Current Academic Year Grant Recipients

Undergraduate Research Grants in 2024 – 2025    

“Structure-Activity Relationships of Methyl Benzoate Analogs as Repellents Against Spotted-wing Drosophila”
     Student: Rasha Alzyoud
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

“Image Data Poisoning Attacks on Machine Learning Models”
     Student: Manyaka Anjorin
     Mentor: Dr. Akshita Maradapu Vera Venkata Sai (Computer & Information Sciences)

“Substituted Amide Semi-Reduction ”
     Student: Jennifer Buckshaw
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry)

“Optical Band Gap Variance of STO Induced by Oxygen Reduction”
     Student: Zachary J. Dietz
     Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani & Dr. Jeffrey Simpson (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Manipulating TLR4 Surface Expression to Investigate its Influence on UV-Induced Cell”
     Student: Shae Downes
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Extraction of Organic Components from Smokeless Gunpowder”
     Student: Malia Foreman
     Mentor: Dr. Ellen Hondrogiannis (Chemistry)

“Magnetic, Optical, and Electronic Transport Properties of the FeCuB Compounds”
     Student: Lukas Hamann
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Determination of Iron and Copper Content in Fe-Cu-B Compositional Spread”
     Student: Tyler Hannesson
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“The Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Plant Development ”
     Student: Rebecca Harasymczuk
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Analyzing Students Graph Reasoning, Construction, and Selection”
     Student: Chase Frater
     Student: Audrey Gianelle
     Student: Aidan Powell
     Mentor: Dr. Kristin Frank (Mathematics)

“Exploring the Effect of TcpC NADase Activity on Planarian Clearance of E.coli”
     Student: Amina Daniels
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Applying Newly Designed Genetic Markers to Analyze the Population Connectivity of a Disperal-limited Coastal Species”
     Student: Abi Millholland
     Mentor: Dr. Wilbur Ryan (Biological Sciences)

“Extraction and Characterization of Organic Gunshot Residue from Gunpowders.”
     Student: Efosa Owie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)

“Investigating Maternal Transfer of Microbiota Through Eggshells in Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica)”
     Student: Attia Robinson
     Mentor: Dr. Steven Kimble (Biological Sciences)

“Effects of TirC in Dictyostelium edited by CRISPR-Cas9”
     Student: Daniel Sackey
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Polarization Reflectometry for Determination of Optical Anisotropy of TiN/AIN Metamaterial Superconductors”
     Student: Thomas Snarski
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Assessing Oviposition Deterrence of Spotted-wing Drosophila by Voltile Organic Compounds”
     Student: Juan Marquez Vargas
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

“Exploring gp94's Role in Lytic Growth of Phage Alexphander”
     Student: James-Antoni Wilson
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry)

“Capacitance of Electroactive Gold Cluster”
     Student: Jakob Winterle
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Sajini Devadas (Chemistry)