The author of this article, Duncan Addicott, was also a participant in the CSU Student Research Competition.
Students from Sonoma State University presented a wide range of research topics – from wildfire impacts to pharmaceutical chemistry – at the 40th annual CSU Student Research Competition held April 23-25 at San Jose State University.
The statewide event brought together undergraduate and graduate students from across the California State University system to share original research and compete in fields ranging from the sciences to the humanities.
At San Jose State University, students rotated through tightly scheduled sessions as they presented research spanning disciplines from physics to public administration over the two-day event.
Among the Sonoma State participants was Shannon Casteel, a senior chemistry major with a math minor, whose research focuses on developing compounds that could one day be used to treat neurological disorders.
“My research focuses on developing a library of beta-carboline derivatives with the goal of eventually testing their therapeutic potential for neurological disorders such as PTSD and Alzheimer’s,” Casteel said.
Casteel said the project played a key role in shaping her future career path.
“This project really means a lot to me because it has given me the opportunity to get hands-on experience,” she said. “I feel very confident with my decision and hope to continue developing drugs for treating currently untreatable mental health conditions.”
Koreanna Kim, a fellow chemistry student who worked alongside Castell, emphasized how the research connects organic chemistry to real-world applications.
“Our work combines organic synthesis with the broader goal of developing compounds that could have meaningful applications in medicine,” Kim said. “It’s fascinating to see how small changes in structure can lead to entirely different outcomes in terms of biological activity.”
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration in the research process.
“Being able to share ideas, learn from others, and support each other made the process both more effective and more enjoyable,” Kim said.
Kim described presenting at the competition as both exciting and rewarding, noting that it helped her build confidence in communicating complex scientific ideas.
Another Sonoma State student, Daniel Downey, a senior double majoring in physics and mathematics, presented research focused on predicting theoretical particles associated with supersymmetry – an extension of the Standard Model of particle physics.
Downey’s work explores how fundamental particles interact and seeks to model the behavior of theoretical particles that could be detected in future high-energy particle colliders. He became interested in particle physics through coursework, faculty mentorship, and research opportunities at Sonoma State.
One of the primary challenges in his research involved working with simulated data, where maintaining accuracy depended on generating sufficient data points to improve reliability. He described the competition as a positive experience and said he found it engaging to present complex topics like supersymmetry to an interested audience. Downey plans to continue pursuing research in particle physics and attend graduate school.
Another Sonoma State student, Dylan Vargas, a senior double majoring in business and economics, presented research examining how diversity, equality, and inclusion announcements impact company stock prices.
Vargas said his project builds on earlier research he conducted, analyzing how corporate policy decisions affect financial markets.
“I originally worked on a project looking at minority loan policies and their impact on stock performance, and I wanted to expand that research with a larger sample size,” Vargas said.
He analyzed approximately 60 companies and found that market reactions to DEI-related announcements varied depending on the firm.
“Some companies experienced negative impacts, while others saw positive movement in their stock prices,” he said. “That was something I expected, but it was interesting to see it confirmed in the data.”
Vargas described presenting at the competition as both nerve-racking and rewarding.
“I had never been to San Jose State before, so it was a new environment,” he said. “I was definitely nervous, especially answering questions from the judges, but it ended up being a really fun experience.”
He added that the event provided valuable experience and encouraged other students to participate.
“Everyone should do it at least once,” Vargas said. “It’s a great opportunity to share your work and just enjoy the experience.”
Dominik Fett, a graduate student in biology at Sonoma State University, presented research on bull kelp dispersal and how kelp forests regenerate along the California coast.
His work focuses on how kelp spores spread through the ocean and where they successfully settle to form new growth. Fett said the research is particularly relevant given the dramatic decline of kelp forests along Northern California’s coastline in recent years.
“Kelp loss has been severe in Northern California, with up to 90 percent disappearing after major marine heat wave events about a decade ago,” Fett said. “Restoration efforts now focus on things like urchin removal and understanding how remaining kelp can regrow.”
Fett added that kelp forests still produce a large number of spores, but recovery depends on whether those spores successfully settle and survive.
He became interested in marine ecosystems during his undergraduate studies and, through research experience, focused on ocean systems and environmental change.
“It was a really good experience,” Fett said of the competition. “Ten minutes isn’t too long, but it was a great practice for communicating the research clearly.”
Another Sonoma State student, Joshua Kozlowski, a senior majoring in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and history, presented research examining traffic patterns along U.S. Highway 101 during and after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County.
Working alongside faculty mentor Dr. Shott, Kozlowski analyzed how the wildfire affected traffic density – the number of vehicles occupying a mile of roadway – during the emergency and in the years following the fire. The project used data from the California Department of Transportation Performance Measurement System and the open-source Traffic Data Analyzer to model traffic before, during, and after the wildfire.
“The Tubbs Fire was of particular interest to us because of its unique circumstances of crossing US 101 and affecting both sides of the highway,” Kozlowski said.
Kozlowski said he became interested in the project after seeing classmates involved in research and deciding to pursue a topic connected to both mathematical modeling and local history.
“Personally, this topic was relevant to me because I am local to the area, and I remembered the fires from when I was in school,” he said.
One of the most surprising findings, Kozlowski said, was how quickly traffic density recovered following the wildfire.
“We initially thought that the county would take some time to recover to pre-fire levels of density,” he said. “We were not expecting that traffic density would recover and, in some areas, increase in comparison to before the fire.”
He said the project also involved technical challenges, including instances where traffic detectors failed to provide usable data during the fire.
Kozlowski described presenting at the CSU Student Research Competition as a valuable learning experience that allowed him to engage with students across disciplines from universities throughout the CSU system.
“It was a good experience and a good opportunity to learn overall,” he said.
Other Sonoma State students presented research spanning disciplines such as environmental science, engineering, and social sciences, with projects addressing topics including wildfire impact, search and rescue technology, and financial market behavior and efforts to diversify consumer demographics in the wine industry.
For many participants, the competition offered an opportunity not only to present their work but also to gain experience communicating complex ideas to broader audiences.
The CSU Student Research Competition is held annually and serves as a platform for students to showcase their academic work while connecting with peers and researchers from across the CSU system.
