Virtual PEAK Award Presentation Lunches Week Three
The PEAK Experiences Awards provide students with the opportunity to conduct independent undergraduate research and creative activities under the supervision of a faculty mentor in any discipline. We have taken this entire series online and this week marks Week Three of our virtual presentations (check out presentations from Week One and Week Two). This week’s projects cover a range of topics from the barriers that Saudi women face in the workplace, to the incorporation of equity issues into industrial engineering’s efficiency modeling, to cardiovascular disease.
Below you’ll find the latest from this week’s presenters on the status of the spring projects. We hope you enjoy. Share your thoughts with our awardees through this feedback form and we’ll be sure to get it to them.
Barriers and Advancements of Saudi Women in the Workplace
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
STUDENT(S): Yara Abuljadayel CSSH’22
MENTOR: Professor Kirsten Rodine-Hardy, Political Science
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the advancements and struggles that Saudi women face in the workforce. The history of education is crucial when analyzing the progress of women in the workforce, especially when trying to understand why the huge increase in education has not been reflected into the same increase in the workforce. Furthermore, dependency on oil wealth is not sufficient enough to explain the existence of the female labor force participation gap. Rather, socio-political coalitions have a more significant effect on labor force participation and influence the political agenda.
A Pilot Study of the Regeneration of HS and HA Components of the Endothelial Glycocalyx
PEAK Experiences Ascent Award
STUDENT(S): Selina Banerjee COE’22
MENTOR: Professor Eno Ebong, Chemical Engineering
Atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular disease affect 121.5 million adults and costs around $214 billion in the US alone, despite significant advances in disease prevention and treatment. Current therapeutic approaches mainly target advanced stages of the disease. The goal of this research is to improve disease outcomes via early disease intervention by studying the endothelial glycocalyx, a sugar-rich lining of the blood vessel wall that protects vascular health and is damaged in early atherosclerosis. This project focuses on studying the regeneration of the heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid components of the endothelial glycocalyx.
Parental Knowledge of Their Infant’s Suck Development
PEAK Experiences Ascent Award
STUDENT(S): Alison Cox CAMD’20
MENTOR: Professor Emily Zimmerman, Communication Sciences & Disorders
This study aims to determine if participation in the Speech and Neurodeveopment Lab’s Sucking, Feeding, and Vocal Development study influences the way caregivers perceive their own child’s development. We will measure caregiver knowledge and understanding of development before and after they participated in our study. Little research has been done to evaluate general impact of research participation on participants, which would have broad implications for any area of research. We aim to present these findings at RISE 2020 and share with other research facilities.
Molecular Dynamics of DPPC
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
STUDENT(S):Carmen Graham COE’24
MENTOR: Professor Mona Minkara, Bioengineering
I will be working on molecular dynamics simulations of Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), which is a key component of pulmonary surfactant. The data collected from these simulations will be analyzed with the goal of further understanding how DPPC and pulmonary surfactant functions.
Early Caribbean Digital Archives: Cultural History of Native Caribbeans Exhibit
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
STUDENT(S): Emma Isaacs CSSH’24
MENTOR: Professor Nicole Aljoe, English
This project studies the culture and life of native Caribs, pre-colonial contact. Specifically, it will focus on the arts, including music, art, and theatre. Oftentimes, Latin American cultures outside of the massive empires of the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans fall off the historical record, leaving a critical gap in the understanding of the societies of the past. Sources include oral histories, native art pieces, and colonist documents observing cultures when they first arrived in the 15th century. This exhibit will provide resources and education for this lesser-known portion of historiography, illuminating the unique cultures that existed before colonists arrived.
Incorporating Societal Factors into Industrial Engineering Models
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
STUDENT(S): Olivia Johnian COE’22
MENTOR: Professor Kayse Maass, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
With this award, I hope to help create the first literature review that focuses on the use of societal and ethical factors in modeling. I will be researching Industrial Engineering models that incorporate social justice issues and assessing how “equality,” “equity,” and “fairness” are used in these models.
Caring Crafts
PEAK Experiences Bridge-Builder Award
Primary Applicant: Na Yoon “Julie” Kim COE’21
Other Collaborators: Kristy Chow, Zoe Liao, Barbara Missaka
This project group will develop and deliver crafting sessions for seniors with Alzheimer’s in long-term care centers..
Economic Impact of Global Coffee Markets on the State of Minas Gerais
PEAK Experiences Summit Award
STUDENT(S): Paul Molander CSSH’20
Andrew Wehner CSSH’20
MENTOR: Professor Imke Reimers, Economics
Our study will investigate how volatility in the coffee futures markets impacts economic development in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. We believe that volatility brought by speculation has a negative impact on the ability of coffee producers to reinvest capital, thereby harming the local economy. We will use econometric analysis in combination with qualitative anecdotes to prove that these markets require increased government intervention in order to maintain stability. The paper will be submitted to undergraduate economics research journals.
What Role Do Women Play in Democratic Transitions?
PEAK Experiences Ascent Award
STUDENT(S): Sarah Tyrrell CSSH’20
MENTOR: Professor Bilge Erten, Economics
This project aims to provide evidence that countries with a significant percentage of female politicians experience higher economic growth. It builds on the concept that females invest more in goods that have positive externalities, such as education and health, than their male counterparts. Using a dynamic panel model, we will show that pro-women democratic transitions lead to an increase in GDP per capita and explore the channels through which this growth is achieved, in the hope of finding methods to improve economic development. The findings of this project will be submitted to select journals within the field of economics.