Five students represent university at Undergraduate Biology Symposium, Kitzinger takes first

Five students represented Waynesburg University at the 31st Annual Undergraduate Biology Symposium for Western Pennsylvania Saturday, April 17. The Symposium was held at Geneva College and included students and faculty from 10 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Robert Heinz, Sara Henderson, Ryan Kitzinger, Ryan Schell and Brittany Spitznogle presented research as part of Waynesburg University’s Biology Senior Research Projects course.

Robert Heinz, a senior biology and pre-professional studies major from Bentleyville Pa., presented “The Effects of Smoking on Airway Resistance Measured by Fvc, Fev1, and Mvv Lung Function Tests.” The research project was a collaborative effort with Bryan Hamilton, professor of biology at Waynesburg University.

Heinz and Hamilton studied the effects of smoking on airway resistance using three diverse Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), with the assistance of Waynesburg University students (smokers and non-smokers). His test results were offered through a poster presentation and concluded that smoking leads to tar buildup, which impedes the airway and makes it harder for a smoker to breathe.

“The biology symposium was a great way to experience biology outside of the classroom while meeting new people interested in the same field,” Heinz said.

Sara Henderson, a senior biology major from Washington, Pa., worked with Marietta Wright, instructor of biology at Waynesburg University, on “Investigation of the Inheritance of Fingerprint Characteristics.” Her results were offered through a poster presentation.

Ryan Kitzinger, a senior biology and pre-professional studies major from Pittsburgh, Pa., offered an oral presentation titled “Carriage Rates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Among College Students.” The presentation won first place. Kitzinger worked with Chad Sethman, assistant professor of biology at Waynesburg University, to identify risk factors associated with MRSA carriage among students on Waynesburg’s campus.

“Winning the award tells me that despite being a small institution our research means something, and the scientific community is genuinely interested in our results,” Kitzinger said. “I also believe that the way our faculty, specifically Dr. Chad Sethman, prepare us is a key component in Waynesburg University winning the award for the second straight year.”

Kitzinger’s project was funded through a grant received from the Center for Research and Economic Development at Waynesburg University.

Ryan Schell, a senior biology and pre-professional studies major from Cochranton, Pa., worked with Sethman on “Inhibitory Effects of Mouthwashes on the Cavity-Causing Bacterium Streptococcus mutans.” Schell’s plans to pursue dentistry after graduation prompted the idea for the project.

Schell evaluated the potency of a variety of mouthwashes to gain an understanding of each one’s ability to kill bacteria. He found that Listerine® inhibited the growth of S. mutans in a concentration-dependent manner and is currently comparing the inhibitory effects of other mouthwashes.

“The Symposium was a lot of fun. Numerous people were able to view my research and give constructive criticism,” Schell said.

Brittany Spitznogle, a junior biology major from Waynesburg, Pa., worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Sethman on “Take It or Leave It - Attitudes Towards the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 Vaccine Among College Students in Pennsylvania.” Her objective was to determine the acceptance and refusal rate of the 2009 Pandemic A/H1N1 vaccine among college students throughout Pennsylvania. She used a cross-sectional survey that concluded that misinformation regarding both the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine was the main factor that influenced student’s decisions to decline vaccination.

"This research project was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the new vaccine and the reasons that college students in Pennsylvania accepted or declined the vaccine," she said.

Founded in 1849 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Waynesburg University is located on a traditional campus in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, with three adult centers located in the Pittsburgh region. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and is one of only 27 Bonner Scholar schools in the country, offering local, regional and international opportunities to touch the lives of others through service.

# # #

Released April 22, 2010 
Contact: Pam Cunningham, Assistant Director of University Relations
724.852.3384 or pcunning@waynesburg.edu