Fifteen standout students have been tapped to receive a 2024 Undergraduate Research Grant. Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources leaders took a moment this week to recognize these talented participants.

“We are very excited about both the quantity and quality of undergraduate research proposals this year,” said Darren Hudson, Davis College Interim Associate Dean for Research and the Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness. 

“We had broad representation across Davis College and all the projects are aimed at research questions of regional, national, and global importance. These opportunities enrich the experiences of students and expand their understanding of quality science as well as their chosen fields,” he said.

“We are thankful for the generous gift of Dr. Gordan and Mrs. Davis and the TrUE Scholars undergraduate research experience fund that both support this program,” he said. “Without these types of funding programs, it would be difficult to fund undergraduate research opportunities.”

The funding for the undergraduate grants supported wages for research activities or for supplies to conduct research projects. After completing the project, the students submitted an abstract to a professional society meeting or to a symposium or research conference supported at Texas Tech.

The 2024 Undergraduate Research Grant recipients are:

• Emily Brown (NRM) Senior, Dripping Springs, TX. “In Vitro Analysis of the Effects of Alternative Forage Options for Water Limited Environments” Project Supervisor: Aaron Norris, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources Management    
• Jeanin Fassbender (AFS) Junior, Los Alamos, NM. “Effects of Transdermal Melatonin on The Stress Response of Horses Experiencing Transport” Project Supervisor: Whitney Crossland, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences
• Maximum Gudino (PSS) Senior, Cypress, TX “Genetic Diversity Assessment of Cotton Landraces with Variable Oil Content and Photoperiod Sensitivity” Project Supervisor: Rosalyn Shim, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• Marexy Guerra (AEC) Junior, Mission, TX “Review of Diversity in the Agricultural Workforce Through an Analysis of Company Websites and Document” Project Supervisor: Jason Headrick, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications
• Madeline Haden (PSS) Senior, Blooming Grove, TX “Genetic Complementation of Decussate Mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana Using DECUSSATE alleles From Rice (Oryza sativa)” Project Supervisor: Benildo de los Reyes, Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• William Hall (AAEC) Junior, Miami, TX “U.S.-Mexico GM corn Trade Dispute” Project Supervisor: Project Supervisor: Stephen Devadoss, Professor, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
• Elizabeth LaCroix (AFS) Sophomore, Grapevine, TX “Quantifying the Irreplicable Health Benefits of Consuming Red Meat in the Underprivileged Community in Lubbock and Its Surrounding Area” Project Supervisor: Project Supervisor: Mark Miller, Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences
• Ashlynn Messer (AFS) Sophomore, Lubbock, TX “Investigation of the Impact of Consumer Storage Practices and Packaging Type on Quality and Refrigeration Shelf-Life of Ground Beef Purchased from Commercial Retailer” Project Supervisor: Jerrad Legako, Associate Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences
• Libby Mosley (AFS) Junior, Jacksboro, TX “Increasing Economic Value of the Lamb Industry through Value-Added Processing Techniques of Meat Products and Predicting Red” Project Supervisor: Mark Miller, Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences
• Marissa Portillo (PSS) Senior, Lamesa, TX “Developing Biodegradable and Durable Disposable Cutlery from Agricultural Crop Residues” Project Supervisor: Kalavathy Rajan, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• Gavin Saenz (NRM) Senior, Lamesa, TX “Evaluating Diets of Native Fishes in the Red River with Implications for Conservation” Project Supervisor: Jane Rogosch, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources Management
• Gene Salyer (PSS) Sophomore, Shallowater, TX “Sorghum Yield Prediction using Unmanned Aerial System” Images. Project Supervisor: Wenxuan Guo, Associate Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• Matthew Self (VS) Junior, Nacogdoches, TX “Addressing Adipocyte Progenitor Cell Profiles in a Comparative Model of Periparturient Metabolic Disease” Clarissa Streider-Barboza, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Sciences
• Abagail Squire (NRM) Sophomore, Phoenix, AZ “Comparative Analysis of the Efficiency of Cecal Digestion in Equine Specimens in Relation to Ad Libitum Grazing vs Non-Ad Libitum Feeding” Project Supervisor: Aaron Norris, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources Management
• Jake Todd (PSS) Senior, Fort Worth, TX “Evaluating the Effects of Long-term Semi-Arid Pasture Management Practices on Soil Physical Quality Indicators” Project Supervisor: Sanjit Deb, Associate Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science

CONTACT: Darren Hudson, Davis College Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives & Assessment, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-0546 or darren.hudson@ttu.edu

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Contact

Noureddine Abidi
noureddine.abidi@ttu.edu
Associate Dean for Research
(806)742-2808

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