Graduate Research Competitions
The Title Vb grant supports various opportunities for graduate students to present their research.
This includes sponsoring the annual 乐播传媒app最新版本 (乐播传媒app最新版本) Grad Slam / 3MT competition and supporting student participation in the annual 乐播传媒app最新版本 Student Research Competition, the annual WAGS (Western Association of Graduate Schools) Grad Slam / 3 MT competition, and the annual CSU (California State University) Grad Slam / 3 MT competition. All graduate students funded through the Graduate Collaborative Research Program (GCRP) are required to participate in the 乐播传媒app最新版本 Grad Slam / 3MT competition and 乐播传媒app最新版本 Student Research Competition. In addition, the Graduate STEM TSSR program provides financial support for 乐播传媒app最新版本 STEM graduate students who are presenting at a conference/event.
AY 2024 - 2025
Biology
Seasonal Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments and Biota Linked with Land-use
and Species Traits
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Second Place: Microplastic Seasonal Variation in Coastal Shellfish and Sediments Linked with Estuary
Protection Status and Watershed Anthropogenic Development
Investigating watersheddominant land use (e.g., urban, agriculture) and seasonal effects
on microplastics abundance and composition in estuarine shellfish and sediments.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeishBiology
Uncovering the Genes Involved in the Motility of the Bacterium Rhodococcus Fascians
Advisor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Determining the Role of A-factor in the Bacterium Rhodococcus Fascians D188
The study explores how A-factor relieves TetR repressing to trigger motility in Rhodococcus
fascians D188, revealing the molecular mechanism behind this recently discovered trait.
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde FrancisBiology
Identification of Mycorrhizal Species in Symbiosis with Locally Grown Carrots
Advisor: Dr. Isolde Francis
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Identification of Mycorrhizal in Symbiosis with Locally grown Carrots
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde FrancisBiology
Second Place: From Headwaters to the Valley: Investigating the River Continuum Concept in an Arid
Environment
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: From Headwaters to The Valley: Investigating How Land Cover Changes Affect Aquatic
Macroinvertebrate Taxonomic and Functional Diversity In An Arid Environment
We are investigating how changes in land cover along an elevation gradient influence
macroinvertebrate communities in the non-perennial stream systems located in California's
arid climate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. RaeMcNeishBiology
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Artifical Light on San Joaquin Kit Foxes in
Urban and Non-Urban Environments
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
A Comparative Study of the Effects of Artificial Light on San Joaquin Kit Foxes in
Urban and Non-Urban Environments
This project aims to determine whether light pollution influences the behavior of
the endangered San Joaquin kit fox
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas HallBiology
First Place: Factors Influencing Seedling Recruitment of Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata) in the Southern
San Joaquin Valley
Advisor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Factors Limiting Seedlig Recruitment of Valley Oaks (Quercus lobata) in the Southern
San Joaquin Valley
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon PrattBiology
Do Rocket Launces Influnce the Nesting Success of California Least Terns and Western
Snowy Plovers?
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Do Rocket Launches Influence the Nesting Ecology of California Least Terns (Sternula
antillarum browni) and Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus)?
Analysis of the nest success of California least terns and western snowy plovers as
a function of rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas HallBiology
The Mystery of Macrobdella decora
Advisor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Student Research Competiton 2025: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
The Mystery of Macrobdella decora
This research seeks to explore the relationship between Macrobdella decora and the eastern newt. It also seeks to further the understanding of the biology
Macrobdella decora via field work and TTX extraction
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
乐播传媒app最新版本 2023 Grad Slam From Headwaters to the Valley: Investigating the River Continuum Concept in the Arid
Environment Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jahyun Kim Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anthony PallittoAY 2023 - 2024
Biology
Seasonal Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Environments and Biota Across Land-Use
Gradients.
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Second Place: Microplastic Seasonal Variation in Coastal Shellfish and Sediments Linked with Estuary
Protection Status and Watershed Anthropogenic Development
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Link to Student Research Competition Biology
Does the River Continuum Concept Apply to an Elevation Gradient in an Arid Environment?
