Students share findings, experiences at Undergraduate Research Conference

Kent State University at Salem held its fall Undergraduate Research Conference, an event that recognizes students for their research and allows them to share what they learned through discussions with the academic staff. 

Dr. Karen Resendes was the keynote speaker for the 2019 URC.

The conference is open to all undergraduates in any discipline and in any for-credit course on any Kent State campus. Faculty judges evaluate the presentations based on originality; significance; evidence of learning about the research and information gathering process; and overall quality.

Dr. Karen Resendes was the keynote speaker, sharing her experiences with research as an undergraduate and how it helped shape her career path. As an undergrad, she worked in the cell biology laboratories at the College of William and Mary and the National Cancer Institute.

She went on to earn a doctorate in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry at Brown University. She is now the co-director of the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., where she pursues cancer biology research with undergraduate students.  Resendes also works nationally to promote undergraduate research by serving as an executive board member and the biology division chairperson of the national Council on Undergraduate Research.

The URC committee includes Dr. Rachael Blasiman, chair; Dr. Kristenne Robison, Dr. Omid Bagheri, Cyndi Peterson, Dr. Tsunghui Tu and Krista Hawkins.  

The winners of the 2019 Undergraduate Research Conference are:

  • Paper competition
    • First place: John Priddy for “Amish Silence: Offending and Victimization of Amish Society”
  • Poster competition
    • First place: Sarah Miller for “Airway Management: An Exploration into Tracheostomies;”
    • Second place: Ryan Dowling, Sydney McGrath and Rebecca Soliday for “Understanding the Impact of Early Mobility in ICU Patients;”  
    • Third place: John Priddy for “Amish Silence: Offending and Victimization of Amish Society.”
  • Oral Presentation
    • First place: Alicia Lamp for “Attention: You Have It or Your Sorta Have It;”
    • Second place: Michael Laubacher for “Physician Assistants Versus Radiologists and Hospitalists: Why They are Needed;”
    • Third place: Stephanie Giles for “Women of the Wild West.” 

Students (from left) Mackenzie Pringle, Kristina Fusillo and Ashley Joy with Dr. Tsunghui Tu.


Photo A: In the winners circle: (front, from left) Michael Laubacher, Sarah Miller, Stephanie Giles, Alicia Lamp; and (back, from left) Dr. Rachael Blasiman, chair; Dr. David Dees, dean; John Priddy

Photo B: Dr. Karen Resendes was the keynote speaker for the 2019 URC.

Photo C: Students (from left) Mackenzie Pringle, Kristina Fusillo and Ashley Joy with Dr. Tsunghui Tu.


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POSTED: Monday, December 9, 2019 09:29 AM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 09:42 AM