All Presenters & Abstracts
Exploring Kelp Forest Dynamics Using Agent-Based Models
Presentation Year:2026
Sela
Raisl,
Undergraduate Student,
Mathematics & Data Science
Kelp forests are important ecosystems due to their high primary productivity, organism recruitment, and biogenic coastal defense. With the creation of multiple urchin barrens along the west coast of North America following a Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) outbreak in 2013, kelp ecosystem restoration has become a growing area of ecological research. Predatory sea stars are important top-down predators that regulate urchin populations, and their loss after the SSWD outbreak has allowed urchin populations to flourish. This project applies a generalized agent-based model of kelp forest dynamics that could be developed into an effective simulation for evaluating restoration strategies in urchin barrens. The model includes agents for kelp, Pacific purple sea urchins, and Sunflower sea stars and can simulate the ecosystem under different conditions to guide policy.
Exploring the Placebo Effect on the Cortisol Stress Response
Presentation Year:2026
Enza
Zeppegno-Mendonca,
Undergraduate Student,
Psychology
The placebo effect is well-studied on pain perception, but not many studies have examined the placebo effect on stress. The current study explores whether a deceptive stress‑reducing tincture (filled with water) influences participants’ cortisol responses and self‑reported stress while undergoing a modified acute stress task: the Sing-a-Song Stress Test (SSST). Given the rise of mental health concerns and misuse of medication, this area of research may provide new directions for developing treatments that incorporate the placebo effect, which may enhance treatment outcomes.
Expression of Olfactory Genes in the Wandering Salamander (Aneides Vagrans)
Presentation Year:2026
Marcus
Barela,
Undergraduate Student,
Biological Sciences
Chemoreception is an important sensory modality that helps salamanders interpret their environment in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. They have two major olfactory systems: the main olfactory cavity (MOC) and vomeronasal organ (VNO), where sensory cells detect odorants via membrane protein signaling pathways and ion channels. I examined expression of two olfactory markers, a G protein alpha subunit (Gαolf) and an ion channel (TRPC2), in Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans) olfactory tissue using in situ hybridization. Gαolf was consistently expressed in the MOC, while TRPC2 localized to the VNO, adding to our understanding of salamander olfaction.
Expression, Purification & Functional Comparison of MSP1D1 vs. Apo-AI in ASR Nanodisc Assembly
Presentation Year:2026
Andrew
Jenkins Cruz,
Undergraduate Student,
Chemistry
This project investigates whether MSP1D1 can replace Apo-A1 as the scaffold protein in ASR(anabaena sensory rhodopsin) nanodisc assembly. MSP1D1 is first expressed in E.coli, then purified using His-tag/Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, and is then incorporated into nanodiscs with purified ASR and phospholipid. The resulting MSP1D1-based nanodiscs are then compared with Apo-A1 based nanodiscs using SDS-PAGE gels, Native-PAGE gels, and dynamic light scattering(DLS). The goal is to determine whether MSP1D1 can form stable, uniform nanodiscs and function as an effective alternative scaffold for membrane protein purification and analysis.
Fad Diets or Bad Diets?
Presentation Year:2026
Walker
Dorris ,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
A literature review on fad diets and their effectiveness and sustainability with regard to weight loss and overall health.
Fiber Orientation Effects in 3D Printed Composites
Presentation Year:2026
Chloe
Melendez,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Engineering
This project investigated how fiber orientation affects stiffness in 3D-printed fiber-reinforced composites made with consumer-grade printers. Tensile specimens were printed with fibers aligned at 0°, 45°, and 90° and tested to measure Young’s modulus. Experimental results were compared with micromechanical models, including the Rule of Mixtures and Halpin–Tsai equations. An interactive Mathematica simulation was also developed to predict mechanical behavior, providing an accessible tool and open-source data for education and composite design.
Flammulated Owl Habitat Selection in Northwestern California
Presentation Year:2026
Kaden
Neibauer,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
I conducted an occupancy survey of flammulated owls (Psiloscops flammeolus) on Titlow Hill Road, surveying 80 points three times each between May 16 and August 7, 2025. I am comparing my occupancy results with GIS vegetation data from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's "California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR)" system in an attempt to better understand the habitat that these owls are occupying in Northwestern California.
Food As Good Medicine
Presentation Year:2026
Azariah
Mohr,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
As a college corps fellow, I worked with Potawot Health Village to address food insecurity. I planted and harvested produce and medicinal herbs that were dispersed to tribal members throughout Humboldt county. This careful work promotes holistic health initiatives rooted in eating organically and tending to the land. Through this experience I learned how to harness community with food and traditional knowledge at the forefront.
