For release: February 2, 2011
For press information, contact Gabrielle Maxey, 901/678-2843

Six University of Memphis honors students will present their research projects during the “Posters at the Capitol” event Feb. 9 in Nashville. Fifty-nine undergraduate students from nine universities will participate in the annual event, which takes place in the lobby of the state Capitol building. Legislators will be encouraged to meet students from their districts and see first-hand the high caliber of research being conducted by undergraduate from across the state. The U of M students and their projects and faculty mentors are:

Natasha Brooks, senior criminal justice major from Bartlett, “Analysis of the Theories that S.H.A.P.E. Deviant Behavior of a Minority

Juvenile;” faculty mentor Dr. Wayne Pitts;

Porshia Gibbs, senior biology major from Stanton, Tenn., “Brown versus Blonde Fur Mate Preference in Male and Female Meadow Voles;” faculty mentor Dr. Michael Ferkin;

Jasmine Jackson, senior economics major from Memphis, “Core Determinants of the Excessive Rx Use and Spending in the State of Tennessee: A County Level Investigation;” faculty mentor Dr. Albert Okunade;

Ryan Manning, senior biomedical engineering major from Bartlett, “Use of Organic Acid Solvents for Chitosan Microsphere Based Scaffolds;” faculty mentor Dr. Joel Bumgardner;

Kevin Newton, junior psychology major from Memphis, “Does Sex or Medium Affect Accuracy of Prosocial Self-Report?” faculty mentor Dr. Jeffrey Berman; and

Omar Tamula, senior physics major from Shelbyville, Tenn., “Aerogel-based Nerve Repair: A Feasibility Study;” faculty mentor Dr. Firouzeh Sabri.