Research from students across many academic disciplines in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences was highlighted at the first Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 30.
These scholars represent the next generation of scientists, communicators, educators and policy leaders, and show that research in agriculture and life sciences is as broad as it is impactful.
Each student in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program worked with a faculty mentor throughout the academic year, developing a proposal, conducting research and presenting their findings through a poster or oral presentation at the spring symposium.
“This program is about providing students with a framework and support to ask questions and dig into subjects they’re passionate about,” said Craig Coates, Ph.D., associate dean for programmatic success for the College. “It’s not about the major, it’s about the curiosity.”
Meet the scholars
Below are the 2024-2025 Undergraduate Research Scholars, their project titles, their faculty mentors and brief overviews of their work:
Prineet Anand
Project title: Fluctuating Asymmetry Reveals Effects of Disturbance on Amphibians
Faculty mentor: Lee Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Anand studied developmental asymmetry in three frog species across urban and rural areas in East Texas. His research suggests that environmental stress from pollution may influence developmental stability with implications for amphibian conservation.
Khadija Ayesha
Project title: Effect of pH on Monascus purpureus Pigment Production
Faculty mentor: Seockmo Ku, Ph.D., Department of Food Science and Technology
Ayesha investigated how pH levels influence pigment production in a food-grade fungus. Her work helps optimize conditions for producing natural food colorants while minimizing toxin contamination.
Hanna Bretthorst
Project title: Mercury Levels of Nonmigratory Passerines: Potential Local Contamination Sources
Faculty mentor: Jacquelyn Grace, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Bretthorst examined mercury levels in birds near an industrial fire training facility. She found preliminary evidence that proximity to the site may influence mercury exposure, raising important questions about local environmental health.
Caitlin Castro
Project title: Degrees of Change: Influencing Perceived Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior Through Applied Learning
Faculty mentor: Elizabeth Silvy, Ph.D., Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management
Castro surveyed natural resource students and recent graduates and found that applied, hands-on learning led to increased knowledge and stronger pro-environmental intentions.
Catherine Chaison
Project title: The Impact of Selection and Drift on De Novo Gene Evolution and Retention
Faculty mentor: Claudio Casola, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Chaison developed a bioinformatics pipeline to study how newly formed genes become fixed in different species. Her work helps clarify the evolutionary forces behind genetic innovation.
Avery Dean
Project title: The Impact of Xylitol on Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults
Faculty mentor: Karen Beathard, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Dean conducted a randomized control trial to measure the effect of xylitol supplementation on cognitive performance. Her study found that low-dose xylitol may enhance focus and attention.
Alberto Espinoza
Project title: Character Development in Youth Sports
Faculty mentors: Andrea Ettekal, Ph.D., and Chad Nelson, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
Espinoza analyzed data from a youth sports tournament and found that spectator behavior accounted for more character infractions than athletes or coaches, suggesting new points for intervention.
Ellie Goen
Project title: The Impact of Meal Timing on PCOS Risk During Adolescence
Faculty mentor: Heidi Vanden Brink, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Goen found associations between morning nutrient intake and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS, symptoms, indicating that early-life eating patterns may influence endocrine health in adolescents.
Maci Guay
Project title: H.I.G.H.: How Information, Graphics and Habits Shape Cannabis Consumers
Faculty mentors: Holli Leggette, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, and Benjamin Montemayor, Ph.D., Texas A&M School of Public Health
Guay explored the influence of packaging design and labeling on cannabis product perceptions among young adults. Her work highlights gaps in consumer understanding and regulatory oversight.
Luis Hurtado
Project title: Environmental DNA Detection of an Endangered Moss
Faculty mentor: Daniel Spalink, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Hurtado is using environmental DNA to search for a rare moss species along the South Llano River. His approach offers a non-invasive alternative for monitoring plants in inaccessible habitats.
Jennie Kim
Project title: Chemoprotective Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Colonic Organoids
Faculty mentor: Robert Chapkin, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Kim tested how butyrate and propionate affect organoid growth and gene expression. Her results support their potential as dietary agents in colon cancer prevention.
