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»Grant Recipients
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2023-2024 Grant Recipients
Fall 2023 Grant Recipients
Julian Berger
Major: Music
Faculty Mentor: Adam Borecki
Title: Building A Modular Synthesizer
Ratish Ragavendiran
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Chris Kim
Title: How Arsenic Bioaccessibility Changes Over Time
Halle Morse
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: David Frederick
Title: Does Insecure Attachment Mediate the Association Between Minority Stress and
Body Image Among Gay Men and Lesbian Women?
Kayla Queen
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: David Frederick
Title: Associations Between Childhood Emotional Abuse, Dietary Restraint, and Body
Image: Self-Discipline as a Mediator
Brooke Stein
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Susan Duff
Title: Augmenting Hand and Arm Function in Persons with Hemiparesis
Amber Sharma
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: David Frederick
Title: The Associations of Colorism and Racial Discrimination to Body Image and Disordered
Eating Among Indian Americans
Arianna Patterson
Major: Graphic Design
Faculty Mentor: Claudine Jaenichen
Title: A Wonder Chamber of Witch-hood: a collection of curiosities exploring the
witch archetype in Christian culture
Roxanne Aguilera
Major: Sociology, Political Science
Faculty Mentor: Ashley Kranjac
Title: Association Between Age and Obesity Over Time
Vivin Dashora
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Hunter
Title: ThinkMED: Bringing STEM to Underserved Communities
Caroline Grinstead
Major: Art History
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin Walsh
Title: Analysis of Consequences Arising from Acquisitions of Forged Artworks by Elmyr
de Hory (1906-1976)
Hannah Emerson
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Senior Thesis Exhibition: No Place Like My Room
Joshua Renton
Major: Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Emad Arasteh
Title: Dancing Drones: Low-Cost Customizable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Caleb Lachelt
Major: Visual Social Ecology
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Humans and Wildlife Cross Encroachment
Ariana de Leon
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren
Title: A Wonder Chamber of Witch-hood: a collection of curiosities exploring the
witch archetype in Christian culture
Logyn Okuda
Major: Music Composition
Faculty Mentor: Adam Borecki
Title: Remote Orchestral Recording Session: “Elegy for a Flower”
Hatte Hamilton
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Lyon
Title: Bioprinting of ULC pastes and GelMA under different temperature parameters
Chiana Chuc
Major: Music
Faculty Mentor: Creative Producing
Title: SPORK
Nuria Schettino Gonzalez
Major: Film Production
Faculty Mentor: Daniel Leonard
Title: CECILIA
Josie Lester
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Richelle Tanner
Title: Evaluating the Effects of Wetland Quality on Nesting Behavior
Kyle Choy
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Andrew Lyon
Title: Development of Colloid-Collagen Composites for Advanced Tissue Engineering
Scaffolds
Adri Ten Cate
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Authentication of Ginseng Species through DNA Barcoding and Multiplex PCR
Spring 2024 Grant Recipients
Akshay Khetrapal
Major: Biological Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Optimization of DNA Testing Methods for Mixed Species Identification in Canned
Tuna
Alexandra Fomina
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Trudi Qi
Title: AI-Guided Personalized Gait Training with Dynamic Obstacles in Virtual Reality
Analisa Vavoso
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richelle Tanner
Title: Climate Anxiety and Burnout among Environmental Practitioners in the United
States
Andrew Tahhan
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Assessing the Impact of Weathering on Arsenic Bioaccessibility in Mine Waste
Anya Thaovan Nguyenkhoa
Major: History
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mateo Jarquin
Title: Acting Religion: Analyzing the AIDS Crisis Through Religious Response
Cristina Inboden
Major: Health Sciences and French
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Analysis of Adsorptive and Desorbtive Characteristics of Metal Anions on Iron
Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles
David Sohn
Major: Computer Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maryam Etezad
Title: Smart Cane for the Visually Impaired with Computer Vision Integration
Elena Skender
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Bioaccessibility of Arsenic at Empire Mine
Emma Walker
Major: Political Science and Peace Studies
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Minju Kwon
Title: Corruption of the Adoption Service System in South Korea
Janelle Jacques
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Enhancing the Sorption Process of Metal Ion Contaminants with Chloride and
Sulfate
Kiana Cablayan-Kennedy
Major: Business Administration, Marketing
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ronald Steiner
Title: The Intersection of Law and Culture: Native Hawaiian Rights in the Hawaiian
Homes Commission Act
Lea-Sophie Vetter
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Assessing Arsenic Bioaccessibility and Spatial Distribution in Mine Wastes:
An Integrated Microscopic and Macroscopic Approach
Mandy Fang
Major: Public Relations, Advertising, and Entertainment Marketing
Faculty Mentor: Julianne Pedersen
Title: The "Universal" Language of Dance
Mariah Tsuruda
Major: Health Science (Pre-PA Emphasis)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Observing the Impact of Physical Weathering on the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic
in Mine Waste
Melia Hernandez
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Catalytic Impacts of Plasmonic Au Nanoparticles with Active Transition Metal
Shells on Oxygen Atom Reactivity in CO Oxidation
Michael Hutchings
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: DNA Barcoding Master Mix Comparison for the Identification of Species in Canned
Tuna
Ryan Guglielmo
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: Investigating Confidence in Introspection of Intentions Using Artificial Intelligence
Stephanie Hoang
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Hot Electron Chemistry on Bimetallic Titanium Nitride Core-shell Nanoparticles
2022-2023 Grant Recipients
Fall 2022 Grant Recipients
Kennedy Cardenas
Major: Studio Art, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Lia Halloran
Title: Post-Revolution
Nousha Karimi
Major: Biological Sciences, B.S.
Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing conformational changes in the binding of HIV-1 Matrix Protein, N and C terminals,
to Calmodulin
David Nguyen
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue
Title: Understanding Interactions between Calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix Protein Using Circular
Dichroism
Quy Loi
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue
Title: Studying methanol decomposition under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions
Thao Vy Le
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Chris Kim
Title: Effect of sodium chloride on manganese adsorption on goethite and goethite-coated
sediments
James Hazen
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Chris Kim
Title: Removal of manganese from solution using goethite, kaolinite, and bentonite
in varying pH conditions
Stephanie Hoang
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue
Title: Hot Electron Chemistry on Bimetallic Titanium Nitride Core-shell Nanoparticles
Ishaan Shah
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Jerry LaRue
Title: Examining Photocatalyzed Reactions of the Surface of Au core/Transition Metal
shell nanoparticles: The Importance of a Ruthenium Shell in Enhancing Reaction Outcomes
David Giani
Major: Electrical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nasim Estakhri
Title: Making the wall useful: How to increase antenna efficiency by covering walls
with designer metasurfaces
Trey Alexander
Major: Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nasim Estakhri
Title: Analysis and Construction of Infrared-responsive Materials for 3D Printing
Lorena Munoz
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richelle Tanner
Title: Nudibranch Research - SEACR Lab
Riya Belani
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Richelle Tanner
Title: Thermal variation in the atmosphere and its relationship to DNA methylation
levels in juvenile mussels
Aubrey Emmi
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Optimization of DNA-based methods for the detection of canned tuna species
Nicole Sarkaria
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dede Teteh
Title: The hidden costs of beauty: An evaluation of breast cancer risk for Black
women
Myra Dayrit
Major: Integrated Educational Studies (IES)
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephany Cuevas
Title: Understanding the Filipino American Experience in Higher Education
Alexandra Patrascu
Major: Graphic Design
Faculty Mentor: Kathy Thibault
Title: National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) Team Campaign Development
Spring 2023 Grant Recipients
Brian Walker
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: John Hunter
Title: Workaholism and Well-Being Project
Caroline Gallagher
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Douglas Fudge
Title: Morphology and Mechanics of Hagfish Egg Attachment
Chloe Castanon
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Optimization of canned tuna species Identification using PCR-based methods
Emma Han
Major: Business Administration (Marketing Emphasis)
Faculty Mentor: Charlene Chu
Second Faculty Mentor: Cristina Nistor
Title: Social Media Authenticity: How Authenticity is Portrayed and Perceived by Consumers
Erin Simmons
Major: Psychology and IES
Faculty Mentor: Quaylan Allen
Title: The Impact of External Factors on Urban Youth Education
Jordan Robbins
Major: History
Faculty Mentor: Alexander Bay
Title: Dixieland in Brazil: Confederate Descendants in the American Diaspora
Mandy Fang
Major: Dance
Faculty Mentor: Julianne Pederson
Title: Senior Thesis: The Dancer’s Unspoken Superpower: Consciousness of Mind & Body
Natasha "Fish" Young
Major: English Literature
Faculty Mentor: Jan Osborn
Title: The Dreamer's Almanac
Raniyah Chishti
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Uri Maoz
Title: Investigating the Causal Role of Motor Cortex on the Coupling of Breathing and Volition
Ratish Ragavendiran
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Kim
Title: Arsenic Sample Extractions
Sarah Quach
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: Triangulating Neural Correlates of Consciousness
Stephanie Yu
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: How Demographics Influence Self-Image
2021-2022 Grant Recipients
Fall 2021 Grant Recipients
Abigail Kim
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Effects of aggregation through freezing and drying on Zn(II) adsorption/retention
to iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles
Bianca Beach
Major: Theatre Performance
Faculty Mentor: Tamiko Washington
Title: Tunnel Vision
Christine Chang
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title: Facing Prejudice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors and Protective
Factors for Asian American Well-Being
Davis Mau
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Exploring Interactions Between Alpha-Synuclein and Calmodulin
Emma Kocik
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Sorption and Retention of Cu(II) and Zn(II) to Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles
as a Function of Artificial Seawater Concentration
Hannah Scott
Major: Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Mama
Jeanna Polisini
Major: BFA Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Senior Thesis: The One-Child Policy
Julia Muniz
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Characterization of Lactobacillus helvecticus Chlorogenic Acid Esterase
*Jose M Verdejo
Major: Film Production, Directing
Faculty Mentor: Dave Kost
Title: Beautiful Dreamer
Kaelin Tester
Major: BA Theatre
Faculty Mentor: Kristen Campbell
Title: The Mystery Forest
Kevin Nguyen
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hagop Atamian, Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: The Effect of Carbon Monoxide on the Nitrogenase Enzyme of Rhizobia Associated
with Alfalfa
*Macy Dexter
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: The effects of weathering on As bioaccessibility in particles of different
sizes and surface areas
Matthew Favela
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Jon Humphreys
Title: Taking the Next Steps in Virtual Reality Immersion
Micah Char
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: The Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar
Macrophage Gene Expression
Natalie Standridge
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tara Gruenewald
Title: Does Social Exclusion Increase Outgroup Antagonism and Conspiracy Theory
Endorsement?
