CSUSB student Annabella Garcia, an anthropology major, took home top prize at the 38th annual California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition held recently at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Garcia earned first place in the undergraduate Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration category for her research project, “Changing Assumptions on Decorative Features of Defensive Technology in Experimental Archeology, Using Ichcahuipilli Armor.” Her faculty mentor was Matthew Des Lauriers, associate professor of anthropology.

Garcia was one of 14 students selected to represent CSUSB at the annual statewide competition, held April 26-27, which brings together top scholars from the 23 campuses in the CSU system.

“We are so incredibly proud of the students who represented CSUSB at the CSU Student Research Competition,” said Ryan Keating, director of the Office of Student Research and professor of history. “Their presentations were all outstanding and showcased the diverse and exciting research being done on our campus. I am humbled by the dedication of our students to their research and grateful to their faculty mentors who have spent countless hours in support of their development.”

Each year, more than 200 participants submit written papers and make oral presentations before juries of professional experts. The CSU Student Research Competition showcases research, scholarship, and creative works by undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent alumni from all academic disciplines.

Ryan Keating, director of the Office of Student Research and professor of history, congratulates CSUSB student Annabella Garcia, who earned first place in the undergraduate Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration category for her research project, “Changing Assumptions on Decorative Features of Defensive Technology in Experimental Archeology, Using Ichcahuipilli Armor.”
Ryan Keating, director of the Office of Student Research and professor of history, congratulates CSUSB student Annabella Garcia, who earned first place in the undergraduate Behavioral, Social Sciences and Public Administration category for her research project, “Changing Assumptions on Decorative Features of Defensive Technology in Experimental Archeology, Using Ichcahuipilli Armor.”

Along with Garcia, representing CSUSB this year were:

College of Arts and Letters
Stepfanie Alfonso
Faculty mentor: Thomas Corrigan
Major: Communications Studies
Title: “Community Media Coalitions: How CMCs Can Bolster Democracy in the I.E. Communities.”

James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education
Samuel Quarles, Alexandra Amodeo and Samantha Poirier
Faculty mentor: Roderick O’Handley
Major: School Psychology
Title: “Examining the Methodological Rigor of Existing Research on the Effects of Effective Instruction Delivery on Non-Compliance in Elementary School Students: A Systematic Review.”

College of Natural Sciences
Alfredo Ruiz Rivera
Faculty mentor: Jason Burke
Major: Biochemistry
Title: “Unraveling the Effects of Cancer Associated Missense Mutations in the Retinoblastoma Protein.”

Carolina Garcia
Faculty mentor: Zhaojing Chen
Major: Kinesiology 
Title: “Effects of BioDensity Training on Bone Adaptations in Young Women.”

Caty Gaynor
Faculty mentor: Christopher Hill
Major: Kinesiology
Title: “Understanding Motivation and Social Physique Anxiety Profiles.”

Katherine Bartels and Amelie Carballo
Faculty mentor: Becky Talyn
Major: Biology
Title: “The Effect of Glyphosate-Based Herbicides on Drosophila melanogaster Activity and Oviposition Behavior.”

Maira Lazaro and Daniel Alcerro
Faculty mentor: Mahmood Nikbakhtzadeh
Major: Biology
Title: “Dietary Deficiency Effects on Oviposition and Reproductive Organs of Female Culex Quinquefasciatus.”

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Michael Rubalcava
Faculty mentor: Ryan Keating
Major: History
Title: “Race and Power in Colonial America.”

Negin Ghaffari
Faculty mentor: Christina Hassija
Major: Psychology
Title: “The Mediating Effect of Emotional Regulation in Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Food Addiction.”