Showcase Posters - 2025

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  A Research proposal: Morality as a social construct

  Samantha Gonzales

  Separating our minds from the constraints of our social constructs allows us to analyze problems from a place somewhere remotely close to unbiased. However, it is only after we understand that our sense of morale [i.e. right and wrong] originated as social constructs—that is to say, right and wrong have no reason to exist in an objective world. The very concept of right and wrong have been socially constructed from the beginning; they are, in their most simplistic nature, entirely subjective. Subjective in this sense means outside of the very people who speak of the words right and wrong in this society, those very words would cease to have meaning. Again, one may ask: why do we care? To state this question in other terms; should we care?

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  Domestic violence and women in education

  Elizabeth Gonzalez

  Domestic violence has prevailed especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to its excessive impact on intimate partners, it is known that it has been impacting people in various ways whether it be technological, emotional, financial, physical, sexual, or economic (Domestic Violence, 2024).

  In particular, domestic violence has targeted women who have educational attainment due to many factors. With this in mind, we study the different potential risk effects that cause women to have fewer opportunities whether it be financially or employment along with geographic factors impacting them to experience domestic violence.

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  What factors impact domestic violence across the 50 U.S States?

  Elizabeth Gonzalez

  * 50% of women seen in emergency departments report a history of abuse

  * 5 million acts of Domestic Violence occur annually to woman aged 18 yrs and older

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  Mente -mental health tracking app

  Vu Han

  Mental health plays a crucial role in overall well-being, yet many digital tools in this space are either overly complex or lack usercentered design. Mente is a streamlined, web-based application created to support daily mental health engagement through simplicity and ease of use.

  •Purpose: To provide a minimal, intuitive platform for users to reflect on their emotional well-being and develop healthier habits over time.

  •Core Features:

  • Mood tracking with visual trends

  • Journaling for personal reflection

  • Goal setting and progress tracking

  • Health assessment for self-awareness

  • Analytics for self-reflection •Design Focus: A clean, distraction-free interface that emphasizes clarity and consistency.

  •Target Users: Individuals seeking a simple, effective way to monitor and improve their mental health without the overwhelm of larger wellness platforms. By combining essential tools with thoughtful design, Mente empowers users to build self-awareness, recognize patterns, and support long-term emotional growth.

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  Discrimination at work: recognizing and addressing systemic bias

  Briana Heggy

  Race-based workforce discrimination remains a significant issue in the U.S., particularly affecting African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups. In 2021, the EEOC received over 60,000 workplace discrimination charges, with race discrimination being the most common complaint. Discrimination levels vary by state, influenced by factors like education, minority population size, and political affiliation. Higher education levels can increase awareness of discrimination laws, but also affect job opportunities and earnings. States with larger minority populations may experience different forms of racial discrimination, while political party influence can impact the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. This research examines how these factors interact to shape racial discrimination in the workforce, aiming to inform policies for a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

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  How do people sit in cars? Reproducibility of vehicle seat and body positions for individual occupants

  Kobie Henson and Nathan Sadler

  Some crash investigators have assumed that different people having the same stature and gender will reliably choose the same (or a similar) seat adjustments each time they sit in a specific make and model of automobile [Lee]. Knowledge of how a person sits in an automobile is important, because position and seat adjustment can have a significant influence on the way force is distributed throughout a human body during a collision, as they move relative to the vehicle and then contact various components within the interior [West]. However, conclusions reached from such exemplar studies depend on whether assuming that similar-sized people sit and adjust their seat in the same way in the same vehicle is correct.

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  Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS toxin in the air-liquid interface Bronchial Culture Model

  Alexandria Hernandez

  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pathogen that can cause severe respiratory infection that can rarely be life threating. There are currently no vaccines against M. pneumoniae, and the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of M. pneumoniae is on the rise.1 During infection, M. pneumoniae produces a toxin called Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS) toxin, which plays a role in establishing infection. Analysis of the crystal structure of CARDS toxin protein reveals three protein domains: D1, D2,and D3.

  After entering a cell, CARDS toxin traffics by a retrograde process to the ER of the cell, where it undergoes processing.4 Our current studies support that CARDS toxin is processed into two fragments; a D1-containing fragment, and a D2/D3-containing fragment. Studying this process is crucial to understanding the effects that CARDS toxin exerts on both intoxicated and neighboring cells. The goal of this study is to analyze CARDS toxin processing in a transfection model of A549 and NHBE primary human bronchial cells, as well as study CARDS processing in NHBE air-liquid culture.

