A total of 33 undergraduate students were selected to participate in IUP’s 2025 Undergraduate Summer Opportunities for Applying Research (U-SOAR) program.
U-SOAR is a 10-week summer program that allows selected undergraduate students, working with a faculty mentor, to do original, inquiry-based research or creative endeavors and to participate in enrichment programs related to research success.
It is open to students in all disciplines who are academically qualified, but students must be chosen for the program through an application process
Digital badge for completion of the U-SOAR Program
In addition to their individual research projects, students in the U-SOAR program attend presentations and seminars, including “Library Research and Literature Reviews,” “Introduction to Data Analysis,” “Introduction to STEAMSHOP,” a research panel discussion with students who have completed U-SOAR during previous summers, and workshops on poster presentations and résumé writing. New this year, students completing the U-SOAR program received a digital badge.
The culminating event for U-SOAR was the Research Symposium on August 20.
U-SOAR is coordinated by Associate Vice Provost for Libraries and Research Support Services Kelly Heider.
“U-SOAR gives students the unique opportunity to step beyond the classroom and immerse themselves in real-world research and creative work,” Heider said. “With the guidance of dedicated faculty mentors, they build skills that will serve them long after graduation. I’m incredibly proud of the commitment and creativity our students bring to this program each summer.
Student participants for the 2025 program included:
Allegheny County
Eric Crawford
Eric Crawford, a psychology major from State Street, Wilmerding, son of Eric Crawford and Patrice Sherrill, a 2022 graduate of East Allegheny High School. He is a dean’s list student and received a Promising Scholars scholarship. He is a member of UBORA Men of IUP and is president of the IUP E-Sports Club.
Crawford’s project is titled “Application of Critical Race Theory in Video Game Settings.” His faculty mentor is Hilario Molina from IUP’s Department of School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology.
Katherine Powell, a mathematics major with a specialization in data science in the Cook Honors College from Old Farm Road, Pittsburgh. Daughter of Michelle McSwigan and Richard Powell, she is a 2023 graduate of Baldwin High School. She is a dean’s list student, is the treasurer for IUP’s Women in STEAM, and is on the IUP Programming Team.
Powell’s project is “AI Stylist,” and her faculty mentor is Samuel Grieggs from the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. Her research will examine how Multimodal Large Language Models can be used to build a “Personal Virtual Stylist.”
Megan Seaman
Megan Seaman, a computer science major in the Cook Honors College from Leprechaun Drive, Bethel Park. Daughter of Lori Seaman and Kevin Seaman, she is a 2023 graduate of Bethel Park High School. She received the Sutton Scholarship and is a member of IUP Women in STEAM and the IUP Programming Team.
Seaman’s project is “Painting AI Pink: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Breast Cancer Diagnoses,” and her faculty mentor is Samuel Grieggs from the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences.
Armstrong County
Emma Cloak
Emma Cloak, a chemistry education major from Kittanning, a 2022 graduate of Armstrong Junior-Senior High School and daughter of Melissa VanBokhorst and Randy Cloak Jr. She is the recipient of the Noyce Teaching Grant, is a dean’s list and provost scholar, received the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics award, and is a Sutton Scholarship recipient. She is president of IUP’s American Chemical Society, which did fundraising for local high schools’ science departments.
Cloak’s project focuses on solid state peptide synthesis, working to create a peptide linker for antibody drug conjugate. Her faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics
Beaver County
Abigail Trimble
Abigail Trimble, an applied anthropology major in the Cook Honors College, daughter of Samantha and Jacob Trimble, and a graduate of Western Beaver Junior Senior High School. She is a dean’s list student and provost scholar and received the Women in STEM Award during the 2025 IUP Scholars Forum for her research project. She is a member of the Anthropology Honors Program and the IUP College Democrats.
Her project is “Legacy in Limbo: Narratives of Redevelopment.” Her faculty mentor is Amanda Poole from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
Trimble attended the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative symposium in Arlington, VA, in the spring semester to present her research findings. She also presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology conference in Portland, presenting her paper, “Learning from the Land: The Role of Gendered Recreation in Environmental Stewardship and Gas Well Monitoring in Appalachia,” and participated in a collective discussion about our class project.
