New McNair Scholars
Zeb Arshad
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2026
Victoria Guerrero
Hometown: Flatonia, TX
Major: Global Studies
Graduation: Spring 2025
Katelyn Perez
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Katia Rivera
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Global Studies
Graduation: Spring 2025
Isaac Cavazos
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Jeila Rios
Hometown: Manchester, MD
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Nereida Carrillo
Hometown: Brownsville, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Jackeline Guajardo
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Political Science
Graduation: Fall 2024
Lor Smith
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Spring 2025
Tatiana Ruvalcaba
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Major: Biology & Chemistry
Graduation: Spring 2026
Lizzie Guzman
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025
Current McNair Scholars
Aaliyah Gutierrez-Cano
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2024
利用紫外诱变技术制备酿酒酵母09-448耐乙醇突变体
Research directed by Dr. Claire Edwards, School of Natural Sciences
The collapse of numerous ecosystems as a result of climate change prompts society to stop using fossil fuels as an energy source and, instead, use alternative fuels, like biofuels that are made from the fermentation of biomass, such as pectin-rich biomass. Although the fermentation of pectin-rich biomass is costly, the overall process can be made more inexpensive with the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 09-448, a yeast strain that produces its own pectinase and obviates the need for some commercial enzymes that are used to catalyze the breakdown of polysaccharides found in the cell wall of pectin-rich biomass into monosaccharides for yeast to ferment. However, 09-448 cannot yet be used industrially because it cannot withstand common industrial stressors, such as increased ethanol concentration, temperature, osmotic pressures, and changing pH conditions. To produce an ethanol-resistant mutant capable of surviving under fermentation conditions, 09-448 was exposed to UV radiation for up to three minutes. Potential mutants were then screened for ethanol resistance by measuring their growth with a plate reader in ethanol concentrations up to 6%. Of all 12 mutants that were screened, eight performed better than 09-448 at both 4% and 6% ethanol concentrations. Mutant 12 seemed the most promising with a final OD of 1.15 au and a minimum generation time of 65 minutes compared to the wild type with a final OD of 0.633 au and a minimum generation time of 70 minutes when grown at an ethanol concentration of 6%.
Ana Rodriguez
Hometown: Pflugerville, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Fall 2023
“Emotional Labor in Parental Relationships and its Effects on College Student’s Mental Health”
Research directed by Dr. Adam McCormick, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Emotional labor, in terms of relationships, is the emotional workload used to upkeep and maintain a healthy connection with another person. Unfortunately, there is not currently a lot of research on how emotional labor affects one’s general well-being. Romantic relationships have been heavily studied however, other relationships, such as familial ones have not. This study aimed to research both of these facets of emotional labor by conducting an online survey. 这是一个相关设计，调查了德克萨斯州中部一所小型文理学院的学生. The purpose of this survey was to measure how much of a correlation, if any, there is between college student’s mental health and emotional labor in parental relationships. The survey provided participants with ten statements about their relationship with a caregiver/parental figure and then asked participants to rank to what degree they agreed with these statements using the Likert Scale. 然后，调查提供了抑郁焦虑压力量表(DASS)中的10个陈述，并要求对这些陈述进行相似的排名. These questions provided a general overview of participants’ emotional labor in parental/caregiver relationships and general mental health. It was hypothesized that there will be a strong negative correlation between one's emotional labor in parental relationships and their score on the DASS.
Stephanie Montero
Hometown: Brownsville, TX
Major: Management
Graduation: Spring 2024
"The Impact of Retail Management Practices on Employee Well-being and Performance"
Research directed by Dr. Kathleen Wilburn, The Bill Munday School of Business
The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of retail management practices on employee well-being and performance and to provide empirical evidence and insights into the effects of these practices. The research will contribute to the existing literature on retail management practices. A comprehensive literature review of past research papers and scholarly articles was conducted. This literature review served as the foundation for the subsequent stages of the research design, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the current state of knowledge in this field with a focus on examining the impact of retail management practices on employee well-being and performance. In this study, well-being was defined as a holistic concept encompassing physical, mental, and emotional aspects of an individual's overall health and satisfaction with their work environment and includes factors such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, stress levels, and overall happiness in the workplace. Performance, in the context of this research, was defined as the ability of employees to consistently meet or exceed performance expectations, achieve work-related goals, and contribute positively to the organization's overall success. Based on the reviewed literature, it was hypothesized that the implementation of effective retail management practices positively impacts employee well-being and performance.
