Students showcase impact of undergraduate inquiry during full day of presentations
Presbyterian College hosted its 2025 Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium on July 23, highlighting the work of students whose research was sponsored by PC Summer Fellows, South Carolina IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) and Organic Syntheses Research Grants for Faculty at Principally Undergraduate Institutions (OS PUI).
The event included morning presentations, afternoon poster sessions, and a keynote welcome from PC president Dr. Anita Gustafson.
Held in the Harrington-Peachtree Center and James H. Thomason Library, the symposium spotlighted the students’ work this summer, each supported by a faculty mentor and backed by national and institutional funding.
The following presentations were made in the H-P Amphitheater:
Jaden Holder (PCSF) – Nucleation and Growth of Metals
Holder explored how copper and zinc deposit on 2D materials such as graphene and hexagonal boron nitride using electrochemical methods. His work provides insight into improving battery safety by understanding nucleation overpotentials and deposit morphology.
Advisor: Dr. Clay Wright
Anna Lewallen (OS PUI) – Development and Assessment of Organic ROS-Activated Carbon Monoxide Donors for Targeted Anti-Inflammatory Applications
Lewallen developed non-metallic CO-releasing molecules responsive to hypochlorite, a reactive species found at inflammation sites. Her synthesized compounds offer potential for safer, targeted anti-inflammatory therapies.
Advisor: Dr. Kimberly De La Cruz
Tanya Warren (SC INBRE) – BET Bromodomain Inhibition Sensitizes Hypoxic/Oxidative Stress-Adapted Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells to Ferroptosis
Warren investigated a dual treatment combining hypoxic stress and BET inhibition to induce ferroptosis in aggressive breast cancer cells. Her molecular findings suggest potential for re-sensitizing therapy-resistant cancers.
Advisor: Dr. Austin Shull
Alana White (SC INBRE) – Effects of Low-Dose Carbon Monoxide on Antibiotic Efficacy
White evaluated how low-dose CO gas influenced the effectiveness of various antibiotics against E. coli under low-oxygen conditions. Her findings highlight CO’s potential as a modulator of antibiotic performance.
Advisors: Dr. Kim De La Cruz and Dr. Stuart Gordon
Bethany McManus (SC INBRE) – Targeting N185D NPC1: Small Molecule Discovery to Restore Protein Function
Using molecular docking simulations, McManus identified compounds that may restore function to a disease-causing protein variant in Niemann-Pick Type C, a rare lipid storage disorder.
Advisor: Dr. Margo Petukh
Madelyn Wilkie (PCSF) – The United Fruit Company in Latin America: Imperialist Corporation or Benevolent Benefactor?
Wilkie presented a historical analysis of the U.S. company’s political and economic influence in Guatemala and Costa Rica. Her research will expand into a comparative honors thesis.
Advisor: Dr. Jaclyn Sumner
The following poster presentations were held in Thomason Library:
Raiden Bailey (PCSF) – Developing Jamming & Fluidization Cycles via Magnetic Force
Bailey constructed a rotating magnet system to manipulate granular materials for use in adaptive robotics and prosthetics.
Advisor: Dr. Eli Owens
Reece Bradberry & Maggie Jones (SC INBRE) – Evaluation of Alternatives to Zebrafish as Model Organisms for Fish Gut Microbiome Studies
The team used killifish and 16S rRNA sequencing to study how iron supplementation alters gut microbiota, with potential for course-based undergraduate training.
Advisor: Dr. Stuart Gordon
Hallie Cohen (PCSF) – Emotions and Stressors Due to Recently Changing Reproductive Policies in the United States
Cohen designed a national survey to explore emotional responses to reproductive policy shifts, particularly among underrepresented groups.
Advisor: Dr. Sarah Burns
Antonio Davis (SC INBRE) – Structure-CO Release Rate Relationship of ROS-Activated Carbon Monoxide Donors for Targeted Delivery
Davis examined how molecular structure affects CO release rates in therapeutic compounds targeting inflamed tissues.
Advisor: Dr. Kim De La Cruz
Riley Deadwyler (SC INBRE) – Residue-Level Contributions of Collagen and Elastin to Vocal Fold Elasticity: A Molecular Dynamic Approach
Using simulations, Deadwyler identified key amino acid residues involved in voice mechanics.
Advisor: Dr. Qi Wang
Chris Gallegos (SC INBRE) – Crystallographic Control of Au and Cu Electrodeposited on Two-Dimensional Materials for Detection of Ascorbic Acid and Dopamine
Gallegos explored nonenzymatic electrochemical sensors using copper and gold nanoparticles for biological detection.
Advisor: Dr. Clay Wright
Constantine Gandis (PCSF) – Characterizing Complex M: A High-Velocity Cloud in the Milky Way Halo
Analyzing Hubble data, Gandis investigated the ionization state of a massive cloud moving through the galactic halo.
Advisor: Dr. Frances Cashman
Hunter Satterfield (SC INBRE) – Development of a Soft Robotic, Prosthetic Gripper Membrane
Satterfield developed a flexible, jammable membrane for an affordable prosthetic gripper.
Advisor: Dr. Eli Owens
