Past CSU Student Research Competition (SRC) Participants
SRC Winners
Justin Matties M.S. Kinesiology
1st Place, Graduate Division - Health, Nutrition and Clinical Sciences
Research Title: "A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoe"
Mentored by Dr. K. Michael Rowley, Department of Kinesiology
Yashank Varshney B.S. Computer Science
2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Research Title: "Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production"
Mentored by Dr. Kathryn Grimm, Department of Physics
F. Michael Chua M.A. Economics
1st Place, Graduate Division - Business, Economics, & Public Administration
Research title: "Bitcoin: A Protector of Property Rights and Privacy? A Game-Theoretical Analysis"
Mentored by Dr. Christian Roessler, Department of Economics
Nidhi Nagar, M.S. Biological Sciences '17
1st Place, Graduate Division - Biological and Agricultural Sciences
Research title: "Role of Bacteria and Bacterial Metabolites in Development of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)"
Mentored by Dr. Maria Gallegos, Department of Biological Sciences
Ashley Maynard, M.S. Biological Sciences '16
2nd Place, Graduate Division - Biological & Agricultural Sciences
Research title: "Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)"
Mentored by Dr. Tyler Evans, Department of Biological Sciences
Erik Miranda, B.A Psychology '15 and Rachel Echeandia, B.A Psychology '14
2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Education
Research Title: "Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science"
Mentored by Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
SRC Participants by Year
Competition Site: San Diego State University
Name: Anandan, Saranya
Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao
Project Title: A Digital Assistant Designed To Aid People With Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
Name: Khosravi, Sepehr
Research Mentor: Dr. Amara Miller
Project Title: Qualitative Study of Body Image and Culture Among Iranian-Americans
Name: Maharaj, Ria
Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea
Project Title: Understanding Potential Influence of Social, Cultural, and Historical Traumas & Resiliencies on Health of Diverse South Asian Communities in California
Name: Matties, Justin
Research Mentor: Dr. K. Michael Rowley
Project Title: A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoes
Name: Mendoza, Destiny
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny Hazlehurst
Project Title: Effects of selective mowing of invasive grasses on pollinator diversity in a California oak savanna environment
Name: Murray, Ashley and Yuan, Cassandra
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Simultaneous inhibition of sEH and FAAH alleviates inflammatory pain in male rats
Name: Torres, Sandra
Research Mentor: Dr. Andrea Arauza-Rivera
Project Title: An IFS for the Stretched Level-n Sierpiński Gasket
Competition Site: San Francisco State University (virtual)
Name: Basi, Sharn and Torres, Isabel
Research Mentor: Dr. Chris Baysdorfer and Dr. Patty Oikawa
Project Title: Methane Uptake in Compost-Amended Grasslands: An investigation combining trace gas measurements, quantitative PCR, and soil microbial analysis
Name: Coleman, Isaac
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Ortuoste
Project Title: Alternative Voting Systems in an Expanding Society: Tackling the question of voter satisfaction
Name: Martinez, Cynthia
Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton
Project Title: Understanding transcriptional regulation of T. gondii developmental differentiation and virulence
Name: McNeill, Amber
Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver
Project Title: How a Global Pandemic Changed Students’ Perspectives in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses
Name: Mwamba, Gregory
Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver
Project Title: Blowup of the Nonlinear Klein-Gordon Equation with Arbitrarily in FLRW Spacetimes
Name: Reyes, Roelyne
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Aptamer Selection for MRI Contrast Agents
Name: Ruiz-Mena, Patricia and Vatuvei, Roshetta
Research Mentor: Dr. Cathy Inoyue and Dr. Jennifer Sherwood
Project Title: Relationships Between Muscle Fitness and Radial Bone Strength in Older Adults
Name: Sarah, Marium
Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao
Project Title: Can a rewarding application drive Environment‐friendly actions among individuals?