Sofia Flores
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2024
“The Effects of Childhood Emotional Neglect in the Young Adult Student Population”
Research directed by Dr. Adam G. McCormick, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
情感上遥不可及的照顾者所带来的心理困扰可能会伴随一个人直至成年. Scholarship indicates that individuals who experienced childhood emotional neglect and did not feel supported throughout their upbringing are at greater risk for substance abuse and violence as adults. This type of childhood adversity can establish a life-long environment of loneliness and isolation, potentially causing post-traumatic stress, and can make it difficult to navigate emotions in social settings and in intimate relationships. 本研究旨在探讨童年情感忽视对成年大学生大学经历的影响. More specifically, it aims to understand the rate and severity of which these college students have been affected by the behaviors of emotionally unavailable and underdeveloped caregiver(s) during their upbringing. The survey begins by asking questions pertaining to demographics before proceeding to Likert-type questions relating to the participants’ childhood experiences in order to examine the effects of internal (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity) and external variables (e.g., caregiver behaviors) on their college experiences and behaviors as adults. This study could potentially provide further information on how to approach effective ways of utilizing therapy techniques that can guide adults who experienced emotional neglect in childhood to understanding the deeply rooted causes of their behaviors.
Pedro Galvan
Hometown: Harlingen, TX
Major: History
Graduation: Spring 2024
“A Hierarchy of Hate: The Social Hierarchy of the 1920s KKK in Texas”
Research directed by Dr. Christie Wilson and Dr. Laura Wood, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences and History/Government, Tarrant County College Northwest
The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was formed in December of 1865, becoming the most violent hate group in America. The Klan had notable individuals in high leadership positions. With leaders sharing a common community status, there’s a question of why they were chosen. This research analyzes the social hierarchy of the KKK in Texas during the 1920s to see if those who were chosen to lead were qualified based on their dedication, or their social status within the community. Methods used to conduct this research were the analysis of primary sources that included newspapers, chapter documents, and national papers from the chapters in Texas. Secondary sources included books, articles, and academic journals about the Klan’s influence both in Texas and the U.S. 结果表明，三k党以拥有较高社会地位的人作为他们的领导头衔. 这样做的目的是找到在社区中有影响力的人，并利用他们为三k党的利益服务. Klansmen who didn’t hold this status didn’t get the chance to lead. This study concludes that Klansmen who had a high status crawled up in the ranks, leaving others behind.
Danna Perez
Hometown: Spring, TX
Major: Criminal Justice
Graduation: Spring 2024
"Does Race, Gender, and Socioeconomic Class Affect One’s Attitude Towards Crime?"
Research directed by Dr. Lisa L. Holleran, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
As people fight for equality and opportunity there are oftentimes discussions about the structural inequalities found throughout American society and reinforced through the minds of people who judge crime. Race, gender, 社会经济阶层与犯罪的关系是一个许多人拒绝谈论的话题，因为它的敏感性. 尽管先前的研究表明，过去人们犯罪是有一定动机的, our research looked into the current reasons people from different types of backgrounds commit crime today and examined whether crime is committed based on necessity, opportunity, or both. As time progresses, it is crucial to inform people about the reasons different groups of people commit crime today with more current and previous studies. In this research, we explored what factors might motivate these groups to commit crime. Using data collected from students at a private liberal arts university in Central Texas, we took a unique approach to examine the main reasons why people of different races, socioeconomic classes, and genders commit crime today and determine if their background has an influence on it. The main purpose of this study was to add to existing research and theories with current data.
Jessica Gallardo
Hometown: Dripping Springs, TX
Major: International Business and Marketing
Graduation: Spring 2025
"Foreign Aid Allocation: USA vs. Germany, the Top Two International Donor Countries"
Research directed by Dr. Angela Ju, The Bill Munday School of Business
This research analyzed the impact of foreign aid and its influence on government corruption. It aimed to answer the main research question: how do donor countries such as the United States and Germany allocate and leverage foreign financial assistance or support? 对外援助向来因向欠发达国家及其公民伸出援助之手而受到赞扬. However, various international aid case studies demonstrate how both historically and currently, foreign aid has been detrimental to the development and growth of foreign governments. This research analyzed why foreign donors are so eager to donate and investigated their underlying intentions behind donating through a case study of both the United States and Germany, the top two international donor countries.
