Collaboration and cutting-edge research in the sciences from Kettering University faculty and students will be on display at the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters conference on March 13, 2015 at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Faculty and students from Biochemistry, Physics, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics will be presenting and participating in the conference. Below is a complete list of Kettering participants, organized by topic. All participants listed below are representing Kettering University unless otherwise stated.

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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Understanding the role of cytochrome clysines in the binding of catechins.
Presenter: Dr. Montserrat Rabago Smith
Authors: Dr. Montserrat Rabago-Smith, Dr. Veronica Moorman, Dr. Lihua Wang, Michael Thomas.

Chemistry

Extraction of antioxidants from chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) using supercritical carbon dioxide with an ethanol modifier. 
Presenter: Thomas Dixon

Optimization and plant simulation of producing of biodiesel from Michigan soybean oil using supercritical methanol.
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Wenzel
Authors: Dr. Jonathan Wenzel, Jason Davis, Endel Maricq, Michael Stogsdill and Dr. Ali Zand.

Electrospinning and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers.
Presenter: Dr. Steven Nartker
Authors: Dr. Steven Nartker, Michael Stogsdill, Dr. Lihua Wang and Devin Aryan.

Development of a new method to analyze biodiesel by GC.
Presenter: Michael Stogsdill,
Authors: Michael Stogsdill, Dr. Jonathan Wenzel, Jason Richardson, Endel Maricq and Dr. Ali Zand.

Cell protrusion and retraction driven by fluctuations in actin polymerization: a coarse–grained model.
Presenter: Dr. Gillian Lynn Ryan
Authors: Dr. Gillian Lynn Ryan, Dr. Naoki Watanabe (Kyoto University), Dr. Dimitrios Vavylonis (Lehigh University)

Modification of crystal growth rates to control thermal outcomes of phase transitions.
Presenter: Frederick Garcia
Authors: Frederick Garcia, Rebecca Mikilajczyk, Shalini Lakshmanan (Huron High School), Dr. Gillian Lynn Ryan, Dr. Uma Ramabadran, Grace Hsia (Warmilu LLC), Rachel Rademacher (Warmilu LLC)

Engineering

Surface grafting of biocompatible polymers via atmospheric pressure plasma for improved wear resistance.
Presenters: Nate Dwarshuis and Julia Carson
Authors: Dr. Susan Farhat, Dr. Cheryl Samaniego, Dr. Ali Zand, Dr. Mary Gilliam, Michael Magyar, Nathan Dwarshuis, La'Shyla Nelson, Julia Carson, Anastacia Shaffer and Kaila Hart,

Synthesis of reduced Graphene oxide using atmospheric plasma and furnace annealing.
Presenters: Dr. Uma Ramabadran and Yigang Tong
Authors: Yigang Tong, Ryan Ayler, Dr. Uma Ramabadran, Dr. Xuan Zhou, Dr. Gillian Ryan and Dr. Susan Farhat.

Mathematics

Measurement of sub–cellular forces in neurons.
Presenter: Matthew O'Toole
Authors: Matthew O'Toole, Kyle E. Miller (Michigan State University)

Poster Session

Supercritical fluid extraction of polyphenolic compounds from walnut husks.
Presenter: Evan Tucker

Transesterification of virgin Michigan soybean oil to produce biodiesel using supercritical methanol.
Presenter: Jason Davis

Polymer coatings using atmospheric pressure plasma for biomedical applications.
Presenter: La'Shyla Nelson
Authors: Dr. Susan Farhat, Dr. Cheryl Samaniego, Dr. Ali Zand, Dr. Mary Gilliam, Michael Magyar, Nathan Dwarshuis, La'Shyla Nelson, Julia Carson, Anastacia Shaffer and Kaila Hart.

Determination of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant from the frequency dependence of the specific absorption rate in a frozen ferrofluid.
Presenters: Brandon Aho and Dr. Ron Tackett