  We hypothesize that CARDS toxin is processed more selectively by tracheal cells compared to alveolar cells due to observations seen during M. pneumoniae infection. Samples from transfected cells were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and western blot. Additionally, NHBE cells were grown in an air-liquid interface culture and treated with purified recombinant CARDS toxin to analyze the processing of the toxin and movement of CARDS toxin fragments.

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  Unmasking the color behind humantrafficking

  Miranda Ibarra

  > Human Trafficking as a Global Crisis: Recognized as the second-largest criminal industry in the world, human trafficking affects millions worldwide.

  > Legal Framework: The Trafficking Victims Protections Act (TVPA) (2000) introduced these primary strategies:

  • Prevention
  • Protection
  • Prosecution

  Definition of Trafficking:

  • The illegal coercion and transporation of individuals for exploitation.

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  The presence of substance use in individuals from a non-traditional family structure

  Manuel Lastra-Cruz, Isac Perez, Mariana Torres, and Cayla Travers

  This study will analyze the relationship between family structure and substance use behaviors among young adults aged 18 to 25. The aim is to compare substance use between participants raised in nontraditional family structures (foster care or adoptive families) and those raised in biological families. The study will use a cross-sectional design where 200 participants will be recruited (100 from each family structure group). Data collection included the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), an Intake Form Assessment, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The participants will complete these surveys that will be used to measure the relationship between substance use and family structure. The results will be analyzed using an independent samples t-test and a Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient.

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  The casualties of the open-borders debate: Latinx feminist voices on the ethics of migration

  Amely Logan

  To consider philosophical perspectives on immigration restrictions and the consequences of the open borders debate more generally.

  • The open borders debate within the ethics of migration consists of arguments from philosophers who justify states’ rights to restrict immigration and arguments from philosophers who believe states should have open borders.

  • Christopher Heath Wellman’s “Immigration and Freedom of Association,” where he argues that states do in fact have a right to exclude immigrants from their territories. I highlight how the language and framing around migrants in works, like Wellman’s, itself does harm to migrants.

  • While border enforcement results in mass casualties among immigrants, I argue that social terms that characterize immigrants as “illegals” and “aliens” constitute another type of causality migrants face that is overlooked in the open borders debate.

  • By taking seriously Latinx feminist voices, like those of Mariana Ortega and Gloria Anzaldúa, that are often neglected within the ethics of migration, it becomes clearer to understand the immigrant experience and difficulties immigrants face due to the way in which they are portrayed in the United States.

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  Universal window A/C mounting & sealing solution

  Adrian Losoya, Elijah Narvaez, and Savannah Youngblood

  Window air conditioning units require stable support to prevent damage to window frames and ensure safe operation. Many existing brackets lack durability or are difficult to install which leads to safety concerns. This project focuses on designing, constructing, and testing an easy-to-install wall-mounted bracket capable of securely supporting an air conditioner while enhancing energy efficiency.

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  Duracell CR2016 batteries - behavior under different external loads

  Brandon Low, Jonathan Uribe, and Nicole Vanegas

  When connecting a voltage source to a conductor, an electric field is created from the source's applied potential difference, exerting forces on charges within the conductor. [1] The flow of charges is proportional to the voltage, a relationship known as Ohm's Law. This law also states that the flow of current in a device is inversely proportional to the resistance of the device itself, which depends on its shape, size, and material. Resistance can also come from external sources, which when placed in a series circuit, combine with a device's internal resistance to create a larger load. In this experiment we tested how increasing external loads affect the performance of Duracell CR2016 batteries. To determine its effect, we analyzed its current, voltage, and battery capacity.

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  Heartbeats and algorithms: black pre- med students at the crossroad of cardiology and AI

  Shuri Magdalene

  The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the healthcare landscape. • The underrepresentation of Black/African American (BAA) doctors is alarming with recent data of active physicians from the Association of Medical Colleges in 2021 has highlighted this underrepresentation of Black/ African American physicians in the U.S., with only about 5.7%1 of doctors belonging to this demographic, and cardiologists making up a mere 4.2% of this group1 .

