Past CSU Student Research Competition (SRC) Participants

SRC Winners

Justin Matties M.S. Kinesiology

1st Place, Graduate Division - Health, Nutrition and Clinical Sciences

Research Title: "A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoe"

Mentored by Dr. K. Michael Rowley, Department of Kinesiology

2019 2nd Place

Yashank Varshney B.S. Computer Science

2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Research Title: "Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production"

Mentored by Dr. Kathryn Grimm, Department of Physics

2018 1st place

F. Michael Chua M.A. Economics

1st Place, Graduate Division - Business, Economics, & Public Administration 

Research title: "Bitcoin: A Protector of Property Rights and Privacy? A Game-Theoretical Analysis"

Mentored by Dr. Christian Roessler, Department of Economics

Nidhi Nagar, M.S. Biological Sciences '17

Nidhi Nagar, M.S. Biological Sciences '17

1st Place, Graduate Division - Biological and Agricultural Sciences

Research title: "Role of Bacteria and Bacterial Metabolites in Development of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)"

Mentored by Dr. Maria Gallegos, Department of Biological Sciences

Ashley Maynard, M.S. Biological Sciences '16

Ashley Maynard, M.S. Biological Sciences '16

2nd Place, Graduate Division - Biological & Agricultural Sciences

Research title: "Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)"

Mentored by Dr. Tyler Evans, Department of Biological Sciences

Erik Miranda, B.A Psychology '15 and Rachel Echeandia, B.A Psychology '14

Erik Miranda, B.A Psychology '15 and Rachel Echeandia, B.A Psychology '14

2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Education

Research Title: "Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science"

Mentored by Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

SRC Participants by Year

Competition Site: San Diego State University

Name: Anandan, Saranya 

Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao

Project Title: A Digital Assistant Designed To Aid People With Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease

 

Name: Khosravi, Sepehr

Research Mentor: Dr. Amara Miller

Project Title: Qualitative Study of Body Image and Culture Among Iranian-Americans

 

Name: Maharaj, Ria

Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea

Project Title: Understanding Potential Influence of Social, Cultural, and Historical Traumas & Resiliencies on Health of Diverse South Asian Communities in California

 

Name: Matties, Justin

Research Mentor: Dr. K. Michael Rowley

Project Title: A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoes

 

Name: Mendoza, Destiny

Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny Hazlehurst

Project Title: Effects of selective mowing of invasive grasses on pollinator diversity in a California oak savanna environment

 

Name: Murray, Ashley and Yuan, Cassandra

Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy

Project Title: Simultaneous inhibition of sEH and FAAH alleviates inflammatory pain in male rats

 

Name: Torres, Sandra

Research Mentor: Dr. Andrea Arauza-Rivera

Project Title: An IFS for the Stretched Level-n Sierpiński Gasket

Competition Site: San Francisco State University (virtual)

 

Name: Basi, Sharn and Torres, Isabel

Research Mentor: Dr. Chris Baysdorfer and Dr. Patty Oikawa

Project Title: Methane Uptake in Compost-Amended Grasslands: An investigation combining trace gas measurements, quantitative PCR, and soil microbial analysis

 

Name: Coleman, Isaac

Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Ortuoste

Project Title: Alternative Voting Systems in an Expanding Society: Tackling the question of voter satisfaction

 

Name: Martinez, Cynthia

Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton

Project Title: Understanding transcriptional regulation of T. gondii developmental differentiation and virulence

 

Name: McNeill, Amber

Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver

Project Title: How a Global Pandemic Changed Students’ Perspectives in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

 

Name: Mwamba, Gregory

Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver

Project Title: Blowup of the Nonlinear Klein-Gordon Equation with Arbitrarily in FLRW Spacetimes

 

Name: Reyes, Roelyne

Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim

Project Title: Aptamer Selection for MRI Contrast Agents

 

Name: Ruiz-Mena, Patricia and Vatuvei, Roshetta

Research Mentor: Dr. Cathy Inoyue and Dr. Jennifer Sherwood

Project Title: Relationships Between Muscle Fitness and Radial Bone Strength in Older Adults

 

Name: Sarah, Marium 

Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao

Project Title: Can a rewarding application drive Environment‐friendly actions among individuals?

Competition Site: Cal Poly Pomona (virtual)

 

Name: An Nepangue, Jexy (B.A. Psychology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Jeri Little

Project Title: Interleaving Is Better Than Blocking for Memorizers, but Blocking Is Better Than Interleaving for Finding a Rule

 

Name: Buchert, Steven (B.A. Psychology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Divya Sitaraman

Project Title: Effects of Sleep on Behavioral Decision Making and Reproductive Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila Melanogaster

 

Name: Rodriguez, Esaison (B.S. Biochemistry) and Muhammed, Sameerah (B.S. Biochemistry)

Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter

Project Title: Exploration of Salinity Tolerance in Pistachio Trees By Measuring Stress Responses on the Biochemical Level

 

Name: Denys, Andrew (M.S. Kinesiology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling

Project Title: Neuromuscular Fitness Field Testing: A Strong Predictor Variable For Tibial Bone Strength Indices Prediction Models

 

Name: León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)

Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham

Project Title: Utilizing Reflexivity: Strategic Self-Disclosure and Insider Perspective in Qualitative Research with Transgender & Non-Binary People

 

Name: Millar, Sarah (M.S. Speech-Language Pathology) and Moore, Delia (B.S. Kinesiology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Gravier and Dr. Albert Mendoza

Project Title: Let's Get Virtual: Online Interprofessional Aphasia Group Fitness for COVID-19

 

Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Quintana, Taylor (B.S. Biological Sciences)

Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy

Project Title: Early treatment of inflammatory pain prevents the transition from acute to chronic pain in rats

 

Name: Riegelsberger, Aerin (M.S.W. Social Work)

Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham

Project Title: Putting The Ball In The Patient’s Court: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy In U.S. Family Planning Clinics

 

Name: Shah, Aarohi (M.S. Chemistry)

Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher

Project Title: Can Ion Exchange Resins Be Used to Remove Boron from Produced Waters and Increase Water Sustainability?

Competition Site: CSU East Bay (virtual)

 

Name: Bahlibi, Abraham (B.A. Psychology) and Contreras, Cesar (B.A. Psychology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Negin Toosi

Project Title: The Role of Race and Gender in Salary Negotiations

 

Name: Cabrera, Mica (B.S. Biochemistry)

Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter

Project Title: Exploring Antioxidant Capacity in Green Tea Dependent on Types of Water

 

Name: Fox, Lindsey (B.A. Sociology) and León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)

Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham

Project Title: Transgender and non-binary patient perspectives on receiving transition-related healthcare in family planning clinics in the United States

 

Name: Moline, Ariel (B.S. Biological Sciences)

Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton

Project Title: How does the developmentally regulated enzyme, Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase, contribute to stage conversion during Toxoplasma pathogenesis?

 

Name: Murrieum, Munahil (B.A. Business Analytics)

Research Mentor: Dr. Saeid Motavalli

Project Title: Building Energy Performance Prediction using Machine Learning: A Data-

Driven Decision-Making Framework for Energy Retrofits

 

Name: Naidu, Vishwani (B.S. Health Sciences)

Research Mentor: Dr. Alina Engelman & Dr. Mariana Guzzardo

Project Title: The Emergency Response of Community-Based Organizations In Puerto Rico after Hurricane María

 

Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences)

Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy

Project Title: Peripherally-restricted opioids restore normal activity without disruptive side effects in rats with chronic inflammatory pain

 

Name: Reinke, Taylor (M.S. Counseling and B.A. Psychology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Oanh Tran

Project Title: Using a Social-Emotional Learning Program to Enhance Students' Well-Being

 

Name: Romero-Medina, Claudia (M.S. Kinesiology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling

Project Title: Bilateral Bone Strength Differences in Division II Female Volleyball Players

 

Name: Schmidt, Derek (M.A. Music)

Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut

Project Title: The Folk Music Paradox: The Transformation of European Folk Music Into the Innovation of 20th C. Music

Competition Site: CSU Fullerton

Name: Akhavian, Armin (M.A. Music)

Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut

Project Title: An Analysis of the String Quartet “Death and the Maiden” (1st movement) by Franz Schubert

 

Name: Bajo, Ruby (B.S. Biology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Hayes

Project Title: Balancing Differentiation Between a Prescriptive vs. Flexible Professional Development

 

Name: Chandnani, Priya (B.S. Psychology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Dong-Won Choi

Project Title: What Escalates Conflict?

