Welcome to the 2019 EUREKA! Poster Forum. EUREKA! (Experiences in Undergraduate Research, Exploration and Knowledge Advancement) is a unique endeavor to immerse incoming Calhoun Honors College students into the academic world of Clemson University. From June 27th through August 3rd, the 2019 EUREKA! program participants performed research, explored the campus and its many facilities, got acquainted with some of the university’s best faculty and administrators, and experienced the diverse culture and natural beauty of Upstate South Carolina.

EUREKA! Poster ForumFriday, September 20, 2019

Based on an idea conceived by Dr. Stephen H. Wainscott, former Director of the Calhoun Honors College, and further developed by a committee of the following members:

Dwight Camper, Professor of Entomology, Soil, and Plant Science Dana Irvin, Assistant Director of the Calhoun Honors College Pam Mack, Associate Professor of HistoryJames McCubbin, Professor and Chair of PsychologyMary Miller, Special Assistant to the ProvostGary Powell, Professor Emeritus of Genetics and BiochemistrySteve Wainscott, Director of the Calhoun Honors CollegeSean Williams, Associate Chair and Professor of EnglishBill Pennington, Professor of Chemistry

a new program, “Experiences in Undergraduate Research, Exploration and Knowledge Advancement!” (EUREKA!), was created in 2006.

During the second summer session of 2019 the fourteenth group of Eurekans consisting of thirty-three incoming Honors freshmen representing fourteen different states, and three current Honors students, serving as counselors, were brought to campus for a five-week period of research, scholarship, and discovery. Students worked on individual projects under the direction of faculty mentors in fields ranging from the social sciences and humanities to natural and physical sciences and engineering. In addition to their research activities the participants attended workshops, seminars, and field trips on various topics designed to orient them to academic life on campus and provide them with the basic skills needed to perform research in a broad range of areas. The Eurekans also became acquainted with the surrounding area through a variety of social activities, such as camping and whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River, a Greenville Drive baseball game, and trips to the Aquarium and Stone Mountain in Atlanta and Carowinds in Charlotte.

In addition to the educational rewards of active participation in undergraduate research, the students got to know the campus and interacted with many faculty, staff, administrators, and other students. They developed networks of supportive mentors and colleagues that will serve them well in their academic careers. Many of our program participants continue their projects throughout their undergraduate years. We hope that their enthusiasm for research will encourage their peers to follow their lead to build an exciting and productive environment for undergraduate research, scholarship, and discovery at Clemson University.

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Participant Hometown Major Faculty Mentor Page

Rachel Anderson Fort Mill, SC Biochemistry Dr. Michael Sehorn 22

Noah Arnold Aiken, SC General Engineering Dr. Chris Kitchens 10

Caroline Barrows Fuquay-Varina, NC Biochemistry Dr. Michael Sehorn 14

Joshua Bellue Roswell, GA Economics Dr. Daphne Wiles 15

David Blasky Shelby Township, MI Preprofessional Heath Studies Dr. Jeremy Tzeng 4

William Cannon Stowe, VT Chemistry Dr. Sourav Saha 8

Benjamin Clark Seneca, SC Biochemistry Dr. Liangjiang (LJ) Wang 17

Gabe Cutter Mount Pleasant, SC General Engineering Dr. Pingshan Wang 12

Keegan Dimmick Greenville, SC General Engineering Dr. Prasad Rangaraju 5

Brennan Dougherty Glen Ellyn, IL General Engineering Dr. Yongqiang Wang 9

William Franklin Ft. Leavenworth, KS General Engineering Dr. Kai He 16

Mackenzie Grumbles Franklin, TN Industrial Engineering Dr. Sandra Eksioglu 7

Alexander Harriman Summerville, SC Mathematical Sciences Dr. Daphne Wiles 18

Zach Hubbarth Fort Mill, SC Mechanical Engineering Dr. Chris Kitchens 20

Gavin Hunt Summerville, SC General Engineering Dr. Eric Touya 24

Allison Jacob Lone Tree, CO General Engineering Dr. Yanzhang Wei 11

Lucy Jennings Harrisburg, NC Genetics Dr. Yanzhang Wei 19

Hanna Jiang Clemson, SC Preprofessional Health Studies Dr. Jeremy Tzeng 26

Ashley Larkins Waxhaw, NC Genetics Dr. Hong Luo 25

English Laserna Hollywood, SC Biochemistry and Biological Sciences Dr. Leigh Clark 29

Gabriela Mochizuki Charleston, SC Biological Sciences Dr. Mark Blenner 23

Devin Narula Mt. Pleasant, SC Computer Science Dr. Yongqiang Wang 21

Wesley Nichols Greenville, SC General Engineering Dr. Jeremy Tzeng 34

Caroline Peak Aiken, SC General Engineering Dr. Mark Blenner 27

Stuart Philp Charleston, SC Biological Sciences Dr. Michael Sehorn 28

Erin Rassel Crossville, TN Biological Sciences Dr. Liangjiang (LJ) Wang 32

Michaela Santelia Chappaqua, NY Biological Sciences Dr. Jeremy Tzeng 33

Emma Simon Boalsburg, PA General Engineering Dr. Patrick Hiesl 6

Pramita Suresh Spartanburg, SC General Engineering Dr. Sruthi Narayanan 13

Jonathan Tan Lexington, SC Biochemistry Dr. Thompson Mefford 31

Jason Teets Hackettstown, NJ Computer Science Dr. Yongqiang Wang 37

Shreya Thammana Greenville, SC General Engineering Dr. Chris Kitchens 30

Hunter Udowychenko Orlando, FL General Engineering Dr. Yongqiang Wang 36

Aaron Williams Morrisville, NC General Engineering Dr. Joshua Alper 35

Terryn Witherspoon Uniontown, OH General Engineering Dr. Konstantin Kornev 38

Julia Wood Westerville, OH Biochemistry Dr. Hong Luo 39

2019 EUREKA! Student Participants

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Evaluation of the pH Biosensor in Orthopedic Implant Application David Blasky, Shayesteh Beladi, and Dr. Jeremy TzengDepartment of Microbiology, Clemson University

