Category: Office of Engaged Learning – Research

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

Three Minute “Thesis” Competition showcases undergraduate research excellence

Group photo of students, faculty and staff participants in the 2025 Three Minute Thesis

On Thursday, July 24, the Office of Engaged Learning hosted the annual Three Minute “Thesis” competition, the culminating event of the Summer Research Intensive. In just under two hours, 27 students delivered concise and compelling presentations on faculty-mentored research projects across disciplines.

Throughout the summer, students in the Summer Research Intensive worked closely with faculty mentors through paid research positions and participated in professional development workshop series led by Dr. Adam Neal, Program Manager in the Office of Engaged Learning. Participants strenthened skills in oral and written communication, critical thinking, and career and self-development.

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

  • 1st Place: Felipe Mancera (Faculty Mentors: Andrew Davies, Caitlin Charles, and Malia Brink, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center)

  • 2nd Place: Katie Andrews and Walker Homan (Faculty Mentor: Karissa Cloward, Political Science)

  • 3rd Place: Aubrey Brown (Faculty Mentor: Monnie McGee, Statistics & Data Science), Sierra Woolsey and Ananya Anupindi (Faculty Mentor: Chrystyna Kouros, Psychology)

2025 Judges:

  • Nancy George, Associate Director of Media Relations

  • Megan Heuer, Director of Educational Initiatives, SMU Libraries

  • Mateo Langston-Smith, Research Technology Developer, Office of Information Technology

  • Aishwary Pawar, Statistician, University Decision Support

  • David Son, Professor of Chemistry

Thank you to the judges, faculty mentors, and campus partners, whose support makes this summer research experiene possible.

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

FYRE students bring prehistoric sounds to life

Two students singing using dinosaur skulls

Students in the First Year Research Experience (FYRE) program, Ella Halverson and Qien Shensun, worked with faculty member Dr. Courtney Brown to bring dinosaur sounds to life by turning 3D-printed dinosaur skulls into wind instruments. Their innovative project won third place at Georgia Tech’s Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, highlighting the creativity and impact of undergraduate research. Read the full story in SMU News.

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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