ACRE – Albright College

ACRE

Through the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE), Albright students have the opportunity to conduct research or creative activity in partnership with nurturing faculty mentors.

ACRE logo in red text, magnifying glass inside letter 'C'. Albright College Research Experience


How ACRE Works

  • Students from all majors are invited to submit an application for the ACRE program.
  • Students select which ACRE session they would like to undertake, summer (10 weeks) or January interim (3 weeks)
  • A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards.
  • Accepted participants receive a stipend and free room and board during the summer or January interim.
  • Students and faculty from all disciplines meet each week to share their experiences and learn from each other.
  • Many collaborative teams of students and faculty present their research at academic conferences and publish their results in professional journals.

For more information, please contact Dr. Matt Fotis, Associate Professor of Theatre, at (610) 921-7873 or mfotis@albright.edu, or contact Director of Experiential Learning, Kim Justeson at kjusteson@albright.edu or 610-921-7630.

Summer 2022 ACRE Research

 

Student First Student Last Faculty Project
Christopher Bilik Guillaume de Syon The Fight for Recognition for the Experiences of Japanese Americans in World War II and How That Connects to the Present-Day Struggles of the Asian American Community
Nicholas Griffith David Osgood Does Spatial Variation of Disturbance in a Forest Affect Plant Community Composition?
Libby Harford John Pankratz Songs of Democracy: The Evolution of the Presidential Campaign Song
Erika Jerrahian Erin Ventresca Creation of Transgenic Drosophila Line to Determine the Role of Akt in Diadzein-dependent Larval Lethality
Kyle Kartchner Mike D’Errico Building Connections Across Music and Games
Megan Keller Adam Hersperger Understanding the Importance of the Ectromelia Growth Factor Protein to Virus Replication
Kamaryn Koch Ian Cost Comparing Cardiovascular Anatomy of Different Avian Species
Marcela Kraft Laura Gelety Life after Trauma – A Shift from Childhood Trauma to Mental and Physical Well-Being in Adulthood
Noah Kulp David Osgood Understanding the Effects of Timbering Disturbances on Succession of Understory Plant Communities Within Eastern Deciduous Forests
Olivia Oatman MeeAe Oh-Ranck Fashion Shouldn’t Cost The Earth: re-Design Fashion Sustainability
Brian Pan Brian Buerke Quantum Advantage in the Modified Penny Flip Game
Lisa Statler Midori Hartman Ethan Allen Hitchcock: Tracing Esoteric Philosophy from Antiquity to the Renaissance and Beyond
Zyaire Valentine Paula Trimpey Testing the Design and Construction Limitations of Imitation Patent Leather Stretch Knit Fabric
Alyssa Zerbe Justin Couchman Piercings and Tattoos: Do They Leave Marks on Perception
Binya Zhang Amy Styer Greene Bafilomycin Drugs and Temperature Effects on Contractile Vacuole Contraction Rate in Vorticella Convallaria

Interim 2022 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty Project
Brigette Amendano Ian Cost Mapping of the Trigeminal Nerves in Avian
Dylan Cope Nathan Henceroth Digital Democracy
Elyse Eckert Keith Feigenson The Influence of 2D and 3D Presentation of Stimuli on the Hollow Mask Illusion
Ryan Janowski Nathan Henceroth Digital Democracy
Taylor Lanier Brian Buerke Measurement of the Variability of the Apparent Brightness of Stars
Gabrielle List Bridget Hearon Effects of Media Messaging and Media Outlet on Acceptance of COVID-19 Public Health Precautions
Regina McCarter Justin Couchman Empathy and Moral Judgements about Autism Spectrum Disorder using Virtual Reality
Megan Misurelli Teresa Gilliams Cross-Cultural Circuitries of Grit: A Critical Examination of Resilience
Phuong My Chau Ian Cost Comparing Tooth Wear in North American Bats with Different Diets
Gillian Pierce Ian Rhile The Technique of NOE Can Distinguish Between Hydrogen Atoms in Organic Compounds
Abigail Platero David Tanner Deaccessioning for Diversity Within the Freedman Gallery
Mikhayla Reilly Nicholas Piro Investigation of Nitrene Transfer to a Ferrocenyl Copper Complex
Zuul Woodson Keith Feigenson The Effects of Illusory Pattern Perception on COVID-19 Vaccination Conspiracy Beliefs

