UCF Research and Mentoring Program Scholars

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Gilarys Garcia

Gilarys Garcia

Gilarys was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She is an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the UCF Marriage and Family Research Institute. Her research interests are in family dynamics.She is currently working on a research about dyadic coping, emotional regulation and psychological distress in Millennial couples. Her mentor is Dr. Sejal Barden. He plans to pursue her Master's Degree in Social Work and her license to become a LCSW. Other disciplines that Interest her are education, and different counseling fields.
Yerika Germosen

Yerika Germosen

Yerika Germosen is a junior majoring in Psychology. She is part of the Burnett Honors College and a Research Assistant for the Adult Development and Decision Lab. She was selected as the Spring 2018 Small Countries Fellow for the Global Perspectives Office and is currently working with Dr. Charles Negy on a project that focuses on social identity and cognitive flexibility, which will transform into an Honors in the Major Thesis. Yerika is also the Vice-President for the Multicultural Psychological Student Association.
Dylan Grubb

Dylan Grubb

Dylan Grubb was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology. His passion for spreading education about the resourcefulness and wonders of insects has led him to study and expand outreach in entomology. Dylan has previously researched the potential to use termites as a source of poultry feed and is currently researching the partitioning behavior of Sceliphron caementarium under the guidance of Dr. Barbara Sharanowski. He plans to obtain his M.S. in Entomology and become an insect museum curator.
Thomas Hawkins

Thomas Hawkins

Thomas Hawkins was born in Tallahassee, FL and moved to Orlando, FL to attend the University of Central Florida. He is currently majoring in Biomedical Sciences and plans to attend dental school after graduation. Thomas is currently studying the different fluoride levels in municipal tap water with bottled water and how it could affect oral health.
Ryan Horton

Ryan Horton

My undergraduate major is Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Economics. I currently work in the Complex Structures and Mechanics of Solids (COSMOS) Laboratory at U.C.F. under Dr. Ranajay Ghosh. My plans for my career are set on enrolling in a master’s program for Aerospace Engineering, and eventually entering into the industry either during or after graduate school. As of right now, my time in the COSMOS Lab is the only research experience I have, not considering the engineering challenges and projects I have had the opportunity to participate in prior to U.C.F. This research has a main focus in both the material sciences and the mechanical analysis of scaled substrates fabricated with the purpose of enhancing their properties.
Andjie Jeudy

Andjie Jeudy

Andjie Jeudy is a junior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences. Andjie intends to attend medical school and become an Obstetrician-Gynecologist. Andjie has been in Dr. Tigno’s lab since summer 2017, where she works on creating knockdown in house dust mites asthma receptor genes CD36 and LMAN1. Andjie is a justice in the largest Student Government Association in the country, where she protects students’ rights by hearing parking appeals, sitting on student conduct appeals, eligibility appeals and training and mentoring new justices. Andjie volunteers at shepherd’s hope free clinic where she helps patient understand their diagnostic, understanding Dr’s note and scheduling visits. Andjie is very passionate about women’s health and hope to learn more about this field by shadowing Obstetrician-Gynecologist.
Jamal Khayat

Jamal Khayat

Jamal Khayat is an undergraduate at the University of Central Florida with a major in Physics and minor in Mathematics. He plans on pursuing a PhD in theoretical High-Energy Physics with his ultimate goal being to make meaningful contributions to humanity through research and entrepreneurship. Currently, he is working on a reformulation of the theory of Special Relativity using K-Calculus.
Minh-Chau Le

Minh-Chau Le

Minh-Chau Le is a senior at the University of Central Florida (UCF). She is majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and double minoring in Materials Science and Engineering, and Music. Minh-Chau currently works in the UCF Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Cancer Research Lab. She spent a summer conducting bioengineering research at Harvard University. In the future, she would like to pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, and start her own company making affordable medical devices. In her spare time, Minh-Chau enjoys singing, drumming, learning guitar, playing percussion, hiking, and especially, trying out new restaurants with friends.
Genesis Lenis

Genesis Lenis

I am an undergraduate Psychology student at the University of Central Florida. My research experiences lies on students' decision-making and life goals as well as cognition and physiological measurements.
Bria Mayo

