News & Events

TODAY: Research and Creative Expo; Career Day; Athletics Center, 12:30-3:00 pm

 

STUDENT RESEARCH ON DISPLAY
12:30-3:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, Athletics Center

POSTER PRESENTSATIONS: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
CAREER DAY: 12:30-3:00 p.m.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
1:45-3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 14, Science Building, Room 140

Issues such as the use of mine water for the development of Marcellus shale gas wells and the ability to survive as an interracial couple are among the topics explored this semester by students at Penn State New Kensington's ninth annual Research and Creative Exposition, from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, in the campus Athletics Center. In conjunction with the expo, the camous hosts the third annual Career Day from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the center.

The exposition provides students, under the guidance of a faculty adviser, with the opportunity to conduct research, draw conclusions and present their information in a public setting. This year, a record 72 students researched 45 projects that will be exhibited in poster format or delivered orally.

Presentations from each category will be delivered on different days. Poster presentations are scheduled for April 12 and oral presentations are set for April 14.

The poster category is designed to convey the project's significance to scholars in the field and potential significance to the general public. The student's written research is translated into a poster. Participants are judged on content, display and oral defense of their project. Poster presentation will take place from 1-3 p.m. in the Athletics Center.

The oral presentation category is designed to take written research and present it in an engaging 10-minute presentation. Presenters are judged on written materials, topic significance, objectives, methods, responsible knowledge, invention, preparation and delivery. Oral presentations will be held from 1:45 to 3 p.m. in the Science Building, room 140.

A year ago, 63 students researched 44 projects that were exhibited in a poster format or delivered orally. The expo coordinators are Bill Hamilton, assistant professor of biology; Rob Mathers, assistant professor of chemistry; and Tracie Brockhoff, demonstration and equipment specialist for biology and chemistry. Admission is free to the public.

In conjunction with the expo, Penn State New Kensington hosts the third annual Career Day from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the Athletics Center. This special career event complements the Expo by creating new opportunities for the students and faculty to build stronger contacts with local industries through sharing of career information while also highlighting the campus' many research and creative activities.

Representatives from more than 30 employers are expected to be on hand to discuss career options, internships and job opportunities for current students and recent graduates. Organizations attending Career Day represent a wide variety of fields and in the past have included Alcoa, Electro-Optics Center, Dollar Bank, Peace Corps, Premier Automation, Allegheny Ludlum, PA State Civil Service and PNC Bank. Members of the campus' faculty also are encouraged to attend, as companies will focus on career paths within their organizations that relate to academic fields and majors.

"The combination of the Career Day with the Research and Creative Expo has created a major annual event for the campus giving students significant opportunities to presents their best work to local professionals and employers," says Jim Shields, career services coordinator at the campus.  "At the same time, it's another chance for us to showcase Penn State New Kensington as a vital resource for local communities and businesses."

Career Day is more than just a job and internship fair. The goals for the event are three-fold: career information sharing with students; networking among students, faculty and local businesses; and recruitment for any available internships and jobs. A directory with more information about opportunities with each employer will be available before the event to help students prepare for their interactions with the representatives.

The event is open to current Penn State students and recent graduates and admission is free. For more information, contact Jim Shields, career services coordinator, at 724-334-6065 or jshields@psu.edu

2011 STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Author(s)
Title
Faculty Mentor

1 Samantha Kurtz, Amber King, Melissa Burcin
Radiation in Flight
Debra Majetic

2 Alexis Chubeck, Marissa Miller
Radon in the Home
Debra Majetic

3 Christopher Davis
Am I Getting on Your Nerves?
Debra Majetic

4 Jake Howard
Virtual Reality: Application and Implications
Gary Heberling

5 Lindsay Aubele, Raymond Zerjav, Laura Giap Lichens Growth
Patterns and Distribution in Their Environment
Dr. William Hamilton

6 Akpoveta Obezenu, Alisha Hetrick, Jessica Kaczor
Ferns: Forest Friend or Foe
Dr. William Hamilton

7 Zachery  Mehal, Lacie Knapp, Jeffrey Richards
The Analysis of Microorganisms Found on the Nature Trail 
Dr. William Hamilton and Deborah Sillman

