For release: January 11, 2012
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey, 901/678-2843

Seven undergraduate students from the University of Memphis will present their research projects during the annual “Posters at the Capitol” event Feb. 8 in Nashville.

Fifty-nine students from nine universities will present their research via posters in the lobby of the state Capitol. Legislators will be encouraged to meet students from their districts and see first-hand the outstanding research being conducted by undergraduates from across the state.

The U of M students and their presentations and faculty mentors are:

Jonathan Bennett, senior political science major from Collierville, “Modernization and Sovereign Debt Crises: The Case of Greece,” Dr. Matthias Kaelberer;

C.J. Hatch, senior physics major from Hampshire, Tenn., “Investigation and Comparison of the Surface Properties of PDMS and Aerogels,” Dr. Firouzeh Sabri;

Caroline Melton, senior psychology major from Memphis, “The Color of Emotion,” Dr. Max Louwerse;

Kevin Newton, senior psychology major from Memphis, “Talking About a Traumatic Event: Does Someone Need to Be Listening?”, Dr. Jeffrey Berman;

Melanie Sparks, senior chemistry major from Collierville, “Comparisons of Multiple Expression Systems for the Study of Sphingosine Kinase-1,” Dr. Daniel Baker;

Omar Tamula, senior physics major from Shelbyville, Tenn., “Aerogel-based Peripheral Nerve Repair Study: A Summary of In Vivo Data,” Dr. Firouzeh Sabri; and

Aaron Turner, senior English/interdisciplinary studies major from Cordova, “21st Century Battle of Blair Mountain: Analysis of an Advocacy Campaign,” Dr. Ladrica Menson-Furr.

The U of M’s Helen Hardin Honors Program provides support for students to present their research, creative works, and community-based learning projects at regional and national conferences.  For more information concerning “Posters at the Capitol” or the Helen Hardin Honors Program, call 901-678-2690.