Showcase

This ePortfolio describes Sydney's growth as a undergraduate in the Honors College. She describes her major projects and research and how those experiences have shaped her as a person.

As I move to begin my graduate students, I have adapted from my prior ePortfolio that focused on undergraduate work to my graduate work at University of Michigan. This ePortfolio is a more professional focused one, aligning with my body of work resea ... rch wise and more professional experiences. In May 2026, I will graduate with a B.A. in Medical Humanities/Health Studies and Communication Studies, preparing for a Master of Public Health program focused on Health Behavior and Health Equity. Read more

Brooks Insurance Professionals Recommendation Report on Social Media Implementation and Gen Z Engagement.

This ePortfolio is a showcase that does a broad overview of my experiences and projects at IU Indianapolis. You can find highlights from both my communication studies coursework and public health coursework, along with content from internship and pro ... fessional experiences. Read more

Degradation of bone and increased incidence of blood disorders in the aging population often occur together, leading to various health outcomes and imposing a significant economic burden. The decline in osteogenic and hematopoietic function within th ... e bone marrow (BM) of aging populations is associated with reduced bone mineral density, impaired healing, heightened risks of hematological malignancies, and worsening conditions such as anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The BM niche is managed by an intricate regulatory network which include mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), cytokine/growth factors, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), mature immune cells, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM is essential for the regulation of hematopoiesis (the process by which blood cells are formed). With aging, the equilibrium of the regulatory network shifts. The transition in aged MSCs from bone-forming (osteogenic) to fat-forming (adipogenic) development is associated with the tendency of HSPCs– responsible for generating blood and immune cells – to shift towards the myeloid lineage. However, the biological mechanism through which the aging BM niche, particularly the interactions between HSPCs, MSCs, and the ECM, contributes to hematopoietic dysfunction with age remains unclear. Building on advancements in ECM biology, this study sought to clarify how age-related changes in the ECM and to MSC regulatory cues affect HSPC function. Using specialized biofabricated plates, which had wells coated with microphysiological analogues of young (≤ 25 years old) or aged (≥ 60 years old) BM ECMs, created by human MSCs, I explored how the ECM influences HSPC development. Utilizing HSPCs isolated from cord blood units, I evaluated HSPC function using colony-forming unit assays and characterized them immunophenotypically through flow cytometry at input and following 7 days of culture on either tissue culture-treated (TCP), young ECM (yECM), or aged ECM (aECM) wells. I demonstrated that all conditions resulted in increased nucleated cell number compared to input after expansion. By phenotype, we saw: 1) significant increases of HSCs and Multipotent Progenitors (MPPs) compared to input only when cultured on aECM, 2) significant increases in Multi-lymphoid Progenitors (MLPs) in all culture conditions when compared to input, 3) significant increases in Common Myeloid Progenitors (CMPs) when cultured on either ECM condition, and 4) no changes to Granulocyte-Monocyte Progenitor (GMP) numbers in any condition. There were no functional differences demonstrated by colony formation other than those associated with an increased proportion of those cells in culture. This suggests that perhaps different culture conditions favor the expansion of different cell populations within less ‘mature’ cord blood HSPCs. In the future, we wish to examine the effect of ECM on 1) a more ‘mature’ HSPC population (isolated from BM), and 2) a co-culture system of HSPCs and MSCs on our ECM plates to examine the crosstalk between these two populations. Read more

Welcome to my personal site where I post small articles about the different projects I’m working on, tools I’m learning, or any other fun thoughts I have. This site focuses on the more technical side of myself and focuses heavily on projects, skills ... , and thoughts around technology. I encourage you to read around and explore some of my thoughts! Read more

During the summer of 2025, I completed a strength and conditioning internship at the University of Dayton, where I worked directly with Division I athletes across multiple sports. This experience became one of my most rewarding Honors opportunities b ... ecause it challenged me to grow as both a coach and a professional. I was immersed in the daily rhythm of a high-level collegiate weight room, from early morning lift groups to team-specific training sessions, and I gained firsthand exposure to the culture, demands, and pace of performance coaching at the NCAA Division 1 level. Read more

This honors ePortfolio showcases my work as a nontraditional neuroscience student focused on translational neuroscience, chronic pain, and substance use disorders (SUDs), integrating bench research, preclinical models, clinical studies, and science c ... ommunication. Across projects, I connect neurobiology and behavioral science to study interactions between chronic pain, addiction/SUDs, and mental health, aiming to translate mechanistic neuroscience into more effective, evidence-based clinical interventions. A central feature of this ePortfolio is a year-long independent research project using a preclinical mouse model of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) to study VEGF-driven neuroinflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and novel therapeutics targeting pain behavior, central sensitization, and brain–bladder communication. I present this work in dual formats: scientific language for researchers and trainees, and plain-language summaries for patients, families, and the general public, demonstrating my ability to translate complex mechanistic neuroscience, behavioral assays (mouse grimace scale, von Frey, voiding behavior), and imaging data into clear, accessible narratives. Beyond the IC/BPS project, this ePortfolio features a self-directed substance use disorder (SUD) research and science communication project, where I synthesize literature on the cellular and molecular effects of alcohol, methamphetamine, and opioids on the brain into accessible, educational materials for learners without a neuroscience background. A series of edited “I am / I want to become” statements and reflective essays connect these projects to my coursework in neuroscience, health psychology, sociology, and I/O psychology, tracing how my perspective as a nontraditional student shapes my goals. Together, these artifacts highlight my growth as a translational scientist, science communicator, and advocate committed to building neuroscience-informed, data-driven, trauma-informed care systems for people living with chronic pain and substance use disorders. Read more

Team Members: Ben Grimes, Nehwon Bleah, Shelby Kelly A recommendation report done as a writing project for ENG-W 231. Student-community client based, worked with the Hoosier Herpetological Society to find recommendations for their selected issue, ... which was increasing membership for their non-profit. Read more

This site entails a variety of writing projects including a film review, immersion experience, argument, and reflection. The focus of all these written pieces is America's justice system, or rather, legal system. As a product of the American Dream a ... eam and student of justice, I find it critical to improve the systems in place to effectively serve the people it was intended to serve. Through this project, I have conducted immense research, including participant observation and a dive into media culture, racial disparities within the criminal justice system, sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's theory of the "Violence Continuum", and legislative changes to provide adequate and holistic compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals, all to get to the bottom of the flaws in America's criminal justice system. Read more