Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social-communication differences and restricted, repetitive behaviors (American Psychological Association, 2013). While racial disparities in autism prevalence have been documented, not much research has examined how these differences appear in autism screening measures. This study investigates racial differences in Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores among non-autistic Asian and White adults to assess potential biases in autism screening. Using data from three NIH-funded studies (COBRA, BEAM, and The Korean Study), AQ scores from 166 participants (n=102 White, n=64 Asian) will be analyzed through t-tests and Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare total and subscale scores. Preliminary observation suggests that non-autistic Asian participants may be more likely to score higher on the AQ, raising concerns about false positives in autism screenings. Understanding these differences will help improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce disparities, and promote equitable access to neurodevelopmental resources.

Proteins in the NFкB family are transcription factors that modulate the expression of genes relating to immunity and inflammation. One protein within this family is the p50/RelA heterodimer which includes a structured DNA-binding domain and a Transcription Activation Domain (TAD) which is intrinsically disordered, or naturally lacking secondary and tertiary structure. Previous studies have shown that interactions between the DNA-binding domain and TAD affect DNA binding affinity and specificity. With the goal of further assessing and comparing the interactions between intrinsically disordered and structured domains in proteins of this family, we have worked to troubleshoot and optimize protocols relating to expressing and purifying human p50/RelA protein. I analyzed the efficiency of multiple chromatography steps and introduced changes to improve yield. Optimization of the expression and purification protocols will enable future investigations into the DNA binding activity of this protein.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences in social-communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. Many autistic individuals engage in “camouflaging” to hide or change their behaviors associated with autism to avoid social stigma. This study aims to explore neurophysiological characteristics underlying camouflaging. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a popular psychophysiological tool that measures brain activity through oscillatory patterns, reflecting various cognitive and emotional processes. Specifically, during “resting state” (when the brain is exposed to minimal external stimuli), theta waves have been shown to have increased activity during periods of increased cognitive load, attentional demands, and task difficulty – mental states that all relate to camouflaging based on qualitative research.  Participants included autistic (n=108) as well as non-autistic adults (n=85), between the ages of 15 and 31 years. Participants completed the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) which measured three domains of camouflaging in autism: compensation, masking, and assimilation. EEG recordings were taken during resting state and oscillatory activity in the theta frequency band (4-8 Hz) will be analyzed. Our hypothesis is that camouflaging traits will be positively correlated with theta wave activity.  Camouflaging can lead to various challenges for autistic individuals, including depression and anxiety. Thus, identifying the proposed analyses could provide valuable insight into the cognitive and emotional processes of camouflaging, ultimately contributing to a better understanding and potential treatment for mental health challenges faced by the autistic community.

While taking multiple general science courses and dance courses as a double-degree student, I have devised creative ways to balance my studying and dance training. One involved creating dance choreography to memorize organic chemistry reactions, which inspired me to choreograph a dance piece named after the motor cortex “Homunculus” for Aura Dance Company’s (RSO) annual spring show in 2023. This sparked my interest in organizing a project to teach this learning structure that may be useful to others. With help from Professor Hannah Wiley and MFA candidate Beth Twigs, I designed dance workshops for my peers to learn more about neuroscience and dance. NeuroDance is a multidimensional project to educate students about neuroscience through dance-making tools. The project involved organizing workshops where participants learned movements inspired by molecular neuroscience, neuroanatomy, and skeletal anatomy. Participants modeled ions, neurons, and planes of movement through facilitated movement phrases and seeds. To assess learning outcomes, quizzes were given before and after the workshops. Volunteers were recruited from on-campus social, dance, and neuroscience groups, and outreach will occur via social media and posters. The data from the learning aspect of these workshops house the scientific results, but the movement observed served as the foundation for a larger choreographic work presented in the Department of Dance’s Dance Majors Concert (2025). The physicality and repetition inherent in dance offer a unique and enriching platform for learning. I aim further to explore the potential of dance education in STEM with this pilot study.

Gray whales in the North Pacific annually migrate north to the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, and their migration route bypasses the Salish Sea. Roughly a dozen of these whales, commonly called “the Sounders,” have detoured their migration into North Puget Sound since the 1990s. These whales have been observed feeding on ghost shrimp in the intertidal area of sediment beaches in North Puget Sound, using a high risk strategy of feeding on shrimp at high tides. This feeding strategy leaves large indents, or “feeding pits”, in the sediment that are revealed at low tide and can provide insight into the Sounders’ feeding habits and contribute to a deeper understanding of the North Pacific gray whale population. My research focused on locational trends of gray whale feeding pits on Jetty Island West beach, and I observed longitudinal locations of specific pits in the intertidal zone to investigate feeding patterns. I observed feeding pits with drone imagery collected at low tide and compiled into aerial maps, or “orthomosaics,” and I compared feeding pits in different longitudes to observe where on the beach whales are feeding. Two seasons of feeding pit imagery were collected from late winter and spring of 2024 and 2025, and I have analyzed the imagery using ArcGIS pro. Survey site area ranged from approximately 0.09km² to 0.4 km² for different maps. The non-invasive nature of drone photogrammetry has recently increased its use in marine and biological research, and this method of data collection is ideal for surveying gray whale pits on Jetty Island. Because of the increased risk of feeding in higher tidal zones, I expect to find higher concentrations of feeding pits at lower tidal zones.

