Oral presentations, session I

Featured presentation

Olin Auditorium (Session A)

"Transgender and Lutheran: A Journey of Self-Acceptance"
Presented by Stephanie Dykes

The presenter will describe her decades - long process of reconciling her identity as a Lutheran and her identity as a transgender woman. There will be opportunities for questions throughout the presentation and at the end of the presentation.

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Physics and Engineering

Olin 209 (Session C)

"Development and Testing of Silicon Photomultipliers Using Cosmic Ray Detection"
Physics
Presented by Luke Dalzell and Hanna Gebremariam
Project advisor: Dr. Nathan Frank

The goal of this project, conducted in collaboration with the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University, was to develop and test Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) to enhance fast-neutron detection. SiPMs, known for their high sensitivity, were calibrated and tested to determine their optimal breakdown voltage and efficiency using an LED light driver. To evaluate their detection capabilities, SiPMs were coupled with a 25 x 25 x 5 cm³ scintillator to record cosmic ray interactions. Simulations modeled photon interactions to support data interpretation, while analysis with CERN ROOT software provided insights into SiPM performance.

"Nonlocal control of time-energy entangled photons in the optics lab at Augustana"
Physics
Presented by Rukkus Hunkins
Project advisors: Dr.  James Van Howe and Dr. Cecilia Vogel

In this presentation, I will show progress on a project making nonlocal measurements on time-energy(color) entangled photons in the optics lab at Augustana. Nonlocality is the effect that Einstein famously called “spooky action at a distance” to try to discredit the validity of the quantum nature of reality. By selecting a range of possible colors on one photon of a time-energy entangled pair in our lab, we automatically select the range of colors on its entangled twin, even though it is physically disconnected in space (nonlocally). I will show current results on my experiment and predictions from numerical simulations. 

"Autonomous Driving Vehicle Tugger"
Engineering
Presented by Benjamin Schultz, Josh Woodrey, Nathan Melby, Andy Nguyen
Project advisors: Mike Augspurger, Joshua Dyer, Mike Carlson

Our group has been working on a self-driving vehicle that can withstand a load of 1000 lbs. Our goal was to create a physical concept that provides future groups with the foundation to construct their own autonomous vehicle. We have provided a small prototype that uses small ultrasonic sensors to detect motion in front of the prototype. We have also provided a demonstration of our code that demonstrates what our lidar sensors are seeing. 

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Honors

Hanson 102 (Session D)

"Honors 102 Changes Your Mind"
Honors program
Presented by Honors students from FYH 102
Project advisors: Dr. Brian Leech, Dr. Dell Jensen, Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, Dr. Andrea Talentino

The students of Honors 102 will try to change your mind! Students in Honors 102: What Changes Minds have selected social issues that affect people on campus and in the Quad Cities. Their goal is to convince people, including you, to care about these issues and to take action. At this series of presentations students will pitch both a community panel of external evaluators and our campus community with their plans to change minds. Come get convinced!

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Texas Medical Center

Old Main 132 (Session G)

"Examining the roles of CCND1 mutants found in NF1-low ER+ metastatic breast cancer"
Texas Medical Center
Presented by Caitlyn Collier
Project advisors: Dr. Storl, Dr. Eric Chang (Baylor College of Medicine)

CCND1 encodes cyclin D1, which plays a major role in driving the progression of cells from G1 phase into S phase by binding to CDK4. The activated cyclin-D-Cdk4 complex then phosphorylates the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) causing temporary deactivation and cell cycle progression. Estrogen receptor α (ERα) binds the CCND1 locus and promotes CCND1 transcription, causing an upregulation of the CDK4/6-Rb pathway. The amplification of CCND1 thus causes uncontrolled cell proliferation. Endocrine therapy inhibits ER signaling, and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole, are common treatment agents. However, resistance to these treatments is a key concern. Recent unpublished studies from the Chang lab found that ER+ breast cancer cells with depleted levels of NF1 exhibit even higher levels of CCND1 expression and CDK4/6 activity, as well as an increased sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors. To better understand the correlation between NF1 and CDK4/6-Rb pathway activity and determine if these proteins function coordinately, Dr. Chang’s lab surveyed metastatic ER+ patient cohorts looking for genetic alterations that co-occur with NF1 alterations. They found amplifications and mutations of CCNDs and CDK4/6. CCND1 mutation changing a Ser at position 258 to a Gly (CCND1-S258G) was one of the mutations selected for my study because transient overexpression of the mutant promoted growth of a parental ER+ breast cancer MCF-7 cell line better than wild-type CCND1 in estrogen-deprived medium. As part of this study, I built cell lines stably overexpressing either wild-type or CCND1-S258G to be utilized for cell growth and drug assays. 

