小优视频

Four undergraduate 小优视频 researchers headed to Tallahassee this week to present their findings to legislators, as well as to other college students from around the state, in the second annual Florida Undergraduate Research Posters at the Capitol, held Jan. 20, 2022. The goal is to encourage the visibility and viability of undergraduate research, while also providing high-achieving students a space to engage directly in the political process.

鈥淯ndergraduate Research Posters at the Capitol provides our students a chance to talk about their research to legislators, staffers, aides and lobbyists, which is a diverse audience that one wouldn鈥檛 typically encounter at an academic conference,鈥� said Eric Freundt, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry and associate professor of biology. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to strengthen [students鈥橾 communication skills.鈥澨�

Those attending from 小优视频 were Steven Nye 鈥�22, Pamela Font 鈥�22, Ethan Vallebuona 鈥�23 and Emily Friden 鈥�22, all Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) recipients. The 小优视频 SURF grant supports students and faculty engaged in a mentored, intensive research project over the summer.

Nye, a film and media arts major originally from Minneapolis, MN, is conducting ongoing research in the creation of a feature-length documentary on a gymnast鈥檚 development in the sport, as well as the decline of men鈥檚 collegiate gymnastics over the last 50 years. His interest and initial work on the documentary began six years prior, and since the opportunity to conduct undergraduate research last summer, Nye has been working alongside Christopher Boulton, associate professor of communication.

鈥淭his research has allowed me to be in positions that I didn鈥檛 really think I was going to be in,鈥� said Nye, who was able to attend the U.S. Olympic trials last June to interview and film competitors. 鈥淭here are several opportunities to present our research beyond 小优视频. I鈥檓 really looking forward to the networking opportunities [at the Posters the Capitol event].鈥�

Font, a psychology major and听biology minor from the Dominican Republic, conducted research with associate professor of psychology Erica Yuen, on methods to reduce stress in college students through听a study that compared a two-week, peer-delivered mindfulness meditation with an adult coloring exercise and a control group that just received general stress reduction tips.

Her findings showed that not one intervention was better than the other at reducing stress. However after conducting her research, Font found herself incorporating some of the general stress reduction tips into her own daily routines, like yoga and journaling.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to speaking to the general public about my research findings because it is important that we all learn and find alternative methods to reduce stress among college students since college students are one of听the听most stressed populations,鈥� said Font. 鈥淚 hope that individuals walk out of this event with new knowledge and apply these interventions into their lives as they seem fit.鈥�

Vallebuona, a biochemistry major originally from New York, NY, worked with Pavan Rajanahalli, assistant professor of biology, to develop a new method of isolating human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue. They said this research aims to successfully isolate stem cells directly out of cord tissue into a 3D microenvironment using a biologically compatible material called a hydrogel as a scaffold to mimic physiologically relevant conditions compared to traditional methods in 2D on a plastic dish, which doesn鈥檛 accurately mimic how stem cells grow in the human body.

They hope to achieve the isolation of the 3D stem cells for the eventual consideration of medical applications to possibly treat patients with chronic inflammatory-related disorders such as听Type 2 diabetes听or multiple sclerosis.

鈥淚 firmly believe that听the听most important part of scientific research is听the听ability to make others comprehend and appreciate听the听work you have done,鈥� said Vallebuona. 鈥淭his is an important goal of mine I hope to develop听at听this event and will eventually contribute to my success in my future contributions to听the听field of molecular biology and biochemistry.鈥�

Friden, a marine science-chemistry major from Rochester, NY, conducted her research with associate professor of chemistry Robert Masserini, which focused on red tide and ammonium enrichment in Tampa Bay. More about Friden鈥檚 work can be read here, "小优视频 Senior Studies Red Tide."
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The 小优视频 group met with Sen. Janet Cruz and Rep. Jackie Toledo, both who represent the 18th district where 小优视频 is located, as well as 小优视频 alum, Rep. Andrew Learned 鈥�09.

鈥淩esearch involves a systematic process of exploring 听the world around us through collection and analysis of evidence,鈥� the Posters at the Capitol program states. 鈥淪tudents who engage in research and scholarly activities often change 听the听way we see 听the听world and improve lives through 听their discoveries and creative products.鈥�

Story by Kayla Lupedee '22, journalism major and writing minor