Week 5 of the Virtual PEAK Lunch Series

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. Traditionally, award recipients have presented the results of their work in a series of lunch seminars hosted in our office. In light of the COVID-19 crisis, we have taken our lunch series online this semester. We invite you to view the videos produced for our fourth week of virtual presentations, which can be found below.  The presentations address a wide range of topics, from community-based environmental justice advocacy to the history of medicine on the Western American frontier to the regenerative ability of stem cells. To share your thoughts on the videos with our presenters, please complete our feedback form.

You are also welcome to view the virtual presentations prepared by our grantees earlier in the semester; please click here for the first week’s presentations, here for the second week’s presentations, here for the third week’s presentations, and here for the fourth week’s presentations.

Modeling Evolutionary Pressure in Culture: Selfish Selection of Stem Cells
STUDENT(S): Tyler Bobbit COS’23
PEAK Experiences Ascent Award
MENTOR: Professor Jonathan Tilly, Biology
As stem cells divide, they are introduced with random mutations that can positively or negatively affect their ability to survive in a respective environment. This project is attempting to better understand the pathways in stem cells that are positively selected for with age, but that also result in age-related deterioration of cellular function. By collecting young stem cells, old stem cells and stem cells that have been artificially subjected to sub-optimal conditions, these three cell types can be quantitatively compared to identify these pathways, helping answer the long-asked question of why stem cells’ regenerative ability declines with age.

Distinct Behavior of the Two KRas Splice Variants
STUDENT(S): Trinity Cookis COE’20
PEAK Experiences Summit Award
MENTOR: Professor Carla Mattos, Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Ras GTPases are dynamic signaling proteins that drive cellular pathways to control cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival and are mutated in 20% of all human cancers. This project will focus on two closely related Ras GTPases that we have found to demonstrate significant differences in structure and conformational preferences. The PEAK award will be used to characterize the two proteins both biochemically and through accelerated molecular dynamics in order to better understand how the two proteins may function together to promote Ras-driven cancers.

How AFD Thermosensory Neurons Regulate Oxidative Stress Resistance in C. elegans
STUDENT(S): Nathan Gong COE’24
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
MENTOR: Professor Javier Apfeld, Biology
The purpose of this project is to use RNAi to elucidate the signal transmitted from AFD neurons to regulate the DAF-16 transcription factor in C. elegans. Validate RNAi clones using bacterial streaking, PCR, and gel electrophoresis.

Increasing the Resolution of TMS-Based Mapping of Cortical Topography Via Use of the Cortical Silent Period
STUDENT(S): Tessa Griffin COS’20
PEAK Experiences Summit Award
MENTOR: Professor Eugene Tunik, Physical Therapy/Movement/Rehabilitation Science
The presence of benign tumors, that require surgical removal, can cause electrical disturbances resulting in seizures. When tumors are located in motor cortices, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to non-invasively map functions in the area, aiding in pre-surgical planning. Traditionally, TMS mapping is conducted at high stimulus intensities to record muscle responses, limiting spatial resolution. We propose TMS mapping using the cortical silent period, a measurement of cortical inhibition that requires less stimulus intensity to observe, resulting in increased spatial resolution. In this proposal I will optimize parameters and protocols regarding this new technique in a healthy subjects.

Mobilizing Teens for Environmental Health Research and Environmental Justice Advocacy
STUDENT(S): Ramya Kumar CSSH’23
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
MENTOR: Professor Laura Senier, Sociology and Anthropology
This project examines the relationship between access to blue and green spaces and mental wellbeing in Boston area adolescents. This  research is community-based participatory research and consists of qualitative data.

Frontier Trails and Tribulations: Pioneer Physicians in the Westward Expansion
STUDENT(S): Ayeon Lee Khoury’20
PEAK Experiences Ascent Award
MENTOR: Professor Gretchen Heefner, History
My project seeks to find out why American medicine evolved differently in the western frontier than in the eastern seaboard by looking at the various geographical, climatic, and social factors that shaped the direction and the rate in which medicine developed in the 19th century United States. This project encourages scholars to interrogate origin stories—in this case the foundations of medical orthodoxy in this country. I plan to apply to share the results of my project at the Annual CSSH Undergraduate Research Forum in April.

Granular Hopper System Development for Adhesive and Elastic Materials
STUDENT(S): Krish Nathan Khoury’24
PEAK Experiences Base Camp Award
MENTOR: Professor Sara Hashmi, Chemical Engineering
Granular materials such as ball bearings and powders can form arches and jam. A hopper, which is a container with a tapered opening, will be developed to measure the jamming probability of adhesive and elastic granular materials. An image algorithm will be developed to analyze photos of jamming events.

Science Squad
STUDENT(S): Ffion Titmuss COS/CSSH’21, Tyler Gogal COE’21, et al.
PEAK Experiences Bridge-Builder Award
Science Squad focuses on getting children and adolescents excited about science. The group volunteers in the science department at a local secondary school and at science fairs around Boston; they also teach classes via the Northeastern NEPTUN program.