UNM Undergraduates Receive Research Scholarships

Strategic Insights -

Four undergraduate students from the University of New Mexico have been selected for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship, a program that supports students in their pursuit of research with a UNM faculty member. The recipients, Sarah Lee, Lucien Gil Rey, Paniz Aghapour Maleki, and Ava Clayton, will each receive a $500 departmental award to conduct research in their area of interest.

The Undergraduate Research Scholarship is intended to provide opportunities for students who currently have no recourse to be paid to conduct research in their area of interest. This year's awardees were chosen for their proposed research projects, which range from investigating communicative, psychological, and sociodemographic factors that may mitigate gaps between climate change knowledge and activism to identifying compounds from a plant used in Navajo medicine that may have antibacterial properties.

Sarah Lee, a psychology major, will be conducting research on the psychological components of climate change activism, while Lucien Gil Rey, also a psychology major, will be exploring the relationship between sensation-seeking tendencies and substance use among individuals with dissociative symptoms. Paniz Aghapour Maleki, a biology major, will be isolating and identifying compounds from a Navajo medicinal plant to determine their potential antibacterial properties. Lastly, Ava Clayton, a biology major, will be researching ticks in New Mexico and the western U.S. to identify the most common species and potential strategies to reduce tick-borne disease transmission.

Each of these undergraduate students has been given the opportunity to work with UNM faculty members and resources to advance their research projects and gain valuable skills that will benefit their future endeavors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Four undergraduate students have been selected for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship, which provides $500 departmental awards to support research projects.
  • The recipients are Sarah Lee, Lucien Gil Rey, Paniz Aghapour Maleki, and Ava Clayton.
  • Darla Tivendale of the UNM Honors Program connects students and faculty for research opportunities.
  • The Undergraduate Research Scholarship is intended to provide opportunities for students who currently have no recourse to be paid to conduct research in their area of interest.
  • Each of the four undergraduate students has been chosen for their proposed research project, which ranges from climate change activism to identifying antibacterial properties in a Navajo medicinal plant.
  • The research projects aim to advance knowledge and skills in various fields, including psychology, biology, and drug discovery.
  • The Undergraduate Research Scholarship has provided valuable opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and develop skills in their chosen areas of study.

Statistics:

  • Four undergraduate students have been selected for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship.
  • $500 departmental awards will be given to each recipient.
  • The recipients are Sarah Lee, Lucien Gil Rey, Paniz Aghapour Maleki, and Ava Clayton.
  • The scholarship is intended to support students who currently have no recourse to be paid to conduct research in their area of interest.
  • The research projects will be conducted in collaboration with UNM faculty members and resources.

Sources:

  • "Four Undergrads Chosen for URAD Research Scholarship" by Anna Padilla, University of New Mexico, August 27, 2022,