This research begins on the premise that in nearly 5% of surgical implants, an unwarranted infection arises. This causes the surgeons and doctors to reopen the wound, treat the infection with the removal of the implant, and then reperform the initial procedure, causing a major amount of pain and suffering as well as time and money. The purpose of this study is to prevent this phenomenon from occurring. Overall, the work has mainly focused on the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria are the most prevalent species associated with orthopedic implant infection. Biofilm forms on the implant due to infection and this can cause many complications including a difficult procedure to remove the infected implant. To target this problem a biosensor has been developed to detect changes in pH caused by the presence of bacterial infection that will be imaged by a revolutionary X-Ray imaging system. When an infection is present the pH drops. The sensor itself will be attached to the implant inserted during the surgery. Further into research and development, the plan is to design a device that could hit a target pH and release antibacterial agent to fight the infection.

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3D Printing of Concrete Structures Keegan Dimmick, Haripriya Nekkanti, and Dr. Prasad RangarajuGlenn Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University

3D printing has a wide range of applications including manufacturing components for automobiles and other industries. Among the most promising applications of 3D printing is in construction. Concrete is the most widely used construction material throughout the world, but building with it is a tedious process. The current construction practices in the concrete industry are labor intensive,costly, and time-consuming. 3D printing of concrete structures allows for a much safer, faster, and cheaper process. Additionally, by automating the build process and eliminating formwork, thereis less room for error and more freedom of design. In this study, we focused mainly on developing an ideal concrete mix for 3D printing. This means that the mix must be easily extrudable for a prolonged duration, but it also must hold a shape and have structural integrity when multiple layers are cast. To test different mixes, we experimented with adding various concrete admixtures and additives such as superplasticizer, viscosity modifying agent, set retarder, metakaolin, and fibers. Numerous tests on each of the mixtures were conducted to characterize their rheological behavior (yield stress; plastic viscosity), flow, extrudability, and open time. We also plan to 3D print these mixtures and test their mechanical and durability properties.

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Cost Differences of Wood Chipping Methods Emma Simon and Dr. Patrick HieslDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University

There are three options for a landowner when thinning a forest stand and producing wood chips. The methods are: producing roundwood in-woods and chipping at the mill, chipping in-woods, and using the delimbed bole or trunk for roundwood and the treetops for in-woods chips. The purpose of this project was to use the volume of usable material, mill prices, trucking rates, production rates, and the distance from the mill to find the chipping process that would provide the landowner with the highest profit and the largest incentive to keep their stand maintained and healthy. A time study was conducted on in-woods chipping to gain a better understanding of the process and observe a logging site. The finalized simulation allows an accurate determination of which method is most cost effective when the landowner is a certain distance from the mill with a specific stand. This allows landowners to make informed decisions about how to use their wood. Differences in mill delivered prices of roundwood are able to influence the health of forests. Dirty chips from in-woods chipping should be paid with as minimal of a difference as possible to encourage landowners to properly maintain their stand.

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Improving Patient Access, Surgeon Efficiency, Staff Satisfaction, and System Utilization through Coordination: The PS³-C Operating Room Optimization Model

Mackenzie Grumbles, Amogh Bhosekar, Robert Allen, and Dr. Sandra EksiogluDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University

Performing surgical cases is the largest revenue generating activity in most large hospitals, yet the services provided by operating rooms (ORs) are expensive. A number of studies show that ORs are typically underutilized. Inadequate coordination, allocation, and release of surgical time have led to an inefficient use of facility resources, decreased patient access, and inefficiency in physician and staff productivity. The objective of this research is to identify opportunities to improve processes which contribute to the high cost of ORs at Greenville Memorial Hospital. To achieve this, we have identified four groups of stakeholders who we have been interviewing to collect the data necessary to achieve our objective. These stakeholders are patient, surgeon, nurses, and administrators. We interviewed 11 surgeons, 5 nurses, and 8 administrators. Through interviews, we learn that improving the communication among staff, utilization of resources, patient access, as well as patient and staff satisfaction can lead to more efficient OR processes. Making sure to note the barriers to these improvements is also important when trying to design a process improvement strategy. Knowledge gained from interviews will help to develop a mathematical model to improve the performance of the overall system and efficiency of the operating rooms.

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Synthesis of A Supramolecular Anion Receptor Precursor William Cannon, Paola Benavides, and Dr. Sourav SahaDepartment of Chemistry, Clemson University

Negatively charged ions, known as anions, play a fundamental role in biological and environmental processes. Anion pollutants contribute to eutrophication and disruption to anion transport in cells can cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Therefore, the development of anion receptors for recognition and transport is needed for new treatments and pollution detection. By allowing an anion to induce an electro-chemical or optical change to a molecule, it is possible to create different kinds of anion receptors (see figure 1). Saha et al demonstrated the ability of pi-anion interactions to affect measurable changes within a naphthalene diimide (NDI) core of a molecule, and Nitschke et al indicated that molecules containing NDI could be arranged to into 3D supramolecular catenates using metal-organic ligands. Herein, an anion receptor containing NDI and metal-ligand coordination was proposed. A precursor to the supramolecular anion receptor was synthesized through several reactions in solution. Products were purified through filtration and column chromatography, and were tested using thin-layer chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR).

