STAR Student Project Titles
As a requirement of the STAR program, students must submit a one page summary and present a poster of their research findings at the end of summer STARS in Science Poster Presentation.
Below are the titles of recent summer STAR projects. Click on the title of a project below to view the poster (.pdf). Please note - posters may not be available for all participants.
For more information, please contact us at svmstarprogram@ucdavis.edu.
2023 STAR Student Projects:
2022 STAR Student Projects:
2021 STAR Student Projects:
Student Name | Class | Mentor/s | Project Title |
Taylor N Abraham | 2024 | Esteban Soto Martinez | Immune response of Thiamine Deficient Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytsch) to Columnaris disease |
Cynthia A Adkisson | 2024 | Melissa Bain | Relationship between ownership and enrichment in dogs with and without separation anxiety or noise phobia |
Elizabeth A Ashley | 2024 | Christine Kreuder Johnson | Investigating relationships between prey preference and infectious disease in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) |
Makda Asrat | 2023 | Simon Anthony | Surveillance for novel coronaviruses in West African bats |
Katherine S Bandlow | 2024 | Munashe Chigerwe | Determination of the minimum individual cow colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration required for pooling to achieve adequate passive immunity (API) in dairy calves. |
Catarina A Bianchi | 2024 | Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little | Vertebral Geometry and Disc Mineralization in Heterozygote and Homozygote Chondrodystrophic Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers |
Madeline C Bradford | 2023 | Dr. Sara M. Thomasy | The impact of netarsudil on endothelial regeneration following cryoinjury in a murine model of early-onset Fuch’s corneal endothelial dystrophy |
Anneka Christie | 2023 | Dr. Frank Verstraete | Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of the Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) |
Jennifer R Colangelo | 2023 | Jessica Morgan | Evaluation of cardiac extracellular matrix remodeling in horses that experience exercise associated sudden death. |
Blaire A Consales | 2023 | Dr. Christine Toedebusch | Characterization of microglia in canine brain metastatic melanoma |
Olivia Cords | 2023 | Tierra Smiley Evans | Optimizing Flavivirus Detection in Nonhuman Primates |
Shiori Echizenya | 2024 | Dr. Kent Pinkerton | Potential Risks to Wearers of Face Masks: Inhalable Particulates from Facial Mask Debris from New and Used Face Masks: Pathogen Detection from Reused Face Masks. |
Megan E Elcombe | 2024 | Carrie Finno | Prevalence of the RAPGEF5 c.2624C>A Variant Associated with Equine Familial Isolated Hypoparathyroidism (EFIH) Variant in the Thoroughbred Population |
Stephanie A Elliott | 2023 | Woutrina Smith | Investigating Beaver Dam Analogues as a Novel Method to Reduce Cryptosporidium and Giardia Load in Wet Meadow Streams |
Ryan M Gluck | 2023 | Dr. Isaac Pessah | Central and Peripheral Contribution to Heat Stress Intolerance in Wild Type and Malignant Hyperthermia Susceptible Mice |
Sophie R Gretler | 2024 | Dr. Nicole Baumgarth | TLR9-signaling and its effects on B cell receptor (BCR) signaling in B-1 cells |
Caitlin N Hardgrove | 2024 | Joshua Stern | Pattern of Inheritance and Identification of Genetic Variants Associated with Familial Supraventricular Arrhythmias in Labrador Retrievers |
Erin A Hisey | 2023 | Brian Leonard | Characterization of Antimicrobial Peptides Expressed by the Equine Ocular Surface and Amniotic Membrane |
Silke L Hoffmann | 2024 | Heather Knych | Pharmacokinetics of grapiprant and effects on TNF alpha concentrations following oral administration to exercised horses |
Daniela A Jimenez | 2024 | Nicole Baumgarth | The role of complement in Borrelia burgdorferi infection |
Davida A Johnson | 2023 | Esteban Soto Martinez | Cross protection capabilities of an Edwardsiella ictaluri live attenuated vaccine against E. piscicida infection in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) model of infection |
Joshua C Liu | 2024 | Bianca Da Costa Martins | Investigating the effects of different storage methods on cryopreserved rabbit corneas |
Madison E Luker | 2024 | Ching-Hsien Chen | Molecular characterization and targeting of macrophage polarization in lung cancer |
Indiana E Madden | 2023 | Dr. Danika Bannasch | Fragmented Coronoid Process Association Study using the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever |
Marissa R Monopoli | 2023 | David Guzman, Michelle Hawkins, Joanne Paul-Murphy | ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF HYDROMORPHONE IN GREAT HORNED OWLS (BUBO VIRGINIANUS) |
Lena Ngo | 2023 | Crystal Ripplinger, Ph.D | The Effects of Chronic Nicotine Exposure on Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Susceptibility in a Rabbit Model |
