10 students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for fall

LAWRENCE — This fall, 10 University of Kansas students will receive an Undergraduate Research Awards (UGRAs). UGRA recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship as they work on mentored research and creative projects.

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, the applicant's academic record and a recommendation from the mentor.

“Every semester we are impressed by the quality and creativity demonstrated by students in their research proposals. We are pleased we are able to support these students as they apply what they have learned in classes to their own research and creative projects. This intellectual exploration will help them explore their passions, succeed at KU and prepare them for whatever is next,” said Alison Olcott, director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and associate professor of geology.

The Center for Undergraduate Research is currently taking applications for the Spring 2020 UGRA competition. The deadline for student proposals will be Oct. 31. More information can be found online.

Students receiving awards for fall 2019 are listed below in alphabetical order along with hometown, major, project title, mentor and mentor’s department:

Taylor Renee Davis, a junior from Overland Park: “Transgender Youth: A Step Toward Trans-Affirming Healthcare,” mentored by Megan Paceley, social welfare.

Micah Faulds, a sophomore from Shawnee: “A Collection of Contemporary Queer Literature,” mentored by Mary Klayder, English.

Anna Goddard, a senior from Lincoln, Nebraska: “Effects of Selection on Partial Clonality on Phenotypic Evolution and Evolutionary Lag,” mentored by Maria Orive, ecology & evolutionary biology.

Grant Aaron Johnson, a senior from Lawrence: “Species delimitation of the snake genus Ahaetulla in Southeast Asia,” mentored by Rafe Brown, ecology & evolutionary biology.

Justin King, a senior from Olathe: “Analysis of Gut and Skin Microbiomes of Amphibians from the Philippines,” mentored by Benjamin Sikes, ecology & evolutionary biology.

Wade William Leibach, a junior from Lenexa: “Investigating Preservation Pathways in the Pioche Formation: An Integrative Taphonomic Study of an Early and Middle Cambrian (Series 2 and Miaolingian) Soft-Bodied Biota,” mentored by Julien Kimmig, Biodiversity Institute.

Mariaelena Araceli Nabors, a senior from St. Joseph, Missouri: “The Genetic Basis of Divergence in Immune Defense between Drosophila Species,” mentored by Robert Unckless, molecular biosciences.

Manjit Pant, a junior from Leawood: “Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis for Maximum Synthesis of Nano-Materials,” mentored by Lin Liu, mechanical engineering.

Adrian Daniel Romero Soto, a junior from Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán, Honduras: “Selective Fermentation of Algal Biomass and Growth in Aqueous Co-Product,” mentored by Belinda Sturm, civil, environmental & architectural engineering.

Haleyanna Schippers, a junior from Lawrence: “The Effect of Bone Conduction and Intensity Masking on Speech Production,” mentored by Jonathan Brumberg, speech-language-hearing.