During the spring semester, she was part of a class project conducting research through the Anthropology Career Readiness Network for Indiana’s Northern Appalachian Folk Festival. The project is designed to get information on what the folk festival means to the community in Indiana and serves to provide general feedback about attendees’ experiences.
After graduation, Trimble plans to pursue a graduate degree that will allow her to continue working on ethnographic research that uplifts local community voices and champions community-driven approaches to a more sustainable future.
“I believe that this project will prepare me for graduate study as I strengthen my skills as an independent researcher. Additionally, I believe this work will deepen my understanding of the complex narratives about redevelopment and energy transition in rural Appalachia,” she said.
Berks County
Lauren Bryant
Lauren Bryant, a theater major in the Cook Honors College, daughter of Sara and Gregory Bryant, and a 2023 graduate of Tulpehocken Junior Senior High School. She is a dean’s list student and won the Female Primary Actress Award and the Theatre Department Academic Excellence Award. She is a member of the Theatre Department Advisory Board, participated in Theater-by-the-Grove productions, IUP Music Theatre shows, the Feminist All-Inclusive Revolution, and the Simulated Patient Applied Theatre Ensemble. This is her second year to be selected for U-SOAR.
Her project is “Biopsychology Informed Drama Therapy.” Her faculty mentor is Richard Kemp from the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance.
Blair County
Erin Himes, a chemistry major from Altoona. Daughter of Patrick and Diane Himes, she is a graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School. She is the recipient of the 2025 IUP Scholars Forum Outstanding Poster Award. She is vice president of the American Chemical Society at IUP.
Her project is “Identifying and Testing Small Molecule Inhibitors for Receptor A,” which will use computational docking studies to identify various ligands with promising binding attributes, which will be used in HRMS studies. Her faculty mentor is Justin Fair in the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
“As a biochemistry student, I plan to do research after graduating, and the U-SOAR program is an amazing opportunity to become exposed to research,” she said. “I participated in U-SOAR 2024, which allowed me to gain hands-on experience and learn the vital critical thinking skills to obtain my future goals.”
Butler County
Lucas Chvilicek
Lucas Chvilicek, a chemistry major in the Cook Honors College, son of Kenneth Chvilicek and Jennifer Chvilicek, and a 2024 graduate of Seneca Valley High School. He is a dean’s list student and is a member of IUP’s American Chemical Society.
His project is “Solid State Peptide Synthesis,” using solid support to create a peptide link for use in an antibody drug conjugate. His faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Cambria County
Micah Sherry, a computer science major from Emeigh, son of Jason Sherry and April Sherry. This is his second year to be selected for U-SOAR.
His project is “Factorization of Polynomials over the Boolean Semifield.” His faculty mentor is Francisco Alarcon from the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. The goal of his research is to explore factorization of polynomials over the Boolean semifield and the characterization of when polynomials are factorable.
“I have previously worked as a cybersecurity researcher on ARMZTA project, where we leveraged machine learning to analyse and mitigate risk in zero trust computer systems. During U-SOAR 2024, I implemented machine learning algorithms to cluster, visualize, and recommend songs.
“My professional goals are to work in a field where I can utilize my computer science and mathematics knowledge, and I believe the U-SOAR program will help me by allowing to expand my ‘soft skills’ (particularly communication of complex ideas) as well as expanding my technical skills and knowledge. My project will be a great opportunity for expanding my mathematical skills when working on more complex problems where the answer is not always known,” he said.
Centre County
Seth Koch, an applied anthropology major from Bellefonte, son of Mindi Kephart and Andrew Kephart, and a graduate of Bald Eagle Area Junior Senior High School. He is a dean’s list student, won the 2025 Scholars Forum Outstanding Podium Presentation Award, and is an intern with the Coalition of Christian Outreach.
His project is “University Connection: Eighth Street Corridor—Student Engagement in Community/University Connection.” His faculty mentor is Abigail Adams from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
The goal of his research is to draw from the perspectives and experiences of the IUP campus community to design a plan for an infrastructural and symbolic connection between IUP and downtown, working with local stakeholders to collect data that will identify physical and social features that would assist in the construction of an ‘8th Street Corridor’ linking campus to the downtown.
He attended the 2024 Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative Symposium in Washington, DC, a symposium hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission, where students present their research to fellow scholars working on sustainable development initiatives in the Appalachian region. He presented with other students on research related to orphan gas wells. During the spring semester, he completed an anthropology internship for a regional planning firm in downtown Indiana, Stuart Group Consulting.
