Fall 2023
Isabela Espino-Marquez | “Primary Motor Cortex Influenced through the Strengthening of Synergies.” | Mentor: Hayami Nishio, Human Physiology
Natalie Garcia | “How can comics/graphic novels be used as a tool to open up a dialogue between generations surrounding trauma and mental health for first-generation Mexican-American immigrants?” | Mentor: Katherine Kelp-Stebbins, Comics and Cartoon Studies
Jeanette Jones | “Science Fiction's Reflection of Indigeneity” | Mentor: Angie Morrill, Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies
Seira Kitagawa | “Communicating Struggles and Support to the diverting Japanese population” | Mentor: Kelli Matthews, School of Journalism and Communication
Rooke Knapton | “Cross-Cultural Differences in Philanthropic Giving: A Comparative Study of Asian and Western Populations” | Mentor: Kaushal Sapkota, Planning, Public Policy, and Management
Cady McManus | “What Raises Retention Rates in Gender Marginalized STEM Majors?” | Mentor: Andrea Herrera, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Naelea Mendoza Aguilar | “How social connections are integrated on college campuses amongst marginalized groups” | Mentor: Rachana Patel, University Health Services
Shannon O'Connell | “How Wear of Ant Mandibles is Correlated with Different Behaviors in Ants” | Mentor: Robert Schofield, Institute for Fundamental Science
Sophia Piatti | "What are the brain wave dynamics of self-transcendent emotions such as awe?" | Mentor: Danny Brown, SWANN Lab
Prabhleen Sambhi | “Impacts of Nationalism on Gender in Modern-day Punjab” | Mentor: Oluwakemi Balogun, African Studies, Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies
Christina Thomas | “Honoring Indigenous Voices: A Qualitative Exploration of Native American Student Experiences at the University of Oregon” | Mentor: Kirby Brown, English, Native Studies
Declan Zupo | “Towards a Second Oregon Experiment” | Mentor: Emily Eliza Scott, Art History
Spring 2023
Samuel Brooks | "Weimar Germany: The Violent Downfall of a Pre-modern Political Dream" | Mentor: Daniel Quintero Plata, German and Scandinavian Studies
Junah Calceta | "What Inspires Underprivileged Communities to Tackle STEM-Based Jobs?" | Mentor: Mariah Kornbluh, Psychology
Malia Carp | "Resource Accessibility in Underrepresented Communities" | Mentor: Kory Russel, Environmental Studies
Ananya Chowdhury | "Designing an Experiment to Study Academic Stress's Impact on Aging-Controlling Genes in College Students" | Mentor: Patrick Phillips, Biology
Gionny Colocho | "Why does Music Influence Involuntary Emotion and Memory among Different Age Groups?" | Mentor: Alyse Jamieson, Music
Cing Dim | "The Effects of Outdoor Therapy on Depression and Anxiety in Young Adults" | Mentor: Feather Crawford & Sara Spoden, DucksRISE & Mount Pisgah Arboretum
Anna Field | "Long Term Effects of The One Child Policy and its Impact on Asian Adoptees in the United States" | Mentor: Julius McGee, Sociology
Tabitha Joaquin | "The Quiet Exodus: Black and Brown Women Expats in the Twenty First Century" | Mentor: Ernesto Martinez, Indigenous, Race, and Ethic Studies
Julio Miranda | "Investigating Effective Study Strategies for College Students: Maximizing Learning Outcomes and Academic Performance" | Mentor: Mark Carrier, Biology
José Renteria | "Generating Art With Generative AI: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity and Technology" | Mentor: John Park, Art
Neela Ropp | "Correlation of Artistic Programs in School with well being and success into adulthood" | Mentor: Megan Kunze, Psychology
Emma Singleton | "How Law and Governance Affects Informal Housing" | Mentor: Claire Herbert, Sociology
Melissa Soliz | "The Challenge of Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution: How the University of Oregon Addresses Latinx/Latine Enrollment and Retention" | Mentor: Feather Crawford & Bobbie Bermudez, DucksRISE & Education
Ashley Terrell | "Olfaction and Behavior in Autistic Model Mice" | Mentor: Matt Smear, Psychology
Alexandria Woodward | "Reconciling Distributive and Relational Egalitarianism to Address Social Injustices" | Mentor: Brooke Burns, Philosophy
Fall 2022
Kikachi Akpakwu | “Annealing Study of the Reaction Pathways of Niobium and Selenium” | Mentor: Mellie Lemon, Chemistry
Brianne Arca | “Remote Early Warning Messaging Technology” | Mentor: Doug Toomey, Earth Sciences
Sebastian Cardenas-Riumallo | “Function and Disease Risk of Slow/Fast Myofiber Associated Regions of the Human Genome” | Mentors: Kristin Sterner & Samantha Queeno, Anthropology