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Swarm Robotics: Localization of a Sound Source With a System of Three Microphones Brennan Dougherty, Devin Narula, Jason Teets, Hunter Udowychenko, Tim Anglea, and Dr. Yongqiang WangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

The study of swarm robotics has the potential to increase both the efficiency and scalability of robot-based cooperative tasks. In order for the robots to properly function together, they first must be able to locate and move with each other. The main concept addressed in this project, localization, serves to identify the positions of the robots with respect to each other. For this study, we use three microphones to triangulate the location of a sound based on the time differences between each microphone receiving the sound. We compare two algorithms in order to locate the robot using the microphones. The first algorithm calculates a vector for the direction of the source of the sound. The second algorithm uses hyperbolas centered at the midpoints between the microphones to find the position of the sound. We compare the two algorithms based on their precision and accuracy. Using this analysis, we further discuss how the algorithms could be combined to create a more effective method of localization.

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Gold Nanoparticles in Catalysis Noah Arnold, Chinmay Joshi, and Dr. Christopher L. KitchensDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

The idea behind nano-catalysts is to use the reactivity of materials at the nanoscale which is vastly different than the bulk material. These nano-catalysts possess large surface to volume ratios and the catalytic activity arises from the greater ratio of atoms that reside on the surface. Currently, the heterogenous phase nanoparticle catalysts used in the industry are immobilized on a metal oxide support for the ease of separation. However, colloidal gold nanoparticles have been shown to have a significantly higher catalytic activity compared to immobilized gold nanoparticles. We have previously functionalized the gold nanoparticles with ligands providing them colloidal stability as well as with ligands that provide them

the functionality to be recovered and reused subsequently while maintaining their catalytic activity throughout. We further want to test the stability of the colloidal gold nanoparticles under elevated temperatures by using the reduction of 4–nitrophenol to 4–aminophenol as our model reaction.

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Infection of Toxoplasma Gondii Mutant (CPOX) on Human Cancer Cells Allison Jacob, Lucy Jennings, Mr. Hui Ding, and Dr. Yanzhang WeiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Clemson University

Toxoplasma Gondii (T. Gondii) is a common parasite found in most humans. Whilehealthy individuals don’t have symptoms when infected, immunodeficient people experience symptoms when infected. Dr. Dou, a collaborator of Dr. Wei’s, developed a mutant of T. Gondii, named CPOX, which has shown reduced infectious ability. It will be very interesting to know if the mutant infects human cancerous and non-cancerous cells in a different way. In this study, human lung carcinoma A549 cells and human lung epithelial NL-20 cells were infected with wild type T. Gondii or the mutant CPOX at cell to parasite ratios of 1:1 and 1:5. After infection, the parasite growth in the cells were measured with the luciferase assay and microscopy. The results show that the mutant grew much slower in both cancer and non-cancer cells when compared with the wild type; more importantly, the microscopic analysis demonstrated that the mutant CPOX parasite grew very differently in cancer cells when compared with non-cancer cells, while wild type did not show this difference. This preliminary finding deserves further investigation.

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The Athermal Effects of Microwave Radiation on Cell Growth Gabe Cutter, Tom Caldwell, Duye Ye, and Dr. Pingshan WangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

The regenerative effects found in the electrical stimulation of biological cells have led to further studies regarding the true effects of microwave treatment. Two effects on cell growth have been observed: an apparent thermal effect and a reputed athermal microwave effect. The microwave effect is controversial because inconsistencies in electromagnetic field uniformity cause local thermal effects and thus cannot be easily distinguished. To observe the microwave effect, four-hour continuous doses of single-frequency microwaves over a uniform field are applied to Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells in an incubator. A control group is placed inside the incubator without treatment. To differentiate the thermal effects of treatment, a second control group is placed under increased environmental temperatures. The frequency of 72.1MHz displayed a 1.7%-81.8% promotion of growth when the data was normalized to account for evaporation of cell culture. Early testing at 4.86GHz indicated that there was a decrease in yeast growth. Both procedures were conducted at 1mW of power. Although short-term achievements have shown that there is a possible positive microwave effect, further research and procedure repetition are needed to be conclusive. Potential in these results lies in the development of bioelectronic medicines and a better understanding of microwaves in electrical engineering.

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Heat Stress Tolerance in Peanut Plants Pramita Suresh, Ricardo St. Aime, Zolian Zoong Lwe, and Dr. Sruthi NarayananDepartment of Plants and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University

In the past few years, climate pressures have increased, causing droughts and poor soil conditions affecting crop yields. Peanut is a popular cash crop around the world, and due to climate change related stresses (drought and heat) peanut yield is drastically decreasing. The goal of this research was to analyze the lipid metabolic changes in peanut plants during heat stress and to identify biomarkers to select heat-tolerant genotypes. The peanut plants were grown under field conditions. During flowering stage, two treatments were imposed on the plants: optimum and heat stress – the heat stress was imposed using heat tents. After 9 days of heat stress anther and leaf tissue samples were collected for lipid profiling. After sample collection, heat tents will be removed, and all plots will be maintained at ambient temperature till the final harvest at maturity. The study would provide an efficient and repeatable screening method for identifying drought and heat tolerant peanut genotypes. This would aid plant breeders in peanut industry to develop drought and heat tolerant varieties.

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Incorporation of the Q242L mutation into the human RAD51 recombinase Caroline Barrows, Garret Buzzard, and Dr. Michael SehornDepartment of Biochemistry, Clemson University

Homologous recombination is a repair pathway for double-stranded breaks in DNA in which an intact homologous chromosome is used as a template to resynthesize the damaged DNA. This process is mediated by the RAD51 recombinase protein, which forms a nucleoprotein filament to search for homology within the intact chromosome. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method typically used to amplify copies of DNA, but in this project, it was used with primers designed to introduce the Q242L mutation into my RAD51 gene. The specific goal was to change the amino acid at position 242 in RAD51 from glutamine (Q) to leucine (L). This mutation was chosen to be studied due to the significance of its location, which is next to the DNA binding site. Therefore, it is likely that the RAD51 Q242L mutant will have altered DNA binding affecting the ability of RAD51 to catalyze D-loop formation and strand exchange.

