CASE 2021 Symposium
The Creative and Scholarly Endeavors (CASE) program is a competitive, unique opportunity for current Elmhurst University students to engage in scholarly or creative projects with the close guidance of faculty mentors.
CASE programming culminates in the CASE Symposium, where students present their projects.
All CASE participants submit an abstract describing their respective projects to Investigations, the University’s undergraduate journal for student research, and provide a product to Constellations, which the University’s institutional repository.
There are two levels for CASE participants:
- The CASE Summer Fellows level is for rising juniors and seniors. As part of a competitive application process, CASE Fellows articulate a research question, identify a research methodology, and partner with a faculty mentor. During the eight-week CASE programming, then, with the mentorship of a faculty mentor, CASE Fellows conduct research, analyze and interpret data, and strategize about sharing their research with Elmhurst University and the community-at-large.
- The CASE First-Year Scholars level is for rising sophomores. As part of a competitive application process, CASE First-Year Scholars explain their research interests, reflect on their educational goals and progress, and describe how participating in CASE helps accomplish their educational and career aspirations. CASE First-Year Scholars invest at least 100 hours working on a scholarly or creative project directed by a faculty mentor.
2021 CASE Summer Fellow Presentations
Maria Estelle Corpuz
Acid Base Equilibrium: The Color of Phenolphthalein, A Computational Study
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alvaro Castillo, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Kelsey Clark
An Evaluation of Thicken Liquid Brands to Manage Dysphagia
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ruiying Ding, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Aleksandra Graf
Codebreakers: A Screenplay
Faculty Mentor: Professor Kristyn Jo Benedyk, Department of Communication and Media
Dana Jabaji
Making the Boc-Alaninol (A to B)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Evan Vanable, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Luceana Luna
Sleep Bright
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathy Sexton-Radek, Department of Psychology
Farah Qureshi
The Effectiveness of Laundry Detergents and How to Reduce Their Impact on the Environment
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Colleen Munro-Leighton, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Vanessa Sevilla
Reducing Racial Bias in Dating Applications
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joshua VanArsdall, Department of Psychology
Salma Zavala
Grit and Stereotype Threat Susceptibility
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Sim, Department of Psychology
2021 CASE First-Year Scholar Presentations
Afrah Ahmed and Lindsey O’Donnell
Kinetic Studies Using P-31 NMR Spectroscopy in the Undergraduate Laboratory
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Lawler-Sagarin & Dr. Colleen Munro-Leighton, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ambrozia Itellari and Miftha Syed
Disgust Response and Behavioral Immune Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Patrick Nebl, Department of Psychology
Valeria Perez and Vianca Perez
Sleep Quality and Sleep Environment
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kathy Sexton-Radek, Department of Psychology
Fhel Vince Mejia
Mapping Detention Facilities for Immigrant Children in the United States
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Navarro, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice