To celebrate the first cycle of the Printemps of the Elon University of Printemps on April 29, Elon highlights several students presenting their research in the annual tradition of the campus.
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College can be a great transition, but researchers at Elon University, including Patrick Fahnoe ’27, study how they can facilitate this transition.
Fahnoe, a major in biology, is part of a research team for a study examining behavioral changes and long -term health risks linked to the transition of a secondary school in college. In 2021, Elon received a three -year subsidy National Institutes of Health, allowing researchers to follow high school elders during their first year at university to assess their risk of developing metabolic syndrome, a precursor of cardiovascular disease.
The specific field of Fahnoe of this study examines the relationship between stress produced from admission to college and the movement process to body composition factors, such as the percentage of body fat and inflammation factors. More than a year, a high school student who visits Elon for a visit or a program is recruited and goes through a first series of tests, before finishing their second round if they return to Elon as a student or attend another college.
During their tests, students are tested for the variability of heart rate and arterial rigidity, their anthropometry is verified to calibrate the VRC and as equipment, and the blood is taken to determine the biomarkers. Between the tests, Fahnoe and other researchers study the sleep models and the activity levels via monitors worn throughout the daily life of the participants. Overall, 186 participants have registered and 80 should finish it in full, which represents approximately a completion rate of 43% for this year’s study.
Svetlana Nepocatych, professor of science of exercise, welcomed Fahnoe in the study and became her mentor. She, as well as researchers like Christina Westbrooks ’23, she nash ’25, Kaitlyn Sumner ’25 and Carolyn Oliver ’24, taught him to take blood from the participants and carry out tests.
“She is very willing to let us make our own mistakes, this is how I learned and grew up in this study,” said Fahnoe. “It is very involved, very willing to help us with everything we need, and I don’t think this project is the same without it.”
Fahnoe, whose main work is to take the blood of the participants and test blood, can receive a variety of information, such as cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (HDL), triglycerides and levels of Alanine transaminase. Fahnoe specifically studies interleukin-6 (IL6) in the blood because it is an inflammatory factor closely linked to invisible diseases such as stress and depression. In addition, Fahnoe and her team also carry out double energy X -ray absorptiometry (DXA), which provides information on the bone density of subjects, fat and lean mass.
Before coming to Elon, Fahnoe remembers visiting the scholarship weekends, hearing about the study and wanting to be part of it as a participant or researcher. During his general chemistry class I, Carolyn Oliver ’24 spoke to Fahnoe about his participation in the study, and there was an opening for another researcher.
“I said” absolutely yes “, and when I jumped in the study, it was just a stupid pure chance that I had the opportunity,” said Fahnoe.
The three -year study of the study of the study will end at the end of May and next year, Fahnoe and his team will start an in -depth analysis of the data. Fahnoe says that research projects like this give Science Majors a “first glance behind the curtain”, because students can implement the scientific method in real situations with public impacts.
“I am issuing the hypothesis that there will be an increase in stress, as well as changes in body composition factors like weight,” said Fahnoe. “The percentage of fat could be up or down because people have different answers to stress, but we are planning a change despite everything.”
Fahnoe presented her work during Spring undergraduate forum in April. During the surf day, all the other activities of the campus are suspended so that the Elon community can meet around creative efforts and student research efforts. The first cycle research is also one of Elon’s five experiences, which offer a natural work extension that students do in class and ensure that Elon graduates are prepared for both higher education and careers.
Fahnoe believes that the study of the transition to college in a university is important because it allows Elon and other colleges to better educate future students on the physical and mental changes that they will experience a first -year student and to help better in the process. Having a biological explanation with data to save these results can underline the message.
“This could be incorporated as a first -year orientation message saying:” It’s university. You will be stressed and undergo changes. Here are some preliminary resources to treat this and places to contact for additional help. “”
Fahnoe wishes to extend this project with more participants and a more in -depth analysis of the impact of any preexisting stress, and if the existence of these stress factors affects stress produced during the transition to college.