Crawford County
Conner Zimmerman
Conner Zimmerman, a music education and music performance major from Meadville. This is his second year to be chosen for U-SOAR.
Zimmerman, son of Thomas Zimmerman, is a 2022 graduate of Meadville Area Senior High School. He is a dean’s list student, received the Sutton Scholarship and the Joan Boytim Scholarship, and is the former president of the Student National Association of Teachers of Singing. He is a backstage assistant director for the Indiana Players community theater.
His project is “Mind, Voice, and Body: Multi-Sensory Strategies for Memorizing Vocal Music.” His faculty mentor is Craig Denison from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
His project includes a literature review about general memorization strategies of music and how such different strategies of memorization can help a vocalist learn new repertoire. He will then conduct an experiment based on these identified strategies, with a goal of informing the memorization processes through different modalities.
Delaware County
Josephine LaPierre, a geology major in the Cook Honors College from Aston, daughter of Dawn LePierre, is a 2023 graduate of Sun Valley High School. She is the recipient of the Early Career Geology Student Award and is a member of the Geological Society of IUP.
Her project is “Comoros Islands: Mapping Marine Volcanos around Comoros Island.” Her faculty mentor is Katherine Farnsworth from IUP’s Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
For her project, she will study data about the Comoros Islands, which are a cluster of islands located between Madagascar and Africa. There is a large number of marine volcanoes around the islands, causing some researchers to hypothesize that the numerous volcanoes could be an indicator that the islands are a new extension of the East Africa Rift system. She will use a semi-automated program in MATLAB created by IUP alumnus Dan O’Hara for her project.
O’Hara, a 2014 geosciences graduate of IUP, was one of IUP’s Goldwater Scholarship award recipients who completed extensive research about techtonics, including in Taiwan.
Fayette County
Nicholas Wright
Nicholas Wright, a chemistry major from Melcroft, son of Lenora Wright, and a 2023 graduate of Connellsville Area Senior High School. He is a dean’s list student and a member of the IUP American Chemical Society.
His project is “Assessment of Fracking Fluid Chemicals’ Biotoxicity,” testing the biotoxicity of chemicals found in fracking wastewater. His faculty mentor is Sudipta Majumdar from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Indiana County
Kylie Diem
Kylie Diem, a music education clarinet performance major from Rochester Mills, daughter of Ken and Karen Diem, and a 2024 graduate of Punxsutawney High School. She is a dean’s list student, is a drum major in the IUP Marching Band, and is president of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association.
Diem’s project is “Understanding the Mental Health Challenges of Student and Professional Musicians and Music Educators.” Her faculty mentor is Rosemary Engelstad from the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance.
Maura Knepper
Maura Knepper, a psychology major and nutrition minor in the Cook Honors College and Psychology Honors Program, daughter of Erin and Ryan Knepper, and a 2023 graduate of Indiana Area Senior High School. She is a dean’s list student and a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, the Catholic Student Association, and the IUP University Chorale.
Knepper’s project is titled “Emotion Regulation-Focused Interventions for Adolescents with Emotional Eating and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Potential Meta-Analysis.” Her faculty mentor is Lei Hao from the Department of Allied and Public Health. Her project will conduct a comprehensive review of existing research examining how interventions that teach emotion regulation skills affect emotional eating behaviors and weight-related outcomes in adolescents.
“Participating in the U-SOAR program will allow me to develop essential research skills—including literature review, meta-analytic techniques, critical synthesis, and academic writing—that will prepare me for success in my upcoming Honors Psychology thesis project, which I will begin in the fall,” Knepper said. “I am eager to improve my critical thinking and organizational and collaborative abilities, and I believe that the mentorship and professional development opportunities offered through U-SOAR will benefit me both academically and professionally,” she said.
Charise McNeal
Charise McNeal, a political science homeland security major from Indiana. Daughter of Benay Nachin of Shelocta and Sean Wooten of Indiana, she is a dean’s list student, a provost scholar, and received the Patrick J. Stapleton Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
McNeal’s project is “Unthinkable or Unviable? Nuclear Deterrence in Asymmetric Conflict,” and her faculty mentor is Terilyn Huntington from the Department of History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
Kai Southard, a studio art major from Indiana. Son of Ellen Chinn and Jon Southard, he is a 2018 graduate of Indiana Area Senior High School.
