Category: Office of Engaged Learning – Research

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

OEL Staff presenting about FYRE at ConnectUR

Social media post showing ConnectUR logo and headshots of Jennifer Ebinger and Adam Neal

Dr. Jennifer Ebinger (Executive Director) and Dr. Adam Scott Neal (Program Manager) from the Office of Engaged Learning will be speaking at the ConnectUR conference in Grand Rapids, MI on June 16-18.

ConnectUR, hosted by the national Council for Undergraduate Research, “provides a platform for attendees to engage in professional development, explore innovative practices, and collaborate with peers dedicated to advancing impactful research programs.”

Drs. Ebinger and Neal’s presentation, “Engaging Excellence Early: A First Year Research Experience for High-Achieving Students” explains the rationales and results of the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program, launched in 2024-25.

Students in FYRE receive paid research assistant positions with a faculty mentor, and take a 1-credit class about the environment, process, and communication of research. The program aims to retain high-achieving students by engaging them in research early.

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

ELF Spotlight: Ellen Aughenbaugh

By Diana Bautista Hernandez, Student Media Assistant for OEL

Ellen Aughenbaugh ’26, a double major in Biological Sciences and Studio Art and 2025 Engaged Learning Fellow, showcased her project, Interlinked: Bridging Art and Science this semester at the Jordan Gallery in the Owens Art Center. Aughenbaugh’s vision was to bridge the field of art and science together in an exhibit collection of oil paintings and charcoal drawings. She invited the viewer to contemplate not just the art but the deeper connection that it shares with the world of science.

What is your project about?

Interlinked is an interdisciplinary artistic research project that bridges the fields of art and science. The project culminated in a gallery exhibition inviting viewers to contemplate the similarities between the two disciplines as they intertwine in their search for truth and beauty. I primarily created oil paintings and charcoal drawings, focusing on neuroscience-related themes.

What was one moment during this project that really stuck with you?

One moment that really stuck with me was the moment of the exhibition itself, when the private, often lonesome work of creating art suddenly became public. Seeing my pieces up on the wall, framed and lit, was an entirely different experience from seeing them scattered across the floor of my studio. It felt like they transformed in a way I hadn’t expected. What was even more striking was witnessing how different groups reacted: scientists, artists, interdisciplinary thinkers, and even people who didn’t consider themselves part of either world. Everyone brought their own questions and perspectives, and each related to my work in unique ways. I was surprised and moved by how many people, regardless of their background, wanted to know more about the scientific inspirations behind my work. It reminded me that curiosity is universal, and that art can be a bridge between fields that might seem separate at first glance.

In what ways did this experience help you grow or push you outside of your comfort zone?

One thing that really pushed me outside of my comfort zone during this project was figuring out how to make science feel personal and empathetic. As a portrait artist, I’m used to people immediately connecting with faces- there’s an instant emotional reaction. With Interlinked, I had to find a way to make cells, anatomical sketches, and synapses feel just as relatable and emotionally provocative. It challenged me to push my craft further, and to find humanity inside the structures and processes that make us who we are.

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

Undergraduate Research Student Spotlight: Alison Kellom

Written by Diana Bautista Hernandez, Student Media Assistant for OEL

Alison Kellom, a senior undergraduate student (Class of ’25) pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences, dedicated time to research a crucial need in the field of oncology. Her project, Reversing Chemotherapy Resistance in Aggressive Forms of Cancer, mentored by Dr. Pia Vogel (Biological Sciences), dives deep into lab research and trials of different proteins through computational methods.

Over the past 40 years, researchers have struggled to find a solution to the survival of aggressive cancers. Even when patients are administered different drugs in chemotherapy, some cancer cells survive; these cells are called “multidrug resistant.” Dr. Vogel’s lab is working with novel compounds in vitro to develop a clinical model that can screen the success rate of treatments. As a result, patients may experience quicker recoveries and a much better quality of life during chemotherapy. Through the Engaged Learning Fellowship, Kellom gained hands-on experience tackling this issue.

This unique project has not only contributed to the field but also has left Alison with a personal takeaway. She explains that her biggest lesson was learning to accept that you cannot control the results, especially in science. “Science doesn’t always go your way,” she says. During weekly lab meetings, she often found herself with little or no presentable data, which was initially discouraging. However, she soon realized that data points aren’t the only measure of learning and progress. “Eventually I learned that you don’t always need to get results to learn in the lab!” This resulted in helping her build a strong foundation in research, adding, “you can draw from in the future.” As Alison puts it, “I truly believe that the ability to make mistakes during research is the only way science could progress!”

