A summer of research, a stage for discovery

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LEWISBURG - From the first spark of curiosity to the final presentation board, several Commonwealth University students spent the summer transforming ideas into scholarship through the Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities Program.

Their work - along with roughly 100 other student researchers - came to life recently at the Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium hosted by Bucknell University, where student researchers from across the region gathered to share projects shaped by months of inquiry, mentorship and hands-on discovery.

"The highlight of this experience has been the process of putting together a research poster," said Julia Holmes, an exercise science major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg who researched the Role of Physical Therapy in Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. "I was excited to present at the SVURS because it was the first time I participated in something of that nature professionally."

The annual symposium gives undergraduate and graduate students from Bucknell, Commonwealth, Susquehanna universities and the Geisinger Health System a professional platform to present their work, exchange ideas with peers and faculty, and gain valuable experience communicating complex topics to a broader audience.

Zachary Whisner, an engineering physics major at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, was among the 17 SVURS Awardees for his work on Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rubidium 87 Atoms for Electrometry in Natural Life and Sciences.

Emma Stafford, a junior biology major at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven focusing on ecology and environmental conservation, was among the 10 presenters who conducted their research through URSCA, which offered her both opportunity and direction. She first learned about the program through an Honors College and knew right away that she wanted to apply.

"I knew that not only would it be a great way to gain research experience but that it could turn into my capstone project as well," said Stafford, whose research explored habitat fragmentation, a subject that connects directly to her academic interests while also revealing how everyday infrastructure can affect ecosystems in ways that are easy to miss.

"We use roads every day, often without even thinking about it. Roadway systems, power lines, gas pipes, all these linear infrastructures are so deeply integrated into society that it is often overlooked."

What drew her most to the project, she added, was not just the topic itself but the larger questions surrounding it.

"The current solutions and future of habitat fragmentation are so intriguing," Stafford said. "I learned a lot about the history behind habitat fragmentation, its consequences, and the innovative solutions scientists have come up with."

At Commonwealth University-Mansfield, biomedical science major Guy Longenberger spent the summer looking at the problem of microplastics through the lens of human health. His project, Microplastics Induced Activation of Macrophages In Vitro, focused on an issue he described as urgent and increasingly relevant.

"I was interested in my topic because it relates to human health and an emerging real-world problem," Longenberger said. "Microplastic contamination is a growing problem, and researchers are asking if it is part of the rise in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other health issues."

Longenberger said the experience was especially meaningful because it connected laboratory science to larger biological questions.

"The highlight of this experience was learning how the mechanisms we were studying at the molecular level cause the immune response we can actually see throughout the whole body," Longenberger said. "The biggest lesson I learned was that it's okay to make mistakes and ask questions. Dr. (Kristen) Long's mentorship and experience helped me learn that not every part goes according to plan and that asking questions is essential to learning and improving as a scientist."

The transition from the lab to clinical care was a natural one for Holmes, whose project was shaped by both professional ambition and personal loss. Her uncle was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and died last December, and seeing his experience firsthand changed the way she viewed the role of physical therapy.

"Seeing him struggle with this disease firsthand led me to understand the importance of physical therapy to improve his quality of life," Holmes said. "My research topic of physical therapy and managing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis centers around my interest in physical therapy and the disease, ALS, itself. I wanted to compile the current research about the rehabilitation strategies into one paper and identify where more research is needed in the future."

Her research helped reinforce why she is pursuing physical therapy in the first place.

"This research connects to my major of exercise science by learning about how movement and exercise influence function and quality of life in individuals with ALS," Holmes said. "It also aligns with my professional interest in physical therapy by strengthening my understanding of evidence-based practice and the role physical therapists play in preserving independence for people with neurological conditions."

For Richard Rouse, a senior biomedical science major at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, the summer took him into the field in search of Eastern Indigo Snakes. His faculty mentor Jennifer Deitloff's work immediately caught his attention because the snakes are federally threatened and still hold many unanswered questions, heightening his interest in wildlife biology and desire for research experience outside of the classroom.

"The highlight of this experience was traveling to Alabama and helping locate and capture Eastern Indigo Snakes in their natural habitat," Rouse said. "Seeing these snakes in the wild and participating in fieldwork was an unforgettable experience that made the research feel very real."

He added the work taught him an essential lesson about the pace and unpredictability of science.

"The biggest lesson I learned was that scientific research requires patience and adaptability," Rouse said. "Fieldwork doesn't always go as planned, but every observation helps us better understand the species."

That experience also strengthened his preparation for the future.

"This experience has given me confidence in conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting scientific information to others," Rouse said. "These are skills that'll be valuable in veterinary school and throughout my career."

Commonwealth University Participants and Projects

• Elijah Borda, anthropology, Bloomsburg, Communicating Cultural Difference in Taiwanese Mandarin: Perceptions of Linguistic Identity Among Native Speakers and Learners in Taiwan, mentored by Susan Dauria
• Emma Colon, chemistry, Lock Haven, Structural Divergence of a Marine Phosphoserine Phosphatase: Oligomeric Comparison with Canonical SerB, mentored by Kyle Root
• Alex Fletcher, fine arts, Bloomsburg, Exploring Sustainability Practices in Art Making, mentored by Meredith Grimsley
• Annabelle Gormont, cellular biology and molecular genomics, Lock Haven, Analysis of the Role Usp5 Plays in Cell Proliferation and Bristle Formation in Drosophila melanogaster Eyes, mentored by Jennifer Bandura
• Julia Holmes, exercise science pre-physical therapy, Bloomsburg, Role of Physical Therapy in Management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, mentored by Luke Haile
• Guy Longenberger, biomedical science, Mansfield, Microplastics Induced Activation of Macrophages In Vitro, mentored by Kristen Long
• Jacob Moser, engineering physics, Mansfield, Progress Toward a Tunable Two-Dimensional Optical Lattice for Ultracold Atoms, mentored by John Huckans
• Alex Pigos, chemistry pre med, Lock Haven, Summer Undergraduate Researcher Project, mentored by Kyle Root
• Richard Rouse, biomedical science, Lock Haven, Color in Eastern Indigo Snakes, mentored by Jennifer Deitloff
• Emma Stafford, biology ecology and environmental conservation, Lock Haven, The Large Impact of One Small Organism: Evaluating the Impact a Single Invasive Species Has on Its Food Web, mentored by Heather Bechtold
• Dorian Valentine, art studio printmaking and English creative writing, Bloomsburg, Depression Printing: A Democratic Curriculum for Accessible Relief Methods, mentored by Chad Andrews Dorian Valentine
• Zachary Whisner, engineering physics, Bloomsburg, Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Rubidium 87 Atoms for Electrometry, mentored by John Huckans

Susquehanna Valley Research Symposium '26

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