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Members of the Class of 2022 presented to classmates, faculty, staff and more during Emmanuel annual Candidates for Distinction in the Field Presentation Day on Thursday, April 28th.

Distinction in the Field of Study is an honor for Emmanuel students. The opportunity to conduct and present a significant research project is only granted to senior students who hold a 3.5 grade point average or higher in their major course of study. It is representative of the candidates' dedication to their field and commitment to academic excellence.

This year's projects spanned a wide range of academic areas, including history, finance, mathematics, political science, biology, neuroscience, education and more.

Candidates for Distinction in the Field:

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE

Kristen Archer, History
�What are we fighting for?' Looking at the Anti-Vietnam War Movement Through Non-Traditional Media�
Advisor: Javier Marion, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History

Megan Canfield, International Studies 
�The Evolution of Women's Voices and Rights in China�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Violetta Ravagnoli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History 

Ryan Doran, Graphic Design
�Digital Fashion and the Augmented Reality Pop-Up Experience�
Advisor: Erich Doubek, M.F.A., Associate Professor of Art

Abigail Farrar, Modern Languages: Spanish
"Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz y Alfonsina Storni: Dos feministas avant la lettre�
Advisor: José Alvarez-Férnandez, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Modern Languages

Natali Gevorgyan, International Studies
�Realist Constructivism: Understanding Russian and Chinese Foreign Policies�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Violetta Ravagnoli, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History

Isabel Goes, International Studies
�Transitioning Away from Female Genital Mutilation: Kenya, Egypt, & Migrant Populations�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Ivy Krull, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology

Matthew Hogan, Political Science
�A Multifaceted Force: How Small-Dollar Donations Affect American Democracy�
Advisors: Adam Silver, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science; Petros Vamvakas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science 

Madeleine Johnson, History
�Lost in Translation: The History of ELL Education in the United States�
Advisor: Javier Marion, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History 

Abigail Lavallee, Communications & Media Studies
�The Picture Project: An Analysis of Performative Masculinity Through Social Media�
Advisors: Kelly McGuire, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English; Caitlin Lawson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of English

Sonia Lizotte, Sociology
�Medical Discrimination against Disabled Adults: Causes and Consequences�
Advisor: Katrin Kriz, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology

Maeve Maloney, History
�An Echo in History: Parallels of the Lives & Leadership of Marie Antoinette and Alexandra�
Advisor: Javier Marion, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History

Alaina Martin, International Studies
�The World Trade Organization: A case study of China and the U.S.�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Florencia Gabriele, Ph.D., Lecturer of Business & Economics

Nicole Mitton, International Studies
�Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic: A Case Study of the U.S. & Russia�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Petros Vamvakas, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science

Vonnie Orellana, Sociology
�Barriers and Pathways to College Graduation for Latinx First-Generation Students: A Literature Review�
Advisor: Ivy Krull, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology

Giselle Pilette, International Studies
�Behind the Negotiating Table: What Role for Diplomacy in Ending the Cold War?�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Adam Silver, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science

Gabrielle Roy, Philosophy
�A Combination Approach to Moral Education through Literature�
Advisor: Ryan Mott, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Melissa Schirmer, International Studies 
�Methods and Strategies of Deradicalization and Countering Violent Extremism�
Advisors: Lenore Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science; Laurie Johnston, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology & Religious Studies

Natalie Silva, Theology & Religious Studies
�Spiritual Care and Scientific Validation: Finding a Balance�
Advisor: Laurie Johnston, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Theology & Religious Studies

Gabrielle Wenc, Modern Languages: Spanish
�Re-writing Modern Language: The Path to Inclusivity�
Advisor: José Alvarez-Férnandez, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Modern Languages

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & HEALTH

Aurelie Barry, Biology
�Creating a Buzz in Epigenetics: Can Drosophila Help to Understand Developmental Polycomb Repressive Pathways in Mammals?�
Advisors: Janel Cabrera, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology; Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

Rylie Bolarinho, Chemistry
�Nanoparticle-aptamer conjugates as biomimetic mineralization templates�
Advisor: Aren Gerdon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Rachel Brosnan, Biology
�The contraceptive function of the Human Contraception Antibody is enhanced due to interaction with cervical mucus and complement proteins�
Advisors: Derek Lau, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology; 51���� University

Katharine Burns, Psychology
�Examining PTSD Symptom Networks and Assessing PTSD Symptom Severity Among Veterans With and Without Mild Traumatic Brain Injury�
Advisor: Linda Lin, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

Thamish Centeio, Biology
�Illuminating how a "FUN" Transcription factor dictates bacterial RNA polymerase activity�
Advisors: Padraig Deighan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology; Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

