Previous Researchers of the Month
October 2024: Jack Suggs
Jack Suggs is a senior majoring in behavioral neuroscience with a minor in chemistry who plans to graduate this spring. For the past year, Jack has worked with Dr. Josh Melko, an Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, on computational chemistry, physical chemistry, and organic chemistry methods to elucidate molecular kinetic and reaction pathways. From this experience, Jack has been able to present their research at multiple on-campus symposia, including the state-wide 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), which was held on the 老澳门资料 campus this past February. In addition, this past spring, Jack and Dr. Melko successfully applied for and received a $2,000 Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities (U-RSCA) Training Grant from the OUR to support their research on water-mediated organic reactions. Now, Jack and Dr. Melko are currently in the final steps of preparing an article for publication. When reflecting on his favorite part of the research process, Jack has particularly enjoyed working in a laboratory environment, as it’s “a totally unique work environment and is very individual-driven.” Working in Dr. Melko’s lab has also allowed Jack to refine his general laboratory skills and data analysis and pattern recognition abilities, along with gaining experience with computational chemistry applications, kinetic data applications, and mass spectrometers. After he graduates next May, Jack hopes to advance into a PhD program. His advice for other students seeking to gain research experience is to, “Reach out early and don’t beat yourself up - most professors are always looking for more research students, and if they’re not, then they know who is and are happy to oblige. It’s also important not to be hard on yourself. At an undergraduate-level, professors will be expecting dedication and application, but they certainly won’t be expecting you to be an expert in anything yet.”
September 2024: Susie Mabry
Susie Mabry is a junior majoring in international studies with a minor in political science. Currently, Susie works with Dr. Anne Pfister, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SASW), who specializes in medical and socio-linguistic anthropology research. This past summer, Susie received a SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship) award from the College of Arts and Sciences to support her research with Dr. Pfister, which involved investigating the relationship between humans and insects through the lens of local and indigenous people in Oaxaca, Mexico, which they did through the making of a short ethnographic film. Susie recently presented their findings in poster format at 老澳门资料's annual summer student research symposium, ARISE (Advancements in Research, Inquiry, and Scholarship Exhibition) this past July, and she also plans to present their footage at both the 2024 Florida Digital Humanities (FLDH) Conference and the 2024 American Anthropological Association (AA) Annual Meeting this fall. Additionally, Susie and Dr. Pfister plan to publish their work in an upcoming volume of Teaching and Learning Anthropology, and PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas, which showcases outstanding student work at 老澳门资料. When reflecting on her favorite part of her research experiences, Susie particularly enjoys building relationships with her film subjects and “expanding [her] toolkit as a documentarian by learning and incorporating ethnographic techniques.” Through her work with Dr. Pfister, she has also appreciated being able to “demonstrate and deepen [her] values as a storyteller [by] seeking to elevate indigenous knowledge and advocate for a sustainable future.” After she graduates this fall, Susie plans to attend graduate school for a degree in either public policy or documentary production.
August 2024: Megan Herrman, Khalil Payne and Grace Raper
Megan Herrman, a senior majoring in Music Performance and Music Education, Khalil Payne, a sophomore Music Performance major, and Grace Raper, a senior studying Music Education and Music Performance, recently spent their summer participating in the Ascent International Cello Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, and researching bodily awareness and its relation to efficient practicing in cello performance. As part of their research and participation in the festival, Megan, Khalil, and Grace were able to study with renowned cello professors from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music and explore new techniques for playing the cello efficiently without causing injury or strain. From this experience, they shared their findings in the form of a poster at ARISE 2024, 老澳门资料’s annual student summer symposium. After they graduate from 老澳门资料, all three students aim to continue their education in graduate school: Megan plans to pursue a master’s degree in cello performance, grow her studio of cello students, and then teach cello at the university level; Grace intends to pursue a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in cello performance, open up her own private cello studio, and teach college students; and after he leaves the Nest, Khalil plans to attend graduate school for a master’s in music performance and then become a solo artist who plays in chapter ensembles and/or a symphony orchestra. Their advice to students interested in gaining research experience is “to choose a topic that is closely related to the area [you] are studying” as it allows you to “apply the research directly to [your] work,” and to keep in mind that “participating in research projects can open the doors of not only future collaborations and colleagues, but it may [also] present information that could be significant to someone or a group.”
