Past CSU Student Research Competition (SRC) Participants
SRC Winners
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Justin Matties M.S. Kinesiology
1st Place, Graduate Division - Health, Nutrition and Clinical Sciences
Research Title: "A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoe"
Mentored by Dr. K. Michael Rowley, Department of Kinesiology
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Yashank Varshney B.S. Computer Science
2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Research Title: "Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production"
Mentored by Dr. Kathryn Grimm, Department of Physics

F. Michael Chua M.A. Economics
1st Place, Graduate Division - Business, Economics, & Public Administration
Research title: "Bitcoin: A Protector of Property Rights and Privacy? A Game-Theoretical Analysis"
Mentored by Dr. Christian Roessler, Department of Economics
Nidhi Nagar, M.S. Biological Sciences '17
1st Place, Graduate Division - Biological and Agricultural Sciences
Research title: "Role of Bacteria and Bacterial Metabolites in Development of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)"
Mentored by Dr. Maria Gallegos, Department of Biological Sciences
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Ashley Maynard, M.S. Biological Sciences '16
2nd Place, Graduate Division - Biological & Agricultural Sciences
Research title: "Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)"
Mentored by Dr. Tyler Evans, Department of Biological Sciences
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Erik Miranda, B.A Psychology '15 and Rachel Echeandia, B.A Psychology '14
2nd Place, Undergraduate Division - Education
Research Title: "Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science"
Mentored by Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
SRC Participants by Year
Competition Site: San Diego State University
Name: Anandan, Saranya
Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao
Project Title: A Digital Assistant Designed To Aid People With Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
Name: Khosravi, Sepehr
Research Mentor: Dr. Amara Miller
Project Title: Qualitative Study of Body Image and Culture Among Iranian-Americans
Name: Maharaj, Ria
Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea
Project Title: Understanding Potential Influence of Social, Cultural, and Historical Traumas & Resiliencies on Health of Diverse South Asian Communities in California
Name: Matties, Justin
Research Mentor: Dr. K. Michael Rowley
Project Title: A Pilot Study: Effects of an 8-week training intervention in carbon-plated running shoes
Name: Mendoza, Destiny
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny Hazlehurst
Project Title: Effects of selective mowing of invasive grasses on pollinator diversity in a California oak savanna environment
Name: Murray, Ashley and Yuan, Cassandra
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Simultaneous inhibition of sEH and FAAH alleviates inflammatory pain in male rats
Name: Torres, Sandra
Research Mentor: Dr. Andrea Arauza-Rivera
Project Title: An IFS for the Stretched Level-n Sierpiński Gasket
Competition Site: San Francisco State University (virtual)
Name: Basi, Sharn and Torres, Isabel
Research Mentor: Dr. Chris Baysdorfer and Dr. Patty Oikawa
Project Title: Methane Uptake in Compost-Amended Grasslands: An investigation combining trace gas measurements, quantitative PCR, and soil microbial analysis
Name: Coleman, Isaac
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Ortuoste
Project Title: Alternative Voting Systems in an Expanding Society: Tackling the question of voter satisfaction
Name: Martinez, Cynthia
Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton
Project Title: Understanding transcriptional regulation of T. gondii developmental differentiation and virulence
Name: McNeill, Amber
Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver
Project Title: How a Global Pandemic Changed Students’ Perspectives in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses
Name: Mwamba, Gregory
Research Mentor: Dr. Jesus Oliver
Project Title: Blowup of the Nonlinear Klein-Gordon Equation with Arbitrarily in FLRW Spacetimes
Name: Reyes, Roelyne
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Aptamer Selection for MRI Contrast Agents
Name: Ruiz-Mena, Patricia and Vatuvei, Roshetta
Research Mentor: Dr. Cathy Inoyue and Dr. Jennifer Sherwood
Project Title: Relationships Between Muscle Fitness and Radial Bone Strength in Older Adults
Name: Sarah, Marium
Research Mentor: Dr. Asha Rao
Project Title: Can a rewarding application drive Environment‐friendly actions among individuals?
