This summer, undergraduates Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua ’25, Kaniya Ross ’25 and Edward Lu ’26 have been deeply engaged in research.
Hua, a nutrition science major in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, has investigated the effects of fish oil on paternal obesity and its impact on offspring muscle function. Ross, a neuroscience and psychology major in the College of Arts and Sciences, has studied the impact of Cited2 excision and maternal folic acid supplementation among mice on neurodevelopment. And Lu, a music composition major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), has worked with music ensembles and experienced the premieres of two of his original compositions.
They are among the more than 250 students who have actively participated in research this summer—both in-person and remotely—through initiatives of the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and other programs, including the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP); Chemistry, iSchool, and BioInspired Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs; the SUNY Upstate Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program; the McNair Scholars Program; the psychology SPARC and STAHR programs; Renée Crown University Honors Program; Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)-supported students and others.
As a culmination of their experiences, the SOURCE Summer Symposium—a poster session featuring more than 110 undergraduate research students, will be held Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Schine Student Center’s Panasci Lounge. A picnic will follow on the patio of Huntington Beard Crouse Hall. A schedule of presenters is available.
Some of the posters that will be presented include:
- Mercury Release From Alaskan Permafrost
- The Role of the Kit Tyrosine Pathway in Primordial Follicle Formation and Cyst Breakdown
- The Effects of the Post-Mating Immune Response in Drosophila on Female Fecundity
- Syracuse Policy Legacy Project
- Testing the Hydropathy of Synthetic RNA
- Polyurethane Foams for Hemorrhage Control
- Supporting Healthcare Outcomes and Access for Refugees
- Effects of I-81 Highway Construction on Freshwater Streams in the Valley Neighborhood of Syracuse
- Role of Rab GTPase-Mediated Ciliary Cargo Transport in Cilia formation and Cellular Polarity
- Validating Hydraulic Flood Control Risk Assessment Using High Resolution Satellite Imagery
“Summer research students make great strides in their research skill-building during these few short months; they explore fascinating topics, engage with existing work, try new methods and techniques and experience deep immersion and focus in their work,” says SOURCE Director Kate Hanson. “We are thrilled to learn about research at the Summer Symposium and grateful to the mentors that have supported them.”
Xuezhu (Stephanie) Hua ’25
Hua’s research is inspired by the obesity epidemic. “Obesity is a growing concern, with two in five people in the U.S. affected. It not only diminishes quality of life but also has lasting effects on the health of future generations,” Hua says. “In our research explores the potential of fish oil supplementation in mitigating the detrimental, we focus on using fish oil as a dietary intervention for obese fathers.”
Hua and her colleagues have found that a father’s high-fat diet during the preconception period significantly impacts the muscle health of their offspring, potentially decreasing muscle function. Conversely, when the father follows a low-fat diet during the preconception period, the offspring’s muscle health is more influenced by their own diet. “Moving forward, I will employ an analysis of variance test to determine if fish oil supplementation can reverse the adverse effects of a father’s high-fat diet on offspring,” she says.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the SOURCE, Renée Crown University Honors Program and WiSE for sponsoring my research. This invaluable experience has allowed me to ask scientific questions, grapple with challenges and find solutions,” Hua says. “What drives me is the potential impact of my research on people’s lives. To me, research is about serving the community. This experience has been instrumental to me in preparing for my Ph.D. studies in obesity and metabolism.”
Hua’s faculty mentor is Latha Ramalingam, assistant professor of nutrition and food studies in the Falk College.
Visit the Syracuse University News website to read more about summer research from other undergraduate students across the campus.