July 2024: MuhammadMahdi Nabi
MuhammadMahdi Nabi is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in leadership and has been involved in undergraduate research since his first year at 老澳门资料. His first research experience was with Dr. Eirin McBride (Sullivan) from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, where he worked with her for two semesters during his freshman year on a project focusing on analyzing fingerprints through chemical agents. Then, during his sophomore year, MuhammadMahdi worked with Dr. AmirHossein MajidiRad from the School of Engineering on a project investigating the use and effects of robotics on manufacturing and medical industries, while also working with Dr. Jutima Simisiriwong from the School of Engineering on a project involving analyzing pipes using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Near the end of his sophomore year, MuhammadMahdi began working with Dr. Alexandra Schonning from the School of Engineering on a project analyzing plantar fascia and skin illnesses by designing models in Geomagic Wrap and Minmic, which are then transferred over to FEA samples using NX software. From his research project with Dr. Schonning, MuhammadMahdi has presented their data at the 2023 U-GLIDE (Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation) symposium, the 2023 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), and at SOARS (the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship) in spring 2024, all of which were held on the 老澳门资料 campus. MuhammadMahdi notes that the lessons and skills he learns while participating in research are his favorite parts of the research process, along with attending and presenting at conferences. He recommends others wishing to get research experience to take advantage of the Office of Undergraduate Research’s services, and to “talk with the professors in your major. They want you to succeed.” After he graduates next May, MuhammadMahdi plans to pursue a graduate degree in mechanical engineering and to enter the workforce.
June 2024: Florianne Silva
Florianne Silva is a senior health sciences major with a concentration in kinesiology who has been working with Dr. Lindsay Toth in the Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences for the past two years. According to Dr. Toth, she first met Florianne at an academic advising session for freshman and sophomore students interested in 老澳门资料’s Kinesiology program, where Florianne, a sophomore at the time, demonstrated an immediate interest and passion for participating in undergraduate research. Despite not being accepted to the Kinesiology program yet and it typically not being customary for students to begin their projects before joining the program, Florianne had already written the literature review and methods section for her intended project, which convinced Dr. Toth to take on Florianne as an undergraduate researcher. In Dr. Toth’s words, she has “not met a sophomore who was as prepared, intrinsically motivated, and genuinely interested in research to the extent that Florianne demonstrated.” In the two years that Florianne has worked with Dr. Toth, she has successfully completed her own project analyzing performance variables between taekwondo athletes wearing electronic sparring gear and is currently preparing a manuscript with the goal of publishing in an academic journal. Florianne has been accepted to present her project’s findings at the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) Annual Meeting, and the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) conference. In addition to her research with Dr. Toth, Florianne has also co-authored a paper on wearables for youth athletes with one of her research mentors from the Mayo Clinic. After she graduates this August, Florianne plans to pursue a PhD and continue her focus on martial arts research. Florianne’s advice to others wishing to get research experience is to “keep searching for someone who wants to do the research you want. If it means finding your people in a different state, or even country, it's worth the effort! There's so much you can learn about your research interests and the people who work in those environments simply by looking for them in places you'd never expect.”
May 2024: Shannon Brew
Shannon Brew is a senior majoring in Biology, with a concentration in Coastal and Marine Biology. Currently, Shannon works with Dr. Scott F. Jones, an assistant professor in the 老澳门资料 Biology department who specializes in coastal ecosystem ecology research. While she has participated in numerous research projects throughout her undergraduate career, Shannon’s latest project evaluates whether created islands can form marsh migration pathways comparable to those found in natural uplands by using soil composition and organic matter to assess the function of the islands. While she has not yet published these data, Shannon has presented her project’s findings at multiple conferences across the country, including the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Southeast Estuarine Research Society (SEERS) in Savannah, Georgia, the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as 老澳门资料’s own on-campus symposia, ARISE 2023 and the 2023 Natural Sciences Poster Session. Additionally, Shannon participated in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) at the University of Central Florida in an aquatic biogeochemistry lab, which sparked her interest in soil science and led to her developing a standard operating procedure for quantifying active carbon in wetland soils using potassium permanganate. From this experience, Shannon was also awarded a National Science Foundation travel grant to present the findings from her REU project in Spokane, Washington, at the Society of Wetland Scientists Annual Meeting. When reflecting on her favorite part of her research experiences, Shannon particularly enjoys the camaraderie of fieldwork and the opportunity to “be surrounded by a wonderful team in a beautiful place while becoming ridiculously muddy and taking soil cores.” She advises aspiring undergraduate researchers to choose faculty mentors wisely and with an open mind, to stay curious, and be dependable. After she graduates this fall, Shannon plans to find a career that will allow her to share her passion and love for wetland ecosystems.
