Award Winners for SURCA 2026
SURCA 2026 Award Winners and Their Mentors
Learn more about their projects from Abstracts 2026.
| Presentation Category | Award | Presenter & Project Title | Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Sciences | Crimson | Myah Winters, “Limitations of BMI in Short-Stature Populations: Anthropometric Predictors of Cardiometabolic Risk in Older Adults in Rural Guatemala” | Kathy Beerman |
| Gray | Brenden Clapp, “Dual Eye2Heart Model” | Sergey Lapin | |
| Gray | Katherine Cooper, “Lead-Free Double Halide Perovskites for Nuclear Radiation” | Xiaodong Zhao | |
| Early Career | Cadence Shaver, “Coug Quakes” | Catherine Cooper | |
| Arts & Design | Crimson | Lorena Mendoza, “Geometrical Manipulation as a Design Tool: Expanding the Potential of Biobased Materials Through Kerfing Techniques” | Maryam Mansoori |
| Gray | Amelia McNiel, “Enhancing Sustainability in Plus-Size Apparel through 3D Simulation” | Siming Guo | |
| Gray | Curtis Owen, “Enhancing Sustainability in Plus-Size Apparel through 3D Simulation | Siming Guo | |
| Gray | Johnathon Whitacre, “Warp, Weft, and Self” | Rachel Horowitz | |
| Novice | Marielle Jennings, “Low-Contact Virtual Reconstruction of Historical Apparel to Advance Sustainability and Teaching” | Siming Guo | |
| Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, and Information Sciences | Crimson | Charles Liu, “Sequential Composition of Post-Quantum Arguments of Knowledge” | Feng-hao Liu |
| Gray | Alex Carbajal, “A Software-Defined Testbed for Quantifying Deauthentication Resilience in Modern Wi-Fi Networks” | Asma Jodeiri Akbarfam | |
| Gray | Yakup Atahanov, “Security Threats in AI-Native Operating Systems: An Empirical Study Using Privilege-Escalated LLM Agents” | Jeremy Thompson | |
| Gray | Jefferson Kline, “Nonlinear Shortcut Adoption in Deep Histopathology Models” | Andrew Storfer | |
| Gray | Toufic Majdalani, “Security Threats in AI-Native Operating Systems: An Empirical Study Using Privilege-Escalated LLM Agents” | Jeremy Thompson | |
| Early Career | Cole Wilson, “Learning Bitrate Selection Algorithms: A Foundation for Fair and Efficient Multi-Player Video Streaming” | Mehdi Hosseinzadeh | |
| Engineering & Physical Sciences | Crimson | Denis Sholotyuk, “Determining The Global Minimum of Atomically Dispersed Metals on the Copper “29” Structure Using AGOX” | Jean-Sabin McEwen |
| Crimson | Alyssa Fuchs, “Development of an LNA/DNA Nano-Biosensor for Monitoring RUNX2 Expression During Chondrogenic Differentiation of hMSCs” | Bernard Van Wie | |
| Gray | Logan Howard, “Acetone to Isobutene Cascade Reaction Utilizing Lewis Acid Base Properties of Spinels” | Wenda Hu | |
| Gray | Rowan Spencer, “Balancing Energy Density and Stability in Lithium-Ion Cathodes Through NMC-LFP Blending” | Min-Kyu Song | |
| Gray | John Hewitt, “Hydrothermal REE Synthesis” | Xiaofeng Guo & Natalie Yaw | |
| Gray | Claire JoHahnson, “Synthesis optimization of FPO42 – a next-generation targeting molecule for prostate cancer therapeutics” | Clifford Berkman | |
| Gray | Molly Lauby, “Growth and Speciation of Mn-doped ZnS Magic-Size II-VI Nanoclusters” | Kevin Kittilstved | |
| Gray | Ellie Sarchi, “The Effects of Acute Psychological Stress on Cervical Proprioception, Posture Control, and Neck Discomfort” | Anita Vasavada | |
| Gray | Benjamin Wilks, “The Effects of Acute Psychological Stress on Cervical Proprioception, Postural Control, and Neck Discomfort” | Anita Vasavada | |
| Novice | Eric Mayo-Gutierrez, “Performance Evaluation of a Quadruped Robotic Platform” | Mengyu Liu | |
| EschLEAD Scholar | Crimson | Danika Dalvi, “Extrinsic Cues that Link RUNX Proteins to Self-Renewal and Differentiation in Spermatogonial Stem Cells” | Nathan Law & Mustika Rahmawati |
| Gray | Khadija Khawaja, “Utilization of Fiber Photometry to Investigate Neural Activity in Response to Visceral Stimulation in an IBS Mouse Model” | Emily Qualls-Creekmore | |
| Gray | Gabriella Searle, “Hair influences healthy dermatoglyphic formation” | Ryan Driskell | |
| Early Career | Chantelle Awendo, “Investigating the Role of iNOS and eNOS in Regulating TGF-β During Radiation-Induced Skin Damage” | Ryan Driskell | |
| Early Career | Sneha Shankar, “Investing the Role of iNOS and eNOS in Regulating TGF-β During Radiation-Induced Skin Damage” | Ryan Driskell | |
| Humanities | Crimson | Gentry Gentry, “Deconstructing Gendered Motifs and Features in Plains Rock Art” | Emily Van Alst |
| Novice | Elijah McCormack, “Nez Perce Historic Papers” | Will Gregg | |
| Novice | Lexi Starcer, “Nez Perce Historic Papers” | Will Gregg | |
| Molecular, Cellular, and Chemical Biology | Crimson | Rashi Karda, “Nitric Oxide Signaling Modulates Glutamatergic Input onto Hypothalamic POMC Neurons” | Shane Hentges |
| Crimson | Rijul Sharma, “Examining the Role of Epoxide Hydrolases CEEH-1 and CEEH-2 in DGLA-Induced Ferroptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans” | Jennifer Watts | |
| Crimson | Danika Dalvi, “Extrinsic Cues that Link RUNX Proteins to Self-Renewal and Differentiation in Spermatogonial Stem Cells” | Nathan Law & Mustika Rahmawati | |
| Crimson | Dani Lindenfelser, “Impacts of Adolescent Cannabis Exposure on Cognitive Flexibility and Parvalbumin Interneuron Activity in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Rats” | Ryan McLaughlin | |
| Gray | Nicole Diefenbach, “Human Pathological Mutations in BDNF and TrkB Affect Neurodevelopment” | Gary Wayman & Elizaveta Zhivaya | |
| Gray | Emily Grevler, “A Transcription Factor With Control Issues: Position-Dependent Activator and Repressor Functions of KLF4” | Sascha Duttke | |
| Gray | Sawyer Hicks, “CiaD-Dependent ERK Activation Drives IL-8 Expression During Campylobacter jejuni Infection” | Michael Konkel | |
| Gray | Tiana LaFollette, “Apelin-13’s Affect on Dendritic Spine Growth in the Hippocampus” | Gary Wayman | |
| Gray | Maya Nash, “Silencing Withdrawal-Encoding PVT Ensembles Suppresses Cue-Induced Heroin Seeking” | Giuseppe Giannotti | |
| Gray | Gabriella Searle, “Hair influences healthy dermatoglyphic formation” | Ryan Driskell | |
| Early Career | Avery Long, “Cellular Cross-Talk in the Testis: Decoding DLK1 and Activin–SMAD Signaling Dynamics” | Michael Griswold | |
| Novice | Anastasia Chepel, “Mapping the Global Human Microbiome: A Reproducible Analysis of Public Shotgun Metagenomic Data with a Focus on Crohn’s Disease” | Zeyang Shen | |
| Organismal, Population, Ecological, and Evolutionary Biology | Crimson | Nicolas DiPietro, “Assessing the Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Interacting Species based on Water Availability in Neotropical Forests” | Daniel Thornton |
| Gray | Sarah Horn, “Effects of fine-scale characteristics of rocky talus habitat on the abundance of American pikas (Ochotona princeps) in Mount Rainier National Park.” | Allison Stift | |
| Gray | Tyler Robinson, “Effects Of Human And Lion Activity On Temporal Activity Patterns Of Mesopredators In Ndutu Area, Tanzania | Bernard Kissui | |
| Gray | Mila Singson, “How Levels of Noise Pollution Affect Avian Nesting Behavior and Chick Growth” | Jennifer Phillips | |
| Gray | Nicole Sonnen, “Effects of fine-scale characteristics of rocky talus habitat on the abundance of American pikas (Ochotona princeps) in Mount Rainier National Park.” | Allison Stift | |
| Novice | Addison Manter, “Potential genetic biomarkers of infertility in the repeat breeder cow syndrome in mature lactating Holstein cows” | Martin Maquivar | |
| Novice | Sienna Tatos, “Potential genetic biomarkers of infertility in the repeat breeder cow syndrome in mature lactating Holstein cows” | Martin Maquivar | |
| Social Sciences | Crimson | Chase Guenther, “The impact of prenatal exposure to infection on adolescent cannabis use and adulthood decision-making and affective behavior” | Angela Henricks |
| Crimson | Lizzie McKim, “Beyond Rural-to-Urban: Examining Effects of Neighborhood Greenspace on Healthy Aging” | Kimberley Meidenbauer | |
| Crimson | Tariq Rose, “Reconstructing identity: an osteological study of a limited provenience curated cranial collection” | Erin Thornton | |
| Crimson | Clara Welch, “Reconstructing Identity: an osteological study of a limited provenience curated cranial collection” | Erin Thornton | |
| Crimson | Sally Wierenga, “Reconstructing identity: an osteological study of a limited provenience curated cranial collection” | Erin Thornton | |
| Crimson | Tanner Morford, “Math Instructors Responses to Student-Use of AI” | Abigail Cortez | |
| Gray | Lindsay Demitor, “Linking Videorecorded Interaction Behavior Between Therapy Dogs and University Students’ to Salivary Cortisol Reactivity and Recovery During Test Anxiety Simulation in Randomized Controlled Trial” | Patricia Pendry & Cristina McAllister | |
| Gray | Angel Romero, “Small Modular Reactor Development in the Columbia River Basin: Policies, Community Engagement, & Water Needs” | Jillian Cadwell | |
| Gray | Sophia Cederholm, “Healing Through Words: How Childhood Trauma Shapes Reading Preferences” | Nicole Scalise & Joanna Schultz | |
| Gray | Chloe Fischer, “Linking Videorecorded Interaction Behavior Between Therapy Dogs and University Students’ to Salivary Cortisol Reactivity and Recovery During Test Anxiety Simulation in Randomized Controlled Trial” | Patricia Pendry & Cristina McAllister | |
| Gray | Cale Fitzgerald, “No Rule, No Script, Still Screening? Examining Officers’ Natural Use of Lethality Assessment Protocol Elements during Intimate Partner Violence Incidents.” | David Makin & Christina Shellabarger | |
| Gray | Elizabeth Garza, “Examining the impact of a mapping activity on happy-sad Stroop performance in emerging adults” | Sammy Perone & Aryn Vaughan | |
| Gray | Bailee Hanson, “Applying Projectile Point Typologies on the Snake River to Establish the History of Land Use and Changes in Projectile Technology Over Time” | John Blong | |
| Gray | Lilly Mendoza-Allen, “Whispers of Worth- the Impact of Receipts” | Han Ah Yoo | |
| Early Career | Duru Hatipoglu, “Does Personality Make Some People More Aggressive in the Heat?” | Kim Meidenbauer & Tiara Freeman | |
| Research Proposal | Crimson | Cadence McLin, “Eat-Sleep-Console Protocol Effectiveness for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome” | Theresa Bowden |
| Crimson | Henry Olsen, “The Effects of Insulin Resistance and Exercise on Neonatal Hippocampal Brain Development” | Gary Wayman | |
| Crimson | Andrew Mackey, “Examining Relationships Between Personality and Psychological Needs” | Luke Huckaby | |
| Gray | Juan Badillo, “The Price of Feeding America: Invisibility, Inequality, and the Health of Migrant Farmworkers” | Todd Sabato | |
| Gray | Laura Johnson, “The Role of Alkali Metals and Water in Phenol Tautomerization on Fe Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation” | Jean-Sabin McEwen | |
| Gray | Aaliyah Ngirutang, “Perceptions of Mental Health Stigma and Their Relationship to Attitudes Toward Mental Health and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) College Students” | Jessica Willoughby | |
| Gray | Taylor Page, “Comparison of SV-129 and C57BL/6 Mice as a Preclinical Model for Endometriosis” | Kanako Hayashi | |
| Early Career | Matthew Zimmel, “Development of a Low-Cost Detection Method for the Potato Powdery Scab Pathogen in Soil” | Natalia Moroz & Kiwamu Tanaka |