Research Days Posters 2025

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  Hybrid Fitness in Mimulus Aurantiacus var. Calycinus x Mimulus Aurantiacus var. Longiflorus

  Jovana Simic, Rachel Pitt, Emma Rella, Josh Knecht, and James Sobel

  Hybridization between diverging populations offers a unique opportunity to study genetic interactions that contribute to speciation. When hybridization occurs between partially isolated populations, selection against low-fitness hybrids counteracts gene flow that eludes prezygotic barriers.The Dobzhansky-Muller model proposes that negative epistasis between divergent loci generates low-fitness hybrids without requiring parental populations to cross a fitness valley. Previous work evaluating seedling growth in Mimulus auraticaus var. calycinus X M. aurantiacus var. longiflorus provided evidence for negative interactions between these recently diverged genomes. This research expanded on this work by adding back-crosses, along with F1s, F2s, and the parents. Seed weight, seed area, and germination timing were measured. F1 hybrids were at least as fit as parental lines, while F2 and backcross generations exhibited reduced fitness, suggesting that heterozygous x heterozygous interactions significantly reduced hybrid viability. These findings provide evidence for negative epistatic interactions, highlighting the complexity of hybrid fitness landscapes.

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  Narcissism in Authoritarian Leadership

  Raya Sitman

  While it is easy to determine whether a ruler is authoritarian, in the field of political psychology, there is much debate surrounding how best to define this type of leadership. Through analysis of the political psychology of authoritarians such as Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler, and Saddam Hussein, this work aims to define narcissistic authoritarian leadership, adding more consistency to the literature as well as determining the benefits and consequences of this type of leadership. This research shows that narcissistic authoritarian leadership occurs when a ruler puts an emphasis on their power and desires rather than on what is best for the people. The autocrat uses grandiosity and cruelty to gain power, but these traits are also the very traits that will inevitably lead to their downfall. These findings aim to create more consistency in the literature and develop a more well-rounded discussion surrounding authoritarianism.

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  Saccadic Differences in High and Low-Contact Sports

  Monica Stapor, Natalia Gierlachowski, Chao Shi, Stanley Hunter, Michael Hunter, Isiah Turner, Fabiha Islam, and Vipul Lugade

  Young athletes competing in high-contact sports are more susceptible to mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) than those in low-contact sports. Such injuries can result in neurological deficits, including saccadic dysfunction and smooth pursuit deficits, which can potentially interfere with everyday activities. This study utilized eye-tracking technology (Tobii Pro Glasses 3) to evaluate the preseason saccadic behaviors in high and low-contact sports as well as athletes with and without previous concussions. It was hypothesized that concussed athletes would exhibit a lower saccade count, higher velocity and greater amplitude compared to non-concussed athletes. In high-impact sports, the results demonstrated significant differences in the saccade count, suggesting that the number of saccades may be a potential indicator for concussion-related visual deficits. Data obtained through eye-tracking assessments can provide valuable insights into the neurological effects of sports-related concussions and enhance diagnostics while supporting more effective injury management and prevention.

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  From an Object to a Relic: How Names can Enhance a Book

  Adina Steiner

  The first few pages of an 1820s copy of The Taming of the Shrew are bursting with names: the writer (William Shakespeare) and the playbook’s rewriter, publisher, and editor, the artist and engraver, and the actor that this book belonged to. But what can really be seen from the names of a book? By tracing each of these names across a range of sources, from their other publications to nasty theater reviews, this project illuminates how people can turn a book from an object to a relic. It demonstrates how some of the people involved can add background to a book and its history: how they could be so famous or popular in their time despite their names being washed out, or how these people have worked together on so many previous works. This project shows how an old playbook preserves the life stories of forgotten people.