Lily Nguyen | 2023 | Ala Moshiri | Utilization of electroretinography and advanced retinal imaging to monitor development of retinal abnormalities in nonhuman primates with homozygous or heterozygous mutations in PDE6C |
Lynsey M Petersen | 2023 | Dr. Christine Toedebusch; Dr. Luke Wittenburg | Cerebrospinal fluid proteomic profiling using mass-spectrometry for biomarker discovery in canine non-infectious meningoencephalitis. |
Eleanor M Pressman | 2023 | Laura Van Winkle | Oxidant stress response in neonatal rats as a predisposing factor to lung developmental disruption by episodic ozone exposure |
Justin D Ringhofer | 2024 | Dr. Robert Rebhun | Evaluating the canine aryl hydrocarbon receptor’s role in osteosarcoma progression, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. |
Emily J Shelton | 2023 | Dr. Clare Yellowley | PPAR Induction of Angiopoietin-Like 4 and Wnt Signaling in Osteoblasts Under Hypoxic Conditions |
Brianna R Stoyle | 2023 | Kevin Woolard | Effects of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition on canine glioma cell proliferation in vitro |
Eric L Stubbs | 2023 | Patricia Pesavento | Optimizing detection of persistent parvovirus infections in the red panda. |
Aryana M. Razmra | 2023 | Dr. Robert Canter | Characterizing the phenotype and function of tumor-infiltrating NKp46+ NK and CD8+ T Cells in canine osteosarcoma |
Anna M Taylor | 2024 | Karen Shapiro | Epidemiology and risk factors for Sarcocystis neurona infection in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) from 2010-2019 |
Savannah J Tobin | 2024 | Kent Leach | Interrogating the effect of matrix stiffness on cisplatin resistance in triple negative breast cancer |
Victoria R Tobin | 2023 | Dr. Luke Wittenburg, Dr. Ellen Rothenberg | A CRISPR screen in T cell precursors to reveal novel mechanisms of Bcl11b target repression |
Nicole K Wegrzyniak | 2024 | Kent Leach | Interrogating the role of hydrogel electrical and physical properties on neural cell behavior |
Brandon M. Weiss | 2023 | Julie Bossuyt, DVM, Ph.D | The Role of Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II Nitrosylation in Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury |
Emma C. Weitzhandler | 2023 | Marisa Ames | Characterization of chymase-mediated myocardial angiotensin II formation in dogs with spontaneous heart failure: the influence of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors |
Sarah G Au Yeung | 2023 | Sina Marsilio | Microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation as a novel diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of chronic enteropathy in cats |
Yafen Zhen | 2023 | Brian Murphy | The role of ACE2 and DC-SIGN receptors in the cellular entry of feline infectious peritonitis virus and their gene expression profiles in target macrophages |
2020 STAR Student Projects:
Student Name | Class | Mentor/s | Remote Project Title |
Levi, Amit | 2022 | Xinbin Chen | p53 Mutations in Canine Cancers - A Review Study |
Makda Asrat | 2023 | Kirsten Gilardi | A 14-year retrospective epidemiological and ecological analysis of data from California bat carcasses |
Julie A Baldassano | 2023 | Lark Coffey | Influenza A virus subtype distribution in California waterfowl from 2007-2018 |
Ashley N. Caron-Brummel | 2023 | Dr. Noelia Silva-Del-Rio | Massage Therapy as a Recovery Aid for Animal and Human Patients Following Respiratory Disease: a Protocol for a Systematic Review |
Maggie Buktenica | 2023 | Dr. Meera Heller | Survey of Within-Herd Prevalence of Coronavirus in Goats in Northern California and Oregon During 2018 and 2020 |
Erica K Chang | 2022 | Drs. Esteban Soto-Martinez & Michael Ziccardi | Histopathological changes associated with novel etiologies in cultured and wild fish |
Julia R Cohen | 2023 | Karen Vernau | The effects of weaning stress and maternal presence on kitten personality, health, and behavior |
Olivia Cords | 2023 | Beatriz Martinez Lopez | Modeling the Potential Spread of African Swine Fever in North Macedonia |
Prathima A Garudadri | 2023 | Jenessa Gjeltema | Comparative Analysis of Microplastics in Marine Mammals - Literature Review and Modified Fecal Sample Analysis |
Christine J E Haake | 2022 | Brian Murphy | Coronavirus Infections in Companion Animals |
Erin Hisey | 2023 | Stuart Meyers | Gene Editing in Equine Embryos: A Model for Gene Therapy to Reduce Burden of Genetic Diseases |
Amy (Huong) Huynh | 2022 | Kent Pinkerton | Deposition, translocation, localization and microglial activation of inhaled silver silicate in the rodent nose and brain following acute inhalation exposure |
Maya L Iyer | 2022 | Tierra Smiley Evans | Diagnosis and treatment of clinical elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A (EEHV1A) infection in a captive juvenile Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) |
Nadia Javeed | 2023 | Jonathan D. Dear | Disease epidemiology and clinical outcomes of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) infected with Babesia conradae |