Southard’s project is “3-D Printing Minecraft Models in Plastic and Clay.” His faculty mentor is Sharon Massey from the Department of Art and Design.
Jacob Vanluven
Jacob Vanluven, a computer science and mathematics double major from Indiana. Son of Lori Kimmel and Jason Vanluven, he is a 2023 graduate of Indiana Area Senior High School. He is a member of the competitive programming team.
Vanluven’s project is “Hand Navigation System,” a computer vision system that allows users to navigate a computer system with their hands. His faculty mentor is Samuel Grieggs from the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences.
Jefferson County
Chloe Benden
Chloe Benden, a biochemistry major from Coder Road, Brockport. Daughter of Brandi and Joseoph Benden, she is a 2023 graduate of Brockway Area Junior Senior High School. She is a dean’s list student, and received the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemisty, and Physics Academic Achievement Award. This is her second year to be selected for the U-SOAR program.
She is an active member and Welcome Week leader for the Coalition for Christian Outreach and is an active American Chemical Society Club member.
Benden’s project is “Bioconjugate Drug Synthesis, Using Solid-Phase Peptite Synthesis to Create Bioconjugate Drugs,” and her faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Seth Stewart, a chemistry major from North Street, Brockway. Son of Darlene Baka and Rob Stewart, he is a 2023 graduate of Brockway High School. He is a dean’s list student and received the American Chemical Society Analytical Division Award. He is a member of the American Chemical Society. This is his second year to be selected for U-SOAR.
Stewart’s project is “The Use of Acyl Fluorides in Antibody-Drug Conjugates,” and his faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Monroe County
Toni Venslosky, a geology major from East Stroudsburg, daughter of Dana Venslosky and Bernie Venslosky, and a 2022 graduate of East Stroudsburg High School South. She is a dean’s list student and received the Scholarship for Early Career Geology Students.
Her project is “Using Storm Catchment to Determine Sources of Microplastic Contamination in the Stoney Run Watershed.” Her faculty mentor is Katherine Farnsworth from the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
For her project, she is using ArcGIS Pro to identify sub-basins within the Stoney Run Watershed, part of the Lower Two Lick Creek watershed in Indiana County. Using storm line data from Indiana County, she created storm catchment areas, and these study areas will be used to analyze the length of roads that have storm water running off into the streams. The results from her analysis will be used to determine if storm runoff and roadways are a source of microplastic contamination.
It is hypothesized that the storm runoff interacts with plastic pollution on the sides of roads, creating microplastics, or that plastic debris ends up in storm water grates by storm runoff, which flows into the stream, Venslosky said.
“This research is important to the understanding of how microplastics are entering freshwater sources, how they migrate, and how they can be prevented from entering the streams,” she said. “Testing for microplastics at pre-determined sites and confirming their presence in the streams means that action can be taken in the future to find ways to prevent microplastics from entering the streams. Also, the maps I will create in ArcGIS will be used in my senior research project to help make a correlation between potential sources and the abundance of microplastics at those sites.”
Philadelphia County
Cynthia Roldan
Cynthia Roldan, an English and biology major from Philadelphia, daughter of David Roldan and Cindy Roldan, and a 2020 graduate of First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter High School. This is her second year to be selected for the U-SOAR program.
She is a dean’s list student and provost scholar. She works with the IUP New Growth Arts Review, serving as managing editor of the publication for the past two years; and is a member of the MULTI K-pop Dance Crew, performing with the group during the 2023–24 academic year. She is also a member of Phi Gamma Nu honor society. She volunteers as a front desk greeter for Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Her faculty mentor is Christina Ruby from the Department of Biology. Her U-SOAR project is “Using Planarian Flatworms as a Model for Opioid Preference.” Her 2025 U-SOAR project builds on research from her U-SOAR program in 2024, which she began in 2023 using planarians as a model to examine the aspects of addiction to prescription opioids medication. The aim of the experiment is to fill a hole of information in the peer-review essay world that determine aspects of the effects of various drugs outside of opioids like oxycodone.
