2025 Research and Creative Activity Day

STARTRAM - Sensor Technology for Alaska Rural communities Targeting Remote Atmospheric Monitoring

Mentor: Dayne Broderson

STARTRAM explores and evaluates environmental sensor platforms that are suitable for reliable cold-climate deployments and educational contexts to support ongoing and future environmental monitoring initiatives. Methodology includes both qualitative analysis and experimental testing to identify strengths, weaknesses, and relevant niches of sensor technologies.

Powering and Unifying Long-ranged Sensor Ecosystems (PULSE)

Mentor: Dayne Broderson

Our project is called Powering and Unifying Long-range Sensor Ecosystems (or PULSE). The project focuses on evaluating technology for remote sensing applications; namely, non-cellular communication and solar power. The goal is to work with high school students and evaluate the technology's effectiveness as a tool for learning, while also looking at the viability of the data collected for citizen science applications.

Marketing Around the World

Mentor: Tammy Tragis-McCook

Marketing strategies are shaped by culture, war, and economic conditions worldwide. This study explores how cultural values influence messaging, how conflict shifts priorities and increases patriotism, and how economic disparities drive luxury and sachet marketing. By analyzing global trends, we highlight the need for brands to adapt to regional challenges.

Mapping Buildings and Structures Using a Rover with an Attached LiDAR System

Mentor: Dr. Richard Wies, Jr.

The project is an semi autonomous rover to navigate and create a 3D map of a building. The goal is to develop a fully autonomous mapping system for preservation, inspection, and exploration of structures.

UAF Aeronautics Club

Mentor: Dr. Michael Hatfield

The UAF Aeronautics Club aspires to design and manufacture unmanned radio controlled (RC) aircraft. Developing improved techniques to continuously advance the club's capabilities is our priority along with training and educating future engineers and RC pilots in their specific area of interest.

Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) Project 

Mentor: Dr. Richard Wies, Jr.

This project will address a need for better and faster grid monitoring for circumpolar energy grids (focusing on Alaska) by creating a custom-designed Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU). The project team envisions this PMU providing low-cost and effective real-time monitoring of grids, which will help electrical service providers and crews respond to faults, such as downed power lines, and help prevent those faults from igniting wildfires. Low-cost PMU incorporation will also allow the safe integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, by saving operators and consumers money from inefficient power and wasted power. 

Microgrid Variable Voltage Emulator

Mentor: Dr. Richard Wies, Jr. 

Many devices used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Alaska are tested in the Lower 48, where power quality is both more ideal and consistent. The Microgrid Variable Voltage Emulator (MVVE), will allow the FAA to test their equipment for remote Alaskan conditions before deployment.

Dendrochronology and the Mile 11 Landslide in Wrangell, Alaska 

Mentor: Dr. Margaret Darrow

My goal was to find out if trees caught in the landslide had any clues of slope movement before the landslide occurred. To do this, I sanded tree cookies, performed a LiDAR change detection analysis, and consulted with experts to better understand the Mile 11 landslide.

Decoding the Heath Impacts of Particulate Matter in Outdoor Air During Winter Using Gas Chromatography

Mentors: Jenno J.L.H. & Dr. Srijan Aggarwal

This study quantifying the health impacts on wintertime particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution by analyzing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). GC-MS and ICP-MS are used to analyze potential health impacts associated with exposure to PM2.5 and associated toxins.  

Emergency Rescue UAV Payload Development

Mentor: Dr. Michael Hatfield

Search and Rescue (SAR) is a large issue in Alaska due to the harsh environment and vast uninhabited wilderness. For our senior design project, we decided to address this issue by developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) payload we call Field Integrated Navigation and Detection for Emergency Rescue (FINDER). 

Examination of Microplastic Content in Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and Cassin’s auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus)

Mentor: Kit Cunningham

This project will document and compare the microplastic content and quantity in the diets of Steller sea lions and Cassin’s auklets. Due to their distinct diet differences, this comparison will allow for a more holistic understanding of microplastic accumulation within the marine food web and where microplastic accumulation might be occurring.

Microplastics in Bearded Seal Tissues Harvested in the Early 2000s and Recent Years 

Mentor: Dr. Lara Horstmann

Plastic pollution, especially microplastics (MP), contaminates marine environments, including the Arctic. This study examined MP in tissues of bearded seals from Alaska. All tissues contained MP, with muscle showing the highest concentration. MP levels were stable between 2010-2011 and 2021-2023, indicating persistent exposure over time.

Bivalves in Jakolof Bay, Alaska occupy different positions in the food web 

Mentor: Josianne Haag

While scallop farming is currently not widespread in Alaska, it holds the potential to garner interest in the coming years. For this project, I will characterize the food sources of seven bivalve species collected in May 2024 from Jakolof Bay, Alaska.