 

Name: Lal, Pooja (B.S. Health Sciences) and Raman, Priya (B.S. Health Sciences concentration in Public Health)

Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea

Project Title: Addressing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening among South Asians in the United States- Indo-Fijians and Pakistanis

 

Name: Duong, Andy (M.S. Biological Sciences)

Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos

Project Title: Characterization of PLM in ebp-1/2/3 triple mutant Caenorhabditis elegans

 

Name: Heidarian, Mohammad (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Kadeer, Elshad (M.S. Chemistry)

Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim

Project Title: Aptamer-based MRI contrast agent with higher efficacy

 

Name: Hernandez, Carlos (M.S. Construction Management) and Slaton, Trevor (M.S. Mathematics)

Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian

Project Title: Toward Reduced Emissions: Modeling Construction Activities with Deep Learning

 

Name: Lan, Connie (M.S.W. Social Work)

Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor

Project Title: Student Health & Mental Health at Cal State East Bay: Balancing “pushing myself until I die and a little self-love”  

 

Name:  Nair, Deepajan (M.S. Speech Language Pathology) and Polit, Prema (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)

Research Mentor: Dr. Elena Dukhovny and Dr. Shubha Kashinath 

Project Title: Beyond the Device: Training communication partners to support AAC use in educational settings

 

Name: Varshney, Yashank (B.S. Computer Science)

Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Grimm

Project Title: Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production

Competition Site: Sacramento State

Name: Beverly, Linda (B.S. Mathematics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Shirley Yap
Project Title: LLE Based Image Hashing of Video

Name: Chua, F Michael (M.A. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Christian Roessler
Project Title: Bitcoin, a protector of privacy and property rights? A game-theoretical analysis

Name: Goldman, Jessica (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amanda Morrison
Project Title: The Mediating Roles of Social Support & Attachment Style on Collectivism &Resilience

Name: Keramati, Negar (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: Population Genetics study of Tritonia tetraquetra

Name: Kurak, Ivana (M.A. History)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ben Klein
Project Title: Divine Mothers, Earth Goddesses, and Harlots: Deconstructing the Stereotypes of 1960’s Counterculture Women in Northern California and New Mexico Communal Societies

Name: Monga, Karan (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Condori, Walter (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Development of a Virtual Reality Educational Game for Waste Management: Attack of Recyclops

Name: Pistorino, Jonathan (M.S. Chemistry) & Hall, Nicolas (B.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher
Project Title: Uranium(VI) Sorption onto Montmorillonite Clay in the Presence Calcite: Experimental and Modeling

Name: Quesenberry, Collin (M.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Luther Strayer
Project Title: Interpreting the seismic velocity structure across the Hayward Fault Zone with new high-resolution seismic data

Name: Reyes, Kimberly (M.B. A. Management) & Cole-Regis, Philip (M.B.A. Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Balaraman Rajan
Project Title: Affordable Care Act(ACA): Impact on U.S. Emergency and Preventative healthcare  

Name: Sin, Davina (M.S. Chemistry) & Bongay, Mark (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of a Magnetic Imaging Agent for Antioxidant Glutathione

Competition Site: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Name: Albanna, Nesreen (B.S. Biological Sciences) & Kaur, Jasbindar (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Nazzy Pakpour
Project Title: Inhibiting the feeding behavior of Drosphila Suzukii

Name: Chua, Michael (M.S. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kaumudi Misra
Project Title: Effects of Import Competition on Job Satisfaction

Name: Huffman, Jennifer (B.S. Speech Pathology & Audiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sara Smith
Project Title: The Relationship Between Working Memory and Executive Function (specifically inhibition) among Spanish/English Bilingual College Students

Name: Jahanbanifar, Shahin (M.S. Construction Management) & Kaur, Puneet (M.S. Construction Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian
Project Title: Construction Workers' Injury Prevention Using Smartphone Based Activity Recognition System

Name: Luu, Anthony (B.S. Biochemistry) & Sigua, Levi (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of an Aptamer-based Sensor for Galactosemia

Name: Mohr, Sarah (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Rose Wong
Project Title: Protective Factors in Muslim Women's Mental Health in the San Francisco Bay Area

Name: Nagar, Nidhi (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Title: Role of bacteria and bacterial metabolites in development of Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Name: Salazar, Daniel (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Rao, Akarsh (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Virtual Reality Applications For Waste Management

Name: Yao, Jingyun (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Pradeep Ramanathan
Project Title: The effectiveness of saline injection in the treatment of vocal fold scarring

Name: Ylanan, Ryan (M.S. Kinesiology) & Tapia, Oddessy (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: #Motivation: Examining motivational aspects of, and physical activity associations with, fitness-related social media activity

