Poster Presentations

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  Investigation and Synthesis of 2-deoxy-PYR(MP)

  Juanita Monteiro-Pai

  Cellular energy metabolism is complex, and NAD, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, plays a huge role as an organic redox cofactor, driving metabolic reactions. The abundance of pathways dependent on NAD has led to an increase in the studies of NAD and its precursors. As a result, NR, or nicotinamide riboside, is now a popular nutraceutical taken to increase levels of NAD in the body. NR is a precursor to NAD inside cells. Metabolites with the same molecular formula as NR are found in urine and blood. Yet, NR is usually associated with these species in extracellular regions although NR is not stable extracellularly. Therefore, it is important to establish whether these metabolites could be species other than NR when studying NAD metabolism and turnover. Such isomers of NR include the three isomers of the 2’-deoxy-PYR series, also known as the 2’-deoxy-pyridone ribosides. These could be the extracellular species that are mistaken for NR. The 2’-deoxy-PYR are proposed to be byproducts of the hyper-oxidation of NAD. Although the 2’-deoxy-PYR molecules can be envisaged as derivatives of the known naturally occurring the 2 ,4, and 6 isomers of the pyridone ribosides PYR series, these deoxy-riboside species have never been synthesized. Due to the molecule's structure, it is hypothesized that it could be a substrate for DNA polymerases, possibly introducing mutations into healthy DNA. Because they are potentially biologically relevant, to test if these species are present in biological specimens, the synthesis of these molecules are of the utmost importance.

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  Testing for the Significance of Generational Differences on Opinions of Nuclear Power

  Eli Moore

  Different generations have different experiences from each other depending on the circumstances of the world they were raised in. As a result, different generations have different views of different controversial topics, and there are few topics as controversial as nuclear power. Throughout its history, it has been seen as both the solution to our energy problems, as well as a threat to the safety of life as we know it. This project aims to see if such a difference exists, and if so, what factors would be most influential in creating this difference? Would the past mistakes and catastrophes shape the views of newer generations? Or have the pressures and challenges of the modern era made people more amenable to the concept of nuclear power? We went about this by designing a survey to investigate variables we believe would affect a different generation’s views on nuclear power and then built a model to see if such views would change a person's opinions on nuclear power.

  In our findings, we found that there were significant differences between Gen Z and the Baby Bomers. Particularly on matters of nuclear abolishment. It appears that even though Baby Boomers on average are more supportive than Gen Z towards nuclear power they are also more likely to advocate for its abolishment. While Gen Z, despite being less supportive of nuclear power, viewed abolishing the industry as an extreme scenario with over half saying they were against it. Cumulatively both generations had the economy as the factor most likely to sway their stance on nuclear power.

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  Melting Point Predictions of Thermally Stable Ionic Liquids using a Machine Learning Approach

  Jarod Morris

  Thermally robust ionic liquids hold promise as high-temperature solvents, heat transfer fluids, and high-performance lubricants. These ionic liquids, inspired by thermoplastics like PEEK and PES, incorporate peraryl functional groups that lend them high thermal stability, however they often have melting points greater than 100 °C. A broad liquid range is usually desirable in most applications, so finding thermally robust ILs with lower melting points would significantly enhance their applicability. In this study, machine learning models are developed to make predictions of melting points for these thermally stable ionic liquids using a process called quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR). The methodology used to model these ionic liquids was adapted from a previous study that examined multiple different machine learning techniques in depth. Modeling was performed on the large and diverse set of 929 ionic liquids from this study, then on a set of 53 thermally stable ionic liquids, then on the combined data set. The performance of each model was evaluated using 10-fold cross validation and the calculation of Q2, which measures the predictive capacity of the model. This cross validation only considered the predictions of thermally stable ionic liquids since that is the overall intent of the modelling. From this cross validation, it was found that the model trained on both sets of data and had no outliers removed showed the greatest predictive capability (with a Q2 of .677) for thermally stable ionic liquids. This model is then used to predict ionic liquids from the thermally stable family with low melting points.

