2020 Cohort
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/36.png?itok=Si8p-F06)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/36.png?itok=OxkJiwO2)
Psalm Amos
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Haldre Rogers, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Research Project: Evolution of Wing Spots Without Presence of Avian Predators
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/37.png?itok=pT3qoSZe)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/37.png?itok=LNLVID-S)
Patricia Archilla
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: David Vogel, Department of Psychology
Research Project: Help-Seeking Stigma in Lesbian and Gay Populations
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/38.png?itok=zJN3E4b0)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/38.png?itok=qm0pb0Ki)
Karen Devora-Cigarroa
Major: Civil Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Gabriel Rodriguez, School of Education
Research Project: Fighting for Belonging: Understanding how Latinx Engineering Students Build Community to Foster Academic Success at a Predominantly White University
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/39.png?itok=92RtWwlp)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/39.png?itok=U0Q7aJYd)
Dawood Ghauri
Major: Computer Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Eric Riddell, Department of Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology
Research Project: On Prediction of Bee Foraging Patterns with Varying Thermal Environments
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/40.png?itok=j4BA_I9g)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/40.png?itok=ZCW86K_i)
Kylie Grant
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Susan Cross, Department of Psychology
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/41.png?itok=DVqJik08)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/41.png?itok=X0oHbFvQ)
Joshua Ledesma
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor: Alan Dispirito, Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology
Research Project: Oxygen Generation via Water Splitting by a Novel Biogenic Metal Ion-Binding Compound
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/42.png?itok=Bo9hfkfC)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/42.png?itok=gjsU6hSU)
Alejandro Medina Valencia
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Eric Riddell, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Research Project: The Operative Temperature and Body Coloration in Multiple Species of Bumblebees
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/43.png?itok=jCVxIQ-W)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/43.png?itok=PUneUi5s)
Scott Nguyen
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Ossama Abdelkhalik, Department of Aerospace Engineering
Research Project: Comparing 3 Different Methods to Solving Lambert's Problem
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/44.png?itok=UFRD-LRN)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/44.png?itok=R51Uo_Ea)
Kaitlyn Orear
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Nathaniel Wade, Department of Psychology
Research Project: Mental Health Attitude and Stigma Predictors
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/45.png?itok=aLbviiJ1)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/45.png?itok=CJNmaMlg)
Sandra Orellana Diaz
Major: Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: Mohan Gupta, Department of Genetics, Development & Cell Biology
Research Project: Optimization of Cyan Fluorescent Protein for Increased Photostability and Intensity
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/46.png?itok=c3APXYSp)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/46.png?itok=TGGxmwB5)
Daniela Ortiz
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Jeff Essner, Department of Genetics, Development & Cell Biology
Research Project: Connexin43.4 Can Function as a Hemichannel in Kupffer’s Vesicle Development
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/47.png?itok=K2WuVfTK)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/47.png?itok=J_hTamXu)
Nitanga Safi
Major: Journalism and Mass Communications
Faculty Mentor: Novotny Lawrence, Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
Research Project: Historical Representation of Black Women in Film/Television in Relation to If Beale Street
Could Talk
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/48.png?itok=yEpfOQdX)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/48.png?itok=no8l3N5T)
Ser Paw
Major: Child, Adult and Family Services
Faculty Mentor: Tricia Neppl, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Research Project: The Association Between Economic Pressure, GPA, Mother Support, and Perceived Educational Attainment
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/49.png?itok=UU0nvD7o)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/49.png?itok=QswDkhtU)
Jeremiah Reed
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor: Don Sakaguchi, Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology
Research Project: Characterization of Retinal Stem/Progenitor Cell Proliferation and Differentiation
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/image_block/public/images/2024-12/50.png?itok=ocJPm5zz)
![](https://www.mcnair.iastate.edu/files/styles/width_limit/public/images/2024-12/50.png?itok=w3SNNS4L)
Nadine Veasley
Major: Microbiology
Faculty Mentor: David Verhoeven, Department of Vet Microbiology & Preventive Medicine
Research Project: Using the Slow Release of Protein gp120 as HIV Vaccine