Sara Henry
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Desiree Crevecoeur-MacPhail, Dr. Amy Moors
Title: 50 Shades of Orgasm: To Kink or not to Kink
Sophie Srivastava
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Intervention to Modify Perceptions of Homelessness
Steven Trinh
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Dudley, Dr. Peter Chang
Title: ThinkMED: Providing an environment for disadvantaged students to explore STEM
Tiffany Lubrino
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Lopez
Title: Investigating Arginine Methylation of PGC-1α, a Master Metabolic Regulator
Tracie Okumura
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Engineering Lactobacillus helveticus chlorogenic acid esterases for improved
efficiency in eliminating greening in sunflower seed derived ingredients
*Vanna Kizirian
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: An Investigation of Commercial Honey Adulteration using NMR Spectroscopy
*Wendy Medina Herrera
Major: Film Production (directing emphasis)
Faculty Mentor: Erin Li
Title: Mateo
Yuka Saito
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren
Title: Neo's Cleaning Service
Zoe Rosenblum
Major: PR/AD
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault
Title: National Student Advertising Competition
*Funded by the Promising Futures Program
Spring 2022 Grant Recipients
2020-2021 Grant Recipients
Spring 2021 Grant Recipients
Amanda Tabb
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: The Use of DNA Barcoding to Determine the Frequency of Mislabeled Species
of Fish in Sushi, Ceviche, and Poke
Chelsey Cortes
Major: Biochemistry and Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Photocatalysis Chemistry using Titanium Nitride and Ruthenium Bimetallic Nanoparticles
Cristina Uribe
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: Looking for the Subjective Threshold of Subjective Consciousness
Daniel Choi
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Understanding the Impacts of Wetting/Drying Cycles on Arsenic Bioaccessibility
Debbie Nguyen
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title: Why Are You Uncomfortable with an LGBT Child? Effects of Target Gender and
Sexual Orientation on Expressed Prejudice: A Demographic Group Comparison
Doris Yang
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: Assessing the Down-Regulation and Inhibition of Androgen Receptor Activity
and Expression Through the Physical Binding of Natural Inhibitors to Binding Domains
Emma Chen
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz
Title: Investigating the Neural Correlates of Intention and Foresight
Kacie Sakamaki
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing Interactions between the Calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix protein N and
C Terminals
Morgan Grimes
Major: Studio Art, Chemistry, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Decommissioning an Era: Nuclear Power in the United States
Samantha Covaia
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Screening of Salmonella in Raw Ready to Eat Seafood
Sara Iisaka
Major: Psychology and Dance
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title: The Impact of COVID-19 on Body Image and Eating Disorders
Sophie Srivastava
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Perceptions of Homelessness and Mental Illness
Stephanie Munduruca
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins
Title: The Mediating Role of Child Self Efficacy in Socioeconomic Status and Marital
Status affecting Pediatric Asthma Severity
Steven Trinh
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Dudley
Title: ThinkMED: Building Science Kits for Children from Low-Income Families & Under-Resourced
Communities
Fall 2020 Grant Recipients
Abby Bechtel
Major: Physics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue and Dr. Justin Dressel
Title: Enhancing Optical Metrology Through the Manipulation of the Directional Asymmetry
of Polarizers
Abigail Kim
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: How Does Aging & Time Impact Average Size & Reactivity of Aggregated Nanoparticles?
Angela Vaynshteyn
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren
Title: "Buddy Bot" Undergraduate Thesis Film
Aviv Zohman
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Designing and Building an Improved Graphene Production Method
Claire Jantzen
Major: Film Production
Faculty Mentor: Dave Kost
Title: Artifice (Working Title)
Curren Taber
Major: Computer Science
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Seeing Mirror
David Garcia
Major: Music Education, Vocal Emphasis
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tammy Yi
Title: Music Education Summit: The Power of Diversity in the Arts
Emma Krivoshein
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: The Relationship Between Norepinephrine Neuromodulation and Stability of Global
Brain States
Gabriella Nutt
Major: Physics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin Dressel and Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Enhancing Optical Metrology Through the Manipulation of the Directional Asymmetry
of Polarizers
Hannah Scott
Major: Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: How to Navigate Womanhood Within the Patriarchy
Ishaan Shah
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Examining Photocatalytic Reactions on the Surface of Bimetallic (Ruthenium-Gold)
Nanoparticle Catalysts
Jason Yamamoto
Major: Film Production
Faculty Mentor: Eric Young and Madeline Warren
Title: When You Leave
Jason Yoon
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Building a Surface Science Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Chamber
Jesse Aseoff
Major: PR and Advertising
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault
Title: National Student Advertising Team 2020-21
Lucas Torti
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Derek Prate
Title: The Waste Card Game Design
Lucile Henderson & Natalia Ventura
Major: Communication Studies & Peace Studies
Faculty Mentor: Lia Halloran
Title: Art and Activism Exhibition
Megan Shieh
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hagop Atamian
Title: Genome-wide characterization of the WRKY gene family in the Salvia hispanica
Micah Char
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim and Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: The Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar
Macrophage Gene Expression
Natalie Standridge
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tara Gruenewald
Title: Do Conspiratorial Beliefs Shape COVID-19 Pandemic Prosocial and Prevention
Behavior?
