Nearly 100 Undergraduate Researchers Explore, Discover and Connect at U of A With Experiential Learning Opportunities

The U of A concluded another successful summer of undergraduate research in August, with 99 students conducting experiential, hands-on research alongside faculty mentors across science, engineering, agriculture, health and technology disciplines.  

Through National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs and other faculty-led initiatives, students contributed to research projects addressing real-world challenges while gaining firsthand experience in discovery, innovation and problem-solving. 

The programs brought students from across Arkansas and the nation to Fayetteville, where they explored graduate education, developed professional skills and worked alongside faculty researchers. 

The summer culminated in a campus-wide poster fair where students presented their findings to faculty, peers, family members and community members. 

"One of the most rewarding parts of these programs is watching students expand their view of what's possible," said Laura Moix, innovation and impact strategist for the College of Engineering.  

"Working alongside faculty mentors, students tackle real-world challenges, contribute to meaningful research and gain a clearer vision for their future. Those experiences often shape decisions about graduate education, research careers and leadership opportunities in their fields." 

According to post-program evaluations, 62% of student respondents reported an increased interest in pursuing graduate studies at the U of A following their summer experience.  

Students also highlighted faculty mentorship, professional development workshops and opportunities to build connections with peers from across the country as some of the most valuable aspects of the program. 

Beyond the laboratory, participants explored Northwest Arkansas through professional development, networking opportunities and cultural experiences that helped them build community while learning more about the region. 

Research Participants by Program 

The following students completed summer research experiences at the U of A: 

