Texas Tech University

2022-2023 OFM/OUR Awards

OFMOURBanner2021

It is our pleasure to take a moment to recognize our outstanding students and faculty

Jump to OUR Awards

Jump to OFM Awards

Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Awards (OUR)

These incredible undergraduate scholars were recognized for making outstanding contributions through their research and creative activities in the 2022-2023 academic year.

OUR Major Research Project Title Nominator
Derrick Andreasen Biology Analysis of glucose transporter gene expressions using zebrafish as a model during various post-hatch days  Dr. Ernest E. Smith
Carson Austin Human Sciences Can brand coolness enhance brand love and brand co-creation? Dr. Jing Li
Sofia Banjara Molecular Biology Developing a measure of community cultural wealth Dr. Lisa Limeri
Lexi Bennett Geosciences  Adopting an orphaned terrane: using whole rock geochemical analysis to determine a parent to the outer Condrey Mountain schist in the Klamath Mountains, CA and OR Katie Gates
Isabel Billings Psychology Students' perceptions of instructor beliefs Dr. Lisa Limeri
Emilee Broussard Animal Science Using feeding behavior assessment to evaluate the effects of beef cattle dietary type Jhones O. Sarturi
Alexis Brown Biology Evaluation of a novel employer-supported nutrition and health coaching program for diabetes: The NMHI-UMC Diabetes program. Dr. Martin Binks
Abbey Calabrese Kinesiology The Effects of 8-Weeks of Fish Oil Supplementation on Systemic Inflammation in Overweight Adults with Prediabetes Dr. Kembra Albracht-Schulte
Maverick Campbell Biology The effect of PubNavigator on students and their learning Dr. Lisa Limeri
Alexander Cesani Mechanical Engineering Advanced Lubricity of Ionic Liquids and Graphene Oxide Additive Dr. Changdong Yeo
Hallie Conklin Microbiology Effect of antineoplastic drugs on colorectal cancer Dr. Annelise Nguyen
Jakob Conrad Mechanical Engineering Statistical Analysis of Electrical Contact Resistance through Machine Learning Algorithm Dr. Changdong Yeo & Lourdes Juan
Téa Cornelius Finance Using allies to expand your network: Recruitment and retention of underrepresented (UR) students in the geosciences Dr. Christine Nittrouer
Fatima de Anda Biology

Instructor mindset beliefs affecting course policies

 Dr. Lisa Limeri
Kelly Elliott Kinesiology

The effect of acute dehydration on resistance exercise-induced mTORC1 signaling in young men