 

 

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Congrats to our “ELFs” and “ELSAs”

Red background with SMU Engaged Learning Fellows logo

This year, the Office of Engaged Learning welcomed 36 students to the Engaged Learning Fellowship (ELF) program. In addition, 5 students won the Engaged Learning Starter Award (ELSA).

The ELF awards up to $2500 to pursue a capstone project–often a senior thesis or distinction project, but also ambitious independent projects. The ELSA awards up to $500 for first-year or transfer students to pursue a smaller-scale research or creative project.

Congrats to the following students, and thank you to the numerous faculty mentors who advise them on their projects!

24-25 Engaged Learning Starter Award recipients:

Colin Gross
Zehra Jaffery
Phillip Perry
Taran Sortino
Raissa Umwali

24-25 Engaged Learning Fellowship recipients:

Ryland Adzich ‘28
Ruhani Ahluwalia ‘25
Haneen Amarneh ‘25
Hala Arnouk ‘25
Aguer Atem ‘25
Ellen Aughenbaugh ‘26
Faith Bellamy ‘26
Na’Ni Caliste ‘25
Andrew Castles ‘25
Anna Foweather ‘26
Mustafa Haque ‘27
Meredith Hughes ‘25
Bailey Kamau ‘26
Haley Kim ‘26
Olivia Kuo ‘26
Nomvuyo Makhathini ‘26
Katy Merchant ‘25
Maria Murad ‘26
Jordan Naivar ‘26
Amelia Nugent ‘28
Kristian Perez ‘28
Swarangi Potdar ‘25
Shreeya Prabu ‘26
Mahima Quazi ‘25
Alexandra Reyes ‘27
Mireya Sanchez ‘25
Adyn Schachtel ‘27
William Schmitt ‘26
Kendall Schumacher ‘26
Crystal Smith ‘26
Andy Su ‘26
Vivian Thai ‘25
Mariam Tran ‘25
Maddie Wathanacharoen ‘25
Mille Wiita ‘25
Rachel Zuercher ‘27

 

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Mentorship Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

OEL awards for “Excellence in Mentoring”

Image shows headshots of Excellence in Mentoring award winners Elizabeth Berk and Jill Kelly

Each year, The Office of Engaged Learning (OEL) honors faculty members who have provided exceptional mentoring to our Engaged Learning Fellows. The criteria for selection considers the quality of the student’s nomination, the student’s accomplishments, and the faculty member’s history of successfully mentoring students in the program. The awards come with a small honorarium.

Two winners were announced at the annual Undergraduate Research Lunch on April 24, 2025:

Dr. Elizabeth Berk
Lecturer, Department of Anthropology
Mentee/nominator: Vivian Thai ’25

Dr. Jill Kelly
Associate Professor and Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor
William P. Clements Department of History
Mentee/nominator: Aguer Atem ’25

Thank you to Dr. Berk and Dr. Kelly for your continued dedication to mentoring undergraduate students!

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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

Engage Together Partnership Puts SMU Students at the Heart of Anti-Trafficking Research

Text "Engage Together"

This year, SMU’s Office of Engaged Learning and the Human Trafficking Data Research Project partnered with Engage Together, an award-winning nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending human trafficking. The collaboration centers on a large-scale community mapping project designed to identify and visualize all programs and services across the state that address human trafficking and support high-risk populations.

Ten SMU students were selected as Engage Together Fellows to support the organization’s efforts. The fellows worked with community organizations to encourage their participation in the project, and helped gather data using the Community Assessment Survey.

This paid internship allowed students to take on a meaningful role in addressing a critical social issue while gaining valuable experience in community-based research. Economics major Ritney Coleman ’25, who served as SMU’s Lead Research Fellow, shared:

“I saw how powerful collaboration can be in creating real impact—and it was rewarding to play a role in gathering the data that helps make that possible.”

SMU’s partnership with Engage Together is built on shared values of research, education, and community impact. Ashleigh S. Chapman, JD, Founder and CEO of Engage Together, highlighted the importance of university partnerships in addressing complex social challenges like human trafficking:

“We launched Engage Together for DFW in 2024, and we were thrilled to welcome both SMU’s Office of Engaged Learning and the Human Trafficking Data Research Project as part of the Steering Committee. Together, we are providing students experiential learning opportunities, engaging faculty in deep-dive research projects, and supporting community and national stakeholders through convenings and strategy sessions. And we’re just getting started!”