Bria Mayo

Bria Mayo was born and raised in Southern California. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology. She is passionate in the Industrial Organizational Psychology to find alternative methods to recruit and attract potential employee in the workplace. Mayo is currently involved in research at the Team Performance Lab at IST. The Team Performance Lab has emphasis on the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). In the Team Performance Lab, Mayo is under the guidance of Dr. Florian Jentsch. She plans to obtain her Ph.D. in the Industrial Organizational Psychology, and plans to pursue are career in consulting with an emphasis in recruitment.
Daniel Murdock

Daniel Murdock

Daniel Murdock was born and raised in Central Florida and has had a lifelong interest in the sciences. He is currently expressing, purifying, and characterizing key metabolic enzymes in Clostridium difficile as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. William Self's lab. He plans to pursue an MD degree and become a physician.
Jessica Needham

Jessica Needham
Morgan O’Donnell

Morgan O'Donnell

Morgan O’Donnell is a junior in the College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida. She is studying Biomedical Sciences under the Molecular Microbiology track and hopes to earn a PhD in systems biology. Her research interests include synthetic biology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Currently, Morgan is performing research in Dr. Ken Teter’s lab where she is investigating the mechanism of cholera toxin (CT) disassembly by a chaperone enzyme, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Morgan is also a part of the Honors in the Major program at UCF and will defend her thesis on the same topic in fall 2018.
Alexandra Orr

Alexandra Orr

Alexandra Orr is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Central Florida. She was born and raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida and she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences. Alexandra is a member of the Burnett Honors College and is a RAMP Scholar currently performing research under Dr. Steven Ebert. Their research involves the study of stress induced cardiomyopathy, specifically Takotsubo Syndrome. Alexandra is also a Biomedical Sciences Peer Counselor and a Crisis Text Hotline Volunteer. She hopes to obtain a Master's Degree in Genetic Counseling.
Rachel Perez

Rachel Perez

Rachel is a transfer student from Miami Dade College, and currently a senior at the University of Central Florida finishing her Bachelors of Science in Psychology. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Psychological Society, and the Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP). She was a former Transferring into Professional Success Leader for the office of Student Development and Enrollment services, where she developed workshops for multicultural students. Her research interests include the underlying factors in the development and treatment of depression, anxiety, and other related disorders. She is interested in integrative therapeutic approaches for the treatment and prevention of these mental health disorders. Rachel currently holds a research position in the Mood, Personality, and Cognition (MPACT) clinical lab with Dr. Jeffrey Bedwell. The research she is currently working on is looking at the possible relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines in saliva with depressed mood and negative symptoms in psychiatric disorders. They are examining indications of constricted affect, motivation, and reward processing through pupil and facial recognition components, as well ask computer tasks. She hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and become a practicing clinician, as well as an active researcher.
Abigail Pierre

Abigail Pierre

Currently I am a junior at the University of Central Florida. I am pursing a bachelor's degree in biology. I am a undergraduate researcher. I am an alumni of T-L.EA.R.N(Learning Environment and Academic Research Network) cohort 2016-2017.This is an NSF funded program at UCF. I joined RAMP(Research and Mentoring program) another reach program in the Fall of 2017. I am in Dr. Joshua King's Lab an associate professor in the biology department. I am working on a sole project regarding the co-occurrence of two non-native invasive species of ants. I presented at FURC (Florida Undergraduate research conference) and SURE(Showcase of Undergraduate research) in the spring of 2018. I aspire to obtain a PhD in a field in relation to biology.
Jose Rivera

Jose Rivera

I am a junior student perusing a Bachelor's of Science in Economics at the University of Central Florida. Currently, I serve as a Research Assistant for Fernando Rivera, PhD in Sociology, at UCF. As of now, we are working in a research study focused in the emergency management process in Puerto Rico during hurricane Maria. My undergraduate research is done as part of my formation as a Scholar of the Research And Mentoring Program at UCF. Also, I serve as the President of the Puerto Rican Student Association at UCF where I apply concepts learned through my research experiences. My engagement as a student goes from the academics, to the research, and finally to the action.
Mathias Rodriguez

Mathias Rodriguez

Mathias Rodriguez was born and raised in Panama City, Panama. He previously graduated from the University of Florida with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. After working two years in the public accounting industry, Mathias decided to return to school to pursue his passion in materials science by majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida. Mathias is currently researching polyelectrolyte complexes to synthesize silk-inspired biomimetic nanostructure materials that would be durable and strong enough so that it could be used to make a variety of materials like spacesuits. He plans to obtain his Ph.D. in biomolecular engineering and become a college professor.
Brianna Santamaria

