Research Experiences

HONORS BULLS SHINE IN RESEARCH EXPERIENCES NATIONALLY

IN 2021, AS IN YEARS PAST, Judy Genshaft Honors College students were selected to participate in prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) across the nation. REUs are competitive opportunities for undergraduate students to take part in authentic research activities over a focused period of time, typically 10 weeks during the summer. We are proud to highlight the achievements of four of our REU awardees from 2021. All students showcased here have a long-standing record of engagement with USF’s

Office of National Scholarships and worked with ONS Director, Dr. Sayan Basu, to shape their applications.

Adriana Ladera, Class of 2022 Major: Computer Science Minor: Physics

Adriana Ladera attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program. She is interested in real-world applications of Machine Learning Algorithms and using the physics and chemistry of materials to aid in discovery of novel materials that can be used to innovate technology. Her previous research experience working with Dr. Inna Ponomareva in USF’s Department of Physics and Long QuinChen at Penn State University (on a previous REU) gave her the skills and experience needed for this highly selective REU.

While at MIT, Ladera worked with Professor Heather Kulik on Machine Learning studies important for energy conversion and for the design of new drugs. She also presented her research at the 36th annual MIT Summer Research Program Research Forum, and is currently co-authoring a manuscript for publication with the Kulik Group. Adriana is the President of Women in Computer Science and Engineering at USF and a National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenge Scholar.

Adriana Ladera Alexandria Brady-Miné

Alexandria Brady-Miné, Class of 2023 Major: Mechanical Engineering

Alexandria Brady-Miné was awarded a 2021 National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (NIST-SURF) to attend NIST-Gaithersburg in Maryland. Due to COVID guidelines this 10-week REU was administered virtually. Brady-Miné is interested in 3D Bioprinting and novel biomaterials. She was drawn to this research while working on human rights issues with the Human Projects, an organization she founded at the age of 17.

Brady-Miné works with Dr. Nathan Gallant in USF’s College of Engineering and has published with Dr. Thomas Angelini of the University of Florida. At NIST, she was guided by Dr. Harold Hatch on a computational approach to simulate a wide variety of phenomena including phase equilibrium, self-assembly and aggregation in biological materials, colloids, and polymers. This REU nicely complemented her experimental work in the Gallant group and gave her valuable experience on the theoretical facets of biomaterial research. Brady-Miné is founding director of the Human Project and is also a Jane Goodall Institute Fund II Roots and Shoots Fellow.

SCHOLARS

Caitlyn Coleman

Caitlyn Coleman, Class of 2023 Major: Microbiology Minor: Infection Control

In the summer of 2021 Caitlyn Coleman joined a highly selective Leadership Alliance Summer Research Program in the Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) group at Cornell University. Coleman works with Bioarcheologist Dr. Andrea Vianello on the genomics and proteomics of ancient pandemics, specifically the Black Death in Venice. The MBG REU was her first experience in computational biology and genomics. It gave her valuable skills in complementing wet-lab work with “dry” lab computer work. She presented her REU research at the annual Leadership Alliance National Symposium and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science conference. An article from the REU research is under preparation with her mentors Drs. Cedric Feschotte and Jonathan Wells.

Outside of science, Caitlyn sings in the USF choir, is an avid cellist, and has interned at the Clearwater main library for the Dascaloja puppeteer troupe and their summer reading program to enhance child literacy. She is also an Honors College Peer Mentor.

Kelli Ann Lynch, Class of 2022 Major: Physics Minor: Mathematics

After completing her first REU at Lehigh University, 2021 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar Kelli Ann Lynch was awarded a second REU to conduct research at the University of Notre Dame. During this experience Lynch worked with Dr. Dervis Can Vu to explore how physical models of biological systems can be applied to improve our understanding of evolutionary game theory. More specifically, she researched a biophysical model of cellular aggregation to incorporate evolutionary mechanisms in populations of cells as it applies to collective behavior in cancer tumor progression. Lynch presented her work at the Notre Dame REU symposium and has published four peer reviewed articles focused on condensed matter and biophysics.

Outside of research, Lynch was chair of the organizing committee for the 2020 Conference of Undergraduate Women in Physics at USF, and is the current president of the Society of Physics Students. She also serves as a math and physics tutor and works as an Honors Peer Mentor.