Recent Seton Hill Faculty-Led Student Research Projects

Ashley Bartelson (Chemistry):

• The Synthesis of Amine and Alcohol Containing Compounds for the Study of Oxidation Rates with Oxoammonium Salt. Summer 2023.
• The Study of Green Oxidations in the Undergraduate Laboratory. Summer 2023.
• The Study of the Oxidation of Serine using Oxoammonium Salt. Spring 2023.
• Using Oxoammonium Salt as an Oxidizing Agent with Amino Acids. Summer 2023.
• Comparing the Rate of Oxidation of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Amines using Oxoammonium Salt. Summer 2023.
• Analysis of the Oxidation of N,N-Dibenzylaniline. Spring 2023.

Amalene Cooper-Morgan (Biochemistry):

• Comparative study of CRISPR editing using different reporters. Fall 2023
• CRISPR-Cas 9 genome editing system of E. coli and transformed the bacteria to become fluorescent with a DNA plasmid containing a gene that codes for Jellyfish GFP protein. Spring 2023

Barbara Flowers (Forensic Science):

• Enhancing Fingerprints on Fabric. Fall 2022.
• Bloody Fingerprints On Skin: Enhancement Techniques. Fall 2022.

Diana Hoover (Chemistry):

• The Impact of Acid Rain on Seton Hill’s Statues. Honors Capstone Project. Completed Spring 2023.

Allison Gremba (Physical Therapy): 

• Otitis Media and Eustachian Tube Morphology.
• Case report: PA gross anatomy lab and systematic review.

Craig Ruby (Physical Therapy): 

• Pilates Effects on Balance, Posture and Hamstring Length.
• Systematic Review of Pilates Effectiveness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Jamie Coates (Physical Therapy): 

• Blood Flow Restriction.
• Low Back Dysfunction.
• Is aerobic fitness a predictor of fall risk, specifically can performance on the Two Minute Step Test be indicative of risk for falls?
• Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitation and Knee OA: Does BFR provide a conservative management option in place of a total knee replacement (TKR)? Is BFR successful in prolonging or preventing the need for a TKR?

Jennifer Brlimyer (Physical Therapy):

• Systematic Review: How does Chronic Pain impact participation in physical activity in children and adolescents?
• Systematic Review: Power Training as an effective intervention for children with neurological conditions (excluding cerebral palsy).

Jamie Fornsaglio (Biology): 

• Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of e-liquid on lung and heart cells.  Funded by the Infanger Grant and the Title III Grant.
• Western analysis troubleshooting.  Funded by the Infanger Grant and the Title III Grant.

Jamie Fornsaglio and Nicole McAllister (Biology):

• Effect of delta-8 on mouse lung cells and the microbiome found within the respiratory tract; fluorescent microscope how-to educational video.  Funded by the Infanger Grant and the Title III Grant.

Ja’Nean Reay (Biology): 

• Effects of Disinfectants and Antiseptics and Microbial Populations in the Seton Hill Community.  Honors Project and presentation fall 2022.
• The effects of toothpaste on growth on bacteria found in the oral cavity.  Presented at SHU’s Celebration of Scholarship poster session. 
• How Do We Question Science? Presented at SHU’s Honors Capstone Symposium.

Brian Larouere (Exercise Science):

• Effects of Exercise on the Inflammatory Biomarker C-Reactive Protein with Reference to Body’s Stress and Energy Homeostasis Status.  Funded by LECOM Internal Seed Grant by Dr. Amitabha Ray of LECOM for $12,000.  
• Fitness challenges amongst female athletes.
• The impact of creatine use on muscle size.
• Injuries on various types of turf.

Brian Larouere and Jared Burns (Exercise Science & Data Science): 

• Heart rate variability in Division II soccer players.

Jessica Brzyski (Biology):

• Protocol development for examining differential gene expression in Asteraceae. Funded by the U.S National Science Foundation (DEB-1655762).

