12th Annual Symposium for Research, Scholarship and Creativity

LIVONIA, MICH. - On Wednesday, April 22, the Madonna University Center for Research held its 12th Annual Symposium for Research, Scholarship and Creativity.

The Director of Madonna's Center for Research, Dr. Elena Qureshi, welcomed the crowd of students, faculty, and family gathered in the Franciscan Center. She defined the event as a celebration of the intellectual curiosity, innovation, and dedication of Madonna's students, faculty, and staff, and highlighted the event coinciding with Earth Day when she said "the work showcased reflects our collective commitment to making a positive and lasting impact."

In partnership with the Center for Humane Studies, the Madonna Talks presentations began with Assistant Professor of Forensic Science, Dr. James Noelker. He presented research pertaining to the ethical considerations of animal subjects in experimental studies and key findings from his doctoral research related to infectious disease ecology. Graduate student David Payne presented his project on the use of video and artificial intelligence (AI) to identify meaningful canine behavioral cues to help shelters make more informed decisions and improve outcomes for the dogs they serve. The final talk featured Fr. Charles Morris, Dr. Elaine Hockman, and student researcher Sofia Qureshi's research on environmental exposures such as PFAS, and their relationship to race, socioeconomic status, and public health in communities in Michigan.

With over 20 posters presented by undergraduate, graduate, and faculty researchers, the event featured a diverse range of topics. The posters showcased studies on forensic examination, student nurse perspectives on patient autonomy in end-of-life care, and social and environmental issues in relation to social media, dietary habits, and social support systems for college students. Following the presentations, attendees enjoyed refreshments while networking and discussing the research displays with the presenters.

Several students were recognized for their academic achievements and contributions to the Madonna University community during the event:

• The Inspiring Student Award: Jadeland Giesey and Brianna Llewellyn
• The Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Nicole Golder and Evan McDowell
• The Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award: Tristan Janson and Sofia Qureshi

The symposium concluded with the announcement of the research poster award winners:

Undergraduate Category:

• First Place: Tristan Janson (Poster 4)
• Second Place: Peyton Lehman (Poster 6)
• Third Place: Gianni Rosa (Poster 11)

Graduate Category:

• First Place: Evan McDowell (Poster 25)
• Second Place: Nicole Golder (Poster 21)
• Third Place: Sr. Donatha Gerard (Poster 20)

Congratulations to all of the researchers and award winners for their outstanding work and their commitment to furthering research in their respective fields. A huge thank you to the Madonna Center for Research, Center for Humane Studies. and the entire Madonna community for their continued support in making this year's symposium a success! As these students transition from the classroom to their next phase of life, they take with them the creativity, dedication, and learning showcased at the Symposium.

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