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  The Impact of Diet on Emotional Intelligence and Pathological Eating Behaviors: Exploring Gender Differences

  Sydney Stein, Joseph Darrell, and Lina Begdache

  Diet influences emotional intelligence (EI), which can contribute to pathological eating behaviors (PEB). This research explored the relationships between diet, EI, and PEB, and considered potential gender differences. 1,386 participants completed an anonymous survey online. This survey contained demographic questions, the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and the Food Mood Questionnaire. Of this total, 966 identified as female, 376 identified as male, and 44 as other. Data was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Pearson Correlation Coefficient in SPSS Version 28.0. Fast-food consumption was negatively correlated with motivation and stress management (p<.01), while breakfast consumption had a positive correlation with these factors (p<.01). Additionally, males showed a positive correlation with motivation and dietary control/ restrictive eating. In contrast, females exhibited the opposite pattern (p<.01). Findings suggest diet affects EI similarly across genders, while EI’s link to PEB varies by gender.

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  The Bonds of Family: How One Family’s Experience Tells the Story of the Prison-Industrial System

  Cameron Stone

  Beginning in the 1960s, a rightward shift in politics and “War on Drugs” policies propelled the United States toward mass incarceration. The result was a prison population of around 2 million people, in which minority groups have been disproportionately imprisoned. While historians and legal scholars have examined the policies and legal structures behind mass incarceration, oral historians working in the tradition of social history emphasize the importance of narratives of those most impacted yet traditionally neglected. This paper specifically examines the relatively unstudied Columbia University's 2019 Mass Incarceration Oral History collection, which explores the interconnected perspectives of one family’s experience within the prison-industrial complex. This archive uncovers a perplexing paradox: the carceral system can provide a community with economic stability via employment, but this economic security relies on the incarceration of their community, even relatives. Furthermore, previous discussions have focused on black and white males, but this research engages with black women, AIDS patients, and prisoner activists.

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  Speech Language Pathologists and Pediatric Feeding: Bridging Practice and Evidence

  Shannon Strehle, Sundeep Venkatesan, and Reethee Antony

  Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a critical role in the assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, particularly within multidisciplinary teams. This systematic review explores current evidence regarding SLP knowledge, clinical practices, and collaborative approaches in pediatric feeding therapy, including care provided in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A comprehensive search was conducted across Cochrane, Embase, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Boolean operators combined keywords such as pediatric feeding, speech-language pathologist, evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary approach, and pediatric dysphagia. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed and grey literature focusing on clinical interventions, interprofessional collaboration, and evidence-based outcomes. Data analysis is currently underway and aims to identify key practice patterns, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for standardization. This review will inform evidence-based recommendations for enhancing SLP roles in pediatric feeding management across clinical settings.

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  Dewlap Color Variation and Male Visual Grasp Response Across Populations in a Neotropical Lizard

  Janelle Talavera, Lindsey Swierk, and Thomas H.Q. Powell

  The sensory drive hypothesis proposes that signals evolve to be most effective in their respective environment, and that the receiver’s sensory systems in that environment should evolve to match those signals. Differences in sexual signals and sensory systems in adjacent habitats may operate as isolating mechanisms. Male Anolis lizards have brightly colored dewlaps that they use for communication. Anolis aquaticus, a Costa Rican species that exhibits intraspecific variation, was studied as populations’ dewlaps vary in redness or yellowness. It is hypothesized that this variation is shaped by sensory drive and facilitates species isolation in A. aquaticus. Visual modeling was used to simulate anole vision, model dewlap conspicuousness to A. aquaticus, conduct visual grasp response (VGR) trials, and employ ddRADSeq genotyping. It was found that “yellow-ness” of a dewlap varies among populations and larger males respond to yellow stimuli more than smaller males. However, preliminary VGR results currently do not support the sensory drive facilitating isolation hypothesis.

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  Locus of Control and Diet Quality, Stress Levels and Resilience

  Lauren Tarpey, Justin Chong, Lina Ahmed, Kristin Ngo, Aiden Fong, and Chloe Mah

  The study examines how locus of control affects diet quality, stress levels, and resilience. It was hypothesized that individuals with an external locus of control would have poorer diet quality, higher stress, and lack resilience compared to an internal locus of control. Data was collected via an anonymous online survey and analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Results showed that those who feel unable to control their health consume fewer leafy greens (p< 0.01). People who feel they lack control in their lives were positively correlated with consuming fast and sugary foods (p< 0.01). Those who believe they have a harder time controlling their lives feel that stress is debilitating (p< 0.01). Those who lack confidence in their ability to solve life problems have a harder time rebounding from stressful events (p< 0.01). These results highlight the relationship an external locus of control has on well-being.

