Interviewer: Benjamin Kerner Interviewed: Vinoth Bandara B: So, to start, state your name, major, and department. V: I’m Vinoth Bandara, I work for the BME department and I am a BME major. I’m an imaging specialist, and I do a lot of optics work B: So how did you get into research? V: I got into research my freshman year through my freshman year BME … Continue reading Student Researcher Interview with Vinoth Bandara
By Maryna Mullerman ’20 Farzana Yasmin and researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada analyzed how microbial systems in infant guts change over time, as well as how they can be affected by perinatal factors such as antibiotics, formula feeding, and birth mode. The study would reveal the importance of tracking variations in microbial community during early life stages. The researchers collected data from … Continue reading The Roles of Human Gut Inhabitants in Infant Development
By Maryna Mullerman ’20 Climate change is leaving observable effects on our planet. Mette Bendixen, along with other researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, explored the impact of climate change on the Arctic coastal zone in Greenland. The researcher hypothesized that the evolution of deltas is driven by both terrestrial and marine factors. They assessed the progradation – increase in sizes – of … Continue reading The Effects of Climate Change on Greenland’s Coastal Zone
By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 Confidence is thought to be based on previous experiences and outcomes, while new information modifies human perception of the environment. Matilde M. Vaghi and researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted a study to find a dissociation between action and confidence. They focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients who struggled with repetitive behavior. Their findings revealed a novel aspect of human … Continue reading How Confident Are People in Their Actions?
By: Ramanjot Singh ’19 In the recent years, there has been a strong wave of focus on evidence-based psychology. The push is towards achieving an evidence-based assessment for psychological conditions. More specifically, being able to have a physical test that will determine if you have a certain ailment or not. Counseling psychologist, Dr. Angie Cucchi, hypothesized that the evidence-based treatment would not be sufficient to … Continue reading The Setbacks of Evidence Based Counseling
By: Ramanjot Singh ‘19 Previous research has shown that quality physical education may improve children’s focus on tasks. Dr. Ryan Burns from the University of Utah decided to further these findings by analyzing the effects of enhanced physical activity on children’s gross motor skills. He hypothesized that installing a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming (CSPAP) would significantly advance their motor skills. For 36 weeks, CSPAP’s … Continue reading School Physical Activity Intervention’s Impact on Children’s Motor Skills
By: Ramanjot Singh ’19 It is well known that cancer is one of the major cause of death around the world. However, the indirect effects of cancer are overlooked by healthcare professionals. More specifically, the decrease in productivity, emotional costs, and financial burdens brought by cancer are often neglected. Recognizing this, Dr. Van Hoang from the Hanoi University of Public Health wanted to study the … Continue reading Financial Burdens of Cancer
By: Ramanjot Singh 19′ Individual experiences of stress and burnout can have adverse effects on health and output. While much research has been conducted on the etiology of stress, its effects on teacher-student interactions is relatively unexplored. A group of researchers led by Dr. Venus Wong at the University of Kentucky conducted a study to examine potential direct effects of teacher burnout on teacher behavior … Continue reading Do stressed teachers effect educational outcomes?
By Matthew Lee ‘21 Algal blooms are known for their ability to turn an entire body of water a different color. These periodic blooms harm humans, marine species, and aquatic ecosystems. One such species is the benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis ovata, most prevalent in the Mediterranean Sea. It has been observed that Ostreopsis may be vulnerable to allelopathic, or germination- inhibiting, chemicals produced by diatoms, single-celled … Continue reading Diatom Filtrates are Killing Machines
By Matthew Lee ’21 It is well known that distress can have negative effects on both the brain and immune system. Previous studies have established that intermittent fasting (IF) can have positive effects on brain function and possibly on lifespan extension. However, IF was never examined for its potential as a source of eustress. A team of researchers led by Dr. Marjan Shojaie of Hormozgan … Continue reading The Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
By: Ramanjot Singh 19’ Self-talk is a significant component in athletic performance. Positive self-talk tends to improve performance, while negative self-talk can impede it. Although the concept of self-talk has been explored in the past, not much research focuses on identifying the psychological basis for the aforementioned trends. In order to provide better interventions for athletic performance, a group of researchers, led by Dr. Aristea … Continue reading The Guide to An Athlete’s Optimal Performance
By Matthew Lee ’21 The avian leukosis virus subgroup J (ALV-J) has plagued the poultry industry since being recognized about 30 years ago. The economic hardships caused by decreases in poultry yield makes developing resistance mechanisms a topic of interest. Recently, a team led by Hong Jo Lee from Seoul National University decided to take the novel approach of editing the chicken genome in order … Continue reading Fighting the Avian Leukosis Virus through Genome Modification
Young Investigators Review 