ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

°Õ³ó±ðÌýSummer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) SymposiumÌýat the University of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ is an in-person showcase of students’ summer research accomplishments. This event will be held Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, from 3 to 5 p.m.,Ìýin theÌýGrand SalonÌýon the first floor of Plant Hall. SURF students will have a poster and give a presentation on their summer research. You are welcome to interact with students and ask questions. The entire UÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ community, as well as friends and family members, are welcome to join and participate.

Please direct questions to David Reamer, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, atÌýdreamer@ut.edu.

2025 Student Presentation Titles:

Effect of Ubiquitin Chain Branching on the Degradation of Target Proteins.
Carter Alverado, Human Performance
Faculty Mentor: Michael French, Biochemistry

Teaching a Computer to Read: Machine Learning for Ghanaian Historical Records.
Hanna Berhane, Computer Science
Faculty Mentor: Matthew Lepinski, Computer Science

A Study of Two Alzheimer's Risk Genes and Their Role in the Nervous System using Drosophila Melanogaster.
Gabriella Buice, Marine Science
Faculty Mentor: Kalpana Makhijani, Biology

Alpha-Oxygenation of Ketones.
Madison Chupela, Chemistry
Faculty Mentor: Brett Hemric, Chemistry

Echoes of Resistance: Black Lives Matter in ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Bay’s Media Landscape.
Alyssa Cortes, Journalism
Faculty Mentor: Sohana Nasrin, Communications

Scenario Showdown: a Digital ChatGPT-Based Introductory Psychology Game.
Kaen Freeman, Psychology and Art Therapy
Faculty Mentor: Stephen Blessing, Psychology

Bryde’s Whales: A Whale Call Density Study.
Ryan Homer, Marine Biology
Faculty Mentor: Rose Hilmo, Biology

The Instrumentation of Inspiration: A Pilot Study Evaluating Culturally Diverse Inspiring Music.
Hannah Hutchinson, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Michael Stasio, Psychology

Optimizing Investment Portfolios with the Super Learner Model.
Eugene Jang, Data Science
Faculty Mentor: Xin Jin, Statistics

Socioeconomic Status, Politics, and Remembering Racial Outgroup Faces.
Dylan Luciani, Psychology and Criminology
Faculty Mentor: Benjamin Marsh, Psychology

Fabrication and Development of a Chemical System for the Analysis of Fingerprints and Inks.
Julia Morelli, Forensic Science
Faculty Mentor: Kenyon Evans-Nguyen, Forensic Science

Identifying Mechanisms of Antioxidant Combination Treatments on Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer.
Andrew Reidenbaugh, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Jeanette Gore, Biology

When Are Low Person-Centered Support Messages Effective and Appropriate? A Qualitative Validation and Revision of the LPC Message Effectiveness Model.
Holly Rushing, Communication and Speech Studies
Faculty Mentor: Colter Ray, Communication

High Competitiveness Enhances Both Speed and Accuracy in a Working Memory Task.
Allison Schultz, Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Sara Festini, Psychology

Investigating Antioxidant Mechanisms on Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer.
Ryan Stewart, Biology
Faculty Mentor: Kim Dobrinski, Biology

The Capacity of AI to Assist in Learning.
Hannah VanHise, English
Faculty Mentor: Daniel Dooghan, English and Writing

The Impact of Student Mentorship in Integrated Dance Programs for Dancers with Disabilities.
Samantha Walker, Dance
Faculty Mentor: Amanda Gabaldon, Theatre and Dance

Abortion as Rational Choice: Policy Restrictiveness and Self-Selection in Post-Dobbs America.
Patrik Ward, Economics
Faculty Mentor: Michael Coon, Economics

Analytical Properties of Devil’s Staircases.
Volodymyr Zabolotnyi, Computer Science and Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Douglas Pfeffer, Mathematics