Undergraduate Research Awards for 2023-2024 have been awarded to 72 students from disciplines and departments across campus. Click on the names below to read the abstracts that summarize each research project, and mark your calendars to attend Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day to see these students present their research findings.
Information for current scholars
A | B | C | D | F | G | H | I |J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | W
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/agourdsNicholas_Sm.jpg)
“Scope++: An open-source, efficient C++ microscopy software”
Biological Sciences
Daniel Lobo
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Design of a Stable Antibody: HIV-1 RNA Complex Suitable for Structural Studies”
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Michael Summers
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/ahmedIman_Sm.jpg)
“A Comparison of Sequential and Simultaneous Bilingualism in College Students”
Psychology
Mirela Cengher
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/akunnakweMaxine_Sm.jpg)
“Measuring behavioral visual acuity in two darter species: Etheostoma caeruleum and E. olmstedi”
Biological Sciences
Tamra Mendelson and Yseult Héjja-Brichard
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/alamRoxie_Sm.jpg)
“Gender-Based Violence: Barries that Prevent Helf-Seeking Behaviors”
Psychology
Christopher Murphy
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Mayor Eric Adams’ Subway Sweeps: Criminalization of the Homeless in New York City”
American Studies
Michael Casiano
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/bambaradeniyaThirandie_Sm.jpg)
“Education and Access to Policy: A Case Study on Heat Waves”
Geography and Environmental Systems
Dawn Biehler
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/borensteinSonia_Sm.jpg)
“Exploring New horizons in Creative Improvisation”
Visual Arts
Linda Dusman
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/britoVioleta_Sm.jpg)
“Documenting the Everyday Experiences of the Haitian Diaspora in Dominican Republic”
Global Studies
Felipe Filomeno
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Aromatherapy or Toxic Exposure: An Investigation into the Effects of Nicotine-Containing Electronic Cigarette Vapor Exposure on Main Olfactory Epithelium Neurogenesis”
Biological Sciences
Weihong Lin
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“The South Korean Diaspora Within Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area and its Expression Through Art”
Visual Arts
Beth Yashnyk
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/chaudhryAbrar_Sm.jpg)
“An Open-Source Image Acquisition Software for Broadening Research to Underprivileged Individuals”
Biological Sciences
Daniel Lobo
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/ChavezMare_Sm.jpg)
“Spinning Songs, Weaving Poetry”
Ancient Studies
Molly Jones-Lewis
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/cohnMary_Sm.jpg)
“Impact of COVID-19 on Fall Risks of Older Adults Living in Assisted Living Facilities”
Aging Studies
Louise Murray
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/coneTessa_Sm.jpg)
“The Politics of Abortion”
Political Science
Lisa Vetter
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/dayieJoshua_Sm.jpg)
“Characterizing the Aspergillus nidulans Kinase Deletion Library for Increased Septation in Response to Cell Wall Stress”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/dennisGabby_Sm.jpg)
“Investigating Inhibition Control in two Darter Fish Species: Etheostoma caeruleum and Etheostoma flabellare”
Biological Sciences
Tamra Mendelson
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/diopOusmane_Sm.jpg)
“Self-Expression through a series of Black and White Photography”
Visual Arts
Calla Thompson
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/douglasGary_Sm.jpg)
“Characterizing Wall Strength and Morphological Defects of an mpkA;hogA Deletion Strain”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/fortonLiam_Sm.jpg)
Development of MALDI-MSI Methods to Localize Lipids and Neuropeptides
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Herena Kamal Seneviratne
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/gilotteElias_Sm.jpg)
“ATP Biosensor Sensor for Cell-Free Protein Synthesis”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Govind Rao and Chad Sundberg
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/gokulakrishnanSethu_Sm.jpg)
“Determining Regions Within UCHL3 that Regulates its Stability and Turnover in Ovarian Cancer Cells”
Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Horsemanship and Training in Ancient Greek”
Ancient Studies
Molly Jones-Lewis
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/gouinBrandon_Sm.jpg)
“Body Percussion: Expanding the Canon of Contemporary Works for the Oldest Instrument”
Music
Lisa Cella
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/hartleyMax_Sm.jpg)
“Stochastic Thermodynamics of Music”
Physics
Sebastian Deffner
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/hillGarret_Sm.jpg)
“Characterization of the PrkA Protein Kinase in Aspergillus nidulans”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/hoffmanJessica_Sm.jpg)
“Determining the Role of Zinc Finger protein 217 in Ovarian Cancer”
Biological Sciences
Achuth Padmanabhan
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/howellNyla_Sm.jpg)
“Racial Oppression and Community Perceptions of Disasters and Disaster Preparedness”
Geography and Environmental Systems
Dawn Biehler and Lauren Clay
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/irfanAshher_Sm.jpg)
“The Effects of Telomere Shortening in Prostate Epithelial Cells using Transgenic Mouse Lines”
Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/joslowRachael_Sm.jpg)
“How Parental Racial-Ethnic Socialization Contributes to Civic Engagement among Asian Americans Youth”
Psychology
Charissa Cheah
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Understanding a link between HIV-1 Nuclear Export and Genome Packaging: Understanding the competitive nature of Rev and Gag for RRE Stem 1”
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Michael Summers and Jan Marchant
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/keameyShauna_Sm.jpg)
“Synthesis of Hydroxamic Acid-Based Inhibitors for Metallo-β-Lactamase”
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Paul Smith
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/kellyIndia_Sm.jpg)
“When Puigpardines was Lord of Kardhitsa: A Study in the Frankish Period of Northern Boeotia, Greece”
History and Ancient Studies
Michael Lane
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/khanGina_Sm.jpg)
“Identity Formation of Half-Korean Biracial Individuals Living in South Korea”
Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication
Kyung-Eun Yoon
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Investigating the Role of RHO1 in Bacterial Clearance in Drosophila Melanogaster”
Biological Sciences
Jeff Leips
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/kuluHavvanur_Sm.jpg)
“Crumbling Foundations: Investigating the Impact of Exogenous Crisis on Populist Leaders”
Political Science
Carolyn Forestiere
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/lamptey-MillsBianca_Sm.jpg)
“Investigating the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Exposure on Neuroregeneration in the Olfactory Epithelium of Adult Mice”
Biological Sciences
Weihong Lin
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/liuJasmine_Sm.jpg)
“Burnt Out vs. Lazy? How Educational Systems and Parenting Styles Affect the Mental Health and Future Goals of Indonesian and Asian-American College Students”
Biological Sciences and Psychology
Elaine MacDougall
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/lukeKeiko_Sm.jpg)
“Using Optogenetics to Study the Relationship Between Food Deprivation and Pain Sensitivity”
Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/maloyElizabeth_Sm.jpg)
“Antiretroviral Induced Neurotoxicity and Cardiotoxicity”
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Herena Kamal Seneviratne
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/mclaughlinEva__Sm.jpg)
“Misophonia Through the Choreographic Lens: Visualizing Complex Fight and Flight Responses”
Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/09/mejiaNayib_Sm.jpg)
“The U.S. Healthcare Industry and the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Financial Analysis”
Economics
Douglas Lamdin
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/mileyTerra_Sm.jpg)
“Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Magnesium Sensor to be used in an Industrial Cell-Free Bioreactor”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Govind Rao
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/morseMeredith_Sm.jpg)
“Characterizing the Aspergillus nidulans Kinase Deletion Library for Septation Deficiencies”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/muhammadAmina_Sm.jpg)
“Investigating the Correlation Between Traits of Depersonalization and Academic Self-Efficacy”
Psychology
Lira Yoon
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/ngKira_Sm.jpg)
