Undergraduate Publications and Creative Projects
Publications
Click here for a list of academic journals, organized by discipline, that are either designed specifically for showcasing undergraduate research or accept submissions from undergraduates. Each journal has its own manuscript submission and evaluation process, so be sure to follow the journal's specific process to ensure that your manuscript gets full consideration.
Are you an undergraduate and have a publication you would like to submit?
Click below to share your accomplishment with us.
Publication Submission Form
Author(s) Title of Publication Journal/Periodical Year DOI Isabella Barnett, B.S.; Frank C. Bailey, Ph.D.; Mengliang Zhang, Ph.D Detection and Classification of Ignitable Liquid Residues in the Presence of Matrix Interferences by Using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry Journal of Forensic Sciences 2019 10.1111/1556-4029.14029 J. P. Gulizia; K. M. Downs; S. Cui Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) age variability effects on total and nutrient-specific in situ rumen degradation Journal of Applied Animal Research 2019 10.1080/09712119.2019.1652615 Jared Frazier; Virginia Benefield; Mengliang Zhang Practical investigation of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry for fast screening of explosives Forensic Chemistry 2020 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100233 Jian Liang; Jared Frazier; Virginia Benefield; Ngee Sing Chong; Mengliang Zhang Forensic Fiber Analysis by Thermal Desorption/Pyrolysis-Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry Analytical Chemistry 2019 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04167 Omar Aly; Yangseung Jeong; Ashlin P. Harris; Yochun Jung Bayes factor: A useful tool to quantitatively evaluate and compare performance of multiple stature estimation equations Forensic Science International 2020 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110299 Wen Dong; Jian Liang; Isabella Barnett; Paul C. Kline; Elliot Altman; Mengliang Zhang The classification of Cannabis hemp cultivars by thermal desorption direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (TD-DART-MS) with chemometrics Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2019 10.1007/s00216-019-02200-7 Avraz Anwar; Holli Kerns; Taylor Orr; Jonathan Byrd; Zackary Fitzsimonds; Norma Dunlap Stereoselective cyclopropanations of amino-acid derived enones Tetrahedron Letters 2020 10.1016/j.tetlet.2020.152552 Nibraas Khan; Philips Joshua Combined Model for Partially-Observable and Non-Observable Task Switching: Solving Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning Problems Statically and Dynamically with Transfer Learning Cornell University 2020 Working Paper B Stickle; Melody Hicks; Amy Stickle; Zachary Hutchinson Porch pirates: examining unattended package theft through crime script analysis Criminal Justice Studies 2020 https://doi.org/10.1080/1478601X.2019.1709780 Jared Frazier; Mengliang Zhang; Virginia Benefield; Pei Chen; Jianghao Sun; Jian Liang Chemical analysis and classification of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) based on their country of origin using mass spectrometric methods and chemometrics Food Research International 2021 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109877 Brendan A. Mitchell-Fostyk; Samuel I. Haruna Spatial and fractal characterization of soil hydraulic properties along a catena Soil Science Society of America Journal 2021 10.1002/saj2.20286 Brendan Mitchell-Fostyk; Samuel Haruna, Ph.D.; Kevin Downs, Ph.D. Variability of soil thermal properties along a catena in Middle Tennessee, USA International Agrophysics 2021 10.31545/intagr/140079 Dara Zwemer Exploring the Link Between Violent Crime Workload and Officer-Involved Shootings of Unarmed Individuals Scientia et Humanitas 2021 N/A Ryan Tilluck; Nila T.M.; Caitlin Hetherington; Chase Leslie; Sourav Sil; Jared Frazier; Mengliang Zhang; Benjamin Levine; P. Gregory Van Patten; Warren Beck Vibronic Excitons and Conical Intersections in Semiconductor Quantum Dots The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2021 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02630 Steven Rhodes; Warner Cribb; Valentin Taufour; Dwight Patterson; Dereje Seifu; Saeed Kamali; Suman Neupane Iron encapsulated carbon nanotube composites embedded in alumina with enhanced magnetic properties Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2021.110455 Jared Frazier; Kevin Cavey; Sydney Coil; Helene Hamo; Mengliang Zhang; P. Gregory Van Patten Rapid and Sensitive Identification and Discrimination of Bound/Unbound Ligands on Colloidal Nanocrystals via Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry Langmuir 2021 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02548 Kylie