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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”

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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News Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Encourage students to apply for an Engaged Learning Fellowship

Since 2012, SMU has awarded 384 undergraduate students with the Engaged Learning Fellowship (ELF), a prestigious program that provides funding and support for capstone-level projects in research and the arts. Over the years, ELF recipients have conducted innovative projects in more than 20 different countries, truly embodying SMU’s motto “World Changers Shaped Here”.

Recent highlights from the ELF program include:

  • Yvonne Yang ’24 (awarded for her senior film Speculo) is directing Egg Drop Soup, an official selection for SMU Film’s Summer Film Production project. Collaborating with fellow film producers Suniti Bhikshesvaran, Tyler Chapman, and Juan Davalos—who also received ELF awards—this team has brought their vision to life. Read more about their project in this Meadows News article.
  • Anna Kelley Zielke ‘25 created a children’s book that inspires the next generation to embrace pluralism. Watch her interview with the George W. Bush Institute where she shares insights about her project.
  • Gabriella Doan ‘25 was selected to present her research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. J.C. Chiao, at the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference in Baltimore, MD (October 23-26). Her project, Polypropylene Paper-Based Electrodes with a Voltage Response for pH Sensing, will be showcased at the undergraduate poster session.

Each year, we welcome 25-30 students into the Engaged Learning Fellowship program. The deadlines to apply are: September 15, December 15, February 15, and April 15. For seniors graduating in May, September 15th is the final opportunity to apply.

If you know an undergraduate student working on an exciting project or who is ready to start one, encourage them to apply for an ELF! Students can go to smu.edu/elf for more information.

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Engaged Learning Fellowships – now up to $2500!

The Office of Engaged Learning has recently increased the award for incoming Engaged Learning Fellows. Applicants may now request up to $2500 of funding!

Submission deadlines are September 15, December 15, and February 15, every year. Seniors graduating in May: your deadline is September 15th!

For more info, visit smu.edu/elf

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Office of Engaged Learning Office of Engaged Learning – Research

Undergraduate Research Report 2021-2022

Read the latest report on Undergraduate Research from the Office of Engaged Learning. Click the images to view larger versions.