Competition Site: Cal Poly Pomona (virtual)
Name: An Nepangue, Jexy (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeri Little
Project Title: Interleaving Is Better Than Blocking for Memorizers, but Blocking Is Better Than Interleaving for Finding a Rule
Name: Buchert, Steven (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Divya Sitaraman
Project Title: Effects of Sleep on Behavioral Decision Making and Reproductive Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila Melanogaster
Name: Rodriguez, Esaison (B.S. Biochemistry) and Muhammed, Sameerah (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Exploration of Salinity Tolerance in Pistachio Trees By Measuring Stress Responses on the Biochemical Level
Name: Denys, Andrew (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling
Project Title: Neuromuscular Fitness Field Testing: A Strong Predictor Variable For Tibial Bone Strength Indices Prediction Models
Name: León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Utilizing Reflexivity: Strategic Self-Disclosure and Insider Perspective in Qualitative Research with Transgender & Non-Binary People
Name: Millar, Sarah (M.S. Speech-Language Pathology) and Moore, Delia (B.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Gravier and Dr. Albert Mendoza
Project Title: Let's Get Virtual: Online Interprofessional Aphasia Group Fitness for COVID-19
Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Quintana, Taylor (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Early treatment of inflammatory pain prevents the transition from acute to chronic pain in rats
Name: Riegelsberger, Aerin (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Putting The Ball In The Patient’s Court: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy In U.S. Family Planning Clinics
Name: Shah, Aarohi (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher
Project Title: Can Ion Exchange Resins Be Used to Remove Boron from Produced Waters and Increase Water Sustainability?
Competition Site: CSU East Bay (virtual)
Name: Bahlibi, Abraham (B.A. Psychology) and Contreras, Cesar (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Negin Toosi
Project Title: The Role of Race and Gender in Salary Negotiations
Name: Cabrera, Mica (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Exploring Antioxidant Capacity in Green Tea Dependent on Types of Water
Name: Fox, Lindsey (B.A. Sociology) and León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Transgender and non-binary patient perspectives on receiving transition-related healthcare in family planning clinics in the United States
Name: Moline, Ariel (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton
Project Title: How does the developmentally regulated enzyme, Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase, contribute to stage conversion during Toxoplasma pathogenesis?
Name: Murrieum, Munahil (B.A. Business Analytics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Saeid Motavalli
Project Title: Building Energy Performance Prediction using Machine Learning: A Data-
Driven Decision-Making Framework for Energy Retrofits
Name: Naidu, Vishwani (B.S. Health Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Alina Engelman & Dr. Mariana Guzzardo
Project Title: The Emergency Response of Community-Based Organizations In Puerto Rico after Hurricane María
Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Peripherally-restricted opioids restore normal activity without disruptive side effects in rats with chronic inflammatory pain
Name: Reinke, Taylor (M.S. Counseling and B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Oanh Tran
Project Title: Using a Social-Emotional Learning Program to Enhance Students' Well-Being
Name: Romero-Medina, Claudia (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling
Project Title: Bilateral Bone Strength Differences in Division II Female Volleyball Players
Name: Schmidt, Derek (M.A. Music)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut
Project Title: The Folk Music Paradox: The Transformation of European Folk Music Into the Innovation of 20th C. MusicCompetition Site: CSU Fullerton
Name: Akhavian, Armin (M.A. Music)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut
Project Title: An Analysis of the String Quartet “Death and the Maiden” (1st movement) by Franz Schubert
Name: Bajo, Ruby (B.S. Biology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Hayes
Project Title: Balancing Differentiation Between a Prescriptive vs. Flexible Professional Development
Name: Chandnani, Priya (B.S. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Dong-Won Choi
Project Title: What Escalates Conflict?