Microplastics in subsistence harvested bowhead whale stomach, colon, and muscle

Mentor: Dr. Lara Horstmann

Microplastics (particles < 5mm) are present in all oceans. They were isolated from marine mammals harvested by Alaska Natives, making this emerging contaminant concerning for animal and human health. We will analyze bowhead feces and tissues to understand microplastic uptake and accumulation in an endangered Arctic species of subsistence importance.

Introduced Plants in Bethel, Alaska

Mentor: Lisa Strecker

Poster illustrating oral histories gathered from Elders in Bethel talking about introduced plants.

Unearthing the History of Plant Utilization: An Analysis of Botanical Remains Collected from the Chena Townsite 

Mentors: Dr. Justin Cramb & Lisa Strecker

Participating in site excavation, I investigated the historical plant-use practices of Chena Townsite settlers (1902-1921) by identifying archaeological plant remains obtained from the site. By fusing archeological findings and archival sources (APRCA) with contemporary ethnobotanical practices, this project aimed to vividly depict the evolving ethnobotanical landscape of Interior Alaska.

Salivary Cortisol and Correlations to Academic Performance

Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Peterson

Stress has far-reaching consequences, not just for individuals but society generally. How do we mitigate these consequences of stress and workload?

This study was unable to make strong conclusions about correlations between cortisol but weak correlations exist which may be more well-emphasized by a larger sample size. This study helped to generate a concrete future methodology that may be replicated in the future at greater length. 

Cultivating Communi-TEA

Mentor: Dr. Sarah Stanley

Poster explaining the behind-the-scenes process of planning and executing Tea Time for the English student community.

Beyond the First Semester: Unpacking Student Motivation and Retention Challenges in Russian Language Learning

Mentor: Dr. Wendy Whitehead-Martelle

A poster showcasing why Russian courses at UAF experience significant drop-off after one or two semesters. This student-driven research project explores why students start Russian, why many stop, and what support structures could help them continue.

Earthquakes in South America and Japan

Mentors: Chisato Murakami & Dr. Eduardo Diaz

This project will discuss earthquakes in Latin America and Japan, specifically in the Kanto Region. Specifics on the Nankai Cycle will also be discussed. This presentation is meant to highlight the use of language, and will be presented in English, Spanish, and Japanese.

ACEs and Health Aging

Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Peterson

Our study aims to examine the relationship between adverse childhood events and healthy aging among older Alaskans. 

Earthquake Disasters and Preparedness

Mentors: Chisato Murakami & Dr. David Henry

Research on major earthquake risks in North America and Japan, covering disaster impact and preparedness, presented in both English and Japanese.

Mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in hibernating black bears

Mentor: Dr. Sarah Rice

Black bears suppress their metabolism by 75% in hibernation and 50% during spring emergence, but the mechanisms regulating metabolic suppression are unknown. Studies in hibernating ground squirrels have suggested that inhibition of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity (SDH, complex II) could play a role in metabolic suppression. SDH activity has not been measured in hibernating black bears before. We hypothesized that SDH activity would be lower during hibernation and spring emergence compared to summer levels in kidney, cardiac, skeletal muscle, and liver tissue of black bears.

Quantifying and Comparing Air Pollution Near the Fairbanks International Airport and Downtown 

Mentor: Dr. William Simpson

We measured and analyzed ambient PM2.5, CO2, and temperature near the Fairbanks International Airport. Ambient PM2.5 and temperature measurements at three other regulatory monitoring sites in/near Fairbanks were analyzed. The airport region had the lowest 3m PM2.5 concentrations out of the sites studied and the largest temperature inversion strengths. 

Investigating the Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Juvenile Dogs:  A Preliminary Study

Mentor: Dr. Scott Jerome

This study evaluated the effects of vitamin D3 supplementation in juvenile dogs over 90 days. Despite prior evidence supporting supplementation, no significant differences in serum 25(OH)D levels were found across baseline, supplementation, and washout phases. Vitamin D content in commercial dog food and supplements was also analyzed to inform dietary guidelines.

Reconstruction of Fire History and its Connection to the Arrival of Spruce from Windmill Lake, Interior Alaska

Mentor: Dr. Nancy Bigelow

Analyzing pollen and counting charcoal in samples taken from cores retrieved from Windmill Lake in order to determine fire history and whether or not it correlates to the arrival of spruce in Interior Alaska.