Food For People "Community Through Composting"
Presentation Year:2026
Casandra
Estrada,
Undergraduate Student,
College Corp
At Food for People, College Corps fellows Petrita and Casandra are currently developing a community based project to reduce food waste. They are working closely with Food for People to design this program and are in the process of reaching out to prospective community partners who could help pick up excess food. This project matters because food banks often struggle with large amounts of food that is no longer eligible for human consumption, which can lead to environmental waste. This initiative aims to address that by promoting composting and building a more supportive network through future collaboration with local organizations and community members to help reduce food waste.
Foraging Habitat Selection of Shorebirds based in Seclusion
Presentation Year:2026
Cody
Kangas,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
My study looked to see if shorebirds had a preference of foraging habitat based on how secluded the habitat is. I had 3 sites for data collection that varied in seclusion levels which were high, moderate, and low seclusion. The time of day for data collection was determined by the tide and was kept consistent throughout the whole study. This study was conducted locally at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary during the current spring semester of 2026. Data collection was collected by identifying and counting each individual for each species at one site for 10-15 minutes at each site.
Foraging Habitat Selection of Shorebirds Based on Seclusion
Presentation Year:2026
Cody
Kangas,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
My study looked to see if shorebirds had a preference of foraging habitat based on how secluded the habitat is. I had 3 sites for data collection that varied in seclusion levels which were high, moderate, and low seclusion. The time of day for data collection was determined by the tide and was kept consistent throughout the whole study. This study was conducted locally at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary during the current spring semester of 2026. Data collection was collected by identifying and counting each individual for each species at one site for 10-15 minutes at each site.
Foraging Success of Diving Birds Compared to Dive Duration
Presentation Year:2026
Elizabeth
Denny,
Undergraduate Student,
Wildlife
Divers are a highly specialized group of aquatic birds that have adapted to be experts at capturing prey underwater. The goal when searching for prey is to achieve optimal foraging efficiency, which is an individual’s ability to effectively acquire food. The amount of time spent underwater per dive is a vital part of foraging efficiency, and it may affect the rate at which prey is captured. This phenomenon was the main focus of my project, and it was evaluated by observing dive duration and capture success in diving birds to see if there was a correlation between the two.
Freenergy: Smart Piezoelectric Speed Bumps for Clean Energy and Operational Intelligence
Presentation Year:2026
Jorge Luis Zavala
Álvarez,
Undergraduate Student,
Other
Urban environments are facing a growing demand for energy alongside increasing vehicular activity, particularly in high-density, high-traffic areas. While renewable energy technologies continue to expand, many solutions remain constrained by high installation costs, spatial limitations, and the need for dedicated infrastructure. This creates an opportunity to explore alternative approaches that integrate energy generation into existing urban systems.
Freenergy introduces a novel concept that leverages everyday vehicular movement as a distributed source of energy and data. By embedding piezoelectric modules within speed bumps, the system captures mechanical stress from passing vehicles and transforms it into electrical output. Beyond energy generation, the system is designed to collect and process real-time mobility data, enabling insights into traffic dynamics and operational conditions.
Early-stage experimentation suggests that the approach is capable of producing measurable electrical responses under variable load conditions, supporting its technical feasibility. More importantly, the integration of energy harvesting with data analytics opens new possibilities for decentralized, adaptive urban infrastructure. Freenergy represents a step toward rethinking how cities can passively generate value from existing flows, contributing to more responsive and sustainable urban environments.
Freenergy: Smart Piezoelectric Speed Bumps for Clean Energy and Operational Intelligence
Presentation Year:2026
Jorge Luis Zavala
Álvarez,
Undergraduate Student,
Other
Urban environments are facing a growing demand for energy alongside increasing vehicular activity, particularly in high-density, high-traffic areas. While renewable energy technologies continue to expand, many solutions remain constrained by high installation costs, spatial limitations, and the need for dedicated infrastructure. This creates an opportunity to explore alternative approaches that integrate energy generation into existing urban systems.
Freenergy introduces a novel concept that leverages everyday vehicular movement as a distributed source of energy and data. By embedding piezoelectric modules within speed bumps, the system captures mechanical stress from passing vehicles and transforms it into electrical output. Beyond energy generation, the system is designed to collect and process real-time mobility data, enabling insights into traffic dynamics and operational conditions.
Early-stage experimentation suggests that the approach is capable of producing measurable electrical responses under variable load conditions, supporting its technical feasibility. More importantly, the integration of energy harvesting with data analytics opens new possibilities for decentralized, adaptive urban infrastructure. Freenergy represents a step toward rethinking how cities can passively generate value from existing flows, contributing to more responsive and sustainable urban environments.
From Clumsy to Capable: Improving Awareness and Care for Developmental Coordination Disorder in Children
Presentation Year:2026
Mallory
Akers,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Applied Health
This project analyzing the effectiveness of current interventions and brings awareness to current lack of care for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. It compares current diagnosis measures like MABC,TGMD-2, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test with interventions to give background of where we are currently to streamline care for the future. Findings show that Neuromotor task training (NTT) and CO-OP interventions are most effective in improving quality of care. Results suggest for improving this problem we can educate health professionals more in the subject and improve diagnosis streamline, implement more school based additional therapies to increase access to care, and improve parents involvement in care to make sure that skills learned in clinic are have good transferability to home and school life.
