Seven CSU Stanislaus students advanced to state level competition and scored the top prizes at the University’s annual Student Research Competition on March 19 in the John Stuart Rogers Faculty Development Center.
All six top placers will advance to the California State University system-wide competition at San Jose State University on April 30 and May 1. Students from the 23 CSU campuses will submit written papers and make oral presentations before juries of professional experts from major corporations, foundations, public agencies, and universities.
Serving as judges during the afternoon of presentations were Dr. Richard Wallace, Anthropology & Geography; Dr. John Sumser, Communication Studies; Dr. Megan Thomas, Computer Science; Dr. Jung-Ha An, Mathematics; Dr. Elizabeth Breshears, Social Work; and Dr. Deborah Motton, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Merced.
The top placers in the two divisions were:
Undergraduate:
FIRST PLACE: Evan Parker (Chemistry) - “Detection and quantification of Melamine by AP-MALDI MS/MS.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Scott Russell, Chemistry
SECOND PLACE: Emily Mall (Psychology) - “Comparison of the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) to gold standard neurobehavioral tests.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dawn Strongin, Psychology
THIRD PLACE: Ashley Amador (Psychology) - “The role of personality and stereotype threat on leadership aspirations.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victor Luévano, Psychology & Child Development
Graduate:
FIRST PLACE: Joseph E. Gonzales (Psychology) - “Dangerous bedfellows: Evidence that casual sex and Friends-with-Benefits relationships are associated with risky sexual behavior.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victor Luévano
SECOND PLACE: Heather M. Adams (Psychology) - “What’s so casual about it?: Differences between Friends-with-Benefits, casual sexual, and long term relationships.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Victor Luévano
THIRD PLACE: Steve Charbonneau and Kay Vang (Education) - “Student Achievement in California two-way immersion programs.”
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dawn Poole, Advanced Studies in Education