Meet some of the undergraduate researchers who will be presenting Lightning Talks at URS 2025.
Profiles
Madison Miller
I’m developing “The Syringa Project,” a mobile app that connects Idahoans to reproductive healthcare resources, emotional support, and community advocacy opportunities through an accessible digital platform.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
“The Syringa Project” aims to transform reproductive healthcare access in Idaho by breaking down barriers through technology. By creating a centralized hub for resources, community support, and advocacy tools, the app empowers individuals to navigate a challenging healthcare landscape while building a movement for lasting systemic change in reproductive rights across the state.
One thing to know about my project
“The Syringa Project” demonstrates how thoughtful UI/UX design and technology can serve as powerful tools for social advocacy, providing both immediate support for individuals seeking reproductive healthcare and creating pathways for community-driven change in a restrictive environment.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
My work at the Stein Luminary, particularly my collaboration with the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, inspired me to explore how interactive design can engage users with important social issues and spark meaningful conversations that lead to positive change.
Danny O’Malley
My research explores the differences in how Mozambican and U.S. parents view the importance of education, focusing on how their cultural beliefs and involvement in their children’s lives shape their attitudes toward learning. By comparing interviews with parents from both countries, I examine the societal and individual factors that influence children’s academic success.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
My research explores how cultural differences in parental beliefs about education impact academic success and societal development. By comparing Mozambican and U.S. parents, it aims to inform culturally sensitive policies and parenting practices, contributing to improved academic outcomes.
One thing to know about my project
I want people to know that my project highlights how cultural beliefs about education shape children’s success, offering insights that can help create more inclusive and effective educational practices worldwide.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Professor Iryna Babik
Jadyn Hart
I do solar power materials research with a machine called a solar simulator, which has 700 times the power of the sun.
Hometown: Houston, Texas
The Big Picture
It will improve concentrating solar power production and help to reduce the cost of power.
One thing to know about my project
This is a collaboration between different fields of engineering and manufacturing.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Chandra Reyna and the McNair Scholars
Emma Stover
We are exploring the experiences of undergraduate student-parents in the school of nursing. Looking at what barriers and facilitators they face.
Hometown: Prescott, Arizona
The Big Picture
We hope that through this research we will be able to better understand, advocate for, and support student- parents in undergraduate nursing programs. They face unique circumstances and we hope to be able to apply our findings to other nursing programs, better supporting the nursing community as a whole.
One thing to know about my project
I hope that through this project, we will be able to share the voices and experiences of student-parents, a population that faces unique and challenging circumstances, and one who often go unseen and unheard.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
My interest in research was sparked when I joined the nursing program and observed the impactful work of faculty members involved in research. Their projects were making significant changes, which motivated me to begin asking critical questions and seeking answers. This curiosity ultimately led me to apply for the undergraduate research assistant program within the nursing school.
Myla Negrete
I am mapping out the chemistry of tooth enamel in different species of animals to see how teeth have evolved across the tree of life.
Hometown: Elko, Nevada
The Big Picture
My work will help us understand how evolution has acted through geologic time and also guide interpretation of tooth chemistry from fossils of these organisms and their ancestors.
One thing to know about my project
The chemical composition of enamel differs greatly between different species, reflecting evolutionary pressures, and paleontologists need this baseline information for robust interpretations of the chemistry of fossils.
Katelyn Stedtfeld
The presence of the female nude plays a critical role in art history. This creative activity highlights the responsibility of being a female painter as I (Katelyn Stedtfeld) reflect on ideas of the male gaze, the nude, and vanity in painting.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
My exploration of this topic began as an interest and has blossomed into a desire to showcase how this topic has shaped our society. I have broken down the nuances of the use of art historical strategies to idolize the female nude, in my contemporary art practice. Flipping expectations on their head and bringing awareness to the male gaze, the nude, and vanity in painting to shift perspectives and change what viewers think they might assume, or believe their gaze should fall upon when viewing the female nude in art.
