Six AU Students Present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research

By: Joseph D’Andrea

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) brings together nearly 4,000 undergraduate students each year. This year, Adelphi's SPARK (Scholars Pursuing Arts, Research and Knowledge) Center sent six Adelphi students from various fields and disciplines to present their research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 7 to 9 in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The students’ reflections are listed here, as well as the titles for the research they presented.

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. (L-R) Joseph D'Andrea, Alysse Fazal, Keara Malazarte, Aani Mehta, Katelyn Schwab, and Vaishnavi Dixit. Photo by Joseph D’Andrea

Joseph D’Andrea, senior history major and journalism minor in STEP for adolescent education: “Frontier Fathers in Crisis: Bob Dylan’s Ballad of Hollis Brown and the Legacy of Familial Struggle in Rural America” and "Frank Capra, the Great Depression, and the Fallacy of the American Dream”

One of my favorite parts of doing research is being able to share what I’ve found and written with an audience. It’s not just important in terms of improving my work but I also find it so enjoyable to discuss historical topics with other people. In the past, I’ve only had the chance to present in front of my classes and at Adelphi’s Scholarship & Creative Works Conference, but thanks to the SPARK Center and the help of Professor Cristina Zaccarini, I was able to do so at an even bigger stage at NCUR. Not only did I enjoy presenting my own work and receiving feedback, but I had a great time walking through the event hall, reading other students’ posters and getting to chat with them. The conference was very STEM-dominated so I got to learn about a lot of topics unrelated to my area of study as well. Even so, I still got a great dose of history from the museums around the city which made the trip even more valuable. I’m very grateful to Adelphi for providing me with this opportunity.

Vaishnavi Dixit, senior statistics major with a minor in computer science: “Evaluating the Efficacy and Limitations of K-Nearest Neighbors in Imbalanced Datasets”

Attending NCUR was an incredible experience that I’ll always cherish. We had the opportunity to present our research, connect with students and faculty from universities across the country, and immerse ourselves in a space filled with inspiring ideas and historical richness. One of the highlights was engaging in meaningful conversations that broadened our perspectives and sparked new ideas. I am especially thankful to SPARK for their generous support. Their help made this entire journey possible.

Alysse Fazal, senior biology major and Latin American Studies minor in the SUNY Upstate Accelerated Scholars Program: “Sleep Quality, Physical Activity, and Healthcare Utilization Amongst Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)”

Recently, I had the privilege of attending NCUR in Pittsburgh with the help of Adelphi’s SPARK Center. At NCUR, I presented a clinical research project I completed at the University of Pennsylvania, which investigated the relationship between sleep quality, physical activity and healthcare utilization amongst adults with early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Attending NCUR allowed me to present my research to a wide variety of people, and I found it especially interesting to hear my audience share stories about their family members with CKD. My presentation culminated in offering small-scale medical interventions that can reduce the financial burden of healthcare, and I found it endearing that so many people were interested in how to properly implement these solutions to help their loved ones financially, socially and physically. Aside from giving my presentation, my favorite part about NCUR was attending the other poster sessions, particularly those on new medical innovations across the country.

Keara Malazarte, junior molecular neuroscience major: “The Modulation of Evacuation Behavior Based on Ant Colony Group Size and Age”

Keara Malazarte, a junior molecular neuroscience major presented her research titled “The Modulation of Evacuation Behavior Based on Ant Colony Group Size and Age.” Photo by Aani Mehta

My time at NCUR was truly an insightful experience in many ways. I consider my research to be more niche, especially as it is rooted primarily in entomology and behavioral work. Having the opportunity to present at a national level gave me exposure to a wide audience and interacting with people from all over the country gave me new perspectives on my work. Being able to learn from others about their research was truly inspiring and I was able to make connections with other students. After conference hours, I would go out to explore Pittsburgh, which is a beautiful, quaint city. I loved going to the vibrant museums, trying new cuisines with friends, and taking long walks downtown. This experience has been so impactful for my growth as a researcher and I am so grateful to have had this experience through SPARK!

Aani Mehta, junior psychology major and art therapy and social work minor: “Is Love Addiction Associated with Personality Disorders and Trauma?”

Thanks to the generous funding and sponsorship by Adelphi's SPARK center, I was able to present my research at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh. It was a fantastic, memorable experience full of networking opportunities and social events. I was able to connect with colleges for my future graduate school endeavors, share my research with other people in the academic community, and create a closer bond with some of my fellow Adelphi peers. Thank you, SPARK center for making this great experience possible.

Katelyn Schwab, senior psychology major: “The Relationship Between LGBTQ+ Mental Health and American Politics”

My experience at NCUR was nothing short of amazing. I got to present my research that I worked so incredibly hard on for a year and a half, within the Emerging Scholars Program at Adelphi and a fellowship from SPARK. I’m super passionate about the LGBTQ+ community and their well-being when it comes to political ramifications, and I loved being able to explore multiple branches through my work. I got to share my qualitative findings with people who were genuinely so passionate about my research. I had no idea the room would be filled, and people would have to literally stand. I loved my time around truly inspiring minds. NCUR made me feel like anything is truly possible.

To learn about more possible opportunities provided by the SPARK Center, visit their page on Adelphi‘s website. If you still have questions, email Andrew Ward, associate provost for Research and Special Projects at award@adelphi.edu or Professor Justyna Widera-Kalinowska at widera@adelphi.edu.

Vaishnavi Dixit, Alysse Fazal, Keara Malazarte, Aani Mehta and Katelyn Schwab also contributed to this article.