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  A Literature Review of Resilience and Nurse Residency Programs Using the Roy Adaptation Model

  Nicholas Terela

  A narrative review using resilience and nurse residency program as keywords was conducted in EBSCOhost, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Nurse residency programs are designed to help make the gap between a nursing program graduation and clinical institution hire easier by bridging that transition. However, while nurse residency programs are common, resilience education, training, and development are not. The purpose of this literature review is: (a) describe the theoretical foundation of the Roy Adaptation Model for which resilience is a key component, (b) define resilience in nursing, (c) identify gaps in nursing education that translate to clinical practice addressed by NRPs, and (d) identify gaps in nursing education that are not addressed by NRPs. Further research is needed to help new nurses maintain health, develop resilience, and remain in their role.

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  Lessons in Dissident Design: The Study of Visual Rhetoric Applied to Counter-Authoritarianism

  Jennings Terrell

  Visual Rhetoric, the study of argument through images, is a field that has as of yet barely been applied to the study of Counter-Authoritarianism. The purpose of this research, then, is to develop this inter-disciplinary relationship by examining aspects of visual rhetorical design as they relate to counter-authoritarian movements. Through an analysis of how movements’ visual media sparks emotions and induces critical thought regarding the system it opposes, this study will develop actionable recommendations that can be used by activists to create strong rhetoric. This research hypothesizes that the most important aspects of dissident Visual Rhetoric are an ability to guide the viewer's eye via design construction, and adept utilization of imagery that prompts automatic emotional response. The study recommends further research encompassing both disciplines, including additional case based applications and more in-depth discussion of design rules as they apply to Counter-Authoritarianism.

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  Unionization Rates and Wage Growth: Trade, Transportation and Utilities

  Nathaniel Thomas

  This research examines how unionization rates influence wage growth in the United States’ transportation, trade, and utilities sector. Drawing on secondary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the study compares union and non-union wage trends while taking in factors like industry characteristics. By using historical and comparative analyses across multiple industries, it aims to determine if higher union density consistently translates into stronger wage gains. Prior research in both U.S. and international contexts shows that union presence can positively affect wages, but this influence varies by sector, labor strength, and political backdrop. Ultimately, the project seeks to clarify these patterns and inform policymakers and labor leaders about how robust unionization may foster fairer compensation.

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  Global Climate Governance: The Roles of the UNFCCC in Shaping International Relations

  Nina Thomas

  In 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted as a result of scientific evidence revealing the detrimental effects of climate change to the world. Although the Convention was held more than 20 years ago, there is a lack of effective global climate governance while climate change continues to destroy our environment. By analyzing the three main agreements established through the UNFCCC and examples of international interactions which resulted from climate change - such as providing humanitarian assistance, redrawing national borders, and compensating for historical injustices - this paper seeks to argue for a solution through the implementation of global law. Furthermore, by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the agreements, the paper identifies the key criteria necessary for effective implementation.

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  From Fantasy to Fragmentation: Forster’s Illusion of Unity and Woolf’s Reality of Division

  Jamila Tsang

  In Edwardian Britain, one third of the national income flowed to less than one thirtieth of its citizens. E.M. Forster’s Howards End envisions connection across class divides as an achievable solution to this problem, manipulating plot elements to unite three social classes: the rising Wilcoxes, the rentier Schlegels, and the near-poverty Basts. However, this promising resolution sidesteps the deeper economic and social forces that maintain class divisions, offering a resolution that feels more symbolic than substantive. The novel’s problematic approach to class unity is underscored when read alongside Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, which challenges Forster’s optimistic vision by critiquing a society where class divisions remain insurmountable. Unlike Howards End, which forces a symbolic resolution through inheritance and marriage, Mrs. Dalloway exposes the reality of disconnection through fragmented interactions and unresolved struggles. Ultimately, Mrs. Dalloway highlights the limitations of Forster’s vision, revealing how entrenched social divisions persist beyond the hopeful narratives he constructs.