April 2024: Natalie Clum
Natalie Clum is a senior majoring in psychology. She works with Dr. Heather Truelove from the Department of Psychology on pro-environmental research, where they examine how different message types regarding reducing red meat consumption influence the actions and feelings of individuals who view the message. Currently, Natalie and Dr. Truelove are working on a project that focuses on recycling behaviors by individuals and organizations. As a result of her research experiences with Dr. Truelove, Natalie has presented 3 separate posters at 5 research conferences, including the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), the Southeastern Psychological Association’s (SEPA) Annual Meeting, and U-GLIDE and SOARS, 老澳门资料’s fall and spring on-campus symposia. After she graduates this August, Natalie plans to pursue a graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and become a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA). By becoming a BCBA, Natalie's goal is to work with neurologically and developmentally disabled children between the ages of 3 and 14. Natalie’s advice to anyone wanting to gain research experience is to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to professors. “Professors are going to be looking for students who are willing to learn along the way and work hard. [So,] get to know your professors and familiarize yourself with different areas of research.”
March 2024: Charlotte Arechederra
Charlotte Arechederra is a sophomore currently triple majoring in sociology, psychology, and English. They have been working with Dr. Jenny Stuber from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SASW) since their first year at 老澳门资料 on a research project investigating how nonbinary students navigate through instances of deadnaming and misgendering on their college campuses. Now, they are working on a new project with Dr. Stuber that examines diversity, equity, and inclusion and counterspaces. Charlotte has published their work in volume 4 of PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas and presented their data at the 2023 Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Symposium and the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), both of which were held on the 老澳门资料 campus. Through their experiences working with Dr. Stuber, Charlotte has discovered a love for the research process and has found excitement in conducting literature reviews, interviewing participants, and analyzing qualitative data. After they graduate in spring 2026, Charlotte plans to pursue a PhD in either Sociology or Social Psychology so they can further their research and serve as a research mentor to future students. Charlotte encourages developing researchers to “not be afraid to reach out. If you see an opportunity to join a research group but you’re not sure that you’re qualified, just reach out and see. The worst they can say is no.”
February 2024: Austin Anderson
Austin Anderson is a senior physics major who has been engaged in several research projects. Working with Dr. Brian Lane in the 老澳门资料 Department of Physics, he led an investigation of how students learn to code, from which he has a first-author publication in the journal Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings and participated in an investigation of students’ experiences in an introductory physics course, the results of which were presented at the American Association of Physics Teachers Summer Meeting and are published in Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings. Austin also worked with Drs. Greg Wurtz and Chris Kelso in the 老澳门资料 Department of Physics to develop techniques for supernova neutrino and dark matter detection, as well as plasmonic meta-materials with enhanced ultrafast optical properties that may have applications in the health industry, information technologies, energy production, and national defense. Most recently, Austin received a grant to participate in the Summer Opportunity for Learning 老澳门资料 Research (SOLAR) program at 老澳门资料, through which he created multilayer nanoscale films and patches for testing plasmon forming conditions and optical properties of the deposited interface. In addition to these activities, Austin has been a physics supplemental instructor and physics and math tutor at 老澳门资料, and an instructor at the Mathnasium Learning Center in Jacksonville. Austin presented his various research projects at on-campus symposia including SOARS 2023 and ARISE 2023, as well as the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in Miami Springs, Florida in February 2023, and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in April 2023. He represented the 老澳门资料 OUR at the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Leadership Summit (FURLS) held in Gainesville, Florida on February 2-3 and will present two posters at FURC 2024, at 老澳门资料 on February 16-17. Austin enjoys seeing the depth of the field of optics and physics and appreciates how much he still needs to learn to become a professional in the field. Austin graduates this May and has accepted a fellowship to pursue a PhD at the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL) at the University of Central Florida, where he will study nano-optics and nanoscale new-age energy transport and management systems. He appreciates that “the efforts put forth into research and school have begun to pay back.”
