• Join or Renew
  • Give
  • Login
Menu
  • About
    • History
      • Nobel Laureates
      • 125th Anniversary of Sigma Xi
        • Members Talking to Members
      • Sigma Xi Center
    • Value of Membership
    • Connect with Sigma Xi
    • Support Sigma Xi
    • Leadership
      • Current & Past Presidents
      • Board of Directors
      • Regional Directors
      • Constituency Directors
      • Committees
      • Officers
        • Officer Duties
      • Elections
    • Organization
      • Constitution
      • Bylaws
      • Mission
      • Pledge
      • Code of Ethical Conduct
      • Political Advocacy Policy
      • Copyright Information
      • Privacy Policy
      • Refund Policy
      • Terms and Conditions
      • State Fundraising Notices
    • Jobs
    • Sigma Xi Merchandise
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Annual Report
    • Strategic Plan
    • Public Statements
    • Elections
      • 2024 Election Results
      • 2025 Elections — Call for Nominations
  • News
    • Special Feature: Women In STEM 2023
    • Sigma Xi Today
    • Keyed In Blog
      • About
      • Search Results
      • Join Sigma Xi
        • American Scientist's Blogs
      • Blog Policy
      • Communities
    • News Archive
    • Newsletters
    • In Memoriam
  • Chapters
    • Locate a Chapter
    • Chapter Awards
    • Chapter Program Models
    • Officer Resource Center
    • Start a Chapter
    • Reactivate an Existing Chapter
    • Chapter Grants
  • Meetings & Events
    • International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE)
    • Student Research Showcase
    • Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellowship
    • Science Policy Bootcamp
    • Sigma Xience
    • Distinguished Lecturer Adobe Connect Sessions
    • Volunteer
    • Calendar
    • Past Events
      • Past Annual Meetings
        • 2021
          • Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
            • Student Research Conference
            • Business Meeting
            • Agenda
            • Speakers
            • Conference Tracks
            • Registration Rates
            • STEM Art and Film Festival
            • College and Graduate School Fair
            • Program Committee
            • Become a Sponsor
          • Student Research Showcase
            • 2021 Presentations
            • Competition Timeline
            • Awards
            • Student Resources
            • Information for Judges
            • Abstract Tips
        • 2020
          • Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
            • Agenda
            • Business Meeting
            • Symposia Tracks
            • Student Research Conference
            • College and Graduate School Fair
            • STEM Art and Film Festival
              • Schedule
          • Student Research Showcase
            • Competition Timeline
            • Abstract Tips
            • Awards
            • Student Resources
            • Information for Judges
            • 2019 Presentations
            • 2020 Presentations
          • Virtual Student Scholars Symposium
        • 2016
          • Student Research Showcase
            • Showcase Registration
            • Google Hangouts
              • Tips for the 2016 Student Research Showcase
            • Resources
          • Networking & Social Events
        • 2018
          • Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
            • Big Data Symposia
            • Business Meeting
            • Student Research Conference
          • Student Research Showcase
            • Showcase Registration
            • Information for Participating Students
            • Information for Judges
        • 2017
          • Student Research Showcase
          • See the Total Solar Eclipse with Sigma Xi
          • Assembly of Delegates
          • Symposium on Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate, and Health
          • Student Research Conference
        • 2019
          • Student Research Showcase
            • Information for Participating Students
          • Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
            • Left Nav Links
              • Preliminary Schedule
              • Speakers
              • Student Research Conference
              • Symposia
              • Business Meeting
              • Registration Rates
              • Travel and Hotel
              • Professional Headshots
              • Things to Do
              • Become a Sponsor
              • Promotional Material
              • STEM Art and Film Festival
              • Program Committee
              • Communication Coaching Program
            • Preliminary Schedule
            • Student Research Conference
            • Symposia
            • Business Meeting
            • Policy on Respect
            • Promotional Material
            • STEM Art and Film Festival
              • Schedule
            • Professional Poster Session
            • Welcome Letter from the Executive Director and CEO
  • Membership
    • Becoming a Member
    • Renew
    • Benefits
      • Federal Grant Opportunities
    • Member-Get-A-Member
    • Affiliate Circle
    • Sigma Xi Explorers
    • NPA Joint Membership
    • Sigma Xi Fellows
      • 2020 Fellows
      • 2021 Fellows
      • 2022 Fellows
      • 2023 Fellows
      • 2024 Fellows
  • Programs
    • Ethics and Research
      • Ethics Publications
      • Ethics Events & Programs
      • Resources
      • John F. Ahearne
      • Webinars
    • Grants in Aid of Research
      • Application and Resources
      • Grant Recipients
      • History
      • Special Named Funds
      • Faces of GIAR
      • GIAR Generations: Paying it Forward
      • 100 Years of GIAR
    • Student Research Showcase
    • Critical Issues in Science
      • Energy
      • Ethics
      • Food Safety
      • Human Rights
      • Water
      • UN-Sigma Xi Climate Change Report
      • Evolution Resources
      • Postdoc Survey
      • Diversity
      • Quarterly Conversations
      • Statement on Climate Change
      • Mental Health and Well-Being of Researchers
    • Distinguished Lectureships
      • 2025-2026 Lecturers
      • Past Lecturers
        • 2024-2025 Lecturers
        • 2023-2024 Lecturers
        • 2022-2023 Lecturers
        • 2021-2022 Lecturers
        • 2020-2021 Lecturers
        • 2019-2020 Lecturers
        • 2018-2019 Lecturers
        • 2017-2018 Lecturers
        • 2016-2017 Lecturers
        • 2015-2016 Lecturers
        • 2014-2015 Lecturers
      • Pariser Global Lectureship for Innovation in Physical Sciences
      • Becoming a Lecturer
      • Lectureship Sponsors
      • Chapter Subsidy
      • Hosting a Lecturer
      • Lectureship Visit Report
      • Previously Recorded Q&A Sessions
      • Special Series on COVID-19
    • Prizes and Awards
      • Gold Key
      • Linda Mantel Award
      • William Procter
      • John McGovern
      • Walston Chubb
      • Young Investigator
      • Ferguson Award
      • Honorary Membership
      • Bugliarello Prize
      • Monie Ferst
      • Criteria for Curricula Vitae
      • Submit Award Nominations
      • Kushner Award
      • Wyatt Award
      • Passer Award
    • Research Partnerships
    • STEM Partnerships
      • American Junior Academy of Sciences
      • Conrad Foundation
      • Regeneron ISEF
      • USA Science & Engineering Festival
    • Research Communications Initiative
    • Science Communication
    • Science Cafes
    • Globally Engaged Workforce
      • Globally Engaged Workforce Links
    • SciCommMake
      • #SciCommMake 2022
      • #SciCommMake 2021
      • #SciCommMake: COVID-19
      • #SciCommMake 2020
      • #SciCommMake FAQ
    • American Scientist for High Schools
  • Publications
    • American Scientist
  • Communities


