Current Academic Year Grant Recipients

Undergraduate Research Grants in 2025 – 2026    

“Finding Population Genetics in Mealybugs Domesticated by Acropyga exsanguis Ants”
     Student: Joslyn Adams
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

“Assessing the Efficacy of BECC-derived Adjuvants to Skew Allergy Immunotherapy"
     Student: Oluwajomi Akinwumi
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Effects of Volatile Repellents on Spotted Wing Drosophila”
     Student: Rana Alzyoud
     Mentor: Dr. Vonnie Shields (Biological Sciences)

“Evaluating the Essential Role of BRD2 in Oocyte Development”
     Student: Abena Amfo-Koranteng
     Mentor: Dr. Stephen Hancock (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Assessing the Efficacy of BECC-derived Adjuvants to Skew Allergy Immunotherapy"
     Student: Lana Avery
     Mentor: Dr. Daniela Chavez (Biological Sciences)

“Estimating Historic Population Fluctuations of an Endangered Freshwater Cetacean (Inia boliviensis)”
     Student: Jesse Birdsall
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

“Examining the Potential of BECC 438 and 470 Adjuvants in the Development of Effective Allergy Shots"
     Student: Amanda Bonetti
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Total Synthesis of Acremostrictin”
     Student: Jennafer Buckshaw
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Investigating the Effects of Lesion-Induced Damage on Radial Glial Morphology and Reactive Gliosis in the Cerebral Cortex of Turtle Brains”
     Student: Elena Christou
     Student: Kyle Hastings
     Mentor: Dr. Carmen Falcone (Biological Sciences)

“Natural vs. Artificial Prey in Mantis (Hierodula membranacea) Strike Performance"
     Student: Harper Davis
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“Effects of Fluorine Incorporation on the Superconducting Properties of Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide Thin Films”
     Student: Cristofar Varela Duarte
     Mentors: Dr. Rajeswari Kolagani (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Effect of PEGDA Molecular Weight on Photopolymerization Characteristics”
     Student: Daniel Eisenstein
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Genome-Wide Phylogenetic Analysis of Inia boliviensis and Inia geoffrensis”
     Student: Samantha Emich
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

“The Role of Sleep Disorders and the Circadian Transcription Factor BHLHE40 in Cancer Risk Among Women"
     Student: Cat Evans
     Student: Naomi Omo-Taiga
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn McDougal (Biological Sciences)

“Effects of Sonication versus UV Irradiation on the Final Morphology of Silver Nanoparticles”
     Student: Lloyce Frimpong
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Heavy Metal Contaminants in Ashwagandha Herbal Supplements”
     Student: Mikayla Garraty
     Mentor: Dr. Kelly Elkins (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“LACV in Chipmunk Samples”
     Student: CJ Gaskill
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

“Investigating Astrocyte Diversity in the Bird Brain Auditory System”
     Student: Alyssa Geddie
     Student: Prasiddika Thapaliya
     Mentor: Dr. Carmen Falcone (Biological Sciences)

“AC (Tapping) Nanolithography Using Atomic Force Microscopy”
     Student: Antonio Gomez
     Mentors: Dr. David Schaefer (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Developing Analytical Methods for Detecting Short-Chain PFAS Using GC/MS ”
     Student: Jessie Goodman
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn Kautzman (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Role of COL5A1 Variation in Physical Activity and Injury ”
     Student: Lauren Greene
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn E. McDougal (Biological Sciences)

“Tuning the Photoluminescence of Atomically Precise Au Nanoclusters with Pt and Rh Dopants”
     Student: Kristin Gyimah
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Search for Non-toxic Counterparts of (Tl,Hg)BaCaCuO High Tempearture
Superconductors”
     Student: Tyler Hannesson
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Investigating the Role of the P2-P3 Helices in an RNA Riboswvitch”
     Student: Paige Headley
     Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Investigation of Immunoadjuvants BECC 438 & 470 in Improving the Efficacy of Allergy Shots"
     Student: McKenzie Horne
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Exploring Sediment Dynamics in Temperate Estuaries within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed"
     Student: Fiona Hutchison
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

“Characterizing the Replication Dynamics of La Crosse Virus in Vero Cells”
     Student: Elexa Jones
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

“Synthesis of Prunomarin-A”
     Student: Morgan Kelly
     Mentor: Dr. Keith Reber (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Analyzing Mutations at the J24 Juction Region of an RNA Riboswitch”
     Student: Manal Khan
     Mentor: Dr. Ana-Maria Soto (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Experimental Methodologies Involved in the Interaction of Host-Pathogen Systems: The Effects of Crispr Cas9 Mutants in Dictyostelium discoideum Genes”
     Student: Tatah Lamin
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Characterizing the Replication Kinetics of Jamestown Canyon Virus in C6/36 Cells”
     Student: Ulysses F. Matricciani
     Mentor: Dr. Kishana Taylor (Biological Sciences)

“Optimizing Engineered Prototypes to Improve Habitat for Captive Aquatic Turtles”
     Student: Cristofar Dante Meucci
     Mentors: Dr. Pamela Lottero-Perdue (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Using Autonomous Recording Units To Determine Salt Marsh Bird Occupancy"
     Student: Jonah Meyers
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