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Incidence of Perfectionism in Clemson Honors Students Joshua Bellue, Alexander Harriman, and Dr. Daphne WilesDepartment of Teaching and Learning, Clemson University

Perfectionism is a multifaceted trait that ranges from perfectionistic strivings (e.g., high goals and standards) to perfectionistic concerns (e.g., obsession with avoiding failure) and impacts students of all ages. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of perfectionistic concerns in Clemson Honors College students (CHCS). The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale was administered to CHCS in the spring of 2019 and results from this survey (n=129) were analyzed to determine the magnitude of perfectionistic concerns. Results revealed a high percentage (+74%) of CHCS feel they cannot relax until their work is perfect, strive to be the best at everything they do, and must always be successful at school or work. Survey results also revealed a high percentage (+74%) of CHCS believe people around them expect them to succeed at everything they do, their parents expect them to excel in all aspects of their life, and the better they do, the better they are expected to do. These results indicate perfectionistic concerns in CHCS. Future steps include working with the Clemson Honors College with the intention of providing resources to the CHCS community to help address and manage their perfectionistic concerns.

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Developing Inexpensive and Sustainable Batteries Through the Use of Potassium William Franklin, Dr. Jiang Cui, and Dr. Kai HeDepartment of Material Science and Engineering, Clemson University

As we move towards sustainable energy sources, we must develop new ways to store this energy for low energy periods. To meet this goal, we need to develop advanced batteries with less expensive and more abundant electrode materials to store energy for utility during times of energy drought. The purpose of this research is to develop the new rechargeable batteries to meet the needs of a growing industry. To create these batteries, we replaced the lithium in the cathode of battery with potassium. Potassium is one of the most abundant metals on the earth, making up 2.6% of the earth’s crust. We synthesized our active material out of potassium carbonate, iron oxide, and manganese oxide creating the crystalline P

2-structured K

xMn

0.5Fe

0.5O

2.

This powder was then mixed with carbon black, PVDF, and NMP solvent. The mixture, along with pure potassium anode and electrolytes were placed inside the battery. After testing the performance, we found that the potassium battery delivered a decent charge-discharge capacity with an average efficiency of 87.63%. However, we found that the potassium-based cathode material contained some unexpected impurities. If these impurities are removed, we may improve the capacity even more, creating a viable alternative for expensive lithium ion batteries.

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Prediction of Novel Autism Risk Genes from Genomic Data Benjamin Clark, Erin Rassel, Anqi Wei, Jun Wang, and Dr. Liangjiang WangDepartment of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heterogeneous genetic brain disorders affecting around 1% of the global population. Many studies have been conducted to identify the role of protein-coding genes in autism development, but the role of long non-coding RNAs in autism development until recently has remained unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides in length that do not code for proteins. They make up the majority of a cell’s transcriptome and serve a significant role in brain development. It follows that lncRNAs are likely involved in an early onset neurodevelopmental disorder like autism. In order to identify lncRNAs most likely to be associated with autism, we employed a novel approach involving differential expression analysis and the use of a support vector machine (SVM). The differential expression analysis serves to compare the gene expression levels in the blood samples between 22 ASD patients and 8 non-ASD controls, while the SVM analyzes gene expression levels of 524 brain tissue samples collected from non-ASD people only. By comparing the overlapped lncRNA gene lists of the two methods, we successfully identified the most confident ASD risk lncRNAs.

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Incidence of Perfectionism in Clemson Honors Students Alexander Harriman, Joshua Bellue, and Dr. Daphne WilesDepartment of Teaching and Learning, Clemson University

Perfectionism is a multifaceted trait that ranges from perfectionistic strivings (e.g., high goals and standards) to perfectionistic concerns (e.g., obsession with avoiding failure) and impacts students of all ages. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of perfectionistic concerns in Clemson Honors College students (CHCS). The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale was administered to CHCS in the spring of 2019 and results from this survey (n=129) were analyzed to determine the magnitude of perfectionistic concerns. Results revealed a high percentage (+74%) of CHCS feel they cannot relax until their work is perfect, strive to be the best at everything they do, and must always be successful at school or work. Survey results also revealed a high percentage (+74%) of CHCS believe people around them expect them to succeed at everything they do, their parents expect them to excel in all aspects of their life, and the better they do, the better they are expected to do. These results indicate perfectionistic concerns in CHCS. Future steps include working with the Clemson Honors College with the intention of providing resources to the CHCS community to help address and manage their perfectionistic concerns.

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Generation of a Fluorescent Human Cancer Cell Line Lucy Jennings, Allison Jacob, Mr. Hui Ding, and Dr. Yanzhang WeiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Clemson University

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), originally discovered in the crystal jellyfish Aequoreavictoria, is a protein that can emit green fluorescent light when exposed to ultraviolet light. This green-light-emitting protein is advantageous in labs helping to identify cells and cellular structures. Accordingly, the objective of this project is to generate a cancer cell line with GFP expression. We used a plasmid with a GFP gene and a puromycin selection gene, and a human ovarian cancer cell line, HeLa. A reagent Lipofectamine 2000 was used for transfection of the plasmid DNA into HeLa cells. After transfection, 60% of cells were observed green under UV light. Then puromycin was added to the medium to select the stable cell clones. After two-week selection, two stable clones were found survived and GFP-positive. The GFP HeLa cells will be used in cancer research in Dr. Wei’s lab in the future.