Nicole Daskas
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor Micol Hebron
Title: Nicole Daskas: A Retrospective
Rion Romero
Major: BFA Theatre Performance
Faculty Mentor: Nick Gabriel
Title: Forging an Understanding of Stage Combat and Its Implementation (A Second Time)
Tamara Elenberger
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Analyzing Reductive Elimination from an [NCN] Platinum(IV) Pincer Complex
Zane Vieira
Major: Film Production Major/Minor in Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: The Fifth Wall and Downstream Space
2019-2020 Grant Recipients
Spring 2020 Grant Recipients
Joanna Pak
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: Free Will and Free Won't: Analyzing the Neurobiological Origins of Intention Using TMS
Amber Osorno
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins
Title: Stress and Negative Affect as Mediators in the Association between Parental Social Support and Biological Lung Function in Adolescents with Asthma
Sarah Townsend-Handley
Major: Music Education
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tammy Yi
Title: Melodic Mentoring
Davis Mau
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Exploring Conformation Changes of Alpha-Synuclein During Binding with Calmodulin
Ruth Burgess
Major: BFA Theatre Performance
Faculty Mentor: Tamiko Washington
Title: Lumina
Rion Romero
Major: BFA Theatre
Faculty Mentor: Nick Gabriel
Title: Forging an Understanding of Stage Combat and Its Implementation
Neha Nagavalli
Major: Creative Producing, Business Administration
Faculty Mentor: Eric Young
Title: Papergirl
Morgan Grimes
Major: Chemistry/Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Lia Halloran
Title: Marie Curie The Mother of Radiation
Robby Jones
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maduka Ogba
Title: Using Computational Analyses of Known Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to Generate Novel Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
Melissa Sugimoto
Major: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mihaela Vajiac
Title: Differential Forms as Tools in Differential Geometry and Analysis on Manifolds
Natanael Alpay
Major: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peter Jipsen
Title: The structure of distributive idempotent weakly conservative lattice-ordered magmas
Fall 2019 Grant Recipients
Nicole Daskas
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Pretty Little Flower
Ryly Yee
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Investigating the Effects of Goethite Nanoparticle Aggregation via Freezing and Drying on Zn(II) Ion Adsorption and Retention
Abbigael Eli
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: Mechanistic Study of ca27 Downregulation of the Androgen Receptor Nuclear Signaling Pathway in Prostate Cancer Cells
Abigail Kim
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: To what extend does Organic Matter interfere with Goethite nanoparticles interactions with Zinc
Kacie Sakamaki
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing interactions between Calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix protein and both N and C terminals
Nicole Williams
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins
Title: Chapman Faculty Perceptions of Hiring Practices to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Michaela Montgomery
Major: Environmental Science and Policy; Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Influence of Rain Exposure and Fluctuations of Temperature and Humidity on the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic
Bryn Merrill
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Hot Electron Chemistry on Bimetallic Plasmonic Nanoparticles
Tiffany Vallejo
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Designing and Building a Surface Science Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Chamber
Matt Barnes
Major: Business Administration - Marketing Emphasis
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault
Title: NSAC
Christine Lo Verde
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Biophysical Characterization of CowN
Alexadnros Drivas
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Goldsmith
Title: Prototyping New Equipment to Understand Draught Stress
Jack Irvine
Major: Public Relations & Advertising
Faculty Mentor: Chris Boyd
Title: Hearthbound
Jordan Skolnick
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Miklavcic
Title: Use of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae to Induce Inflammation in CaCo-2 Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Shun Kato
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari
Title: Synthesis and Evaluation of Levofloxacin-[W4R3K] Peptide Conjugate Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogen
Sophie Ungless
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Sophie Ungless Senior Thesis
Alexandra van der Hoeven
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz
Title: Clock-Based Effects on Reported Timing of Intention to Move
Stephen Michael Nicholas
Major: Film Production (Emphasis in Directing)
Faculty Mentor: Christine Fugate
Title: Silk Screen Thesis Film
Natalie Paterson
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Miklavcic
Title: Folate Supplementation to Mitigate Azathioprine Toxicity in Children with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)
Cara Fleener
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Ketone Hydroboration with a New Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst
2018-2019 Grant Recipients
Spring 2019 Grant Recipients
Amber Hopkins
Major: Psychology, Philosophy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz
Title: Pupillometry and W-Time
Andrew Papilion
Major: Economics, Math
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dimitar Ouzounov
Title: Operational Support for Interdisciplinary Observations of Earthquake Processes in
California
Annabelle Koerber
Major: Anthropology, Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Takaragawa
Title: Underwater Grecian and Roman Archaeology Research
Brynne McKee
Major: News & Documentary
Faculty: Jeff Swimmer
Title: Peace of Her Own
Chloe Garcia
