The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to announce that 17 Boise State students have been selected to receive awards for spring 2024 for $3,000 from Higher Education Research Council Fellowships and the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grants.
These grants were awarded to facilitate meaningful research projects for students and the opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor. Students were nominated by faculty for these awards, and many will be presenting their work at the Undergraduate Research Showcase on April 19.
“We had more applications for these awards this past semester than ever before, making the competition extremely steep. There were so many excellent packages that we went out and solicited extra funds to make a few extra awards,” said Donna Llewellyn, executive director of the Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship.
Higher Education Research Council Fellowships were funded by a grant from the Idaho State Board of Education Higher Education Research Council specifically for STEM students. Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grants were funded by the generosity of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship.
Learn more about IFITS Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grants
Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity grant-winning students
- Claire Cunningham
Sophomore majoring in theatre, film and creative writing
Faculty mentor: Richard St. Ofle, clinical assistant professor of dramatic writing
Project title: “Banned” - Hannah Biggs
Sophomore majoring in theatre, film and creative writing
Faculty mentor: Ryan Cannon, associate professor in the Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing
Project title: “Stolen Laughs” - Jamie Hudson
Senior majoring in interdisciplinary professional studies
Faculty mentor: Jennifer Mallette, associate professor of English
Project title: “Increasing equitable access to experiential education opportunities for adult learners” - Joseph Wargo
Junior majoring in theatre, film and creative writing
Faculty mentor: Taryn Birdsall, lecturer in the Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing
Project title: “This Isn’t About You” - Katelyn Stedtfeld
Junior majoring in art, design and visual studies
Faculty mentor: Astri Snodgrass, assistant professor of art
Project title: “The Better Me” - Teri Harrison
Senior majoring in art, design and visual studies
Faculty mentor: Laurie Blakeslee, professor of art
Project title: “Library Project”
Higher Education Research Council Fellowship-winning students
- Amelia Jobe
Senior double majoring in computer science and sociology
Faculty mentor: Michael Kreiter, lecturer of sociology
Research topic: “How do technology-related job listings with masculinized ideals of merit in their job description perpetuate gender gaps in the technology workforce?” - Ethan LaHaug
Senior majoring in psychological science
Faculty mentor: Jaclyn Kettler, associate professor of political science and National Education for Women’s (NEW) Idaho Leadership Coordinator
Research topic: “Are Separately Elected Lieutenant Governors More Likely to Seek Other Statewide Offices?” - Giada Brandes
Junior majoring in mechanical and biomedical engineering
Faculty mentor: Erin Mannen, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering
Research topic: “Biomechanics of Breathing, Infant Hip Biomechanics, Infant
Rolling and Safety of Infant Gear” - Jadyn Hart
Senior majoring in mechanical and biomedical engineering
Faculty mentor: Todd Otanicar, professor and department chair of mechanical and biomedical engineering
Research topic: “Flux Mapping for a high flux solar simulator” - Jesse Homza
Junior majoring in biological sciences
Faculty mentor: Jesse Barber, professor of biology
Research topic: “Anthropogenic (man made) noise pollution’s effect on auditory predator detection” - Katherine Markthaler
Senior majoring in geosciences
Faculty mentor: Matt Kohn, University Distinguished Professor of geosciences
Research topic: “Moving Mountains: Determining Temperature Distribution and Deformation Histories in the Himalaya’s Earliest Metamorphic Rocks” - Leah Engle
Sophomore majoring in global studies
Faculty mentor: Vicken Hillis, assistant professor of the Human-Environment Systems program
Research topic: “Deep Canvassing for Human Caused Climate Change” - Lucas Arsenith
Senior majoring in civil engineering
Faculty mentor: Nick Hudyma, professor and department chair of civil engineering
Research topic: “3D Analysis of Rockfall in Columnar Jointed Basalt” - Miranda Trester
Junior majoring in biological sciences
Faculty mentor: Stephanie Hudon, principal research scholar and clinical program director in the Public Health Laboratory
Research topic: “Disease surveillance with screening bacteria, viruses, and AMR markers sequenced from collected samples” - Ryan Samolis
Senior majoring in physics
Faculty mentor: Kevin Roche, assistant professor of civil engineering
Research topic: “Predicting Contaminant Fate in River Systems” - Skyler Chase
Senior double majoring in computer science and geosciences
Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Johnson, professor of geosciences
Research topic: “Avalanche Generated Infrasound: Machine Learning Classification and Multimedia Data Visualization”