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Growth Chronology and Lenses in Whitefish Species
Mentor: Jonah Bacon

Sectioned and measured eye lenses, sectioned and aged otoliths, to create a lens growth chronology across the life span of four white fish species.

Development of quantitative PCR assays targeting varied-length sequences of the ND1 gene in human DNA
Mentor: Dr. Andr¨¦s Lopez

I used online programs GenBank and Primer3 to modify a previously published assay to target varying lengths of human eDNA. I also collect eDNA samples from three sites along the Chena River.

Variability of total dissolvable aluminum and manganese in the Gulf of Alaska
Mentor: Dr. Ana Aguilar-Islas

Under the advising of Dr. Ana Aguilar-Islas, I will be studying concentrations of aluminum and manganese in seawater samples collected as a part of the Northern Gulf of Alaska Long-Term Ecological Research survey. I will be using methods of elution and dilution in a trace metal chemistry lab to prepare sample, and will analyze them via ICP-MS.

Video Presentation

Collection of eDNA Samples Along the Upper Half of the Yukon River
Mentor: Dr. Andr¨¦s Lopez

In the summer of 2022, eDNA samples were taken on a six-week self-supported canoe expedition along the upper one thousand miles of the Yukon River.

Sample of the Population Genomics of Pacific Herring in the Bering Sea Using mtDNA
Mentors: Sydney Almgren & Dr. Jessica Glass

I am testing the mitochondrial DNA of Eastern Bering Sea to test if there are separate populations in the Bering Sea of herring.

A Comparison of Arctic Grayling Abundance to the Spawning Patterns of Chinook and Chum Salmon in the Chena River
Mentor: Dr. Andr¨¦s Lopez

Testing species-specific quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) assays for Arctic Grayling to determine trends in their relative abundances correlate with those identified in Chinook and Chum eDNA concentration data.

Examination and proximate composition of reproductive organs in Arctic lamprey, Lethenteron camtschaticum
Mentor: Amber Perk

This project will examine size at maturity, absolute and relative fecundity, relative egg size, gonadosomatic index (GSI), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and egg proximate composition of Arctic lamprey. As an important commercial and subsistence species, understanding the reproductive health and biology of Alaskan populations is critical for management purposes and stock assessments. These data will also serve as a building block for future research efforts.

eDNA metabarcoding measures biodiversity in Kachemak Bay
Mentor: Dr. Jessica Glass

For my project I collected water samples in Kachemak Bay. I used eDNA metabarcoding methods to investigate what species were present in my samples. I then compared my results across my five sample sites to see whether glaciation was a determining factor in species distribution.

A Tooth Size Allocation Investigation into Bodo Origins: Revisited
Mentor: Dr. Brian Hemphill

This project is the continuation of a biodistance analysis started in the Fall of 2022 of an ethnic group called the ¡®Bodo¡¯s¡¯ from the Assam region in India through a comparative analysis of another ethnic group residing north of the Brahmaputra Valley, the Nyishis of Arunachal Pradesh.

Mentorship in Literary Arts
Mentor: Courtney Skaggs

An undergraduate English student was mentored on literary professions and education, culminating in attending the largest writer's conference in the U.S.

Exploring Shifting Landscapes
Mentor: Dr. Mary Beth Leigh

Exploring Shifting Landscapes follows work of UAF scientists and documents impacts of permafrost thaw and wildfire cycles thorough artwork.

¡°Girls,¡± ¡°Dancers¡± and ¡°Ladies¡±: Language, Gender and Power in a Gentlemen¡¯s Club
Mentor: Dr. Robin Shoaps

This project examines how erotic dancers craft the interactional personae they sell to customers and how these performances respond to power dynamics in their workplace. It will draw from participant-observation ethnography and discourse analysis of interviews with dancers and staff at a local gentlemen's club.

Micro-pantries to Mitigate Inaccessibility to Anti-Hunger Resources
Mentor: Christi Kemper

Designing and building a micro pantry in order to give access to self-serve food resources for impoverished people in the Fairbanks area.

The Relationship Between Art and Stress Reduction
Mentor: Dr. Jen Peterson

This study aimed to address the questions: Is there a benefit to using ceramic clay, which
contains natural earth elements, compared to synthetic clay? Is there a correlation between the
medium used and the lowering of cortisol hormone levels after the process of art-making? There
were 36 university students who participated in this study. Participants were asked to attend one
2-hour clay workshop to learn how to make a pinch pot. Participants provided pretest and
posttests during the clay workshop to assess stress levels before and after working with clay. The
pretests and posttests included saliva samples to measure cortisol, heart rate, and a Perceived
Stress Scale. Preliminary results indicate that working with clay for 60 minutes significantly
reduced stress but there is no significant difference between the ceramic clay and the synthetic
clay.

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Safari 20SG Insecticide inhibits the growth of the fungal pathogen Neodothiora
Mentor: Dr. Ursel Schuette

The effect of an insecticide on a specific fungus that grows on aspen trees.

Synthetic pathways of platinum(IV) 2-phenylpyridine halogenic derivatives as potential anticancer agents
Mentor: Dr. William Howard

I developed different synthesis methods to synthesize various halogenic variants of 2-phenylpyridine ligated platinum-based compounds with the intent to have them tested for their anticancer properties.

Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) Coating
Mentor: Dr. Jack Zhang

I helped develop a new method to coat APTES on glass substrates. This new method coats APTES on microscope cover glass versus sandwiching APTES powder between two KBr cell windows, which is the traditional
method. Then I processed the spectra which involved trial and error. We wanted to verify if this new microscope glass-based technique works for FTIR sample preparations.

Consequences of Shrub Expansion in the Boreal Forest: Quantifying Alder¡¯s Seasonal Ecophysiological Dynamics
Mentor: Dr. Jessica Young-Robertson

This project is the result of my spring and fall 2022 URSA awards. My research focused on quantifying the seasonal ecophysiological dynamics of alder, including water use, photosynthesis, and growth. The data collected for this project will be incorporated into the research at UAFs Forest Soils Labs going forward.

Correlation Between Cortisol Levels in Students At Beginning of Semester and Overall Semester Performance
Mentor: Dr. Lawrence Duffy

Denali Alfalfa as a High-Quality Forage Crop: Creating Sustainable Food Sources for Alaska Reindeer
Mentor: Dr. Mingchu Zhang

I conducted digestive fiber analyses on Denali alfalfa in order to find its potential as a locally grown, high-protein forage for Alaskan livestock operations, focusing specifically on the reindeer industry. This is to promote further research into locally sourced feed production in order to establish food security in Alaska.

What is in Your Supplements? Streamlining sequencing methods for accurate results.
Mentor: Dr. Diana Wolf

Improving DNA sequencing for species identification in plant based, dietary supplements by using primers with labeled indices during PCR to help prevent contamination especially between samples.

Boosted Anti-Inflammatory Profile of Alaskan Sled Dogs After Consumption of Acute Doses of Wild Alaskan Blueberries
Mentor: Dr. Kriya Dunlap

The aim of the study was to see if the consumption of an acute dose of wild Alaskan blueberries mitigates inflammatory responses in dogs used in sprint sled dog races. Interleukin 10 levels were measured in blood samples obtained from eight sled dogs before and after completing a 20 minute run at 75% VO2 max. An R&D IL-10 ELISA kit was used to collect data on absorbances which then was used to compute standard concentrations. There was a significant difference between the control/before run and treatment/after run (p<0.05). The increased concentration of IL-10 in these groups indicates that the supplementation of wild Alaskan blueberries to the dogs¡¯ diets ¡°boosted¡± their overall immune response.

Remnants of the Bering Land Bridge: DNA Barcoding Anthropods in the Pribilof Islands
Mentor: Dr. Derek Sikes

Alaska is a critical region for bioinventory. Arthropod samples were collected on Saint Paul Island in 2022. We predict the samples contain more genetically unique populations than comparable samples from mainland-Alaska. Using DNA barcodes we will test our prediction, create a checklist of Saint Paul¡¯s arthropods, and explore Alaska¡¯s biodiversity.

Diversity Within the Wildlife Profession in Alaska
Mentor: Dr. Todd Brinkman

Our project uses publicly available data to summarize current demographics (gender, ethnicity, age) within the wildlife profession in the state of Alaska.

Modeling Bud Growth of Peony, Paeonia Lactiflora
Mentor: Dr. Patricia Holloway

Collecting data on the peony-growth and blooming process as to better understand what variables can be used as predictors for peony growth.

Role of Gut Microbiome in Rock Ptarmigan Health and Population Cycles
Mentor: Dr. Mario Muscarella

Rock Ptarmigan have multiannual cycles that peak every 10-12 years, but there has been an overall negative trend. While predators contribute, ptarmigan health may also be a factor. The ceca helps with birds¡¯ digestive system and understanding these microbial communities may establish a relationship to their health and population dynamics.

Video Presentation

A New Look at the Mammalian Fauna of the Prince Creek Formation of Alaska
Mentor: Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller

Famous for polar dinosaurs, the Prince Creek Formation (PCF) also preserves mammals, four species of which were found from studying teeth. However, by looking at jaws we have found a greater diversity. We have at least five different morphotypes represented by jaws and seven in total, almost doubling the previous number of known mammals in the PCF.

Understanding Earthquakes by the Tsunami Waves They Cause
Mentor: Dr. Alexei Rybkin

An analytic solution for the moving shoreline of tsunami wave run up on a plane beach, the solution allows for the recovery of the initial conditions of the tsunami wave.

Exploring Sweet Corrosion at Different Partial Pressures of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) using LPR and Weight Loss Methods
Mentor: Dr. Yin Zhang

The contribution of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel was investigated using weight loss (WL) and Linear Polarization Resistance (LPR) methods.

Biomaterials and their Applications in Subarctic Food Systems
Mentor: Iris Harritt

Food security is a concern in the rapidly changing subarctic environment. Fungi, especially local species, can produce biomolecules and take on different properties using biological waste and nutrient substrates to assist in the design of new materials for agricultural use and other applications that may support a OneHealth framework.

Video Presentation

DART: Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Toolbox
Mentor: Dr. Devin Drown

DART (Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Toolbox) is a novel toolbox with the goal of rapidly detecting antimicrobial resistant organisms within soil microbiomes. This project utilizes the Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencer and its adaptive sampling technology to enrich for AMR genes in a metagenomic sample.