Brianna Santamaria

I am an undergraduate researcher at the University of Central Florida. I currently work with the parasitic fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis that infects and manipulates Carpenter ants. My research includes finding the optimum conditions to grow O. unilateralis in the ant host under laboratory conditions, and also the most effective way to grow and store the fungus inside the lab. I would like to continue working with parasitic fungus in graduate school, but I want to work with plant hosts instead of ants. I plan on obtaining a master’s degree in Plant Pathology with an emphasis on fungal-plant interactions and pursue a career in research.
Adam Searles

Adam Searles

Adam is a fourth generation Floridian and avid tennis player. He was born in raised in Palm Bay, Florida on the Indian River Lagoon. Growing up he developed a love for coastal ecosystems and the beauty of nature. He spent all of his time growing up outdoors playing tennis, fishing, hiking, camping, and hanging out at the beach. He decided to attend UCF to study marine ecology in order to help preserve coastal ecosystems across the globe.
Ryan Skelly

Ryan Skelly

I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida to a blue-collar family. I have two brothers, one older, one younger. Growing up I was constantly playing baseball and football. In high school, I wasn’t much of a scholar so once I graduated I moved out and worked a blue-collar job for a year. After twelve months of hard work, I realized that the blue-collar workforce wasn’t for me and decided to back to school. At Saint Johns River State college, I focused on my coursework and started to become the scholar I am today.
Alea Sterling

Alea Sterling

Alea is from Fort-Lauderdale, Florida and is a Senior at the University of Central Florida. She is currently majoring in health science: Pre-clinical. Her research involves analyzing the relationship between the aggregation and structure of Amyloid-Beta peptide. This research will elucidate the onset of Alzheimer’s and contribute to possible treatment. By providing a structural mechanism of formation of these highly cytotoxic aggregation, we will be able to better understand its behavior. Alea plans to pursue a career in Dentistry where she would later specialize to be an Oral Surgeon.
Cameron Taylor

Cameron Taylor

My name is Cameron Taylor and I am currently studying Computer Science at the Univeristy of Central Florida. I am currently working as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Alexander Mantzaris. My main work is to assist Dr. Mantzaris on a project called SocialSim. The project is funded by a grant from DARPA and has several principle investigators from multiple universities, however the lead investigator is Dr. Ivan Garibay from the University of Central Florida. My role within the project is to help understand the social dynamics present between users on GitHub by viewing the interactions of users and repositories as a network. I am also currently working on a paper that looks into the impact of social media content pushing upon users and how the choice of algorithm for content selection may effect polarization of a community. In the future I plan to attended graduate school to pursue a PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in artificial intelligence. I would like to continue doing work research general AI and also potentially start my own AI consulting company.
Michelle Verbitskaya

Michelle Verbitskaya

Michelle Verbitskaya is a junior majoring in English Language Arts Education Track. She graduated with the Honors Scholar distinction from Seneff Honors College at Valencia College, Orlando, in May 2017, prior to transferring to UCF in August of the same year. Since enrolling at UCF, Michelle has actively pursued research, leadership, and volunteer opportunities. She is a Research and Mentoring Program-Transfer (RAMP-T) Scholar working on her project titled The English Language Acquisition Through Music. Michelle is also a part of the LEAD Scholars Program Civic Engagement Track. She regularly volunteers for Fleet Farming, an urban agriculture program dedicated to transforming private lawns into micro-farms. Michelle’s future graduate school plans include completion of a Master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language and a PhD in a related field.
Emily Vernet

Emily Vernet

Emily is a junior originally from South Florida before she moved to Orlando to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Health Science Pre-Clinical at the University of Central Florida. She is currently conducting an independent research study on insurance coverage and how it relates to college health and academics. Her research interests include medical sociology, racial and ethnic disparities in health, college health, and educational-related health outcomes. In addition to her research, she serves as a mentor for middle school girls aiming to foster leadership qualities to break the glass ceiling and volunteers at a clinic that provides health services to the underserved. Emily plans to attend medical school where she will pursue a career in Obstetrician and Gynecology specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She hopes to become an advocate for women health and to merge the gap between health disparities in underserved communities.