8 Zachery  Mehal 
Vitamin K Synthesis and the Role of Microflora
Dr. William Hamilton

9 Joshua Vogel
Variable Controlled Electro- Magnetic Levitation and the Chemical Synthesis of Polymerized Ferrofluid 
Ron Land

10 Sadie Eichner
Salvador Dali: Life and Cross-Cultural Influence
 Maria Franco-De Gomez

11 Gretchen Toy
Exploring the Religious Symbolism of Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia
Maria Franco-De Gomez

12 Brian Jug
The Problem of Evil
Donald Bruckner

13 Katie Malobicky, Mallory Randas, Ashley Reynolds
How Far Is Too Far?
Marcia Curler

14 Colin Lischy
A General Overview of Paget's Disease
Marcia Curler

15 Taylor Transue
Comparisons Between Different Data Visualization Techniques and Implementations
Dr. Hal Smith

16 Thomas Dalbo, Alexander Blinkhorn
Advanced Secure ID Manager
Dr. Hal Smith

17 Jessica Bonk
Cinematography in Video Games: The Pseudo Camera
Allen Larson

18 Justin Rectenwald
The Relationship of Silicate Glass Additives
Dr. Robert Mathers

19 Dillon Nichols
Reactor Scale-up for Chemical Vapor Deposition of Graphene on Copper Foils and Films
Dave Snyder

20 Mathew Cavazza
Use of Mine Water for the Development of Marcellus Shale Gas Wells
Carole Walcher

21 Alecia Denillo, Layla Bruzda
Gender Differences in Perceptions of Placement of Parents in Nursing Homes 
Dr. Josi Kalavar

22 Laura Sciamanna
A Deeper Look into the Effects of Music: Aggressive Music Evokes Aggressive Cognition
Dr. Rick Harnish

23 Alexa Kreger
Music: Helpful or Harmful During Recall
Dr. Rick Harnish

24 Alex Baker 
Rube Goldberg Machine and Time Efficiency
Joan Kowalski

25 Rachel Barr
Tattoos: Attractive or Not
Dr. Rick Harnish

26 Robert Hughes
Journey of Interference: Reaction to Visual Stimuli with Possible Auditory Stimuli
Dr. Rick Harnish

27 Emily Brinker
Does Gender Role Reversal Have an Influence on How a Man Selects a Mate
Dr. Rick Harnish

28 Ruth Herstek
The Influence of Extrinsic Rewards on Group Performance
Dr. Rick Harnish

29 Erin Holleran 
Music and Effects on Performance
Dr. Rick Harnish

30 Brianna Fogle
The Perception of the Happiness, and the Ability to Survive as an Interracial Couple
Dr. Rick Harnish

35 Natalie Chalmers
Natural Sounds or Silence: Which Helps to Perform Better on Tests?
Dr. Rick Harnish

31 Brandon Bierer, Samantha Polons
Centroids: The Center of it All 
Joan Kowalski

32 Christopher Trusik
Energy Created by Pulleys in Local Rivers
Joan Kowalski

33 James Miller, Albert Tackie
 HCI Analysis: Mobile Phone Interface Design
Dr. Wayne Smouse

34 Amanda Polons 
Potential for Flooding of Pittsburgh's Historical Building Using Gis 
Dr. Wayne Smouse

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1 Melissa Robert, Erika Fritz
Radiation Fallout: Is it near you? A True Canonsburg, PA Story 
Marcia Curler

2 Grant Schoenfelder
Lion Ambassador Ipad Tour
Gary Heberling

3 Akpoveta Obazenu
The Correlation between Oral and Systemic Pathogenesis: Does Oral Pathology Cause Systemic Disease?
Dr. William Hamilton

4 Erika Watson
What We Owe to Our Food: Look at the Moral Considerability of Farm Animals
Donald Bruckner

5 Melissa Gemballa
The Rationale for Specialized Retail Clusters in a One -Stop Shopping World 
Dr. Rujirutana Mandhachitara

6 Alecia Denillo
What is Happiness? An Analysis and Its Causes
Dr. Bridges