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Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Awards

 

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program

The Office of Undergraduate Research selects scholars to receive a stipend for working with a faculty mentor on research. Students complete a proposal to apply for this award. Spring 2025 award winners and faculty mentors in the College of Humanities:

Katherine is wearing a long sleeve black top. There is a grass field, mountains, and blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background.

Katherine Berensen is a double major in Philosophy of Science and Biology and will be working with faculty mentor Matt Haber, Philosophy – on a project titled The Species Problem Problem and the No Solution Solution.

Jessica has long light brown hair. Her hair is blowing in front of her face. She is standing in front of a red brick wall covered in ivy.

Jessica Davis is majoring in Health Society and Policy and is working with faculty mentor Matt Haber, Philosophy- on a project titled Ethical Considerations Surrounding Xenotransplantation. 

Nayra has long braided hair. She is standing in front of a stone wall smiling at the camera

Nayra Green is pursuing a double major in Middle East Studies and Political Science and is working with faculty mentor Maile Arvin, History on a project titled Reckoning with Histories of Child Institutionalization in Hawai'i. 

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Alondra Morales Marquez is studying Ethnic Studies and Health Society and Policy and is working with Communication PhD student Ellie Estrada as mentor –on a project titled Proposal to Study Gentrification’s impact on Rose Park Neighborhood Landscapes, Displacement, and Educational Access for Marginalized Communities in the Westside Neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Sophie has shoulder length, wavy, blonde hair. She is smiling at the camera with greenery in the background.

Sophie Wayment who is a double major in History and International Studies, is working with faculty mentor ShawnaKim Lowey-Ball, History on a project titled The Unusual Election of Bongbong Marcos and the Disconnected Memory of the Marcos Regime.

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Emery Willis, an English major, will collaborate with faculty mentor Angela Smith, English on a project titled How Catharsis, Abjection, and Infantile Sexual Complexes affect Players’ Perceptions of Disability and Gender in Survival Horror Video Game Series Outlast. 

Brittney is standing in front of a calm lake and clear blue sky. She is wearing sunglasses and smiling at the camera

Brittney Mellin who is studying International Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Gender Studies is working with faculty mentor Annie Fukushima, College of Cultural and Social Transformation on a project titled Feeling Safety through Friendship and Memory: Crossing (in)between Safe and Non-Safe Spaces within (living) Colonial Institutions.

 

View Previous UROP award winners

 

Francis Family Scholarship

The Francis Family Scholarship awards scholarships to students conducting a third semester of research with the same faculty mentor in a spring semester.

Marylinda has her hair pulled back. She is wearing a brown long-sleeve top standing in front on greenery

Marylinda Gonzalez

Marylinda Gonzalez (Ed Muñoz) - Traditional Dance and the Development of Latinx Identity (Latinidad) in Utah was awarded the Francis Family Scholarship for spring 2025. 

Research on Capitol Hill

Each year undergraduate students have an opportunity to submit their research for a presentation in front of the state’s legislature.  This year we have two Humanities students who are presented Research on Capitol Hill on February 20, from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.

Marylinda and Jasmine wearing business wear standing in front of their research posters with marble pillars behind them.

Marylinda Gonzalez and Jasmine Aguliar Lopez at Capitol Hill 

  • Jasmine Aguilar Lopez presented “Atrapadxs en un Hoyo: Reproductive Justice and Environmental Health of Latina Mothers and Children in Salt Lake City Utah” to Senator Escamilla and Representative Loubet. Jasmine, whose faculty mentor is Leandra Hernandez (College of Humanities), is double majoring in Communication and Health, Society and Policy.
  • Marylinda Gonzalez presented “Traditional Bomba Dance as a Tool for Maintaining Puertorriquenidad in Utah” to Senator Kwan and Representative Matthews. Marylinda’s faculty mentor is Ed Muñoz (School of Cultural and Social Transformation) is double majoring in English and Ethnic Studies.

by Karen Marsh Schaeffer
Published February 26, 2025
Media Contact: Sumiko Martinez, Associate Director of Editorial & Media Strategy

Last Updated: 2/26/25