Moe; A.S. Romer; J. West; D.M. Walker Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake) shedding The Tennessee Journal of Herpetology 2021 N/A Benjimen Neal Beethoven’s Orchestral Music: An Owner’s Manual Music Reference Services Quarterly 2021 https://doi.org/10.1080/10588167.2021.2018758 Liming Cai; Lanjing Bao; Logan Rose; Jeffery Summers; Wandi Ding Malaria modeling and optimal control using sterile insect technique and insecticide-treated net Applicable Analysis 2021 10.1080/00036811.2021.1999419 Sammi Hamdan; Kyle DuBray; Jordan Treutel; Rajendra Paudyal; Khem Poudel Reducing MEG interference using machine learning Science Direct 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mlwa.2023.100462 Kylie Moe; Jack Maxwell; Jing Wang; Cheyenne Jones; Grace Csaki; Andrea Florian; Alexander Romer; Daniel Bryant; Anthony Farone; Qi Liu; William Tansey; April Weissmiller The SWI/SNF ATPase BRG1 facilitates multiple pro-tumorigenic gene expression programs in SMARCB1-deficient cancer cells Oncogensis 2022 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41389-022-00406-6 Cheyenne Jones; William Tansey; April Weissmiller Emerging Themes in Mechanisms of Tumorigenesis by SWI/SNF Subunit Mutation National Library of Medicine 2022 10.1177/25168657221115656
Creative Activity and Projects
Videos, Media, and News Releases
Title: (dis)Connected: A Series of Interviews on Society and Spiritualty in Modern World
Description: The podcast, (dis)Connected: A Series of Interviews on Society and Spiritualty in Modern World, brings together concepts of psychology and religious studies by exploring the factors
that influence how people form relationships with one another and if those factors
diverge when people form relationships with religious practices and invisible supernatural
agents. URECA student, Jessika Riley, highlights these findings through a series of
interviews that are beautifully executed and incredibly interesting.
Team Member: Jessika Riley
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rebekka King
Title: Visual Expressions of Sound Recordings: Creating Cover Art For and With Student Songwriters
Description: The objective of this project is to create an expressive body of visual artwork to
accompany and represent published sound recordings from MTSU student songwriters.
The subject material of each art piece was determined through a collaborative process
through which songwriters were guided. Felix's intention was to depict their musical
composition through visual imagery in the form of a collage art piece that can be
used as cover art to accompany the publication of their song. The artist, Felix Taylor,
created 8-12 pieces, one for each songwriter, all uniquely based on our shared discussion
of the song's inspiration, meaning, lyrical content, aesthetics, and creative vision.
Everyone involved was granted the opportunity to practice real-world industry skills
while strengthening our student community and promoting their craft.
Student: Aubrianna "Felix" Taylor
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Erin Anfinson
Title: Classical Guitar Audio/Video Recording of Roland Dyens "Trios Saudades"
Description: The purpose of this project will be to produce a professional quality audio visual
recording of Roland Dyen’s, Trios Saudades. The reasoning behind recording this specific
set of
pieces is due to their relative obscurity. Although the third Saudade in this set
is a very well
recognized and recorded piece, the first two within the set are quite obscure and
seldom
recorded. With a properly published quality recording, this would serve to document
these
notable pieces and serve as a reference for future researchers or performers interested
in the
music of Roland Dyens. The goal is for these to be published to a widely accessible
medium, in
this case Youtube.
Student: Ryan Schmidt
Faculty Mentor: Dr. William Yelverton
Title: Story Bandits
Description: This creative project takes the early writing offerings of children and gives them
life by using them to create a script and lyrics in a musical production based on
resilience. URECA student, Cassidy Woodall, hopes that by allowing children to see
the power of their words and the words of others on stage, their confidence will increase,
and they have something of value to contribute in their thoughts, ideas, concepts,
and written words. The outcome of this creative project will be a musical play script
using children’s own words and focused on resilience. These words will be taken directly
from the stories the children submitted with no alterations. Stories are chosen purely
based on content, not mechanics. The project has added the element of producing videos
and creating a Youtube channel for delivery. Show or show pieces may be performed
live in social distanced venues, however, the team is excited to create something
that is ongoing with the Youtube channel.