Makena Gonzalez
Hometown: Georgetown, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience
Graduation: Fall 2023
“Learning to belong again: University belongingness in a post-pandemic society”
Research directed by Dr. Jessica Boyette-Davis, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Belongingness refers to a feeling of connectedness and acceptance. In a university setting, feeling a sense of belonging can influence a student's attitude about their university and their experiences while enrolled there and is implicated in several factors related to student success. Many factors can influence university belongingness such as peer and faculty interactions. 在COVID-19大流行最严重的时候，这些因素显然被打乱了，因为课程突然转向了在线形式, which was shown to negatively influence belongingness. 当前的研究旨在了解从在线/远程课程回归到面对面课程是如何影响归属感的. 运用大学归属感问卷和学生动机期望-价值-成本调查, students were asked to reflect on their experiences during the period of remote learning (2020-2021 academic year) and the year during which all in-person classes resumed (2021-2022). Using paired sample t-tests, belongingness and motivation significantly increased in the 2021-2022 school year from the year prior; however, none of the captured demographic variables were able to explain this increase (e.g., age, gender, living situation, university size, etc.). These results suggest that in-person classes are beneficial to student success, but more work is needed to identify the factors that mediate this relationship.
Karen Denova-Mondragon
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Summer 2024
“Substance Use Frequency in Avoidant Attachment”
Research directed by Dr. Moira Martin, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
After Ainsworth’s Strange Situation experiment was developed, information collected on attachment styles has helped gain understanding of how attachment may be seen throughout different points in life and made remarkable research in the field of Psychology (Berlin et al., 2022). This research in particular is focused on the frequency in substance use between Hispanics and non-Hispanics who have an avoidant attachment. 依恋类型是使用1996年创建的成人依恋问卷(AAQ)来确定的. The use of attachment helps individuals learn about themselves including knowing how to navigate ways to form relationships with others. Attachment impacts all relationships throughout an individual's life (Fitton, 2012). Participants in this study are adults who took an anonymous online survey and have been asked about their attachment tendencies such as their ability to get close to others, and fear of abandonment. Additional questions regarding relationships with biological parents, and substance use were also asked. 本研究的目的是获得有关依恋与物质使用之间关系的实质性知识, in Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Results conclude that Hispanic participants had relatively the same frequency levels of substance use regardless of what their attachment style resulted in. 非西班牙裔参与者报告了较低水平的物质使用和高水平的回避依恋, and higher levels of substance use with lower avoidant attachment.
Milo Dufresne-MacDonald
Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2025
“The Issue of Diversity and Multiculturalism in Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum”
Research directed by Brittney Johnson, Munday Library
A continued lack of diversity in psychology curriculum perpetuates the marginalization of minority groups in society and conveys that the field of psychology places secondary importance on diverse perspectives of psychological issues. There has been consensus regarding increased inclusion of diversity in psychology (Boysen, 2011; Dingel & Sage, 2020; Simoni et al., 1999), but efforts to improve psychology curriculum has remained at the graduate level, 尽管美国心理学协会(APA)建议和支持本科生课程的多样性, 2022). Effective methods for how to incorporate these elements remain obscure, and there is a lack of studies outlining empirically tested teaching practices and assignments that have resulted in increased multicultural awareness among students. The objective of this study was to explore the current inclusion of minority sociodemographic factors within undergraduate psychology curriculum at a small, private, liberal arts university and how students and faculty perceive their integration. A mixed-methods survey approach was used to gather data from faculty and student participants in order to identify gaps in diversity and reveal how minority sociodemographic factors were discussed. 可见性和交叉性理论作为框架来分析从参与者收集的调查数据, as well as syllabi collected from faculty, to reveal where minority sociodemographic factors are salient and where there might be gaps. Differences between student and faculty perceptions in undergraduate psychology curriculum revealed the need for effective strategies for teaching diversity that will guide the field towards best practices for educating future psychologists on the important issues of intersectional diversity.
Mia Sanchez
Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Major: Environmental Biology and Climate Change
Graduation: Spring 2024
“Isolating discrete life cycle stages of a cockroach-infecting Gregarine for gene expression”
Research directed by Dr. Daniel A. Gold, School of Natural Sciences
Gregarines are protistan parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa that parasitize the intestinal epithelia of nearly all invertebrate clades. Blabericola migrator is a species of Gregarine that solely infects Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. Gregarines are most closely related to Cryptosporidians, which infect vertebrates and most notably cause cryptosporidiosis in humans. Gregarines’ similar lifestyle and life cycles to Cryptosporidians, allow the largely understudied parasites to serve as a model for these human infectious parasites. Like Cryptosporidians, Gregarines have distinct internal stages: the sporozoites, trophozoites (immature and mature), and those in syzygy. To date, RNAseq分析只在主要由滋养体组成的内部阶段混合种群中完成. This generalized transcriptome fails to distinguish between the specific genes expressed at each internal stage; therefore, to develop a stage-specific Gregarine transcriptome, 我们分离出了三个不同的内部期Gregarines亚群:(1)未成熟的滋养体附着在宿主上皮细胞上, (2) mature, unattached trophozoites, and (3) those in syzygy. 我们从每个亚群的4个生物重复中分离RNA，并提交样本进行mRNA测序. Each subpopulation’s transcriptome will be compared to one another and to the recently published mixed internal stage’s transcriptome to identify how gene expression is altered throughout the maturation of internal Gregarine parasites. Alongside Dr. Charles Hauser, mapping and analyses of stage-specific gene expressions are underway. Preliminary results show success of RNA extraction with quality scores estimating 99.9% -99.99% correct base sequence and error rates ranging from 0.02% -0.03% for all samples.
Maria Baltazar
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Political Science
Graduation: Spring 2024
“Affordable Housing and Failing Housing Models: Implications of Opportunity”
Research directed by Dr. Brian Smith, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Assisted housing programs in the unites states aim to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing for low in-income households. Increasingly, policymakers have increasingly recognized the importance of these programs in facilitating access to neighborhoods in the United States with lower poverty rates, greater income diversity, and improved opportunities. 美国住房和城市发展部(HUD)目前采用两种战略来实现这些目标. Firstly, place-based programs involve fixed subsidies tied to specific housing units, aiming to revitalize distressed neighborhoods while offering access to higher-opportunity areas. Secondly, people-based assistance, such as housing vouchers, enables recipients to rent housing in the private market, thereby facilitating moves from high-poverty, low-opportunity neighborhoods. Given the current national focus on housing priorities, it is crucial to understand the effectiveness of each approach. This paper will synthesize existing research on housing vouchers, zoning, and land regulations, preservation of affordable housing, integration and opportunity, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Furthermore, it reviews the limited literature available on the implications of opportunity to affordable housing recipients and current housing models, rather than solely focusing on individual outcomes. 这项研究的结果有助于提出一项新的政策倡议，重点是适应性重用和混合使用开发模型.
Cameron Crowder
Hometown: Jersey Village, TX
Major: Environmental Science and Policy
Graduation: Spring 2024
“Effects of Biochar-Compost Product Blends on Switchgrass Growth Rates”
Research directed by Dr. Amy Concilio, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Natural soil amendments, including biochar, compost, and compost tea, 由于其有效性，在恢复项目中促进植物生长的方法越来越受欢迎了吗, broad range of benefits and uses, and low-cost production. Past research has found that these products can increase soil fertility, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, among other benefits, but questions remain about best practices for their application. 本研究旨在了解生物炭与堆肥产品是否存在协同效应, 并确定在恢复种植中提高柳枝稷存活率和生长的最佳做法. In June 2023, 我们采用随机区组设计，每地块2-3个人一组移植柳枝梗. Edward’s University campus (5 blocks, 4 treatments per block, 20 plots total). Treatments included application of biochar and compost (BC), biochar and compost tea (BT), and biochar, compost, and compost tea (BCT), and a no-amendment control. 我们在第一个月每周调查地块，之后每月调查地块的存活和生长情况(最高茎秆的高度和宽度)。. Mortality rates were low, but growth rates were also slow during the dry summer of 2023. 初步结果表明，柳枝稷在生物炭-堆肥处理(BC)下生长速率最高。, but differences were not significant. We will continue to monitor plant growth and anticipate that differences will emerge over time. Research results will be used to inform a grassland restoration project on the St. Edward’s campus, and shared more broadly so that other practitioners in the region may benefit from our findings.
Sara Moreno
Hometown: Edinburg, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Spring 2024
"Impostorism and Family Achievement Guilt in College Students"
Research directed by Dr. Kadie Rackley, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
这项研究的目的是为了促进正在进行的关于心理现象如何, 例如，冒名顶替和家庭成就内疚感可能会影响学生对大学经历的感受. Our goal was to reveal any relationship between these two phenomena, specifically analyzing whether the appearance of one phenomenon suggests the proneness of another, and whether certain social groups are more likely to experience these phenomena than others. Our targeted study sample consisted of mostly undergraduate students, with some graduate students from a small liberal arts college in Central Texas. We anticipated a higher, 第一代大学生家庭成就内疚感与冒充行为的正相关, non-white students, and students who moved away to attend college, than in continuing-generation college students, white students, and students who remained living in their hometowns to attend college. In an online survey, participants were asked multiple demographic questions identifying their current dispositions pertaining to their college enrollment. Then, they were asked questions from the following scales: Clance Imposter Syndrome Scale, Family Achievement Guilt Scale, Sense of Belonging Scale, and Mental Health Inventory - 5.
Diogo Ledesma
Hometown: Austin, TX
Major: Biochemistry
Graduation: Spring 2025
"Adhesion of Metal-Complex Particle Free Inks Using Low Temperature Cures on Polyolefin Substrates"
Research directed by Dr. Bilal Shebaro, School of Natural Sciences
无金属复合颗粒导电油墨是一类新型的导电油墨，在印刷电路中有着广泛的应用, displays, and wearables. These particle free inks hold an advantage over the current generation nanoparticle inks since they can achieve conductivities as high as 90% of bulk silver with annealing temperatures as low as 40 C. In this study, the adhesion and resistivity of a screen printable metal complex ink was investigated based on the surface chemistry of the substrate used during printing. A 1.5-micron layer of silver was deposited and cured at temperatures as low as 60 C. Using ASTM Tape test, profilometer, and multimeter, the resistivity and adhesion of the particle free ink on each type of substrate was analyzed. The type of substrate printed on was found to largely affect adhesion and resistivity of the ink with certain polyolefin substrates showing a resistivity of 20 uohm-cm with adhesion at 60 C. This study offers an insight regarding which substrates offer the best adhesion and lowest resistivity values when printing conductive inks. 对印品的长期附着力和耐磨性的评价有待进一步的研究.
Janiece Jefferson
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Biology
Graduation: Spring 2025
"Measuring Grassland Ecosystem Productivity: Assessing the Effects of Invasive vs Native Grass and Forb Dominance in the Texas Hill Country"
Research directed by Amy Concilio, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Native prairies in Central Texas once harbored a vast diversity of plants and animals, 但由于外来物种的入侵和树木的侵蚀，许多地区经历了衰退(Naeem 1999)。. Prescribed fire and seeding treatments are being used on private and public land in the Texas Hill Country to restore grassland communities. Ecosystem services and functions, such as productivity, disturbance regulation, nutrient cycling, and soil erosion control can be improved through restoration efforts (Benayas 2019), but these functional responses have not yet been quantified at many sites. With this research, we wanted to answer the question: how does vegetative cover affect grassland ecosystem productivity?
Ellyzabeth Morales-Ledesma
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Behavioral Neuroscience and History
Graduation: Spring 2024
"Reproductive Rights for Agricultural Workers: The Effects of Pesticides on the Menstrual Cycle"
Research directed by Dr. Emily Hilz, Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system and can subsequently result in long-term and multigenerational adverse health effects. Many pesticides used in agriculture are EDCs; farm laborers and their children are uniquely vulnerable to these EDCs because of their prolonged exposure to pesticides. Despite this, 目前很少有研究考虑到农药EDCs对农场工人及其子女的生殖健康影响. Participants in this study completed an online quantitative survey with up to 42 questions that meant to assess their menstrual health and agricultural practices. The survey included questions about pesticide handling practices, frequency and duration of exposure, types of pesticides used, and details about menstrual cycle characteristics such as cycle length, regularity, and symptom severity. Subjects were female-assigned at-birth both children of farm laborers and not. It was hypothesized that there would be a higher prevalence of menstrual irregularities among children of farm laborers compared to controls. Factors such as duration of pesticide use, personal protective equipment, and generational pesticide exposure were considered in the analysis. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the potential impact of pesticide exposure on menstrual health by identifying potential risks and trends, thereby informing future interventions and policies aimed at protecting the reproductive health of women in agricultural communities.
Mia Dean
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Major: Psychology
Graduation: Summer 2024
“社会动力的退化:COVID-19大流行期间隔离对心理健康的长期影响”
Research directed by Dr. Emily Barton, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted society globally, affecting the financial, emotional, and physical wellbeing of people. This study investigates the long-term impacts of the social isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic on general psychological well-being, along with its correlation to social anxiety. It was hypothesized that individuals who experienced substantial isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic will now demonstrate a decrease in psychological wellbeing. An online questionnaire was conducted, with a random selection of participants who completed the survey.