael is now hard at work completing her graduate school applications. Ashley will continue on another year in her studies and apply to graduate school in the fall of 2021. We're so excited for both of these scholars and their next steps towards attaining their PhDs!

Filed Under: 2019-2020 Cohort, 2020-21 Presentations, Ashley Destin, Biology, McNair Mentors, Mentor, Rachael Pentico, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Conferences, Dr. Judd A. Case, Dr. Rebecca Brown, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar

EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin Completes Summer Research Internship

11/18/2020 by Jaeger, Corinne 2 Comments

Ashley Destin Research 2020

Congratulations EWU McNair Scholar Ashley Destin for completing her EWU McNair Summer Research Internship! Ashley conducted her research on statistical evaluations of skull measurements within and between the three selected North American carnivore groups under the mentorship of Professor Dr. Judd Case in Department of Biology. She measured skulls and looked their size correlation with the body size of possible prey. Many thanks to Dr. Case for his outstanding mentorship. Read more about Ashley's research on her EWU McNair webpage!

 

Ashley is now hard at work preparing for both Veterinary and graduate school, which she plans to apply for next fall. Keep up the exceptional work Ashley! EWU McNair is confident that you will succeed in graduate school and beyond!

Filed Under: 2019-2020 Cohort, 2020 Summer McNair Research Internships, Ashley Destin, Biology, McNair Mentors, Research, Scholars Tagged With: Ashley Destin, Biology, Dr. Judd Case, EWU McNair Program, EWU McNair Scholar, EWU Summer Research Internship, Felids, Undergraduate Research

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