 Dr. Yasuki Sekiguchi
Hannah Fellner Cell & Molecular Biology Molecular Mechanism of Cell Membrane Repair by A2 Annexin in Response to Cholesterol-Dependent Pore-Forming Toxins Dr. Peter Keyel
Kiara Garza Kinesiology Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Gut Microbiota in HET3 Male Mice  Dr. Kembra Albracht-Schulte
Marie Goulais Animal Science Evaluating the presence of dietary live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on the nutrient digestibility of beef cattle Jhones O. Sarturi 
Tina Greene Psychology Examining the Utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3): 
Analysis of the Detection of Feigning in a Trauma Related Sample		 Dr. Paul Ingram
Danielle Haakinson Psychology Ascertaining Causality: Examining Minority Stress Processes Over Time in the Prediction of Mental Illness in Non-Cisgender Individuals Dr. Nicholas C. Borgogna
Connor Hicks Cell and Molecular Biology Effect of imidazole-based co-solvents on the conductivity of the ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl Imidazolium phosphonate  Dr. Edward L. Quitevis
Tessa Hoang Chemistry Coordination Chemistry of Cerium, Thorium, and Uranium Pyrasal Complexes Prof. Anne Elizabeth Vivian Gorden
Savannah Hunnicutt Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics The Association of Fruits, Vegetables, and Snack Intake with BMI Among TTU Students Dr Wilna Oldewage-Theron PhD RD(SA), Professor of Nutritional Sciences 
Abigail  Jordan Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Fulfillment of Dating App Goals with Dating App Disillusionment and Relationship Outcomes Sylvia Niehuis, Ph.D., Professor and Dr. Alan Reifman
Rilee Keane Cell & Molecular Biology Lipid Organization Protects GPI-anchored Proteins from Membrane Perturbing Agents in Leishmania major Promastigotes Dr Peter Keyel
Victoria Knebel Psychology Moderating Effect of Fearlessness About Death on the Relation Between Thwarted Interpersonal Needs and Suicide Ideation Distress Dr. Sean Mitchell
Gabriel Koeller Computer Science Selection of Training Algorithms and Activation Functions in Neural Networks  Lourdes Juan
Junia Lee Business Administration  How Firms' in the Oil and Gas Industry Engage in Different Types of CSR Initiatives Dr. Alanna Hirshman
Erica Martinez Psychology An Investigation of the Associations of Intergenerational Acculturative Gaps with the Mental Health and Well-being of Mexican Descent College Students Brandy Piña-Watson
DeAnja Mclain Animal Science A close look at bacterial direct-fed microbial mixtures effects on beef cattle ruminal effective degradability Jhones O. Sarturi
Mark Mikhael Biology Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Glycerol 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase 2 (GPD2) Deficient Mice Yujiao Zu 
Stella Niederauer Natural Resource Management  Developmental profile of glucose transporters using the zebrafish model  Dr. Ernest E. Smith
Collin Norvell Natural Resources Management Using an additional Composite Burn Index (CBI) rating to represent high severity wildfires through comparison of satellite imagery in Northern Colorado Dr. Nathan S Gill
Ava Oliver Biology Cell-cell interactions in the pulmonary vasculature: Implications in susceptibility to viral infections and virus-induced cytopathic effects Dr. Sharilyn Almodovar
Sochinenyenwa Onubogu Kinesthesiology Assessing the Biology Teacher-Scholars Program Dr. Lisa Limeri, Assistant Professor
Gargi Pathak Economics  Corporate Social Advocacy and its impact in the real world Dr. Ioana Coman
Chance Pavlock Molecular Biology Instructor mindset affecting course policies Dr. Lisa Limeri, Assistant Professor
Caleb  Perry Kinesiology A Pilot Study on the Impact of a Peer Led Outdoor Workout Group on the Mens' Health Status Dr. Kembra Albracht-Schulte
Ashlinn Peters Psychology Classification Accuracy of the MMPI-3's Eating Concerns (EAT) Scale using the Eating Disorder Examination as the Criterion Paul Ingram, Ph.D.
Gretchen Plocek Biology Evaluating the effects of beneficial microorganisms on Pac Choi grown in two hydroponic systems Dr. Catherine Simpson
Gabrielle Prime Physics Relativistic and Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics: Both at Once  Luis Grave de Peralta
Jacob Richardson Kinesiology The effect of acute dehydration on resistance exercise-induced mTORC1 signaling in young men Training, recovery, hydration, and heat response monitoring in male professional soccer players  Yasuki Sekiguchi
Sarah Ronda Molecular Biology Instructor mindset affecting course policy Dr. Lisa Limeri, Assistant Professor
Vishal Sandilya Biochemistry LC-MS/MS Characterization of N-Glycopeptide Biomarkers Derived from Narcolepsy Type-1 Blood Serum Samples Dr. Yehia Mechref
Rachel  Self Animal Science The effect of soybean meal and its functional compounds on growth performance, fecal scores, and fecal characteristics of nursery pigs.  Dr. Amy Petry
Nathan Shapiro Mechanical Engineering  Conceptual Design of a Reconfigurable Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles  Dr. Victor Maldonado 
Gracie Stryk Sport Management Doing Divorce Well Dr. Jenna LaFreniere
Tanner Taylor Microbiology Adipose tissue-specific expression of E4orf1 mediated by the rtTA transcription factor in a genetically engineered mouse model Dr. Vijay Hegde
Miranda  Tello Biology  Neurocognitive Disparities between Foreign-and Native-Born Rural Hispanic Communities Carol Fadalla 

Return to Top

Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awards (OFM)

The Texas Tech University faculty members listed below are recognized for their superb contributions to the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities landscape at TTU. Click on the graphics below to expand and view in their own windows.