Competition Site: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, Bakersfield

Name: Bahramian, Jennifer (M.S. Environmental Ecology), Hand, Christopher (B.S. Chemistry), & York, Drew (B.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: The Determination of the Thermodynamic Properties of Glycine at Hydrothermal Conditions Towards a Better Understanding of the Emergence of Life

Name: Brar, Evranjeet (B.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Physical and Sedentary Activity in a College Population: The influence of undergraduate major and gender

Name: Chugh, Shikha (M.S. Statistics)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Economic Analysis of Alternative Logistics Systems for Tennessee-Produced Switchgrass to Penetrate Energy Markets

Name: Edgar, Marya (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amon Porter
Project Title: A Descriptive Analysis of Commercial Sexual Exploited Children (CSEC) Victims in Contra Costa County Foster Care System

Name: Marroquin, Yvonne; Rosales, Doug & Ndomo, Rodrique
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Dr. Christine Lee, Dr. Rachelle Di Stefano and Dr. Kathryn Hayes
Project Title: ‘Underrepresented Students’ are Not All the Same: Examining Science Achievement among Subgroups of English Language Learners and Students from Low Socioeconomic Status

Name: Maynard, Ashley (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Tyler Evans
Project Title: Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)

Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Video Game Experiences and their Relationship to Practical Skills

Name: Perez, Luis
Research Mentor: Professor Tom Watson
Project Title: Getting Their Money’s Worth:  The Effectiveness of Using Humor in Super Bowl 50 Commercials

Name: Pothier, Holly (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Language, Education & Executive Function (L.E.E.F.): Exploring the role of language contact and environment among Spanish-English Bilinguals

Name: Ryczek, Cameron (B.S. Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Murray Horne
Project Title: Negative Patterning in a Geometric Spatial Task

Competition Site: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, San Bernardino

Name: Benetatos, Denise (M.A Anthropology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Laurie Price
Project Title: Cultural Models of Beauty and the Social World of South Korean Women

Name: Chung, John (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Effects of Sex and Gender on Coping Methods

Name: Diefenbach, Matthew (B.S. Physics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Erik Helgren
Project Title: Metal Insulator Transition of Polyaniline

Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) & Miranda, Erik (B.S. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science

Name: Jen, Gianni (B.A Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Motivations of Play in Video Games and Adaptive Coping Strategies

Name: Krutel, Lily (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Substance Use among Trauma Survivors: Assessing Current Attitudes and Service Provision

Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Perspectives

Name: Nguyen, Khanh (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Do poplar hybrids raise antioxidant levels under high salt and boron stress?

Name: Nguyen, Minh-Thi (B.S. Business Administration) & Nicolas, Jonathan (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Gender Identity and Achievement: Is Higher Education Masculine?

Name: Sharifi, Osman (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: The mitochondrial genomes of the nudibranch mollusks, Melibe leonina and Tritonia diomedea, and their impact on gastropod phylogeny

Competition Site: ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ, East Bay

Name: Chiu, James (B.S. Business Administration) and Morshed Farzana (B.S. Business Administration)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ken Chung
Project Title: How are Executives Getting Paid for CSR?

Name: Diploudis, Maria Diamantoula (Master of Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Intergenerational Patterns in the Child Welfare System

Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) and Miranda, Erik (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Motivation: The Importance of Mastery in Middle School Science Achievement

Name: Gonzalez, Claudia (B.A. Psychology), Hinant, Rachel (B.A. Psychology), and Rodriquez, Ana C. (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: America’s Call to Improve Science Education: Professional Development Deepens Middle School Science Teachers’ Content Knowledge

Name: Hamor, Nastassia (M.S Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Measuring the Transfer of Three Psychological Skills from an Academic Setting to the Real-World

Name: Igboegwu, Chidimma (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Peer and Parental Attachment as Predictors of Adjustment and Achievement in High School and College among Domestic and International Students

Name: Kennedy, Denise (Master of Social Work)
Major: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Stress Management and Physical Activity for Clients with Schizophrenia

Name: Larson, Tobias (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Simmons
Project Title: Using Mental Skills to Support Lifestyle Change

Name: Sharifi, Osman (B.S. Biological Science)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: A partial genome sequence for Tritonia diomedia

Name: Vishwanathan, Swati (M.A. Communication)
Research Mentor: Dr. Grant Kien 
Project Title: Yahoo Appoints Pregnant CEO: A Content Analysis