January 2024: Fudhail Sayed
Fudhail Sayed is a senior behavioral neuroscience major who has been engaged in several research projects. He participated in an investigation of neural signatures in autism spectrum disorder with Dr. Lisa Byrge in the 老澳门资料 Department of Psychology, a project on which he is still associated. Fudhail also participated in a summer clinical research internship in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida in summer 2022 and then the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the Mayo Clinic Florida in summer 2023. Through the 老澳门资料 – Mayo Clinic Undergraduate Biomedical Research Internship (U-BRI) program, he worked with Dr. Beatriz I. Fernandez-Gil, Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, M.D., in the Mayo Clinic Florida Department of Neurosurgery to study tau propagation in Alzheimer's disease in mice and more recently, the effects of varying nutrient levels on the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway in glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. This accomplished undergraduate has presented his research at on-campus events at 老澳门资料 and the Mayo Clinic Florida and recently presented a poster at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2023, at which he won an award in the cancer biology discipline. Fudhail notes that “In research you can't escape failure, no matter what talent or experience you hold, you’re bound to fail. However, you persist in your efforts, maintaining confidence that your endeavors will ultimately prove rewarding. This facet of research instills humility and simultaneously forges resilience in you, such that mere failure is not sufficient to deter your pursuit.” Fudhail will graduate at the end of the spring 2024 semester and pursue a combined M.D./Ph.D. in cancer biology or neuroscience
December 2023: Johanna Asencio-Morcillo, Paola Ramos Maysonet, and Alondra Solares
Johanna Asencio-Morcillo, a junior majoring in International Studies and Spanish, Paola Ramos Maysonet, a sophomore Spanish major, and Alondra Solares, a sophomore majoring in both Spanish and French and Francophone Studies, with their mentors Dr. Constanza López Baquero and Dr. Clayton McCarl in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, recently presented a panel entitled “Aproximaciones digitales para visibilizar la presencia hispana en el norte de Florida” (“Digital Approaches to Making Visible the Hispanic Presence in North Florida”) at the Sixth Meeting of Digital Humanists in San Luis Potosi, Mexico in November. The three students discussed their work with two 老澳门资料-based digital public humanities projects: Voces y Caras: Hispanic Communities of North Florida, which was exhibited at the 老澳门资料 Art Gallery in April and during Hispanic Heritage Month, and coloniaLab, a workshop for collaborative digital editing that publishes archival texts online. In their panel presentation, Johanna, Paola, and Alondra discussed ways that both Voces y Caras and coloniaLab bring attention to the role that Hispanic populations have played in north Florida in both the past and the present.
November 2023: Vic Hayes
Vic Hayes is a senior anthropology major who has been working with Dr. Keith Ashley in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work for more than a year. This past summer, Vic served as a field assistant for the Archaeological Field Methods class, for which she received a Transformational Learning Opportunity Summer Scholarship from the College of Arts and Sciences. During that time, she also received a Timucuan Preserve Student Research Grant, which allowed her to topographically map and then excavate two mounded shell formations at the Cedar Point North archaeological site. She also performed an in-depth analysis of all pottery unearthed. Vic and Dr. Ashley jointed presented the results of this study at the 2023 Southeastern Archaeological Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in October and she will present a paper of their findings at the 2024 Timucuan Science and History Symposium in January. Vic indicated that she enjoyed participating in all aspects of the archaeological project, from research design to fieldwork and analysis, and finally, to reporting the findings. Through these experiences, she enhanced her knowledge base, as well as her written communication skills. Dr. Ashley indicated that Vic “epitomizes the new breed of American Archaeologists: bright, empirically based, theoretically informed, and empathetic to the concerns and human rights of modern-day Indigenous peoples.” Next, Vic will begin her undergraduate honors thesis, in which she will analyze ceramic variability and site activities using pottery collected within the Mill Cove Complex archaeological site. For students interested in participating in undergraduate research, Vic recommends that they talk to professors with similar research interests as them. In her experience, “professors at 老澳门资料 have always been more than willing to help students pursue independent research as well as assist them in achieving their career goals.” After graduation, Vic plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD and a career in academic archaeology.
