Interdisciplinary Research Think Tank

Think Tank mini-grants support both theoretical and applied faculty-student research projects in all fields. Such projects seek to enhance local, national, and global well-being while exploring diverse research agendas.

Natural Sciences

D’Amore, Domenic, PhD

Poster presented at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 82nd Annual Meeting, Nov 2–5, 2022, Toronto, ON (Canada):

  • Rachel Adolf: A High Frequency of Fossil Tooth Marks from the Cedar Mountain Formation of Utah

Sirianni, Dominic, PhD

Posters were presented at the annual MERCURY Conference for undergraduate computational chemistry, Jul 19–21, 2023. Furman University, Greenville, SC:

  • Jillian Baltzley: Screening Modified Reactants of the Bergman Cyclization for Potential Anti-Tumor Activity (presented: “Screening Enediyne Derivatives for Bergman Cyclization Based on the ‘Critical Range’”)
  • Aleksandr Selyuzhitskiy: The Influence of Implicit Solvent Environment on the Interaction Energy Between Two Molecules (presented: “Effect of Implicit Solvation on Solute-Solute Interaction Strengths”)
  • Carlos Vargas III: Investigating the Manipulation of Aluminum-Containing Molecules to Facilitate Artificial Photosynthesis (presented: “Tuning the Optical Band Gap in Al-Doped Porphyrin Complexes for Artificial Photosynthesis via Axial Donor-Acceptor Functionalization”)

Visual & Performing Arts (Graphic Design, Leadership & Entrepreneurship in the Arts)

Kegler, Kevin, MAH & Herman, Noah, BFA
  • Gina Fumerelle, Sara Malay, Maria Sciortino, & Chloe Silvashy: Research and Analysis of Current Trends in the Profession of Graphic Design

Conference Presentations

Physical Therapy

17th Annual Physical Therapy Education Leadership Conference, Oct 28–30, 2022, Milwaukee, WI:

Faculty advisor Greg Ford

  • Kayla Conaway, Sara Drake, Jala Gilliam, & Christopher Miranda: “Academic Predictors for First-Time Success on the NPTE: Pursuit of Excellence in Student Outcomes.” Poster. 
Network in Aging of WNY 42nd Annual Meeting & Conference, Nov 3, 2022, North Tonawanda, NY:

Faculty advisor Michael Seils

  • Benjamin Lepkowski, Spencer Cushman, Joseph Losapio, & Thao Nguyen: “The Effects of COVID-19 on Interprofessional Collaboration between Physical Therapists and Registered Nurses in Home Health Care.” Recorded video presentation. Awarded first-place research award in the Graduate Student Research Poster Session.

Faculty Advisor Michael Ross

  • Skylar Kennedy, Christopher Labonte, Matthew McGuire, & Mackenzie Tubbs: “Yellow Flag Beliefs of Physical Therapists Treating Patients with Low Back Pain.” Virtual poster. 
ACSM Annual Meeting, World Congress on Exercise is Medicine®, and World Congress on the Basic Science of Physical Activity and Aging Biology, May 30–Jun 2, 2023, Denver, CO:

Faculty advisor Jennifer Scheid

  • Sabrina Basile, Mason Loar, Niko Ryan, & Matthew Taylor: “Psychosocial Insights: Association of the Male and Female Athlete Triad with Anxiety in Collegiate Athletes.” Poster was chosen as Top Clinical Abstract and was a Featured Poster Presentation at the ACSM Clinician Reception.
  • Grace Caltagirone, Philip Ilievski, Kaylyn Vaillancourt, & Richard Vasquez: “The Effects of Wearable Technology on Health Behaviors.” Poster.