Competition Site: Cal Poly Pomona (virtual)
Name: An Nepangue, Jexy (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeri Little
Project Title: Interleaving Is Better Than Blocking for Memorizers, but Blocking Is Better Than Interleaving for Finding a Rule
Name: Buchert, Steven (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Divya Sitaraman
Project Title: Effects of Sleep on Behavioral Decision Making and Reproductive Fitness in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila Melanogaster
Name: Rodriguez, Esaison (B.S. Biochemistry) and Muhammed, Sameerah (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Exploration of Salinity Tolerance in Pistachio Trees By Measuring Stress Responses on the Biochemical Level
Name: Denys, Andrew (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling
Project Title: Neuromuscular Fitness Field Testing: A Strong Predictor Variable For Tibial Bone Strength Indices Prediction Models
Name: León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Utilizing Reflexivity: Strategic Self-Disclosure and Insider Perspective in Qualitative Research with Transgender & Non-Binary People
Name: Millar, Sarah (M.S. Speech-Language Pathology) and Moore, Delia (B.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Michelle Gravier and Dr. Albert Mendoza
Project Title: Let's Get Virtual: Online Interprofessional Aphasia Group Fitness for COVID-19
Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Quintana, Taylor (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Early treatment of inflammatory pain prevents the transition from acute to chronic pain in rats
Name: Riegelsberger, Aerin (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Putting The Ball In The Patient’s Court: Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy In U.S. Family Planning Clinics
Name: Shah, Aarohi (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher
Project Title: Can Ion Exchange Resins Be Used to Remove Boron from Produced Waters and Increase Water Sustainability?
Competition Site: CSU East Bay (virtual)
Name: Bahlibi, Abraham (B.A. Psychology) and Contreras, Cesar (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Negin Toosi
Project Title: The Role of Race and Gender in Salary Negotiations
Name: Cabrera, Mica (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Exploring Antioxidant Capacity in Green Tea Dependent on Types of Water
Name: Fox, Lindsey (B.A. Sociology) and León González, Andrés (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Natalie Ingraham
Project Title: Transgender and non-binary patient perspectives on receiving transition-related healthcare in family planning clinics in the United States
Name: Moline, Ariel (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Pascale Guiton
Project Title: How does the developmentally regulated enzyme, Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase, contribute to stage conversion during Toxoplasma pathogenesis?
Name: Murrieum, Munahil (B.A. Business Analytics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Saeid Motavalli
Project Title: Building Energy Performance Prediction using Machine Learning: A Data-
Driven Decision-Making Framework for Energy Retrofits
Name: Naidu, Vishwani (B.S. Health Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Alina Engelman & Dr. Mariana Guzzardo
Project Title: The Emergency Response of Community-Based Organizations In Puerto Rico after Hurricane María
Name: Ouyang, Lisa (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ram Kandasamy
Project Title: Peripherally-restricted opioids restore normal activity without disruptive side effects in rats with chronic inflammatory pain
Name: Reinke, Taylor (M.S. Counseling and B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Oanh Tran
Project Title: Using a Social-Emotional Learning Program to Enhance Students' Well-Being
Name: Romero-Medina, Claudia (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Yingling
Project Title: Bilateral Bone Strength Differences in Division II Female Volleyball Players
Name: Schmidt, Derek (M.A. Music)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut
Project Title: The Folk Music Paradox: The Transformation of European Folk Music Into the Innovation of 20th C. MusicCompetition Site: CSU Fullerton
Name: Akhavian, Armin (M.A. Music)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ines Thiebaut
Project Title: An Analysis of the String Quartet “Death and the Maiden” (1st movement) by Franz Schubert
Name: Bajo, Ruby (B.S. Biology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Hayes
Project Title: Balancing Differentiation Between a Prescriptive vs. Flexible Professional Development
Name: Chandnani, Priya (B.S. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Dong-Won Choi
Project Title: What Escalates Conflict?
