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COBE Dean’s Choice Awards for Undergraduate Research

Holly bossart next to her poster

Holly Bossart and Josiah Bynum received the College of Business and Economics Dean’s Choice Award for undergraduate research. Each will receive $150.

Bossart’s poster is titled “The Impact of Job Insecurity on Psychological Distress.” Her faculty sponsor is Kelly Chen, Ph.D.

Bynum’s poster is titled “Risk Premiums and Political Cycle Sentiment.” His faculty sponsor is also Kelly Chen.

Bossart’s and Bynum’s poster were part of the Boise State 16th annual Undergraduate Research Conference on Monday. This is a forum for Boise State undergraduate students from academic disciplines to demonstrate what they have learned through their research, scholarship, or the arts. Students may present their work in poster, podium presentation, or visual formats.

josiah next to his poster
Josiah Bynum winner of the COBE Dean’s Choice Award.

The COBE awards and judging were coordinated by Patrick Delana and Karen Nicholas. Faculty judges were Mark Buchanan, Scott Lowe, John Martin, Karen Nicholas, Jan Stephens and Christy Suciu.

“The undergraduate research on display at the conference — and COBE’s specifically — was excellent,” said Nicholas. (Nicholas serves on the university’s Undergraduate Research Conference Planning Committee.) “Students showed an ability to develop interesting research questions and seek out various methods to answer them. Holly and Josiah, in particular, displayed research skills far beyond what is perceived as undergraduate research. There was a loud buzz at the conference of students and faculty discussing research — music to our ears!”

COBE had three podium presentation and eight posters entered into the conference.

Podium Presentations:

Department of Economics

  • “Economic Dependence and Spousal Abuse in an Exit-Voice-Leave Framework,” Haydn Bryan (Honors), faculty sponsor Kelly Chen, Ph.D, Department of Economics
  • “Environmental Quality and College Attainment: An Envirodevonomic Study,” Kelsey Cooper, faculty sponsor Kelly Chen, Ph.D., Department of Economics

Department of Finance

  • “Crowdfunding Reimagined,” Rohit Gangurde and Gitesh Musale (Honors), faculty sponsor Jared Egginton, Ph.D., Department of Finance

Poster Presentations:

Department of Economics

  • “E-Scooter Impact on Traffic Congestion,” Peyton Blackwell, Kate Carter-Cram (Honors), Emily Pape (Honors), faculty sponsor Samia Islam, Ph.D.
  • “The Impact of Job Insecurity on Psychological Distress,” Holly Bossart, faculty sponsor Kelly Chen, Ph.D.
  • “Risk Premiums and Political Cycle Sentiment,” Josiah Bynum, faculty sponsor Kelly Chen, Ph.D.
  • “Impact of Scooters on Related Public Transit Alternatives,” Christina Schaeffer, Austyn Hazen, Deborah Tuttle, faculty sponsor Samia Islam, Ph.D.
  • “Affects of Boise State University on Housing Availability and Affordability,” Michaela Hill (Honors), Alyssa Mehan, Adrienne Weatherly, Nick Kostovny, faculty sponsor Samia Islam, Ph.D.
  • “Assessing the Impact of Potential Road Closures on 8th Street in Downtown Boise,” Ryan Hurlburt, Hailey Neff, Sophie Croome (Honors), Aaron  Thomas, faculty sponsor Samia Islam, Ph.D.
  • “Economic Evaluation of Health and Wealth,” Jesse Leija, faculty sponsor Kelly Chen, Ph.D.

Department of Management

  • “Leveraging Social Entrepreneurship to Save the Great Barrier Reef,” Amy Schneider, Gissell Palacios, Karina Carretero, Tristan  Clark, Jared Brodd (Honors), Lucas  Jarrett, Domenic Winfrey, Paola Gutierrez Guzman, faculty sponsor  Jennifer Thomsen

Posters are on display in the MBEB Jackson Commons through the end of the week.