Juan Barrera Lopez

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
I researched the behavior of infection through the Contact Process, a model of infection that allows physicists to study systems which particles interact and affect the state of their immediate neighbors.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I was interested by the ability of complex systems to create descriptions and predictions for a wide range of phenomena. The calculations we are working on should be independent of the particular system we study, describing the behavior of the universality class through simple simulations.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
Physics has applications in many fields. When I first approached my PI, Dr. Kovacs, I was impressed by the wide variety of topics his lab researches through complex systems. Some projects different than my own, studied in the same lab, include studying the network dynamics of the brain, as well as the structural formation of proteins.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
I found that one of the most challenging parts of doing computational research is time management. Some days are more straightforward than others, especially at the begining when most of the work is laying down the foundational code for the simulations. Learning how to stay engaged and active in research, while also waiting for up to a week while the simulations produce results, was a challenging skill to develop.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
If you are planning on doing research in the sciences, it is important to find a project that engages you outside the purely academic. Something that was helpful for me was finding how my project had meaning beyond the ‘Contact Process and Infinite Randomness’ literature.

What would you name a boat if you had one?
La Hojarasca

What was your favorite childhood story (written, spoken, or film)?
Rin Rin Renacuajo

Cate Jeschke

URAP

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
I worked with Dr. Hatch on her work in investigating environmental injustice in the Chicago area through measuring soil lead levels. I assisted her in collecting, preparing, analyzing, and interpreting the data in order to build on her growing dataset.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
When I first saw the project, I was really interested in its environmental justice lens, and really liked that it integrated science and social justice. I was eager to do research and this project stood out to be for both its topic and the breadth in skills that I could learn.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
My experience in this research has solidified my interest in applying skills across my interests in multiple ways. As an environmental science major and computer science major I have become really interested in finding the intersection between these two disciplines, as I have found it incredibly helpful to use these skills in application of my interest in environmental science.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
I think the research I did has helped me gain skills in a variety of areas – from field work to the chemistry to data analysis, I think I was able to gain good general research skills to be well rounded and prepared for varying types of research in the future. Generally, I think I gained some new organizational skills in tracking work and structuring future research to answer our overarching questions.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
When you go into the project, think both about you want to get out of it and how you can contribute to it. I think research becomes even more meaningful when you find ways to apply your own skills or skills you’re learning in your classes to your research. I think doing so, and getting creative about putting your skills into the research, can really help you get excited about doing it.

What was your favorite childhood story (written, spoken, or film)?
The Velveteen Rabbit

Rachel Kwon

URAP

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
This year, I spent my time working as a research assistant at the Shirley Ryan Affective and Emotion Rehabilitation Lab. Throughout the duration of my URAP program, I engaged in qualitative research with an ongoing project in the lab that focused on developing an EMA (ecological momentary analysis) to act as a better measure of depression for PWAs (People with Aphasia). Under the mentorship of my PI and lab manager, I used the qualitative data analysis software–Dedoose– to qualitatively code transcripts that were created from focus groups of PWAs and their care partners. In addition, I learned how to conduct thematic analysis by finding deeper connections between the established codes to develop intricate themes in relation to the research question. I plan on using these skills that I have developed in my next, independent project over the summer that will focus on the mental health challenges associated with aphasia for PWAs and their care partners.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
The fact that this project focused on highlighting the voices of PWAs–an underrepresented (yet one of the most important) groups– that were affected by post-stroke depression contributes to why it is personally important to me. Over the summer of 2022, I conducted a literature review on racial trauma in adolescents, and I discovered it was often overlooked by clinical psychologists because it was an uncomfortable matter and also because racial trauma is difficult to “measure” using traditional data collection methods. Thus, this study stood out to me because of its goal to develop an “aphasia-friendly” EMA. I strongly believe that it is highly important to innovate new ways of data collection that can call attention to once-unrepresented groups in the medical field.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
Research has always been something that I have always wanted to pursue. It gives the researcher the ability to directly learn more about a topic that they are interested in. I love how in research, the researcher is given a sense of creativity as they are in charge of designing their own project. Each decision that a researcher makes about their methodology is purposeful, and there are so many different ways to examine the same set of data by using an array of different research methods. I find the ability to hand-craft a project that revolves around issues that are really important to the researcher a characteristic that is unique to research.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
When I first started the URAP program; I was incredibly nervous. I was worried that I would not be able to meet the expectations of others that had already been working in the lab. In the beginning, I felt intimidated and unsure whether I could actually “do research”. However, I quickly learned that the people who you work with in the lab are very supportive and do not expect you to know everything. I have learned how to reach out when I have questions, and I learned that in the research environment questions are always encouraged.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
A tip that I would have is to find something that genuinely interests you. In order to engage in meaningful research, you have to connect to the data you are working with. This involves spending long periods of time engaging with the data, so you should choose projects that you actually want to learn more about. Also, always reach out and try for any opportunity to engage in research no matter how underqualified you feel you are. Passion and a strong work ethic always beats out “strong qualifications”.