"Validating differentially expressed genes in Ornithodoros turicata during Borrelia turicatae infection"
Texas Medical Center
Presented by Morgan Buchek
Project advisor: Job Lopez

Relapsing fever (RF) is an arthropod-borne illness in humans caused by several Borrelia bacteria species that cause fevers, aches, fatigue, and headaches. If left untreated, relapsing fever has a mortality rate of 10% in adults and 40% for newborns and can lead to severe complications. Soft ticks are one of several arthropod vectors able to transmit RF Borrelia. Recent work in understanding the vector-pathogen interactions has included sequencing of the soft tick Ornithodoros turicata transcriptome during Borrelia turicatae infection, which indicates that B. turicatae colonization of O. turicata causes changes in tick gene expression. To validate the results of RNA sequencing, we designed and optimized primers for several O. turicata genes that showed significant up or downregulation between infected and uninfected tick samples. All our primers showed amplification of the genes with O. turicata cDNA. Additionally, there was no amplification in the presence of Borrelia gDNA, indicating no off-target interactions. All primers were optimized to work at 60˚C and forward and reverse primer concentrations of 400 nM and 300 nM, respectively. After optimization, the next step is to perform qPCR with our primers to quantify gene expression. Determining how B. turicatae colonization affects tick gene expression will help to understand the host-pathogen interactions and how this impacts bacterial persistence and host specificity.

"Microglia phagocytic activity: a potential regulator of vascular development"
Texas Medical Center
Presented by Kira Nelson
Project advisor: Dr. Heidi Storl

Microglia are immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that serve many important roles. Notably, they induce regulation of vasculature development in part through their phagocytic activity. This vascular–microglia interaction is important because the vasculature delivers all nutrients to the CNS. However, the timing, nature, and location of microglia phagocytic properties in relation to the vascular development patterning and organization remain unclear. To address this question, I focused on the developing wild type murine retina, which contains microglia and has a tri laminated intra retinal vasculature. To compare developing versus mature microglia-vasculature interactions, I examined microglia phenotypes at P3, a time period when the superficial vasculature is actively growing, and P15, a time point when the vasculature is mature. I analyzed microglia phagocytic markers–including soma size, lysosomal protein CD68, and compared the number of perivascular to parenchyma microglia. I found that microglia at P3 had a higher level of phagocytic properties. In particular, microglia at P3 exhibited a larger soma size and higher CD68 fluorescence per cell than microglia at P15. Furthermore, the total number of microglia was higher at P3 than at P15, while the number of vascular associated microglia was higher than parenchymal microglia at both time points. These findings coincide with previous research findings regarding microglia-vascular interactions and indicate increased phagocytic activity during vascular development. Together, this data indicates that microglia phagocytosis is primed to impact vascular development and perhaps function which have implications for vascular associated neuronal disorders.

"Characterizing Swallowing Using Imaging in Patients Treated Surgically for Brain Tumors Arising from the Central Nervous System (CNS)"
Texas Medical Center
Presented by Abigail Jones
Project advisor: Dr. Heidi Storl

Primary brain tumors are a rare disease arising from the central nervous system that contribute to 2% of all cancer diagnoses, with the most common treatment being surgical resection. Surgery involving the brain includes invasive removal of brain tissue which lead to many adverse effects,including swallowing difficulty, or dysphagia. The Dynamic Imagining Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) is a validated tool that uses a rubric and decision tree to grade safety and efficiency of swallowing based on the results of a modified barium swallow study (MBS). MBS is a videofluroscopic procedure that examines the severity of swallowing impairment and evaluates the structural and functional qualities of a swallow. DIGEST has routinely been used at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in CNS cancers but has yet to be validated in brain tumors. The objective of this study was to characterize swallowing patterns in patients treated surgically for brain tumors in the CNS. This is a retrospective cohort study analyzing patients with primary brain tumors that were referred for swallowing evaluation pre- and/or post-operatively at MDACC from 2016-2021. Characterization measurements included DIGEST, International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), and demographic data retrieved from the electronic health record (EHR). 31 patients with a median age of 55 were analyzed after swallowing referral pre- and/or post-brain tumor resection. Based on this cohort, there were more high-grade efficiency impairment than safety in non- GBM tumors which may be due to more challenges in motor planning and timing of swallowing than weak pharyngeal contraction. MBS is a useful tool to evaluate swallowing and assess swallowing severity in pre/post-operative brain tumor resection.

