Big East Undergraduate Research Symposium
Providence College is proud to be participating in the fourth Annual Big East Undergraduate Research Symposium on Saturday, March 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Each Big East school was invited to send five research projects. Congratulations to these Providence College students representing PC!
Effect of prefrontal cortical fear engram activation on competing needs: hunger and fear
Olivia Belt ’25, Neuroscience
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ryan Post, Psychology
To properly respond to and survive changing environmental conditions, both humans and animals rely on their ability to prioritize certain motivations. We investigated the competing need states of fear and hunger in mice to understand how the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the role of memory influence decision-making. The mPFC plays a role in memory consolidation as well as driving coherent behaviors directed toward one survival need when multiple needs are in conflict. Using chemogenetic and neural capture techniques, we evaluated the capacity for activity in mPFC memory traces (engrams) to influence mice’s behavior when fear and hunger were in conflict. We selectively expressed an excitatory chemogenetic receptor in mPFC “fear neurons” that responded to the predator odor trimethylamine (TMT). In our predator odor assay, mice were food-deprived and placed in a two-chamber apparatus in which food was secured adjacent to TMT. In counterbalanced trials, mice were injected with either clozapine N-oxide (CNO) to activate the mPFC engram or vehicle as a control. We assessed food consumption, time in the odor zone, and locomotion and found that activating mPFC fear engrams decreased food consumption, shifting the balance of competing motivations in favor of avoidance and away from hunger
The New Right-Wing Populist: The Blonde “Mother of the Nation”
Christina Charie ’25, Political Science, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Economics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Casey Stevens, Political Science
How do far-right populist women rise to positions of influence within patriarchal political parties? Populist politicians create a particular public persona that becomes tied to their political positions. This study seeks to understand the presentation styles employed across Europe and their impact on political outcomes. This study will examine how hairstyle, makeup, and fashion choices impact female candidate success. Answering this question is imperative for academic debates regarding how female candidates present themselves to the public. In addition, it is a crucial part of understanding the appeal of new populist right-wing leaders in Europe, many of whom are women. This paper will conduct a visual analysis of populist women politicians in Europe to identify key patterns of appearance, with a focus on hair and makeup. It will then use archival research to identify historical trends in feminist and right-wing presentation styles, concluding with a case study of Giorgia Meloni and historical Italian women’s movements. The results of this research will contribute to understanding the appeal of female candidates within an ideology that historically discourages their participation in politics. This study will illuminate the ways that gender, appearance, and populist politics interact to appeal to voters across multiple European nations.
mTORC1 inhibition reduces microglia proliferation and enhance neuropathology in the cerebellum of NPC1 deficient mice during postnatal development
Caroline Murray ’25, Neuroscience
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ileana Soto, Biology
Microglial cells are the resident immune cells of the brain that perform a variety of functions including regulating brain development, injury repair, and the clearance of biological threats like invading pathogens and dead cells. In disease, microglial cells mediate neuroinflammatory responses that not only aggravate disease progression, but also promote the degeneration and death of sick neurons. Ample evidence has shown a significant role of microglia in the progression of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease that causes childhood dementia and early death. Since NPC affects primarily children at early stages of development, our laboratory has been using a NPC mouse model to understand how the mutated NPC1 gene, which causes NPC, affects the development and function of microglia. In this project, we have been investigating the molecular mechanism by which NPC1 deficiency alters early microglia postnatal development and function. We hypothesized that lack of NPC1 in cerebellar microglia disrupts their metabolic balance, postnatal development, and maturity through the hyperactivation of the mTORC1 pathway, which has been associated with the microglia found in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and is a major regulator of metabolism and production of energy.
Ancient Greek Vase Scenes and its Representation of Racism within Ancient Greek Society
Angie Pierre ’25, Global Studies and History
Faculty mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Palazzolo, History & Classics
Can the term ‘race’ be used in the context of antiquity? Scholars such as Frank M. Snowden Jr. believe modern notions of race should not be applied in the studies of Classics. However, race was an important feature within Ancient Greek society, as it was used as a distinction between those who were Greek and non-Greek. Within Ancient Greek literature and art, Black people were depicted often. For instance, in Homer’s epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey, Ethiopians are praised for their piety. Nonetheless, the characterization of mythological figures from Africa or descended from Africans frequently aligns with the Greek somatic norm. My research aims to illuminate how the conflicting depictions of race in figures such as the Danaids, Princess Andromeda, and Heracles can demonstrate a complex racialized categorization in Ancient Greece. This presentation focuses on opposing portrayals of Heracles in vase scenes and the underlying themes used within it to demonstrate the developing racism within Greek society.
Effect of decreased snowpack on a rare frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus) host plant
Christopher Walsh ’25, Environmental Biology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology
In response to climate change, Earth’s increased global temperature has caused less snowfall and earlier snowmelt in spring. These shifts can alter organism phenology, harming species reliant on temperature-sensitive plants. The frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus) is a species of concern in 14 states. This host plant specialist only lays eggs on small yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). If neither plant develops by the time butterflies are laying eggs, the population could collapse. To simulate the impact of climate change, five 3m x 3m plots of three treatments (shoveled, trampled, and untouched) were established at Gavins Pond (GP) in Foxborough, MA. Wild yellow indigo growing within the plots was measured biweekly and standard butterfly observation surveys were conducted weekly during the frosted elfin’s flight season. Over three years, we discovered that wild indigo plants developed quicker in the untouched treatments. We found that since 2001, the frosted elfin population at GP has declined significantly and is now likely extinct. We predict that the nutritional content of the wild yellow indigo will vary per treatment. These results highlight the importance of snowpack in plant development and inform conservation efforts for the frosted elfin and similar species.
