Undergraduates Make New Discoveries in BSU Research Program

In its 5th Year, Summer Undergraduate Research Institute Engages More Than 70 Students

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – Isata Yokie never dreamed that she’d spend a summer doing research in Kenya. She could hardly imagine working side by side with accomplished scientists to uncover how a native medicinal plant used by pregnant women can be harmful when eaten in large amounts.

“I didn’t see myself doing work like this,” said Yokie, a rising Bowie State University senior majoring in biology. “Doing this research has been an eye-opener for me. It’s teaching me that food safety is something that everyone needs to pay attention to.”

Yokie is one of a record 72 student researchers who participated in the 5^th annual Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI), a project of the Education Innovation Initiative (EI2). The intensive nine-week program makes it possible for the students to hone their analytical skills and establish mentor relationships with the 20 Bowie State faculty researchers, who helped guide their projects. Students showcased their projects in oral and poster presentations at the SURI Research Symposium on July 30-31, preparing them to submit their work for academic journals or research conferences.

For the first time this year, SURI included nine students, including Yokie, who traveled to Kenya for Bowie State’s new Global Engagement Research Experience for Undergraduates, working on food safety and security research funded by a two-year National Science Foundation grant. Led by BSU’s Dr. Anne Osano, the project connected the students from around the country with researchers at the University of Nairobi and Egerton University. Not only did the students come from Bowie State, but they also came from Farmingdale State College, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Indiana University, Morgan State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia and University of Maryland.

The SURI projects are diverse and involve faculty from across various disciplines. Some SURI scholars used machine learning to identify star NBA players using game stats, explored college students’ understanding of fake news, and applied data science techniques to discover genetic variations in lupus between ethnic groups. For a second year, nine students from the BSU Entrepreneurship Academy’s Summer Launch program also participated in SURI, learning the skills needed to start and run their own successful businesses. 

“We have started to build an infrastructure to continue to support SURI’s growth over the past five years by diversifying the sources of funding to support our students financially,” said Associate Provost Guy-Alain Amoussou, who initiated SURI in 2015.

Several SURI students are also part of Bowie State’s Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, a federally funded initiative that prepares undergraduates for doctoral study through a wide range of research experiences. Seven students paired with faculty mentor conducted cybersecurity research, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, to prepare them for a career in the high-demand profession protecting our nation from cyber attacks.

Here is a complete list of the SURI students, faculty and projects:

Accounting, Finance & Economics
SURI Scholars: Basirat Haroon and Staie Raphael
Mentor: Dr. Tibebe Assefa
Project Title: Tech Stock Returns and Empirical Analysis of CAPM

SURI Scholar: Spencer Parker
Mentor: Drs. Augustin Ntembe and Latanya Brown-Robertson
Project Title: Migration Habits of Single Female Headed Households in the U.S: Evidence from the American Housing Survey

Biology
SURI Scholar: Daniel Ogunmiloro 
Mentor: Dr. Tyesha N. Burks
Project Title: Using Data Analytic Tools to Identify Genetic Variation in Diabetes Between African-Americans and Caucasian-Americans

SURI Scholar: Jasmin Perkins   
Mentor: Dr. Tyesha N. Burks  
Project Title: Studying Genetic Variation in Lupus between Ethnic Groups Using Data Science

SURI Scholars: Pierre Ayiuwe, Elaine Obahiagbon and Ruth Sam
Mentors: Drs. George Ude and David Igwe
Project Title: DNA Barcoding and Genetic Diversity Study of Mushrooms Using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Markers

SURI Scholar: Joan Sobo
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Devanand Luthria (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Project Title: Classification of Dry Beans by NIR

SURI Scholars: Fernando Quinteros, Bashir Lamptey, Jordan Graves and Jhanelle Stewart
Mentors: Drs. George Ude and David Igwe
Project Title: Multiplication of Bananas and Plantains using Micropropagation and Macropropagation Methods

SURI Scholars: Bai Bangura and Whitney Okoe
Mentors: Dr. Kari Debbink
Project Title: Saving Our Citrus: CYVAV as a Therapeutic Vector Against Citrus Greening Disease

SURI Scholar: Christopher Kelly
Mentors: Drs. Lucia Santacruz and Jacqueline Smith
Project Title: Creation of a Creatine Fluorescent Analog

SURI Scholar: Isata Yokie
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Richard Mulwa (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Evaluation of Phytates and Oxyalates content in Cleome gynandra (spider plant) from different Ecological zones in Kenya

SURI Scholar: Eberechukwu Ugorji
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Richard Mulwa (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Determination of Tannins and Alkaloids Levels in 14 Ecotypes of Cleome gynandra

SURI Scholar: Keky Lisney (Farmingdale State College)
Mentor: Drs. Anne Osano and Nancy Mungai (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Isolation and characterization of Rhizobia from Lablab purpureus from central Rift Valley Kenya

SURI Scholar: Ashley Kovach-Hammons (Indiana University)
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Nancy Mungai (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Efficiency of rhizobia inoculant on lablab purpureus under environmental stress

