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2025 Tiny Earth Summer Symposium

Student Research Presentations

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery – Main Atrium

Presenters Institution Poster Title
Blake Soszko, Faith Wilson, Carmen Aiello Aurora University Combatting Antibiotic Resistance: Searching for Novel Antibiotic Production by Soil Bacteria
Jahnavi Dhatva Carleton University This Barbie is an Antibiotic Producer: Characterization of Paenibacillus sp.
John Bang, Katherina Hall Carleton University Biochemical Characterization of the Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Produced by Bacteria Found in Ottawa Soil
Jessica John Case Western Reserve University ​​Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Nano-Based Formulations of Antibiotics
Paige Weber Concordia University Wisconsin Acid, Alkaline, and Antibiotics: The Hidden Power of Soil Microbes
Nikolai Nawracaj Concordia University Wisconsin Environmental Cues Inducing Antibiotic Production
Julia Hatton Concordia University Wisconsin Antibiotic Production in Response to Simulated Host Conditions
April Dembinski Eastern Michigan University Use of Coculture and Carbon Source Manipulation to Stimulate Antibiotic Production in Soil Microbes
Emily Tran Eastern Michigan University Creating More Natural Environments Induces Antimicrobial Activity from Otherwise Silent Biosynthetic Gene Clusters
Aashrith Kamini Madison Area Technical College Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Crisis
Jing Drewes Madison Area Technical College Key to Medicine: The World Underneath
Isaac Schultz Madison Area Technical College Discovery of Antibiotic Producing Microbial Soil Samples
Chloe McCabe Madison Area Technical College Soil as a Reservoir for Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria
Hanad Ali Madison Area Technical College Hope in the Soil: Searching for New Antibiotic Microbes
Carlos Melgar Madison Area Technical College The Hunt for Secondary Metabolites in Aquatic Microbes
Jonathon Steiner Madison Area Technical College The Art of Bacterial War: Antibiotic Production From Soil Bacteria
Aaron Zoellner Millikin University The Isolation and Testing of Antibiotic-Producing Soil Microbes
Hunter Zenger Millikin University Manipulating Motility and Antibiotic Production of Peribacillus and Bacillus Bacterial Colonies By Changing Media and Lawns
Charlie Armstrong Millikin University Isolation of Soil Microbes that Produce Antibiotics
Madi Jessen Millikin University The Discovery of Antibiotic Producing Soil Microbes
Amari Terrell Millikin University Identification and Characterization of Soil Bacteria for Antibiotic Properties
Sophia Gibbs Millikin University Comparing Antibiotic Production by Bacteria from Soil Samples in Central Illinois from Samples taken in the Summer and Winter
Jacob Bloom Millikin University The Characterization of Bacterial Isolates​ From Fairview Park, Decatur, IL
Abigail Wilken Millikin University Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Isolates from Decatur Soil
Zahra Haji Millikin University Antibiotic Production in Non-Pathogenic Pseudomonas Strains Grown in Different Sugar Sources
Corryn Adams Millikin University Isolation and Characterization of Rossellomorea marisflavi, Priestia aryabhattai, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Antibiotic-Producing Microbes in Decatur, Illinois
Skyler Rahn Morningside University Secret Cures in the Stable: Exploring Equine for the Next Antibiotic Discovery
Noura Naami Nova Southeastern University Unearthing Antibiotics from Everglade Wetlands vs Beach Coastlines
Anika Singh, Inchara Kumar Nova Southeastern University Bacterial and Secondary Metabolite Identification from South Dakota Entisol
Cassidy Colby University of Cincinnati Clermont College Defeating Cancer Recurrence with Novel Soil-Derived Antibiotics
Kahlan Kahmann University of Cincinnati Clermont College Identifying Trends in Tumorsphere Growth Over Time and Molecular Markers for Cancer Stem Cells​
Adam Essabir University of New Hampshire in Manchester Optimizing Yeast Extract Concentration for Enhanced Bacterial Growth and Antibiotic Production
Jasen Cusson University of New Hampshire in Manchester Examining Bacteria Found in Local Unpasteurized Milk
Marina Theofanopoulos University of St. Francis Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria in Mowed Lawn Soil vs. Seed Bed Soil
Alexis Nordquist University of St. Thomas Characterizing and Screening Soil-Derived Bacteria for Antimicrobial Activity
Atongajua Nadia Khumbah University of St. Thomas Investigating the Antimicrobial Effects of Ginger Extract and Its Potential to Enhance Conventional Antibiotics
Atongajua Nadia Khumbah University of St. Thomas Bioprospecting for Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria from Soil and Earthworms
Rachel Ludwig University of St. Thomas Screening and Characterization of Soil Bacteria for Antibiotic Production
Daniela Bunay University of St. Thomas Bioprospecting for Novel Antibodies by Isolating Bacteria from Local Soil
Hailey Adams University of St. Thomas Bioprospecting Novel Antibiotics in Medicinal Gardens
Ella Patty University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Finding Novel Ways to Address the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis Through Research of Antibiotic Activity in Soil Fungi
Isabelle Nowak, Ava Tetzlaff, Regan Peterson, Razan Hamadeh University of Wisconsin–Madison The Effect of Rose Water on Antibiotic-Producing Soil Isolates
Alanna Johnson University of Wisconsin–Madison Comparing Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes in Compost and Urban Soil Environments
Devon Stern, Sean Lee University of Wisconsin–Madison Effect of Ginger on Isolated Soil Bacteria and Antibiotic Production
Makena Sowinski, Katie Kim, Sophia Fergus, Connor Barry University of Wisconsin–Madison The Effect of Ginger on Antibiotic Production in Soil Bacteria
Katherine Christian, Leena Patibandla, Cabrini Brandl, Sydney Leis University of Wisconsin–Madison Investigating the Effect of Garlic (Allium sativum) on Antibiotic Production in Soil Bacterial Isolates
Shelby Erickson, Addison Thalhuber, Lily Follen University of Wisconsin–Madison The Effect of Essential Oils on Antibiotic Production in Soil Bacteria
Amelia Wozniak, Ava Scholl University of Wisconsin–Madison Unlocking Soil’s Antibiotic Potential: The Role of Silver Hydrosol in Overcoming Drug Resistance
Lizzy Wacker, Allison Trent, Hannah Bly University of Wisconsin–Madison The Effect of Thieves and Cinnamon Essential Oil on Antibiotic Production in Bacteria Isolated from Soil
Tasha Miller University of Wisconsin–Madison Exploring Tiny Earth Isolates as Possible Plant Pathogen Biocontrol Agents
Gabrielle Beaman, Ashley Toy, Maya Kannel University of Wisconsin–Madison Mapping Madison: Wisconsin’s Lake Soil for Potential Novel Antibiotics
Leo Wilhelm, Natalie Hanka University of Wisconsin–Madison Impact of Fertilizer on Antibiotic-Producing Soil Microorganisms in Madison
Leah Ericksrud, Emily Spakowski University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Antibiotics Sourced from Bacteria in Soil Sample
Makayla Kester, Aidyn Dorzok University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Antibiotic Production in Soil Microbes
Alison Hesse University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Soil Bacteria and Antibiotic Production
Allyson Warburton University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Bacteria in Whitewater, WI Soil
Natalee Secor, Alissa Keohavon Wisconsin Lutheran College Identifying antibiotic-producing microbes from around WLC