A team of six Mason undergraduates recognized for outstanding research presented their work at the sixth Colonial Academic Alliance (CAA) undergraduate research conference hosted by Northeastern University, April 4-5, in Boston.

This year’s participants and their projects were

• Senior Jenna Krall, dance performance and mathematics major, “Predicting Baseball Winners Using Just Noticeable Differences.” Her mentors were Patrick McKnight, assistant professor of psychology, and David Cades, psychology PhD student.
• Junior David Lieu, chemistry and biology major, and senior Sarah Wambaugh, government and international and public affairs major, “Natural and Soot-Derived Organic Matter in River Sediments.” Their mentor was Gregory Foster, professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
• Elizabeth Nohelty, biology major, “KCNRG As a Tumor Suppressor Gene Candidate in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.” Her mentor was Ancha Baranova, associate professor of molecular and microbiology.
• Junior Daniel Odom, art history and global affairs major, “The Invisible Other and the Construction of a Homosexual Counterculture through Magic Realism.” His mentor was John “Fred” Saddler, adjunct faculty for history and art history.
• Junior Adrianne Urrego, neuroscience major, “Chronic Nicotine Exposure Alters Dendritic Morphology of Pyramidal Neurons from Insular Cortex.” Her mentor was Robert Smith, professor of psychology.