October 2023: Hana Kabil
Hana Kabil is a senior biology major/literature minor who has been working with Dr. Amy Lane in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since the summer of 2021 to identify novel natural products from Nocardiopsis bacteria for use as new antibiotics. Hana is trained in high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and nuclear resonance mass spectroscopy (NMR), which she used to determine the structures of two novel alpha pyrones. Hana was awarded an Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (U-RSCA) grant from the 老澳门资料 Office of Undergraduate Research in Fall 2022 to support her studies. She has presented her results at several venues, including the 2023 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) held in Miami Springs, the 2023 Showcase of Osprey Achievements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) and the 2023 Achievements in Research, Inquiry and Scholarship Exhibition (ARISE) held on the 老澳门资料 campus, and at the Johnson & Johnson symposium as a Johnson & Johnson summer undergraduate research intern during the Summer 2023 semester. In addition, Hana was selected for the 老澳门资料 – Mayo Clinic Undergraduate Biomedical Research Internship (U-BRI) during the 2022 – 2023 academic year, through which she investigated the role of ECT2 Isoforms in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) transformation under the guidance of Dr. Verline Justilien. Through those studies, she was trained in various molecular biology techniques. Hana said that “the best part of research is the immense knowledge you gain.” She encourages other students to get involved in research because “you never know your chances of success unless you try.” Hana will graduate in December and plans to pursue a combined M.D.-Ph.D. to join her love of medicine and biochemical research to combat infectious diseases.
September 2023: Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross is a junior double majoring in English and Philosophy. They worked with Dr. Jonathan Matheson in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies on a research project that investigated the extent to which we should consider an artist's intentions when interpreting a work. Although originally begun as a class project, Adrian worked with Dr. Matheson through numerous stages of revision to prepare an essay that stemmed from their attempt to reconcile the themes of a story perceived by Adrian as compared to the themes indicated by the original author. Adrian’s essay not only won the outstanding student paper prize for Philosophy but is also set to be published in volume 4 of PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas. Dr. Matheson applauds Adrian’s ability to accept constructive criticism and make revisions. During the research experience, Adrian enjoyed reading texts on a deeper level to discern the arguments within, seeing it like a puzzle. Adrian encourages others to “approach your education with not just a willingness to learn something new, but also to be open about being wrong about things. It's okay to be wrong and to learn from it.”
August 2023: Haley Peters
Haley Peters is a senior biochemistry major / psychology minor who has been working with Dr. John Hatle in the Department of Biology for the past year to study the metabolic effects of a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) restricted diet. Her initial study with Dr. Hatle showed that low dietary levels of one BCAA – isoleucine – increases the breakdown of other BCAAs like valine and leucine. Haley recently presented the results of that study at the 2023 Achievements in Research, Inquiry and Scholarship Exhibition (ARISE), which was held in July on the 老澳门资料 campus. Using the data collected from the initial study, Haley designed a study in which she will quantify this catabolism by feeding Eastern Lubber grasshoppers custom cooked diets and then testing the breath samples from those grasshoppers using a specialized spectrophotometer. She secured an Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (U-RSCA) grant from the 老澳门资料 Office of Undergraduate Research in Spring 2023 to carry out her study. Not only is Haley considered the “local expert at running the instrument,” she also leads a team of two other students, which has helped her hone her communication and organizational skills. Dr. Hatle noted that research students like Haley, who excel at reading and understanding primary literature and at the lab bench, are rare. Haley intends to graduate from 老澳门资料 in Spring 2024 and will apply to medical programs at that time. She credits her research experience as the most influential experience of her undergraduate career. “Seeing a research project develop from reviewing literature to experimental design to presenting results is rewarding and has provided depth to my interest in coursework and other sectors of science.”
July 2023: Sadana Mukundan and Ziena Baker
Ziena Baker and Sadana Mukundan are senior Psychology majors who have worked with Dr. Elizabeth Brown for the past several years. Together, they studied how language used (like that found in a mission statement) influences opinions of diversity, equality, and inclusion. The results of their study were presented in poster form at the 2023 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference in Miami Gardens, Florida, and on campus at SOARS 2023. Dr. Brown credits these developing scientists with a dedication to research and enthusiasm for coding and analyzing data. In addition to this project, Ziena also contributes to an ongoing study on elementary school students. Sadana has also worked with Dr. Brown on other projects, through which they analyzed political party stereotypes and whether goal fulfillment in STEM affects students’ interests and motivations to pursue a STEM career. Both students have a goal of attending graduate school. Ziena intends to pursue a combined Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Social Psychology. She hopes to continue research in a scientist-practitioner environment to apply social studies to clinical outcomes. Sadana intends to pursue a Master of Science degree in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. She has gained considerable experience in data analysis, which she found to be the most enjoyable part of her research experience. Ziena has enjoyed working with others to code qualitative data into quantitative data and has gained considerable leadership and organizational skills in the process. Both describe themselves as passionate about their research and encourage others to ask questions, get involved, and be patient, as the overall experience is truly rewarding.