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Finite Element Analysis of Composite Building Materials Zach Hubbarth, Caleb Arp, and Dr. Chris KitchensDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

The applications of composite materials are wide-ranging; however, accurate and robust micromechanical models that predict the behavior of these materials are under-developed. Traditional analytical material models can be very accurate in specific classes of composites, but finite element analysis is much more robust, capable of handling many types of composite systems. The interface that exists between a matrix and its filler can often affect the macroscopic properties of the material as the size of the filler approaches the nanoscale. The KitchensResearch Group is attempting to apply Digimat coupled with ANSYS to simulate far-field loading conditions on material microstructures with this interphase. We utilized MATLAB andPython to sample large parameter spaces efficiently and reduce computational expense. When processing analyses

using varying relative thicknesses of the interphase between 0.075 and 0.25, the simulated stress and strain of the block seemed to remain unchanged. Further simulations will need to be conducted to determine how the interphase affects the material’s properties. Once more is known about these composite materials, they could be used as more durable and sustainable options to the components currently used in buildings and houses.

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Swarm Robotics: Localization of a Sound Source with a System of Three Microphones Devin Narula, Brennan Dougherty, Jason Teets, Hunter Udowychenko, Tim Anglea, and Dr. Yongqiang WangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

The study of swarm robotics has the potential to increase both the efficiency and scalability of robot-based cooperative tasks. In order for the robots to properly function together, they first must be able to locate and move with each other. The main concept addressed in this project, localization, serves to identify the positions of the robots with respect to each other. For this study, we use three microphones to triangulate the location of a sound based on the time differences between each microphone receiving the sound. We compare two algorithms in order to locate therobot using the microphones. The first algorithm calculates a vector for the direction of the source of the sound. The second algorithm uses hyperbolas centered at the midpoints between the microphones to find the position of the sound. We compare the two algorithms based on their precision and accuracy. Using this analysis, we further discuss how the algorithms could be combined to create a more effective method of localization.

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Introducing The E50L Mutation Into The RAD51 Gene Rachel Anderson, Garret Buzzard, and Dr. Michael SehornDepartment of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University Homologous recombination is one of the processes by which cells repair double stranded breaks in a genome. The RAD51 gene codes for an essential protein that aids strand invasion to synthesize new DNA. In my project, I have purposefully introduced a mutation of the RAD51 gene through the use of specially engineered primers. The E50L mutation changes the positive glutamic acid to neutral, non-polar leucine at the 50th amino acid, thus changing the shape and function of the protein. Using the primers designed for E50L, I performed PCR mutagenesis to create a DNA template that would code for this mutation. This template was assembled into a circular plasmid, then transformed into E. coli cells for protein expression.

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Probing Tyrosine and Phenylalanine Feedback Inhibition in Yarrowia lipolytica Gabriela Mochizuki, Lexie Adams, Vijay Ganesan, and Dr. Mark BlennerDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

The research implements the use of the yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica for their efficiency in producing lipids, with the goal of identifying the presence of feedback inhibition that restrains the production of the Tyrosine. Focusing on the metabolic pathway that assembles tyrosine, the genes ARO3, ARO4, and ARO7 were observed to test the hypothesis of negative feedback occurring and locating the metabolic process. Feedback inhibition describes the function in which the excess production of a molecule [Tyrosine] causes a feedback loop influencing tyrosine to allosterically bind to an enzyme that originally functions to program the construction of that molecule. However, the allosteric inhibition causes deformity to the enzyme, which deteriorates the protein, henceforth the enzyme can no longer function. To complete the experiment, researchers took plasmid from the Y. lipolytica and performed a restriction digest. Moreover, primers were annealed to create a new double strand of DNA coding for a knock-out gene to eliminate the gene containing the feedback inhibition. Once the new segment of DNA was inserted into the vector, the plasmid was reintroduced into the yeast cell. Present research consists of observing cell growth to confirm the negative feedback.

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Macron’s Presidency and France’s Contradictions Gavin Hunt and Dr. Eric TouyaDepartment of Languages, Clemson University

Since the founding of La République En Marche! (LREM) in 2016, President Macron’s party and policies have revealed contradictions. Macron has explained this by stating that modern problems are complex and require complex solutions. However, these contradictions could hint towards a deeper and more impactful trend. The purpose of this study was to observe these inconsistencies to further understand democratic French and European political issues and explore how they might affect democracies as they evolve in the 21st century. News articles, polls, and books on Macron and his policies were obtained in order to write a roughly 30-pageessay that focused on eight policy areas within France: national identity, democracy within the European Union (EU), a ‘two-speed’ Europe policy, France and its relationship with NATO, socio-cultural liberal policy and workers’ Rights, environmental policy and the Yellow Vest Riots, immigration, and religion. After this information was compiled, common trends were discovered which pointed towards how these contradictions have impacted democratic life in French society. The paper argues that globalization of markets and the creation of the EU have led to these contradictions, and that new political frameworks are needed to address them and respond to the needs of the people.

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Subcellular Localization of a Seashore Paspalum Transcription Factor, pv_WRKY Involved in Plant Stress Response Ashley Larkins, Julia Wood, Julia Hu, Dr. Le Li, and Dr. Hong Luo Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Clemson University

Transcription factors consist of large families of regulatory proteins, some of which have been found to evolve in plants making them more resistant to abiotic stresses. A common group of these DNA binding proteins is characterized by the WRKY genes, which is often found in plants. Pv_WRKY, a WRKY transcription factor gene identified from seashore paspalum (paspalum vaginatum), a highly salt tolerant grass has been implicated in plant stress response. The purpose of this research is to expand our understanding of the role pv_WRKY plays in plants by studying its subcellular localization. The plasmid pHL1036 was used to extract the gene of interest, pv_WRKY, through digestion. This transcription factor gene was then added to the plasmid pHL273 through ligation, fusing to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. The construct was transformed into the bacteria E.Coli and the recombinant colonies were selected on LB plate. Plasmid DNA extraction and digestion were conducted to determine the final correct construct, pHL1037, eady to be introduced into Arabidopsis using Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation for further research.