Brett Aiello (Biology):

• How does moth wing flexural stiffness evolve relative to interspecific differences in flight behavior? Funded by the Title III grant.
• Are sensors distributed across appendages to maximize the encoding of relevant stimuli?

Nicole McAllister (Biology): 

• Characterization of Novel Bacteriophages in the Greensburg Area Community. Funded by Infanger Grant.
• Pfizer vs. Moderna: Antibody Levels Post-Vaccination and Social Opinion. Funded by Title III. Presented at SHU’s Honors Capstone Symposium in Spring 2023.
• CHIKV E2 Residues that Mediate GAG binding. Funded by Title III in Summer 2022. Presented at the TRCCC, NHRC, and the SHU URC in Spring 2023.
• Bacteriophage Therapy Treatment for Meningitis Caused by Streptococcus Bacteria. Presented at SHU URC in Spring 2023.
• The Bacteria Playlist. Funded by Title III. Presented at the NHRC and the SHU URC in Spring 2023.
• Pseudomonas Phage Therapy. Funded by Title III in Spring 2023.

Recent Student Internships & External Research

• Internship with Pace Analytical, Greensburg, PA. Summer 2022. 
• Summer Pre-Medical Undergraduate Internship at Indiana Regional Medical Center, Indiana, PA. Summer 2023.  
• Internship with Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office, Greensburg, PA. Summer 2023. 
• Internship with ITW Permatex, Solon, OH. Summer 2023.
• Internship with WSSC Water, Silver Spring, MD. Summer 2023.  
• Summer Internship at Jefferson Hospital Clinical Decision Unit, Jefferson Hills, PA
• Summer Internship with Mercy Hospital Trauma Unit, Pittsburgh, PA
• Summer Internship at Jefferson Hospital ICU, Jefferson Hills, PA
• Summer Internship at AHN Forbes Hospital Oncology Unit, Monroeville, PA
• Summer Internship at AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital Medical Surgical Unit, Natrona Heights, PA
• Summer Internship at UPMC Magee Hospital Oncology Unit, Pittsburgh, PA
• Summer Internship at UPMC Mercy, Pittsburgh, PA
• Summer Internship at AHN Forbes Hospital, Monroeville, PA
• Summer Internship at UPMC Williamsport, WIlliamsport, PA
• Summer internship at AHN Forbes Emergency Department and ICU, Monroeville, PA
• Summer Internship at UPMC St. Margaret Orthopedics Unit, Pittsburgh, PA
• Summer internship at UPMC Magee Obstetrics area, Pittsburgh, PA
• Summer 2023 REU with WVU Cancer Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Morgantown, WV.
• Summer 2023 REU with the Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology Summer Research Internship at the Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR.
• Spring and summer 2023 internship at the University of Pittsburgh performing mouse memory testing/MRI analysis, Pittsburgh, PA  
• Summer 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Summer 2023 Lab Technician for a radiation oncology lab at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Fall 2022, Perry Drug Store, Perryopolis, PA, Pharmacy Technician.
• Fall 2022, Associates in Family Healthcare Intern, Slickville, PA. 
• J-Term 2023,  LA Fitness Team Member, Greensburg, PA.
• Fall 2022, Medical Scribe for Scribe America, Greensburg, PA.
• Fall 2022, Nurse’s Aide Intern at Caritas Christi, Greensburg, PA.
• Fall 2022, Optometric Technician at Lappen Eye Care, Greensburg, PA.
• J-Term 2023, Patient Care Nursing Assistant at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
• J-Term 2023, Medical Scribe at Epic Scribes, Winchester, VA.
• Spring 2023, Intern at Redstone Highlands, Greensburg, PA.
• J-Term 2023, Emergency Room Medical Scribe at Westmoreland Hospital & Frick Hospital, Greensburg & Latrobe, PA. 
• Spring 2023, Nutrition Intern at UPMC Weatherwood, Greensburg, PA.
• Fall 2022, Medical Assistant I at UPMC Children’s Express Care, Cranberry & Moon Township, PA.