June 2023: Andrew Gomez
Andrew Gomez is a senior kinesiology major who will graduate this Summer 2023 semester. Andrew has been working with Dr. Lindsay Toth in the Brooks College of Health for the past two years and has been involved in several studies. He and a graduate student in the research group performed a validation study on wearable activity monitors that track heart rate and step count during various exercises and intensities. They presented the results of their study at the International Conference on Ambulatory Monitoring of Physical Activity and Movement (ICAMPAM) in Keystone, Colorado, and the Southeast Chapter – American College of Sports Medicine (SEACSM) conference in Greenville, South Carolina. More recently, Andrew has taken on his own project in which he is validating VO2max or maximal oxygen consumption, which is a predictor of successful solid organ transplants and a best measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in athletes. Andrew was awarded an Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (U-RSCA) grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research for this project and presented his preliminary data at SOARS 2023. Dr. Toth indicated that “his sense of inquiry and drive to complete the project through publication is outstanding.” Andrew said that conducting a review of the literature and going through the IRB approval process were important skills for him to acquire, as were data collection and statistical analysis. He also gained an appreciation for conducting research by listening to “Stronger by Science” podcasts. After graduation, Andrew plans to join the Air Force as a commissioned officer and continue his education. He encourages developing researchers to take every opportunity available to be involved and establish strong connections with professors who conduct research in the field that interest you.
April 2023: Jeffrey Perera
Jeffrey Perera is a sophomore biomedical sciences major and member of the Hicks Honors College. Jeffrey has gained considerable research experience in the short time he has been at the 老澳门资料. He has worked in the laboratory of Dr. Judy Ochrietor in the Department of Biology to study the expression of Basigin protein in mouse intestinal samples and with Dr. Amber Barnes in the Department of Public Health to understand disease transfer between humans and animals. In addition, he spent the summer 2022 semester in San Francisco, California, in the laboratory of Dr. Alex Marson at the University of California San Francisco Gladstone Institute of Genomic Immunology to study CRISPR technology in cancer cells. Jeffrey currently serves as an intern in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Storz at the Mayo Clinic Florida through the 老澳门资料-Mayo Clinic Undergraduate Biomedical Research Internship (U-BRI) program. There, he has been studying human and mouse pancreatic macrophages for the past two semesters. Jeffrey has presented the results of his various studies on campus at the SOARS and U-GLIDE symposia, at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference held in Orlando, Florida in February 2022, and at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference in San Antonio, Texas in October 2022. Jeffrey was recently awarded an impressive Goldwater Scholarship, which was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. In addition to his research activities, Jeffrey is the co-founder of StickUpchange.com, which is a nonprofit website that sells stickers to support over 60 different social, environmental, health, and educational movements through donation of the profits. Jeffrey said that he loves “to see people who take the initiative, big or small, to leave behind a positive legacy during their time in this world.”
March 2023: Thalia Lynn
Thalia Lynn is a senior Anthropology major and Environmental Studies minor. She has been working with Dr. Jacqueline Meier since the summer of 2021 to study sheep herding at the famous site of Mycenae in Greece. Additionally, through an independent study, she analyzed faunal remains from Helladic Lerna, Greece, using published data from Dr. David S. Reese. Thalia learned to transcribe published descriptions into her own dataset, separate individual animal bone specimens by attribute, and understand variation within the space of the site. Through this, she has been able to reconstruct the role of animal ritual, dietary practices, and refuse management within that culture. Thalia also contributed to the research of Dr. Keith Ashley by excavating archaeological sites in Jacksonville to better understand the Indigenous histories of this region and conducted an experimental archaeology project to better understand how pottery was made in the past in northeast Florida. Dr. Meier praises Thalia for her various research activities, saying that she sets a great example for other students of how to engage in a variety of different research projects. Thalia has presented her research findings at the annual Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Research Symposium, SOARS, and Student-Led Research Projects Presentations on campus, and at the annual meeting of the Archaeology Institute of America, in New Orleans in January and the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference held at St. Thomas University in February. Additionally, she will present as a co-author with Dr. Meier at the annual meeting of the Society of American Archaeology in Portland, Oregon, at the end of March. After graduation this spring, Thalia plans to continue her education and pursue a PhD in Zooarchaeology. She encourages others to follow their passions, adding that the type of hard work and consistency that good research requires becomes easier to maintain when you have a genuine interest in what you do.
