Towson University Research

Linh Tran is a sophomore economics major and wrote her paper as part of a course with Jason Palmateer. Gynelle Sackie-Mensah is a senior Economics major and her paper was part of an independent project with Seth Gitter. They both presented their work at the Issues in Political Economy sessions at the Eastern Economics Association Meetings in New York City. Linh Tran presented her paper "Factors that affect retirement or pension income in the United States in 2020 and 2005", while Gynelle Sackie-Mensah presented her paper "Lights, Camera, Acceptance?: The Role CHARACTERISTICS of Visual media play in Shaping Transgender acceptance”. Travel funding was provided by the Towson University office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry: https://lnkd.in/gbx6_qCd

Ph.D. student, Stephanie Colón from the Department of Autism Studies is researching the critical experiences of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work with autistic adults, identifying significant challenges related to training, support, and overall well-being. Her personal experiences with autism fuel her passion for advocacy. The goal of her research is to create a more understanding and inclusive society that values and celebrates the unique strengths of autistic individuals.?

Senior Exercise Science major, Thomas Silva, worked with Dr. Rian Landers-Ramos Lander-Ramos through Independent Study and is a 2024 TU Impact Award winner.?Silva used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to non-invasively examine changes in skeletal muscle oxygen consumption following different exercise intensities. Findings from his research may help inform training and recovery strategies for exercise.

Nataly Loza is a senior, majoring in Psychology and Foreign Language with a concentration in Spanish. She is also in the Honors College. Loza is in the Psychology Department Honors Thesis Program completing an undergraduate thesis on the topic of language (bilingualism) and cultural identity. She is interested in learning whether language use, proficiency, and acquisition (age) predict cultural identification among college students bilingual in English and Spanish. Learn more about undergraduate research funding opportunities at TU: https://lnkd.in/eXTm-wHw

The Urban Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory (UEBL) is a research facility at the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics. It supports students, faculty, and classes and is also open to outside users for collaboration. The UEBL was founded in 2005 by faculty from TU’s Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Geosciences departments. The lab studies how chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes affect elements and compounds in urban and suburban environments. Learn more about the UEBL here: https://lnkd.in/euRPj4_j?

Juergen Jung, Ph.D.’s research explores how Medicaid work requirements could shape healthcare and economic outcomes in the U.S., particularly in Southern states. Using advanced simulations, their work analyzes the effects on health costs, insurance coverage, jobs, and overall welfare—offering valuable insights for policymakers. towson.edu/research/?

Saradha Ananthakrishnan, Ph.D.'s work explores the relationship between neural activity and speech perception in older adults experiencing auditory processing deficits due to aging. Findings aim to inform the design of effective auditory rehabilitation programs to improve communication and quality of life for older adults.? www.towson.edu/research/?

MIchelle Snyder, Ph.D.’s research with undergraduate and graduate students investigates the role of bacterial Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing proteins in evading immune responses, focusing on their enzymatic activity that cleaves NAD. The study explores how this enzymatic activity impacts bacterial survival. The results aim to inform novel therapeutic strategies against antimicrobial resistance. towson.edu/research/

Junior and Biology major, Carl Brashears researches tissue regeneration in axolotl salamanders. He is interested in understanding whether regenerative patterns in axolotls can provide meaningful insights into human biomedicine and wound healing. Last summer, Brashears spent several days presenting his research at the annual Microscopy and Microanalysis meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. Learn more about Summer Research Grants for Undergraduate Students:?bit.ly/3XVwPB0

Gilbert Chen, Ph.D.'s study offers an in-depth exploration of how Buddhist monks in Qing China navigated complex gender norms within the context of their daily lives. By focusing on the lived experiences of lower-level clergy in late imperial China, the project seeks to dismantle entrenched stereotypes of the “debauched monk” and provide a more nuanced understanding of monastic identities in historical context. towson.edu/research/