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  Borrowing in the dark: The role of financial education in payday loan dependence

  Abdullah Mohammad Mahi and Solomon Wang

  Payday loans, a form of short-term, high-interest credit, have become a contentious financial instrument in the United States. Though they provide immediate access to cash for individuals, they are largely criticized for reinforcing consumers' financial vulnerability. With APRs consistently surpassing 400%, payday loans not only carry high risk but continue to be widely popular, attracting an estimated 12 million Americans every year. This research delves into the relationship between financial literacy and the utilization of payday loans. The payday lending market thrives by targeting individuals in financial distress, who are typically lowincome, young, and economically marginalized, making them particularly susceptible to exploitative practices like hidden fees, rollovers, and usurious interest rates. This study examines how financial literacy influences reliance on payday loans, using NFCS data to analyze correlations while accounting for income, age, education, and psychological factors. It highlights how payday lenders exploit financially distressed individuals, trapping them in cycles of debt through hidden fees and high-interest rates.

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  Importance of intervention

  Megan Lexi Maldonado

  Domestic violence is a global issue, and research extensively highlights its impact on individuals, especially children. This poster examines the detrimental effects of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) on children, such as attachment problems, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), resilience, cognitive abilities, and trust. Despite growing awareness, there is still a lack of information on effective community and school interventions to aid affected children. The intent of this poster is to promote discussion on strategies for communities and schools to better assist children impacted by IPV.

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  Do otters remember what they solved? ManyOtters - Collaborative Science

  ManyOtters, Heather Manitzas Hill, Deirdre Yeater, Caroline M. DeLong, Catina Wright, Emily Langdon, and Lisa Halstead

  This poster was created for the 5th annual Research Showcase. From the Poster:

  The ManyOtters group seeks to promote studies with larger sample sizes and a variety of species of otters, while developing a collaborative network of scientists. ...

  Our initial project focuses on long term memory in otters.

  For more information about ManyOtters please visit

  https://manyotters.github.io/

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  Seasonal changes in gene expression of the three estrogen receptor subtypes in the Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus

  Elena Mares

  Vertebrates have multiple estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes which facilitate transcriptional activity of genes when activated by estrogenic ligands. Teleost fish have 3 distinct estrogen receptor subtypes, including ERα, ERβ, and a unique type, ERγ. Each subtype has a different binding affinities to many estrogenic compounds, but their subsequent transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are not wellknown1. The focused species of the project is Micropogonias undulatus, the Atlantic Croaker.

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  Female Beluga behavior during breeding season - It's all about the males

  Alondra-Sophia Martinez, Heather Manitzas Hill, and Katie Kolodziej

  This poster was created for the 5th annual Research Showcase. From the poster:

  The current study examined the behavior of adult female belugas during courtship/breeding.

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  Key factors in U.S. mass shootings: A statistical approach

  Jared Martinez

  Mass shootings in the U.S. have surged at an alarming rate. From 1976 to 2018, there were 155 mass public shootings, resulting in 1,078 deaths and 1,694 nonfatal injuries and the rate has only accelerated in recent years. In just eight years (2013–2021), over 200 more occurred. Understanding the factors behind these tragedies is critical for prevention. The 2022 Uvalde school shooting, where an 18-year-old legally purchased assault rifles before killing 21 people, exemplifies the consequences of easy firearm access. By identifying patterns, we can help shape policies to reduce these horrific events and protect communities

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  Catholic church involvement across different cultures

  Lucia Martinez

  There is a widespread religious deconversion in Western culture (Hardy & Taylor, 2024).

  • Data from The Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) shows that 29.7 million US Hispanics identify as Catholic, which translates to approximately 59% of the Hispanic population in the Unites States (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d.).

  • This study examined the difference between Catholic church involvement in predominantly Hispanic cities versus predominantly Caucasian cities.