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  Survey of the Boletes from Fish River Nature Preserve

  Noah T. Nelson

  Boletes are a special kind of mushroom inside of the Kingdom Fungi that are distinguished from other mushrooms by their uniquely pored hymenium, as opposed to gills. Many boletes are ectomycorrhizal, meaning they are mutualists with vascular plants, and thus beneficial to the overall health of the terrestrial ecosystem. Some are well-known for their edibility and are of economic importance. In the United States 59 genus-level clades comprising 290 operational taxonomic units have been reported. The southeastern US and Gulf Coast regions however are less researched and recorded for their mushroom ecology. In Alabama, only 56 bolete species have been reported so far. Specimens in this project were collected from Baldwin and Mobile Counties, AL, with the majority of specimens collected at The Fish River Nature Preserve. The Fish River Nature Preserve (FRNP) is located south of Fairhope in Baldwin County, and was recently purchased by the South Alabama Land Trust Conservation group. This property includes an upper level section with a tract dominated by oaks and another by pines, which is fire-controlled, and one near the river dominated by palmetto palms.

  Upon collection, all collected specimens were brought from the field to the South Alabama campus lab for technical descriptions, imaging, freezing of a small tissue sample, dehydration preservation of the fruiting body, and storage of the specimen. Microscopic work followed that and included the measurement of basidiospores. A primary list of the suspected species of each specimen was created based on morphological descriptions, and spore measurements. The frozen tissue sample then underwent DNA extraction via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. Specimens that yielded DNA products were then uploaded into GenBan via Blasting to find matches of named sequences that are already in the GenBank database. A total of 26 specimens were collected at the FRNP and Mobile County. 19 of the 26 specimens' identities were confirmed via DNA blasting from which 2 were confirmed to the genus level and the other 17 the the species level. Those remaining 7 that did not yield a DNA confirmed identity were identified morphologically. Together with morphological descriptions and DNA confirmation, a total of 17 species were identified, and they include: A. russellii (NTN-16); B. alutaceus (NTN-09); B. vermiculosoides (NTN-21); E. floridanus (NTN-14); G. castaneus (NTN-01; NTN-03, NTN-06, NTN-12, NTN-17, NTN-22); H. rubellus (NTN-10, NTN-13); L. albellum (NTN-04, NTN-18); P. bellus (NTN-02); P. rhodoxanthus (NTN-15); S. floccopus (NTN-05); S. decipiens (NTN-23); T. balloui (NTN-11); T. rhoadsiae (NTN-08); T. rubrobrunneus (NTN-20, NTN-26); X.affine (NTN-24, NTN-25); X. intermedius (NTN-07); X. subtomentosus (NTN-19). One species, B. alutaceus (NTN-09) commonly known as the “Leather Colored Bolete” is a species native to New England that was identified on the FRNP with no previously reported collections in Southern Alabama.

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  Intergroup Contact, Beliefs About Gender, and Trans Prejudice

  Samantha Oyler

  Gordon Allport first proposed the Intergroup Contact Theory in 1954. According to his theory, contact between ingroup and outgroup members, under certain conditions, would lead to positive effects, specifically the reduction of prejudice. Since then, this theory has been expanded to include members of other majority/minority groups. Research suggests intergroup contact has positive effects for reduction of anti-trans prejudice. To date, the focus has largely been on the mechanisms driving changes in attitudes and intentions towards trans individuals through intergroup contact interventions. It is unclear whether this intervention might also promote the acquisition of more nuanced sociocultural understanding about gender, which could also explain a reduction in trans prejudice. This Honors Thesis Project will test the hypothesis that there is a parallel mediating effect of 1) beliefs about gender and 2) attitudes towards trans individuals in the association between imagined intergroup contact and behavioral intentions towards transgender individuals.

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  Impact of Salmonella enterica on Plant Physiology and Immunity

  Sara Qader

  Salmonella can colonize plant tissue effectively. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Salmonella’s interactions with plants is essential for developing effective strategies to reduce its impact on human health and agriculture. Effector proteins, known for their role in modulating host-pathogen interactions, have been implicated in the virulence and pathogenicity of Salmonella. However, their specific functions and contributions to Salmonella’s interactions with plants remain largely unknown. Here, we aim to investigate the functions of Salmonella effector proteins during the colonization of plants.

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  Civil Disobedience of Social Workers in Hospice

  Jamie Leigh Roper

  What is civil disobedience? Civil disobedience is often thought of as peaceful protesting or non-violent law breaking. However, the textbook definition is “the refusal to obey the demands or commands of a government or occupying power, without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition” (Britannica). Peaceful protesting has been an integral part of American history. Henry David Thoreau, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King Jr. were all civilly disobedient citizens who altered the course of history. Any and all protests, however, cannot be considered civil disobedience, since there are some requirements of this category.