 


Summer 2021 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty
Project Title
Etsub Tolossa Matthew Sonntag Structure and Stability of Alkali Borate Glasses
Sidney Walker Christian Hamann New Undergraduate Research Targets Repurposed from Organic Laboratory Waste
McKinley Williams Alan Shane Dillingham Entagled Histories: Indigeneity and Blackness in the US Southeast and Oklahoma
Mikhayla Reilly Nicholas Piro Do Ferrocene-to-Copper Interactions Exist, and Can They Stabilize a Copper Nitrene
Ethan Ortiz Nicholas Piro Adjusting Reactive Intermediate Lifetimes through Steric Congestion
Taisha Charles Brittany Shelton Counting Variations of Knights and Knaves Puzzles
Vanessa Baker Brittany Shelton Examining the Structure of the Gear Ball
Katsuto Sakogashira Marian Wolbers The Doors That Shut: Finding Japanese Culture through Theatre
Christina Farris Bridget Hearon Romantic or Stigmatizing?: How the Media Affects Teenagers’ and Young Adults’ Perceptipons of Mental Illness
Emily Lenkevich Stephen Mech Study Continuation fo the Effect of the Non-native Microstegium Vimineum on Small Mammal and Insects
Olivia Trace Jordan Shomper Using Music to Heal: Mental Health in Choral Music
Abigail Platero David Tanner Deaccessioning for Diversity Within The Freedman Gallery
Cecelia Ensell Susan Hughes The Impact of Perceived Physical Resemblance on the Perception of Close Relationships
Elyse Eckert Bridget Hearon Assessing Exercise and Health Behavior Changes Associated with the Covid-19 Pandemic
Abigail Shoemaker Stephen Mech The short and long-term effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on the geographic range distribution of Terrapene carolina

Click here to read their abstracts and view their final presentations.


Interim 2021 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty Project Name
Natalie Buck Denise Meister Examining the Algebra I Keystone Exam Throughout PA: Its Purpose, Five-Year Results, and Remediation Efforts
Evan Cardinal Nathan Henceroth Elementary or Parliamentary? An Empirical Analysis of Participation Among Female Members of European Parliament and its Impact on Legislative Careers
Evan Carr Lisa Wilder A Decomposition of US Urban-Rural Racial Wage Gaps
Jonathan Craft Michael D’Errico Performing Gender in Videogame Livestreams
Cecelia Ensell Susan Hughes The Impact of Perceived Physical Resemblance on the Perception of Close Relationships
Karl Fey Guillaume de Syon The Best Worst Tank in the Army: How Human Agency Shaped the Development of the M4 Medium Tank
Olivia Frey Christian Hamann Both Static and Dynamic Images May Improve the Laboratory Experience
Jacob Gragg Heidi Mau Design International: The Graphic Design Practices of Seven Eurasian Countries
Natasha Halulakos Jayanthi Rajan Mom’s the Word: Marketing to Moms in the New Normal
Ashley Hillegass MeeAe Oh-Ranck An Exploration of Chemical Regulation and Natural Dying Methods in the Area of Sustainable Fashion
Taylor Lanier Brian Buerke Development of Telescope Technologies for Undergraduate Astronomical Research
Allison Ludwig Bridget Hearon The Effects of Fitspiration & Self-Compassion on Body Dissatisfaction, Self Esteem, Mood, and Exercise Motivation in College-aged Women with Disordered Eating Behaviors, Physical Comparison Tendencies, and Sorority Membership
Militza Molina Maite Barragan Turning to the Shadows
Daniel Petersheim Nicholas Piro Multimetallic Complexes Supported by a PNP/NNN-Ferrocene Ligand
Erika Romero Heidi Mau Celebrity Advocacy & Mental Health: How Social Media Allows Female Singers to Facilitate Mental Illness Literacy Among Their Fans
Donna Saboori Bryce Brylawski The Effects of P-Phenylenediamine on Bean Beetles as a Proxy for Aquatic Life
Katsuto Sakogashira Dahlia Al-Habieli An Exploration of Collaborative Models for Communal Storytelling: Romeo & Juliet in Reading
Isabel Skovera Nick Ungson Reactions to Ingroup Deviance in the Time of COVID-19
Emily Stragapede Hayley Munir Prosecutor Misconduct and the Role of Race
Jonathan Strobel Mark Baldridge Frame of Mind: Induced Motion and Human Perception
Gillian Umstead Bonnie Rohde Philadelphia’s ‘Smart’ Response to COVID-19
Jennifer Vasquez Beth Kiester Status, Detention, and Deportation: Uncertainty Among Immigrant Communities in the United States
Jaelyn Walker Keith Feigenson The Impact of Risk Framing on COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories
Shelby Woodard Julia Heberle Older Children’s Understanding of Real/Not Real

