Take a look at the names and faces below, their majors, and their research interests, and hopefully you will notice that these student scholars are much like you. With hard work and a dedication to serious research, any Blugold could have a chance to take part in this life-changing program.

Muhaison Ibrahim

Major: Biochemistry Molecular Biology
Hometown: Tema, Accra, Ghana
Graduation Date: December 2023
Mentor: Dr. Krysti Knoche-Gupte, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research Project: Investigating the bioelectrocatalysis of methylobacterium radiotolerans

Cameron Merline

Major: Psychology
Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: December 2022
Mentor: Dr. Mary Beth Leibham, Psychology
Research Project: Associations Among Parental Involvement, Self Efficacy, Resilience, and Fear of Negative Evaluation in College Students with Disabilities

Mary Obias

Major: Psychology
Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Muehlenkamp, Psychology
Research Project: Factors that focus on self-recovery from non-suicidal self-injury among young adults

Jack Orta

Major: Photography
Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Wanrudee Buranakorn, Fine Arts
Research project: Things Unseen and Unheard: A study of racial, social, and physical minorities in photography

Shantel Pierce

Major: English
Hometown: Hazelhurst, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Jon Heggestad, English
Research project: The Female Gaze in Coming-of-Age Films: How can intersectional identity representation in the coming-of-age genre assist in identity construction and acceptance

Sandra Prickett

Major: Biochemistry Molecular Biology
Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Michael Walsh, Material Science and Biomedical Engineering
Research project: Determination of neurotoxin presence in Monotropa uniflora extract by cell tissue culture dosage study

Miranda Ricci

Major: Organizational Communications
Hometown: Cumberland, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: December 2022
Mentor: Dr. Nicole Schultz, Communications; Dr. Kelly Wonder, McNair
Research project: Experiences of First-Generation, Low-Income, and/or Historically Underrepresented in Graduate School Students as they Pursue Graduate School

McKenzie Rombach

Major: Psychology
Hometown: Grantsburg, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Christine Vriesema, Psychology
Research project: Teacher’s Attitudes Towards Inclusive Education Techniques 

Lili Shank

Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: Mishawaka, Indiana
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Saori Braun, Kinesiology
Research project: Secondary Analysis of the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Resident Wellness Study

Hannah Temes

Major: Political Science
Hometown: Genoa, Illinois
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Damir Kovačević, Political Science
Research project: The Rise of QAnon: From a Chatroom Board to an International Movement

Courtney Westlund

Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Hometown: Iron River, Wisconsin
Graduation Date: May 2023
Mentor: Dr. Bart Dahl, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Research project: Three-State Biaryl Lactone Molecular Switches with Amine Donors