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  DNA Methylation of the AGTR1 Gene in a Hypertensive Population of Kenyans

  Michael M. Roque

  Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death worldwide, is rapidly increasing in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly those of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)(World Health Organization). Hypertension is the leading risk factor for CVD and is a multifactorial disease with no single genetic cause. Increasingly, evidence indicates that hypertension is predisposed by environmental regulation of genes through heritable, yet modifiable, epigenetic changes to DNA leading to changes in gene expression, e.g. methylation. While understanding the etiology of hypertension in LMICs is a global priority, few epigenetic studies exist from populations living in SSA (Fan). The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is the primary hormonal pathway that regulates blood pressure through changes in salt and water retention. Previously, we have found a high prevalence of hypertension (55 % had systolic blood pressure (SBP) >130 mmHg) in a rural population of Kenyans that was not correlated with lifestyle or behavioral factors (Williams).

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  The Role of Inflammatory Cells in the Sex Dimorphism of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

  Erin M. Schreck

  Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a disease associated with high blood pressure specifically in the lung circulation. Symptoms include dyspnea and cyanosis, and the mean survival post-diagnosis is 2.8 years without treatment. PAH can be characterized by accumulating vascular damage which results in lesion formation causing a decrease in the diameter of vessels, obstruction of flow, and ultimately increased pressure on the right heart leading to failure. These lesions define an arteriopathy that is a hallmark of PAH which is, in part, dependent on infiltration of inflammatory cells into the vascular wall. PAH presents uniquely in males and females with females being diagnosed more often than males, but with males having a much worse prognosis than females. We recently reported that in the SUGEN/Hypoxia model of PAH there is increased circulating MCP-1 and GM-CSF, indicative of macrophage-driven infiltration. Further we found that CXCL-10 was increased in females, indicative of T-cell infiltration. We hypothesized that males would exhibit macrophage expression in the vascular wall, whereas females would have T-cell infiltration. Following histological staining of both male and female samples our preliminary data suggests females exhibit more T cells and male exhibit more macrophages. This data suggests unique inflammatory cell phenotypes that correlate with sex in PH.

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  The Attack on Addiction: Is it truly a choice?

  Amy L. Thomas

  Unfortunately, substance abuse and addiction have taken a chokehold on our nation. The modern opioid epidemic began sweeping our nation in the 1990’s. This epidemic has claimed the lives of nearly 645,000 to opioid overdose alone, from the 1990’s to 2021 according to information retained from the Center for Disease Control (Opioid data, 2023). Sadly, opioids are not the only abused substance sweeping our nation. Cocaine, heroin, barbiturates, stimulants, and benzodiazepines are also among the top ten abused substances within the United States of America (10 Most Common, 2024). As a nation, we have to understand what can be done to help, as we are all being affected by addiction, even if it is not within our own families. We see people suffering within our communities, in our streets or neighborhoods, and we need to understand how they got to this point and our role in solving the addiction epidemic for good. This will allow us to understand the ways we can help, or at least provide a bit of understanding and generate compassion for where they are in their lives. This thesis addresses the argument over addiction and choice, provides an understanding for how different substances alter the brain’s chemistry in different ways, and advocates for comprehensive knowledge of harm reduction, decriminalization, and de-escalation as the most effective solution to this crisis.

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  Gertrude Stein: Autobiography and Play

  Ryleigh Thornton

  By using Gertrude Stein’s two autobiographies, this thesis attempts to examine to use and evolution of play in writing. In The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, play stands within the language and games that Stein invites her readers to engage in. By using Roger Caillois’ characteristics of play, Stein’s writing can be seen as different from the high, serious modernism at the time with writers like William Faulkner and T.S. Eliot. After the publication of Toklas, Stein reverted into a crippling writer’s block because she could no longer find interest in the world to think and write about. However, after an experience with a dead Englishwoman, she was thrown back into a world of questions with no straightforward answer, which lead her to begin writing again. Everybody’s Autobiography is a meditation on these questions that haunted her at first but became a playful mystery to think about.

