CSUDH held its 20th annual Student Research Conference (SRC) on March 4-6, with students descending on Loker Student Union to show off and discuss the topics they’ve been delving into. Undergraduate and graduate students in fields from every area of campus presented their original research, with topics ranging from cancer treatments to the effects of rent control in California.
The three-day event for undergraduate and graduate scholars is held annually to promote excellence in research by recognizing outstanding students’ accomplishments across the disciplines.
In all, a total of 324 student presenters showed their work on 201 unique projects in oral, poster, or round table discussion formats.
“It was our largest conference since before the pandemic and possibly ever,” said Associate Professor of Anthropology Ken Seligson, one of the SRC co-chairs. “Overall, it was a great turnout for our 20th anniversary!”
Student Research Conference 2025 Winners
SRC Overall Winners
Best Undergraduate Oral Presentation
Dwanjai Oprien
Supply Chain Resilience Through Transportation Modal Flexibility
Research Mentor: Jian-yu Ke (Information Systems)
Best Undergraduate Poster Presentation
Vincent Espinoza
Study of Secondary Metabolites from Kelp-Derived Fungi
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Biology)
Best Graduate Oral Presentation
Kimberly Rivera
Investigating the combined therapeutic effects of the drugs bortezomib and decitabine on multiple myeloma blood cancer cells using a GFP fluorescence-based assay
Research Mentor: Jahan Abdi (Clinical Science)
Best Graduate Poster Presentation
Victoria Lancey, Daniel Hufnagel, Nick Murdach, and Gloria Rangel
Assessing the Effects of Induced Leg Length Discrepancy in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees Between the Prosthetic and Intact Limb Through the Analysis of Gait Symmetry and Spatiotemporal Parameters
Research Mentors: Mojtaba Kamyab and Mark Muller (Orthotics and Prosthetics)
SRC 2025 Session Winners
Graduate Oral Sessions
Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Science
First Place: Janna Emery
Understanding the mechanism of blood cancer cell destruction by natural killer cells using an in vitro model system
Research Mentor: Jahan Abdi (Clinical Science)
Second Place: Elena Murray, Kaylena Ledoux, Kacie Lackey, and Yaset Magdaleno
Technology and Independent Health Management: Perceptions of Older Adults
Research Mentor: Sheryl Ryan (Occupational Therapy)
Social and Behavioral Sciences I
First Place (Tie): Alyanna Kayla Paulino, Giselle Santos, and Tracy Nguyen
Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life Amongst Filipino-American Caregivers of Older Adults
Research Mentor: Yan-Hua Huang (Occupational Therapy) /
Nasim Karimi
Parental Acceptance as a Resilience-Promoting Factor for Mental Health Outcomes in BIPOC LGBTQ+ Youth Experiencing Discrimination
Research Mentor: Irene Tung (Psychology)
Second Place: Jesus Adrian Alcantar Alvarado
Rent Control in California: A disconnect between perceived survey support & election results
Research Mentor: Elena Kulikov (Public Administration)
Social and Behavioral Sciences II
First Place: Vivian Du, Larissa Bolanos, Cecilia Ceballos, and Hannah Garcia
The Narrative of Pet Owners and Their Perception of Chronic Pain
Research Mentor: Sheryl Ryan (Occupational Therapy)
Second Place: Madeline Neal, Jasmine Ho, Sidney Hsu, and Nadine Herrera
Adolescents’ Experiences as Language Brokers
Research Mentor: Sheryl Ryan (Occupational Therapy)
Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Engineering
First Place: Priya Silwal
Investigating the Potential of Telecommuting to Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California
Research Mentor: Parveen Chhetri (Earth Science)
Second Place: Daniel Isokpunwu
Enhancing Hurricane Prediction for Homeland Security Applications
Research Mentor: Antonia Boadi (Physics, Systems Engineering)
Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Science II
First Place: Kristine Yohanna
Bi-directional crosstalk between adipocytes and African American mammary cancer stem cells: role of hypoxia-induced metabolic reprogramming
Research Mentor: Shehla Pervin (Biology)
Second Place: Alexandra Ogar, Maureen McGarry, Ashley Alunan, and Kayla Priebe
Patient vs Clinician Education Priorities Throughout Orthotic Intervention for Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Survey Investigation
Research Mentors: Mojtaba Kamyab and Ava Hebrick (Orthotics and Prosthetics)
Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Science III
First Place: Kimberly Rivera
Investigating the combined therapeutic effects of the drugs bortezomib and decitabine on multiple myeloma blood cancer cells using a GFP fluorescence-based assay
Research Mentor: Jahan Abdi (Clinical Science)
Education
First Place: Breck Burwell, Maria Astudillo, Jessica Altobelli, and Jillian Caro
Coping Strategies Among First-Generation College Students and the Perceived Impact on Academic Performance