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  History of the bilateral relation between the United States and Ecuador to tackle drug trafficking

  Teagan McSherry, Luis Ramirez, and Savannah Torres

  This research analyzes the evolution of the relationship between Ecuador and the United States on security issues, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking. First, the political-historical context in which the war on drugs emerges in the United States is described. Second, the US national security strategy is examined regarding Plan Colombia and the Andean Regional Initiative. Third, it is analyzed how the issue of combating drug trafficking varies according to the ideological tendencies of the Ecuadorian leaders, paying particular attention to the role of the controversial Manta Base. The proposal to reform the constitution is discussed, particularly Article 5 under the administration of Daniel Noboa with the aim of reinstalling foreign bases in Ecuadorian territory. Finally, alternatives to the militaristic approach to the war on drugs are proposed in future bilateral security agreements between Ecuador and the United States, through a comprehensive reform of the security sector.

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  Rattler NoteHub

  Emily Medlin

  Students lack diverse and comprehensive study materials that help develop effective learning. More specifically, students at St. Mary’s may find that study material outside of class are not as effective or not relevant to what was taught in class. This leads to prolonged study sessions or completely missing information that was taught when the student was absent. Rattler NoteHub tries to accomplish giving access to students to collaborate, find supplement resources and promote efficient studying.

  Rattler NoteHub is a full-stack website that was initially developed as a Software Engineering project. Since then, the website has expanded its functionality to better serve its purpose to serve students at St. Mary's. Now, students can engage with others through dedicated course discussion boards, comment directly on notes, and receive notifications about interactions people have made on their posts or notes. Additionally, Rattler NoteHub has implemented an AI-powered quiz generator that creates multiple-choice questions based off uploaded notes.

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  Holdfast War archives

  Albert Mendez

  Holdfast War Archives is a full-stack website designed for the competitive community of the 19th-century multiplayer roleplaying game, Holdfast Nations at War. This project caters to the North American (NA) melee competitive scene, offering tools to enhance player engagement, maintain records, track performance, and facilitate competitive matchmaking.

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  Lost in translation

  Jayden Mendez

  Reader Response Theory (Brizee et al.2014) asserts that “readers' reactions to literature [are] vital to interpreting the meaning of the text” (10). Reader Response (Fish 1981) approaches literary studies as way to explore how readers react to a piece of prose or a poem from a perspective developed within their interpretive communities. Interpretive communities hold a set of assumptions or strategies in common that shape the meaning of a text for a reader synchronically, at the moment of reading. Because the assumptions or strategies of these communities change over time, the meaning of a text for a reader can also change diachronically. Operating from this Reader Response perspective, I compare and contrast two translations of the Old English poem, “The Wanderer”, one from the medieval time period and the other from the twentieth century. The role of the reader and the production of meaning in an interpretive community remains critical for a healthy cultural and civic life as demonstrated by the negative impacts of misinformation on our contemporary interpretive communities.

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  Evaluation of cellular and genetic responses to Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS Toxin using a transfection model

  Rubi Mendez

  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a microorganism that causes respiratory infection ranging in acuteness. Its connection to developing pneumonia is most widely known and this causes misleading assumptions for M. pneumoniae to be a mild infection.1 However, it is possible for many cases to arise in small populations or even spread epidemically.² M. pneumoniae is also known to cause extrapulmonary infections ranging in a wide variety of symptoms, such as skin rashes, psychological disorders, and arthritis.3 The mechanism by which M. pneumoniae can cause such diverse disease is unknown and still under investigation. Looking further into the functions of this pathogen would provide deeper understanding and potentially ways to decrease infection.

  It is speculated that M. pneumoniae is unique from other mycoplasmas as it generates an exotoxin that enter host cells during infection. This exotoxin is called Community Community-Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome or CARDS Toxin. CARDS Toxin is a protein that consists of three known subunits or domains, labeled D1, D2, and D3. It is known that D1, or the N-terminal, has ADP-phosphorylating activity once the toxin enters a cell.1 Yet, the roles of D2 and D3, or the C-terminal, are still undetermined. It is speculated that the C-terminal triggers harmful vacuole production and disconnects from D1 once in the cell. The uncertainty of these domains gives rise to concerning questions for the understanding of M. pneumoniae and the effects it can have on intracellular mechanisms as a whole.

  We hypothesize that mutating CARDS toxin DNA at the 132nd amino acid, changing Glutamine (E) to Alanine (A), would hinder the toxin’s ability to perform ADPPhosphorylation. Amplification of the N- and C- terminals separately would allow the mutation to be developed, and generating an ADP-ribosylating-deficient mutant of CARDS toxin will help us better determine if the mechanism of vacuolization is independent of ADP-ribosylation