2025-2026 Emerging URSA Project Grant Recipients
Research in Anthropology
Student: Charley Beck
Mentor: Dr. Michael Muehlenbein
Department: Anthropology
Title: Progesterone and Cortisol Reactivity to Acute Stress: Effects of Sex and Menstrual Cycle Phase
Research in Business
Student: Isaiah Rivera
Mentor: Dr. JaeHwan Kwon
Department: Marketing
Title: Neuromarketing: The Subconscious Emotional and Attentive Drive on Consumer Recall between Luxury and Mainstream Brands
Research in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Student: Joel Thute
Mentor: Dr. Kevin Pinney
Department: Chemistry and BIochemistry
Title: Synthesis of PROTACs Targeting the Colchicine Binding Site for Tubulin Degradation
Research in Engineering and Computer Science
Student: Isabelle Henslee
Mentor: Dr. Clayton Mulvihill
Department: Mechanical Engineering
Title: High-Temperature Spectroscopy of H₂O Using Laser Absorption in a Shock Tube
Research in Environmental Science
Student: Christian Gust
Mentor: Dr. Erica Bruce
Department: Environmental Science
Title: Investigating the Inflammatory Response of JP-8 Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Bronchial Epithelium
Research in Health and Human Sciences
Student:Rebecca Stephenson
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Law
Department: Human Sciences and Design
Title: Cardiac mitochondrial function across sex and age in cancer cachexia
Student: Abby Zavala Duarte
Mentor: Dr. Cory Dungan
Department:Health, Human Performance, and Recreation
Title: 5,15-Diphenylporphyrin as a Potential Therapy to Enhance Satellite Cell Activation in Chemotherapy-Induced Cachexia
Student: Isabelle Morin
Mentor: Dr. Matt Asare
Department: Public Health
Title: Bridging the Gap: Development and Evaluation of a Digital Health Literacy Tool for Adolescents and Young Adults Transitioning in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care
Research in Music
Student: Kevin Xiong
Mentor: Dr. Euridice Alvarez
Department: School of Music
Title: Developing and Validating an Accessible Oboe Cane Density Tester
Research in Psychology and Neuroscience
Student: Keren Nwaiwu
Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Vichaya
Department: Psychology and Neuroscience
Title: Investigating Corticostriatal Circuit Alterations and Reward Deficits in Diabetic Mice Using Non-Nutritive Behavioral Approaches
Student: Kaitlyn Rojas
Mentor: Dr. Jacques Nguyen
Department: Psychology and Neuroscience
Title: Effects of semaglutide on acquisition of fentanyl self-administration in rats
Research in Theatre Arts
Student: Caroline Wells
Mentor: Dr. David Jortner
Department: Theatre Arts
Title: Tigers in the Temples: Theming and the Construction of "Asia" in American Zoos