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeish
Link to Student Research Competition Biology
First Place: Invasive Tree of Heaven Leaf Decomposition in Freshwater Ecosystems and Impacts on
Macroinvertebrate Communities
Advisor: Dr. Rae McNeish
WAGS 2024 3MT Competition, CSU 2024 Grad Slam Competition:
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
First Place: Terrestrial-Aquatic Connections: Invasive Ailanthus altissima leaf decomposition in
freshwater ecosystems and impacts on macroinvertebrate communities
Link to Student Research Competition Biology
Second Place: Shedding Light on Nocturnal Carnivores: How Artificial Light Affects San Joaquin Kit
Fox Behavior
Advisor: Dr. Lucas Hall
CSU 2024 Grad Slam:
Student Research Competiton 2024: Biological and Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Effects of Artificial Light at Night on the Behavior of the San Joaquin Kit Fox
Link to Student Research Competition Kinesiology
The Effects of Chronic Supplementation on Cardiovascular Function, Lower Body Strength,
Fall Risk in Older Adults
Advisor: Dr. Jahyun Kim
Student Research Competiton 2024: Health, Nutrition, and Clinical Services - Graduate Student
First Place: Chronic Creatine Supplementation Improves Strength but not Arterial Stiffness: A Case
Study
Link to Student Research Competition Healthcare Administration
The Impact of Technology on Long-Term Care
Advisor: Dr. Anthony Pallitto
Student Research Competiton 2024: Business, Economics, & Public Administration - Graduate Student (Healthcare Administration)
Challenges of Assisted Living Organizations: Assessing Healthcare Policies Impact
on Assisted Living Quality: A Qualitative Case Study Approach
Link to Student Research Competition
乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam First Place: Petrography and geochemistry of lunar meteorite Northwest Africa 11788: A feldspathic
regolith breccia 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam First Place: Repeated remote ischemic preconditioning attenuates arterial stiffness and hemodynamic
measures in healthy young prehypertensive adults 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam Determining effective management techniques for the endangered San Joaquin Valley
giant flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas trochilus) 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam Terrestrial-aquatic concerns: Differential leaf litter decomposition and impacts on
freshwater macroinvertebrate communities between invasive and native plant species 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam The effects of shade and soil on a facultative seeder shrub: implications for chaparral
restoration 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam Sweet and Stinking Scents: Sensory History of Reproduction in Early Modern England 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam Let it Glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha Granulosa 乐播传媒app最新版本 2022 Grad Slam First Place: Exploring Men's Ideal Self AY 2022 - 2023
Geological Sciences
Determining the Origin and Formation of NWA 11788: A New Lunar Meteorite
Student Research Competition 2023: Physical & Mathematical Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katie O'SullivanKinesiology
Chronic Remote Ischemic Preconditioning (RIPC): Attenuates Arterial Stiffness and
Changes Hemodynamic Measures in Prehypertensive Individuals
Student Research Competition 2023: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jahyun KimBiology
Using Habitat Restoration Treatment in an Effort to Manage and Save an Imperiled Species
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lucas Hall Biology
Tree of Heaven Leaf Decomposition in Aquatic Ecosystems
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeishBiology
From Shrubs to Weeds to Shrubs Again: Restoring Type-Converted Chaparral
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon Pratt History
Second Place: To the Annoyance of His Fellow Patients: Mental Health in 19th Century America
Student Research Competition 2023: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kate MulryBiology
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: North American Medicinal Leech and Eastern
Newt Healthcare Administration
Build My Diet Health App: Project Management Mobile Healthcare AppKinesiology
First Place: Pregnancy Brain is Real and There Might Be Something We Can Do About It
WAGS 2023 3MT Competition
CSU 2023 Grad Slam Competition:
Biology
Let It Glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha Granulosa
CSU 2023 Grad Slam:
Student Research Competition 2023: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber Stokes
Link to Student Research Competition Counseling Psychology
Exploring Masculinity and Body Image of Men
Student Research Competition 2023: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Luis Vega
乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Identification of a tetrodotoxin binding protein in Taricha granulosa 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Second Place: Plastic and natural leaf degradation in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam WAGS 2022 3MT Competition, Finalist: CSU 2022 Grad Slam - Link to CSU website First Place: The effects of fire on bat activity in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam CSU 2022 Grad Slam Competition: Link to CSU website To glow or not to glow: Biofluorescence in Taricha granulosa 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Searching for Coccidioides on California's Channel Islands 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Exploring Unken Behavior 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Comprehensive Diabetic Education 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam First Place: Assessment of Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2021 Grad Slam Burnout/Compassion Fatigue Before and After the COVID-19 PandemicAY 2021 - 2022
Biology
Triggering Tetrodotoxin Movement in Newts with LH-RH
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber StokesBiology
Plastic and Natural Leaf Breakdown in Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeishBiology
First Place: The Effect of Fire on Bat Activity in Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anna DotyBiology
Second Place: Flashy Fluorescence
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber StokesBiology
Searching for Valley Fever in Marine Mammals and on the Channel Islands
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Antje LauerBiology
Unknown Unken
Student Research Competition 2022: Biological & Agriculture Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber StokesNursing
Do Nurses Provide Comprehensive Diabetic Education on Medications, Diet, Exercise, and Preventive Measures?