Microbial Response to Permafrost Thaw and Coalescence

Mentor: Dr. Mario Muscarella

Permafrost thaw is a major concern for the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions because it can emit large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or methane. These greenhouse gasses (GHG) are controlled by microbial activities. Permafrost thaw will let the frozen and active layer soils mix, allowing the microbial communities to form new mixtures of organisms and organic compounds. With increasing temperatures, this could be vital to understand how microbes impact gas flux and their soil ecosystem.

Identifying bacterial infection in Alaskan small mammals

Mentor: Dr. Cristina Hansen

Through this project, I identified bacterial DNA in small mammals that could be common carriers for zoonotic disease. The bacterial species found could be used to understand what bacterial infections could spread to other animals and to people.

Modeling salmon life histories through growth and development using integral projection models

Mentor: Dr. Lisa Crozier

I developed a temperature-dependent integral projection model to predict the growth and development of a population of Chinook salmon on the Snake River during their freshwater lifestage. Despite the simple set of parameters, I am able to get accurate predictions to the range of observed sizes. This model framework is widely applicable to modeling population variables spatially or temporally.

Research design optimization for determining hibernation and spring emergence of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) 

Mentor: Dr. Todd Brinkman

Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) are the only species of bat that has been reported in Interior Alaska and are typically located by ultrasonic monitoring. M. lucifugus emit social calls that are characterized as high intensity frequency modulated (FM) sweeps ranging from 80 kHz down to 40 kHz. This poster aims to focus on study design using ultrasonic monitoring to locate M. lucifugus for future studies by the Wildlife Society .

Measuring Erosion Rates of Rocks to Quantify Their Carbon Capture in Alaska

Mentor: Dr. Florian Hofmann

Igneous rocks are capable of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and permanently storing it. Data on this process in Alaska is sparse. This study aims to quantify the erosion rate of igneous rocks in Alaska and assess the impact on long-term carbon storage. 

Timing of Volcanic Eruptions on Unalaska

Mentor: Dr. Florian Hofmann

Knowing the ages of past volcanic eruptions is important for the assessment of volcanic activity and hazards. Our goal is to reanalyze past samples from volcanic features on Unalaska and determine their ages. This data can be used for future hazard mitigation and sample analysis.

Alaska’s Volcanic-Climate Policymaking Review & Recommendations

Mentors: Dr. Amy Lauren Lovecraft & Dr. Nathan Graham

We outline the links between climate change and volcanic activity, Southcentral Alaska’s volcanic risks, current response policies in place and identify key policy recommendations to improve resiliency.

Does microclimate variation in tundra ecosystem drive microbial community assembly?

Mentor: Dr. Mario Muscarella

In this project, I will analyze soil samples from a polygonal tundra landscape to study microbial communities and their metabolic activities, focusing on how microclimate variation drives the composition taxa present and their metabolic activity.

DNA sequencing of Hoary Marmot (M. caligata) stomach contents through metabarcoding

Mentor: Dr. Diana Wolf

Parasympathetic activity and heart rate in hibernating black bears

Mentor: Dr. Oivind Toien

This poster presents preliminary results from electrocardiogram data collected from three American black bears for one season between 2008 and 2009. We examine maximum R-R interval and compare parasympathetic activity (measured using RMSSD/RRI) and average heart rate in hibernation and in summer. 

An International Biomarker of Added Sugar in Adults

Mentor: Dr. Jessica Johnson & Dr. Diane O'Brien

The overall aim of this project is to evaluate the natural abundance carbon isotope ratio (CIR) as a biomarker of added sugar intake in adults across internationally diverse populations. In this poster, I present the isotopic biomarker results from participating studies in four countries.

Mitochondrial complex I function during different physiological states in black bear tissues

Mentor: Dr. Sarah Rice

My project is on determining the activity in mitochondrial complex I of spring, summer, and hibernating black bear tissue to further understand mitochondrial function during unique states of metabolic suppression in bears.

Opportunistic Mount Rainier and Adam's Climb Pilot Study: Developing Methodological Framework for Monitoring Hydration Status in Acute Mountainous Environments​

Mentor: Dr. Sarah Rice

This protocol is for an opportunistic study of climbers of Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. This pilot study’s main objective is protocol development for a future study researching hydration status in mountaineers, including verifying the relationship between urine color analysis and urine output to classical measurements of hydration.

Spatial distribution of genetic diversity within Labrador Tea

Mentor: Dr. Diana Wolf

Arctic plant species are great model organisms for understanding climate change as they are some of the first to experience its effects. DNA sequencing and analysis of two Labrador Tea species, Rhododendron groenlandicum and Rhododendron tomentosum will provide an overview of their population ranges and possible changes in parts of Alaska, Canada and Russia. Additionally, the project will delve into the possible hybridization of these species in Alaska as previously seen in Canada, or possible environmental reasons for its lack thereof.

