Presenters

2024 Presenters

Alexandra Szabo

"Breaking the Cycle" (PPT)

In previous research, I investigated the cycle of poverty in Native American communities. Education is a way out, but many reservations are still struggling for basic needs, such as water, electricity and internet. According to usa.gov, there are 574 officially recognized tribes, eligible for federal funding. My question is this: if these resources are available, why haven’t we seen any major changes so far? I followed the money to see what options tribes have, to transform reservations and provide a place their members can call their home. The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides a link between tribal and federal government, through contracts and grants, but their hands are tied by the Congress, often providing only 20% of what has been applied for. Providing up-to date living standards is a matter of urgency, but there are several obstacles to overcome, such as lack of funding, misallocation, and embezzlement.

Ashley Gutierrez Carreto, Tyler Kuwada and Daria Baitazarova

Ashley Gutierrez Carreto, Tyler Kuwada, Daria Baitazarova

"Socioeconomic Dynamics in San Francisco: Estimating the Impact of Wealth Distribution on Public Sector Metrics in San Francisco" (PDF)

Analysis of the effects of wealth distribution on various public sector fields to investigate the depth of economic inequality in San Francisco utilizing various data science methods in Python.

Celina Buncayo

"The Youth are our Future" (PDF)

The youth are our future — but what if they don’t vote? In this paper, I studied the low youth voter turnout in California and the correlation between an effective voter education and higher youth voter turnout. I surveyed 57 students from four public high schools in San Mateo County on their specific issues with voting and what they need from a voter education curriculum.

Erin Denny

"Electronic Nose (eNose) for Home Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Detection in Seniors with Cognitive Decline" (PDF)

Our research explores how urinary tract infections in incontinent seniors with cognitive decline can be diagnosed more effectively and quickly using a home-based test repurposed from clinical sensors.

John Michael Rada

"Upper Limb Transhumeral Prosthesis" (PDF)

Using 3D printing technology and gear transmissions, The CARE Lab Upper Limb Prosthesis team has designed an affordable and lightweight prosthetic. The prosthesis uses cycloidal drive transmission, planetary gear transmission, and IMU sensor, load cell and Bowden cable for intuitive control for the prosthetic. This research has pointed out the significance of 3D designing and 3D printing settings, contributing to a lightweight yet strong prosthetic arm design.

Megan White & Kea Kyle

Megan White and Kea Kyle

"Assembly and Annotation of Azolla Pinnata" (PDF)

Our project is about the genome assembly and annotation of Azolla Pinnata. We extracted DNA from three Azolla fern species and prepared them for genome sequencing. We are in the process of assembling and annotating the genome using de novo software. Our goal with this project is to provide more perspective on the evolutionary connections of Azolla ferns.

Miles Tolosa

"Liwanagan Ang Daan: Light the Way" (PDF)

This project explores the relationship between the modern-day Filipino-American community-college student and the four-year university system in California (UC’s, CSU’s). An integral part of the college experience is the ability to form social connections with those around you. An effective way to build these relationships is through on-campus involvement. Nearly every UC and CSU has an on-campus Filipino-American organization. For Filipino students transferring from community college, these organizations serve as an opportunity to acclimate to extended campus life, as well as form meaningful relationships. Community college students as a whole are already at a disadvantage socially, having foregone their first two years of the four-year university experience. This study aims to examine the research question: How can we acclimate Filipino-American community college students to four-year university life by leveraging the presence of on-campus Fil-am organizations? Using Leny Strobel’s Decolonization framework, research conducted by Fli-am students, and surveys conducted both at Skyline College and San Francisco State University, this research aims to propose a solution that can be integrated at campuses across California.

Princess Johanna Eusantos

Princess Johanna Esuantos smiling on a city street

"Economic Spending and Health Inadequacies among Unhoused Populations" (PDF)

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between economic spending and the rise of health issues in our society. It is vital to comprehend how economic considerations affect health outcomes given the growing concern around the world.

Raisa

"Parental Emotional Neglect and Adolescent Mental Health" (Canva)

Parental emotional neglect has emerged as a significant factor contributing to adverse effects on adolescents’ health, and for the most part, their mental health. This study reveals a host of detrimental outcomes associated with caregiver emotional neglect, including social deficits, long-term mental instability, increased psychopathology, and a compromised self-esteem. The developmental process of adolescents is hindered by caregiver emotional neglect, raising concerns as adolescents often fail to seek help when needed. This gap in accessing mental health resources necessitates further exploration, particularly for individuals facing stigma or unaware of available support systems. In response to this need, a website has been curated, accumulating diverse mental health resources in San Francisco and San Mateo County. The aim is to establish a safe-hub for adolescents grappling with mental health challenges, bridging the gap between those in need and the available support services.  

Sahil Niwas

Headshot of Student Presenter Sahil Niwas smiling

"Pluripotency Validation of Prader Willi Syndrome iPSC lines" (PDF)

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder caused by lack of expression of many genes on chromosome 15, particularly from the paternal copy of the 15q11-q13 region. This disease is primarily characterized by hypotonia, followed by a switch to hyperphagia. These individuals rapidly become obese, have decreased growth velocity and intellectual disabilities. Some evidence also suggests individuals are at high risks of developing heart disease at a young age. In this study, we will validate PWS patient-derived human induced pluripotent cells (hiPSCs) to determine its utility aimed at discovering the viability of candidates to be included in cardiovascular functional studies. We show four hiPSCs lines derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PWS individuals to validate their pluripotency markers and ability to differentiate into three primary germ layers. By leveraging these cell lines, we may provide a valuable model of an imprinting PWS disorder useful in understanding its effect on endothelial cells and cardiomyocyte functions.

Simon Herrmann

"Fuzz Button Connector Research" (PDF)

My research that I have conducted is based around the goal of testing the effectiveness of the electrical connector called "Fuzz Buttons" for their potential application in the nEXO Detector. This involved creating an output PCB and an assembly involving an interposer to house the Fuzz Buttons. We are currently ordering/creating parts with hopes of starting electrical testing in the coming months.

Tuongvan Do

"In Defense of Home: Trung Sisters and the 36" (PPT)

What prompts two privileged high-born young women to risk security, status, wealth, family and – indeed – life itself to take up arms against intransigently avaricious invaders intent upon cultural domination?  Could it be because, to them, in the words of  Yi-Fu Tuan, the idea of “place” as “a concretion of value” where “one can dwell” subsumes all of these merits and more? In my research, I seek to learn more about the motivations of two extraordinary women who became warrior-queens, inspired a nation, empowered a people, and historically memorialized the meaning of homeland.

Veronica Johnson

"Iron Gall Ink" (PDF)

Ink made from oak galls and iron was used for over a thousand years due to its durability and water resistance. Unfortunately, the reaction mechanism involved in the oxidative step that gives the pigment molecules their water resistance can damage the paper or parchment the ink was used on. A huge portion of the world’s written cultural heritage has been written using iron gall ink, and is therefore susceptible to this type of damage or even destruction. My research focuses on recreating historic recipes to study the effects of different processing methods and ingredients on characteristics of the final ink.

Yuting Duan and the DataJam Friday Team

Duan Yuting and DataJam Friday Team

Including Eden Huang, Veronica Johnson, Pan Cho and Yuting Duan

"ELECTRIC AVENUES: Optimizing EV Charging Infrastructure for Equitable Adoption in San Mateo" (PDF)

How can we strategically deploy and allocate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in San Mateo to enhance accessibility and adoption, considering the variations in EV ownership across different zip codes? Additionally, what socio-economic factors, such as median income, contribute to the differing rates of hybrid/electric vehicle adoption in these areas?