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Creative Writing

Black Box, Brunner Theatre (Session H)

"Prose and Cons: A Creative Writing Reading"
Creative Writing
Presented by Zach Blair, Lauren Dickinson, Lexi Golab, Skylar Guarini, Deayden Jackson, Dante Rinaldi, Aidan Smith, Lainey Terfruchte, Caleb Zamecnik, Charlie Zielinski
Project advisor: Dr. Kelly Daniels

Every year, the creative writing seniors put on a reading to showcase their work. This is a generally well-attended event at the Celebration of Learning and is not only an opportunity for seniors to present their work, but also supports the arts community on campus. The event allows underclassmen in the creative writing field to see their peers present and look forward to the opportunity to do the same themselves. 

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Political Science, Economics, Biology

Olin 305 (Session J)

"Can God Save These Honorable Courts: Efforts to Shape the Supreme Court by Republican Presidents During the Civil Rights Era"
Political Science
Presented by DJ Roberts
Project advisor: Dr. Paul Baumgardner

This paper investigates the differing political motivations and successes of presidents Eisenhower and Nixon through their appointments of justices to the Supreme Court. Both presidents had the opportunities to appoint a significant number of justices to the court during their respective terms, yet each president faced their own difficulties with the process and consequences of their appointments. Eisenhower appointed justices whom he felt did not properly act as he believed they should act and Nixon faced great opposition from the senate for his appointments which led to a dilution of his judicial goals. By incorporating evidence from both contemporary literature on their processes of appointments and by utilizing memos, interviews, and speeches from their administrations, this paper seeks to demonstrate how the two presidents differed in their approaches and evaluate whether they were successful in achieving their proposed judicial goals. This paper argues that despite the many obstacles both presidents faced and in spite of their own attitudes, both presidents had appointed Supreme Court justices that influenced the court in a way that was beneficial towards the ideologies and goals of their respective presidents.

"The Effect of Female President on Women's Wellbeing: Evidence from Nepal"
Economics
Presented by Krisha Silwal
Project advisor: Dr. Rajan Bishwakarma

Despite making up over half of Nepal’s population, women remain underrepresented in political leadership, resulting in disparities in well-being and opportunity. This research investigates the impact of electing Nepal’s first female president on women’s outcomes, focusing on political involvement, labor force participation, and intimate partner violence. Drawing on four rounds of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data, this study analyzes spatial and temporal variations in these outcomes and examines whether improvements occurred after the election compared to control groups. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach, the project provides empirical evidence on how female political leadership can shape women’s lives. The findings contribute to broader conversations about gender equity, political inclusion, and the potential of representation to foster development and social change.

"Socioeconomic Influences on Maternal and Infant Health: Insights from Lived Experiences in the Quad Cities"
Biology and Center for the Advancement of Community Health and Wellness
Presented by Selgelia Okine and Americus Mahatshahi
Project advisors: Dr. Kimberly Murphy and Peyton Heisch

Medicine has helped identify key indicators of life-threatening maternal and infant risk factors, such as preeclampsia, postpartum depression, and gestational diabetes. However, understanding the factors contributing to these conditions and their outcomes requires, in part, an examination of the mother's socioeconomic background. In the Quad Cities, individuals from diverse racial and immigrant backgrounds may have distinct cultural practices that shape their socioeconomic circumstances, influencing their maternal health experiences. Through lived experience interviews and surveys, we examined the socioeconomic factors that impact the quality of maternal healthcare for women in the Quad Cities. For this study, we conducted in-depth interviews (40–45 minutes, n=20) and surveys (30 minutes, n=142) with pregnant individuals in the Quad Cities, including Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois, as well as Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. Participants were recruited through purposive and convenience sampling using community resources. Our preliminary findings have identified four key factors influencing maternal health outcomes in the Quad Cities: racial disparities, household income, education, and patient-provider communication gaps. Recognizing these factors highlights the community’s needs and, in the long run, can help organizations work toward more equitable health outcomes for pregnant individuals and infants in the region.

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Art History, Graphic Design, Studio Art

Centennial Hall (Session K)

"Senior Art Show 2025" (1.5 hours)
Art History, Graphic Design and Studio Art seniors
Presented by Rae Gibson, Bella Wright, Isabella Blanford, Brady Holtz, Mackenzie Monroy, Jessica Ramirez, Julie Tarling,  Tyler Troesch, Gray Cunnar, Lanie DaSilva,  Abby Degustino, Anna Lindenberg,  Reagan McDonald, Heather Michalski, Peyton Richard, India Torres, Syd Yontez, Samantha Cozad and Zully Gallardo 
Project advisors: Dr. Vickie Phipps and Dr. Margaret Morse

This exhibition features the Senior Art Inquiry projects of graphic design, art history and studio art majors in Augustana College’s Class of 2025.

Each student’s work is accompanied by a statement sharing their perspectives and intentions for the artwork. The work in this exhibition was created as a culmination of their classes and individual development as artists and graphic designers.

→ Preview the art

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