Name: Lal, Pooja (B.S. Health Sciences) and Raman, Priya (B.S. Health Sciences concentration in Public Health)
Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea
Project Title: Addressing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening among South Asians in the United States- Indo-Fijians and Pakistanis
Name: Duong, Andy (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Title: Characterization of PLM in ebp-1/2/3 triple mutant Caenorhabditis elegans
Name: Heidarian, Mohammad (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Kadeer, Elshad (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Aptamer-based MRI contrast agent with higher efficacy
Name: Hernandez, Carlos (M.S. Construction Management) and Slaton, Trevor (M.S. Mathematics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian
Project Title: Toward Reduced Emissions: Modeling Construction Activities with Deep Learning
Name: Lan, Connie (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Student Health & Mental Health at AVÀÇ: Balancing “pushing myself until I die and a little self-love”
Name: Nair, Deepajan (M.S. Speech Language Pathology) and Polit, Prema (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Elena Dukhovny and Dr. Shubha Kashinath
Project Title: Beyond the Device: Training communication partners to support AAC use in educational settings
Name: Varshney, Yashank (B.S. Computer Science)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Grimm
Project Title: Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production
Competition Site: Sacramento State
Name: Beverly, Linda (B.S. Mathematics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Shirley Yap
Project Title: LLE Based Image Hashing of Video
Name: Chua, F Michael (M.A. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Christian Roessler
Project Title: Bitcoin, a protector of privacy and property rights? A game-theoretical analysis
Name: Goldman, Jessica (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amanda Morrison
Project Title: The Mediating Roles of Social Support & Attachment Style on Collectivism &Resilience
Name: Keramati, Negar (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: Population Genetics study of Tritonia tetraquetra
Name: Kurak, Ivana (M.A. History)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ben Klein
Project Title: Divine Mothers, Earth Goddesses, and Harlots: Deconstructing the Stereotypes of 1960’s Counterculture Women in Northern California and New Mexico Communal Societies
Name: Monga, Karan (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Condori, Walter (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Development of a Virtual Reality Educational Game for Waste Management: Attack of Recyclops
Name: Pistorino, Jonathan (M.S. Chemistry) & Hall, Nicolas (B.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher
Project Title: Uranium(VI) Sorption onto Montmorillonite Clay in the Presence Calcite: Experimental and Modeling
Name: Quesenberry, Collin (M.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Luther Strayer
Project Title: Interpreting the seismic velocity structure across the Hayward Fault Zone with new high-resolution seismic data
Name: Reyes, Kimberly (M.B. A. Management) & Cole-Regis, Philip (M.B.A. Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Balaraman Rajan
Project Title: Affordable Care Act(ACA): Impact on U.S. Emergency and Preventative healthcare
Name: Sin, Davina (M.S. Chemistry) & Bongay, Mark (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of a Magnetic Imaging Agent for Antioxidant Glutathione
Competition Site: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Name: Albanna, Nesreen (B.S. Biological Sciences) & Kaur, Jasbindar (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Nazzy Pakpour
Project Title: Inhibiting the feeding behavior of Drosphila Suzukii
Name: Chua, Michael (M.S. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kaumudi Misra
Project Title: Effects of Import Competition on Job Satisfaction
Name: Huffman, Jennifer (B.S. Speech Pathology & Audiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sara Smith
Project Title: The Relationship Between Working Memory and Executive Function (specifically inhibition) among Spanish/English Bilingual College Students
Name: Jahanbanifar, Shahin (M.S. Construction Management) & Kaur, Puneet (M.S. Construction Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian
Project Title: Construction Workers' Injury Prevention Using Smartphone Based Activity Recognition System
Name: Luu, Anthony (B.S. Biochemistry) & Sigua, Levi (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of an Aptamer-based Sensor for Galactosemia
Name: Mohr, Sarah (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Rose Wong
Project Title: Protective Factors in Muslim Women's Mental Health in the San Francisco Bay Area
Name: Nagar, Nidhi (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Title: Role of bacteria and bacterial metabolites in development of Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Name: Salazar, Daniel (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Rao, Akarsh (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Virtual Reality Applications For Waste Management
Name: Yao, Jingyun (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Pradeep Ramanathan
Project Title: The effectiveness of saline injection in the treatment of vocal fold scarring
Name: Ylanan, Ryan (M.S. Kinesiology) & Tapia, Oddessy (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: #Motivation: Examining motivational aspects of, and physical activity associations with, fitness-related social media activity