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  Tripartite Influence Model of Body Image and Disordered Eating among Female Athletes: Testing an Expanded Model

  Emma Nyrup Tonsberg

  The aim of the study was to investigate how different sources of sociocultural pressure (family, media, peers) described in the Tripartite Influence Model, and additions of teammate- and coach pressures, were associated with thinness-and muscularity internalization and appearance comparisons among athletes. Subsequently, these potential mechanisms were explored as predictors of disordered eating among athletes. Analyses included 71 female athletes. Athletes were recruited through a student subject pool recruitment portal, as well as with local and regional flyers and emails. Participants completed a series of self-report measures in Qualtrics. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. Partial support for the Tripartite Model was found. Results indicated that media pressures were significantly associated with thin ideal internalization and appearance comparisons. Teammate and coach pressures were not associated with ideal internalization or appearance comparisons. Significant associations were found between athletic ideal internalization and engagement in excessive muscle building and exercise behavior. Significant associations also were found between appearance comparisons and binge eating. This research helps highlight the importance of developing targeted interventions for athletes, with particular attention to the media, thin- and athletic ideal internalization, and appearance comparisons.

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  Effect of Stakeholder Capitalism After the 2019 Business Roundtable Pledge

  Maximiliano Villarreal-Castro

  There has been a shift towards a new model of corporate operation, one which prioritizes not only the company shareholders but anyone affected by its operations, i.e., stakeholders. Although many believe this is a path towards a more equitable future, others fear it could cause agency issues. As a result, companies that focus on ESG/Stakeholder Capitalism may experience the adverse effects of slow growth, costing shareholders, employers, and employees in the long term.

  To determine if there was an impact from 'The Shift' to an ESG model by the major corporations, this study compared internal (accounting) and external (market) data. The sample comprised members who signed the 2019 Business Roundtable Pledge. The pledge signed on August 19, 2019, stated that all companies that agreed to sign would begin to adopt a model of ESG/Stakeholder Capitalism.

  For the accounting data, changes in selected ratios were compared between the years 2017 to 2022. The market data was analyzed during the set timeframe of 120 days before 'The Shift' to 120 days thereafter. There were very few significant results between the tested variables and accounting ratios, supporting no effect, which implies firms may be greenwashing. The market data test shows that there is little evidence that investors are concerned about switching to stakeholder capitalism. In general, we conclude there was not much change in companies' activities that would affect these variables; however, more testing is needed.

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  An Actuarial Prediction of ADHD Using Neuropsychological Data

  Kimberlyn Williams

  Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common psychiatric diagnosis in children and a frequent psychiatric diagnosis in adults. ADHD is a clinical diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms which makes accurate diagnosis challenging. Actuarial prediction has been demonstrated to be more accurate than clinical judgment. The current study explored an actuarial approach to predicting ADHD based on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. This project utilized test data from Meyers Neuropsychological Battery (MNB) to develop a logistic regression model to accurately predict diagnosed ADHD cases (n=65) from normal functioning cases (n=79) with a history of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to refine a predictive ADHD model based on all available test data. The final model correctly identified 73.4% of total cases. The model had 53.8% accuracy in identifying cases diagnosed with ADHD (sensitivity) and 90.5% accuracy in identifying the normal functioning mTBI control cases (specificity). This model was then compared to a theory-driven model of tests commonly associated with impaired performance in ADHD. The theory-driven model did not perform better than the data driven model. Further, as the data driven model was composed of predictor tests that are not typically associated with cognitive deficits in ADHD, the presented algorithm may be more robust to malingering than other diagnostic methods.

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  Enabling More Efficient Solar Thermal Energy Production and Storage

  Allan Wilson

  Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) stores & transfers energy using a Thermal Energy Storage Fluid (EIA AEO 2022)

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  Effect of Temperature on the Microbiome of a Laboratory Reared Colony of Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks

  Brianna Mitchell

  Honors research poster.