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Prevention of CO Inhibition of Nitrogenase by the Protein CowN
Claire Loudia
Major: Film Production
Faculty: Adam Borecki
Title: Four Seasons Visual Album
Genevieve Geller
Major: B.F.A Graphic Design
Faculty: Claudine Jaenichen
Title: Commentary Fashion Collection
Jacqueline Domi
Major: Film Studies
Faculty: Jurg Walther
Title: The Art of Experimental Analog Filmmaking as Inspired by the Dada Art Movement
Jamie Chang
Major: Freshman Early Assurance Program
Faculty: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari
Title: Synthesis of Oleoyl-CGKRK-(HR)4 Peptide for Targeted siRNA Delivery
Kayla Borkovec
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty: Madeline Warren
Title: Anna and Sloane Go to the Beach
Melissa Coyle
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Hamidreza Montazeri-Aliabadi
Title: Collaborative breast/lung cancer cell research between Chapman University and Trinity
College, Dublin
Michael MacInnes
Major: History
Faculty: Dr. Erin Mosely
Title: Inkatha Violence and Propaganda in the 1980s-90s
Natalie Paterson
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. John Miklavcic
Title: Folate Supplementation Mitigates Azathioprine Toxicity in Children with Inflammatory
Bowel Disease (IBD)
Natanael Alpay
Major: Mathematics
Faculty: Dr. Peter Jipsen
Title: Minimal Varieties of Semirings with 0,1
Noah Estrada-Rand
Major: Psychology, Data Analytics
Faculty: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Studying the Effects of Different Prompts to Increase Stair Use in Parking Structures
Olivia Wissa
Major: Mathematics
Faculty: Dr. Drew Moshier
Title: An Exploration of Quantum Computing through Recursion
Riley Kendall
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing individual calmodulin domains and their interaction with the HIV-1 matrix
protein
Roxanne Naumann
Major: Chemistry
Faculty: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Renewable Polymer Synthesis
Ryly Yee
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Impacts of Weathering of Bioaccessibility on Arsenic-Bearing Mine Wastes
Sandra Serwin
Major: History
Faculty: Dr. Alexander R. Bay
Title: Scholars, Sorcerers, and Sin: the Academic Field of Magic in 16th Century Europe
Terrence Lee
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Defining the function of a small protein that protects nitrogenase from carbon monoxide
Fall 2018 Grant Recipients
Matthew Nwerem
Major: Chemistry, Biochemistry, & Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. O. Maduka Ogba
Title: Computational Investigation of Lewis Acid Mediated Activation of Sulfonyl Fluorides
Blake Hilton
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Feminist Contemporary Art in Ghana
Maguy Michelman
Major: Art History
Faculty Mentor: Justin Walsh
Title: Confronting America's Shameful Past: The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
and the Legacy Museum
JordanSkolncik
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty: John Miklavcic
Title: Proposed Mechanism by which Saccharomyces Cerevisiae induces inflammation in
Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Mitigation of Disease Processes by Dietary Ganglioside
Emily Cauble
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Marco Bisoffi
Title: Do Prostate Cancer Exosomes Generate a Field Effect leading to Tumor Multifocality?
Faith Holloway
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Patricia C. Lopes
Title: Neuroendocrine correlates of parental care
Amy Lam
Major: Physics
Faculty: Jerry LaRue
Title: Synthesizing Transition Metal Shells on Gold Nanoparticle Cores
Kyler Zach
Major: B.A. in Music, Mathematics
Faculty: Daniel Alpay
Title: New Connections between Number Theory and Music
Kevin Bretzing
Major: Business Administration
Faculty: Cedric Owens
Title: Investigating the Interaction of CowN with Nitrogenase: Reducing the CO Inhibition
of Nitrogenase
Batool Kweider
Major: Psychology
Faculty: Dr. David Frederick
Title: Is Sorority Participation a Risk Factor for Disordered Eating? Testing the
Influences of Objectification, Social Identity, and Peer Pressures.
Emma Whiteley
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: In Vitro Binding of Ca27 and its Analogs to the Androgen Receptor
Heidi Standke
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty: Cedric Owens
Title: Analyzing the Nitrogenase Regulator -
Daniel Chang
Major: Chemistry
Faculty: Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Borylation of Carbodiimides Using a New Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst
Sarah Hester
Major: Biology
Faculty: Christopher Kim
Title: Effect of Natural Organic Matter on Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles
Kaitlyn Raymundo
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty: Niklas Ignasiak
Title: Validity of a self-paced treadmill setup for the assessment of gait regularity
Natasha Hikita
Major: Psychology
Faculty: Brooke Jenkins
Title: Childhood Asthma: The Relationships between Psychosocial Factors of Resilience
and Socioeconomic Status
Kaylin George
Major: Film Production
Faculty: Christine Fugate
Title: Two Paper Nightingales
2017-2018 Grant Recipients
Spring 2018 Grant Recipients
Allison White
Major
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sara LaBelle
Title of Project: Professors Perceived Roles in Students Mental Health Management
Andrew Papilion
Major: Economics, Mathematics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Dimitar Ouzounov
Title of project: Operational Support for Lithospheric-Atmospheric Coupling Studies
Associated with Geodynamics and Earthquake Processes in California
Ashleigh Dimpflmaier
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Connie Shears
Title of project: The Relationship between Stress, Group, and Decision Making
Caitlin Molina
Major: Biology/ Spanish
Faculty mentor: Dr. William Wright
Title of project: Ecological Suppression of Learning in a Model Species
Chris Costa
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title of project: Is it Cheating? Personal Characteristics and Psychological Traits
Shape Perceptions of Infidelity and Reactions to Infidelity.