Research Mentor: Sheryl Ryan (Occupational Therapy)
Second Place: Alexa Martinez, Hallie Kaichi, and Naomi Kruzic
The Process of Learning and Implementing Cultural Sensitivity in Occupational Therapy
Research Mentor: Sheryl Ryan (Occupational Therapy)
Undergraduate Oral Sessions
Biological and Agricultural Sciences
First Place: Christian Pasos
Sand Dollar Survey
Research Mentor: Sonal Singhal (Biology)
Second Place: Vincent Espinoza
Non-invasive tracking of T-cells with CD3e PET Imaging
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Humanities and Letters I
First Place: Hector Hernandez
Ulama: Comparisons of the Modern Ballgame to its Predecessors
Research Mentor: Ken Seligson (Anthropology)
Second Place (Tie): Jose Dominguez, Media and Heteronormativity During the Pandemic
Research Mentor: Andrea Johnson (History) /
Efraín Contreras, The Cold War, Dodger Stadium, and The Los Angeles Times: the Creation of Modern Los Angeles
Research Mentor: Kerry Shannon (History)
Health, Nutrition, and Behavioral Sciences
First Place: Michelle Gonzalez, Yailin Munoz, Sebastian Molina, and Marysol Diaz
Iteration of the UNILaw app understanding litigants in the SoCal region
Research Mentor: Di Xu (Art & Design)
Business, Economics, and Public Administration
First Place: Dwanjai Oprien
Supply Chain Resilience Through Transportation Modal Flexibility
Research Mentor: Jian-yu Ke (Information Systems)
Second Place: Geovanny Martinez and Corvalis Cohen
Enhancing Homeland Security Career Pathways and Preparedness with A Custom-Built AI Chatbot
Research Mentors: Fynnwin Prager and Qiyuan Jin (Public Administration)
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
First Place: Vanessa Zamora and Jose Fabian Rodriguez
Carbon-Based Material from Waste Biomass and Its Usage in the Fabrication of Electric Energy Storage Components
Research Mentor: Lamar Glover (Physics)
Second Place: Emmanuel Zamitiz
Investigation into the Secondary Metabolites from Macrocystis pyrifera
Research Mentors: Erin McCauley and Amine Laradji (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Humanities and Letters II
First Place: Mya Gibson
Surviving the Heteropatriarchy: Mary Wollstonecraft’s Maria, or The Wrongs of Woman
Research Mentor: Helen Oesterheld (English)
Second Place: Diana Chávez
Usage of Psychoactive Plants in Sacred South American Environments
Research Mentor: Ken Seligson (Anthropology)
Social and Behavioral Science and Education
First Place: Diana Chávez
Cosmology of the Maya in Body, Space and Time
Research Mentor: Ken Seligson (Anthropology)
Graduate Poster Sessions
Social and Behavioral Sciences
First Place: Janna Emery
The epigenetic modifier Decitabine overcomes bone marrow stroma-mediated drug resistance in blood cancer cells
Research Mentor: Jahan Abdi (Clinical Science)
Second Place: Annalise Bui
The Role of Intergenerational Trauma in Substance Use Among Cambodian Refugee Communities
Research Mentor: Pari Sabado (Health Sciences)
Social and Behavioral Sciences II
First Place (Tie): Peter Martinez
The Effect of Language and Deprivation on Emotional Awareness in College Students
Research Mentor: David Weissman (Psychology) /
Marilyn Felix
The Impact of Friend Support in Enhancing Maternal-Fetal Attachment during Pregnancy
Research Mentor: Irene Tung (Psychology)
Second Place: Jeffrey Herschler, Logan Zaks, Justin Beverly, and Kyra Westbrooks
Evaluating the Impact of “Dyvert Vue” Lids on Waste Diversion at Cal State University Dominguez Hills
Research Mentor: Parveen Chhetri (Environmental Science)
Health, Nutrition & Behavioral Sciences
First Place: Victoria Lancey, Daniel Hufnagel, Nick Murdach, and Gloria Rangel
Assessing the Effects of Induced Leg Length Discrepancy in Unilateral Transtibial Amputees Between the Prosthetic and Intact Limb Through the Analysis of Gait Symmetry and Spatiotemporal Parameters
Research Mentors: Mojtaba Kamyab and Mark Muller (Orthotics and Prosthetics)
Second Place: Anna Navarro, Dominique Allen, Douglas Fernandez, and Sarah Fissel
Assessment of Prostheses Priorities in Individuals with Transtibial Amputations
Research Mentor: Mojtaba Kamyab (Orthotics and Prosthetics)
Undergraduate Poster Sessions
Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and Engineering
First Place: Christopher Beauchamp
Battery Constrained Covering Salesman Problem in Robotic Sensor Networks
Research Mentor: Bin Tang (Computer Science)
Second Place: Kayce Herrera
Studying the Electrical Properties of a P-N Junction using Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN)
Research Mentor: To Dang (Physics)
Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Science
First Place: Arianna Peredia
Stress Reactivity During Pregnancy: Socioeconomic Status and Age-Related Differences in Response to a Real-World Stress Test
Research Mentor: Irene Tung (Psychology)
Social and Behavioral Sciences I
First Place: Veronica Ceja
The Association Between Academic Success and Structural Stigma Among Latinx Adolescents
Research Mentor: David Weissman (Psychology)
