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Photos: Research in the Rotunda

Photos: Research in the Rotunda

UWL students share their outstanding research projects.

Posted 2:54 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2022

UWL students presented their research during Research in the Rotunda at the state capitol March 9.

UW-La Crosse students joined dozens of undergraduates from all UW campuses March 9 to display and discuss their research findings at the state capitol.

The UWL student researchers are part of the tradition of the stellar undergraduate research projects done on campus. UWL in April 2022 will receive a national award for providing high-quality research experiences to its undergraduates.

The 2021 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments from the Council on Undergraduate Research recognizes campuses that demonstrate depth and breadth in their undergraduate research initiatives and have evidence of continual innovation.

UWL Undergraduate Research and Creativity Coordinator Scott Cooper says UWL’s strong research program doesn’t happen without quality faculty research and mentorship. Hundreds of faculty and staff have mentored thousands of students over the past several decades. UWL provides these transformational experiences to as many students as possible including first-year students, first-generation, low income, and minority students.





UW System President Tommy Thompson addresses the crowd gathered at the capitol’s rotunda in Madison.


Kassidy Leannais of Franklin, Wisconsin, Sociology Department, discusses her project with State Sen. Brad Pfaff. Her study, “How Political Efficacy Impacts Support for Redistributive Policies,” aims to find the potential correlation between political efficacy and support for government intervention of wealth inequality
Hunter Charles, Spring Valley, Wisconsin, Microbiology Department, provides specifics on his research, “Development of Yeast-coated Beads for the Inactivation of Tulane Virus, a Human Norovirus Surrogate, in Water.” His project aims to evaluate the efficacy of beads coated with yeast using chitosan or zein as the binding agent in inactivating Tulane virus, a surrogate for human norovirus, in water.


Mason Faldet from Waupaca, Wisconsin, Mathematics and Statistics Department, shares his studies on “Thickening the Figure-Eight Knot” with State Rep. Loren Oldenburg. His project uses topology, a field of math often referred to as “rubber sheet geometry,” to study three-dimensional spaces and objects contained within them.
State Rep. Jill Billings poses with Annie Panico, Downers Grove, Illinois, Biology Department. Panico’s research on “The Effects of Nitrate Exposure on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii” addresses whether drinking water that contains excess nitrate leads to cancer.
UWL Undergraduate Researcher Annie Panico discusses her project that addresses drinking water and links to cancer with State Rep. Steve Doyle.
Sara Duffy of Greenville, Wisconsin, Biology Department, stands by her poster on “Examining the Neurobehavioral Toxicity of the Emerging Contaminant Imidacloprid,” which addresses the impact of an insecticide on fish development.
Lauren Brewer, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Archaeology and Anthropology Department, talks with UWL Chancellor Joe Gow. Her project, “Collaborative Archaeological Analysis of Early 20th Century Tourism in Red Cliff, Wisconsin,” investigates the roles of the local Indigenous community in early tourism and its overall impact on the history of Red Cliff, which is of interest to modern tribal members.
Halle Pavelski, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Microbiology Department, poses with her poster on the “Determination of HPIV3 M Protein Regions Involved in Assembly and Release of Virus Particles.” Her project aims to aid in developing antivirals for human parainfluenza virus III (HPIV3) that can cause lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia, croup and bronchiolitis — the leading cause of death in children under five.


The UWL undergraduate researchers with Chancellor Gow and UWL faculty project advisers.
The UWL contingent of undergraduate researchers were located near the North Gallery of the capitol.
From left, incoming UWL Undergraduate Research and Creativity Coordinator Nick Bakken, current coordinator Scott Cooper, UW System President Tommy Thompson and UW System Director of State Relations Kathy Devine.

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