Daniel Chang
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin O'Neill
Title of project: Stereospecific Synthesis of Vinylcyclopropanes
Emily Cauble
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Gain-of-function p53 mutations in field cancerization of histologically
normal prostate tissues
Felicia Viano
Major: History, Peace Studies
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexander Bay
Title of project: Icons, Images, and Paraphernalia: Analyzing Visual Tactics of the
United Farm Workers and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ramesh Singh
Title of project: Aerial LIDAR Scanning Using Off The Shelf Components
Jackie Gorman
Major: Digital Arts
Faculty mentor: Professor Bill Kroyer
Title of project: My Thesis Film: "Art Theft"
Jakob Naturman
Major: History/Screenwriting
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexander Bay
Title of project: The Development of the FDNY After WWII Research Trip
James Francese
Major: Mathematics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Mihaela Vajiac
Title of project: New Algebraic Methods for Clifford Analysis
Justin Cooper
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Simulated weathering effects on arsenic bioaccessibility in mine
tailings as a function of speciation
Marcus Chong
Major: Computer Science
Faculty mentor: Dr. Seung Hee Kim
Title of project: Assessment of Wildfire Danger in Orange County, CA
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Gregory Goldsmith
Title of project: The Demographics of Public Engagement in Science
Michaela Montgomery
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Simulated Weathering Effects on Bioaccessibility and Speciation
of Arsenic Mine Tailings
Morgan Kindel
Major: Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Patricia Lopes
Title of project: Effects of Sociality on Physiological Stress Levels in Wild Mice
Olivia Durant
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Comparison Between Native and Invasive Plant Species Potential to
Adapt to Drier Conditions Due to Climate Change
Ryley Hall
Major: Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Keykavous Parang
Title of project: Design and Evaluation of Fatty Acyl Conjugates for siRNA Delivery
and Silencing in Breast Cancer Cells
Fall 2017 Grant Recipients
Jason Groegler
Major: Biochemistry and
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title of Project: Investigating the interaction of individual calmodulin domains with
the HIV-1 matrix protein
Kelsey Leavy
Major: Psychology and Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Connie Shears
Title of project: The relationship between physical exercise, DHEA, and memory
Kathleen Thornsberry
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Justin Dressel and Dr. Iris Dorn
Title of project: Building and modifying an open-source 3D printer to extrude viable
3D cell cultures
Thimanthi Withana
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sun Yang
Title of project: Effect of nano-curcumin on iron-induced cellular toxicity
Haley Hopkins
Major: Studio Art
Faculty mentor: Professor Dave Kiddie
Title of project:
Joanna Dare
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title of project: Signaling identity while avoiding stigma: functional uses of cultural
markers of sexual orientation
Timothy Kristedja
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari
Title of project: Hydrolysis studies of
Alison Pirie
Major: Studio Art
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron
Title of project: Senior Exhibition: Theatre of Hysteria
Alexandra Galvin
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title of project: Patriotism and protests: understanding the diversity of responses
to the NFL player protests during the national anthem
Madeline Chew
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: The effects of drying on iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticle aggregate
size and mental retention
Shayla Tonge
Major: Film Production
Faculty mentor: Professor Sally Rubin
Title of project: Eat Africa poverty and sustainability- Research and documentary
project
Dylan McGale
Major: Film Production
Faculty mentor: Gil Bettman
Title of project: TIKTAALIK
Amy Lam
Major: Physics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title of project: Designing a sample holder to investigate
Edwin
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title of project: Cloning, expression, and purification of MBP-NifA
William Simmons
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty mentor: Professor Madeline Warren
Title of project: Sonora
Brenda Ruvalcaba
Major: Mathematics and Civil Engineering
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Determining the effects of weathering on arsenic speciation and
bioaccessibility
Fiona Tang
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi and Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg
Title of project: The effects of health-promoting signs encouraging stair use in parking
structures
Thang Nguyen
Major: Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title of project: Catalysis research
Emiko Kaneoka
Major: Public Relations & Advertising
Faculty mentor: Professor John Most
Title of project: Circle Advertising Campaign 2017-2018
2016-2017 Grant Recipients
Spring 2017 Grant Recipients
Sara Siwiecki
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Douglas Fudge
Title of Project: Analyzing the charge and composition of mucin vesicles
Sam Sarokin
Major: Film Production - Directing Emphasis
Faculty mentor: Tom Zoellner
Project title: Experimental Documentary on American Youth and Social Media
Lauren Ogie
Major: Art History
Faculty mentor: Wendy Salmond
Title of project: The Temples at the Bagan Archaeological Site: Works of Art and Circumambulation
in an Active Buddhist Site
Haley Miller
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Jason Keller
Title of project: Exploring Methane Flux from the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration
Project
Sarah Boardman
Major: Dance
Faculty mentor: Liz Maxwell
Title of project: Outside/In
Aylin Gann
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Connie Shears
Project title: Pressure Gauge for Construction of Vacuum Chamber in Catalysis Lab
Aaron Grisez
Majors: BS Physics and Computational Science and BM Music Composition
Faculty mentor: Justin Dressel
Project title: Qhord: Gamifying the Quantum through Music
Thang Nguyen
Major: Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Jerry LaRue
Project title: Catalysis Research
Emily Hanna
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Cassandra Medvedeff
Project title: Are methylotrophic substrates important in northern peatland methane
cycling?