Kimberly Long
Project title: Let’s Welcome Artificial Intelligence, the New Boss of the Hospitality Industry
Faculty mentor: Robert Huy Gip, Ph.D., Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism
Long examined how hospitality employees adapt to working with AI tools. Her research suggests that employee training and adaptability are key to service innovation.
Morgan Marburger
Project title: Water Instructional Interventions and Climate Smart Agriculture Careers
Faculty mentor: Robert Strong, Ph.D., Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications
Marburger evaluated a set of nationally funded seminars that promoted water sustainability and agricultural innovation. She found that student participants, especially women and minorities, reported increased knowledge and career interest.
Savli Patel
Project title: Sleep Behaviors, Melatonin and PCOS Risk
Faculty mentor: Heidi Vanden Brink, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Patel studied sleep patterns and melatonin levels in adolescent girls. Her work suggests that early morning preference and increased sleepiness may be linked to hormone levels and PCOS risk, but overnight melatonin levels showed no clear connection in the small-sample-size study.
John Cody Poole
Project title: Effects of Footbaths on Reducing Bacteria on Boot Covers in Poultry Facilities
Faculty mentor: Morgan Farnell, Ph.D., Department of Poultry Science
Poole evaluated bacterial contamination on footwear using different disinfectant protocols. His research shows that longer contact times significantly reduce microbial load.
Macie Powell
Project title: Pollen Tube Germination Assays in Cotton
Faculty mentor: David Stelly, Ph.D., Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Powell developed new solid and liquid media to study cotton pollen, for different uses in research. Her work enables research on plant reproduction and genetics.
Nicole Rosenfeld
Project title: Identification of De Novo Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana
Faculty mentor: Claudio Casola, Ph.D., Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Rosenfeld mapped de novo genes across 20 plants in the Brassicaceae family. Her project contributes to a better understanding of gene evolution in plants.
Aidan Souder
Project title: Subcellular Localization of Melon Aroma Enzymes
Faculty mentor: Hisashi Koiwa, Ph.D., Department of Horticultural Sciences
Souder identified the location of the enzymes responsible for undesirable aromas in melons. His findings support future efforts to genetically improve flavor profiles.
Emma Thomas
Project title: Organophosphorus Flame Retardants Exposure and Metabolic Health in Mice
Faculty mentor: Chia-Shan “Jenny” Wu, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Thomas studied how chemical flame retardants affect metabolism in male and female mice. Her findings point to sex-specific responses and call for inclusive toxicology research.
Anna Tillinghast
Project title: The Impact of Xylitol on Cognitive Performance
Faculty mentor: Karen Beathard, Ph.D., Department of Nutrition
Tillinghast’s study supports the idea that low doses of xylitol may improve cognitive function. She emphasized the need for larger samples in future trials.
Tara Lanning
Project title: Nosema Infection in Honeybees and Spore Storage Methods
Faculty mentor: Juliana Rangel, Ph.D., Department of Entomology
Lanning tested different storage methods for a honeybee pathogen. Her findings yield clues on how to best maintain viable spores of nosema ceranae for future disease research.
Sara Olivia Trevino
Project title: Developing a Bovine Trachea Organoid Model for the Study of Influenza
Faculty mentor: Yuhua Farnell, Ph.D., Department of Poultry Science
Trevino successfully created a physiological model of bovine primary tracheal cells. This model will help study how viruses like H5N1 interact with cattle at the molecular level.
Annemarie Williams
Project title: AI Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Engagement in Hospitality
Faculty mentor: Po-Ju Chen, Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism
Williams used service blueprinting to map how artificial intelligence systems affect customer satisfaction. Her work offers guidance for AI integration in high-contact industries.
Students interested in joining the 2025-2026 Undergraduate Research Scholars cohort can submit their applications this summer. The program is open to current sophomores and juniors with graduation dates between May 2026 and May 2027. Students will receive research training and mentoring, participate in professional development activities, and will present their research at the 2026 research symposium.
Ready to start researching?
Discover how the Undergraduate Student Research Program can elevate your undergraduate learning experience today.
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