Volume 3, Issue 1 (2025) Issue 1

Dear Reader,

It brings me great joy to present the first issue of Volume 3 of The Cardinal Edge (TCE), the University of Louisville’s pioneering undergraduate research journal. TCE provides a platform for students to showcase their invaluable contributions as the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders to the ever-growing research community at UofL. The work of UofL students showcases their ability to engage in meaningful academic discussions with peers, faculty, and community discourse around the globe.

This year’s issue covers a wide range of topics, traveling back in time to consider the work of Aristotle to the present understanding of the nuclear function in Parkinson’s disease. This issue also includes three spotlight interviews highlighting faculty research addressing topics of neuroplasticity of the brain, glioblastoma, and the role of AI in modern engineering research. We proudly announce TCE’s Best Paper of 2024-25, Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal: The Complete Story of America’s Forgotten Fruit, a study of the fruit commonly known as pawpaw to understand its agricultural and ecological benefits.

During this publication cycle, TCE increased our staff by fifteen first-year members and worked with countless graduate students and faculty reviewers, whose insight and expertise continue to serve as the foundation of our journal. Partnering with the Center for Engaged Learning, we have continued with the publication of the third supplemental issue to the journal, which will feature 30 abstracts from UofL’s undergraduate research symposiums.

We would like to express our gratitude to our faculty advisor, Dr. Mark Running whose continuing guidance and advice has been pivotal to TCE’s success. We are also grateful to Dr. Paul DeMarco, Director of the Center for Engaged Learning, for his sponsorship and support. Alongside the staff of the CEL and the ThinkIR team who have been a tremendous anchor in making this journal possible. Thank you to our researchers, reviewers, and most importantly, you—the reader—for supporting undergraduate research and innovation at UofL.

In my time as the Executive Editor-in-Chief of TCE, I have been in awe of the commitment and hard work of our journal staff. I am immensely grateful to my fellow editor-in-chief, editorial advisor, managing editors, and cohort team members for their diligence and passion in pushing us through this cycle as we continue to uphold the legacy left by our founding members. I am beyond excited to have served as an editor of TCE and look forward to witnessing its role in fostering a thriving undergraduate research community at UofL.

Happy reading,

Yaara Aleissa
Executive Editor-in-Chief

Gita Jaikumar
Associate Editor-in-Chief

Kamal Amirneni
Senior Editorial Advisor

Lindsey Lankford
Design Managing Editor

Preeti Tanwani
Review Managing Editor

Sireen Khader
Spotlight Managing Editor

Hailey Turiczek
Outreach Managing Editor