Aimee Resnick

URAP

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
We will conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with a subset high school students at “Franklin High” (a pseudonym) who have missed more than 20% of school days about their personal experiences, challenges, and perceptions related to absenteeism. A distinguishing feature of the proposed project is its focus on discerning, through the lens of students, the aspects of the school setting that might promote absenteeism. The interviews allowed us to investigate the intersections of racial identity, gender, sexuality, and their potential influences on truancy. By collecting qualitative data and collaborating with the school district on potential solutions, this project aimed to shed light on the school-level factors and experiences that make skipping school seem preferable to attend for some students.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I had a really hard time in high school due to bullying. I was prone to hiding in the bathrooms during lunch. I feel very empathetic for the students we interviewed and hope to help make high school a better place for others.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
I find people very interesting, To be honest, I think it is just my tendency to by nosy.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
I learned how to build probing questions, foster empathetic relationships with participants, and draw meaningful themes from interview data. The hardest thing for me was learning DeDoose. I also got yelled at several times in the high school for loitering in the halls (they thought I was a student). haha!

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
find a strong faculty mentor. Professor Ispa-Landa and I are a good team. This helps move the research forward in ways that are exciting for both of us.

If your (speaking) voice were an instrument, what do you think it would be?
a squeaky toy

Yao Xiao

AYURG

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
My study explores the possibility of training students’ analogical ability to improve their STEM thinking. We created a type of scaffolding templates to help students become better at analyzing scientific analogies.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
As a student studying Psychology and Math, I am always interested in the cognitive processes underlying STEM thinking. On the other hand, analogical thinking is a crucial aspect of higher-order thinking I have been curious about. And the connection between these two areas is invaluable to research to improve STEM education. Therefore, I became interested in starting my current research project.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
I have very broad interests, so whenever I have a chance to study the connection between different areas I am interested in, I get very excited. Doing Psychology research has provided me with plenty of such opportunities. I also believe interdisciplinary research especially has great potential to spark creative ideas and provide inspiration for critical issues in today’s world.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
It was not easy (especially with grad school applications and senior burnout)! Also, we failed to find significant results in this version of the study. However, I learned a lot on how to design a rigorous psychology experiment and how to learn from failures in research.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
Research is always a long, long journey, whether we are talking about conducting a single research project or becoming a researcher in the long term. So the achievements or failures at present are all just a small part of this long journey. What really matters is to keep going with curiosity and passion.

What is something that you could give a 10 min presentation on right off the cuff?
Figure skating and manicure!

Regina Fernandez

Conference Travel Grant

Please provide the tile and a brief summary of your research/conference presentation.
Title: Development of a Cell-Free System for Producing Vaccines Against S. pneumoniae Summary: We developed a cell-free system for producing glycoconjugate vaccines against S. pneumoniae by enzyme engineering and strain optimizing.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I am extremely interested in the research and development of biotechnologies that can impact people’s health. Professor Michael Jewett’s lab implements interesting and novel technologies within the field of Synthetic Biology. I wanted to learn more about it and gain those tools, so I was extremely grateful for the opportunity in the vaccine project.

What conference(s) did you present at and how did you find out about them?
I presented at the AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) national conference in Orlando. I heard about it when I was a junior (last year) from other older chemical engineering students at Northwestern.

What was it like presenting at a conference? Anything that you didn’t expect?
It was an awesome experience! I really liked how the judges ask you questions and challenge your research making you have to think on your feet. I also enjoyed getting the opportunity to meet faculty and students from other institutions and learn about their research.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in presenting at a conference one day?
Go for it! Talk to your PI and the grad student you are working with that you want to present. You are not in this alone! They will help you put a poster or powerpoint together and prepare. Also, practice many times before. You probably know your research very well, but it is important to make sure you can present it to people from diverse backgrounds that may know very little about your field.

Mackenzie Lanning

URAP

Please provide a brief summary of your research.
Our lab is researching more sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic coating found on paper products. The current coating commonly found on these products contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” that are harmful to both the environment and human heath. Professor Nguyen has developed a coating that uses graphene oxide (GO), a substance derived from natural components, as a biodegradable alternative. Through URAP, I conducted macroscopic testing on various paper products coated with different concentrations of GO and a water-based barrier coating. These tests allowed us to form different hypotheses and collect valuable data to further our research. I have also been lucky enough to work with two other undergraduates, Meredith and Stella, who have researched different elements of GO and taught me the value of working as a team on research projects.

What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I have always been interested in sustainability and finding solutions to current climate issues. When I discovered Professor Nguyen’s URAP position, I knew it would be a great opportunity to build foundational research skills while also exploring a topic I’m interested in.

What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
Since I was younger, have been passionate about scientific research, especially pertaining to the environment. I would like to get my doctorate in the future and want to gain experience researching with a talented mentor at Northwestern.

Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
Initially, research and intense data analysis was difficult, but with the help of my mentor and peers, I was able to overcome different challenges and become more confident in my research abilities.

Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
Take chances and apply to as many things as you can! Take advantage of the Office of Undergraduate Research and form close relationships with your professors!

What would you name a boat if you had one?
Lil Yachty

What is something that you could give a 10 min presentation on right off the cuff?
The Kentucky Derby