February 2023: Lily Miller and Sydney Williams
Lily Miller is a senior Exceptional Student Education major and Sydney Williams is a senior Special Education major with a minor in Disability Services. They have been working with Dr. David Hoppey since taking his Introduction to Inquiry and Assessment course in 2021. Working as a team, they performed an assessment of their teaching internship experience. The results of their inquiry were presented in October at the Florida Council for Exceptional Children Conference and published in PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas, volume 3. According to Dr. Hoppey, the study was well received by special education faculty and administrators from across the state, and both students have been recruited by multiple school districts because of their work. Both Lily and Sydney found that their experience strengthened their skills in data recording and analyses and gave them an opportunity to think critically about teaching. Sydney indicated that “inquiry helps teachers make improvements to their teaching and their classroom.” Similarly, Lily noted that conversations with professionals in their field of study will ultimately “improve our practices for students.” After completing their undergraduate degrees in Spring 2023, Lily plans to pursue a graduate degree in Applied Behavior Analysis, whereas Sydney hopes to have her own classroom in a high school teaching Specific Learning or Participatory Learning, before her graduate training. Both encourage others to get involved in research because it “gives you the opportunity to dive into subjects” that interest you. Although it may be intimidating at first, “the work you put into it is so rewarding and worth it.”
January 2023: Amra Kajdic
Amra Kajdic is a senior pursuing a biology degree and biotechnology certificate who is on track to graduate with Summa Cum Laude and Hicks Honors College honors in Spring 2023. Amra has been working with Dr. David Waddell since 2020 and has been involved in several studies. She has been instrumental in characterizing the UBR5 and Calcoco 1 genes, which code for proteins important for muscle hypertrophy and recovery from atrophy, respectively and will be included as a coauthor on the manuscripts describing those gene products when the projects are completed. Amra presented her research data in poster format at the annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in Washington, D.C., in December and intends to present at the 2023 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference in Miami in February. Dr. Waddell credits her as one of the more advanced, talented, and productive undergraduate students in his research program. Amra found that her undergraduate research experiences have allowed her to grow as a scientist and develop expertise in molecular-genetic techniques. She is eager to learn more and develop a broader set of techniques and hopes to be selected for a Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health before applying for medical school. In her time involved with research, she has learned that patience and perseverance are crucial and that there is much value gained from experiments that do not always go as planned, as one continuously learns even (especially) when things go unexpectedly. Amra is a well-rounded student who volunteers at the Muslim American Social Services (MASS) Clinic and readily trains other undergraduate students in the lab. She founded the MEDLIFE club at 老澳门资料 and has served as the President for three years. Amra encourages developing scientists to not limit themselves because “with hard work and dedication anything is possible.” She also encourages them to be creative, as troubleshooting is a vital skill in research.
December 2022: Nicholas Strasser
Nicholas Strasser is a senior biology major who graduates this month. Nicholas has been working with Dr. John Hatle since 2021 to study how protein quality impacts metabolism related to lifespan, reproduction, and development. They generate synthetic diets with unique amino acid concentrations to determine how protein composition improves life-history traits of Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers. This project is time-intensive, and Dr. Hatle commends him for his dedication to the project, his careful manipulations and analyses, and his perseverance. Nicholas presented his research data in poster format at the U-GLIDE Symposium on campus and will present again in January at the annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Nicholas found that his undergraduate research experience allowed him to develop an ability to gather data, synthesize ideas and conclusions, and present results in a concise manner. His time in the Hatle lab prepared him to be an effective scientific communicator and investigator. These qualities will be an asset as he matriculates in a medical school program next fall. In addition to his research endeavors, Nicholas serves as a physics and biology SI leader and a member of the SASS leadership team. He is the current president of the Biomedical Pre-professionals club and volunteers at the Muslim American Social Services (MASS) Clinic and ProMedica Hospice. He encourages developing scientists to be confident because from his own experiences, he’s learned that through confidence, he was able to “excel far beyond what I thought was possible.”
