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2020 Undergraduate Research Support Program (URSP) Winners

Name changed to FIREbird Grant Program in 2022 and also offered for academic semesters.

The Undergraduate Research Support Program provided up to $5000 to support undergraduate student(s) engaged in an intensive, faculty-mentored research experience over the Summer.

Summer 2020

Key: Student Name, Unit, “Title of Project”, Faculty Mentor

Kelly Kennedy, Anthropology, “Radiogenic Strontium Location Analysis of Elk Remains from Noble-Wieting,” mentored by Dr. Abigail Stone

Jacqueline Epperson, Geology, “Subdividing the Archean Bighorn Batholith: Geologic Map of the Woodrock 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Wyoming,” mentored by Dr. David Malone

Harold Diaz-Quiroz, John Miles, Justin Hayward, Physics, Q”uantum Electrodynamic Scattering,” mentored by Dr. Neil Christensen

Cyrus Gudeman, Chemistry, “Synthesis of Oxyquiniporphyrins,” mentored by Dr. Timothy Lash

Elizabeth Ladas, English Education, “Critical Assessment Design: Conversations in Community on Socially Just ELA Instruction,” mentored by Dr. Danielle Lillge

Greg Anderson, Biochemistry, “The Defense Strategies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” mentored by Dr. Jan Dahl

Madison Steines and Liana Haas, Conservation Biology and Environmental Systems Science and Sustainability, “The Function of Ultraviolet Mouth Coloration in Parent-Offspring Interactions in House Sparrows,” mentored by Dr. Dugas

Cory Hicks, Chemistry, “First Steps Towards Electrically Conductive Alkynyl Clusters,” mentored by Dr. Lisa F. Szczepura

Anastasia Ervin, Sociology and Anthropology, “Waste Not: Urban Waterscapes in Central Illinois,” mentored by Dr. Kathryn Sampeck

Evan Strandquist, Chemistry, “Investigation of Bioconjugate Chemistry,” mentored by Dr. Jeremy Driskell

Paige Hemming, Psychology, “The Influence of an Emotion-Based Art Program on the Development of Social-Emotional Understanding in Preschool Children,” mentored by Dr. Julie Campbell

Elahson Swanson, Biochemistry, “Small Molecule Iron Chelators for Parkinson's Disease Therapy,” mentored by Dr. Michael Webb

Samantha Bruner and Ella Jarhaus, Creative Technologies, “Exploring the Darien Gap: Developing an App to Discover the History and Culture of Current Uncharted Territory,” mentored by Dr. Kristin Carlson

Ta'Juan Ingram, Biology, “Anaephene Synthesis,” mentored by Dr. Jonathan Mills

Kianna Klendworth, Audrey McNamara, Taylor Ullrich, Psychology, “Analyzing the Effect of Peer and Teacher Social-emotional Score on Art Skill,” mentored by Julie Campbell.

Kaytlin Halperin, Early Childhood Education, “Dual Language Programs and Social competence: Advantageous or not?,” mentored by Dr. Miranda Lin

Ashley Tauber, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Behavior Biology,” The effect of antioxidants on nestling growth rate,” mentored by Dr. Charlie Thompson

Amanda Regez and Maesyn Theleritis, Communication Sciences and Disorders,” Parent and Child Interactions during Shared Book Reading Routines,” mentored by Dr. Ciera Lorio

Meredith Peebles, Communication Sciences and Disorders, “A Multi-Component Program in Interactive Shared Book Reading and Explicit Vocabulary Instruction for Parents of Children in Early Head Start,” mentored by Dr. Ciera Lorio

Juan Canchola, Biology, “Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Anaephene Natural Products,” mentored by Dr. Jonathan Mills