About
Gonzaga’s Jesuit, Catholic, Humanistic education will challenge and inspire you.
SIRC 2027 will be hosted by Gonzaga University on April 24th, 2027
The Mission
The Spokane Intercollegiate Research Conference (SIRC) provides an opportunity for students from a wide variety of majors and disciplines to present their research and creative works, receive meaningful feedback, and develop scholarly community. SIRC is a great opportunity for students at all levels of their academic career to gain practice speaking and presenting as well as experience a conference environment in a relaxed, friendly setting while learning about the wealth of research in our community.
About the Conference
SIRC is organized by Gonzaga University and Whitworth University, alternating between campuses each year. This celebration of primarily undergraduate research is open to all students in the Spokane area and costs nothing to attend. Students can choose to present a poster, deliver an oral presentation, or exhibit their creative work.
Although this event primarily supports undergraduate research, SIRC provides a venue for all students in our community to celebrate their research as well. This conference is open to the public. We look forward to seeing you at SIRC!
Distinguished Poster Award Winners from SIRC 2026
PP. 2. Affects of Protein Encoding Gene TTY on Sleep in Drosophila
Carter Wittler – Gonzaga University
PP. 9. Examination of key residues for activity and substrate specificity in a prolyl diaminopeptidase from Lb. helveticus via site-directed mutagenesis
Kenny Tran & Cora Jordan – Whitworth University
PP. 17. Investigating TOR signaling through experimental evolution of caffeine-tolerant S. cerevisiae
Ella Tran – Gonzaga University
PP. 18. The Effects of Soil Disturbance on Seed Bank Regeneration and Native-Invasive Grass Establishment
Sophia Touchette – Gonzaga University
PP. 21. Investigating the impact of glyphosate-containing herbicides on Aeromonas growth
Deeya Chandran – Gonzaga University
PP. 23. FAAH Expression in a Depression Model of Rat after Aerobic Exercise
McKenzie Hernandez & Jennifer Fulton – Whitworth University
PP. 24. Comparing the effectiveness of audio and visual searches in measuring anuran biodiversity in Costa Rica
Zach Engelson, Olivia Hughes, & Brayden Toner – Whitworth University
PP. 28. Micro-Dosing Animal Interventions for Nurse Wellness: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Fallon Rooney, Dua Shahbaz, & Keelie Halsted – Saint George’s School
PP. 30. Differences in the Nucleolar Response After Different Types of DNA Damage
Kelsey Sakraida – Gonzaga University
PP. 32. Understanding Patient Perception of Consent in Office Based Procedures
Liliana Castle – Gonzaga University
PP. 34. Predicting Uptake and Release of VOCs and SVOCs Detected After Wildland Urban Interface Fires from Plastic Drinking Water Pipes
Corrado Masciocchi – Gonzaga University
PP. 36. Running Toward Relief: How Exercise Shapes Depression-Epilepsy Interactions in SwHi & SwLo Rats
Emily Needham – Whitworth University
PP. 45. The Effects of Model-Lead-Test Instruction and Precision Teaching on Receptive Letter–Sound Identification by an Elementary Student with Disabilities and Who Was a Refugee in a Resource Room Setting
Zaidee Smith – Gonzaga University
PP. 51. The Ways Cultures of Clinicians and Clients Impact Therapy
Megan Hirasaki – Whitworth University
PP. 56. Regional disparities in organ donation: A statistical analysis
Caitlin Duffy – Gonzaga University