  Haemaphysalis longicornis is a species of tick native to eastern Asia, including eastern China, Japan, eastern Russia, and Korea. To date, it has invaded and has now established its existence in Australia, New Zealand, and several of the Pacific Islands. This species of tick has recently been introduced to the United States, having a confirmed sighting in November 2017 on a sheep farm in New Jersey and since establishing populations in 18 states along the east coast and Appalachia. Based on the existing locations of H. longicornis in its native regions, as well as in the United States, several models have been produced to help understand its potential geographic range expansion. One model based on current locations of H. longicornis suggests this species will continue to spread especially in areas of warm, humid environments, including southeastern parts of North America, as well as Mexico and Central America. Another model, however, suggests H. longicornis is more likely to spread in the New England area and drift no further south than Tennessee and no further west than Oklahoma. Because of the uncertainty associated with the geographic range expansion of the invasive H. longicornis tick in North America, it is important to understand the role of temperature and how it affects the microbiome, specifically in H. longicornis ticks. Our objective is to gain a baseline understanding of the effect of environmental temperature on microbial population structure and tissue localization of certain bacteria within female H. longicornis ticks.

  HYPOTHESIS AND AIMS: My hypothesis was that H. longicornis ticks would have less bacterial diversity of Coxiella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Pseudomonas spp. within their microbiome at 4 degrees C and 20 degrees C. Ticks at 30 degrees C would have higher bacterial diversity.

  Aim 1 was to examine the effect of environmental temperature on bacterial diversity and population structure within female H. longicornis ticks.

  Aim 2 was to examine and assess the effect of temperature on tissue localization of certain bacteria within H. longicornis ticks.

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  Examining NDUFAB1 Expression in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  Addison Stevens

  Honors research poster.

  Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is approximately 4% of all cancers and 2% of all cancer associated mortality in the United States. In 2023, there will be an estimated 67,000 new cases of HNSCC, along with 15,400 deaths, in the United States. HNSCC locations include the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. Major risk factors for HNSCC include tobacco use, alcohol use, and human papilloma virus (HPV). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is currently the only approved molecular targeted therapy for HNSCC. Therefore, new therapeutics and biomarkers for HNSCC are warranted. Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles that are a major source of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Respiratory complex alterations reprogram metabolism and promote oncogenesis. Understanding respiratory complex alterations could provide insight for new therapeutic and biomarker development. NDUFAB1 is a nuclear-encoded protein of respiratory complex I (NADH dehydrogenase) in the electron transport chain. Previous studies have shown increased expression of NDUFAB1 in HNSCC compared to normal tissues. Previous studies also found abundant NDUFAB1 expression to be associated with clinical stage, tumor grade, HPV status, lymph node metastasis, and lower rates of survival.

  Hypothesis: NDUFAB1 is abundantly expressed in HNSCC and predicts poor prognosis of these patients.

  Specific Aim 1: Determine and compare NDUFAB1 protein expression in human head and neck cancer tissues to normal tissues by immunohistochemistry.

  Specific Aim 2: Examine the clinico-pathological correlation of NDUFAB1 expression in predicting HNSCC outcome. This is accomplished by comparing data outcome from aim 1 with patients’ clinical stage, histological grade, sex, age, and survival.

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  Applying MCI-062, a Novel Pan-RAS Inhibitor, to Treat KRAS-Mutant Lung Cancer.

  Richard Fu

  Honors thesis poster presentation.

  RAS, one of the most prevalent oncogenes, is mutated in 27% of human cancers. Gainof- function RAS mutations activate multiple downstream pathways, including the RASRAF- MEK-ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, which are critical in tumorigenesis and cancer cell proliferation. The RAS proteins KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS along with their downstream effectors are attractive targets for cancer therapy since they act as frequent drivers in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. However, RAS proteins have relatively smooth surfaces that lack traditional binding pockets, making inhibitors specific to RAS difficult to create. Recently, a novel small molecule pan-RAS inhibitor named MCI-062 was developed in Dr. Gary Piazza's Drug Discovery Research Center at the Mitchell Cancer Institute. As a pan-RAS inhibitor, MCI-062 is hypothesized to serve as a targeted therapy for RAS-mutant cancers regardless of mutation isoform, including all types of KRAS-mutant lung cancers. The inhibitory effects of MCI-062 were tested on the growth and proliferation of two non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H358, using colony formation assays. The cells were plated onto 12-well plates, treated with varying concentrations of MCI-062 in duplicate, and then digitally imaged and analyzed. A549 cells have a KRASG13D mutation, while H358 cells have a KRASG12C mutation. The results indicate that MCI-062 effectively suppresses the growth and proliferation of both A549 and H358 cells despite their differing mutation isoforms, suggesting that MCI-062 successfully functions as a pan-RAS inhibitor.

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  Deficits in Health Literacy and Inadequacies of Specialized Health Care in the South for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients

  Kaleb Kittrell

  Honors Thesis poster presentation.