Name: Lal, Pooja (B.S. Health Sciences) and Raman, Priya (B.S. Health Sciences concentration in Public Health)
Research Mentor: Dr. Arnab Mukherjea
Project Title: Addressing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening among South Asians in the United States- Indo-Fijians and Pakistanis
Name: Duong, Andy (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Title: Characterization of PLM in ebp-1/2/3 triple mutant Caenorhabditis elegans
Name: Heidarian, Mohammad (B.S. Biological Sciences) and Kadeer, Elshad (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Aptamer-based MRI contrast agent with higher efficacy
Name: Hernandez, Carlos (M.S. Construction Management) and Slaton, Trevor (M.S. Mathematics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian
Project Title: Toward Reduced Emissions: Modeling Construction Activities with Deep Learning
Name: Lan, Connie (M.S.W. Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Student Health & Mental Health at Cal State East Bay: Balancing “pushing myself until I die and a little self-love”
Name: Nair, Deepajan (M.S. Speech Language Pathology) and Polit, Prema (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Elena Dukhovny and Dr. Shubha Kashinath
Project Title: Beyond the Device: Training communication partners to support AAC use in educational settings
Name: Varshney, Yashank (B.S. Computer Science)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Grimm
Project Title: Searching for Gravitons using Higgs Pair Production
Competition Site: Sacramento State
Name: Beverly, Linda (B.S. Mathematics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Shirley Yap
Project Title: LLE Based Image Hashing of Video
Name: Chua, F Michael (M.A. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Christian Roessler
Project Title: Bitcoin, a protector of privacy and property rights? A game-theoretical analysis
Name: Goldman, Jessica (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amanda Morrison
Project Title: The Mediating Roles of Social Support & Attachment Style on Collectivism &Resilience
Name: Keramati, Negar (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: Population Genetics study of Tritonia tetraquetra
Name: Kurak, Ivana (M.A. History)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ben Klein
Project Title: Divine Mothers, Earth Goddesses, and Harlots: Deconstructing the Stereotypes of 1960’s Counterculture Women in Northern California and New Mexico Communal Societies
Name: Monga, Karan (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Condori, Walter (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Development of a Virtual Reality Educational Game for Waste Management: Attack of Recyclops
Name: Pistorino, Jonathan (M.S. Chemistry) & Hall, Nicolas (B.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ruth Tinnacher
Project Title: Uranium(VI) Sorption onto Montmorillonite Clay in the Presence Calcite: Experimental and Modeling
Name: Quesenberry, Collin (M.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Luther Strayer
Project Title: Interpreting the seismic velocity structure across the Hayward Fault Zone with new high-resolution seismic data
Name: Reyes, Kimberly (M.B. A. Management) & Cole-Regis, Philip (M.B.A. Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Balaraman Rajan
Project Title: Affordable Care Act(ACA): Impact on U.S. Emergency and Preventative healthcare
Name: Sin, Davina (M.S. Chemistry) & Bongay, Mark (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of a Magnetic Imaging Agent for Antioxidant Glutathione
Competition Site: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Name: Albanna, Nesreen (B.S. Biological Sciences) & Kaur, Jasbindar (B.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Nazzy Pakpour
Project Title: Inhibiting the feeding behavior of Drosphila Suzukii
Name: Chua, Michael (M.S. Economics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kaumudi Misra
Project Title: Effects of Import Competition on Job Satisfaction
Name: Huffman, Jennifer (B.S. Speech Pathology & Audiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sara Smith
Project Title: The Relationship Between Working Memory and Executive Function (specifically inhibition) among Spanish/English Bilingual College Students
Name: Jahanbanifar, Shahin (M.S. Construction Management) & Kaur, Puneet (M.S. Construction Management)
Research Mentor: Dr. Reza Akhavian
Project Title: Construction Workers' Injury Prevention Using Smartphone Based Activity Recognition System
Name: Luu, Anthony (B.S. Biochemistry) & Sigua, Levi (M.S. Chemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Marlin Halim
Project Title: Development of an Aptamer-based Sensor for Galactosemia
Name: Mohr, Sarah (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Rose Wong
Project Title: Protective Factors in Muslim Women's Mental Health in the San Francisco Bay Area
Name: Nagar, Nidhi (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Maria Gallegos
Project Title: Role of bacteria and bacterial metabolites in development of Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Name: Salazar, Daniel (B.S. Computer Engineering) & Rao, Akarsh (B.S. Computer Engineering)
Research Mentor: Dr. Fadi Castronovo
Project Title: Virtual Reality Applications For Waste Management
Name: Yao, Jingyun (M.S. Speech Language Pathology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Pradeep Ramanathan
Project Title: The effectiveness of saline injection in the treatment of vocal fold scarring
Name: Ylanan, Ryan (M.S. Kinesiology) & Tapia, Oddessy (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: #Motivation: Examining motivational aspects of, and physical activity associations with, fitness-related social media activity
Competition Site: California State University, Bakersfield