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The Characterization of Jenseniin P, a bacteriocin produced by Propionibacterium jensenii Hanna Jiang, Kristy Waldrep, John Abercrombie, and Dr. Jeremy TzengDepartment of Biological Sciences, Clemson University

Bacteriocins are antimicrobial peptides or proteins that are ribosomally synthesized. Propionibacterium jensenii, a food-grade bacteria species, produces a bacteriocin, namely, Jenseniin P. To evaluate the potential of using Jenseniin P as treatments against acne or food-borne pathogens, it is harvested and evaluated in this study for its antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens and four acne-associated cutibacteria (ATCC 6919, 11728, 25577, 25564). To prepare Jenseniin P. for testing against the indicators, a series of processes including harvestation, centrifugation, filtration, ammonium sulfate concentration, dialyzation, and purification is completed. To test the inhibition of the indicator organisms by Jenseniin P., plate assays are prepared to measure the growth of food pathogens and the four acne strains when treated with the bacteriocin. After the plate assays, a bioassay and a protein assay are processed to determine the specific-activity of Jenseniin P. and confirm that it has been purified properly.

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Efficient Production of Therapeutics By Control of Cellular Stress Response Caroline Peak, Dyllan Rives, and Dr. Mark BlennerDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are one of the main efficient producers of therapeutic proteins, helpful in making many biopharmaceuticals that can assist in treating diseases. CHO cells have been heavily engineered to mass-produce these proteins, and because of this engineering and overloading of protein, stress is induced on the folding mechanism within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). During ER stress, the cell undergoes a process called the unfolded protein response (UPR), which entails many variations of downstream pathways that can either lead to homeostasis or apoptosis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was utilized to discover which downstream UPR pathway exhibited the highest upregulation or downregulation of gene expression. The CHOZN host and two clones producing IgG and EPO- Fc were grown under fed-batch conditions with samples taken throughout the culture period. Genomic DNA from these cell lines was used to determine primer efficiencies. qPCR was then utilized with RNA extracted from fed-batch samples to calculate the fold change of gene expression under production-like conditions. Collected data suggests the ATF6 downstream pathway within the UPR is not as favored as previously thought. This data can be used to increase titer, productivity, and the quality of future CHOZN cell lines.

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Cloning and Expression of RAD51 Harboring a D161Y Mutation Stuart Philp, Garrett Buzzard, and Dr. Michael SehornDepartment of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University

Homologous recombination is a key DNA repair pathway for double stranded breaks that utilizes a homologous sister chromatid as a template for synthesis of the damaged DNA strand. RAD51, a necessary protein for homologous recombination, plays a role in searching for a site of homology in order for D-loop formation to be initiated. Substitutions in the amino acids of proteins can affect the functionality of these proteins, such as a substitution of aspartic acid for tyrosine in the D161Y mutation. This mutation has been linked to certain types of leukemia, presenting a need for research. The purpose of this study was to introduce the D161Y mutation into template RAD51 DNA and reintroduce a mutated plasmid into cells for protein expression.Confirmation of this protein expression would allow for testing of the effectiveness of the mutated protein in carrying out its original and non-mutant purpose.

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A Genetic Investigation of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome in Great Danes English Laserna, Sarah C. Murphy, Dr. Diane Shelton, and Dr. Leigh Anne ClarkDepartment of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson UniversityComparative Neuromuscular Laboratory, University of California, San Diego

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a rare muscular disorder caused by defects within the neuromuscular junction. The primary clinical signs of CMS are muscle fatigue and weakness caused by moderate physical activity. Affected puppies are typically euthanized. We have identified a novel CMS in a family of Great Danes in which histopathology indicates an acetylcholine receptor deficiency. Pedigree analysis suggests an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance. The aim of this study was to identify candidate casual mutations for CMS in the Great Dane. We generated whole genome resequencing data from an affected dog and used Integrative Genomics Viewer to scan 33 functional candidate genes for exonic and splice site variants. We identified 17 exonic variants in 11 candidate genes. None of the variants predict an amino acid change. In conclusion, CMS in the Great Dane is not caused by a coding or splice site variant in a known CMS gene. Future aims include scanning the introns of candidate genes for variants that may impact splicing and using a variant call format file to identify variants in other genes that are predicted in silico to be deleterious.

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Investigating the Liquid Phase Behavior of Sulfonated Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) Shreya Thammana, Zachariah Pittman, and Dr. Chris KitchensDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have recently gained attention because cellulose is an abundant, cheap, and biologically degradable material with low cytotoxicity. CNCs are studied as nanocomposites and thin films. They can be synthesized using cellulose from plants, animals, bacteria, and agricultural biomass. The synthesis is done aqueously and with few chemical hazards, making it sustainable. This study investigates the aqueous (liquid phase) behavior of sulfonated CNCs. The extraction of cellulose nanocrystals is done by adding cellulose to an acid. The acid preferentially attacks the amorphous regions of the cellulose, yielding rod-like nanocrystals with a high surface area, hydroxyl groups for functionalization, high colloidal stability, and mechanical strength. Observations show that with increasing CNC concentration, liquid crystal phases begin to form. These liquid crystals show shear-induced optical properties, which increase in concentrated solutions and persist long after shearing. We use the CNCs liquid crystal optical effects to help characterize the solution as well as extrapolate the characteristics of other properties. This research is used to understand the liquid crystal phase, a phenomenon common in processing techniques and applications of CNCs. Understanding this step can be used to improve the use of CNCs for utilization in biosensors, drug delivery, and food packaging.