From Major to Career: Evidence-Based Employment Outcomes Analysis
Presentation Year:2026
Anthony
Wolfe,
Undergraduate Student,
Mathematics & Data Science
This project investigates post-graduation employment outcomes across academic majors using publicly available data sets. We curated and cleaned data from several sources and performed an analysis considering salary distributions, geographic clustering of opportunities, skill requirements, and entry versus mid-career trajectories.
From Pixels to Protection: Artifical Intelligence in Baited Remote Underwater Video Analysis - Case Study from the Sandy Beach Surf Zone of Northern California
Presentation Year:2026
Jazmyn
Sanchez,
Undergraduate Student,
Fisheries Biology
AI is being explored to analyze Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) footage, which is currently processed manually. It is a time-consuming and costly task requiring trained technicians. This creates a major data bottleneck, as each hour of footage takes several hours to analyze. Despite this, BRUVs remain valuable for non-invasive monitoring, especially in sensitive habitats. Automating analysis with machine learning can reduce time and costs. This study tested untrained AI fish detection on BRUV footage from low-visibility surf zones in Northern California, establishing baseline data for improving non-destructive monitoring in dynamic environments.
From Textbook to Treatment: Designing and Building a Bench-Scale Drinking Water Treatment System
Presentation Year:2026
Neeshelle
Jaimes,
Undergraduate Student,
School of Engineering
In Humboldt County, California, the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) draws source water from the Mad River aquifer via Ranney Collectors, where natural filtration produces high-quality water that is disinfected prior to distribution to the cities of Arcata, McKinleyville, Eureka, Blue Lake and Manila. As a result, there is no conventional surface water treatment plant in the area for environmental engineering and water science students at Cal Poly Humboldt to visit and learn from. To address this lack of visibility, we developed a bench-scale demonstration water treatment plant for Dr. Yacob Tesfayohanes’ drinking water treatment course.This project scales down a conventional treatment train into a transparent system that allows students to observe each process step from start to finish. Conventional drinking water treatment facilities follow a standard sequence: coagulation and rapid mixing, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Our system replicates this process, beginning with a coagulation chamber, where a small impeller rapidly mixes the flow while a peristaltic pump doses aluminum sulfate (alum) to destabilize suspended particles and promote aggregation. An interchangeable weir/baffle insert is incorporated between the coagulation and flocculation units, enabling students to adjust flow conditions and observe resulting changes in mixing behavior and treatment efficiency. The water then enters a three-chamber flocculation basin, where baffle walls and decreasing mixing velocities encourage the formation of larger, settleable flocs. These flocs move into a sedimentation tank, where velocities approach zero to allow for particle settling. Following sedimentation, water passes through a gravity-driven dual-media granular filter composed of anthracite coal, fine sand, and graded gravel, with an underdrain system that supports automated backwashing. The system is designed with a modular layout, allowing for easy disassembly, maintenance, and cleaning between uses. Whereas municipal treatment plants process millions of gallons per day (gpd), this model operates at a flow rate of 0.1-0.5 gallons per minute (gpm). The design emphasizes turbidity removal as a visible and measurable indicator of treatment performance. System construction is currently underway, and future testing will evaluate turbidity removal and overall treatment performance. Real-time monitoring of pH and turbidity is integrated through sensors that display data on a screen for student observation. Key fluid mechanics principles including flow control, head loss, and hydraulic efficiency, are incorporated into the design, bridging theoretical concepts with hands-on learning. This model serves as both an educational tool and a research platform, increasing visibility of drinking water treatment processes and enhancing student understanding of systems that are not locally accessible.
Galaxy Simulation with Supercomputers
Presentation Year:2026
Ken
Owens,
Faculty,
Mathematics & Data Science
We have built a Linux based supercomputer named Helios to simulate dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy. It utilizes graphics processing units (GPUs) to achieve 100 trillion floating operations per second. We hope to discover and simulate a distribution of dark matter that explains the discrepancy between the observed and theoretical angular rotations rates of stars within the galaxy.
Genetically Driven Lipid Dysfunction and Neuroinflammation: An Agent-Based Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Presentation Year:2026
Anthony
Wolfe,
Undergraduate Student,
Mathematics & Data Science
Microglia are immune cells in the brain that switch phenotypes to maintain neural health, but disruptions in this regulation may contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). We developed an agent-based model to link cell mechanisms to tissue-level patterns, incorporating both individual cell responses to localized signaling and the effects of APOE and TREM2 variants on microglial metabolism and clearance. Through computational experiments, we simulate how impaired lipid clearance and sensing lead to a pro-inflammatory microglial population and chronic inflammation. Our framework offers insight into how local dysfunction progresses to persistent neuroinflammation and promotes conditions like AD.