Name: Bahramian, Jennifer (M.S. Environmental Ecology), Hand, Christopher (B.S. Chemistry), & York, Drew (B.S. Geology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: The Determination of the Thermodynamic Properties of Glycine at Hydrothermal Conditions Towards a Better Understanding of the Emergence of Life
Name: Brar, Evranjeet (B.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Physical and Sedentary Activity in a College Population: The influence of undergraduate major and gender
Name: Chugh, Shikha (M.S. Statistics)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Economic Analysis of Alternative Logistics Systems for Tennessee-Produced Switchgrass to Penetrate Energy Markets
Name: Edgar, Marya (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Amon Porter
Project Title: A Descriptive Analysis of Commercial Sexual Exploited Children (CSEC) Victims in Contra Costa County Foster Care System
Name: Marroquin, Yvonne; Rosales, Doug & Ndomo, Rodrique
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz, Dr. Christine Lee, Dr. Rachelle Di Stefano and Dr. Kathryn Hayes
Project Title: ‘Underrepresented Students’ are Not All the Same: Examining Science Achievement among Subgroups of English Language Learners and Students from Low Socioeconomic Status
Name: Maynard, Ashley (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Tyler Evans
Project Title: Enhancing the restoration of California estuaries by exploring the genetic basis of environmental tolerance in Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)
Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Video Game Experiences and their Relationship to Practical Skills
Name: Perez, Luis
Research Mentor: Professor Tom Watson
Project Title: Getting Their Money’s Worth: The Effectiveness of Using Humor in Super Bowl 50 Commercials
Name: Pothier, Holly (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Language, Education & Executive Function (L.E.E.F.): Exploring the role of language contact and environment among Spanish-English Bilinguals
Name: Ryczek, Cameron (B.S. Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Murray Horne
Project Title: Negative Patterning in a Geometric Spatial Task
Competition Site: California State University, San Bernardino
Name: Benetatos, Denise (M.A Anthropology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Laurie Price
Project Title: Cultural Models of Beauty and the Social World of South Korean Women
Name: Chung, John (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Effects of Sex and Gender on Coping Methods
Name: Diefenbach, Matthew (B.S. Physics)
Research Mentor: Dr. Erik Helgren
Project Title: Metal Insulator Transition of Polyaniline
Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) & Miranda, Erik (B.S. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Mastery Orientation and Efficacy Predicts Achievement in Middle School Science
Name: Jen, Gianni (B.A Psychology) & Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Motivations of Play in Video Games and Adaptive Coping Strategies
Name: Krutel, Lily (Masters in Social Work)
Research Mentor: Not provided
Project Title: Substance Use among Trauma Survivors: Assessing Current Attitudes and Service Provision
Name: Menjivar-Quijano, Stephanie (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Barkley
Project Title: Perspectives
Name: Nguyen, Khanh (B.S. Biochemistry)
Research Mentor: Dr. Monika Sommerhalter
Project Title: Do poplar hybrids raise antioxidant levels under high salt and boron stress?
Name: Nguyen, Minh-Thi (B.S. Business Administration) & Nicolas, Jonathan (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Gender Identity and Achievement: Is Higher Education Masculine?
Name: Sharifi, Osman (M.S. Biological Sciences)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: The mitochondrial genomes of the nudibranch mollusks, Melibe leonina and Tritonia diomedea, and their impact on gastropod phylogeny
Competition Site: California State University, East Bay
Name: Chiu, James (B.S. Business Administration) and Morshed Farzana (B.S. Business Administration)
Research Mentor: Dr. Ken Chung
Project Title: How are Executives Getting Paid for CSR?
Name: Diploudis, Maria Diamantoula (Master of Social Work)
Research Mentor: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Intergenerational Patterns in the Child Welfare System
Name: Echeandia, Rachel (B.A Psychology) and Miranda, Erik (B.A Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: Motivation: The Importance of Mastery in Middle School Science Achievement
Name: Gonzalez, Claudia (B.A. Psychology), Hinant, Rachel (B.A. Psychology), and Rodriquez, Ana C. (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Seitz
Project Title: America’s Call to Improve Science Education: Professional Development Deepens Middle School Science Teachers’ Content Knowledge
Name: Hamor, Nastassia (M.S Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jenny O
Project Title: Measuring the Transfer of Three Psychological Skills from an Academic Setting to the Real-World
Name: Igboegwu, Chidimma (B.A. Psychology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Gretchen Reevy
Project Title: Peer and Parental Attachment as Predictors of Adjustment and Achievement in High School and College among Domestic and International Students
Name: Kennedy, Denise (Master of Social Work)
Major: Dr. Sarah Taylor
Project Title: Stress Management and Physical Activity for Clients with Schizophrenia
Name: Larson, Tobias (M.S. Kinesiology)
Research Mentor: Dr. Jeffery Simmons
Project Title: Using Mental Skills to Support Lifestyle Change
Name: Sharifi, Osman (B.S. Biological Science)
Research Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Curr
Project Title: A partial genome sequence for Tritonia diomedia
Name: Vishwanathan, Swati (M.A. Communication)
Research Mentor: Dr. Grant Kien
Project Title: Yahoo Appoints Pregnant CEO: A Content Analysis