Second Place: Rodrigo Arenas Loma
Autism representation in children’s picture books
Research Mentor: Christina Toolan (Child Development)
Social and Behavioral Sciences II
First Place (Tie): Stephanie Pineda Olvera and Jacqueline Moreno
Am I a Math Person? Facilitating Abstraction with Concreteness Fading
Research Mentor: Jeffrey K. Bye (Psychology) /
Maha El Ouaer
Motivating algebra: Building on Concreteness Fading Approach
Research Mentor: Jeffrey K. Bye (Psychology)
Second Place: Jose Quintero
Spatial Analysis of Xanab Chak: Insights into Social Stratification and Urban Planning in the Northern Maya Lowlands
Research Mentor: Ken Seligson (Anthropology)
Biological and Agricultural Sciences I
First Place (Tie): Fiyinfoluwa Ojo
Culturing of Kelp Associated Bacteria Capable of Metabolizing Alginate
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Chemistry and Biochemistry) /
Vincent Espinoza
Study of Secondary Metabolites from Kelp-Derived Fungi
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Biology)
Second Place: Catherine Giles
Development of Novel Mitochondria-Targeted Drug (mitoGE2) as Anti-Cancer Treatment for Breast and Pancreatic Cancers
Research Mentors: Sonal Singhal (Biology), and James L. Figarola and Jyotsana Singhal (City of Hope)
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
First Place: Tristan Partida
Identifying Novel Chemical Compounds from Macrocystis pyrifera derived Bacteria using Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Second Place: Mikaela Mari Fria, Emmanuel Zamitiz, and Mariella Mendoza
Engineering an In-Situ Gelling Vitreous Substitute with Antiproliferative Properties
Research Mentor: Amine Laradji (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Social and Behavioral Sciences III
First Place: Madison Bertran
Parental Emotional Support as a Predictor of Emotion Expertise and Psychopathology in Adulthood
Research Mentor: David Weissman (Psychology)
Second Place: Eileen Valencia
Sociopolitical Evolution of the Ancient Maya Site of Xanab Chak as seen through Ballcourt Construction Phases
Research Mentor: Ken Seligson (Anthropology)
Biological and Agricultural Sciences II
First Place: Thazin Yee
Identifying Novel Fungal Metabolites with Antibiotic Activity
Research Mentor: Erin McCauley (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Second Place (Tie): Lesley Velasco
Therapeutic Potential of Small Molecule Circadian Clock Activators for Muscular Dystrophy
Research Mentors: Sonal Singhal (Biology), Ke Ma and Tali Kiperman (City of Hope) /
Jerry Salinas
Silencing of CARF Impairs Fatty Acid Oxidation in Hepatocytes
Research Mentors: Erin McCauley (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and Kamrul Hasan (Drew)
Undergraduate Symposia
Pre-Migration Trauma and Nativity Status as Predictors of Resilience in Hispanic/Latino Adults at Midlife Residing in the Rural Northeast
First Place: Jacqueline Duarte
Premigration trauma, acculturation, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in foreign born Hispanic/Latino adults
Female Agency in Mexican Literature
First Place: Emilyn Santana Torres
Critica a los estereotipos de la mujer mexicana en ‘El eterno femenino’ de Rosario Castellanos
Latin American Literature Responds to Oppression
First Place: Nestor Valencia
El poder autoritario, un sistema corrupto que deteriora la individualidad en Gambaro y Valenzuela
Sustainability Awards
(Sponsored by the Sustainability Office and CalWater)
Sustainability Engagement Award
Jeffrey Herschler, Logan Zaks, Justin Beverly, and Kyra Westbrooks
Evaluating the Impact of “Dyvert Vue” Lids on Waste Diversion at Cal State University Dominguez Hills
Environmental Sustainability Award
Priya Silwal
Investigating the Potential of Telecommuting to Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California
Environmental Justice Award
Diana Chávez and Gabriela Rodriguez
Decolonizing the Plate: Reviving Traditional Foods for Health Equity
CALL (Campus as a Living Lab) Award
Benjamin Luna, Alejandro Cavazos, Junior Bail, and Anthony Huizar
Tree Canopies and The Effectiveness of Reducing Urban Heat Islands on Campus
Asian Pacific Student Research Award
(Sponsored by the Asian Pacific Studies Department)
Alyanna Kayla Paulino, Giselle Santos, and Tracy Nguyen
Predictors of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Filipino-American Caregivers of Older Adults
Library Research Award
(Sponsored by the University Library)
Eliel Dominguez
Examining the Relationship Between Life Experience Variables and Cognitive Performance in a College Population
Cap and Gown Award
(Sponsored by the University Bookstore and Follett)
Efraín Contreras
Undergraduate Research Awards
(Sponsored by the Omicron Rho Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.)
Excellence in Research Oral Presentation
Mya Gibson
Excellence in Research Poster Presentation
Arianna Peredia
Innovative Research Award
Tristen Landeros
Community Impact Award
Veronica Ceja
Emerging Scholar Award
Peace Clement