With the data collected from SMU student fellows, Engage Together is preparing a comprehensive assessment of anti-trafficking efforts across 17 counties in North Texas with data from 867 organizations. The report highlights the region’s strengths, identifies service gaps and vulnerabilities, and outlines key opportunities for more coordinated, community action.

Looking ahead, SMU will continue its partnership as the initiative enters Phase 2, working with the community to strengthen their strategies to meet needs and fill gaps.

As Chapman notes, “Human trafficking is a complex issue that requires comprehensive solutions. To succeed, communities must collaborate across sectors to bring everyone’s strengths to bear. SMU is a shining example of how a university—its students, faculty, and centers—can change things on behalf of those in need. Thank you! And onward—together.”

On June 9 and 10, the SMU Human Trafficking Data Research (HTDR) Project, led by Dr. Beth Wheaton-Paramo, is hosting the 2025 SMU Human Trafficking Data Conference with the theme “Strategies for Effective Human Trafficking Data.” The conference brings together researchers, practitioners, law enforcement and governmental officials, nonprofit organizations, data scientists, and other stakeholders who value the quality, availability, and efficacy of human trafficking data. For more information and registration link, visit the conference website.

 

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Engaged Learning brings students to National Conference

Exhibition hall filled with hundreds of people looking at student research posters

The first week of April, the Office of Engaged Learning sponsored seven students to present their research at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Pittsburgh. The conference reported about 4,700 people in attendance, including 3,100 undergraduate students from around the country.

Malik Alshaya presented “Wavelength-Dependent Photopolymerization of Ethyl Lipoate: Optimizing Conversion Efficiency and Exploring Photoinitiator Effects.” Malik works with Dr. Nicolay Tsarevsky (Chemistry).

Feaven Fasil presented “Addressing Mental Health Barriers Among Ethiopian-American Youth in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.” Feaven is working with Dr. Elizabeth Berk (Anthropology).

Sahar Khan presented “Exploring the Protein Levels of Astorcytes, Pericytes, and Blood Brain Barrier in WT and C3 Knockout Mice Following Seizure-Induced Brain Injury.” Sahar is working in Dr. Amy Brewster’s lab (Biological Sciences).

Hasun Krisht presented “Identification of Ribosome-associated Quality Control (RQC) genes associated with human diseases via in-silico data analysis and biological validation.” Hasun is working with Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Yuanna Wu in Dr. Zhihou Wu’s lab (Biological Sciences).

Jerry Ma presented “Recommender Systems for University Curriculum Advising.” Jerry, a Mayer Fellow, is working with Dr. Peter Moore (Mathematics) and Dr. Robert Hahsler (Computer Science).

Swarangi Potdar (Engaged Learning Fellow) presented her artwork, “what remains: the cyclicality of the material and the immaterial,” which one First Prize in the visual art division. Swarangi’s faculty mentor is Ian Grieve (Art).

Anish Senthilkumar presented “Bridging Divides: The Impact of EU Immigration Policies on Economic Assimilation and Political Polarization.” Anish’s faculty mentor is Paola Buckley (World Languages and Literatures).

 

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Winners of the Undergraduate Poster Session

2025 poster winners Vivian Thai, Sahar Khan, Veda Ramakrishnan, Regina Moreno Vera, Julian Cabrera
2025 poster winners Vivian Thai, Sahar Khan, Veda Ramakrishnan, Regina Moreno Vera, Julian Cabrera

On Tuesday, the Office of Engaged Learning hosted the annual Undergraduate Poster Session, part of Research and Innovation Week. Our judges recognized the following students’ posters:

1st place: Regina Moreno Vera, “Neuropsychiatric Abnormalities in Kcna1 Mouse Models of Epilepsy and Ataxia.” Faculty mentor: Edward Glasscock, Biological Sciences

2nd place: Julian Cabrera, “From Prompts to Patterns: Exploring AI Responses with Text Analytics.” Faculty mentor: Monnie McGee, Statistics and Data Science

3rd place: Veda Ramakrishnan, “Disrupting Mental Health Stigma: Communication Strategies Used by Mental Health Professionals in South India.” Faculty mentors: Christopher Salinas, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, and Dr. Amy Brewster, Biological Sciences

Honorable mention: Alison Kellom, “Reversing Chemotherapy Resistance in Aggressive Forms of Cancer.” Faculty mentor: Pia Vogel, Biological Sciences

Honorable mention: Sahar Khan, “Exploring the Protein Levels of Astrocytes, Pericytes, and Blood Brain Barrier in WT and C3 Knockout Mice Following Seizure-Induced Brain Injury.” Faculty mentor: Amy Brewster, Biological Sciences

Honorable mention: Vivian Thai, “Paths to Parenthood: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Narratives from Quy Nhon, Vietnam.” Faculty mentor: Elizabeth Berk, Anthropology

Thanks to the faculty mentors and graduate students who helped these students in their achievements.

