About the Research & Creative Achievement Conference
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Merrimack’s annual Research & Creative Achievement Conference celebrates faculty, graduate and undergraduate research and creative work.
The Research & Creative Achievement Conference aims to celebrate the incredible work that our Merrimack College community has accomplished. This day-long event will be held virtually and will showcase a wide variety of faculty, staff and student research and projects from the 2020-2021 academic year. We’re also proud to share that the McQuade Library’s annual Tolle Lege celebration will be held as an integral part of the conference this year. Go to Schedule
Welcome Message from the Provost
I want to welcome you to explore this year’s virtual Merrimack College Research & Creative Achievement Conference. At Merrimack, we are deeply committed to promoting and facilitating meaningful student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. This virtual conference is designed to highlight that commitment and celebrate academic and creative excellence of undergraduate and graduate student work. We are also honored to highlight mentored student work based on the College’s commitment to engagement with our community partners. These reciprocal and collaborative partnerships serve to enrich the scholarship, research and creative activity of our students and faculty while strengthening our institutional mission of fostering civic responsibility, addressing societal issues and contributing to the public good.
This year, we are also recognizing the research efforts of our faculty through school-based research presentations as well as our Tolle Lege Celebration. Established in 2003 and sponsored by McQuade Library, the Tolle Lege Collection recognizes and celebrates the academic scholarship of the Merrimack College community. This collection, housed in the library, showcases and preserves Merrimack community publications, and each year we celebrate Tolle Lege with a reception where selected faculty contributors speak about their work.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our student researchers and faculty collaborators and mentors have had to face additional challenges and roadblocks this spring. The fact that so many students were able to respond to and rise above these unprecedented challenges reminds us of the importance of perseverance and resourcefulness as well as creativity. At a time when we face so much difficult and sad news, it also helps to pause and take note of the continued accomplishments and good work of our students and faculty.
On behalf of Merrimack College, I applaud and commend the excellent student scholarship represented here and take great pride in their accomplishments.
John “Sean” Condon, Ph.D. Provost
Research & Creative Achievement Schedule: May 5, 2021
Faculty Presentations Register for events below to join some of our esteemed faculty from all schools as they deliver talks about their scholarly activities.
Student Presentations Register for live events below to join talks and discussions by students from this past year. Also, view posters and narrations celebrating students’ research and creative achievement.
A CULMINATION OF RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT
Last year’s conference on May 2, 2019 gathered together hundreds of students and faculty. All five schools were represented at the event where we highlighted a year of inspired work, dedication and creativity at Merrimack College.
<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5137-elie-ata-12-addresses-merrimack-community-at-fall"><h3>Elie Ata ’12 Addresses Merrimack Community at Fall 2021 Academic Convocation</h3></a> <p>Merrimack hosted its first in-person convocation ceremony since fall 2019 on Thursday, Sept. 2, at Duane Stadium. Students and faculty gathered to welcome the Class of 2025, address the rising Class of 2022 and officially commence the beginning of a new academic year. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22912_attathumbnail.rev.1631543145.jpg" alt="Dr. Elie Ata ’12 spoke at convocation and encouraged students to welcome change and embrace change in their own lives and communities. " loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5009-bring-on-the-merrimack-college-marching-band"><h3>Bring on the Merrimack College Marching Band</h3></a> <p>Merrimack has launched its inaugural marching band to accompany the College’s Division I athletic program. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22254_band1.rev.1612985404.jpg" alt="The Merrimack College Marching Band launched with 40 members and plans to grow to around 100 members who will provide entertainment at Merrimack’s Division I sports events." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5100-mens-basketball-coach-joe-gallo-receives-number-of"><h3>Men’s Basketball Coach Joe Gallo Receives Number of Awards</h3></a> <p>Merrimack College men’s basketball coach Joe Gallo is recognized with many honors after an incredible 2019-2020 season. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22752_gallo1.rev.1623789210.jpg" alt="Coach Joe Gallo has been recognized for a stunning 2019-2020 basketball season." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4921-faculty-fast-five-with-janet-ierardi"><h3>Faculty Fast Five with Janet Ierardi</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to obstetrics nurse and associate clinical professor of nursing Janet Ierardi who teaches in the <a href="/nursing">nursing program at Merrimack</a>. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21380_F5_Janet_Ierardi_Twitter.rev.1588791908.jpg" alt="The first in her family to attend college, Janet Ierardi has been teaching nursing for more than 15 years and tells her students to "squeeze every drop out of learning."" loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4947-merrimack-college-awarded-nsf-grant-for-machs"><h3>Merrimack College Awarded NSF Grant for MACHS Scholars Program</h3></a> <p>Merrimack secures NSF grant for new STEM program to support high-achieving, low-income students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21758_rickey-caldwell.rev.1599077275.jpg" alt="Principal Investigator Dr. Rickey Caldwell, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering" loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="https://www.merrimack.edu/about/offices_services/communications/notable-quotable/"><h3>See What Our Talented Faculty Have Been Up To</h3></a> <p>Merrimack professors across all disciplines have been winning awards, publishing papers, participating in academic panels and workshops, and featured in the media. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21759_MC-logo-only.rev.1599138227.jpg" alt="Merrimack College logo with shield" loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5138-merrimacks-rank-increases-in-us-news-world"><h3>Merrimack’s Rank Increases in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges List</h3></a> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Merrimack College continued its steady climb in the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/merrimack-college-2120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings this year,</a> leaping to 34th from 45th on the 2022 list released Monday, Sept. 13.</span> </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22916_Rankings_Web.rev.1631547229.jpg" alt="Merrimack College is #34 in U.S. News & World Reports regional rankings." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5015-obrien-foundation-invests-12m-to-provide-full"><h3>O’Brien Foundation Invests $1.2M to Provide Full Scholarships to Lynn Students</h3></a> <p>A gift from the James W. O’Brien Foundation will fund full tuition, room and board at Merrimack for Lynn scholars. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,630/ignore_cropper/1/22356_studentswalking.rev.1615482935.jpg" alt=" The scholarship program will begin this fall and support a select number of students over a 5-year period. " loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5082-merrimack-health-sciences-professor-receives-nih"><h3>Merrimack Health Sciences Professor Receives NIH Grant</h3></a> <p>Assistant Professor <a href="/live/profiles/1885-leena-bharath">Leena Bharath</a>, who teaches in the School of Health Sciences, has received $434,000 in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The awarded R15 grant will stretch over three years and is intended to support the training of undergraduate students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22693_Leena_Twitter_Web.rev.1621968068.jpg" alt="Assistant Professor Leena Bharath receives $434,000 in a grant from the National Institutes of Health." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4940-alumni-fast-five-with-nurse-lauren-maher-16"><h3>Alumni Fast Five with Nurse Lauren Maher ’16</h3></a> <p>In this week’s edition of “Fast Five: Quick Q&As with Members of the Merrimack Community,” we talk to alumnus Lauren Maher ’16. Lauren shares her path to becoming a nurse, how Merrimack influenced her career choice and how she’d like to come back and share her knowledge with current nursing students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/21675_LM-FF.rev.1594916487.jpg" alt="Merrimack alumnus and nurse Lauren Maher '16 advises students to know they don't have to have it all figured out while they are in college." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5045-new-partnership-brings-dei-to-high-school-students"><h3>New Partnership Brings DEI to High School Students</h3></a> <p>Be the CAUSE (Catalyst for Advocacy and Unified Student Empowerment) is a new community partnership between Merrimack and Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts which aims to bring diversity awareness training to high school students. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22567_Be_the_CAUSE_Web_Twitter.rev.1619615967.jpg" alt="The first workshop of Be the CAUSE shared resources, interactive exercises and focused on broadening student awareness by stressing intersectionality." loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/4948-merrimack-offers-new-global-pandemics-course-about"><h3>Merrimack Offers New Global Pandemics Course About COVID-19</h3></a> <p>Merrimack’s new course Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 offers students the opportunity to examine COVID-19 through the lens of multiple fields of study and practice. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2071/ignore_cropper/1/21746_DSC_6585.rev.1598540033.jpg" alt="Students in Global Pandemics: Challenges and Opportunities in the Context of COVID-19 will learn about the economics of pandemics, post-pandemic recoveries and more. " loading="lazy"/>
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<section class="content-fluid-slider-container content-fluid dark section" style="background:url('/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1631978831.jpg'); background-size:cover;"><div class="container"><div class="row no-gutters"><div class="col-lg-9"><span class="label">Office of Communications and Marketing</span><a class="hover-yellow" href="/live/news/5140-merrimack-mens-lacrosse-lends-helping-hand-to"><h3>Merrimack Men’s Lacrosse Lends Helping Hand to Project Home Again</h3></a> <p>On Saturday, Sept. 11, the <a href="https://merrimackathletics.com/sports/mens-lacrosse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Merrimack College men’s lacrosse team</a> spent the day helping <a href="https://www.phama.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Home Again</a> (PHA), a non-profit organization that provides low-income families in need with new and gently used household goods. </p></div><div class="col-lg-3"><div class="d-table h-100 "><div class="d-table-cell align-middle"><picture>
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<img src="/live/image/gid/67/width/1000/height/500/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1200,670/ignore_cropper/1/22925_pha1.rev.1631978831.jpg" alt="The Merrimack men’s lacrosse team helped Project Home Again move their warehouse from Lawrence to Andover." loading="lazy"/>
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