Sue Carney | “Differences in the efficacy of live music therapy vs synchronous remote music therapy in hospitals: A systematic review” | Mentor: Melissa Brunkan, School of Music and Dance
AJ Gotera | “Negotiating the Boundaries Between Cultural Appropriation & Cultural Appreciation Within Asian Music Between the Mid-90’s & Present Day” | Mentor: Alisa Freedman, East Asian Languages
Samuel Gutierrez | “How can programming, data mining, and predictive modeling determine waterpoint operating conditions in Tanzania to monitor waterborne diseases?” | Mentor: Kraig Delana, Business
Shanie Jorgenson | “Evolutionary Response of Daphnia to Ecological Disaster” | Mentor: Shannon Snyder, Biology
Haley Lohf | “Linked and Loaded: Potential of the Human and Digital Computer Collective” | Mentor: Felix Deku, Knight Campus
Mattie Lucero | “Food Activism and Sustainability in Disabled Communities” | Mentor: Hannah Cutting-Jones, Global Studies
Paige Nearman | “Assessing Accessibility Features in Digital Anthropology Publications” | Mentor: Josh Snodgrass, Anthropology
Sophia Olivares | “Las Lágrimas de Nosotros: Causes and Consequences of the Salvadoran Civil War” | Mentors: Armando Morales & Feather Crawford, MECHA & DucksRISE
Eugene Polvorosa | “Indigenous Mexican Food Sovereignty” | Mentor: Steven Beda, History
Kayley Salgado | “Interactive Communication and Development of Autistic and Neurotypical Children in Preschools” | Mentor: Caitlin Fausey, Psychology
Teresa Soliz | “Fascist Times, Freer Futures: Lessons from Anticolonial and Black Radical Traditions” | Mentor: Christopher Ian Foster, Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies
Larissa Vandehey | “Nitrogen-Fixing Plants and Their Relation to Invasive Species” | Mentor: Carmen Watkins, Biology
Spring 2022
John Adair | “Love Unbound: Incarcerated Black Fathers and the Family Experience” | Mentor: Ed Madison, Journalism
Karla Barajas | “The Decline and Revitalization of Native Languages in Mexico” | Mentor: Luis Ruiz, Global Education Oregon
Imaesia Fields | “Microbiota, Visual System Development, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders” | Mentors: David James & Judith Eisen, Biology
Tito Flores Bautista | “Language Variation During the Pandemic” | Mentor: Kelley Howarth, Romance Languages
Marissa Gonzalez Ibarra | “Stress Disparities in Undergraduate Students” | Mentor: Elliot Berkman, Psychology
Feruza Legass | “The Unseen Numbers: Missing and Murdered Indigenous and Black Women” | Mentor: Kemi Balogun, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Kelly Schooler | “Aztec Hieroglyphs” | Mentor: Stephanie Wood, Digital Humanities
Leyi Shea | “Indigenous Sovereignty and Root-Digging Traditions” | Mentor: Patience Collier, History
Esperanza Soliz | “How can every member of the community help one another? Working Toward Health Equity with the Oregon Medica Group” | Mentor: Feather Crawford, DucksRISE
Watch the inaugural DucksRISE Research Fellows Panel present on their research questions, sources, and methods.
Winter 2023
Haley Bell | "Where does Social Media belong in the Realm of Activism" | Mentor: Shuo Xu, School of Journalism and Communications
Jason Blanchard | "Strategic Ambiguity and Taiwan: Time for a New Policy?" | Mentor: Yeling Tan, Political Science
Chandlor Henderson | "400-Year Nightmare" | Mentor: Camilla Mortensen, School of Journalism and Communications
Stephenie Kerr | "Why is Biophilia not a Staple in Workplace Design?" | Mentor: Meredith Jacobson, Sociology
Christine Pearson | "The Effects of Catholicism on Women's Reproductive Rights in Visayan Philippines" | Mentor: Holly Moulton, Environmental Studies
Portland Internship Experience
Summer 2023
Denise Akabey | Portland Tennis & Education
Paitra Daniels | Tech Association of Oregon
Tim Kong | Portland Gear
Grace Lee | Sabin Community Development
Ximena Lemus Hernandez | Oregon School Based Health Alliance
Alyssa Mayeri | MetroEast Community Media
Paige Nearman | Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians
Sophia Olivares | Fernland Studios
Jonathan Vasquez | Catholic Charities of Oregon
Summer 2022
Yazzie Chee | Urban League
Dani Cortes | Latino Network
Stephanie Gonzalez Villanueva | Hacienda
Chandlor Henderson | Portland Art Museum
Anna Hothai | Glad Rags
Julia Johannesen | Simple X
Pablo Manriquez-Luna | Portland Gear
Asia Petrus | Lan Su Garden
Krystal Rosas-Avalos | The Commons Law Center