Thanks also to our army of judges! This event would not be possible without their enthusiasm and discerning eyes: Rahmat Adesunkanmi, Lida Aeindartehran, Kimia Akhavein, Juliana Antonio, Marshay Booker, Alexander Brandt, Aria Cabot, Sarah Cartwright, Yajaira Diaz, Eric Godat, Arlene Hernandez, Imogen Hoffman, Alexa Jimenez, Ammara Khalid, Junaid Khan, Mateo Langston-Smith, Aishwary Pawar, Amy Richardson, Sharma Chhavi, Angelo Villalobos Claramunt, and David Willhite

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research President’s Scholars

SMU attends its first ACC Meeting of the Minds

Vivian Thai, Brianna Freshwater, Shriya Siddhartha, Vigna Lavu, and Taylor Shimizu giving the "pony up" at the University of Pittsburgth

Last weekend, the Office of Engaged Learning brought five undergraduate researchers to the ACC Meeting of the Minds at the University of Pittsburgh. This annual symposium invites up to five students from each ACC school to deliver oral presentations or posters. Brianna Freshwater, Vigna Lavu, Taylor Shimizu, Shriya Siddhartha, and Vivian Thai represented SMU and networked with students and faculty from across the country.

Shriya Siddhartha presenting her research
Shriya Siddhartha presenting her research

Vigna Lavu, a senior studying Biological Sciences with a minor in Environmental Science, presented a poster about her work with Dr. Alexander Chase’s lab. Vigna said, “Being able to represent SMU and share my research to my peers in the ACC was an incredible opportunity that will stay with me through my academic and professional life. . . . It was also refreshing to being exposed to research being done in the social sciences, business, and other fields as I usually do not have the opportunity to explore those areas.”

Brianna Freshwater presenting her research
Brianna Freshwater presenting her research

Brianna Freshwater, a senior studying Anthropology and Sociology, has been working on a project about AP classes in minority white schools (under the mentorship of Dr. Sondra Barringer). Brianna enjoyed “. . . the intimate nature of the conference, [where] meeting other researchers did not mean quick introductions followed by swapping contact information, but rather long conversations that built real connections.” She found that “people were more willing to share their perspectives and critically engage with everyone’s research which personally strengthened how I communicated my research. I highly recommend it to other students!”

Taylor Shimizu with her poster
Taylor Shimizu with her poster

Taylor Shimizu, a senior in Chemistry and Health and Society, found the conference “extremely rewarding, as I got to learn about and discuss fascinating research that fellow undergraduates are doing. The intimidate conference provided a special opportunity to make connections and friendships with other researchers across the conference!” Taylor presented research she did in Dr. Neely Myers‘s anthropology lab.

Vivian Thai with her poster
Vivian Thai with her poster

Senior Vivian Thai, a Biology and Health and Society major working with Dr. Elizabeth Berk (Anthropology), said that “The ACC Meeting of the Minds was an incredible opportunity to connect with fellow passionate student researchers. From projects like cranial orthosis for babies to explorations of architecture in horror films, the conference gave undergrads a chance to share their work and learn from one another.” Vivian also remarked about the intimate size of the conference. She said,  “By the end of the weekend, we didn’t just leave with new knowledge about interesting research topics. We left with friends from schools across the country!”

SMU students at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Knowledge
SMU students at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Knowledge
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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research Student Academic Engagement & Success

Undergraduate Research Poster Session during Research and Innovation Week

SMU’s Research and Innovation Week 2025 will take place Monday, March 31-Friday, April 4. The week includes a series of presentations, panels and poster sessions showcasing student and faculty contributions.

The Undergraduate Research Poster Session will take place Tuesday, April 1, from 2-5 p.m. in the Moody Hall Atrium. Prizes are awarded for the Top 3 posters overall. We hope you will stop by to support the undergraduate researchers presenting!

2025 Undergraduate Poster Session Presenters

For additional information and full list of events, visit the Research and Innovation Week site. The SMU community and the public are invited to attend all events.