Contact: Leah Barbour
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Seven women from the Magnolia State and one each from Alabama and South Carolina are top winners of Mississippi State's 11th annual Graduate Student Research Symposium.
Sponsored by the university's Graduate Student Association, the annual competition recognizes the best research and innovative idea accomplishments of students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees during the academic year.
By categories, the 2012-13 first- and second-place honorees and their project titles include:
Oral Presentation, Research
FIRST--Anuhya Gottipati of Starkville, doctoral student in biomedical engineering, "Collagen Coating Enhances MSC-mediated Chondrogenesis on Chitosan-Calcium Phosphate." Steven Elder, professor of agriculture and biomedical engineering, was co-author. [Gottipati's parent names not given.]
SECOND--Caroline L. Baker of Leland, master's student in English, "Student and instructor perceptions of the use of online translators in English Composition." She is the daughter of Mac and Stephanie Baker.
Oral Presentation, Innovative Idea
FIRST--Rebecca L. Heiser of Pelzer, S.C., master's student in history, "Temperance Reform and Rescuing 'Outcast London,' 1883-1895." She is the daughter of Richard O. and Joanne Heiser.
SECOND--Edith Martinez-Guerra of Starkville, master's student in civil engineering, "Algal Biodiesel Production using Novel Methods." Veera Gude, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, was co-author. [Martinez-Guerra's parent names not given.]
Visual Presentation, Research
FIRST--Lauren W. Jones of Harvest, Ala., doctoral student in cognitive science, "Increased FOK Accuracy with Repetition: Accessibility, Cue Familiarity or Strength?" Deborah Eakin, associate professor of psychology, was co-author. [Jones' parent names not given.]
SECOND--Brandon N. "Brandi" Durr of Starkville and Sarah W. Wimbish of Iuka, both pursuing educational specialist degrees, "Pilot Study: Utilization of DIBELS during a Migrant Summer Academic Camp." Durr is the daughter of Billy and Marilyn Wynn; Wimbish, the daughter of Robert and Tracy Wimbish.
Visual Presentation, Innovative Idea
FIRST--Alexis E. Jones of Greenville, master's student in experimental psychology, "Do photographs facilitate false memories?" Deborah Eakin, associate professor of psychology, was co-author. Jones is the daughter of Steve and Elizabeth Jones.
SECOND--Kristen R. Ferrell of Horn Lake, a master's student in human development and family studies, "Does Mindfulness Practice in Preschool have an Impact on School Readiness?" Ferrell is the daughter of Harold Ferrell of Nashville, Tenn., and Becky Crum of Horn Lake.