Extracting Ancient DNA from the North Slope

Mentor: Dr. Diana Wolf

We have access to spruce wood that was found thawing out of permafrost on the North Slope. We have successfully extracted DNA from five of the eight samples. Our goal is to extract and sequence DNA from the samples, determine their species, and reconstruct past climates of the North Slope.

Healthcare Providers' Perspective on Breastfeeding in Alaska

Mentor: Dr. Julie Avery

A qualitative analysis of strengths and barriers to breastfeeding in Alaska using semi-structured open-ended questions in focus groups of healthcare providers involved with breastfeeding/lactation and/or perinatal nutrition practicing in Alaska

Total Mercury (Hg) in seabird muscle tissue with respect to 3 auklet species in the Aleutian Islands

Mentor: Stephanie Crawford

I'll be looking at the total mercury (THg in ug/g) of 3 seabird species from muscle tissue samples, the Crested Auklet, Least Auklet, and Parakeet Auklet. From that data, I'll summarize my findings into a poster and discuss some patterns or differences if they arise.

Effects of Soil Characteristics on Invasive Species Seed Bank Development after Wildfire

Mentor: Dr. Katie Spellman

Invasive plants have been found colonizing burned areas in interior Alaska, such as Melilotus albus (white sweetclover), which has seeds that can stay viable for up to 80 years. Soil factors can determine how long seeds are stored in the soil, and how successful germination will be in the event of a new disturbance. This research seeks to determine which soil variables can affect nonnative plant seed bank storage. These results can help predict which burned ecosystems are most vulnerable to nonnative species invasions. 

Winter monitoring of a persistent snow cavity opening in an Alaskan boreal forest

Mentor: Dr. Go Iwahana

My winter study focused on the mechanisms that create a novel snow feature around a soil cavity and its opening in Fairbanks. Temperature, humidity, snow depth and gas data tell a story about climate change at the interface of geosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. 

Equisetum growth on a permafrost gradient 

Mentor: Dr. Katie Spellman

Poster research presentation of Equisetum growth in Bonanza Creek.

Diverse Habitats Support Resilience in Rubus idaeus Pollination and Fruit Production

Mentor: Dr. Katie Spellman

I studied the pollination biology of Rubus idaeus as it relates to climate change, agriculture, and subsistence practices in interior Alaska.

Stratigraphic revision of Coahuilaceratops magnacuera as the first dinosaur from the Lower Maastrichtian Cerro Huerta Formation

Mentor: Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller

On the basis of a new measured section, the long-frilled horned dinosaur Coahuilaceratops magnacuerna (previously reported from the Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation, in Northeastern Mexico) is herein reassigned to the Maastricthian Cerro Huerta Formation. These are the first dinosaur remains reported from this geological unit. As a consequence, this reassignment makes Coahuilaceratops up to ~2 million years younger than previously thought. This is more consistent with the relatively derived phylogenetic position of Coahuilaceratops, with implications for the southern Laramidia hypothesis concerning the origin of the Triceratopsini.

Christine Heller's Legacy and the Potential for Integration of Traditional Knowledge Labels

Mentor: Dr. Stefanie Ickert-Bond

Christine Heller was a nutritionist whose work had an impact on Alaskan botany. Heller's work is relevant to discussions on the integration of Indigenous knowledge into memory institutions. For which the implementation of Traditional Knowledge Labels, which seek to safeguard Indigenous knowledge, may be useful.

MycoLive

Mentor: Dr. Stefanie Ickert-Bond

Mycology Live (MycoLive) is a developing mycological library dedicated to preserving living wild Alaskan mushroom cultures. MycoLive will provide UAF students, staff, faculty, and interested mycologists unprecedented access to Alaskan fungal cultures. Library users can choose from several diverse species of native Alaskan cultures, granting access to novel research in culinary art, medicine, biomaterials, bioluminescence, and general mycological science. 

A comparatively large-bodied, high-latitude mammal from the Upper Cretaceous Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska

Mentor: Dr. Patrick Druckenmiller & Lauren Wilson

The Prince Creek Formation (PCF) from northern Alaska contains a wide array of dinosaurs, birds, fishes and mammals. Previously known PCF mammals were small and shrew sized, as typical of the Mesozoic. However, we have found an arboreal cat sized mammal, making it one of the largest of its time. 

Curriculum Development: Teaching Genetics Through Hands-On, Field-Based Techniques for Youth

Mentor: Dr. J. Andrés López

Through our emerging project, “Sovereign Autonomy for Long-term Monitoring Of Non-human genes (SALMONg),” we aim to provide educational materials and technical support to interested communities and build local capacity for cost-effective monitoring of important species.