SES Research Symposium

The 26th annual Student Independent Research Symposium was held December 15, 2023 in Cornelia Clapp Auditorium, as well as livestreamed and recorded. Click here to view the recording.

Students who participated in the semester-long study abroad course presented the culmination of their independent research projects in 15-minute talks over the course of the day.

The scheduled presentations for the day are as follows:

8:10 - 8:15: Dr. Linda Hyman, Director of Education
Welcome and introductory remarks

8:15 - 8:30: Chanda Cragnotti, The New School
An Exploration of Microenvironmental Drivers of Tardigrade Abundance and Species Composition in the Lichen Xanthoria parietine in Woods Hole

8:30 - 8:45: AJ Paprocki, Oberlin College
Interactions between Crabs and the seagrass Zostera marina in West Falmouth Harbor

8:45 - 9:00: Calliope Saban, Lake Forest College
Effects of Elevated Temperature on Epiphytic Communities of Zostera marina

9:00 - 9:15: Jessalin Nguyen, University of Chicago
Sargassum (S. filipendula) Growth, Photosynthesis, and Biochemical Response to Temperature Increase

9:15 - 9:30: Elena Gdula, University of Chicago
Crepidula fornicata Growth and Feeding Rate Response to Temperature and Environmental Variability

9:30 - 9:45: Andrew Huffman, University of Chicago
Coral-Seaweed Cocultures: How Sargassum and Gracilaria mammillaris Affect Astrangia Poculata in Field and Laboratory Settings

9:45 - 10:00: Ruby Krasnow, Clark University
Improving Models of Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Aquaculture by Accounting for Regional Variation in Thermal Tolerance

10:00 - 10:30: Coffee Break

10:30 - 10:45: Samantha Schmidt, University of Evansville
The Impact of Microplastics on Astrangia poculata Feeding Behavior and Oxygen Consumption

10:45 - 11:00: Lillian Cusa, Dickinson College
Bioaccumulation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Astrangia poculata from Ingested PPCP-incubated Brine Shrimp and Microplastics

11:00 - 11:15: Sam Supan, Rhodes College
The Effect of Antibiotic Contaminants on the Life History and Trophic Dynamics of Brachionus manjavacas

11:15 - 11:30: Jaslin Aguirre, University of Chicago
Why all this N2O and CH4? Microbially Derived Gas in Trunk River         

11:30 - 11:45: Natalie Davies, Ripon College
Whose producing all this oxygen? A Quest to Discover What Microbe is Making Oxygen without Light in Trunk River

11:45 – 12:00: Alexandria Schmidt, University of Chicago
Competition of Sulfate Reducers and Methanogens in Siders Pond 

12:00 - 13:30: Luncheon – Main Dining Hall, Swope Center*

13:30 - 13:45, Nyah Lues, University of Chicago
Marsh Methane Mystery- Exploring Changes in O₂ Production and Catalase Activity in the Roots and Photosynthetic Activity in Leaves of Typha angustifollia in Response to Varying Salinity Inputs

13:45 - 14:00: Aaron MacDonald, University of Toronto
The Effects of Beech Leaf Disease

14:00 - 14:15: Kayla Garcia, St. Mary's University
The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Great Sippewissett Marsh Plant Communities and How it Affects Organic Matter Storage

14:15 - 14:30: Ellen Warmerdam, Oberlin College
Impact of Phragmites australis Invasion on Carbon and Nitrogen Storage in Salt Marsh Sediments

14:30 - 14:45: Daniel Arad, University of Chicago
Nitrogen Cycling under Different Plant Species in the Great Sippewissett Marsh

14:45 - 15:00: Alex Jones, Dickinson College
Investigating Geospatial Variations in Groundwater C-DOM Content Between Different Watersheds Leading into Waquoit Bay

15:00 - 15:15: Anna Watson, University of Chicago
Effect of Urban-Development on the Concentration and Lability of Oxygen Nitrogen Inputs to Estuaries

15:15 - 15:30: Audrey Maxim-Rumley, Wesleyan University
Nitrogen Cycling, Sediment Respiration, and Oxygen Dynamics in Little Pond Sediments

15:30 - 15:45: Annie Qian, University of Chicago
Impact of Cranberry Bog Restoration on Nutrient Uptake and Channel Structure in the Coonamessett River

Closing: Semester Retrospective - Mirta Teichberg, SES Program Director

There will be refreshments and a celebratory awards ceremony in the Meigs Room at Swope Center after the symposium.

*Students, parents and guests, faculty and instructors welcome who have indicated in advance that they will attend.