“Mapping Global Lives: Creating Personal Stories About Being Mixed-Race in Maryland”
Global Studies
Tania Lizarazo
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/nguyenNhi_Sm.jpg)
“Role of Hoxb13 in Regulation of the Androgen Receptor Transcriptome”
Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/nowellPaisley_Sm.jpg)
“Evaluating the Effects on Gadolinium Density on MRI Contrast Capabilities”
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Marie-Christine Daniel
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/obisesanAugustine_Sm.jpg)
“Contribution of phosphoglucose isomerase p and phosphoglycerate mutase 1 p to glucosome formation in live cells”
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Songon An
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/oconnorKatelyn_Sm.jpg)
“Literally Figurative: An Exploration of the Interpretation of Idiomatic Phrases in the English Language”
Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/oluseyiInioluwa_Sm.jpg)
“Using Optogenetics as a Tool to Study the Effects of Chronic Pain in Drosophila melanogaster”
Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/onochieBrandon_Sm.jpg)
“Investigating regulation of subcellular localization of the lysine methyltransferase, SMYD3”
Biological Sciences
Sabeen Ikram
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/otunugaEmmanuela_Sm.jpg)
“Characterizing a New Cell Line Derived from a Transgenic Mouse Model of a Lethal Prostate Cancer”
Biological Sciences
Charles Bieberich
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Pushed to the Edge: The Impact of British Colonization on the Australian Aboriginal Diet”
History
Tania Lizarazo
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/perezTatiana_Sm.jpg)
“Phenotypic Characterization of the Aspergillus nidulans ΔmpkAΔnrc2 Deletion Strain”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/02/pluckDahne-More_Sm2.jpg)
“Retrieval of Planetary Boundary Layer Heights Using Radar Wind Profiles”
Physics
Belay Demoz
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/quintanillaMatthew_Sm.jpg)
“High Throughput Screens to Uncover Yet Uncharacterized Cell Wall Signaling Kinases in Aspergillus nidulans”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten and Alex Doan
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/reiterRen_Sm.jpg)
“Choreographing Gender Identity Discrimination in Dance”
Dance
Ann Sofie Clemmensen
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/sequeiraAndrea_Sm.jpg)
“Characterization of ΔmpkA Δsnf1 Double Deletion Strain in Aspergillus nidulans”
Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering
Mark Marten
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/shresthaChristina_Sm.jpg)
“Investigating the Effects of Low Dosages of Ethanol on Age Dependent Neurodegeneration on Drosophila”
Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/slottenKatie_Sm.jpg)
“Circular Polarization: Extraterrestrial Life Within Our Solar System”
Physics
Eileen Meyer
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Using Behavioral Assays to Study Genes Associated with Autism in Drosophila Fruit Flies”
Biological Sciences
Fernando Vonhoff
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/sutharRiya_Sm.jpg)
“Identifying Antecedents that Evoke Mands for Information in Neurotypical Children- An Analysis Across Different Age Groups/Developmental Approach”
Psychology
Mirela Cengher
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/syedZoonash_Sm.jpg)
“The Effects of Religious Beliefs on Immigrant Health”
Global Studies
Felipe Filomeno
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/taylor-SmithRenata_Sm.jpg)
“Staging the Amish Project: A Study in International Collaboration and Design”
Theatre
Adam Mendelson
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Stipend for Student Support in Research Project in Poppleton for Community Development”
Visual Arts
Nicole King
![A three quarter portrait of a young woman in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/wadeKhady-_Sm.jpg)
“Exploring the Relationship Between Finding Community/Sense of Belonging and Depression in College Students at UMBC”
Psychology
Laura Ting
![OUE paw print](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2023/08/umbc-official-paw.png)
“Stochastic Thermodynamics of Aging”
Physics
Sebastian Deffner
![A three quarter portrait of a young man in a courtyard](https://ur.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/354/2024/01/wilschkePeter_Sm.jpg)
“The Political Economy of State Fiscal Cyclicality”
Political Science
Eric Stoken
5/29/2024