  Health literacy is a constantly evolving concept that requires similarly evolving adaptation and specialization of health care to increase the quality of life for all. One demographic that is largely ignored when it comes to research in health literacy, specifically in the traditional South, is the d/Deaf and hard of hearing/Hard of Hearing (DHH) population. The purpose of this study is to determine the general health literacy of this specific demographic and compare results with that of other demographics to highlight the anticipated deficit in health literacy levels and emphasize the critical need for specialized care. This prospective, non-experimental, descriptive study utilized online survey software to gather anonymous general health literacy levels of those that self-identify as DHH. This survey consisted of the Short Assessment of Health Literacy 􀂱 English (SAHL-E) to determine health literacy level and follow-up questions based on trauma in healthcare. Out of 10 participants, all scored greater than or equal to 14, demonstrating good health literacy. Eight of these participants provided thoughtful responses to the questions about trauma and healthcare. Upon analysis, the data shows that regardless of socio-economic status, those who are DHH are in need of accommodations that allow for consistent, high quality health care. This data contributes not only to the realization of reality for the DHH in health care settings, but also the nationwide goal of increasing general health literacy and thus the quality of life.

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  Comparing Composite Severe Weather Indices of Thunderstorm Activity on Sea-Breeze and Non-Sea-Breeze Days in the Mobile, Alabama Area

  Elizabeth Seiler

  Poster for the Honors Thesis project.

  Sea breezes (SB) occur frequently from May through October along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coast. One reason why SBs interest forecasters is their ability to spawn summertime thunderstorms, which can cause flash flooding, lightning, and hail. However, forecasting the exact timing and location of SB-driven convection can be challenging. This thesis will focus on Mobile and Baldwin Counties in southwest Alabama, which experience two types of phenomena – SBs along the Gulf of Mexico Coast and bay breezes on either side of Mobile Bay. Over the past years, multiple undergraduate students have analyzed Mobile, Alabama radar imagery of past SB seasons and categorized each day between May 1st and October 31st into one of four categories: Dry SB Days, Convective SB Days, Dry Non-SB (NSB) Days, and Convective NSB Days. Atmospheric balloon (or sounding) data from Slidell, Louisiana is also archived and available from the Wyoming Weather Web (http://weather.uwyo.edu/upperair/sounding.html). Severe weather indices (SWI), which are used to predict the likelihood of thunderstorm formation, can be calculated from sounding data. Using a ten-year archive of SB seasons, we calculated composite (or average) SWIs for each of the four categories by reading in individual soundings from the ten-year archive.

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  Lost in Time and Lost in Space: Chronotopes in Thomas Pynchon’s Against the Day

  Stephen Margavio

  Honors thesis poster presentation.

  In his 1937 essay “Forms of Time and of the Chronotope in the Novel,” Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin coins the term “chronotope” to discuss the inherently interconnected nature of time and space in narrative constructions. According to Bakhtin, there are a number of specific chronotopes (or space/time configurations) that help to define literary genres. Applying Bakhtin’s concepts to Thomas Pynchon’s novel Against the Day (2006), this thesis examines how the idea of narrative space/time can clarify Pynchon’s use of genre to make socio-political commentary. The first chapter of this thesis focuses on Bakhtin’s “road chronotope,” which is characterized by the chance meeting of people in spaces devoted to movement and transport. In such narrative spaces, we often witness the condensation of social class, time, and history. New York City functions as such a space in Against the Day, and Bakhtin’s ideas help explain how and why Pynchon can embed the 9/11 tragedy inside a scene set nearly a hundred years earlier. The second chapter focuses on Bahktin’s “threshold chronotope.” In fiction, the threshold chronotope is a temporal space removed from the normal flow of narrative time, and often the setting for a character’s extended inaction or contemplation in a moment of crisis. One recurring group of characters in Against the Day is called The Chums of Chance, a group of boy aeronauts who crew the airship Inconvenience. The narrative intentionally separates the Chums from the other characters both physically and metaphorically. Using Bakhtin’s idea of the threshold chronotope helps clarify their position in the novel, explaining why they are often presented as more fictional than the other characters. Moreover, the Chums’ position on the threshold of the novel’s action distances them from the real historical events that are described, providing readers with space and time to contemplate the novel’s political import.