CURC 2026 Presentations Gallery
Category: Oral Presentation
Author(s): Jocelyn Howard, Isabella Hamner
Presenter(s): Jocelyn Howard
Mentors(s): Carleigh Fedorka
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an age-related endocrinopathy associated with elevated systemic inflammation, and specifically an upregulation of interleukin-8 (IL-8). It is unknown if PPID is concomitant with reproductive tract inflammation. This is a pertinent question, as chronic inflammation of the endometrium and ovary would impede fertility. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of PPID on the reproductive tract of the mare. PPID was diagnosed via thyrotropin releasing-hormone (TRH) stimulation test, where PPID was diagnosed as ACTH>120pg/mL post-stimulation, and controls were diagnosed as ACTH<60pg/mL. In the first study, seven PPID mares and four age-matched control mares had endometrial biopsies taken when in diestrus. In the second study, seven PPID mares and ten age-matched control mares had follicular fluid aspirated from preovulatory follicles using transvaginal aspirations. Analysis included qPCR analysis of select targets associated with endometrial inflammation in addition to immunochemistry for leukocytes. Finally, immunoassay was used to assess the production of systemic and follicular fluid cytokines. Statistics were performed using SAS 9.4 with significance set to p<0.05, and trends noted at p<0.1. Only endometrial IL-8 was found to increase in expression in the PPID population (p=0.02). There was a positive correlation between ACTH and the endometrial expression of IL-8 (p<0.001;R2=0.80). A weak correlation was also noted between ACTH and expression of IL-6 (p=0.04;R2=0.41) and IFN? (p<0.01;R2=0.63). PPID mares had more endometrial leukocytes than control animals (p=0.03), which was also positively correlated with ACTH (p=0.03;R2=0.47). An increase in IL-8 was also noted in the follicular fluid (p<0.01) of PPID mares. In conclusion, the systemic inflammation in the PPID animal was also observed within the mare reproductive tract, and this was found as both expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in addition to presence of leukocytes. Furthermore, this inflammation was noted within the uterus in addition to the preovulatory follicle. Future research is warranted to determine if this increase in inflammation of the reproductive tract is detrimental to the fertility of PPID mares.
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Sami Conca
Presenter(s): Sami Conca
Mentors(s): Kimberly Nichols
Analysis of early Eocene (56-52 Ma) fossils from the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming demonstrates the presence of a rich, tropical environment inhabited by a variety of small, faunivorous vertebrates comparable to modern taxa. This ancient environment included two species of the primate genus Tetonius, analogous to modern tarsiers (Carlito, Cephalopachus, Tarsius). In addition, this environment supported the extinct lizards Xestops and Suzanniwana, which have adaptations similar to extant small terrestrial squamates with crushing dentition and arboreal iguanians, respectively, and inhabit environments alongside each other today. Specimens of Tetonius, Xestops, and Suzanniwana were identified in the CSU Primate Origins Lab Paleontology Field School fossil collection and form the basis for: (1) the examination of dietary niche overlap; and (2) possible predation between the three genera. Evidence of the relationship, and potential overlap, in dietary and feeding environments of Tetonius, Xestops, and Suzanniwana, including the possibility that Tetonius preyed upon the lizards, is supported by topological dentition analysis, paleoenvironmental modelling, and review of modern tarsier-squamate interactions. Examination of overlapping dietary niches and similar, but morphologically distinct, adaptations provides insight into prehistoric analogs for extant primate and squamate interactions and how that relationship has been maintained. This research has applications to primatology, as well as conservation efforts involving reintroduction of different, but adaptively similar, species.
Category: Film
Author(s): Makena Saber
Presenter(s): Makena Saber
"Looking West" is a reflective short film exploring the idea of time as a slippery material, something impossible to grasp yet deeply felt as it moves through our lives. The film opens with childhood footage of the filmmaker and her brother, introducing an early sense of innocence and memory. Through narration, the film meditates on the strange duality of nostalgia: how remembering can be both painful and comforting as time continues to move forward. As music fades in, the lyrics of Stairway to Heaven echo the filmmaker’s longing for home. Looking toward the mountains in the American West becomes a symbolic gesture. One that reminds her of the Pacific beyond them and the home she left behind in Hawai‘i. The landscape becomes a quiet marker of distance, memory, and the emotional pull of the past. The film ultimately shifts from loss to appreciation. While time inevitably slips away, its fleeting nature is what gives moments their meaning. Through footage of Hawai‘i and moments shared with her brother, captured during a week filled with academic pressures and obligations, the film reveals a realization: the moments that feel like interruptions to productivity often become the ones that matter most. Looking West is a meditation on nostalgia, home, and the fragile beauty of the present, encouraging viewers to recognize the value of memories not only after they pass, but while they are still being lived.