• Abigail Bell (Faculty mentor: Jingyi Chen) 
• Abigail Duffy (Faculty mentor: Bin Dong) 
• Aderline Diaz Fernandez (Faculty mentor: Robert Beitle Jr.) 
• Aidan Albright (Faculty mentor: Sun-Ok Lee) 
• Aidan McClain (Faculty mentor: Erica Westerman) 
• Alayna McGrede (Faculty mentor: Sarah DuRant) 
• Aleksandra Grabowska (Faculty mentor: Yannis Tzanetakis) 
• Ana Ortegon (Faculty mentor: Michelle Evans-White) 
• Anna Teague (Faculty mentor: Hunter Goodman) 
• Ashley Oshin (Faculty mentor: Jamie Baum) 
• Benjamin Archer (Faculty mentor: Timothy Muldoon) 
• Benjamin Dieffenbacher (Faculty mentor: Timothy Muldoon) 
• Benjamin Tess (Faculty mentor: Josh Sakon) 
• Brandon Sisneroz (Faculty mentor: Xiaoqing Song) 
• Brenda Trujillo Vazquez (Faculty mentor: Tomi Obe) 
• Brielle Steeves (Faculty mentors: Jeffrey Gruenewald and Steven Windisch) 
• Cambry Brown (Faculty mentor: Julie Robinson) 
• Cathleen Hollon (Faculty mentor: Xianghong Qian) 
• Charlotte Johnson (Faculty mentor: Sarah DuRant) 
• Chris Bailey (Faculty mentor: Hyunjin Moon) 
• Clara Shober (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Colette Bailey (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Croix Licause (Faculty mentor: Crystal Archer) 
• Daniel Eyraud (Faculty mentor: Chris Farnell) 
• Deborah Shamoon (Faculty mentor: Megan Rexius-Hall) 
• Desiree Smith (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Devyn O'Daniel (Faculty mentor: Nicholas Levis) 
• Dominika Golinska (Faculty mentor: Jim Correll) 
• Eden Burrell (Faculty mentor: Clay Prater) 
• Eitan Gonensky (Faculty mentor: Kevin Jin) 
• Eli Moore (Faculty mentor: Griffiths Atungulu) 
• Elizabeth Brandon (Faculty mentors: Jeffrey Gruenewald and Steven Windisch) 
• Elliott Kohn (Faculty mentor: Becca Muenich) 
• Emily Wheeless (Faculty mentor: Maribeth Latvis) 
• Emmaleigh Moffitt (Faculty mentor: Sarah DuRant) 
• Enzo MacGregor (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Ethan Coffman (Faculty mentor: Qinghua Li) 
• Ethan Hewell (Faculty mentor: Roy McCann) 
• Evan Ramirez (Faculty mentor: Rupesh Kariyat) 
• Evangelia Tsourakaki (Faculty mentor: Yannis Tzanetakis) 
• Ezra Henry (Faculty mentor: Michael McGraw) 
• Fnu Himanshi (Faculty mentor: Paul Adams) 
• Gabrielle Blitz (Faculty mentor: Wan Shou) 
• Gibson Price (Faculty mentor: Timothy Muldoon) 
• Grace Byrd (Faculty mentors: Jeffrey Gruenewald and Steven Windisch) 
• Gray Dallaire (Faculty mentor: Neelendra Joshi) 
• Hank Martin (Faculty mentor: Kris Brye) 
• Isabella Mazzarese (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Isabella Thompson (Faculty mentor: Stefan Kilyanek) 
• Jackson Howse (Faculty mentor: Yizhi Sun) 
• Jacob McNutt (Faculty mentor: Alan Mantooth) 
• James Huff (Faculty mentor: Matt Bertucchi) 
• Jermal Watson Jr. (Faculty mentor: Mahfuz Rahman) 
• Jesse Beck (Faculty mentor: Keisha Walters) 
• Joshua Cropper (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Joy Skaggs (Faculty mentor: Yong Wang) 
• Julianis Figueroa (Faculty mentor: Neelendra Joshi) 
• Kale Rogers (Faculty mentor: David Huitink) 
• Karis Adnan (Faculty mentors: Jeffrey Gruenewald and Steven Windisch) 
• Katelynn Adair (Faculty mentor: Chris Farnell) 
• Kristina Jolly (Faculty mentor: Naithani) 
• Lawrence Reeves (Faculty mentor: Westerman) 
• Marselle Sandoval (Faculty mentor: Rupesh Kariyat) 
• Mary-Claire Ridgeway (Faculty mentor: Chris Farnell) 
• Matthew Kablan (Faculty mentor: Amy Poe) 
• Max Carlson (Faculty mentor: Ali Ubeyitogullari) 
• Mia Vuong (Faculty mentor: Samira Feyzi) 
• Miranda Sifuentes (Faculty mentor: Rupesh Kariyat) 
• Nathaniel Heller (Faculty mentor: Ranil Wickramasinghe) 
• Nathaniel Hetager (Faculty mentor: Colin Heyes) 
• Noelia Quinones-Martinez (Faculty mentor: Timothy Muldoon) 
• Ola Gorka (Faculty mentor: Joanna Kud) 
• Olivia Carroll (Faculty mentor: Sun Ferreira) 
• Parker Roberts (Faculty mentor: Sarah DuRant) 
• Payton Hand (Faculty mentor: Karthik Nayani) 
• Peyton Chaney (Faculty mentor: Nan Zheng) 
• Raphael Spiros (Faculty mentor: Xianghong Qian) 
• Ryan Mayberry (Faculty mentor: Wen Zhang) 
• Samantha Mamrick (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Samantha Jackson (Faculty mentor: Chris Farnell) 
• Samuel Paez (Faculty mentor: Feng Wang) 
• Sarah Taparauskas (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Sean Miller (Faculty mentor: Rupesh Kariyat) 
• Silas Goodman (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Snigda Halder Laxme (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Sophia Colón (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Spencer Stutts (Faculty mentor: Julie Stenken) 
• Sriya Puvvada (Faculty mentor: Timothy Muldoon) 
• TaMya Hulum (Faculty mentor: Scott Lafontaine) 
• Thomas Hardy (Faculty mentor: Suresh Kumar Thallapuranam) 
• Trinity Foster (Faculty mentor: Hunter Goodman) 
• Vanita Collins (Faculty mentor: Eric McLamore) 
• Walker Ferguson (Faculty mentor: Shannon Speir) 
• William Bowles (Faculty mentor: Alan Mantooth) 
• Willow Bristol (Faculty mentor: Jeffrey Gruenewald) 
• Wilson Chenault (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Yuna O'Brien (Faculty mentor: Thomas Deere) 
• Zadie Guo (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 
• Zoke Sackih (Faculty mentor: Reeta Vyas) 

For more information about summer undergraduate research opportunities at the U of A, visit reu.uark.edu. 

About the College of Engineering:  The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state's largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls more than 4,700 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers along with nearly 200 staff members. Its research enterprise generated $47 million in new research awards in Fiscal Year 2025. The college's strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges.