» Grant Recipients

Fall 2021 Grant Recipients

Abigail Kim
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Effects of aggregation through freezing and drying on Zn(II) adsorption/retention to iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles

Bianca Beach
Major: Theatre Performance
Faculty Mentor: Tamiko Washington
Title: Tunnel Vision

Christine Chang
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick
Title: Facing Prejudice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Asian American Well-Being

Davis Mau
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Exploring Interactions Between Alpha-Synuclein and Calmodulin

Emma Kocik
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Sorption and Retention of Cu(II) and Zn(II) to Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles as a Function of Artificial Seawater Concentration

Hannah Scott
Major: Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Mama

Jeanna Polisini
Major: BFA Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Senior Thesis: The One-Child Policy

Julia Muniz
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Characterization of Lactobacillus helvecticus Chlorogenic Acid Esterase 

*Jose M Verdejo
Major: Film Production, Directing
Faculty Mentor: Dave Kost
Title: Beautiful Dreamer

Kaelin Tester
Major: BA Theatre
Faculty Mentor: Kristen Campbell
Title: The Mystery Forest

Kevin Nguyen
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hagop Atamian, Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: The Effect of Carbon Monoxide on the Nitrogenase Enzyme of Rhizobia Associated with Alfalfa

*Macy Dexter
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: The effects of weathering on As bioaccessibility in particles of different sizes and surface areas

Matthew Favela
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Jon Humphreys
Title: Taking the Next Steps in Virtual Reality Immersion

Micah Char
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: The Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar Macrophage Gene Expression

Natalie Standridge
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tara Gruenewald
Title: Does Social Exclusion Increase Outgroup Antagonism  and Conspiracy Theory Endorsement?

Sara Henry
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Desiree Crevecoeur-MacPhail, Dr. Amy Moors
Title: 50 Shades of Orgasm: To Kink or not to Kink

Sophie Srivastava
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Intervention to Modify Perceptions of Homelessness

Steven Trinh
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Dudley, Dr. Peter Chang
Title: ThinkMED: Providing an environment for disadvantaged students to explore STEM

Tiffany Lubrino
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cecilia Lopez
Title: Investigating Arginine Methylation of PGC-1α, a Master Metabolic Regulator

Tracie Okumura
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Engineering Lactobacillus helveticus chlorogenic acid esterases for improved efficiency in eliminating greening in sunflower seed derived ingredients

*Vanna Kizirian
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: An Investigation of Commercial Honey Adulteration using NMR Spectroscopy

*Wendy Medina Herrera
Major: Film Production (directing emphasis)
Faculty Mentor: Erin Li
Title: Mateo

Yuka Saito
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren
Title: Neo's Cleaning Service

Zoe Rosenblum
Major: PR/AD
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault
Title: National Student Advertising Competition

 *Funded by the Promising Futures Program

Spring 2022 Grant Recipients

 

Spring 2021 Grant Recipients

Amanda Tabb
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: The Use of DNA Barcoding to Determine the Frequency of Mislabeled Species of Fish in Sushi, Ceviche, and Poke

Chelsey Cortes
Major: Biochemistry and Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Photocatalysis Chemistry using Titanium Nitride and Ruthenium Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Cristina Uribe
Major: Psychology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: Looking for the Subjective Threshold of Subjective Consciousness

Daniel Choi
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Understanding the Impacts of Wetting/Drying Cycles on Arsenic Bioaccessibility

Debbie Nguyen
Major: Psychology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick 
Title: Why Are You Uncomfortable with an LGBT Child? Effects of Target Gender and Sexual Orientation on Expressed Prejudice: A Demographic Group Comparison

Doris Yang
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi      
Title: Assessing the Down-Regulation and Inhibition of Androgen Receptor Activity and Expression Through the Physical Binding of Natural Inhibitors to Binding Domains

Emma Chen
Major: Health Sciences         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz
Title: Investigating the Neural Correlates of Intention and Foresight

Kacie Sakamaki
Major: Biological Sciences      
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing Interactions between the Calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix protein N and C Terminals

Morgan Grimes
Major: Studio Art, Chemistry, Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer
Title: Decommissioning an Era: Nuclear Power in the United States

Samantha Covaia
Major: Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rosalee Hellberg
Title: Screening of Salmonella in Raw Ready to Eat Seafood

Sara Iisaka
Major: Psychology and Dance
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick 
Title: The Impact of COVID-19 on Body Image and Eating Disorders

Sophie Srivastava
Major: Psychology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Perceptions of Homelessness and Mental Illness

Stephanie Munduruca
Major: Health Science
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins
Title: The Mediating Role of Child Self Efficacy in Socioeconomic Status and Marital Status affecting Pediatric Asthma Severity

Steven Trinh
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Lauren Dudley
Title: ThinkMED: Building Science Kits for Children from Low-Income Families & Under-Resourced Communities

 

Fall 2020 Grant Recipients

 
Abby Bechtel   
Major: Physics           
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue and Dr. Justin Dressel
Title: Enhancing Optical Metrology Through the Manipulation of the Directional Asymmetry of Polarizers
                          
Abigail Kim            
Major: Health Sciences          
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim      
Title: How Does Aging & Time Impact Average Size & Reactivity of Aggregated Nanoparticles?
 
Angela Vaynshteyn
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty Mentor: Madeline Warren
Title: "Buddy Bot" Undergraduate Thesis Film
 
Aviv Zohman
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Designing and Building an Improved Graphene Production Method
 
Claire Jantzen
Major: Film Production
Faculty Mentor: Dave Kost
Title: Artifice (Working Title)
 
Curren Taber
Major: Computer Science        
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Seeing Mirror
 
David Garcia
Major: Music Education, Vocal Emphasis
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tammy Yi
Title: Music Education Summit: The Power of Diversity in the Arts
 
Emma Krivoshein
Major: Psychology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger
Title: The Relationship Between Norepinephrine Neuromodulation and Stability of Global Brain States
 
Gabriella Nutt
Major: Physics         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin Dressel and Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Enhancing Optical Metrology Through the Manipulation of the Directional Asymmetry of Polarizers
 
Hannah Scott
Major: Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: How to Navigate Womanhood Within the Patriarchy              
 
Ishaan Shah
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Examining Photocatalytic Reactions on the Surface of Bimetallic (Ruthenium-Gold) Nanoparticle Catalysts
 
Jason Yamamoto
Major: Film Production
Faculty Mentor: Eric Young and Madeline Warren
Title: When You Leave
 
Jason Yoon
Major: Biochemistry         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Building a Surface Science Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Chamber

Jesse Aseoff
Major: PR and Advertising
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault
Title: National Student Advertising Team 2020-21
 
Lucas Torti
Major: Software Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Derek Prate
Title: The Waste Card Game Design
 
Lucile Henderson & Natalia Ventura
Major: Communication Studies & Peace Studies
Faculty Mentor: Lia Halloran
Title: Art and Activism Exhibition
 
Megan Shieh
Major: Pre-Pharmacy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hagop Atamian            
Title: Genome-wide characterization of the WRKY gene family in the Salvia hispanica
 
Micah Char
Major: Applied Human Physiology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim and Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: The Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar Macrophage Gene Expression
 
Natalie Standridge
Major: Psychology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tara Gruenewald
Title: Do Conspiratorial Beliefs Shape COVID-19 Pandemic Prosocial and Prevention Behavior?

Nicole Daskas
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor Micol Hebron
Title: Nicole Daskas: A Retrospective
 
Rion Romero
Major: BFA Theatre Performance
Faculty Mentor: Nick Gabriel
Title: Forging an Understanding of Stage Combat and Its Implementation (A Second Time)
 
Tamara Elenberger
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology      
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Analyzing Reductive Elimination from an [NCN] Platinum(IV) Pincer Complex

Zane Vieira
Major: Film Production Major/Minor in Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: The Fifth Wall and Downstream Space

Spring 2020 Grant Recipients

Joanna Pak       
Major: Health Sciences  
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Aaron Schurger       
Title: Free Will and Free Won't: Analyzing the Neurobiological Origins of Intention Using TMS
 
Amber Osorno 
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins        
Title: Stress and Negative Affect as Mediators in the Association between Parental Social Support and Biological Lung Function in Adolescents with Asthma 
 
Sarah Townsend-Handley         
Major: Music Education             
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Tammy Yi   
Title: Melodic Mentoring
 
Davis Mau        
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Exploring Conformation Changes of Alpha-Synuclein During Binding with Calmodulin
 
Ruth Burgess    
Major: BFA Theatre Performance            
Faculty Mentor: Tamiko Washington      
Title: Lumina
 
Rion Romero    
Major: BFA Theatre       
Faculty Mentor: Nick Gabriel     
Title: Forging an Understanding of Stage Combat and Its Implementation
 
Neha Nagavalli 
Major: Creative Producing, Business Administration
Faculty Mentor: Eric Young        
Title: Papergirl
 
Morgan Grimes
Major: Chemistry/Biological Sciences     
Faculty Mentor: Lia Halloran      
Title: Marie Curie The Mother of Radiation
 
Robby Jones     
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maduka Ogba          
Title: Using Computational Analyses of Known Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to Generate Novel Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
 
Melissa Sugimoto         
Major: Mathematics      
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mihaela Vajiac         
Title: Differential Forms as Tools in Differential Geometry and Analysis on Manifolds
 
Natanael Alpay
Major: Mathematics      
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Peter Jipsen             
Title: The structure of distributive idempotent weakly conservative lattice-ordered magmas
 

Fall 2019 Grant Recipients

 
Nicole Daskas   
Major: Studio Art           
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron   
Title: Pretty Little Flower
                          
Ryly Yee            
Major: Biological Sciences          
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim      
Title: Investigating the Effects of Goethite Nanoparticle Aggregation via Freezing and Drying on Zn(II) Ion Adsorption and Retention        
 
Abbigael Eli      
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi           
Title: Mechanistic Study of ca27 Downregulation of the Androgen Receptor Nuclear Signaling Pathway in Prostate Cancer Cells    
 
Abigail Kim       
Major: Health Sciences  
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim      
Title: To what extend does Organic Matter interfere with Goethite nanoparticles interactions with Zinc
 
Kacie Sakamaki
Major: Biological Sciences          
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing interactions between Calmodulin and HIV-1 Matrix protein and both N and C terminals
 
Nicole Williams
Major: Psychology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brooke Jenkins        
Title: Chapman Faculty Perceptions of Hiring Practices to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity
 
Michaela Montgomery
Major: Environmental Science and Policy; Psychology             
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim      
Title: Influence of Rain Exposure and Fluctuations of Temperature and Humidity on the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic
 
Bryn Merrill      
Major: Chemistry           
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Hot Electron Chemistry on Bimetallic Plasmonic Nanoparticles
 
Tiffany Vallejo  
Major: Chemistry           
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Designing and Building a Surface Science Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) Chamber
 
Matt Barnes     
Major: Business Administration - Marketing Emphasis             
Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Thibault           
Title: NSAC        
 
Christine Lo Verde        
Major: Biochemistry      
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens          
Title: Biophysical Characterization of CowN        
 
Alexadnros Drivas         
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Goldsmith 
Title: Prototyping New Equipment to Understand Draught Stress
 
Jack Irvine        
Major: Public Relations & Advertising    
Faculty Mentor: Chris Boyd        
Title: Hearthbound
 
Jordan Skolnick
Major: Kinesiology         
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Miklavcic         
Title: Use of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae to Induce Inflammation in CaCo-2 Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Shun Kato         
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari          
Title: Synthesis and Evaluation of Levofloxacin-[W4R3K] Peptide Conjugate Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Pathogen
 
Sophie Ungless
Major: Studio Art           
Faculty Mentor: Julie Shafer      
Title: Sophie Ungless Senior Thesis
 
Alexandra van der Hoeven        
Major: Health Science   
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz    
Title: Clock-Based Effects on Reported Timing of Intention to Move
 
Stephen Michael Nicholas         
Major: Film Production (Emphasis in Directing)  
Faculty Mentor: Christine Fugate            
Title: Silk Screen Thesis Film      
 
Natalie Paterson           
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. John Miklavcic         
Title: Folate Supplementation to Mitigate Azathioprine Toxicity in Children with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)
 
Cara Fleener     
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology        
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin     
Title: Ketone Hydroboration with a New Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst

Spring 2019 Grant Recipients

Amber Hopkins
Major: Psychology, Philosophy
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Uri Maoz
Title: Pupillometry and W-Time

Andrew Papilion
Major: Economics, Math
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dimitar Ouzounov
Title: Operational Support for Interdisciplinary Observations of Earthquake Processes in California

Annabelle Koerber
Major: Anthropology, Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephanie Takaragawa
Title: Underwater Grecian and Roman Archaeology Research
 
Brynne McKee
Major: News & Documentary
Faculty: Jeff Swimmer
Title: Peace of Her Own

Chloe Garcia
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Prevention of CO Inhibition of Nitrogenase by the Protein CowN

Claire Loudia
Major: Film Production
Faculty: Adam Borecki
Title: Four Seasons Visual Album

Genevieve Geller
Major: B.F.A Graphic Design
Faculty: Claudine Jaenichen
Title: Commentary Fashion Collection

Jacqueline Domi
Major: Film Studies
Faculty: Jurg Walther
Title: The Art of Experimental Analog Filmmaking as Inspired by the Dada Art Movement

Jamie Chang
Major: Freshman Early Assurance Program
Faculty: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari
Title: Synthesis of Oleoyl-CGKRK-(HR)4 Peptide for Targeted siRNA Delivery

Kayla Borkovec
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty: Madeline Warren
Title: Anna and Sloane Go to the Beach

Melissa Coyle
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Hamidreza Montazeri-Aliabadi
Title: Collaborative breast/lung cancer cell research between Chapman University and Trinity College, Dublin

Michael MacInnes
Major: History
Faculty: Dr. Erin Mosely
Title: Inkatha Violence and Propaganda in the 1980s-90s

Natalie Paterson
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. John Miklavcic
Title: Folate Supplementation Mitigates Azathioprine Toxicity in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Natanael Alpay
Major: Mathematics
Faculty: Dr. Peter Jipsen
Title: Minimal Varieties of Semirings with 0,1

Noah Estrada-Rand
Major: Psychology, Data Analytics
Faculty: Dr. Vincent Berardi
Title: Studying the Effects of Different Prompts to Increase Stair Use in Parking Structures

Olivia Wissa
Major: Mathematics
Faculty: Dr. Drew Moshier
Title: An Exploration of Quantum Computing through Recursion

Riley Kendall
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Jerry LaRue
Title: Analyzing individual calmodulin domains and their interaction with the HIV-1 matrix protein

Roxanne Naumann
Major: Chemistry
Faculty: Dr. Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Renewable Polymer Synthesis

Ryly Yee
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title: Impacts of Weathering of Bioaccessibility on Arsenic-Bearing Mine Wastes

Sandra Serwin
Major: History
Faculty: Dr. Alexander R. Bay
Title: Scholars, Sorcerers, and Sin: the Academic Field of Magic in 16th Century Europe

Terrence Lee
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Cedric Owens
Title: Defining the function of a small protein that protects nitrogenase from carbon monoxide

Fall 2018 Grant Recipients

Matthew Nwerem
Major: Chemistry, Biochemistry, & Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. O. Maduka Ogba
Title: Computational Investigation of Lewis Acid Mediated Activation of Sulfonyl Fluorides

Blake Hilton
Major: Studio Art
Faculty Mentor: Micol Hebron
Title: Feminist Contemporary Art in Ghana

Maguy Michelman
Major: Art History
Faculty Mentor: Justin Walsh
Title: Confronting America's Shameful Past: The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum
 
Jordan Skolncik
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty: John Miklavcic
Title: Proposed Mechanism by which Saccharomyces Cerevisiae induces inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Mitigation of Disease Processes by Dietary Ganglioside

Emily Cauble
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Marco Bisoffi
Title: Do Prostate Cancer Exosomes Generate a Field Effect leading to Tumor Multifocality?

Faith Holloway
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty: Dr. Patricia C. Lopes
Title: Neuroendocrine correlates of parental care

Amy Lam
Major: Physics
Faculty: Jerry LaRue
Title: Synthesizing Transition Metal Shells on Gold Nanoparticle Cores

Kyler Zach
Major: B.A. in Music, Mathematics
Faculty: Daniel Alpay
Title: New Connections between Number Theory and Music

Kevin Bretzing
Major: Business Administration
Faculty: Cedric Owens
Title: Investigating the Interaction of CowN with Nitrogenase: Reducing the CO Inhibition of Nitrogenase

Batool Kweider
Major: Psychology
Faculty: Dr. David Frederick
Title: Is Sorority Participation a Risk Factor for Disordered Eating? Testing the Influences of Objectification, Social Identity, and Peer Pressures.

Emma Whiteley
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty: Dr. Marco Bisoffi
Title: In Vitro Binding of Ca27 and its Analogs to the Androgen Receptor

Heidi Standke
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty: Cedric Owens
Title: Analyzing the Nitrogenase Regulator - NifA's Interaction with DNA

Daniel Chang
Major: Chemistry
Faculty: Allegra Liberman-Martin
Title: Borylation of Carbodiimides Using a New Carbodiphosphorane Catalyst

Sarah Hester
Major: Biology
Faculty: Christopher Kim
Title: Effect of Natural Organic Matter on Iron Oxyhydroxide Nanoparticles

Kaitlyn Raymundo
Major: Health Sciences
Faculty: Niklas Ignasiak
Title: Validity of a self-paced treadmill setup for the assessment of gait regularity

Natasha Hikita
Major: Psychology
Faculty: Brooke Jenkins
Title: Childhood Asthma: The Relationships between Psychosocial Factors of Resilience and Socioeconomic Status

Kaylin George
Major: Film Production
Faculty: Christine Fugate
Title: Two Paper Nightingales

Spring 2018 Grant Recipients

Allison White
Major:Strategic Corporate Communication 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sara LaBelle
Title of Project: Professors Perceived Roles in Students Mental Health Management

Andrew Papilion 
Major: Economics, Mathematics 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Dimitar Ouzounov
Title of project: Operational Support for Lithospheric-Atmospheric Coupling Studies Associated with Geodynamics and Earthquake Processes in California

Ashleigh Dimpflmaier
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Connie Shears
Title of project: The Relationship between Stress, Group, and Decision Making

Caitlin Molina
Major: Biology/ Spanish
Faculty mentor: Dr. William Wright
Title of project: Ecological Suppression of Learning in a Model Species

Chris Costa
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. David Frederick 
Title of project: Is it Cheating?  Personal Characteristics and Psychological Traits Shape Perceptions of Infidelity and Reactions to Infidelity.

Daniel Chang
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Justin O'Neill
Title of project: Stereospecific Synthesis of Vinylcyclopropanes  

Emily Cauble
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Marco Bisoffi 
Title of project: Gain-of-function p53 mutations in field cancerization of histologically normal prostate tissues

Felicia Viano
Major: History, Peace Studies
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexander Bay
Title of project: Icons, Images, and Paraphernalia: Analyzing Visual Tactics of the United Farm Workers and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Ramesh Singh
Title of project: Aerial LIDAR Scanning Using Off The Shelf Components

Jackie Gorman
Major: Digital Arts
Faculty mentor: Professor Bill Kroyer
Title of project: My Thesis Film: "Art Theft"

Jakob Naturman
Major: History/Screenwriting
Faculty mentor: Dr. Alexander Bay
Title of project: The Development of the FDNY After WWII Research Trip

James Francese
Major: Mathematics
Faculty mentor: Dr. Mihaela Vajiac 
Title of project: New Algebraic Methods for Clifford Analysis

Justin Cooper
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Simulated weathering effects on arsenic bioaccessibility in mine tailings as a function of speciation

Marcus Chong
Major: Computer Science
Faculty mentor: Dr. Seung Hee Kim
Title of project: Assessment of Wildfire Danger in Orange County, CA

Margaret Collison 
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Gregory Goldsmith
Title of project: The Demographics of Public Engagement in Science

Michaela Montgomery
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Simulated Weathering Effects on Bioaccessibility and Speciation of Arsenic Mine Tailings

Morgan Kindel
Major: Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dr. Patricia Lopes
Title of project: Effects of Sociality on Physiological Stress Levels in Wild Mice

Olivia Durant
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Comparison Between Native and Invasive Plant Species Potential to Adapt to Drier Conditions Due to Climate Change  

Ryley Hall
Major: Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Dr. Keykavous Parang
Title of project: Design and Evaluation of Fatty Acyl Conjugates for siRNA Delivery and Silencing in Breast Cancer Cells  

Fall 2017 Grant Recipients

Jason Groegler 
Major: Biochemistry and Moleclar Biology 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue 
Title of Project: Investigating the interaction of individual calmodulin domains with the HIV-1 matrix protein 

Kelsey Leavy 
Major: Psychology and Biochemistry 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Connie Shears 
Title of project: The relationship between physical exercise, DHEA, and memory 

Kathleen Thornsberry 
Major: Health Sciences 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Justin Dressel and Dr. Iris Dorn 
Title of project: Building and modifying an open-source 3D printer to extrude viable 3D cell cultures 

Thimanthi Withana 
Major: Health Sciences 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Sun Yang 
Title of project: Effect of nano-curcumin on iron-induced cellular toxicity 

Haley Hopkins 
Major: Studio Art 
Faculty mentor: Professor Dave Kiddie 
Title of project: Object oriented ontology and sculptural, emotional bodies 

Joanna Dare 
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Frederick 
Title of project: Signaling identity while avoiding stigma: functional uses of cultural markers of sexual orientation  

Timothy Kristedja 
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Rakesh Tiwari 
Title of project: Hydrolysis studies of prostate targeted peptide conjugates 

Alison Pirie 
Major: Studio Art 
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron 
Title of project: Senior Exhibition: Theatre of Hysteria 

Alexandra Galvin 
Major: Psychology 
Faculty mentor: Dr. David Frederick 
Title of project: Patriotism and protests: understanding the diversity of responses to the NFL player protests during the national anthem 

Madeline Chew 
Major: Biological Sciences 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim 
Title of project: The effects of drying on iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticle aggregate size and mental retention

Shayla Tonge 
Major: Film Production 
Faculty mentor: Professor Sally Rubin 
Title of project: Eat Africa poverty and sustainability- Research and documentary project 

Dylan McGale
Major: Film Production
Faculty mentor: Gil Bettman 
Title of project: TIKTAALIK

Amy Lam 
Major: Physics 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue 
Title of project: Designing a sample holder to investigate raman spectra for fischer topsch CO hydrogenation and gold 

Edwin Wadors 
Major: Biochemistry 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Cedric Owens 
Title of project: Cloning, expression, and purification of MBP-NifA

William Simmons 
Major: Creative Producing 
Faculty mentor: Professor Madeline Warren 
Title of project: Sonora 

Brenda Ruvalcaba 
Major: Mathematics and Civil Engineering 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Christopher Kim
Title of project: Determining the effects of weathering on arsenic speciation and bioaccessibility 

Fiona Tang 
Major: Kinesiology 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Vincent Berardi and Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg 
Title of project: The effects of health-promoting signs encouraging stair use in parking structures 

Thang Nguyen 
Major: Chemistry 
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jerry LaRue 
Title of project: Catalysis research  

Emiko Kaneoka 
Major: Public Relations & Advertising 
Faculty mentor: Professor John Most 
Title of project: Circle Advertising Campaign 2017-2018  

Spring 2017 Grant Recipients

Sara Siwiecki
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Douglas Fudge
Title of Project: Analyzing the charge and composition of mucin vesicles

Sam Sarokin
Major: Film Production - Directing Emphasis
Faculty mentor: Tom Zoellner
Project title: Experimental Documentary on American Youth and Social Media

Lauren Ogie
Major: Art History
Faculty mentor: Wendy Salmond
Title of project: The Temples at the Bagan Archaeological Site: Works of Art and Circumambulation in an Active Buddhist Site

Haley Miller
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Jason Keller
Title of project: Exploring Methane Flux from the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project

Sarah Boardman
Major: Dance
Faculty mentor: Liz Maxwell
Title of project: Outside/In  

Aylin Gann
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Connie Shears
Project title: Pressure Gauge for Construction of Vacuum Chamber in Catalysis Lab

Aaron Grisez
Majors: BS Physics and Computational Science and BM Music Composition
Faculty mentor: Justin Dressel
Project title: Qhord: Gamifying the Quantum through Music

Thang Nguyen
Major: Chemistry
Faculty mentor: Jerry LaRue
Project title: Catalysis Research

Emily Hanna
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Cassandra Medvedeff
Project title: Are methylotrophic substrates important in northern peatland methane cycling?

Timothy Kristedja
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Rakesh Tiwari
Project title: Peptide Conjugate for the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer

Brennan Hobbs
Majors: Strategic and Corporate Communication
Faculty mentor: Kerk Kee
Project title: Message Strategies for Voluntary Water Conservation

Ariana Victor
Major: Film Production
Faculty mentors: Roy Finch and Sally Rubin
Project title: Dream Seekers

Amy Lam
Major: Physics
Faculty mentor: Jerry LaRue
Project title: Pressure Gauge for Construction of Vacuum Chamber in Catalysis Lab

Rebecca Wilson
Major: Peace Studies
Faculty mentor: Lisa Letiz
Project Title: Homelessness and Criminalization in Orange County

Humam Alkhaled
Major: Biology
Faculty mentor: Keykavous Parang
Project Title: Designing Cell-Penetrating Antimicrobial Peptides as Molecular Transporters of Antibiotics against Pathogenic Bacteria

Carlos Hernandez
Majors: B.A. Music Performance, Instrumental and B.A. Music Education, Instrumental
Faculty mentor: Christopher Nicholas
Project Title: Translating Musical Languages and Intelligences

 

Fall 2016 Grant Recipients

Jonathan Mackris
Major: Film Studies
Faculty mentor: Dr. Kelli Fuery
Title of project: Politics and Participation in the films of William Castle

Jessica Rush
Majors: Biological Sciences and Spanish
Faculty mentors: Dr. Cassandra Medvedeff, Dr. Jason Keller
Title of project: Direct Effect of Temperature on Humic Substance Reduction in a Minnesota Peatland

Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty Mentor: Chris Kim
Title of project: Study of the Effects of Drying on Iron nanoparticle Aggregate Size and Metal Absorption

Jessica Bocinski
Majors: Art History and Anthropology
Faculty Mentor: Denise Johnson
Title of project: Perspectives and Perceptions: Examining Chicana/o Muralists of Southern California

Elizabeth Rentko
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Dave Frederick
Title of project: The Effect of Media Images on Body Dissatisfaction Among Gay and Heterosexual Men

Brianna Tomlin
Major: Fine Arts
Faculty mentors: Lia Halloran and Dave Kiddie
Title of project: Breathe, a Senior Thesis show

Tammy Taller
Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Faculty mentor: Janell Shearer
Title of project: National Student Advertising Competition

Paul Titterton
Majors: Physics and Computational Science
Faculty mentor: Professor Justin Dressel
Title of project: Analog simulation of a quantum computing circuit

Nilsha Khurana
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Utilizing next generation DNA sequencing technologies to study plant response to climate change

Elizabeth Iantosca
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Sun Yan
Title of project: Effects of curcumin on iron-induced toxicity in cardiomyocytes

Alessandra Rosser
Major: Studio Art
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron
Title of project: Senior Thesis Exhibition

Trina Killian
Major: Kinesiology
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: Yoga for the Potential Treatment of Obesity Related Inflammation

Morgan Mein
Major: Fine Arts
Faculty mentor: Micol Hebron
Title of project: This is Not Home Senior Fine Art's Thesis Proposal

Kris Swanson
Major: Creative Writing
Faculty mentor: Morgan Read-Davidson
Title of project: Narrative Music Virtual Reality Video Game Production

Jimmy Evans
Major: Screenwriting and English Literature
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: Hinukan: A (Re)Memoir

Ian Nel
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Psychoneuroimmunology of PPD: Investigating the Relationship between Psychosocial Variables, C-Reactive Protein, and Postpartum Depression

Erika Gibson
Major: History
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Keene
Title of project: "Frenchified:" French food and salon culture in Jefferson's White House

Caitlyn Turner
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Social Media, Confidences killer? The Effects of Social Media on Body Image

Spring 2016 Grant Recipients

Alex Himstead
Major: Biology
Faculty mentor: William G. Wright
Title of project: Behavioral Ecology of Dolabrifera

Seth Yund
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Genetic Factors Influencing the Digestion of Gliadin by Bifidobacteria longus

Yasmin Akbari
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: The Effectiveness of Warning Labels and Subvertising on Reducing the Harmful Effects of Media Exposure

Rose Mackenzie
Major: Theatre Studies
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: Performing Queer Femininities

Zachary Ellis
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Jason Keller
Title of project: Organic Matter Reduction Regulates Methanogen Gene Expression in Anaerobic Decomposition

Alexandra Sidun
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Ocean Acidification and Predator-Prey Relations

Anastasia Kalyta
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Connecting the Physiological and Behavioral Response to Heat Stress in Pagurus Samuelis

Matthew Gothong
Major: Health Science
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: In Vivo Study of Arsenic Bioavailibility in the Live Liver

Bryce Cyrier
Major: Creative Producing
Faculty mentor: Kiku Terasaki
Title of project: The Eleventh

Shannon Corenthin
Major: Theatre Performance
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: The Un-Told Story of African American Women Playwrights

Anton Pham
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: The Relationship between AMPK and IL-15 for Potential Obesity Treatment

Lena Romano
Majors: Theatre Studies and Sociology
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn Buckner
Title of project: The Influence of Social Class on Women in Theatre

Fernando Silva
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: Lung Specific Assessment of Arsenic Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability via Inhalation

Kiana Smith
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim
Title of project: The Effects of Alternating Weather patterns on Arsenic Bioaccessibility of Mine-Impacted Sediments

Fall 2015 Grant Recipients

Kristine Avena 
Major: History  
Title of project: “the Good of the Country Rises Above Party”:  Roosevelt, La Guardia, and O’Connor and the Works Progress Administration in New York City During the Great Depression

Monica Freeman  
Major: History
Title of project: Senior Thesis: Wonder Woman

Sydney Guthrie 
Major: Documentary Film
Title of project: The Impact Point

Robert Schumaker 
Major: Creative Writing & French
Title of project: Mapping the Queer Caribbean

Bijan Kazerooni
Major: History
Title of project: “Injurious to the Honour of his Majesty, and the English Nation” :Piracy and British State Building in the post-Spanish War of Succession

Aidan Wood
Major: TV Writing & Producing
Title of project: The Dragon Slayers: Web Series

Katherine Whiteman 
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Title of project: Arsenic Bioaccessibility as a Function of Rainfall Exposure and Time in Mining-Impacted Sediments under ambient Diurnal Conditions

Sarika Chowdhry
Major: Health Science
Title of project: Design and Synthesis Peptide

Young Jae Kim
Major: Biological Sciences
Title of project: Designing and Evaluating of Dasatinib-Peptide Conjugates as Anti-Cancer Agents

Crystle-Joie Agbayani 
Major: Psychology
Title of project: What Constitutes Sexual consent and Assault?  The Effects of Verbal, Physical, and Linguistic Cues

Tessa Oliaro 
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Title of project: correlating Arsenic Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability Through In-Vivo Rat Exposures

Clarissa Hampton 
Major: Art History
Title of project: Senior Research Thesis

Maci Reed 
Major: History
Title of project: American Soldiers’ Songs and the Training Camp Experience in the World War I

Gaganjyot Sandhu 
Major: Psychology
Title of project: Effects of Competing News Media frames of Weight on Antifat Stigma, Beliefs About Weight, and Support for Obesity-Related Public Policies

Mackenzie Smith 
Major: Psychology
Title of project: Anxiety and Cognition

Anthony Torossian 
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Title of project: Effects of pH on Cu(II) adsorption and retention to aggregated iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles

Spring 2015 Grant Recipients

Graeme Aegerter
Major: Sociology
Faculty mentor: Lynn Horton
Title of project: Yup'ik Women's Activism: Native Identity and Social Change

Jenna Alley
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Acceptance of Hook-Up Culture: Is There Truly a Gender Difference, and What Factors Might Explain This Difference?

Devon Bloss
Major: Environmental Science and Policy (Earth Systems)
Faculty mentor: Chris Kim
Title of project: A Quantitative Analysis of Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Methods

Stephanie A. Bucholz
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Linear and Cyclic Peptides of Histidine-Arginine as a Molecular Transporter

Jenna Alley
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Rakesh K Tiwari
Title of project: Acceptance of Hook-Up Culture: Is There Truly a Gender Difference, and What Factors Might Explain This Difference?

Alexandra M. Contreras
Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Faculty mentor: Cory O'Connor
Title of project: Creative: Production, Prom

Shiva Amant and Taylor Delaney
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Glucorticoid Receptor and Postpartum Depression Risk

Jeremy Feck
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty mentor: William Wright
Title of project: Consequences of Global Warming: Physiology-Behavior Correlations in an Intertidal Model Species

Lena Haddad
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith
Title of project: Assessment of the Effects of Pomegranate Juice and Caffeine Extract on Apoptosis, and the m-TOR, p-Akt, BCL-2, MCL-1 Anti-Apoptonic Proteins

Jack Jacobs
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Faculty mentor: Christopher Kim and Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Effects of Fine-Grained, Arsenic-Bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar Macrophage Gene Expression

Abigail Kim
Faculty mentor: Alexander R. Bay
Title of project: Creating Identity: The Korean Third Space

K.B. (Ki Bbeum) Jenny Kim
Major: Sociology
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: The Comparative Analysis, and Narratives of Diversity Initiatives at Chapman University

Elizabeth Murtough
Major: English 
Faculty mentor: Anna Leahy
Title of project: Fighting Historical Oblivion: Poetry as Decolonization

Kurt (Quoc) Nguyen
Major: Biological Sciences
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Effect of Bagrada Hilaris on Exotic Invasive Mustards

Nikki Shahbazi
Major: Psychology
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook
Title of project: Association Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Oxytocin Hormone Receptor (OXTR) Gene and Postpartum Depression Risk

Dor Shoshan
Faculty mentor: Marco Biscoffi
Title of Project:  Prostate Field Cancerization: Thinking outside the Tumor

Kathy Tavakoli
Majors: Biology and Psychology
Faculty mentor: Marcia Abbott
Title of project: IL-15 and Obesity: Increase Metabolism, Decrease Body Fat

Fall 2014 Grant Recipients

Yasmin Akbari  
Faculty mentor: Steven Schandler
Title of project: Information Processing as a Risk Factor for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Nicole Brashears
Faculty mentor: Michelle Cleary
Title of project: The Validity and Reliability of Mobile Postural Stability Testing Devices

Melissa Bond
Faculty mentor: Connie Shears
Title of project: Cognitive Dissonance Between Strangers

Leah Ficeli
Faculty mentor: Jessica Walker
Title of project: Mathematics Learning: Implicit or Explicit?

Isabelle Grimm
Faculty mentor: Jocelyn L. Buckner
Title of project: Trojan Whores: Unsung Stores of Women in Theaters of War

Jack Jacobs and Jon Woo
Faculty mentors: Christopher Kim and Marco Bisoffi
Title of project: Effects of Fine-grained, Arsenic-bearing Particulate Matter on Alveolar Macrophage Gene Expression

Kassandra Lee
Faculty mentor: Ken Sumida
Title of project: Young Women's Cognitive, Behavioral, Emotional, and Physiological Empathic Responsiveness as Mediated by Evocative Video Stimulus Content

Michelle Lin
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: History of Multiculturalism and Diversity at Chapman University

Marc Rosenfield
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Funk
Title of project: Discovering Common Ground

Gaganjyot Sandhu
Faculty mentor: David Frederick
Title of project: The Effect of Competing Perspectives on Obesity in Media on Support for Obesity-Related Public Policies and Attitudes Towards Obese Persons

Terri Scott
Faculty mentor: David A. Frederick
Title of project: Can the negative effects of media exposure on body image be reduced: Examining the effectiveness of photoshop warning labels and downward social comparisons

Caleb Sturges
Faculty mentor: Andrea Molle
Title of project: Two Party Systems by Design: Testing the Mechanism of Plurality Rule

McKenzie Tavoda
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragara
Title of project: Japanese American Identity in Manzanar Internment Camp Gardens

Marissa Wong
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Takaragawa
Title of project: The Politics of Memory in Rwanda: Implications for Peace Education