NCCU Students Showcase Research at Annual Symposium

From examining the effects of pollen and advanced cancer research to exploring religion and social justice, NCCU students who participating in the annual NCCU Graduate and Undergraduate Research Symposium (GURS) showcased their advanced skills with presentations of their findings to an audience of both students and professors. The symposium, held at NCCU on March 30, 2019, was open to graduate and undergraduate students engaged in research activities.

This educational networking experience encourages interdisciplinary exchange between students.

Senior pharmaceutical sciences major Carlos Harper researched solutions to inflammatory breast cancer. Having a family member diagnosed with cancer inspired his interest in finding solutions for curing the disease.  

Harper’s presentation secured second place during the event. The Ashville, N.C., native worked with NCCU’s Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) researchers Kevin Williams, Ph.D., and David Lamson on a three-month project researching solutions for breast cancer.

“It’s an awesome experience to cross reference everything I’ve learned since freshman year with my current research,” Harper added.

After graduation, Harper aspires to continue his education to begin a career as a researcher.

Also earning an award, library and information sciences second-year graduate student Michelle Brown and her team including six additional graduate students, earned second place for their oral presentation based on research findings on the usability of a personal assistance mobile application. The group examined the results of using a mobile application as a health indicator for individuals who experience chronic pain.

The Durham, N.C., native says her interest in resolving the opioid crisis initially sparked her interest in her current research.

She seeks to become a data analyst in the healthcare field.

Additional winners are as follows:

Oral Presentations

Natural and Physical Sciences – Undergraduate

• First Place – D'Shawna Burwell and Chiu-Yueh Hung 
• Second Place – Brandy Doscher and Srinivasa Reddy Dandepally

Natural and Physical Sciences – Graduate

• First Place – Willysha S. Jenkins and Hanan All
• Second Place – Dina Abu Rabe
• Third Place – Olabode Oladele

Behavioral and Social Sciences – Undergraduate

• First Place – Denzel Goodlin
• Second Place – Adrianne Williams

Behavioral and Social Sciences – Graduate

• First Place – Cameron Wiley
• Second Place – Jessica R. Lands
• Third Place – Brianna J. Jones,  Jessica M. Miller,  A. Nicole Murrill and Tre' Sean Cooks

Arts and Humanities – Undergraduate

• First Place – PauI McAllister
• Second Place – Dareonna Franklin, Ja'Va Kelley, Malcolm Toby and Monique Hess
• Third Place – Tyra Hudson, Nia Crawford, Bethany White and Keshawn Ennis

Arts and Humanities – Graduate

• First Place – Carl Leak and Kaneisha Gaston

Poster Presentations

Natural and Physical Sciences – Undergraduate

• First Place – Richard Foster and Kenmina Devine
• Second Place – Carlos Harper
• Third Place – Ciara Allen

Natural and Physical Sciences – Graduate

• First Place – Tia Tate Hudson

Behavioral and Social Sciences – Undergraduate

• First Place – Sydnee Hailey
• Second Place – Bobby Hill and Briana Jones
• Third Place – Latausha Little

Behavioral and Social Sciences – Graduate

• First Place – Krystle Allen-Lucas and Kristie Pulliam
• Second Place – A. Nicole Murrill
• Third Place (Tied) – Eric O. Smith and Keith Whitfield; Raven Brooks, Jessica Miller and Martin Binks; Tara Hernandez; Teah Rawlings; A. Nicole Murrill and Jeffrey Bryson

Arts and Humanities – Undergraduate

• First Place – Ruth Islas
• Second Place – Brian Byrd, Alexis Owens, Kenyatta Miller and Tashea Spears

Arts and Humanities – Graduate

• First Place – Monica Price, Madhavi Thakur, Jeremy Brown and Chyna McQueen
• Second Place – Donte' Perry, Mara Graves, Michelle Brown, Morgan Nelson, Aikera Mclean, Kamisha Smith and Golam Shayed
• Third Place (Tied) – Pragya Thapa, Brian Victor Zimorowicz, Valentine Ogachi and Johnathan Whitehead; Michelle Robinson, Karin Beckett, Melissa Foust, Emmanuel Herdon and Daniel Kerego