Category: Community Engagement Poster
Author(s): Avery Anderson
Presenter(s): Avery Anderson
Mentors(s): Leisl Carr Childers
This project documents and interprets Colorado’s agricultural and ranching heritage through the public history initiative The Art of Ranching, a collaboration among 4-H youth, historical agricultural families, CSU Extension, and Colorado State University Libraries. The project originates in Routt County and began in 2021. Since then, the project has expanded to multiple counties across Colorado and uses ranching as a lens to understand agricultural labor, land use, and community identity. During my internship, I utilized a mixed historical methodology through participating in archival research, oral history interviews, and environmental and social history. My archival work involved processing, organizing, and evaluating materials including photographs, maps, planting records, and correspondence within the Agricultural and Natural Resources Collection at CSU Libraries. Oral history practices complemented this work through the identification, interviewing, recording, and transcription of project participants. I was able to capture personal narratives that situate agricultural practices within real lived experience. This work allowed for a deeper analysis of how ranching traditions shape intergenerational knowledge, community memory, and regional identity in Colorado. My project outcomes included the processing of archival materials, transcription of oral histories, photographic documentation of historic ranch sites, and direct engagement with local communities in Routt County. The project advances public history by preserving agricultural narratives and fostering youth and community participation. Future work will continue transcription efforts, expand documentation, and support long-term access to agricultural history through CSU archival collections and public education.
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Lucy Kelley
Presenter(s): Lucy Kelley
LA-UR-25-26549 Acetaminophen, most widely known as a pharmaceutical, is an organic molecular crystal with applications in shock physics as an inert mock for energetic materials. In this work we develop analytical equations of state for forms I, II, and highly metastable form III of acetaminophen, as well as a pressure-temperature phase diagram for forms I and II. Density Functional Theory (DFT) code CP2K is used to optimize the single unit cell geometries at zero temperature and pressures of 0-10 GPa as well as to calculate the cold curves for each polymorph. The cell geometries optimized by DFT are then used with Python package phonopy to develop the phonon density of states (DOS). This cold curve and DOS data is fitted to the MACAW reference curve to obtain EOS and thermodynamic parameters in addition to the Helmholtz and Gibbs free energy in order to predict the polymorphism and thermodynamic properties of acetaminophen at high pressure and high temperature.
Category: Community Engagement Poster
Author(s): Tina Blugel, Savannah Crisler
Presenter(s): Tina Blugel, Savannah Crisler
Mentors(s): Olivia Arnold
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are an increasing global concern due to their potential to produce toxins that threaten human, animal, and environmental health. This study evaluated four urban ponds in Fort Collins, Colorado (Pine Ridge, Prospect Ponds, Edora Lake, and the CDC Campus pond) to investigate relationships among opportunistic cyanobacteria, nutrient enrichment, and toxin presence. Field measurements of temperature and pH were collected, and laboratory analyses were conducted to determine total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations. Microscopic evaluation of water samples was used to identify cyanobacterial taxa and assess morphology indicative of potential toxin production. Rapid immunoassay test kits were employed to detect the presence of microcystin. Dolichospermum spp. were identified in Pine Ridge and CDC Campus samples, while Planktothrix agardhii was observed at Prospect Ponds and Edora Lake. Microcystin was detected in three of the four ponds, with concentrations ranging from 5 µg/L to 19 µg/L. These results exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality guideline of 5 µg/L for microcystin, indicating potential public health risks associated with recreational exposure. The findings suggest that eutrophication and nutrient enrichment may promote HAB occurrence in Fort Collins’ urban waters. Future directions include expanding the sample size, conducting ELISA assays to quantify specific cyanotoxin concentrations, performing seasonal resampling, and implementing in vitro cytotoxicity assays to evaluate health impacts. Overall, this project contributes to understanding local HAB dynamics and supports ongoing efforts to protect public and environmental health in northern Colorado.
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Ryan Grimm
Presenter(s): Ryan Grimm
Mentors(s): Renzo Cavalieri
The Hurwitz number counts, up to isomorphism, the number of covers of a Riemann surface of a certain genus, holding constant the ramification profile of such a cover. With this information alone, the Hurwitz number is effectively incalculable beyond simple examples. However, through translating the problem first to monodromy representations, then representation theory, Hurwitz numbers become significantly more practical computations. Examining Hurwitz numbers as a case study provides insight into much of the modern approach of mathematics: analyzing the intersections of fields to gain insight. Higher-level math today conducts research by translating problems through different fields to gain the advantages those other fields provide. This research was conducted through review of relevant literature and academic interviews with mathematics faculty. The results of this case study solidify knowledge related to Hurwitz number computations. Additionally, these results improve understanding of the expectations surrounding higher-level mathematical research and learning. Further analysis can identify how similar patterns of translating problems across fields emerge in other areas of mathematical research, and how this perspective benefits such research.