  • Student Research Showcase Home
  • Cell Biology and Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Math and Computer Science
  • Microbiology and Molecular Biology
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Physiology and Immunology

STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2020 PRESENTATIONS

 

Agriculture, Soil, and Natural Resources


Computational Modeling of Bioactivity in Botanical Kombucha Analogues: How to Survive the Post-antibiotic Era Using Fick’s Second Law of Diffusion
Onyekachi Agwu, Bronx High School of Science

This project used Kombucha in conjunction with natural medicinal herbs to test their bioactivity against various pathogens. The goal of this project was to begin research into natural antibiotics due to the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens.  Although we may not have a strong natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs as of today, this project will contribute to the beginning of an affordable, accessible, and safer herbal antibiotic that can withstand the evolution of pathogens.

 

Using the Coagulation Properties of Moringa oleifera to Develop a Simple Method of Water Purification
Hope Alex, American Heritage School Boca Delray

This project is a continuation of a project conducted within the last year. In this phase of the project, a novel method of water purification via a mechanical method was compared against four different methods of water purification (which were previously tested in the first phase), which included two implementing Moringa oleifera  and two traditional purification methods. All of the methods were then tested against a control in order to determine whether the methods implementing Moringa oleifera  would result in the cleanest, most sediment-free water sample.

 

Chromatography: The Key to Quantifying Herbicide Dissipation
Kayla Eason, University of Georgia 

When planting permanent crops, such as pecans, growers can know exactly how long various herbicides remain in the soil and use this information when making crucial replanting decisions. In multiple herbicide application scenarios and various cropping systems, chromatography is the key to understanding herbicide persistence and dissipation.

Biocontrol of post-harvest fungal infection of Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia) by locally isolated bacterial antagonists
Yaroslav Grynyshyn, St. John Fisher College 

Development of methodologies to test effectiveness of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pantoea vagans in controlling Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea infection of Pyrus pyrifolia as a means of assessing biocontrol efficacy in vivo.

 

Purify our Waters: Al-modified Biochars for Nitrate Adsorption
Anisha Parsan, Clements High School

Fertilizer use often results in leaching of nitrates into groundwater systems, causing negative environmental effects. The creation of Al-modified biochars, or charred carbon particles, offers a potential solution to capture excess nitrate in solution. Modified biochars are a cost-effective alternative to current methods of nitrate removal, and a potential soil additive for improved nutrient retention.

The Effect of Bovine Blood on the Growth of Legume Plants
Lindsey Spain, American Heritage School Boca Delray

My presentation is currently a Work in Progress, which as I understand, is fine as the final submission date is April 27th. As for my project, it is an experiment to see how Bovine Blood may affect the growth of Legume plants, specifically the Black Bean, Lentil, and Pea plants.

  • About

    • Support Sigma Xi
    • Organization
    • Leadership
    • History
    • Sigma Xi Merchandise
    • Jobs
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
  • Programs

    • Ethics and Research
    • Grants-in-Aid
    • Critical Issues in Science
    • Lectureships
    • Prizes & Awards
    • Partnerships
    • Science Cafes
    • Globally Engaged Workforce
    • Affiliate Circle
  • Chapters

    • Locate a Chapter
    • Chapter Awards
    • Chapter Program Models
    • Officer Resource Center
  • Meetings & Events

    • International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE)
    • Student Research Showcase
    • Past Events
    • Volunteer
  • Members

    • Join / Nominate
    • Renew
    • Benefits
    • MembersOnly
  • News

    • Sigma Xi Today
    • Keyed In Blog
    • News Archive
    • Meet Your Fellow Companions
    • Newsletters
    • Members in the News

    Publications

    • American Scientist
    • Chronicle of The New Researcher
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

For USPS mailings: P.O. Box 13975, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
For packages & in-person visits: 700 Park Offices Drive, Suite 160, Research Triangle Park, NC 27713

  • Phone: 800-243-6534 or 919-549-4691
  • Fax: 919-549-0090
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • State Fundraising Notices
  • Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved.