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  Bridget Vincent

  Bridget Vincent

  Bridget Vincent was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is currently determining the relationship of a morphologically distinct Croaker fish population to other populations in its genus under Dr. Eric Hoffman. She has also studied pit viper phylogenetics and systematics under Dr. Christopher Parkinson. In the future, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in marine biology.

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  Tenesha Watson

  Tenesha Watson

  Tenesha is a third-year undergraduate student. Currently, she is majoring in finance and working towards a minor in information technology. Her research interests include, financial risk assessment and fraud prevention. These research projects have enhanced her communication, presentation and problem-solving skills. She hopes to become a risk assessor and conduct even more in-depth research at the postgraduate level.

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  Shamon Williams

  Shamon Williams

  Shamon Williams is a student at the University of Central Florida majoring in psychology and english. She grew up in a small town of Rockledge, Florida. Her interests include: Psychology, creative writing, aerial dance, marching band, film and television and acting.

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  Joel Abad

  Joel Abad

  Joel Abad is a junior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in health sciences pre-clinical and minoring in health services administration. Joel intends to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. Since January 2016 Joel is the head researcher in his laboratory, where they work on sensors ranging from color-changing films that rapidly indicate the presence of ozone to more compact forms for sensitive quantitation of ozone. Joel has planned and executed scientific workshops and conferences for the nonprofit organization Society for Scientific Advancement. These workshops promote science initiatives in Jamaica among children in an effort raise interest in STEM careers.

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  Andrew Aboujaoude

  Andrew Aboujaoude

  Andrew Aboujaoude is an honors student and a LEAD Scholar at the University of Central Florida. Andrew is majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in political science. His current research focuses on molecular parasitology and important malarial kinases, in hopes of uncovering vital protein interaction networks. Andrew has also conducted research in the field of rhetoric and writing, where he explicated the persuasive elements of ISIS propaganda. He has volunteered in the Orlando Regional Medical Center’s cancer center, cardiac unit, neurological unit and emergency department. Recently, Andrew started a nonprofit organization Hearts for the Homeless Orlando that aims to decrease hypertension incidence rates in homeless communities throughout the world. For his charitable work, Andrew was awarded the Clinton Global Initiative University Scholarship, the Heart of UCF Award, and the Resolution Fellowship. Andrew intends to pursue a career in medicine as a physician for the United States of America military.

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  Sarah Alam

  Sarah Alam

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  Caroline Artega

  Caroline Artega

  Caroline Arteaga pursues a major in mathematics at UCF. Previously, she dabbled in chemistry, psychology, and Latin American studies as possible academic centers. Even though she did not continue in these fields, the varied experiences culminated to a bare desire for knowledge. Understanding information at its most basic core, i.e. “pure” math, was her passion. Understanding numbers would allow her form relationships with other subjects. Caroline is a member of the Exoplanets Research Group at UCF. Here, she is learning computational programming to unscramble the exoplanet data transmitted from the Spitzer Space Telescope. Caroline hopes to pursue a doctoral degree in mathematics to then conduct research professionally, whether in astronomy, psychology, computational systems or any science that could benefit from this knowledge.

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  Paris Bishop

  Paris Bishop

  Paris initiated her journey into the field of aerospace engineering Fall 2016. She has conducted research within material science and engineering. This research gave her the extra push to minor in mathematics and material science. Paris is part of RAMP. In the future, she hopes to perform additional research in the field of material science and engineering- pursuing a master's degree in that area of study. She want to work for an aerospace company. like NASA and become an astronaut. She would love to travel around the world for her work, but she will gladly take outer space instead.

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  Christy Box

  Christy Box

  Christy Box is a senior majoring in anthropology at the University of Central Florida. She is an undergraduate researcher focusing on the effects of institutional support of endangered languages on language ideologies in Ireland and Scotland, for which she received several research grants and awards. She has also been the Isle of Man Small Countries Fellow and the Global Connections Scholar on Refugees with UCF Global Perspectives. Box plans to pursue a doctoral degree in cultural anthropology and work in applied anthropology for international organizations. Her research interests include endangered languages, media representations of marginalized peoples, disability studies, and human rights. She has completed fieldwork in Ireland and Scotland and has proficiency in six languages. Aside from her academic and research pursuits, she is a filmmaker and freelance writer.

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  Robert Caldwell

  Robert Caldwell

  Robert Caldwell moved to Orlando, FL from Eastern Tennessee to study at the University of Central Florida. A lifelong lover of the arts, he enrolled in history and social science education programs. Robert's excitement for history pushed him toward a career in education. His goals include obtaining a high school teaching position, while pursuing a master's in history. Currently, Robert partakes in research on the history of South Africa where he analyzes the Apartheid era. The career path that Robert is pursuing is his dream and he want to push himself further within his chosen field.

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  Erica Castaneda

  Erica Castaneda

  Erica Castaneda is majoring in biomedical sciences with a minor in psychology. Until recently, Erica was the Director of Volunteer Affairs for the Honors Congress at UCF. Her passion to help animals, inspires her to become involved in conservation efforts and pursue veterinary school. This past summer, she interned at Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge where she helped rehabilitate Central Florida’s wildlife and she is currently working as a kennel technician at University Animal Hospital. She will participate in a study abroad trip to South Africa’s Nkosinathi Community Center in order to assist conservation efforts on the Nambiti Game Reserve.

  Erica works with the Science and Planning in Conservation Ecology (SPICE), conducting independent research since September 2016. Her research investigates the effect of traffic noise on Cuban Tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) tadpole feeding behavior. After veterinary school, Erica intends to continue her involvement in conservation efforts through research and volunteer work.

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  Meredith Cohen

  Meredith Cohen

  Meredith Cohen majors in communication science and disorders. She completed her AA degree at Florida State University. Meredith interns at The Fountains Assisted Living Facility. Her work in the Behavioral Analysis Memory Care Program assists residents suffering from memory loss. Meredith is also participating in a research project funded by the National Institute of Health. She works closely with Dr. Kent-Walsh teaching preschoolers with communication disorders to use augmentative alternate communication through iPad application. Her goal for her next research project is to work with a different age group suffering from another disease that correlates with speech production. Meredith intends to earn a master’s degree in speech language pathology, in order to work with various age groups. She hopes to have experience across the spectrum of her field.

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  Tithonas Davis

  Tithonas Davis

  Tithonas Davis attends the University of Central Florida and majors in environmental engineering. Inspired by the world around him, Tithonas strives to become an engineer in the field of wastewater treatment, pursuing both research and consulting. His primary research interest is the development of renewable energy to create a world powered by renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly energy sources. He will continue his education to earn a master’s and doctorate in environmental engineering.

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  Michael Dieffenbach

  Michael Dieffenbach

  Michael Dieffenbach is a junior in the College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida. He is studying biomedical sciences and hopes to earn an MD/PhD in order to pursue a career in medical research. His research interests include genetics, cancer, microbiology, and drug development. Currently, Michael is performing research in a genetics lab at UCF. There, he is investigating the genetics behind the cellular transport of chemicals called polyamines in order to develop more effective cancer medications. Michael’s undergraduate honors thesis involves developing a more effective assay to screen genes for their involvement in polyamine transport.

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  Andrew Ezigbo

  Andrew Ezigbo

  Andrew Ezigbo is a junior, majoring in sport and exercise science, at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. He completed an Associate in Arts degree from Valencia College, Orlando, in May 2016, prior to transferring to UCF in June 2016. Since enrolling at UCF, Andrew has actively pursued leadership and volunteer opportunities. He volunteers weekly at the Knights Helping Knights Pantry, a service organization affiliated with UCF. He is also a Research and Mentoring Program-Transfer Student (RAMP-T) Scholar, and a Lead Out Loud Scholar in UCF’s Lead Scholars Program. Andrew’s future graduate school plans include completion of a Master’s in Sport and Exercise Science at UCF. He also hopes to earn a doctoral degree in exercise physiology. His areas of research interest include health promotion and wellness.

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  Muhammad Farooq

  Muhammad Farooq

  Muhammad Farooq was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. After finishing middle school, he moved to the United States. He is currently a senior at the University of Central Florida, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and minoring in health sciences. His passion for medicine and making a difference in the lives of people motivates him to participate in various community services and medicine related extracurricular activities, such as shadowing and attending robotic surgery symposiums. Muhammad Farooq is currently studying the effect of growth factors in the tumor microenvironment and how that could impact esophageal cancer development-under the guidance of Dr. Claudia Andl. After finishing his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, he plans to go to Medical school and become a physician.

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  Lauren Gandy

  Lauren Gandy

  Lauren Gandy is a graduating senior at the University of Central Florida majoring in forensic science – biochemistry track and French, with minors in chemistry and biomedical xciences. Her research interests focus on chemical and biological warfare agents, specifically prevention and detection technologies. Gandy’s goal is to attend a chemistry graduate program, then working for the Department of Defense in the chemical agent preparedness division after obtaining her doctorate. Currently, she works at the National Center for Forensic Science as an undergraduate research assistant in a trace analytical laboratory focusing on gunshot residue detection techniques. Additionally, Gandy is the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellow at the UCF Global Perspectives Office, focusing on chemical warfare agents and nuclear proliferation. She also participates in extracurricular activities such as the President’s Leadership Council, the American Chemical Society, and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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  Stephanie Gaspar

  Stephanie Gaspar

  Stephanie Gaspar is a senior at the University of Central Florida where she majors in biology with a double minor in environmental studies and health sciences. She is a research assistant at the Aquatic Biogeochemistry Laboratory at UCF, focusing on wetlands research. Here she works with various analytical chemistry techniques to study the effects of climate change on wetlands and examine the biochemical effects of oyster restoration in the Indian River Lagoon. Stephanie is currently researching the nutrient dynamics related to restoration efforts at Lake Tohopekaliga. Her intention is to pursue a career in botany, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture and medicinal plants. She is currently a member of the Florida Native Plant Society and is involved with the American Farmland Trust.

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  Michelle Gaynor

  Michelle Gaynor

  Michelle Gaynor is majoring in biology at the University of Central Florida, with a particular interest in plant biology. She is involved in a research project under the mentorship of Dr. Eric Hoffman and Dr. Linda Walters. The project evaluates the impact of current restoration efforts on genetic diversity of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, used for shoreline stabilization, within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida. As a member of the Student Undergraduate Research Council and the GEMS (Girls EXCELing in Math and Science), Gaynor is dedicated to increasing female presence in the sciences and overall helping students engage in undergraduate research. She will pursue a graduate degree to continue addressing research questions. Gaynor hopes to have a career in academia and mentor the next generation of scientist.

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  Alexis Ghersi

  Alexis Ghersi

  Alexis Ghersi is a senior student at the University of Central Florida pursuing a baccalaureate degree in Biomedical Sciences as well as a Spanish minor. Currently, she is involved with neurodegenerative research at the Burnett School for Biomedical Sciences as well as clinical research at Arnold Palmer’s Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Ms. Ghersi has cofounded Hearts for the Homeless Orlando, a nonprofit organization that provides blood pressure screenings to homeless individuals at local food shares. She will be graduating in May 2017 and plans to attend medical school the following August. Throughout medical school, Ms. Ghersi will participate in laboratory and clinical research as well as volunteer her time to the underserved community. Ms. Ghersi also strives to be a pediatrician. After her medical school training, Ms. Ghersi will be a physician for the U.S. Air Force.

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  Miguel Gil

  Miguel Gil

  Miguel Gil was born in Bogota, Colombia on September 20, 1995. His mother and father brought him to Orlando, Florida at the age of 5, where he has lived ever since. Miguel attended Freedom High School, where he spent his time focusing on his academics as well as folk style wrestling. He is majoring in biomedical sciences with a minor in health sciences at the University of Central Florida. He spends his time researching Plasmodium falciparum and understanding molecular and cell biology techniques used to elucidate the cell signaling networks in the parasite. In 2016, he was accepted into medical school. Miguel plans to become an Oncologist.

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  Emily Gipson

  Emily Gipson

  Emily is majoring in biology and minoring in statistics. Her research focuses on the spatiotemporal distribution of dwarf seahorses, mercury concentration in blue crabs, and integrated conceptual ecosystem models. Emily’s attraction to marine ecology originates from her love of the ocean and the quantitative aspects of ecological research. Her research interests now broadly include the use of modeling and quantitative methods to improve the management and conservation of valuable marine fisheries. In the future, she will attend graduate school in order to strengthen her background in fisheries management. Emily intends to pursue a career in academia because she believes it is a great platform for mentorship and public advocacy.

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  Melissa Gomez

  Melissa Gomez

  Melissa Gomez is originally from New York but calls Central Florida home. She is graduating from UCF with her bachelor’s in anthropology in May 2017 and is attending graduate school there as well, focusing on biological archaeology. Her current research in Turks and Caicos looks at agriculture and domestication. Her research interests involve the diet, death rituals, and disease contraction of peoples both past and present- focusing on the biological implications of these topics. Her intent is to work in all areas of the world, specializing in isotopic analysis of organic matter in bones, skin, hair, and nails to discover past life ways dealing with diet and disease. Melissa hopes to make new genetic discoveries that shed light on current populations and will soon start active work in Jordan and Turkey. She plans to volunteer her time to aid in the recovery effort of deceased individuals from both natural disasters (DMORT) and crimes against humanity.

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  Ari Hadar

  Ari Hadar

  Ari Hadar was born in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, but moved to Weston, Florida at the age of eight. He is majoring in biomedical sciences with the hopes of becoming a medical doctor, particularly an oncologist. Over the past year, he has been conducting independent research within the Environmental Engineering Department, in an effort to reduce carcinogen exposure in drinking water. This experience assured him that he wants to continue conducting research for the foreseeable future in order to remain on the cutting edge of science and contribute to the scientific community.

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  Samuel Harris

  Samuel Harris

  Samuel is majoring in biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida. He is particularly interested in molecular biology and has conducted research for the past two years under the mentorship of Dr. Ratna Chakrabarti. Their project focuses on prostate cancer. Samuel has received multiple undergraduate grants and won the Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. He has volunteered for three years at a children’s hospital and does outreach work for those struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism within the local community. Samuel plans to pursue a medical degree, specializing in endocrinology.