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  The Effect of Diet and Exercise on Mental Distress and Self-Motivation

  Gavin Tuosto, Nicole Wong, Tessa Blasio, Allison Falvo, and Madison Byun

  Mood and self-motivation are critical components of mental well-being and daily function. Diet and exercise have been shown to influence mood, stress tolerance, and cognitive function. This study analyzes the relationship between diet and exercise on mental distress and self-motivation. An anonymous online survey was administered through Google Forms. A total of 182 individuals completed the survey, which included questions on the frequency and quality of exercise, consumption of specific food groups, mood, and self-motivation. The survey was sent out using social media platforms. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Analysis SPSS version 28.0. Results showed a positive correlation between increased processed food consumption, depressed or nervous mood, and lack of motivation (p<0.01). Additionally, there was a negative correlation between the frequency of exercise and the ability to set and accomplish goals (p<0.01). These results suggest that diet modulation can improve motivation and well-being.

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  The Effect of Video Coding on Infant’s Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation Data Quality

  Heather Wallace and Emma Kraan

  Fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) assesses brain activity in response to rapidly repeated visual stimuli through electroencephalogram (EEG) data acquisition. FPVS research with infants presents challenges in maintaining attention on visual stimuli during trials. This study examines whether video coding infant’s looking behavior improves signal quality (i.e., SNR). Infants were enrolled between 5.5 and 12.5 months of age and tested at 6 months (M = 181.7 days, SD = 7.5, n=12), 9 months (M = 273.8 days, SD = 11.4, n=12), and 12 months (M = 363.9 days, SD = 7.0, n=13). Human faces and objects were presented in an oddball paradigm (standard: 6Hz, deviant: 1.2Hz). Video recordings were coded to quantify looking time per trial. EEG data quality is compared for acquisitions with and without trials where participants looked for <75% of time and analyzed by age. This investigation would provide guidelines for improving FPVS data quality in infants.

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  Dodo Birds and Horse Guts: An Exploration of The Natural History Collection of the Royal Society

  Wren Walston

  In 1681, the Royal Society commissioned Nehemiah Grew to create The Natural History Collection, a database of scholarly descriptions and engravings of specimens owned by the society as well as his own research of comparative guts. Binghamton University’s copy has multiple pages where individual words have been handwritten over in brown ink. A bookseller’s note on the inside cover hints that the corrections are Grew’s own, yet a mystery still prevails. Every known copy, spanning over thirteen years of editions, have these same marks. This paper investigates the difficulties of producing scientific literature in the late 17th century as well as what is valued by the author, commissioner, and audience. It compares Binghamton’s copy with other institutions' copies, tracing the provenance through bookplates, and referencing Royal Society documents surrounding the imprimatur. Ultimately, these resources are utilized to trace how materiality reflects the value of scientific accuracy.

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  Storytelling for Survival: Climate Fiction and the Fight for Justice

  Brett Walther

  Fiction has always played a critical role in shaping the public perceptions of climate change. Whether it be imaginary stories or contemporary fiction, climate narratives have expanded awareness and influenced societal attitudes toward the environmental crisis. This project examines how climate fiction informs perceptions of climate justice, focusing on what narratives have been the most effective, and what potential these strategies have to grow. Determining such will occur by analyzing selected works and searching for thematic patterns to look at their effectiveness in expanding public perception. This research highlights the role of fiction in shaping climate narratives, examining how it has framed the urgency of environmental responsibilities and inequalities as well as how it can align rather than diverge from contemporary climate justice discourse.

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  Climate Disasters and the Inherent Disparity of Recovery Efforts

  Bennett Weitz

  Over the past twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in climate-related disasters, including, but not limited to, heatwaves, hurricanes, and flooding. Climate change has exacerbated the severity of many events, such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the 2025 California wildfires. This article will examine the disparity in recovery efforts, the significantly worse impact on less privileged communities, and the permanent damage caused by climate disasters. Additionally, this paper will analyze meteorological and economic data to highlight the significant differences in recovery efforts, the intersection of climate science and climate justice, and how geographic locations influence the speed at which populations can recover from climate disasters. The duration of recovery efforts and studies of economic damages will be compared to emphasize the reality that vulnerable, less fortunate populations suffer the worst from the effects of climate change.

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  How Does Transportation to the New York Area Sport Stadiums Affect the Level of Pollution They Produce?

