WKU News

Sixteen students from The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University (WKU) presented their research in Frankfort at the Kentucky Junior Academy of Science (KJAS) meeting, held in tandem with the Kentucky Academy of Science (KAS) Annual Meeting. Fifty students from across the state of Kentucky presented their research through KJAS, and 11 were chosen as delegates for the 2025 American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) conference held in Boston, Massachusetts in February. Eight of those 11 students who will represent the Commonwealth at AJAS are from The Gatton Academy:

Aanyaa Arora (’25, Greenwood High School) presented “Investigating the Regulation of Cell Cycle and Shape by the Polarity Proteins and the Mitotic Exit Network in Yeast” in cellular and molecular biology. Arora is mentored by WKU faculty Dr. Joseph Marquardt in the Department of Biology.

Asa Ashley (’25, Bowling Green High School) presented “Relativistic Fermion Dynamics in Noncommutative Space Time: The Fuzzy Dirac Equation” in physics and astronomy. Ashley is mentored by WKU faculty Dr. Tony Simpao in the Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Ava Blackledge (’25, Rowan County Senior High School) presented “Functional Characterization of a Bacteriophage Gene Product That is Toxic to Mycobacterium smegmatis” in cellular and molecular biology. Blackledge is mentored by WKU faculty Dr. Rodney King in the Department of Biology.

Katie Isaacs (’25, University Heights Academy) presented “Enhancing Photon Detection for Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering at the Electron-Ion Collider” in physics and astronomy. Isaacs is mentored by University of Kentucky faculty Dr. Renee Fatemi in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Youngwoo Kim (’26, Model Laboratory School) presented “The Role of K2P Channels in Cellular Membrane Potential: The Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz Equation Approach” in health sciences. Kim is mentored by University of Kentucky faculty Dr. Robin Cooper in the Department of Biology.

Varshith Kotagiri (’25, Western Hills High School) presented “Developing a Novel Fluorescent Sensor for Detecting Analytes in an Aqueous Medium” in chemistry. Kotagiri is mentored by WKU faculty Dr. Lei Li in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

Sydney Putnam (’25, Mercer County Senior High School) presented “V-type ATPase's Role in Drosophila melanogaster Air Sac Primordium Development” in cellular and molecular biology. Putnam is mentored by WKU faculty Dr. Ajay Srivastava in the Department of Biology.

Daniel Thelen (’25, Corbin High School) presented “Quantitative Analysis of Geochemistry and Flow Dynamics in the Great Onyx Groundwater Basin, Mammoth Cave National Park” in geology. Thelen is mentored by Lee Ann Bledsoe, Associate Director of the Crawford Hydrology Lab at WKU.

The following Gatton Academy students also shared their research via poster or oral presentations:

Luna Asbell (’25, Riverview Opportunity Center) and Katie Isaacs (’25, University Heights Academy) presented “Application of Gaussian Tools for the Study of Physical Concepts in Chemistry” in chemistry.

Mahmood Ateyeh (’25, Western Hills High School) presented “Improving Photodeactivation Rate of Pathogens Using Nanoparticles and Efflux Pump Inhibitors” in physics and astronomy.

Zahra Chasmawala (’25, duPont Manual High School) presented “Modeling Neuron Energy Efficiency and Consumption Using Hodgkin-Huxley Equations With Analysis and Application” in mathematics.

Youngwoo Kim (’26, Model Laboratory School) and Amogh Patnaik (’26, South Warren High School) presented “Comparing Generative Models for Augmenting Extremely Small Medical Datasets: Synthesizing MRI for Brain Tumor Analysis” in physiology and biochemistry.

Lola Norman (’25, Greenwood High School) presented “The Effect of Myxococcus Xanthus on the Production of Secondary Metabolites When Grown in the Presence of Different Prey” in cellular and molecular biology.

Alrose Noronha (’26, South Oldham High School) presented “Identifying Contributory Factors Related to Crashes at Railroad Grade Crossings in Kentucky” in engineering.

Logan Potts (’26, Oldham County High School) presented “Use of Video-based DAQ System to Study Rolling Motion of a Liquid Filled Cylinder” in physics and astronomy.

Amber Wu (’26, Calloway County High School) presented “An Autoethnography on the Pressure to Preserve the Heritage Language: Negotiating Between Internal and External Desires” in anthropology and sociology.

“The Kentucky Academy of Science, the Kentucky Junior Academy of Science, and Kentucky State University created a fantastic environment for our students to present their research, network with current and future scientists, and create memories that will last a lifetime,” said Sam Earls, Assistant Director of Academic Services at The Gatton Academy. “The Gatton Academy is grateful to Amanda Fuller, Melony Stambaugh, Noel Novelo, and everyone else who made this wonderful opportunity possible for our students.”

Established in 1914, the Kentucky Academy of Science brings scientists from across Kentucky together to share research and exchange ideas while also empowering scientists to share their work in their communities. KAS awards research grants and recognizes outstanding science education and outreach provided by its 4000+ members across the Commonwealth.

About The Gatton Academy: Established in 2007, The Gatton Academy is Kentucky’s first residential two-year program for gifted and talented juniors and seniors. The Gatton Academy’s students enroll as juniors and are full-time WKU students pursuing their interests in advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Gatton Academy is a recipient of the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine and the Innovation Partnership Award from the National Consortium for Secondary STEM Schools.