Timothy Kristedja
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Rakesh Tiwari
Project title: Peptide Conjugate for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer
Brennan Hobbs
Majors: Strategic and Corporate Communication
Faculty mentor: Kerk Kee
Project title: Message Strategies for Voluntary Water Conservation
Ariana Victor
Major: Film Production
Faculty mentors: Roy Finch and Sally Rubin
Project title: Dream Seekers
Amy Lam
Major: Physics
Faculty mentor: Jerry LaRue
Project title: Pressure Gauge for Construction of Vacuum Chamber in Catalysis Lab
Rebecca Wilson
Major: Peace Studies
Faculty mentor: Lisa Letiz
Project Title: Homelessness and Criminalization in Orange County
Humam Alkhaled
Major: Biology
Faculty mentor: Keykavous Parang
Project Title: Designing Cell-Penetrating Antimicrobial Peptides as Molecular Transporters
of Antibiotics against Pathogenic Bacteria
Carlos Hernandez
Majors: B.A. Music Performance, Instrumental and B.A. Music Education, Instrumental
Faculty mentor: Christopher Nicholas
Project Title: Translating Musical Languages and Intelligences
Fall 2016 Grant Recipients
Jonathan Mackris
Major: Film Studies
Faculty mentor: Dr. Kelli Fuery
Title of project: Politics and Participation in the films of William Castle
Jessica Rush
Majors: Biological Sciences and Spanish
Faculty mentors: Dr. Cassandra Medvedeff, Dr. Jason Keller
Title of project: Direct Effect of Temperature on Humic Substance Reduction in a Minnesota
Peatland
Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Chris Kim
Title of project: Study of the Effects of Drying on Iron nanoparticle Aggregate Size
and Metal Absorption
Jessica Bocinski
Majors: Art History and Anthropology
Faculty Mentor: Denise Johnson
Title of project: Perspectives and Perceptions: Examining Chicana/o Muralists of Southern
California
Elizabeth Rentko
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dave Frederick
Title of project: The Effect of Media Images on Body Dissatisfaction Among Gay and
Heterosexual Men
Brianna Tomlin
Major: Fine Arts
Faculty mentors: Lia Halloran and Dave Kiddie
Title of project: Breathe, a Senior Thesis show
Tammy Taller
Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Faculty mentor: Janell Shearer
Title of project: National Student Advertising Competition
Paul Titterton
Majors: Physics and Computational Science
Faculty mentor: Professor Justin Dressel
Title of project: Analog simulation of a quantum computing circuit
Nilsha Khurana
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Utilizing next generation DNA sequencing technologies to study plant
response to climate change
Elizabeth Iantosca
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Sun Yan
Title of project: Effects of curcumin on iron-induced toxicity in cardiomyocytes
Alessandra Rosser
Major: Studio Art
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron
Title of project: Senior Thesis Exhibition
Trina Killian
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: Yoga for the Potential Treatment of Obesity Related Inflammation
Morgan Mein
Major: Fine Arts
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron
Title of project: This is Not Home Senior Fine Art's Thesis Proposal
Kris Swanson
Major: Creative Writing
Faculty mentor: Morgan Read-Davidson
Title of project: Narrative Music Virtual Reality Video Game Production
Jimmy Evans
Major: Screenwriting and English Literature
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: Hinukan: A (Re)Memoir
Ian Nel
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Psychoneuroimmunology of PPD: Investigating the Relationship between
Psychosocial Variables, C-Reactive Protein, and Postpartum Depression
Erika Gibson
Major: History
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Keene
Title of project: "Frenchified:" French food and salon culture in Jefferson's White
House
Caitlyn Turner
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Social Media, Confidences killer? The Effects of Social Media on
Body Image
2015-2016 Grant Recipients
Spring 2016 Grant Recipients
Alex Himstead
Major: Biology
Faculty mentor: William G. Wright
Title of project: Behavioral Ecology of Dolabrifera
Seth Yund
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Genetic Factors Influencing the Digestion of Gliadin by Bifidobacteria
longus
Yasmin Akbari
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: The Effectiveness of Warning Labels and Subvertising on Reducing
the Harmful Effects of Media Exposure
Rose Mackenzie
Major: Theatre Studies
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: Performing Queer Femininities
Zachary Ellis
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Jason Keller
Title of project: Organic Matter Reduction Regulates Methanogen Gene Expression in
Anaerobic Decomposition
Alexandra Sidun
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Ocean Acidification and Predator-Prey Relations
Anastasia Kalyta
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Connecting the Physiological and Behavioral Response to Heat Stress
in Pagurus Samuelis
Matthew Gothong
Major: Health Science
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: In Vivo Study of Arsenic Bioavailibility in the Live Liver
Bryce Cyrier
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty mentor: Kiku Terasaki
Title of project: The Eleventh
Shannon Corenthin
Major: Theatre Performance
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: The Un-Told Story of African American Women Playwrights
Anton Pham
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: The Relationship between AMPK and IL-15 for Potential Obesity Treatment
Lena Romano
Majors: Theatre Studies and Sociology
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: The Influence of Social Class on Women in Theatre
Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: Lung Specific Assessment of Arsenic Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability
via Inhalation
Kiana Smith
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: The Effects of Alternating Weather patterns on Arsenic Bioaccessibility
of Mine-Impacted Sediments
Fall 2015 Grant Recipients
Kristine Avena
Major: History
Title of project: “the Good of the Country Rises Above Party”: Roosevelt, La Guardia,
and O’Connor and the Works Progress Administration in New York City During the Great
Depression
Monica Freeman
Major: History
Title of project: Senior Thesis: Wonder Woman
Sydney Guthrie
Major: Documentary Film
Title of project: The Impact Point
Robert Schumaker
Major: Creative Writing & French
Title of project: Mapping the Queer Caribbean
Bijan Kazerooni
Major: History
Title of project: “Injurious to the Honour of his Majesty, and the English Nation”
:Piracy and British State Building in the post-Spanish War of Succession
Aidan Wood
Major: TV Writing & Producing
Title of project: The Dragon Slayers: Web Series
Katherine Whiteman
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Title of project: Arsenic Bioaccessibility as a Function of Rainfall Exposure and
Time in Mining-Impacted Sediments under ambient Diurnal Conditions
Sarika Chowdhry
Major: Health Science
Title of project: Design and Synthesis Peptide
Young Jae Kim
Major: Biological Sciences
Title of project: Designing and Evaluating of Dasatinib-Peptide Conjugates as Anti-Cancer
Agents
Crystle-Joie Agbayani
Major: Psychology
Title of project: What Constitutes Sexual consent and Assault? The Effects of Verbal,
Physical, and Linguistic Cues
Tessa Oliaro
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Title of project: correlating Arsenic Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability Through
In-Vivo Rat Exposures
Clarissa Hampton
Major: Art History
Title of project: Senior Research Thesis
Maci Reed
Major: History
Title of project: American Soldiers’ Songs and the Training Camp Experience in the
World War I
Gaganjyot Sandhu
Major: Psychology
Title of project: Effects of Competing News Media frames of Weight on Antifat Stigma,
Beliefs About Weight, and Support for Obesity-Related Public Policies
Mackenzie Smith
Major: Psychology
Title of project: Anxiety and Cognition
Anthony Torossian
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Title of project: Effects of pH on Cu(II) adsorption and retention to aggregated iron
oxyhydroxide nanoparticles
2014-2015 Grant Recipients
Spring 2015 Grant Recipients
Graeme Aegerter
Major: Sociology
Faculty mentor: Lynn Horton
Title of project: Yup'ik Women's Activism: Native Identity and Social Change
Jenna Alley
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Acceptance of Hook-Up Culture: Is There Truly a Gender Difference,
and What Factors Might Explain This Difference?