Category: Performing Art
Author(s): Jacqueline Urquidez, Alyssa Benik, Amethyst Aligaen, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor, Kimberly Mayorga-Escalante, McKenna Donohue, Mikayla Carter, Nicole Genalo, Sophia Crile
Presenter(s): Jacqueline Urquidez, Alyssa Benik, Amethyst Aligaen, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor, Kimberly Mayorga-Escalante, McKenna Donohue, Mikayla Carter, Nicole Genalo, Sophia Crile
Mentors(s): Judith Bejarano
Jacqueline’s dance capstone and senior thesis research, All Strings Attached, is focused on the “American Dream” and the idea that hard work and perseverance can lead to success and a better life. However, inequalities impact people’s ability to achieve this dream. The pursuit of the American Dream can be seen through the lens of white privilege being portrayed as the real “national fantasy” but in reality, it is unattainable and unrealistic to everyone else. Like a puppet show, the world manipulates those trying to achieve this dream by putting them on display and convincing them of a future that has only been created when excluding non-white experiences and aspirations. Jacqueline is showcasing is the last two sections of her capstone choreography. The opening section is portraying the satirical and overly happy aspect of living this dream through the lens of the idealized, conflict-free happy family privilege. The ending section portrays the persevering ones that through trying to be controlled and held back, they continue to pursue there dreams no matter the obstacles that the inequalities of our country put forth on them. This capstone was created to showcase the power of protest and advocacy through dance. Choreographer: Jacqueline Urquidez Dancers: Amethyst Aligaen, Alyssa Benik, Mikayla Carter, Sophie Crile, Nicole Genalo, Kimberly Mayorga, Brady McCue, Kaitlyn Tayntor Understudy: McKenna Donohue
Category: Visual Art
Author(s): Ferrin Jaudon
Presenter(s): Ferrin Jaudon
Unfortunately, in many art communities today, there is a growing expectation that every piece must carry a profound meaning along with it. The pressure for this standard often overshadows the foundational qualities that were present when we first started considering things to be art; curiosity, visual fasciation, and the creation of something that pushes boundaries. Art has historically thrived on experimentation and the freedom to explore, yet the emergence of contemporary norms increasingly suggest that work lacking an elaborate concept is somehow lesser. My work is created in order to challenge these assumptions, and look at how art can operate when freed from the demand of a narrative justification. I focus on the raw curiosities of the mind, and create pieces that invite viewers to engage with their own imaginations. Through an alternative style, I aim to abolish these narratives by leading with example. By presenting work that resists traditional meaning-making, I hope to encourage others, both artists and viewers alike, to reconnect with their own creative impulses and consider how art can be liberated from this restrictive groupthink within our communities. This project asks a central question: What happens to creativity when we remove the expectation that art must “mean” something?
Category: Written Work
Author(s): Karissa Lewis
Presenter(s): Karissa Lewis
“The Mirror Knows” is a creative nonfiction poem that explores embodiment, internalized comparison, and the psychological impact of perceived romantic displacement within long-term partnership. Through recurring imagery of mirrors, ghosts, and bodily measurement, the poem examines how self-perception can fracture under the weight of imagined ideals and unspoken desire. The speaker navigates themes of maternal identity, intimacy, and selfhood while confronting the tension between devotion and self-erasure. By situating the body as both witness and battleground, this work invites reflection on how relational dynamics shape identity, embodiment, and the negotiation of worth.
Category: Research Poster
Author(s): Danielle Terry
Presenter(s): Danielle Terry
Mentors(s): Tianying Wang
Human-wildlife coexistence is essential for conservation efforts. This is particularly true in areas where human development adjoins natural areas. The Methow Valley Watershed in Methow, Washington, is a good example of a wild-urban interface landscape where human activities often overlap with wildlife. As part of a larger community-science-driven project, we investigated the impact of natural food sources (represented by five main berry species) on black bear (Ursus americanus) movements within the Methow Valley using camera traps and vegetation transect surveys. We were specifically interested in understanding 1) how berry species availability changed throughout the season, 2) how human development impacted bear movements, and 3) the impact of wildfires on bear habitat usage. We fit a GLMM (General Linear Mixed Model) to understand the associations between each factor and bear detections. We found a strong association between fire history and Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) availability and a weaker effect of human development on bear detection rates. This research highlights the importance of coexistence measures such as conflict-reduction tools and public education in fostering collaborative efforts in areas with bear-human population overlap.
Category: Community Engagement Poster
Author(s): Evalynn Pirnack
Presenter(s): Evalynn Pirnack
Antioxidants that block lipid peroxidation are central to managing oxidative stress in conditions such as inflammation, aging, and neurodegeneration. Yet, highly effective radical-trapping agents (RTAs) remain elusive because reactivity within lipid membranes cannot be predicted from solution studies. To address this challenge, we developed a fluorescence-based high-throughput assay to screen compound libraries for membrane-specific antioxidant activity. Our current work focuses on phenolic metabolites, naturally occurring plant compounds that quench radicals through electron or hydrogen atom transfer. Preliminary results reveal broad variability in activity, underscoring the complexity of structure–activity relationships in bilayer environments. To define the molecular features governing potency, we integrate machine learning models with experimental data. This combined approach aims to reveal design rules for next-generation antioxidants with enhanced efficacy, ultimately surpassing natural agents such as α-tocopherol and informing therapeutic strategies against oxidative stress–driven diseases.