Forty-seven students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences share an exciting commonality—even though they’re studying a variety of majors—from chemistry and economics to psychology and mathematics.
They’ve all won Dean’s High Impact Undergraduate Research Awards for spring 2020.
These awards provide $1,200 to undergraduates for conducting 100 hours of research during the spring semester. After earning this honor through an application process, these students gain valuable experience as they collaborate with faculty mentors and carry out leadership roles on cutting-edge research projects.
“I’ve been working on this research for two years, and I’m really grateful that my work is now being supported financially,” said Juyeon Won (’20 chemistry).
In addition to funding Won’s solid-state materials synthesis research, the award lowers her tuition cost and allows her to build on the success of her research. Won plans to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry or materials science this fall.
“I’m very excited to be able to conduct this research in inorganic chemistry as an undergraduate,” she said. “I will continue my study of inorganic chemistry in graduate school as well,” she said.
The Dean’s High Impact Undergraduate Research Award highlights Iowa State’s commitment to providing students, across all majors, with opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation. These efforts empower students to transform their ideas into careers, graduate-school pursuits or even start-up companies.
According to Kent Kerby, assistant dean for academic student success, the benefits of these awards can impact students for years, far beyond their time at Iowa State.
“The opportunity for our undergraduates to work with leading scholars across campus leads to immense professional and personal growth,” said Kerby. “Many will stay on the project and go on to mentor other undergraduate students. They often present their work at regional, national and international conferences which sharpens their leadership and communication skills.”
In addition to boosting future careers and job prospects, these awards save students significant time and money, in the near term.
“I’m able to be in the lab and I don’t have to work another job while contributing to research and being a student,” said Tracie-Lynn Lamoreux (’20 psychology). “It’s truly an honor to be paid for the work that I do.”
Lamoreux is currently designing a study that measures how cultures react to confrontation. Her work will analyze the customs and behaviors of people from many parts of the world including: The Middle East, Mexico, Spain and the Southern region of the United States, among others. She is conducting this research under the guidance of Susan Cross, professor of chair of the psychology department.
This fall, Lamoreux plans to pursue a graduate degree in psychology and continue researching in this field. She is currently applying to graduate schools.
“Regardless of their professional destination, these students become excellent citizens and community members,” Kerby said. “Their research experiences prepare them well for careers as well as professional and graduate schools. They learn to be innovative while overcoming unexpected obstacles.”
A complete list and summary of the 47 award winners:
• Savanah Van Scoy with Robbyn Anand, assistant professor of chemistry.
• Corrine Schwarting with Brooke Arteberry, assistant professor of psychology.
• Sarah O’Malley with Michael Bartlet, assistant professor of materials science and engineering.
• Jain Kavita with Katherine Borchardt, (Ph.D., ’23 Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology; and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
• Elizabeth Hannan with Anne Bronikowski, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology.
• Shannon Erhardt with Clark Coffman, associate professor of genetics, development and cell biology.
• Tracie-Lynn Lamoreux with Susan Cross, professor of psychology and chair of the Department of Psychology.
• Justin Squillo with Jeffrey Essner, professor of genetics, development and cell biology.
• Nathan Erickson with William Gallus, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.
• Zizheng Yang with Jesse Geneson, postdoc trainee of mathematics.
• Kevin Greene with Alex Gonzalez, assistant professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.
• Melissa Piper with Alex Gonzalez, assistant professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.
• Matthew Statz with Alex Gonzales, assistant professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.
• Amanda Larsen with Shannon Harper, assistant professor of sociology.
• Olivia Gray with Richard Honzatko, professor of biochemistry, biology and molecular biology.
• Matthew Anbro with William Jenks, professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry.
• Juyeon Won with Kovnir Kirill, associate professor of chemistry.
• Jurnie Hinde with James Lang, assistant professor of kinesiology.
• John Wahlig with Jia Liu, assistant professor of computer science.
• Sarah Grambo with Gustavo Macintosh, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.
• Liliana Delgado with Jennifer Newman, associate professor of mathematics.
• Cameron Vannoy with Marit Nilsen-Hamilton, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.
• Thu Tran with Peter Orazem, university professor in the economics department.
• Zachary Johnson with Dave Peterson, professor of political science.
• Chane Vidal with Jacqueline Reber, assistant professor of geological and atmospheric sciences.
• Tulika Sharan with Dipali Sashital, associate professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.
• Antonio Ball with David Schweingruber, associate professor of sociology.
• Aridania Gerardo with Andrew Somerville, assistant professor of world languages and cultures.
• Gabrielle McPherson with Andrew Somerville, assistant professor of world languages and cultures.
• Courtney Schill with Andrew Somerville, assistant professor of world languages and cultures.
• Nicholas Stout with Adisak Sukul, associate teaching professor of computer science.
• McKenna Goffinet with Wallapak Tavanapong, professor of computer science.
• Karthik Subbarao with Wallapak Tavanapong, professor of computer science.
• Michael Bunney with Thimmasettappa Thippeswamy, professor of biomedical sciences.
• Sarah Zelle with Eric Underbakke, assistant professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.
• Megan Knobeloch with Javier Vela, professor of chemistry.
• Maggie McGrath with Horibail Venkatagiri, associate professor of psychology.
• Allison Schwaegler with Horibail Venkatagiri, associate professor of psychology.
• Peyton Weigel with Horibail Venkatagiri, associate professor of psychology.
• Madelyn Huinker with Dara Wald, assistant professor of journalism.
• Claudio Ordonez with Huang Wenyu, associate professor of chemistry.
• Jacqueline Blaum with Amanda Wienstein, associate professor of physics and astronomy.
• Aaron Bendickson with Jue Yan, associate professor of mathematics.
• Jacob Riesen with Jue Yan, associate professor of mathematics.
• Kayla Uthe with Olga Zabotina, associate professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.
• Mark Bertolami with Juliana Zaikina, assistant professor of chemistry.