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Terbium Ferrite and Dysprosium Ferrite Magnetic Nanoparticles Jonathan Tan, Sarah Spence, Tony Yan, and Dr. O. Thompson MeffordDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University

Magnetic nanoparticles have a multitude of special uses, including magnetic hyperthermia (killing cells using the hysteretic losses of a rotating magnetic field) ofcancer and bacterial cells, targeted drug delivery, and MRI contrasts. The goal of thisresearch was to focus on terbium and dysprosium doped ferrite nanoparticles. Theseparticular elements are special because they have the highest magnetic susceptibilities of all the elements. We dope these iron oxide particles, or ferrites, by replacing some iron atoms in iron oxide nanoparticles with our elements of interest, with the anticipation that the resulting susceptibility will be enhanced with the dopants. These particles were characterized with a variety of techniques such as AC susceptibility and transmission electron microscopy imaging (TEM). The results show how these particles function and how their attributes will better future studies.

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Prediction of Novel Autism Risk Genes from Genomic Data Erin Rassel, Benjamin Clark, Anqi Wei, Jun Wang, and Dr. Liangjiang WangDepartment of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heterogeneous genetic brain disorders affecting around 1% of the global population. Many studies have been conducted to identify the role of protein-coding genes in autism development, but the role of long non-coding RNAs in autism development until recently has remained unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides in length that do not code for proteins. They make up the majority of a cell’s transcriptome and serve a significant role in brain development. It follows that lncRNAs are likely involved in an early onset neurodevelopmental disorder like autism. In order to identify lncRNAs most likely to be associated with autism, we employed a novel approach involving differential expression analysis and the use of a support vector machine (SVM). The differential expression analysis serves to compare the gene expression levels in the blood samples between 22 ASD patients and 8 non-ASD controls, while the SVM analyzes gene expression levels of 524 brain tissue samples collected from non-ASD people only. By comparing the overlapped lncRNA gene lists of the two methods, we successfully identified the most confident ASD risk lncRNAs.

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Development of Antibiotic-Inducible Reporter Systems as Tools for the Study of Antibiotic Penetration through Biofilms

Michaela Santelia, Maya Elhage, and Dr. Jeremy TzengDepartment of Biological Sciences, Clemson University

Biofilms are microbial communities characterized by cells that are attached to a substrate or interface with each other; they form an extracellular polysaccharide matrix. Once the biofilm binds to a surface, it plays a major role in both the spread of the infection and the spread of antibiotic resistance. Biofilms often form on medical implants within the human body which can disrupt the function of the human implant. Patients with severe infections caused by biofilm formation on medical implants can be treated through surgical interventions or the administration of long-term antibacterial treatment. The purpose of this study is to develop an in vitro tool to identify the most effective antibiotic to improve clinical prognosis. The plasmid, pHT01, was constructed in Escherichia coli DH10B and later inserted into the Bacillus Subtilis 1012 wt bacteria in order to observe antibiotic penetrance. After transformation, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was observed in B. subtilis under a Fluorescent Light to determine plasmid uptake in B. subtilis. In addition to observing GFP in B. subtilis, the expression of Red Fluorescent Protein (RFP) will only be expressed in the presence of vancomycin in bacteria containing the Pila1 promotor. The results are not yet conclusive.

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Synthesis, Delivery, and Classification of Nanoparticles in Relation to MAG-MED Wesley Nichols, Cedric Taylor, Najah Mhesn, and Dr. Jeremy TzengDepartment of Biological Sciences, Clemson UniversityDepartment of Material Sciences, Clemson University

Currently in the medical world there exists a reliance on antibiotics for treatment of infections. Over-prescription has caused large scale antibiotic resistance in bacteria such as Gonorrhea; topping the WHO watchlist with a diminishing breadth of available treatments. The use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a treatment option in lieu of antibiotics research would allow for effective treatment of diseases that otherwise might be incurable. MNPs find their use currently as targeted treatments for cancer via hyperthermia-based therapies which involve particle introduction to a localized area, followed by magnetic induction; heating and killing cancer cells. Magnetically Mediated Energy Delivery (MagMED) works in a similar fashion yet relies on specifically bonding to the target bacterium. The MagMED system used for this study involves the creation of MNPs via functionalization of iron oxide particles with a glycoconjugate molecule, GalNAcβ1-4Galβ1-4Glc-NAc-propargyl (aGM2-MNPs) that adheres specifically to Neisseria gonorrhoeae FA1090. The purpose of this study is to create aGM2-MNPs and determine the most effective way in which to deliver them. The goal is to discover methods that would require only 30 min to deliver and approximately 30 minutes of magnetic exposure thus allowing for a short visit(s) to treat bacterial infections.

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Differentiating Human Bone Marrow Neuroblasts into Neurons and their Adhesion to an MEA for Engineering Neuronal Circuits Aaron Williams and Dr. Joshua AlperDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University

Neurons form large networks, sending signals back and forth, allowing for thoughts to form in the brain. Large scale networks of cells have been produced in laboratory settings allowing for a better understanding of how large networks of neurons interact. However, the mechanisms of neuron interaction in small-scale network remain largely unknown. We engineered a system to build and test small-scale neuronal circuit to better understand the cellular mechanisms of neurons. To achieve this, we optimized the differentiation of human bone marrow neuroblasts (SH-SY5Y cells) into neurons using a retinoic acid, BDNF, and somatostatin media additives. We also tried the three substrate coatings designed to enhance cell adhesion to the plate, but we found that no treatment was needed to adhere the neurons. These results will enable us to better differentiate SH-SY5Y into neurons and adhere the cells onto plates as we attempt to build simple neuronal circuits using the optical tweezer and send signals through them using the electrode pads in the MEA. This research provides insight on how small scale networks of neurons, and ultimately the brain, work.

