FIREBIRD 2021-2022 Research Grant Winners
The Fund for Independent Research Experience grant (FIREbird) allows undergraduate students to work with a faculty mentor on a research project. Summer funds (up to $3000) and semester funds (up to $1500) may be used for student hourly wages, research incentives, supplies, or travel.
This award was previously known as the Undergraduate Research Support Program (URSP)
Academic Year 2021-2022 Winners
Key: Student Name/ “Title of Project”/ School or Department/ Faculty Mentor
Kaitlyn Blake, “Reading the Readers of Young Adult Literature,” English/ Dr. Danielle Lillge
Connor Chambers, “Erosional Ages of The Grand Tetons,” Geography, Geology and the Environment/ Dr. Tenley Banik
Ryan Gearman, “Transforming Low-income Old Homes into Sustainable Homes through Minimal Investment” Technology/ Dr. Sundeep Inti
Jacob Giles, “Mechanism of Psilocybin Action in the Brain,” Biological Sciences/ Dr. Paul Garris
Gabrielle Goytia “Improving the Health Trajectories of Future Generations,” Kinesiology and Recreation Dr. Dale Brown
Audrey Harrod, “Exposure to Pesticide and Pathogen Multiple Stressors and Between-host Transmission in Bumble Bees,” Biological Sciences/ Dr. Benjamin Sadd
William Kuna ”Effects of Varying Sexual Selection through Operational Sex Ratio on Investment of Gryllodes sigillatus Males into Nuptial Food Gifts,” Biological Sciences/ Dr. Benjamin Sadd.
Alexander Olson “Proposal for Analysis of Greenspace Land Use in Philadelphia” Geography, Geology and the Environment/ Dr. Alec Foster
Jordon Osborne, Alex Diffor, and Jake Weihe “The Next Generation of Hands-On Learning,” Technology/ Dr. Isaac Chang
Megan Parks “The Effect of Maternal Progesterone on Steroid Metabolism during Embryonic Development,” Biological Sciences/ Dr. Ryan Paitz
Christopher Turner “Arts Integration: Theatre and Mathematics,” Theater/ Dr. Jimmy Chrismon
Summer 2022 Winners
Chris Achammer “Nanometer Dimension Aluminum Oxide Material Fabrication for Memory Devices” PHY/Dr. Mahua Biswas
Minani Alexis and Dylan Qualls “Excitation of Non radiating States in High-index Materials” Physics/Dr. Uttam Manna
Mehdi Bennis “Characterizing the role of a novel bleach defense system in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)” Biological Sciences/Dr. Jan-Ulrik Dahl
Jake Brasen “Monitoring Invasive Species Dieback in Response to an Introduced Predator” Geography, Geology and the Environment/Dr. Johnathan Thayn
Cesiley Barnes “A construction of vertex algebroids associated with 3 dimensional nilpotent Leibniz algebras that are non-cyclic” Mathematics/Dr. Gaywalee Yamskulna
Alex Furcoiu “The Application of Symbolic Regression in Complex Model Formation” Physics/Rainer Grobe and Q Charles Su
Isaac Galewsky “Identification of Influencing Factors of Aging in Place Lifestyles” FCS and Technology/Dr. Sally Xie
Megan Grant “The genetic dissection of reproductive manipulation by nuptial gift proteins in decorated crickets” Biological Sciences/Dr. Benjamin Sadd
Emma Martin “A construction of vertex algebroids associated with solvable 2-3 dimensional Leibniz algebras that are non-cyclic” Mathematics/ Dr. Gaywalee Yamskulna
Sidney McClure “The Accuracy of Metabolic Equivalents (METs) in Estimating Exercise Intensity of Select Aerobic Activites in Pregnant Women: Is a New Compendium of Physical Activities Needed?” Kinesiology and Recreation/Dr. Samantha McDonald
Rachel Meister “Evaluating a Collaborative, Community-Based Mural Program for At-Risk Youth” Psychology/Dr. Laura Finan
Rudy Morr and Wyatt Frere “The Effects of the Payment Protection Program on the Banking Industry and Local Economies” Finance/Dr. Vladimir Kotomin
Josalyn Service “Classifying vertex algebroids associated with 4 dimensional nilpotent Leibniz algebras” Mathematics/Dr. Gaywalee Yamskulna
Gracie Stevens “Bighorn Mountains Geologic Mapping Project” Geography, Geology and the Environment / Dr. David Malone
Noah Virklan “Sitting Still but Always Changing: How Buddhism is Diversified in America” Sociology and Anthropology/Dr. Nobuko Adachi
Alyssa Virola-Iarussi “Interactions between YARS and p38Kb and the CASA complex in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease” BIO/Dr. Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer
Abby Zissman “Proposal for the Research of Knowledge and Skill Retention in TEC 151” Technology/ Dr. Stephen Mujeye
FIREBIRD Grant co-Sponsored by the Center for a Sustainable Water Future Summer 2022 Grant
Lacey Fever “Do Animals Use Streams As Corridors?” Geography, Geology and the Environment/ Dr. Catherine O’Reilly