Click here to read their abstracts and view their final presentations.


Summer 2020 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty Project
Faith Miravich Kristen Woodward Dance of the Devils: Art Inspired by the Boruka
Julie Schrey Adam Hersperger Understanding the Nature and Function of the Epidermal Growth Factor Ortholog Expressed by Ectromelia Virus
Daniel Petersheim Nicholas Piro Ambiphilic Ferrocene-Bridged Ligands for Metals with Expanded Coordination Spheres
Ryan Kelly Nathan Henceroth Getting Ready to Run: How Congressional Floor Speeches Precede Campaigns for Higher Office
Krystal Perez Joycelen Burdett Charles James Study
Matthew Ortiz Matt Fotis “Yes, and…” Creating an Improv Curriculum to Help Children with ASD Increase their Social and Behavioral Communication Skills
Stephanie Vargas-Hemmings MeeAe Oh-Ranck Sustainable Fashion: Upcycling, Reusing and Sustainability
Abigail Shoemaker Stephen Mech The Short and Long-term Effects of Anthropogenic Habitat Disturbance on the Geographic Range Distribution of Terrapene Carolina
Jacob Gragg Heidi Mau Logos International: A Look into the Design Philosophies of Eight Different Countries
Emily Lenkevich Stephen Mech The Effect of the Non-native Microstegium Vimineum on Small Mammal and Insects
Jaquan Harley Amy Greene Inhibition of Contractile Vacuole Cycling in Vorticella Convallaria
Suzanne Spriggs Ian Cost A Comparative Analysis of the Remote Touch Mechanism in Birds
Brooke Schlott Gwen Seidman Narcissism and Attributions of Blame Following Romantic Relationship Break-Up
Natalie Buck Denise Meister Examining the Algebra I Keystone Exam: Its Purpose, Five-Year Results, and Remediation Efforts
Dana Fielding Justin Couchman The Effects of Virtual Reality and Stress on the Misinformation Effect
Jennifer Vasquez Elizabeth Kiester Status, Detention, and Deportation: Uncertainty Among Immigrant Communities in the US

