20 KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for summer and fall 2026

LAWRENCE — This summer and fall, 20 University of Kansas students were awarded an Undergraduate Research Award (UGRA) from the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. These $1,000 awards are distributed to students pursuing mentored research and creative projects across all disciplines. 

Students apply for UGRAs by writing a five-page research proposal under the guidance of a KU-affiliated faculty mentor. Faculty reviewers evaluate the applications based on the merit of the applicant's proposal and a recommendation from the mentor.  

UGRA award recipients

Albert Agah, Lawrence, studying aerospace engineering: “Advancing Autonomous Driving Through Socially Compliant Controls,” mentored by Shian Wang, assistant professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering.

Lauren Atty, Kansas City, Missouri, studying psychology: “Investigating the Racialization of African Places,” mentored by Glenn Adams, professor of psychology and director of the Kansas African Studies Center.

Heagen Bell, Wichita, studying computer science: “Automating the Classification of U.S. Congressional Legislation on China,” mentored by Jiakun Jack Zhang, associate professor of political science.

Max Bryan, Chaska, Minnesota, studying English and French: “A Poetic Exploration of Gay Desire in Religious Spaces of Paris,” mentored by Meagen Youngdahl, lecturer in English.

Allina Dougherty, Lawrence, studying architecture: “Understanding Libeskind’s Chamber Works,” mentored by Peter Olshavsky, associate professor of architecture design.

Maya Engelman, Overland Park, studying exercise science: “From Lab to Field: Evaluating OpenCap and Sex Differences in Jump-Landing Biomechanics,” mentored by Yu Song, assistant professor of health, sport & exercise science.

Julianna Forsha, Overland Park, studying psychology, Spanish and behavioral neuroscience: “Analyzing AI Modality of Health Information on Parental Opinion and Retention,” mentored by Christopher Cushing, professor and director of clinical training, clinical child psychology.

Dagan Fultz, Lawrence, studying linguistics and Russian, East European & Eurasian studies: “Does a 'Political Accent' Exist?,” mentored by Lacey Wade, assistant professor of linguistics.

Katherine Goodwin, Leawood, studying women, gender & sexuality studies and political science: “The Future of Kansas Sex Education Project,” mentored by Sarah Deer, Distinguished Professor of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Law.

Bhumika Gupta, Indore, India, studying business analytics and mathematics: “Predicting Large Language Model Rankings Using Elo Rating Systems and Multi-Dimensional Feature Analysis,” mentored by Karthik Srinivasan, assistant professor of business.

Elizabeth Hegji, Lawrence, studying speech-language-hearing: “Autistic Authorship and Children’s Picture Books About Autism: How Does Authorship and Topic Impact Text Social Information?,” mentored by Meghan Davidson, associate professor of speech-language-hearing.

Marcus Heinen, Goff, studying psychology and management & leadership: “Exploring the Association Between Muscularity-Oriented Concerns and Eating Disorder Pathology: When Do Muscle-Building Behaviors Become Problematic?,” mentored by Angeline Bottera, assistant research professor, Bureau of Child Research.

Kristy Ingles Nguyen, Overland Park, studying political science and economics: “Firm-Level Responses to Tariffs in the Heartland: Exploring the Interaction Between Size and Political Ideology,” mentored by Jack Zhang, associate professor of political science.

Noah Kavan, Overland Park, studying behavioral neuroscience and human biology: “The Effect of a Common, Disease-associated PTPN22 Mutation on Producing Better Antibodies During a Virus Infection,” mentored by Robin Orozco, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.

Nate Meyer, De Soto, studying human biology: “Is Wing Pigmentation a Conditionally Dependent Trait in Male Drosophila Suzukii?,” mentored by Jennifer Gleason, associate professor of ecology & evolutionary biology.

Levi O'Connor, Louisburg, studying psychology: “Gender Identity-Relevant Responses to Threats Against Racial Status Quo,” mentored by Glenn Adams, professor of psychology and director of the Kansas African Studies Center.

Alicia Pham, Lawrence, studying ecology, evolution & organismal biology: “Endophytic Foliar Fungi in a Restored Grassland Ecosystem,” mentored by Sara Baer, professor and director of the Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research.

Aubrey Sanchez, Lenexa, studying chemistry: “Extracellular Vesicles for the Delivery of Targeted Therapies to Modulate Messenger RNA Isoforms in Cancer Cells,” mentored by Malgorzata Witek, associate research professor of chemistry.

Keenan Segal, Overland Park, exercise science: “The Immediate Effects of a Rolling Strategy on Ankle Joint Loading During Landing,” mentored by Yu Song, assistant professor of health, sport & exercise science.

Bethel Yigezu, Olathe, studying biochemistry: “Effect of Indole Derivatives on Salmonella Enterica Virulence Gene Expression,” mentored by Caetano Antunes, assistant professor of molecular biosciences.

Apply for a UGRA

Students interested in applying for a spring 2027 Undergraduate Research Award should note that the application and research proposal deadline is Nov. 1, with research mentor references due by Nov. 6. Applications open in August.

To help students prepare competitive applications, the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (CURF) will host a Proposal Writing Workshop from 4-5 p.m. Oct. 13 and a Research Proposal Review Workshop from 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 27, both in 201 Summerfield Hall. Students can also attend drop-in office hours every Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and Fridays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in 203 Summerfield Hall. Those seeking additional feedback on their proposals before submission are encouraged to contact the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships at curf@ku.edu.