Student: Cassidy Woodall
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jette Halladay
Title: Speak Now!: A Look at Diversity at MTSU
Description: The creative project, Speak Now!: A Look at Diversity at MTSU, was greatly inspired by the author's own diverse experiences,
the Me Too movement, coming-out stories, and the fight for equality. The goal of this project is to celebrate diversity at MTSU, inspire people to take
action, and push the movement of diversity at MTSU forward. The first issue of the
magazine, Speak Now!, features articles, interviews, and visuals highlighting the several areas of diversity
among students and professors at MTSU. In future publications, this magazine aims
to remain true to its title and consistently embody the notion of speaking out, being
honest and brave, going bare, and telling the truth. Click HERE to view Speak Now!
Student: Beatriz Marie R. Dedicatoria
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Poushali Bhadury
Title: Walking in Sunlight: The Life and Legacy of Uncle Dave Macon
Description: This project creates a theatrical drama that teaches children major historical events,
while also teaching multiple life lessons through the life of Uncle Dave Macon, the
Dixie Dewdrop. Austin is excited to be part of a production that shares a piece of
Rutherford County's contribution to the rise of country music with school age audiences
across the globe.
Student: Austin Derryberry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jette Halladay
News Release: MTSU’s Center for Popular Music captures ‘uncanny’ old-time fiddling pair on new CD
Title: Embodied Exploration
Description: Under the practiced eye of faculty member, Dr. Meg Brooker, three MTSU students
seized a once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity in Russia. The student dancers had to demonstrate their skill in order to earn their invitation
by the Peoples’ Friendship University in Moscow to perform at the school’s Isadora
Duncan festival. MTSU was the only American school invited to perform. Both universities
share the common interests of the cultural exchange and historic preservation of dance,
two vital areas of study in the dance community.
Team Members: Savannah Cook, Natasja Hall, and Megan Manning
Faculty Mentor: Margaret (Meg) Brooker
News Release: MTSU dancers bring Isadora Duncan’s method to life in Moscow
Title: MTSU Augmented Reality Campus Tour
Description: Students created an interactive virtual reality tour of the MTSU campus for prospective
students, their parents or other campus visitors. Viewers are able to "travel" around
campus and learn about the different majors and activities in virtual reality using
text, graphics, and video of deans, instructors and students from those areas.
Team Members: Sebastian Bishop, Katherine Carter, Alvin Evans, and Keneshia Smith.
Faculty Mentor: Todd O'Neill
Research Videos
Description: With the help of Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) grants,
Biology Professor, Dr. Mary Farone, has lead groups of undergraduate student researchers
on a variety of projects over the years at MTSU. These research projects are just
a few of the many opportunities undergraduate students have at MTSU to engage high-level
research in their field of study with the help of faculty mentors.
Title: Middle School Students' Reasoning with Technological Mathematical Tasks
Description: This research helps us to better understand the way students learn a key part of the
middle school math curriculum, rate of change and functions. The team worked to examined
video and written artifacts of middle school students working on a technological mathematical
tasks to construct themes about the reasoning middle school students are using and
what knowledge they are developing through engagement with the tasks.
Team Members: Hannah Belcher, Emma Bowmer, Ciera Dobbins, Gracy Lanier, and Magen Williams
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Lovett
Title: Dyslexia Center
Description: These studies aim to identify relative differences in the integrity of these neural
networks across different patient populations, such as individuals with dyslexia,
and to characterize how these networks relate to different cognitive abilities. Electroencephalography
(EEG) is a neuroimaging technique that can be used to examine restingstate data to
identify neural networks.
Team Members: Robyn Sessler and Kaitlyn Berry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Farris and Dr. Tim Odegard