2024 Poster Session

2023 Presenters

Abigail Jean Alfonzo

Project Description

Did you know that your cells could shape-shift? My research surrounds the current studies of stem cell technology and treatments. More specifically, the effects of stem cell treatments on a degenerative disease like Leukemia. Stem Cells and Regenerative Disease Treatment hold a big promise for the world of medicine. Abigail Jean Alfonzo's Poster

Aye Chan Moe

Project Description

Will the stigma of down syndrome by public education change the attitude? Could it be education to change the stigma on Down Syndrome? I would like to dedicate this to my little younger sister , who is also down syndrome, which has moved me in many ways, which pushed me into deep dive into this research fields today. My country, Burma, is a third world country that has this kind of stigma that looks down on the people with disabilities especially mind draining to the children. My goal is to create a campaign that brings together all the resources of the down syndrome, make awareness and support as much as I can, to my sister, to the community, to make the world a better place. Aye Chan Moe's Presentation

Beta Theta Omicron (Skyline College PTK Honor Society)

Project Description

According to Skyline College student admissions data, less than 28% of the current student body is enrolled full-time, with more than 47% registered less than half-time. As a result, students are spending very little time on campus. Students mostly interact with other students and faculty inside the classroom. It has been demonstrated that the establishment of learning communities improves student retention, learning outcomes, and college perception (Tinto, 1997). Beta Theta Omicron's Poster

Bjorn Bjornsen

Project Description

Different external and internal conditions may influence how blood in the body flows through different veins and arteries, for example when a person is in space and there is no gravity blood flow can be very different if a person were on Earth due to a change in By using the 3d physics engine called "Unreal Engine 5" we can put a replica of the femoral artery inside the engine and change how the blood flows due to different factors such as gravity, heart rate and vascular constriction. This project is in a field called Hemodynamics, different equations including the Bernoulli's equation will be used. Bjorn Bjornsen's Presentation

Chenran Kang

Project Description

This semester I am studying the physics of three bodies, including black holes, relativity and so on. In addition, I also added my own inner thoughts about the universe. Chenran Kang's Poster

Dennis D. Revelo

Project Description

How we present ourselves is one of the essential facets of our professional and career advancement. Unfortunately, there is a rapidly growing number of people who are holding themselves back from self-actualization by using verbal crutches. Verbal crutches, also know as filler words, make us sound less informed and promising than we really are. Fixing this issue is especially important for college students trying to move forward and advance their careers. My presentation focuses on how to mitigate these problems to unlock your full speaking confidence and potential. Dennis D. Revelo's Presentation

Dunhoja LaVerne Robbins

Project Description

The Black Maternal Advocacy Project was created to conduct research for the advancement of medical equity for African American women's sexual and reproductive health. This is a multisegment research project that will take course in multiple forms of research studies to help gain an understanding of why African American women are dying at steadily increasing rates from pregnancy related complications and conditions. This is something that needs to be researched in depth as it is an epidemic in the United States. As a mother myself, this is something that is personal to me because I was in this position myself in 2021. My goal is to inspire and educate those around me on Black maternal mortality rates so that future generations and families don't experience the trauma that other families experience daily. Dunhoja LaVerne Robbins' Presentation

Eureka Soriano

Project Description

My research project reflects on some of the contemporary environmental justice issues through an analysis of the 1994 Chicago Heat Wave. I did this project for my Geography 100 Class with Ms.Cunningham, and I hoped to have highlighted the value of community in addressing environmental concerns.Eureka Soriano's Poster (page 1) and Eureka Soriano's Poster (page 2)

Gabriel Hapin - Aranda

Project Description

My project is an Arduino kit arm that can be controlled with the movements of your own arm. I have three sensors connect that detect movement from your rotator cuff, forearm, and wrist to send movements via bluetooth to the arm. A robotic arm that can mimic the movements of a human arm through acceleration and bluetooth sensors. Gabriel Hapin-Aranda's Presentation

Ilya Vasey

ILYA VASEY

Project Description

Die-off events of San Francisco Bay Area Leopard sharks have been known to occur during calendar years with great amounts of spring rain for many decades. This trend has started to occur more frequently. Researchers have linked a parasitic protozoa by the name, Miamiensis avidus, to leopard shark die-offs. Ilya Vasey's Presentation

Julio Lau

Project Description

This research aims to bring awareness about contamination and social injustice. To do so, the project will provide an overview of Baton Rogue (Cancer Alley) and Hinkley, California. I conducted a literature review of the history, demographics, and present of these places and the health dangers the different chemicals pose for the residents of these communities. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(2020), the air quality across the US has improved since 1980. However, this isn’t the case with places like Baton Rogue, which is contaminated with more than 50 different chemicals. Julio Lau's Presentation