Seabirds are considered a strong indicator species for ecosystem health due to their visibility, lack of behavioral and phenotypic plasticity, and high trophic level.  Current declines in seabird populations are often attributed to bottom-up ecosystem control regulating upper trophic level populations. These bottom-up effects might be caused by reductions in marine productivity due to climate change. I performed statistical and graphical analyses on the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count data from Puget Sound and water chemistry data from the Ocean Research College Academy’s moored and deployable sensors. This allowed me to identify possible relationships between bird populations and water chemistry from 2009 to 2024 in the Possession Sound estuary. My initial analyses demonstrated the expected decline in collective seabirds counted, however certain pelagic species experienced unexpected increases. Further investigation is required to determine whether the increase was caused by ecosystem dynamics or improved count methods. My initial analyses did not indicate any relationship between water chemistry and bird populations. The lack of apparent relationship may be due to the water chemistry changes having impacts on primary productivity and indirect bottom-up trophic cascades, which could have a significant lag time in effects on bird populations. My analysis also does not account for environmental factors in disparate migration sites or breeding colonies that might affect bird populations. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that are known to co-occur with decreased sleep quality and quantity. ASD is characterized by social communication differences and restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests.  ADHD is characterized by inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Previous research found higher instances of sleep disruptions within adults with ADHD as well as autistic populations compared to neurotypical adults. However, quantitative data around the associations between ASD and sleep disruptions is sparse.  This leads to our research question which is, how does sleep disruption affect autistic, autistic + ADHD adult’s sleep quality and quantity compared to neurotypical adults? We hypothesize that ASD+ADHD and ASD adults have experience higher sleep disruptions (fewer hours of sleep and lower quality) compared to non-autistic adults. Participants included autistic adults (n=66), autistic adults with ADHD (n=39), and non-autistic adults (n=221) enrolled in the NIH-funded COBRA and BEAM studies, which investigated how the brain processes sensory and visual information.  Autism diagnoses were confirmed using standard assessments (such as Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition, Autism Quotient) by clinicians.  Participants self-reported ADHD diagnoses, sleep quantity (hours per night on weekdays, hours per night on weekends), and sleep quality (over the past week on a 4-point Likert scale). An ANOVA will be used to compare sleep quality and quantity between diagnostic groups. Understanding neurodivergent populations’ sleep quality and quantity helps improve public health communication around sleep health, which is particularly important population health issue given the link between sleep, mental and physical health. Finally, identifying populations most in need of sleep interventions helps us address the increased number of adults with sleep disturbance and disorders.

The NF-KB family of transcription factors regulates genes involved in immunity, inflammation, and other biological processes. Members of the NF-KB family can form homo- or heterodimers, which contribute to specific responses to various stimuli. The p50/c Rel heterodimer, an important player in adaptive immunity, regulates gene expression, but its DNA-binding specificity and regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the expression and purification of recombinant p50/c Rel heterodimers. I expressed recombinant c Rel and p50 in Escherichia coli and purified the proteins using Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the successful isolation of both proteins at the expected molecular weights. This work lays the foundation for further biochemical characterization, including the investigation of their DNA-binding properties and role in immune signaling. These findings contribute to the understanding of the p50/c Rel heterodimer's function in NF-KB mediated gene regulation. Future studies are needed to explore its DNA-binding specificity and how these interactions impact immune responses and diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders. 

The p50/RelA dimer is an essential part of the NF-ĸB signaling pathway, which is responsible for regulating inflammation and immune responses. Most prior biochemical research focused on the mouse version of the p50/RelA dimer. While the findings are useful, its implication to human health remains unclear. This raises the question, how effective do experiments involving mouse proteins reflect those involving humans? We used protocols to express and purify human and mouse p50/RelA dimers, aiming to generate proteins for structural and functional analysis. In the first stage, recombinant protein expression and affinity chromatography techniques were used for purification of both proteins, followed by an SDS-PAGE to assess molecular weight and stability. We found that mouse proteins showed higher intensity bands compared to human proteins, indicating a higher yield. This suggests stability factors as well as potential differences in degradation rates between species. In the second stage, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography were used to further purify the proteins. During ion exchange chromatography, neither protein bounded as effectively as expected, highlighting the need for protocol optimization. Improving the chromatography conditions will help increase stability and yield of both proteins allowing for more accurate comparisons between the mouse and human p50/RelA dimers. These optimizations are important because it will improve our ability to compare NF-ĸB pathway functionality between species and ultimately make it easier to translate findings from mouse models to human health.