SURI Scholar: Morgan Hall (Morgan State University)
Mentors: Dr. Anne Osano, as well as Dr. Paul Kimurto and Professor Joshua Ogendo (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Analysis of Nutrients Profile and Formulation of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L.) with Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Protein Source on Infant Complementary Foods in Kenya

SURI Scholar: Britany Font (Interamerican University of Puerto Rico)
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Paul Kimurto (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Analysis of Nutrient Profile of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.Gaertn) for Baby Food Formulation Using Pigeon Pea as Protein Source

SURI Scholar: Mayowa Osunsanya
Mentors: Dr. Anne Osano and Professor Joshua Ogendo (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Determining the efficacy of Pheromone Lures for the control of Fall Armyworm, Spododeptera frugiperda

SURI Scholar: Rita Dill
Mentors: Dr. Anne Osano, as well as Professors Joshua Ogendo and Janet Obanyi (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: Morphological and DNA Barcoding Characterization of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm) in Kenya

SURI Scholar: Luke Muller (Oklahoma State University)
Mentors: Drs. Anne Osano and Erick Cheruiyot (Egerton University, Kenya)
Project Title: The Evaluation of Potential Fodder Sorghum Genotypes for Prussic Acid and Lignocellulose Content

Chemistry & Physics
SURI Scholars: Ikechi Nwadike and Gabriel Gonzales
Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Smith
Project Title: Application of MCR to Produce p97 ATPase-inhibiting Imidazole Analogs

SURI Scholars: Kianei Brown and Christ Warren Tessofo
Mentors: Drs. Florence Etop and Eric Bonsu
Project Title: Synthesis of C-2 Functionalized Ribofuranosyl Purine Analogues as Potential Antiviral

SURI Scholars: Gracy Onuma and Olushola Olaitan
Mentors: Drs. Florence Etop and Eric Bonsu
Project Title: Using Stille Coupling Reactions to Structurally Modify Perylene 3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (PTCDA)

Communications
SURI Scholars: Lauren Byrd, Will Johnson-Brooks and Christian Scott-Small
Mentor: Dr. Uchenna Onuzulike
Project Title: Exploring Undergraduates’ Comprehension of Media Ethics and Fake News

Cybersecurity
SURI Scholars: Jason Smith, Cion Sandidge, Asmamaw Mersha and Maurice Bugg
Mentors: Dr. Azene Zenebe, Dr. Guy-Alain Amoussou, and Pius Odhiambo
Project Title: Cyber Threat Intelligence Discovery Using Machine Learning

SURI Scholars: Robel Baraki, Christopher Clay, Overton Wright
Mentors: Dr. Guy-Alain Amoussou, Dr. Azene Zenebe, and Mr. Pius Odhiambo
Project Title: Framework to Secure Industrial Control Systems

Entrepreneurship
SURI Scholar: Victor Amadu
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Rack ‘em Up Solar Solutions

SURI Scholar: Simeon Bickersteth
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: SimB Designs

SURI Scholar: Brian Hill
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Utilizing Social Media as an Effective Form of Communication on a College Campus

SURI Scholar: Awa Jobe
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Exotic Desire

SURI Scholars: Zyair Long and Jesse Ricks III
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Campus Crush

SURI Scholar: Van Minter
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Trap Customs, LLC

SURI Scholar: Rico Singleton
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Foster Kids United

SURI Scholar: Alexis Williams
Mentor: Jainaba Ceesay
Project Title: Minds of Tomorrow

Information Systems
SURI Scholars: Kirk Williams, Lawrence Jefferson and Kalaye’ Lawrence
Mentors: Drs. Nega Lakew and Azene Zenebe
Project Title: Applying Machine Learning to Classify Player Importance in the NBA

Nursing & Social Work
SURI Scholars: Christina Becton, Catherine Hardwick and Nina Ukaibe
Mentor: Dr. Cordelia Obizoba
Project Title: Knowledge and Perception of Sickle Cell Disease among Undergraduate Students of an Historical Black College and University (HBCU)

SURI Scholars: Salicia Blackwell and Deonte’ Turner
Mentor: Dr. Emory L. Perkins
Project Title: Drug Use Concomitant Factors in HIV Risk-Taking Behaviors among African-Americans

Psychology
SURI Scholars: Assata Armstrong-Parham, Niyala Pritchett and Emmanuela Abraham
Mentor: Dr. Ayanna Lynch
Project Title: Does the #MeToo Movement Include Me? A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Perceived Inclusivity in the #MeToo Feminist Movement

SURI Scholars: Shannel Blake and Johneese Ferguson
Mentor: Dr. Erica Hernandez
Project Title: Identifying Differences in Wild Dolphin Whistles during Feeding Behavior

SURI Scholar: Maxwell Lawson
Mentor: Dr. Ometha Lewis-Jack
Project Title: Substance Use & Attitudes Towards Utilization of Mental Services Among Students at Bowie State University

SURI Scholar: Anissia Maldonado
Mentor: Dr. Ometha Lewis-Jack
Project Title: Attitudes Towards Utilization of Mental Health Services Among Students at Bowie State University

 

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