Devon Bloss
Major: Environmental Science and Policy (Earth Systems)
Faculty mentor: Chris Kim
Title of project: A Quantitative Analysis of Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Methods
Stephanie A. Bucholz
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Linear and Cyclic Peptides
of Histidine-Arginine as a Molecular Transporter
Jenna Alley
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Rakesh K Tiwari
Title of project: Acceptance of Hook-Up Culture: Is There Truly a Gender Difference,
and What Factors Might Explain This Difference?
Alexandra M. Contreras
Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Faculty mentor: Cory O'Connor
Title of project: Creative: Production, Prom
Shiva Amant and Taylor Delaney
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Glucorticoid Receptor and
Postpartum Depression Risk
Jeremy Feck
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Consequences of Global Warming: Physiology-Behavior Correlations
in an Intertidal Model Species
Lena Haddad
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith
Title of project: Assessment of the Effects of Pomegranate Juice and Caffeine Extract
on Apoptosis, and the m-TOR, p-Akt, BCL-2, MCL-1 Anti-Apoptonic Proteins
Jack Jacobs
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim and Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Effects of Fine-Grained, Arsenic-Bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar
Macrophage Gene Expression
Abigail Kim
Faculty mentor: Alexander R. Bay
Title of project: Creating Identity: The Korean Third Space
K.B. (Ki Bbeum) Jenny Kim
Major: Sociology
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: The Comparative Analysis, and Narratives of Diversity Initiatives
at Chapman University
Elizabeth Murtough
Major: English
Faculty mentor: Anna Leahy
Title of project: Fighting Historical Oblivion: Poetry as Decolonization
Kurt (Quoc) Nguyen
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Effect of Bagrada Hilaris on Exotic Invasive Mustards
Nikki Shahbazi
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Association Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Oxytocin
Hormone Receptor (OXTR) Gene and Postpartum Depression Risk
Dor Shoshan
Faculty mentor: Marco Biscoffi
Title of Project: Prostate Field Cancerization: Thinking outside the Tumor
Kathy Tavakoli
Majors: Biology and Psychology
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: IL-15 and Obesity: Increase Metabolism, Decrease Body Fat
Fall 2014 Grant Recipients
Yasmin Akbari
Faculty mentor: Steven Schandler
Title of project: Information Processing as a Risk Factor for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Nicole Brashears
Faculty mentor: Michelle Cleary
Title of project: The Validity and Reliability of Mobile Postural Stability Testing
Devices
Melissa Bond
Faculty mentor: Connie Shears
Title of project: Cognitive Dissonance Between Strangers
Leah Ficeli
Faculty mentor: Jessica Walker
Title of project: Mathematics Learning: Implicit or Explicit?
Isabelle Grimm
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn L. Buckner
Title of project: Trojan Whores: Unsung Stores of Women in Theaters of War
Jack Jacobs and Jon Woo
Faculty mentors: Christopher Kim and Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar
Macrophage Gene Expression
Kassandra Lee
Faculty mentor: Ken Sumida
Title of project: Young Women's Cognitive, Behavioral, Emotional, and Physiological
Empathic Responsiveness as Mediated by Evocative Video Stimulus Content
Michelle Lin
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: History of Multiculturalism and Diversity at Chapman University
Marc Rosenfield
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Discovering Common Ground
Gaganjyot Sandhu
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: The Effect of Competing Perspectives on Obesity in Media on Support
for Obesity-Related Public Policies and Attitudes Towards Obese Persons
Terri Scott
Faculty mentor: David A. Frederick
Title of project: Can the negative effects of media exposure on body image be reduced:
Examining the effectiveness of photoshop warning labels and downward social comparisons
Caleb Sturges
Faculty mentor: Andrea Molle
Title of project: Two Party Systems by Design: Testing the Mechanism of Plurality
Rule
McKenzie Tavoda
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragara
Title of project: Japanese American Identity in Manzanar Internment Camp Gardens
Marissa Wong
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: The Politics of Memory in Rwanda: Implications for Peace Education
Contact Information
cue@chapman.edu
Location:
Memorial Hall, 3rd Floor
Orange, CA 92867
Mailing Address:
Center for Undergraduate Excellence One University Drive Orange, CA 92866