MEET THE 2020 MARCers

Ilise '20

I plan to test the effects of various environmental conditions (most likely oxygen levels in the tissue) on inducing EMT (epithelial to mesenchymal Transition) and MET (mesenchymal to epithelial transition) which aid in creating CTCs for metastasis and lead to later sites of metastasis.

Sarah '20

The Effect of School Start Times and Sleep Deprivation on Student’s Cognitive Performance

Sophie '20

I plan on studying the effect of pH on the toxicity of Pseudo-Nitzschia algae, by growing the algae in tanks with varying pH and measuring the domoic acid production. I will collaborate with Maia '19, a senior in the MARC program who is doing a similar project. She is researching the effect of salinity and temperature on Pseudo-Nitzschia toxicity. With my and Maia’s combined research, we hope to gain a reasonably complete understanding of the effect of ocean conditions on algae.

Click on the photos of the students below to be taken to their respective MARC blogs

Charlotte '20

My project is focused on artificial sweeteners and their effects on the human microbiome. Although there is much research proving the negative effects of artificial sweeteners altering bacteria in the microbiome, little is known about the effects of stevia. I plan on studying the effect of stevia glycosides, the sweet components that are isolated from stevia leaves, on Lactobacillus reuteri

growth. Lactobacillus reuteri is a significant probiotic in the gastrointestinal tract.

Jacob '20

For my project, I wanted to work with robotic prosthetics that could interface with the amputee. There has been a lot of research done in this field in regards to making faster and more responsive hands, so I wanted to go down a path that hasn't been explored as much. I want to research different ways of producing tactile feedback through non-invasive methods above the elbow using data that I will collect and a voltage amplifier.

Aurelia '20

TEnSOR (TdE Stratification Rf): Machine Learning Classification Random Forest of Tidal Disruption Events

Teddy '20

I plan on researching evolutionary biology and specifically how different environmental factors, such as temperature and predators have affected changes in the anatomical features of flatfish. Flatfish are especially interesting to research through the lens of evolutionary biology because of their cranial asymmetry and their oval-like outline. I plan on taking advantage of the expansive, UC Berkeley fossil database to analyze a myriad of different fossils.

Bella '20

I am researching breast cancer and the effects of artemisinin (a derivative of wormwood) on inducing ferroptosis, an intra-cellular-iron-content-dependent cell death. I will be using combination therapy for some of my trials, using artemisinin derivatives and holotransferrin. Research has shown that the artemisinin targets cancer cells more than healthy cells because cancer cells have a higher intra-cellular iron content in order for them to rapidly divide. Holotransferrin increases the iron concentration of the cancer cells which would, in theory, make the artemisinin more effective in inducing ferroptosis in the cancer cells.

Sam '20

For my project, I plan to test the malleability of the sensory centers of the brain by linking non-activated senses (like absolute pitch) to an external stimulus (like vibrations in a specially designed vest). Then, by slowly reducing the intensity of the stimulus, I hope to find that the sense of Absolute Pitch will become independent, and available to function without the assistance of other stimuli.

Nick '20

For my project, I plan to test the efficiency of common-sense machine learning in the application of image recognition. Common-sense AI is a new development over the last year and proves to be both cheaper in terms of computing resources and more efficient in terms of time to train each model.

Izzy '20

Did you know that there are 2.1 million people living with limb loss in the USA and this is expected to double by 2050. My goal is to make a durable prosthetic that is economically accessible to the general public. I am going to be testing the durability of different materials to make this prosthetic that is both strong and cost-effective. Over the next year and a half, I am working alongside Jacob '20 who is focusing on the electronics side of this. I am hoping to make a working prosthetic by next year and have already been prototyping for a year.