Laila M Joseph | 2022 | Christine M Toedebusch | Determination of the effect of microglia-derived olfactomedin-like 3 on mouse brain endothelial cell angiogenesis |
Tiffany Kim | 2022 | Ingrid Balsa | A cohort study of canine patients with migrating plant awn-associated disease: geographical distribution of plant awn species and identity of bacterial isolates |
Davia C Kot | 2022 | Elizabeth Stelow | Effect of human socialization and training on Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots neophilia |
Vivia Liang | 2023 | Joanne Paul-Murphy | Changes in personality assessments as a result of human socialization and training of Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots |
Joie Lin | 2022 | Christina Sigurdson | Mechanisms of Demyelination in Prion Disease |
Sara T. Lo | 2023 | Joshua Stern and Ronald Li | Effects of dual antithrombotic therapy using rivaroxaban and clopidogrel on platelet function and coagulation parameters in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. |
Kurt Miura | 2023 | Stan Marks | Videofluoroscopic and Manometric Assessment of the Effects of Sildenafil on Esophageal Transit and Lower Esophageal Sphincter Tone in Dogs with Congenital and Acquired Megaesophagus |
Marissa Rae Monopoli | 2023 | Dr. David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman & Dr. Amir Kol | Hematologic Reference Intervals in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus): Manual Techniques and Blood Cell Library Development for Future Automation |
Hannah E Neer | 2023 | Anna Denicol | Seasonal impact on bovine embryo production |
Tracy Trang Nguyen | 2022 | Sara Thomasy | OPA1 Mutation and Gender-Dependent Differences in Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Rhesus macques (Macaca mulatta) |
Jordan V Nunes | 2022 | Laurel Gershwin, Gerald Barry | Understanding variation in the Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus population in Ireland and its potential impact on vaccination efficacy |
Eleanor M Pressman | 2023 | Frank Mitloehner | Using alternative greenhouse gas metrics to assess warming effects and dynamics of methane emissions from dairy cattle |
Aryana Razmara | 2023 | Dr. Luke Wittenburg & Dr. Christine Toedebusch | The role of microglia-derived olfactomedin-like 3 in the growth of malignant glioma |
Riley Ellis-Reis | 2022 | Lance Visser | Evaluation of regurgitant fraction in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease |
Eliza Richartz | 2023 | Nicole Baumgarth | Antibody-FcyRIIb interactions and effects on phagocytosis during B burgdorferi infection of mice |
Siobhan Scott Rickert | 2022 | Frank J M Verstraete | The Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of Wild Carnivora (foxes) |
Megan J Rivera | 2023 | Carrie Finno | Effects of Sex and Vitamin E Status on RORa and LXR Expression in Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons of Young Mice |
Maya Schlesinger | 2022 | Patricia Pesavento | Multi-regional phylogenetic characterization of Skunk Amdoparvovirus ** needs remote proposal |
Allison H Shannon | 2023 | Brian Leonard | Modulation of antimicrobial peptide expression as a novel approach to treating infectious keratitis. |
Kassidy Shelly | 2022 | Susan Stover | Fetlock injury prevention in horses |
Brianna Stoyle | 2023 | Dr. Janet Foley (UC Davis Dr. Eranda Rajapaksha (University of Peradeniya) | Vectors and Reservoir Hosts for Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia |
Kristen R Stucker | 2023 | Dr. Heather Knych | Pharmacokinetics, adverse effects, and effect on thermal nociception of codeine following administration of 3 doses to horses |
Anett A Szczepanek | 2023 | Emmanuel Okello | 1. Antimicrobial Drug Use & Resistance Surveillance on California Dairies 2. Antimicrobial Resistance in Calves treated for Bovine Respiratory Disease |
Rebecca F Terrett | 2022 | Dr. Woolard | Canine Glioma: Primary Literature Review and Manuscript Preparation |
Victoria R Tobin | 2023 | Dr. Luke Wittenburg, Dr. Ellen Rothenberg | Modeling developmental progression speed of early T cells |
Alexander R True | 2023 | Monica Aleman | Evaluating the Ototoxicity of Aminoglycosides in Neonatal Foals |
Scarlett L Varney | 2023 | Dr. Danika Bannasch | The Role of Selected Genetic Variants in Canine Morphology |
Ad Yael | 2023 | Dr. Ramsey | The impact of a ketogenic diet on cognitive and motor function in female mice |
Nicole M Yost | 2022 | James Angelastro | Evaluating novel therapeutics for the treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme |
Yafen Zhen | 2023 | Swee Teh | Effects of Copper, Organophosphate, and Pyrethroid Pesticides on the Growth and Survival of Copepods Eurytemora affinis and Pseudodiaptomus forbesi |
Emma T Zhang | 2022 | Karen Shapiro | Spatial modeling of microplastics and zoonotic parasites along coastlines from North America: Implications for human and wildlife health |