March 28, 2022
Ten graduate students to present research posters at the Capitol
The 19th annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit on Tuesday, March 29, will feature 10 Kansas State University graduate students whose research address topics with important implications for issues in the state of Kansas, including agricultural sustainability, pest control, ecosystems, renewable energy, and public health and safety.
The event will be on the first-floor rotunda of the State Capitol Building in Topeka. The statewide summit includes current research from graduate students at Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, the University of Kansas Medical Center and Wichita State University. Graduate students will present their research posters from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and interact with legislators and the public.
University faculty and industry representatives will judge the student poster presentations, and top presenters from each university will be awarded a $500 scholarship.
The 10 K-State presenters were chosen based on their research presentations at Research and the State, an annual on-campus event, in October 2021:
- Mohanish Andurkar, doctoral student in mechanical engineering, "Investigating the effects of nuclear radiation on additively manufactured parts."
- Shelby Astle, doctoral student in human ecology, specializing in applied family science, "To talk or not to talk: An analysis of parents' intentions to talk with children about different sexual topics using the theory of planned behavior."
- Edward Bird, doctoral student in genetics, "Utilizing comparative transcriptions to understand the effects of vesicular stomatitis virus infection on neuro-sensory function in culicoides midges."
- Brandi Feehan, master's student in veterinary biomedical science and doctoral student in genetics, "Age-associated microbial stability and volatility shape the gut microbiome in a healthy pig model."
- Cris Kauer Brazil, doctoral student in industrial engineering, "Can virtual reality be used to test older adults on daily activities performance?"
- Anne Lovett, master's student in veterinary biomedical science, "Acute anaplasmosis reduces breeding soundness in experimentally infected beef bulls."
- Carlos Pires, doctoral student in agronomy, "Kansas soil health partnership."
- Emily Randig, master's student in civil engineering, "Application of fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of an algal bloom event in the Milford Gathering Pond."
- Archana Sekar, doctoral student in chemistry, "Development of durable anode electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells."
- Jack Sytsma, master's student in biology, "Dominant prairie grass cross-transplanted across the Midwest rainfall gradient: Response to drought."