Terry Chen, Biology
�Neural correlates of nonsymbolic set overlap with symbolic arithmetic: formal knowledge arithmetic in the understanding of the compositionality of numbers�
Advisors: Derek Lau, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology; Harvard University

Kate DelTorchio, Psychology
�A Comparison of Online and In-Person Body Talk with Body Satisfaction�
Advisor: Linda Lin, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

Jennika Fevrier, Biology
�Do I Belong? An analysis of Black students' experiences in the health sciences at 51�����
Advisors: Anupama Seshan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology; Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology

Amanda Gilbert, Chemistry
�DNA aptamers exhibit structure-dependent influence on collagen mineralization�
Advisors: Aren Gerdon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

Katelyn Hunter, Biology
�The �tooth� about molar development: Investigating the role of Cfp1 and molar formation
Advisors: Paul March, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry; 51���� Children's Hospital

Merlin Joyce, Biology
�Target Acquired: Using Engineered Prime Editing Guide RNAs to Enhance the Efficiency of Prime Editing�
Advisors: Derek Lau, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology; Brigham & Women's Hospital; Harvard Medical School

Samantha Kanach, Individualized Major: Environmental Science
�Invasive plant species management and impact on chemical pollution of soil�
Advisor: Aren Gerdon, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

McKenzie Leahy, Neuroscience
�Understanding Social Behavior Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Analysis of S1 Intra-connectivity�
Advisor: Melanie Leussis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

Arina Ovchinnikova, Biology
�Divide and Conquer: high correlation of tuber segmentation to globus pallidus in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex patients with infantile spasms�
Advisors: Derek Lau, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology; 51���� Children's Hospital; Harvard Medical School

Polina Ovchinnikova, Mathematics
�Data Compression using Error-Correcting Codes for LDPC Source Codes�
Advisor: Heather Pierce, M.S., Senior Lecturer of Mathematics

Vincent Pavan, Biology
�END ROUTE: Steering Transcription Termination to Prematurely Exit Gene Expression�
Advisors: Paul March, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry; Jason Kuehner, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology

Amanda Pfautz, Biology
�Licensed to Kill: Evaluating the phenotype of activated NK cells and utilizing CRISPR-mediated genetic modifications to enhance effector cell potency�
Advisors: Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology; Editas Medicine

Isabella Schichter, Biology
�The Four-Letter Building Blocks of Newborn Care: Evaluating diverse parental opinions on implementing whole genome sequencing as a supplement to newborn screening�
Advisors: Natalie Karagodsky, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology; 51���� Children's Hospital

Isabella Schichter, Neuroscience
�Wait, who said I had to be a mind reader in order to date? Understanding Social Cognition and Theory of Mind in Romantic and Social Relationships for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder�
Advisor: Melanie Leussis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

Emma Stevens, Chemistry
�Applications of Artificial Intelligence to Analysis of Single Molecule Biochemical Data�
Advisor: Allen Price, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics

Daniel Sullivan, Biology
�Don't MENtion it: Investigating the Hypothesized Interaction Between the Mitotic Exit Network Activators Tem1 and Lte1 Within S. cerevisiae�
Advisors: Anupama Seshan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology; Derek Lau, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology

Hannah Sullivan, Biostatistics
�Modeling a Mutation in a Yellowstone Elk Population�
Advisor: Christine Sample, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics

Grace Viviano, Psychology
�Comparing Attitudes Towards E-Cigarettes and Combustible Cigarettes�
Advisor: Linda Lin, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Katelyn Fiore, Education: Liberal Studies
�Behavior as Communication: Building Tools for Behavior Management in the Classroom�
Advisor: Miriam Gates, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Math Education

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT

Charles King, Management
�The Effects of the Rapid Advancement of Healthcare Automation�
Advisors: Kelly Basile, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management; John Barrett, Lecturer of Business & Economics

Alaina Martin, Economics
�Building a Better 51����: Economic Policy Recommendations for the Infrastructure Bill�
Advisors: Rebecca Moryl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics; Shuyi Jiang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics

Olivia Parchesky, Economics
�Seeds of Tomorrow: The Reallocation of Foreign Aid to the Agricultural Sector of Sub-Saharan Africa�
Advisors: Rebecca Moryl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics; Florencia Gabriele, Ph.D., Lecturer of Business & Economics

Deanna Ruggiero, Finance
�What caused The Great Recession and the housing bubble in 2007-2008? What were the drivers that increased the value of assets?�
Advisors: Leonard Guida, Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance; Shuyi Jiang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Economics