Name Department / College Research Project Topic Nominator
Dr. Sharilyn Almodovar Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology Impact of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 on human airway cells and the Interactions of HIV and pulmonary artery cells in vitro.  Ava Oliver
Dr. Kanika Batra Department of English Public Reception of Multicultural Lesbian Fiction from 2012-2022 Brooke Barrett
Dr. Corey Brelsfoard Biological Sciences Damage caused by microplastics in gut tissue of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.  Yaizeth Gurrola-Mares
Dr. Amanda Brown Department of Biological Sciences Analyzing Changes in Microbiome in Wild and Domesticated Bananas using Metatranscriptomics Daniel Hsia
Dr. Ioana Coman Public Relations and Strategic Management  Corporate Social Advocacy and it's impact on the companies Gargi Pathak
Dr. Hossein Emadi Petroleum Engineering Cement Slurry Research for Specified Downhole Conditions Sarah Qureshi
Dr. Anne Gorden Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; College of Arts and Sciences Explore the organometallic coordination chemistry of Schiff-base ligands coordinating with lanthanide/actinide elements for nuclear waste remediation and detection, focusing on cerium(IV), thorium(IV), uranium(VI),  Tessa Hoang
Dr. Lori Guerrero Interior Design - Human Science Hhow can the interior of a National Park Visitor's Center provide guests with an outdoor experience when indoors? How do those outdoor-to-indoor spaces foster psychological healing and rejuvenation? Maegan Scott
Dr. Breanna Harris Department of Biological Sciences Role of tectal CRF administration on discrete feeding behavior​.
Specifically how oCRF effects anxiety and feeding behaviors in Xenopus laevis (African Clawed Frog)		 Ghufran Murtuza
Dr. Alanna Hirshman Management How Firms in the Oil and Gas Industry Engage in Different Types of CSR Initiatives  Junia Lee
Dr. Charles Hoitt NRM Social behaviors of selected exotic game species living in a non-native environment  Miles Milner
Dr. Jing Li HRM  If brand coolness can enhance brand love and brand co-creation.  Carson Austin 
Dr. Lisa Limeri Biological Sciences  Undergraduate Education research  Sarah Ronda
Dr. Victor Maldonado WCOE Aerodynamics and the conceptual Aircraft Design process Nathan Shapiro
Dr. Alejandra Marin Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management  Bicultural Identification and Social Media Engagement in the US market  Alexandra Gonzalez
Dr. Rosario Marroquín-Flores Biological Sciences Undergraduate education research Sarah Ronda
Dr. Yehia Mechref Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences Primary Project: LC-MS/MS Characterization of N-glycopeptide Biomarkers Derived from Narcolepsy Type 1 Blood Serum Samples Vishal Sandilya
Dr. Kayleigh  Millerick Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering  Exploring the social behavior of who will be better benefitted from the radon awareness program Abigail Torres
Dr. Annelise Nguyen TTUSVM Associate Dean for Research The effects of four different anticancer drugs on four different colon cancer cell lines  Hallie Conklin
Dr. Sylvia Niehuis HDFS On the Brink of Divorce: Disillusionment Study
Newly Wed Study
Ball-and-Chain Phenomenon 		 Kinsey Hines and Abigail Jordan 
Dr. Amy Petry Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Assessing the ability to immunomodulate the innate immune system and oxidative status of weaned pigs through a prenatal lipopolysaccharide challenge
 Ty Mitchell
Dr. Brandy Piña-Watson Psychology
Intragroup Marginalization and Ethnic Identity: Identity Affirmations and the Associations between Intragroup Marginalization and Depressive Symptoms
 Erica Martinez
Dr. Edward  Quitevis Chemistry and Biochemistry
Physical Chemistry of Ionic Liquids
 Connor Hicks
Dr. Yasuki Sekiguchi Department of Kinesiology & Sports Management 
The Effect of Heat Acclimatization and Heat Acclimation on Endurance-Trained Athlete Substrate Utilization
 Jacob Richardson
Dr. Jonathan Singer Psychology / Arts and Sciences
Effect of Feelings of Power  on Caregiver Burden and Pre-Death Grief in Family Caregivers of Individuals with a Terminal Illness
 Austin Wheelock and Miranda Tello
Dr. Kai  Wu College of Electrical and Computer Engineering 
Machine Learning with Healthcare 
ECG / MCG
 Kanglin Xu
Dr. Changdong Yeo Mechanical Engineering Dept.
Statistical Analysis of Electrical Contact Resistance
 Jakob Conrad
Dr. Yujiao Zu Nutritional Science 
Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Adipose Tissue Inflammation 
in Glycerol 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase 2 (GPD2) Deficient Mice 
 Mark Mikhael, Ariana Aranda and Jose Andrade





Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences

© 2025  Texas Tech University May 2, 2023 10:52 AM