“Attenuated Total Reflectance - Fourier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy Characterization of Pressure Sensitive Adhesives: Before and After Chemical Fingerprint Processing ”
     Student: Meagan Miguelpablo
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Rheology Probes the Expansion of Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Hydrogels During UV-Induced Post-Photopolymerization ”
     Student: Jacob Miley
     Mentor: Dr. Khanh-Hoa Tran-Ba (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Development of an Anti-transferrin Receptor Recombinant Immunotoxin Using a Stability-Optimized Pseudomonas Exotoxin A Domain III”
     Student: Risa Morales
     Mentor: Dr. John Weldon  (Biological Sciences)

“Determination of the Phosphorylation Status of Cyanobacteria RpaB and its Effect on Photosynthetic Efficiency"
     Student: Liana Mullican
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Sedimentation Impact on Marsh Stability"
     Student: Emmalynn Mutombo
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

“The Influences of Cellular Stress on the in vivo Oligomerization States of the RpaB Protein in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 Cyanobacteria"
     Student: Amara Njoku
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Refining Population Genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in Maryland and Pennsylvania”
     Student: Sam Norris
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble   (Biological Sciences)

“Determination of the Oligomerization Status of Cyanobacterial Rre1 Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Justin Obi
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Identification of Small Proteins”
     Student: Temiloluwa Oladipo
     Mentor: Dr. Matthew Hemm   (Biological Sciences)

“Engineering Silver Nanorods and Cubes to Detect N-Nitrosodiphenylamine”
     Student: Efosa Owie
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Genetic Variation in the DRD3 Gene and Susceptibility to Substance Use"
     Student: Frederick Phillips
     Mentor: Dr. Kathryn McDougal (Biological Sciences)

“The Impact of Sediment Grain Size on the Efficacy of Runnels in Salt Marsh Restoration"
     Student: Salecia Poles
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

“Sediment Particle Size's Impact on Viable Wetland Remediation Methods in the Chesapeake Bay"
     Student: Havish Rekula
     Mentor: Dr. Alice Besterman (Biological Sciences)

“Passing the Microbial Baton: Maternal Microbiota Transfer in Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica)”
     Student: Attia Robinson
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

“Origins of the Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) Microbiome”
     Student: Litzzy Romero
     Mentor: Dr. Steve Kimble (Biological Sciences)

“The Effects of TirC in Dictyostelium edited by CRISPR-Cas9”
     Student: Daniel Sackey
     Mentor: Dr. Michelle Snyder (Biological Sciences)

“Effect of Natural and Artificial Prey Stimuli of Giant African Mantis (Sphodromantis
viridis) Strike Performance"
     Student: Malia Salas
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“In-Vivo Phosphorylation in Hik2 of Synechococcus elongatus"
     Student: Wilki Sanchez Jr
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Dung Beetles: Using their Gut Microbes to Save the Planet, One Plant Fiber at a Time”
     Student: Asa Seay
     Mentor: Dr. Anne Estes  (Biological Sciences)

“SiCu Co-sputtering for Metal-insulator Transition Study”
     Student: Jeremiah Seib
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“The Impact of Camouflage on Morphological Evolution in Mantises"
     Student: Dafenie Sherman
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“Establishing the Evolutionary Relationship Between Inia geoffrensis and I. boliviensis Using Phylogenomics”
     Student: Michaela St. John
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

“Influence of Life Stages on Critical Thermal Limits in the Arizona Tan Mantis (Stagmomantis gracilipes)"
     Student: Chelsea Staab
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“Analyzing Airways of Allergic Mice Treated with BECC Adjuvanted AIT"
     Student: Isabella Sturla
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Examining BECC 438 and 470 Effects on Allergen Antibodies"
     Student:Queen Tamakloe
     Mentor: Dr. Erin Harberts (Biological Sciences)

“Effects of Natural and Article Prey Stimuli on Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus)
Strike Performance"
     Student: Anayeli Galvan Tello
     Mentor: Dr. Christopher Oufiero (Biological Sciences)

“Investigation of the Reduction of SrTIO3 Substrates During Pulsed Laser Deposition of Metal Oxide Thin Films”
     Student: Christopher Toomer
     Mentor: Dr. Vera Smolyaninova (Physics, Astronomy & Geosciences)

“Assess The In Vivo Phosphorylation Status of RpaA Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Asia Trogdon
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)

“Engineering 2D Ag Nanoparticle Using the Ligand (4-Bromo-phenyl)-diphenyl-amine”
     Student: Naomi Uiyoshioria
     Mentor: Dr. Mary Devadas (Chemistry & Forensic Science)

“Genome Wide Phylogenetic Analysis of Inia boliviensis”
     Student: Ashley Van
     Mentor: Dr. Jacqueline Doyle (Biological Sciences)

“Regulation of Rre1 Phosphorylation Under Different Redox Conditions"
     Student: Ny'Gia Williams
     Mentor: Dr. Iskander Ibrahim (Biological Sciences)