During the 2024–25 academic year, Roldan gained experience relevant to research in projects, including updating a factsheet for the American Medical Women’s Association’s Sex and Gender Health Collaborative to enhance public understanding while earning the opportunity to lead her own factsheet, traveling to India to learn about the various stages of biomedical research, and competing in the E-Poster Competition under the American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference in Boston. She wrote, directed, and edited an Instagram Reel for IUP’s social media account, which was viewed by more than 6,000 people.
Schuylkill County
Alexxa Kowalski, a biology pre-medicine major from Mary D, PA, child of Rebecca Kowalski and Daniel Kowalski, and a 2022 graduate of Tamaqua Area Senior High School. They are a dean’s list student and provost scholar, received a Sutton Scholarship, is a Kopchick Faculty Student Fellow, and won an award for their work in molecular biology. Kowalski is president of National Residence Hall Honorary, is secretary of Crimson Chords, is a biology peer mentor, and is a member of the American Medical Student Association, Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and Beta Beta Beta honor society. This is Kowalski’s second year to be selected for the U-SOAR program.
Kowalski’s project is “Mechanism for fungal drug resistance in the FKS1 gene,” researching human known mutants outside of the hotspot region of South Carolina to see what the mechanism for the resistance is. Cuong Diep from the IUP Department of Biology is Kowalski’s faculty mentor.
Somerset County
Owen Boozer
Owen Boozer, a biochemistry major in the Cook Honors College from Central City. Son of James Boozer and Jamee Boozer, he is a 2023 graduate of Shanksville-Stonycreek High School. He is a dean’s list student and member of the American Chemical Society, Pre-Dental Society, and Alpha Chi Sigma. Boozer’s project is “Solid-Phase Synthesis of Polypeptide Chains Using Side Chain Anchoring,” and his faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Taylor Lambert, a graphic design-illustration major from Berlin. Daughter of Chris Lambert and Nicole Lambert, she is a 2023 graduate of North Star High School. She is a dean’s list student and received the Sutton Scholarship and the Ready to Succeed Scholarship. Lambert’s project is “Laser Engraving Enamel Signage,” and her faculty mentor is Sharon Massey from the Department of Art and Design.
Westmoreland County
Maeve Smith, a medical imaging major from New Kensington, daughter of Paul Smith and Ellen Smith, and a graduate of Franklin Regional Senior High School. She participated in U-SOAR in 2023. She is a member of the IUP Women’s Figure Skating Club and IUP Women’s Hockey.
Her project is “Impact of Nutrition and Lifestyle in Cognitive Aging: A Meta-Analysis of Nuclear Medicine Imaging in Older Adults.” Her faculty mentor is Lei Hao from the Department of Allied and Public Health.
Wyoming County
Serena Aumick, a biology pre-veterinary concentration major in the Cook Honors College from Tunkhannock, daughter of Rachel Aumick, and a graduate of Tunkhannock High School. She received the Sushak Undergraduate Biology Fund for Excellence Award, is part of the Biology Undergraduate Research Experience, is a member of Phi Eta Sigma honor society, received the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Unique Scholar Award, is the founder and president of the Pre-Veterinary Club, is president of the IUP Sailing Club, is vice president of the Terrarium Club, is a member of Andale (Spanish club), and volunteers at the Indiana County Humane Society and Four-Footed Friends.
Her project is “The Phylogeographical of the Sceloporus malachiticus Species Complex from Honduras and Nicaragua.” Her faculty mentor is Josiah Townsend from the Department of Biology.
Her project will begin the work that is necessary to delimitate the species complex by displaying genetic drift of several populations based on their geography.
Aumick worked in biology professor Sarah Emel’s research laboratory as a freshman, totaling about 150 hours of time in the laboratory, performing DNA extractions of lagomorph fecal samples, polymerase chain reaction on the refined DNA, and aided in various procedures for genomic library preparation. She also analyzed chromatograms on MEGA11, utilized GenBank to determine the species based on sequenced DNA data, and aided in general data entry.
As a sophomore, she began work with Townsend, participating in his study abroad programs in Honduras. This trip revolved around conservation efforts of the Utila spiny-tailed iguana, Ctenosaura bakeri.
She successfully obtained funding for the Townsend Laboratory through the Sushak Research Award and the Biology Undergraduate Research Experience. Both applications required a Literature Review section, which she completed through an extensive literature review of the topics at large.
