Members of Penn State Altoona's Integrated Social Science Research Lab (ISSRL) enjoyed success at the annual Penn State Behrend-Sigma Xi Undergraduate Student Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference held in Erie on Saturday, April 26. The competition is open to Penn State students and undergraduates from other colleges and universities in the Erie region.
The ISSRL swept both the Humanities-Social Sciences and Psychology poster presentation categories.
Madison Adamiak, a third-year student majoring in criminal justice, and Ally Black, a first-year student majoring in criminal justice, took the first-place award in the Humanities-Social Sciences poster category for their project that examined variables related to safe gun storage practices by American firearm owners.
Katelyn Kurtz, a fourth-year student majoring in accounting, and Ray Ncube, a second-year student majoring in international politics, took second in the same category for their project examining the utility of a community outreach program from the Pennsylvania State Police.
"This was the first big competition I attended with the lab, and it was really cool to see the research that other students are doing. It was a great experience," Black said. She went on to describe her first year working in the lab. "I had so many opportunities to make connections that will help my future career. I was also able to do research on topics that interest me and are important to society."
Ncube echoed the sentiment.
"The strong results we achieved reflect not only the insightful mentorship of lab supervisors, but also the hard work, collaboration and excellence of each team member who participated," Ncube said. "This event showcased the continued growth and momentum of our lab, highlighting our commitment to high-quality research and meaningful contributions to our field. We are proud of this accomplishment and excited to build on this success in future competitions and projects."
Makaylah Bangura, a fourth-year student majoring in multidisciplinary studies, and University Park student Riley Fegley claimed first place in the Psychology I poster category for their work examining college students' understanding of consent and sexual assault.
Adamiak and Dawson Coventry, a second-year student studying international politics, took second place in the same category for their project that examined perceptions of language used in the substance use community.
"It was a great time, and we were able to bond and connect more deeply with each other and Dr. Kruis and Dr. Rowland who run the lab," Bangura said. "It made the event feel less like a competition and more like a celebration-the end of a long, busy and challenging semester."
Coventry agreed.
"To present our findings at the conference was an amazing learning opportunity, and being able to interact with people who were interested in our research was truly rewarding," he said. "I did not realize how life changing it would be to work in the ISSRL, but now I know that the opportunities and experiences from being a part of it are shaping me."
Bangura will graduate on May 10, and this was her last undergraduate research competition. "Doing research is hard, and this year was especially challenging," Bangura said. "But hard things become less so when you love what you're doing, and I loved every moment. I love to learn, and being in the lab has been one of the most enriching experiences of my college career."
The Integrated Social Science Research Lab is embedded in the criminal justice and sociology programs at Penn State Altoona. It is coordinated by Nathan E. Kruis, associate professor of criminal justice, and Nicholas J. Rowland, distinguished professor of sociology. The ISSRL is made possible by Penn State Altoona's Division of Business, Health, Humanities, and Social Sciences, headed by Nicholas L. Pyeatt.
