Local students participate in IUP Scholars Forum
INDIANA, Pa. — A number of local students at Indiana University of Pennsylvania were part of the IUP’s Research Appreciation Week as participants in the Scholars Forum.
Elyse White, a biology education major in the Cook Honors College from Punxsutawney, presented a research poster, “The Effects of Online Work vs. Paperwork in the Classroom.”
White is the daughter of Steve and Shannon White. She is a 218 graduate of Punxsutawney High School. At IUP, she is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Dr. Holly Travis, biology education faculty member, served as research project mentor.
Other area students who participated included:
• Erica Zamborsky, an accounting major from Marion Center, won the Outstanding Poster Award from the Eberly College of Business for her research poster, “Nano-Technology TTI Sensor Project – Business Development Plan.” Dr. Stephen Osborne, Department of Management, was the research project mentor.
• Sean Bennett, a psychology honors program major from Mahaffey, won the College of Health and Human Services Outstanding Poster award for his research poster, “Examining the Consequences of Dehumanization in Justification for Police Use of Force Against Minoritized Youth.” Dr. Jennifer Perillo, Department of Psychology, was the research project mentor. He is a 1989 graduate of Purchase Line High School and is a dean’s list student and provost scholar. He is a member of Psi Chi psychology honor society.
• Ashlee Brady, a biology environmental health major in the Cook Honors College from Brockway, won the Women in STEM Outstanding Oral Presentation for her research presentation, “Evaluation of Carbon Xerogels and Diatomite for Catalytic Dye Removal from Wastewater.” Dr. Sanda Andrada Maicaneanu, Department of Biology, was the research project mentor. Daughter of Vickie Brady and Steve Brady, she is a member of Alpha Chi Sigma and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies.
Research Appreciation Week spotlights the spirit of innovation and collaboration shared by all disciplines and recognizes the contributions that IUP original research and scholarship make to this region and to the world. IUP researchers received more than $11 million in research and sponsored activity funds for academic 20202021.
“While we shifted to virtual events due to the coronavirus pandemic for Research Appreciation Week in 2020 and 2021 and didn’t miss a beat, it’s wonderful to be back in person to celebrate some of the best of IUP student and faculty research expertise and creative arts,” IUP Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Hilliary Creely said.
“This week is really about our students and faculty, who are amazing researchers and scholars, and the many collaborative projects that are ongoing, or in the works,” she said.
“IUP strongly encourages research in any discipline by students, faculty, and staff members who have an insatiable curiosity,” she said. “Many students are reluctant to see themselves as researchers, and we want to change that,” she said. “IUP has a strong infrastructure to support research, including the Office of Undergraduate Research, led by Dr. Andrea Palmiotto, and opportunities like the Scholars Forum, which includes research in every conceivable discipline, as well as spotlighting original creative work,” she said.
“IUP is very proud of its recent designation as a Doctoral University —High Research Activity (R2) by the national Center for Postsecondary Research’s 2021 Carnegie Classification in recognition of its commitment to research and student success, and Research Appreciation Week is another opportunity to celebrate this commitment,” Creely said.
IUP is one of only two public universities in Pennsylvania and one of only 99 public universities with this ranking in the United States. More than 3,900 colleges and universities are included in the ranking system.
The Scholars Forum includes the Juried Art Exhibition, which featured artworks created by a select group of art students, juried by faculty members and representing the breadth of studio research conducted during the 2021-2022 academic year, a research poster session and oral presentations.
Almost 75 posters were part of the poster presentation session, which was held concurrently with oral presentations by 40 individual or teams of students.