York County
Parker Bradley, a chemistry major from Stewartstown, son of Darren Bradley and Kelly Bradley, and a 2022 graduate of Kennard Dale High School. This is his second year to be selected for the U-SOAR program.
In April, he was one of two IUP students selected to participate in the 2025 Undergraduate Research at the Capitol event, presenting his research poster, “Photochemical Studies of Anticancer Ruthenium-Platinum Bimetallic Complex Adsorbed on Montmorillonite Clay.”
The Undergraduate Research at the Capitol-PA poster conference is an educational event allowing undergraduate students enrolled in Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities to showcase their research talents to the Commonwealth’s key decision-makers.
Bradley received IUP’s American Chemical Society Division of Inorganic Chemistry Award, won a top presenter award from the American Chemical Society’s Central Regional Meeting for his research presentation, and was invited to present at the state, regional, and national levels. He also won the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
He is a member of IUP’s track and field and cross-country teams.
Bradley’s research project is “Synthesis and characterization of zeolite (drug carrier) adsorbed Ru and RuPt monometallic and bimetallic anticancer complexes.” His faculty mentor is Avijita Jain from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
His research is designed to help understand how to treat cancer more selectively, making it possible to reduce side effects for patients. Bradley began working with Jain in fall 2023. He won a top presenter award from the National American Chemical Society’s American Chemical Society Central Regional Meeting for his research presentation and was invited to present his research to the ACS state meeting.
“By doing research this summer, I am putting myself in the position to become more experienced in techniques I have already used and open up the opportunity to explore biological and photochemical techniques I have yet to learn. U-SOAR offers the ability to develop my skills as well as work on publishing a paper on our results, increasing my ability to achieve my goal of a PhD program,” he said.
Trinity Burbank, a cell and molecular biology major with a forensic biosciences minor from Hanover, daughter of Jack Burbank and Heidi Burbank, and a 2023 graduate of South Western High School. A dean’s list student, she received the Sutton Scholarship, is a Kopchick Scholar, was selected for the Sushak Undergraduate Biology Fund for Excellence Award, and is part of the Biology Undergraduate Research Experience.
Burbank’s research project is “Infectious Interactions Between the Pathogenic Fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, and Potatoes.” Her faculty mentor is Narayanaswamy Bharathan from the Department of Biology.
Rhizoctonia solani is a pathogenic fungus that infects and kills many crops, including potatoes and beets. Her research is designed to help to understand the chemical signaling and proteomics between the fungal to crop infectious interaction. This research and data has been presented at the West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference at California State University, San Marcos. “The opportunity and hands-on work with Dr. Bharathan during the academic year, and during U-SOAR, has enhanced my laboratory techniques and procedures qualifications,” she said.
Ethan Yingling
Ethan Yingling, an early childhood education major from York, son of Elke and Ted Yingling, and a 2018 graduate of PA Cyber Charter School.
Yingling’s project is “Printed Play: Hands-On Learning Through 3D and Laser-Cut Design.” His faculty mentor is Sharon Massey from the Department of Art and Design.
Maryland, Frederick County
Allison Krape
Allison Krape, a biochemistry major at the Cook Honors College, daughter of Amanda Krape and Thomas Krape, a 2024 graduate of Urbana High School. She is a dean’s list student and received the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics award and won the outstanding poster for the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics during IUP’s 2025 Scholars Forum. She is a member of the American Chemical Society, participating in the organization as a tutor and fundraising for local schools, and does community service for the Catholic Student Association at IUP.
Her project is “Computationally Identifying a Small Molecule Inhibitor for Receptor A, a Computational Approach.” Her faculty mentor is Justin Fair from the Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics.
Massachusetts, Middlesex County
Samuel Moffat, a computer science and mathematics dual baccalaureate major from Framingham, son of Eric and Tracy Moffat, and a 2021 graduate of Framingham High School. He is a member of the IUP cross country team and the track and field team.
His project is “Frequency Analysis of Clinical Notes Natural Language Processing.” His faculty mentor is Soundararajan Ezekiel from the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. The goal of his project is to use natural language processing tools to break up clinical notes derived from medical datasets available to the public.
Moffat did research during the 2024–25 academic –ear with his department, during U-SOAR 2024, and as a research and development engineer at Penn State’s Applied Research Lab.