Summer 2020 ACRE Presentations


Interim 2020 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty Project
Abigail Army Marian Wolbers Side Effects: A Memoir about Family, Cancer, and Making it Work
Alex Hermans Matt Fotis New Play Development for Traditional and Non-Traditional Plays
Autumn Blalock Bridget Hearon Theater for Change: Predicting Risk Behavior Change Using Theater, Prototype Willingness Model, and Theory of Planned Behavior
Blake Reed Michael Armato Rural Areas and Public Good Distribution in Pennsylvania
Bridgett Connolly Suzanne Palmer Organic and Sustainability Certifications in the Hemp Industry
Cynthia Thorngate Susan Hughes Eye Gaze Patterns and Preferences of Dating App Profile Pictures
Elijah Bowers Guilluame de Syon The World’s Longest Hatred in its Polish Context; How Does it Relate to Today’s Controversies About Poland’s Role in the Holocaust?
Erin Smith Keith Feigenson Effects of 3-Day Meditation
Ginger Hill Andrew Samuelsen Conditional Lethal Plasmid Building for E. coli and Agrobacterium
Grace Coleman Bridget Hearon Predictors of Emotion-Induced Eating Behaviors
Isha Shah Bryce Brylawski The Effects of P-phenylenediamine on Bean Beetles, Callosobruchus Maculatus, Larval Tissue Survival
Jacob Gragg Lesley Goodman Road to the New Weird: The Postmodern Legacy of Gothic and Cosmic Horror
Jed Paolo Dela Torre Nick Ungson The Effect of Perceived Costs and Benefits Willingness to Dissent: A Normative Conflict Perspective
Jessica Zamora Gwen Seidman The Dark Triad of Personality and Moral Decisions
Robert Schwartz Ian Cost Functional Anatomy of the Perching Mechanism and Implications for its Evolution in Dinosaurs and Birds
Sarajean Reinert Michael D’Errico The Music Products Industry After #MeToo
Tyler Stauffer Nicholas Piro Metal Complexes of an Ambiphillic Ferrocene-Bridged Ligand

Summer 2019 ACRE Research

Student Name Faculty Project
Ryan Brett Stephen Mech Regional Differences in Ectoparasite Density and Survivorship and Reproduction of Peromyscus leucopus
Maya Fares Nicholas Piro Reaction Profiles of an Oxygenated Copper Intermediate
Zachary Hendricks Justin Couchman Cross-Cultural Differences in Memory, Beliefs, and Mental Schemas
Ashley Hillegass MeeAe Oh-Ranck A Study in Japanese Couture Techniques: Sustainability and the Geometric Organic Shapes of the Japanese Aesthetic
Sarah Hosler Jacque Fetrow Exploration of the Phosducin Superfamily and its Categorization by the MISST Method
Samantha King Keith Feignenson Examining Stress Markers During Restricted Environmental Stimulation
Madelyn Loftus Matt Sonntag Synthesis of Noble Metal Nanoparticles for Single-Molecule Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Joey Love Matt Fotis The History & Practice of Sketch Comedy
Nhu Nguyen Amy Greene Chemical Crosslinking of Magnetic Beads for Studies of Feeding Preference in Vorticella Convallaria
Stephanie Pinel Elizabeth Kiester How Do Colors Effect Political Opinion?
Mikhayla Reilly Amy Greene Temperature Effects of Vorticella convallaria Endocytosis and Contractile Vacuole Formation Rates – Conrad Weiser Science Research Institute Mentorship
Julie Schrey Christian Hamann Sesquiterpenes Database
Caitlyn Verhaaren Lennie Amores Teaching Global Hispanophone Literature in High School Spanish Classroom
Abbi Waltz Stephen Mech The Short and Long-term Effects of Anthropogenic Habitat Disturbance on the Geographic Range Distribution of Terrapene carolina
Alexis Willis Jayanthi Rajan The Conscious Consumer’s Catwalk: Sustainability of Thrifting and the Consumer Profile of Second-Hand Shoppers
Cecilia Wishneski Susan Hughes The Age of Neoteny: The Retention of Childhood Cuteness as Related to the Solicitation of Care

 

Interim 2019 ACRE Research

Student Faculty Project
Alyssa Kates Keith Feigenson The Effect of the Hollow Mask Illusion on Children
Anthony Casselli Bonnie Rohde Transformational Leadership in Smart City Collaboration
Ashley Hillegass MeeAe Oh-Ranck Curating the Couture Corset: Victorian Couture Methods Meets Modern Day Sustainable Fashion
Carolyn Cortes Kennon Rice Beach Community Representation by Individuals and Municipal Actors
Claire Kilpatrick Huy Tran Corporate Social Responsibility & Firm Performance: The Moderating role of National Culture
Cody Stetson Farhad Saboori An Economic & Political Analysis of the US-China Trade Relationship
Dominic Marfisi Bonnie Rohde Lessons Learned in Public Private Partnerships for Small Smart Cities
Drake Jacobs Farhad Saboori An Economic & Political Analysis of the US-China Trade Relationship
Emily Curley Teresa Gilliams Unsung Voices: The Othering of Japanese Americans Post World War II
Emily Durell Heidi Mau Les Petities & Die Postkarten: Children & Family in Great War Postcards
Francis Mele Andrew Samuelsen Evaluating Rhamnose Promoter Leakiness Using the Green Fluorescent Protein
Hei Tung(Tiffany) Ng Jay Rajan Tapping into the Craft Beer Trend
Joseph Holowko Elizabeth Kiester Assessing the Co-Creation of an FYS
Karen Alejandres Bridget Hearon Physician & Limited English Proficiency in Parent’s Perception on Childhood Asthma in Primary Care
Kaylyn Haan Adam Hersperger Characterization of the Growth Factor Analog Expressed by Ectromelia Virus
Lauren Hudak Gwen Seidman The Motivations for and Effects of Active and Passive Social Media Use
Maya Fares Nicholas Piro Characterizing an Oxygenated Intermediat in O-atom Transfer Reactions of a Bis(guanidinyl)pyridine Copper Complex
Mckenzie Derby Kennon Rice Beach Community Representation in Commercial Media
Nhu Nguyen Amy Greene Vorticella endocytosis rates with magnetic beads conjugated to different food sources
Sarah Hohl Justin Couchman Fantasy and Reality Distinction in Young Children
Sarah Hosler Jacque Fetrow Exploration of Thioredoxin Fold Superfamilies and Their Molecular Function
Zoe Gehman Nicholas Piro An Asymmetrical Ferrocene-Bridged Ligand to Hold Dissimilar Metal Ions

Summer 2018 ACRE Research

Student

Faculty

Project

Allison Ulaky Lennie Amores Nuestra Comunidad Latina: An Open Source Spanish Textbook for the Liberal Arts
Frank Kobe Justin Couchman Meditation for Memory Recall & Focus
Rebecca Davis Keith Feigenson The Effects of Restricted Environmental Stimulation on Optical Illusion Perception
Joseph Holowko Beth Kiester Co-Creating an FYS: ‘Star Wars: The Good, The Bad, and The Sociology’
Joey Love Matt Fotis The Streets are Paved in Gold: History & Practice of Satiric Fake News
Allison Roberts Gwen Seidman The Role of Narcissistic Admiration & Rivalry in Perceptions of Romantic Partners & Relationship Outcomes
Thalia Williamson Karen Campbell Observing the Effect on Human Disturbance on Bird Behavior
Sayge Martin Samira Mehta Women, Print Media, and the Searchable Database: A Digital Humanities Archive
Alexandra Close Jesse Clark Sourcing Non-Western Inspiration for American Popular Music
Soloman Bailey Brian Buerke Collective Motion Using Drones
Mara Trifoi Erin Ventresca Increased Sugar Ingestion Causes Premature Adult Stem Cell Loss Due to Increased PI3k-Dependent Cell Proliferation in Drosophila melanogaster
Briana Samuel Bridget Hearon Health Halo Effects & Misperception of Calorie Content
Lauryn Gwathmey David Osgood Disturbance & Its Effect on Plant Species Diversity Within Newly Disturbed & Previously Disturbed Communities
Rebecca Morgis Adam Hersperger MHCII Cross-Presentation as a Driver of CD4 T-cell Responses to Poxviruses

Animal Care and Use Committee

Principle
The advancement of both pure and applied knowledge requires scientific experimentation and educational instruction using animals. The necessary use of animals requires proper oversight and ethical considerations.

Mission
The Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) of Albright College is charged with the institutional oversight of animals and animal care personnel involved in research and teaching. The goal of the ACUC is to verify, on sound scientific and ethical principles, the prudent use of animals and minimize the pain and discomfort of animal subjects in experiments and teaching exercises. ACUC is also responsible for ensuring all personnel involved in such experiments are informed of, and in compliance with, approved protocols and applicable guidelines for humane care and use of animals.

Jurisdiction
Any project involving vertebrate animal use by faculty, staff or students of Albright College must receive approval by ACUC. Further information may be found at http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm.

Complete the ACUC Protocol Form