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie BoehningNursing
Assessment of Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie BoehningEducational Leadership
Examining Faculty Attrition During the PandemicNursing
Burnout/Compassion Fatigue Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Student Research Competition 2022: Health, Nutrition, & Clinical Services - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Heidi He
乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam CSU 2021 Grad Slam Competition: First Place: Exploring the biocontrol potential of Streptomyces isolates against Pythium violae,
a dominant carrot pathogen 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam First Place: Benefits of Napping Among Night Shift Workers 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Investigating the role of methylated cytokinins in Rhodococcus fascians pathogenicity 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Identification of a TTX binding protein in Taricha granulosa 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Reflections of Parent-Child Communication Surrounding Mental Health: A Qualitative
Dyadic Study 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Anthropogenic structures impact the abundance and distribution of anthropogenic litter
and microplastics in an intermittent river 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Unraveling the first step in the Streptomyces scabies pathology: how does the pathogen
sense it is in the vicinity of a living root? 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Petrographic and Geochemical Analysis of a New Lunar Meteorite from Northwestern Africa 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam Student Research Competition 2021: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student First Place: Humor and Housewives in the Postwar United States 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2020 Grad SlamAY 2020- 2021
Biology
Exploring the Biocontrol Potential of Streptomyces Species Against Pythium Violae- A Dominant Carrot Pathogen
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde FrancisNursing
Benefits of Nappinng Among Night Shift Workers
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Annie BoehningBiology
Investigating the Role of Unique Plant Hormones in Rhodococcus fascians Pathogenicity
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Isolde Francis Biology
Fishing for Proteins
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber StokesCounseling Psychology
Examining Reflections of Parent-Child Communication Surrounding Mental Health: A Qualitative
Dyadic Exploration
Student Research Competition 2021: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard ZamoraBiology
Riverine Litter: Bridges Impact the Distribution of Anthropogenic Litter in a Freshwater
River
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rae McNeishBiology
Unraveling the 1st Step in the Streptomyces Scabies Pathology: How Does the Pathogen
Sense it is in the Vicinity of a Living Root?
Student Research Competition 2021: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Francis IsoldeGeological Sciences
Geochemical Analysis of a New Lunar Meteorite From North Western Africa
Student Research Competition 2021: Physical & Mathematical Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Katie O'SullivanHistory
First Place: Maoism and the Chicano Movement
WAGS 2021 3MT Competition
Second Place: Maoism and the Chicano Movement
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Tang
Student Research Competition 2022: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stepen AllenBiology
Recently Revealed Motility of Rhodococcus fasciansBiology
How low do they go? Investigating plant rooting depth as a factor of drought mortality
CSU 2021 Grad Slam Competition:
乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam Environmental Effects on the Antipredator Response of the Rough-Skinned Newt 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam First Place: Xylem structure and hydraulic function in the roots and stems of chaparral shrub species
in the Sierra Nevada 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam Balancing different functional demands in plant vascular tissue: Do conduit connections
affect embolism propagation and transport efficiency? 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam The Precursor Effect of Shakespeare on Louise Erdrich鈥檚 Trilogy One Book, One World: International Book Club Building an Academic Community Beyond
Borders 乐播传媒app最新版本 2019 Grad Slam Identifying rooting depth patterns of chaparral shrubs using stable isotopes AY 2019 - 2020
Biology
Don鈥檛 Eat Me!: Antipredator Responses in the Rough-Skinned Newt
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amber StokesBiology
Vascular Structure and Hydraulic Function in the Stems and Roots of Shrubs
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anna JacobsenBiology
The Effect of Drought on Water Transport Within Plants
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt Counseling Psychology
The Meaning of Creativity Using a Cultural Lens
Student Research Competition 2020: Behavioral & Social Sciences - Graduate Student
The Meaning of Creativity Using a Cultural Lens
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richard ZamoraBiology
Soil Bacteria and Ant Interactions with Fava BeanEnglish
Borrowing from Shakespeare: Intertextuality in Louise Erdrich鈥檚 The Round House
Student Research Competition 2020: Humanities & Letters - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Monica Ayuso and Dr. Emerson CaseBiology
Using Stable Isotopes to Determine Water Sources of Woody Plants
Student Research Competition 2020: Biological & Agricultural Sciences - Graduate Student
Faculty Mentor: Dr. R. Brandon Pratt