Swarm Robotics: Localization of a Sound Source With a System of Three Microphones Hunter Udowychenko, Brennan Dougherty, Devin Narula, Jason Teets, Tim Anglea, and Dr. Yongqiang WangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

The study of swarm robotics has the potential to increase both the efficiency and scalability of robot-based cooperative tasks. In order for the robots to properly function together, they first must be able to locate and move with each other. The main concept addressed in this project, localization, serves to identify the positions of the robots with respect to each other. For this study, we use three microphones to triangulate the location of a sound based on the time differences between each microphone receiving the sound. We compare two algorithms in order to locate therobot using the microphones. The first algorithm calculates a vector for the direction of the source of the sound. The second algorithm uses hyperbolas centered at the midpoints between the microphones to find the position of the sound. We compare the two algorithms based on their precision and accuracy. Using this analysis, we further discuss how the algorithms could be combined to create a more effective method of localization.

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Swarm Robotics: Localization of a Sound Source With a System of Three Microphones Jason Teets, Brennan Dougherty, Devin Narula, Hunter Udowychenko, Tim Anglea, and Dr. Yongqiang WangDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University

The study of swarm robotics has the potential to increase both the efficiency and scalability of robot-based cooperative tasks. In order for the robots to properly function together, they first must be able to locate and move with each other. The main concept addressed in this project, localization, serves to identify the positions of the robots with respect to each other. For this study, we use three microphones to triangulate the location of a sound based on the time differences between each microphone receiving the sound. We compare two algorithms in order to locate therobot using the microphones. The first algorithm calculates a vector for the direction of the source of the sound. The second algorithm uses hyperbolas centered at the midpoints between the microphones to find the position of the sound. We compare the two algorithms based on their precision and accuracy. Using this analysis, we further discuss how the algorithms could be combined to create a more effective method of localization.

Finding Engineering Characteristics of Butterfly Proboscis Using Computational Microscopy Terryn Witherspoon, Dr. Artur Salamatin, and Dr. Konstantin KornevDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University

Lepidoptera are fluid feeding insects that use their proboscis for fluid intake. A particular challenge associated with the modelling of the interaction of a liquid column with the proboscis and the food canal is the right assumption regarding the shape of the cross-section of the food canal. The shape and the cross-sectional area are among major determinants of the energy required to pull the liquid column along the proboscis towards the head and the body. In the current project, we carry out a systematic study of the available cross-sectional images using computational microscopy and MATLAB. We prove that the typically assumed circular model oversimplifies the real shape of the food canal. Thus, an elliptical model is assumed. We were able to analyze the ellipticity of the food canal and its variation along the proboscis. While the cross-section is significantly elliptical at its proximal region, it tends to be more circular in shape at the distal region of the proboscis. Eventually, the biomechanics of the butterfly proboscis can be mimicked to create a microfluidicdevice.

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Subcellular Localization of a Seashore Paspalum Transcription Factor, pv_WRKY Involved in Plant Stress Response Julia Wood, Ashley Larkins, Julia Hu, Dr. Le Li, and Dr. Hong LuoDepartment of Biochemistry and Genetics, Clemson University

Transcription factors consist of large families of regulatory proteins, some of which have been found to evolve in plants making them more resistant to abiotic stresses. A common group of these DNA binding proteins is characterized by the WRKY genes, which is often found in plants. Pv_WRKY, a WRKY transcription factor gene identified from seashore paspalum (paspalum vaginatum), a highly salt tolerant grass has been implicated in plant stress response. The purpose of this research is to expand our understanding of the role pv_WRKY plays in plants by studying its subcellular localization. The plasmid pHL1036 was used to extract the gene of interest, pv_WRKY, through digestion. This transcription factor gene was then added to the plasmid pHL273 through ligation, fusing to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. The construct was transformed into the bacteria E.Coli and the recombinant colonies were selected on LB plate. Plasmid DNA extraction and digestion were conducted to determine the final correct construct, pHL1037, ready to be introduced into Arabidopsis using Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation for further research.

EUREKA! Contributors

While EUREKA! was conceived through the vision of Dr. Wainscott and the hard work of the committee and continues to thrive with the support of Provost Bob Jones, Dean John Griffin, and Honors College Executive Director, Dr. William Lasser, we are grateful for Dr. Bill Pennington, who guided the EUREKA! Program, serving as its Director from the program’s inception in 2006 until 2017.

This year we are so appreciative of the dedicated Clemson Honors staff who worked together to provide a quality program for all of our 2019 EUREKA! participants:

Susan Falendysz EUREKA! Interim DirectorSonja Massey FinancesJacqueline Overton Administrative AssistantRachael Wallace EUREKA! Program AssistantWini Del Winkler Webmaster

Counselors

Our counselors, Zach Hubbarth, English Laserna, and Kenzie Grumbles provided care and support for the program participants on a daily basis and served as ideal role models for our 2019 Eurekans.

Tours and Talks

Special thanks to the following for providing inspiration and information to the Eurekans.

Dr. Jeff Appling Associate Dean, Undergraduate StudiesDr. Warren Chatwin Assistant Director, Major FellowshipsJessica Kohout-Tailor Assistant Librarian, Cooper LibraryKelsey Sheaffer Assistant Librarian, Cooper LibraryDr. Kelly Smith Interim Chair, Philosophy and ReligionHolly Williams Professional Development Coordinator, Honors College