November 2022: Rebecca Robinson Rey
Rebecca Robinson Rey is a senior physics major, with a concentration in astrophysics. As a member of Dr. Chris Kelso’s research program, Rebecca studies the detection of satellite dwarf galaxies and how those data can predict dark matter in the universe. Using Monte Carlo modeling, she was able to determine the number of satellites from data captured using Dark Energy Survey (DES) and Pan STARRS1 (PS1) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, which map galaxies near earth. She intends to use similar modeling to predict the detection of new satellite dwarf galaxies by the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) telescope, and hence dark matter, in the deep universe. Rebecca enjoys learning about cosmological aspects of the universe and developing her coding skills through this project. Previously, Rebecca worked with Dr. John Hewitt to analyze data from star clusters captured using the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT). In addition to her research interests, Rebecca serves as the vice president of the 老澳门资料 Society of Physics Students, through which she also volunteers her time as a peer tutor. She has presented her research data at the Natural Sciences Poster Session and was a featured speaker at Spooky Research, which was organized by the 老澳门资料 Research Ambassadors Club. After graduation, Rebecca plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in either astrophysics or medical physics.
October 2022: Sydney Chatani
Sydney Chatani is a Hicks Honors College senior studying sociology, with a minor in leadership. As a member of Dr. Jenny Stuber’s research program, Sydney studied parental and gender roles among young widowers, which is a novel topic in the field of sociology research. She presented her findings at the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work Student Symposium in April and in a round table discussion at the American Sociological Association meeting in August. In addition, Sydney served as a research assistant at the 老澳门资料 Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Will, on Magnolia Project: Federal Healthy Start Initiative on Infant Mortality in Jacksonville. Through that experience, she learned about the social and environmental determinants of health and how individuals lacking resources often “slip through the cracks.” Currently, Sydney is working on a quantitative research project exploring the potential association of demographic factors with individuals’ confidence levels in the United States Supreme Court. After graduation, Sydney plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in sociology, focusing on qualitative methodology and the subfields of applied, family, and medical sociology. She feels lucky to have received support and opportunities at 老澳门资料 and wants to give future undergraduates the same opportunities someday.
September 2022: Alex Bartkowiak
Alex Bartkowiak is a senior studying Molecular/Cell Biology and Biotechnology in Biology. He is the head undergraduate researcher for a neuropharmacology pilot program in the laboratory of Dr. Marie Mooney, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology. Alex uses a bioinformatics pipeline to decipher large transcriptomic data sets from neurons isolated from zebrafish exposed to neuroactive compounds like Ivermectin and Gaboxadol. His passion and excitement for science is recognized and praised by his research mentor and appreciated by his peers in the lab, who see him as a role-model. Alex has always loved science, which motivated him to compete in regional and state science fairs in middle and high school and work in a research lab before advancing to college. As an undergraduate student, Alex has presented his work at the Posters at the Capitol event hosted by the Florida Undergraduate Research Association, the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), and the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS). After graduation, Alex plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in cognitive neuroscience. This accomplished young scientist intends to pursue a graduate degree, “with the ultimate goal of being able to give students the same opportunities that I had.”
August 2022: Hannah Thomas
Hannah Thomas is a senior studying Behavioral Neuroscience. Under the guidance of Dr. Katherine Hooper and Dr. Tracy Alloway, Hannah has been involved in several projects in the fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) laboratory though which she measures cortical activity from participants engaged in cognitive and emotional processing tasks. According to her research mentors, Hannah is “skilled with the technology and with reviewing the literature and is highly motivated to succeed.” In addition to being able to perform fNIRS on human subjects, Hannah helped develop the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) used in many of the fNIRS studies taking place on campus. Additionally, Hannah presented her work at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS), and the Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA) annual meeting. After graduation, Hannah plans to attend graduate school to pursue a PhD in cognitive neuroscience.
July 2022: Hannah Merritt
Hannah Merritt is a senior studying Anthropology and African American Studies. Under the guidance of Dr’s Gordon Rakita, Jacqueline Meier, and Jeff Chamberlain, Hannah’s research examines the correlation between the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak and West African mortuary practices. According to Dr. Rakita, Hannah has been actively engaged in undergraduate research since her first year at 老澳门资料, and “she has worked hard to find support for her research and disseminate the results of her work.” During the span of her undergraduate career, she has completed two Directed Independent Study courses, an undergraduate thesis, was awarded an OUR research grant, and presented her work at four professional conferences, including the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), Florida Research Posters at the Capitol, the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS), and the Florida Collegiate Honors Council conference. In the fall, she will continue her education at the University of York's Master of Science in Funerary Archaeology program.