  Liam Wells

  How does transportation to the New York Area Sport Stadiums affect the level of pollution they produce? This project will discover which stadium most negatively affects the environment by looking at the following stadiums: Madison Square Garden, Yankee Stadium, UBS Arena, Highmark Stadium, Metlife Stadium, and Citi Field. By measuring the air quality index surrounding the stadiums, it will determine the amount of pollution each stadium gives off. This study will analyze information provided in articles discussing the environment, sports, and pollution. The methods used will include using a survey to gain public knowledge about their travel preferences to the stadiums. Furthermore, this study will determine the amount of parking spaces, stadium capacity, and the stadium’s distance from mass transit. This will improve the condition of the environment, which could help stadiums implement initiatives to use more mass transit. This will potentially make the stadiums more popular and appealing.

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  Polarization and Authoritarianism: How Patterns of Polarization and Democratic Backsliding Have Been Realized in the United States

  Cian Young

  Increasing political polarization in the twenty-first century led researchers to establish that democracies are weakened by sharply divided electorates and legislatures since opposing groups become willing to tolerate undemocratic behavior to gain power. This research aims to evaluate how American affective polarization in the twenty-first century led to the polarization of the two parties in the 2024 presidential election, and how this election changed this discussion of polarization. After analysis of the literature from the 2010s that connected polarization and authoritarianism, exit polls and other data from the 2024 election, and Donald Trump’s subsequent presidency, findings suggest that trends of polarization from the last two decades steadily increased in the 2024 election, and authoritarian behavior within Donald Trump’s presidency reflect the realization of early twenty-first century research in the United States. This research builds a better understanding of modern American political polarization as authoritarianism becomes a greater concern.

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  Silenced Voices: Developmental and Racial Disparities in the Exercise of Miranda Rights

  Kaileanna Yu

  Picture a teenager forced to confess under intense police interrogation, unable to grasp the implications of waving his Miranda rights – would justice prevail? The current legal framework is insufficient for the developmental vulnerabilities of youth, which leaves them unable to fully exercise their Miranda rights. Young people of color face additional barriers that are rooted in racial bias and developmental disparities. States have a responsibility to protect youth from coercion and manipulation during interrogations. The current practices, such as relying on parental presence instead of mandated legal counsel, are inadequate in protecting youth from such manipulation. Currently, much of the research on minorities is focused on black youth, but case studies and interviews should be expanded to be more representative of all groups of people. Consideration of economic and educational disparities is essential when formulating legislative reforms, and juveniles should be treated accordingly concerning developmental differences amongst all vulnerable youth.

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  Nature-based Solutions in the US: A Systematic Review of Concepts, Applications, and Policy Relevance

  Yakubu Alhassan Zakaria

  This research used the PRISMA method to examine the concept of nature-based solutions (NbS) in the context of climate change. It examined 55 documents using the PRISMA method, and the IAD framework in the U.S. revealed multiple definitions of NbS across various sectors and fields. The study, sourced from public and private organizations, uses the IAD framework to analyze the conceptual policy framework for understanding NbS in the U.S context. The analysis reveals multiple definitions of NbS in different sectors and fields, with various challenges and barriers emerging from literature. NbS provides numerous options to address climate concerns through cost-effective alternatives, contributing to the current conversations about integrating NbS into the U.S public and academic discourse. Governments, international organizations, and civil society increasingly endorse NbS, but addressing major problems is necessary before realizing its potential.

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  An Empire Built on Racial Prejudice: Tracking the Spread of Walter B. Perkins’ Racial Covenants Throughout the United States

  Sharif Zaky

  At the turn of the twentieth century, American newspapers from Missouri to Massachusetts began advertising property sold by Walter B. Perkins, a developer who included racial covenants in properties he sold. Racially restrictive covenants are clauses written into property deeds prohibiting the sale or rental of property to people who were not considered white. Scholars have examined the widespread use of racial covenants within cities, but have devoted comparatively little attention to their spread between cities. This study traces Perkins’ role in the spread of racial covenants across the U.S. by searching newspapers for Perkins’ property’s advertisements and then searching property records for racial covenants. This paper seeks to determine not just the cities to which Perkins brought covenants, but also their public reception and the subsequent reputation of Perkins’ company within these cities.