Competition Site: AVÀÇ, Bakersfield
Name: Bahramian, Jennifer (M.S. Environmental Ecology), Hand, Christopher (B.S. Chemistry), & York, Drew (B.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: The Determination of the Thermodynamic Properties of Glycine at Hydrothermal Conditions Towards a Better Understanding of the Emergence of Life
Name: Brar, Evranjeet (B.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Physical and Sedentary Activity in a College Population: The influence of undergraduate major and gender
Name: Chugh, Shikha (M.S. Statistics)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Economic Analysis of Alternative Logistics Systems for Tennessee-Produced Switchgrass to Penetrate Energy Markets
Name: Edgar, Marya (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amon Porter
Project Title: A Descriptive Analysis of Commercial Sexual Exploited Children (CSEC) Victims in Contra Costa County Foster Care System
Name: Marroquin, Yvonne; Rosales, Doug & Ndomo, Rodrique
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Dr. Christine Lee, Dr. Rachelle Di Stefano and Dr. Kathryn Hayes
Project Title: ‘Underrepresented Students’ are Not All the Same: Examining Science Achievement among Subgroups of English Language Learners and Students from Low Socioeconomic Status
Name: Maynard, Ashley (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Tyler Evans
Project Title: Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)
Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Video Game Experiences and their Relationship to Practical Skills
Name: Perez, Luis
Research Mentor: Professor Tom Watson
Project Title: Getting Their Money’s Worth: The Effectiveness of Using Humor in Super Bowl 50 Commercials
Name: Pothier, Holly (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Language, Education & Executive Function (L.E.E.F.): Exploring the role of language contact and environment among Spanish-English Bilinguals
Name: Ryczek, Cameron (B.S. Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Murray Horne
Project Title: Negative Patterning in a Geometric Spatial Task
Competition Site: AVÀÇ, San Bernardino
Name: Benetatos, Denise (M.A Anthropology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Laurie Price
Project Title: Cultural Models of Beauty and the Social World of South Korean Women
Name: Chung, John (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Effects of Sex and Gender on Coping Methods
Name: Diefenbach, Matthew (B.S. Physics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Erik Helgren
Project Title: Metal Insulator Transition of Polyaniline
Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) & Miranda, Erik (B.S. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science
Name: Jen, Gianni (B.A Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Motivations of Play in Video Games and Adaptive Coping Strategies
Name: Krutel, Lily (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Substance Use among Trauma Survivors: Assessing Current Attitudes and Service Provision
Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Perspectives
Name: Nguyen, Khanh (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Do poplar hybrids raise antioxidant levels under high salt and boron stress?
Name: Nguyen, Minh-Thi (B.S. Business Administration) & Nicolas, Jonathan (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Gender Identity and Achievement: Is Higher Education Masculine?
Name: Sharifi, Osman (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: The mitochondrial genomes of the nudibranch mollusks, Melibe leonina and Tritonia diomedea, and their impact on gastropod phylogeny
Competition Site: AVÀÇ, East Bay
Name: Chiu, James (B.S. Business Administration) and Morshed Farzana (B.S. Business Administration)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ken Chung
Project Title: How are Executives Getting Paid for CSR?
Name: Diploudis, Maria Diamantoula (Master of Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Intergenerational Patterns in the Child Welfare System
Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) and Miranda, Erik (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Motivation: The Importance of Mastery in Middle School Science Achievement
Name: Gonzalez, Claudia (B.A. Psychology), Hinant, Rachel (B.A. Psychology), and Rodriquez, Ana C. (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: America’s Call to Improve Science Education: Professional Development Deepens Middle School Science Teachers’ Content Knowledge
Name: Hamor, Nastassia (M.S Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Measuring the Transfer of Three Psychological Skills from an Academic Setting to the Real-World
Name: Igboegwu, Chidimma (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Peer and Parental Attachment as Predictors of Adjustment and Achievement in High School and College among Domestic and International Students
Name: Kennedy, Denise (Master of Social Work)
Major: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Stress Management and Physical Activity for Clients with Schizophrenia
Name: Larson, Tobias (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Simmons
Project Title: Using Mental Skills to Support Lifestyle Change
Name: Sharifi, Osman (B.S. Biological Science)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: A partial genome sequence for Tritonia diomedia
Name: Vishwanathan, Swati (M.A. Communication)
Research Mentor: Dr. Grant Kien
Project Title: Yahoo Appoints Pregnant CEO: A Content Analysis