12 KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for Summer
This summer, 12 KU students will receive Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRAs). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects.
“I am continually impressed by the quality of research and creative projects proposed by undergraduate students at KU,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and associate professor of geology. “These students have worked closely with their mentors to devise projects that stand to make important contributions to their areas of study.”
Students apply for UGRAs by writing a four-page research proposal under the guidance of a mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the applications based on the merit of the applicant's proposal and a recommendation from the mentor.
Students receiving awards for the summer of 2021 are listed below in alphabetical order along with academic level, hometown, project title, mentor, and mentor’s department:
Emma Cosner, a senior from Lawrence: “Examining the Influence of a Redox-Active Phosphine Ligand on H2 Evolution by Organometallic Cyclopentadienyl-Rhodium Complexes,” mentored by James Blakemore, chemistry.
Angela Davis, a junior from Olpe: “Language, Gender, and Sexuality with Respect To Elliot Page And Responses to Him Coming Out,” mentored by Renee Perelmutter, Jewish studies.
Claire Dopp, a sophomore from Olathe: “Modeling Lewis Acid Effects on Metal Oxo Ions with Heterobimetallic Vanadyl Complexes,” mentored by James Blakemore, chemistry.
Mac Hayes, a junior from Council Grove: “The Programmable Network Switch in a Disaggregated Memory Architecture,” mentored by Mohammad Alian, electrical engineering and computer science.
Olivia Jones, a junior from Kansas City, KS: “The Impact Cross-Cultural Code-Switching and Adaptability Have on the Self-Concept of Black Americans,” mentored by Ludwin Molina, psychology.
Miles Luce, a sophomore from Kansas City, MO: “Druze Women and Gender in Druze Society: A Systematic Literature Review,” mentored by Rami Zeedan, Jewish studies.
Olivia Michka, a senior from Kansas City, MO: “Live Concert Painting - Blurring the Line Between Music and Art,” mentored by Michael McCaffrey, visual art.
Jessica Pfannenstiel, a senior from Lawrence: “Improving Methods for Coronaviruses Infection Based Drug Screening,” mentored by Anthony Fehr, molecular biosciences.
Nicola Santangelo, a junior from Lawrence: “Analyzing the Spoken Language Abilities of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing,” mentored by Jena McDaniel, Life Span Institute.
Carsten Tabak, a sophomore from Lawrence: “Regression analysis of a stock's impact on its options,” mentored by Nestor Rodriguez, business.
Kade Townsend, a junior from Topeka: “Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance in the Pathogenic Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” mentored by Josephine Chandler, molecular biosciences.
Aditya Vargheese, a senior from Overland Park: “Role of REST in Breast Cancer,” mentored by Roy Jensen, KU Cancer Center.