Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Publications & Research

Changing the Properties of Commercial Water Wash resin with Natural Materials

Posted in Chemistry & Molecular Technology, SPARK! 2026

Author: Arturo Ramos Ochoa | Chemistry & Molecular TechnologyAbstract: The demand for sustainable alternatives in additive manufacturing has driven interest in modifying photopolymer resins with natural-based materials to improve mechanical performance without compromising printability. This research investigates the incorporation of natural additives, specifically glycerol and silk fibroin (SF), into commercial water-washable photopolymer resins to enhance… continue reading

Clay-Silk Composites: Towards a New Paradigm in Sustainable Leather-liked Material

Posted in Chemistry & Molecular Technology, SPARK! 2026

Author: Rituba Jhala | Chemistry & Molecular TechnologyAbstract: The increasing demand for sustainable and biodegradable materials has motivated the search for alternatives to conventional leather. In this work, we explore a composite system based on clay, hydroxyethyl cellulose, glycerol, and silk fibroin as a potential leather-like material. The goal was to understand how varying the… continue reading

When Clay Curves: Examining Naturally Bending Clay–Agarose Composites

Posted in Computational & Integrative Biology, SPARK! 2026

Author: Creston Singer | Computational and Integrative BiologyAbstract: In the field of material design, there is a growing need to develop natural-based materials with enhanced properties such as self-morphing capabilities, commonly dubbed as smart materials. These materials respond to external stimuli by actuating and changing their shape or properties in a predetermined manner. This ability… continue reading

Evidentiary Evaluation of Single Cells with EESCIt

Posted in Forensic Science, SPARK! 2026

Author: Julianna Jimenez | Forensic ScienceAbstract: Common forensic queries that guide interpretation of DNA evidence are: i) how many donors contributed to the biological evidence?; ii) whether a particular individual (i.e., who) donated?; and iii) by what mechanism (i.e., how) was that level of DNA deposited and recovered? In bulk treatments, where the DNA is… continue reading

If The Phone Rings: Answer It

Posted in Emerging Media | Digital Studies, SPARK! 2026

Author: Jillina Harken | Emerging Media | Digital StudiesAbstract: If The Phone Rings: Answer It is a narrative exploration game set in a world where modern communication infrastructure has failed. Without mobile phones, wireless networks, or constant digital connectivity, players must rely on payphones, face-to-face interactions, and other analog forms of communication to navigate a… continue reading

Silence as Relational Practice in Contemporary Children’s Picture books

Posted in Childhood Studies, SPARK! 2026

Author: Zubin Miller | Childhood StudiesAbstract: Silence in childhood is often read as absence, deficit, or communicative failure – a space adults rush to interpret, fill, or correct. Drawing on contemporary children’s picturebooks, this paper challenges such deficit-based readings by approaching “silence” as a relational and embodied mode of meaning-making. Focusing on Talking Is Not… continue reading