One thing to know about my project
This creative activity has allowed me to further my understanding of art history and continue exploring what I’ve learned at BSU. I am creating poignant and unique artwork for the constantly evolving art world that I am eager to dive into after graduation.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Alongside my mentor’s guidance into this subject matter, I was inspired by author John Berger’s ‘Ways of Seeing’. Among years of art historical evidence and other ideas, Berger summarizes that when women are presenting themselves or being presented, they are expected to look a certain perfect way to satisfy a male viewer. He calls this the male gaze. This seed grew into finding me researching famous artists like Hans Memling, Tintoretto, and others who used iconography strategies to promote the male gaze and sell the female figure in the 15th and 16th centuries. I ask myself this question, and ponder on how it is true. This phenomenon did not stop with artists from thousands of years ago and is still prevalent in our day-and-age through fashion, advertisement, and other artistic practices. A striking quote from the Guerrilla Girls, an anonymous female art activist group, states ‘Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum?’. I launched into this idea, and found my way to pick apart and reflect on the presence of the male gaze through art history in my body of work.
Phaedra Roby
This research aims to better understand our interactions with wildlife by analyzing journals in the last 20 years centered around the topics of wildlife, soundscapes and domestic pets and the corresponding intersections of the three. With the end goal of a systematic literature review, this project explores how changing soundscapes impact our wildlife and ourselves and how domestic pets play a part.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
The overall goal of this research is to examine how technophony, anthrophony, biophony and geophony all come together to create our soundscapes and why the healthy dynamics of a soundscape is vital for an ecosystems success. In wildlife conservation, we have laid out all the ways in which our behavior affect wildlife, and we have realized that pets on a landscape have an affect, however there is a severe gap in research that directly bridges domestic pets to changing soundscapes and affected environments. The big picture is identifying this area as a valid discussion and a space in research that is underdeveloped. This work aims to help future research on our complex interactions with the spaces between us, and sparks engagement and interest of the importance of our natural soundscapes.
One thing to know about my project
While this seems like a far-fetched idea, our psychological connection with wildlife stems from the natural sounds it offers. From birds chirping to the river rushing, these soundscapes offer a space of tranquility and a break from the anthrophonic world we have created. Think of the vibrations, frequencies and scale of our human made noises. We may operate outside our natural environments, but we still yearn to return to natures sound when we need peace from the loudness around us. We are part of our environments, and the sounds they provide us contribute to the well being of our mental and physical state. I offer one to think of what makes one love our natural environments. I also offer one to picture a natural landscape – then mute it. Does it carry the same energy?
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Jared Talley and Monica Hubbard are currently working on some research surrounding pets and wildlife, like how dog poop effects our waterways or how feral cats decrease bird populations. Within this research, there has been mention of what happens when wildlife can no longer engage with the soundscapes and vocalizations that they rely on. It turns out, there are various studies that look at these interactions play a part in the degradation of our biological processes.
Kristan Kudera
This study focuses on measuring a participant’s ability to remember objects they have seen before while being exposed to different scent conditions.
Hometown: Meridian, Idaho
The Big Picture
Significant results could aid in future research to improve early detection of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
One thing to know about my project
The research we are doing is still ongoing. In addition to scent condition, we also aim to look at participants’ genotypes to determine if the genotype could be used for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
Mackenzie Hutchinson
Incubation is very important for healthy chicks. I am researching what factors can affect and alter this behavior, leading to varied reproductive success across a population of American Kestrels.
Hometown: Rancho Cucamonga, California
The Big Picture
My research will help scientists further understand relationships between stressors and life history behaviors in American kestrels as well as provide important population data not previously collected.
One thing to know about my project
The one thing I want people to take away from my project is that small disturbances can create a large impact, and that it is important to take care and help conserve the species around us that cannot do so for themselves!
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
My sophomore year of college I started taking more biology courses. These were taught by professors that have experience in research, and they were telling us students their backgrounds during the first week of class. I felt pure awe at their adventurous tales – before this I was very unsure what I wanted to do as no occupation really felt right. My fascination turned to obsession and I have pursued this career path ever since.
Sarah Cole
My research focuses on improving the safety, reliability, and performance of nuclear fuels.
Hometown: Meridian, Idaho
The Big Picture
The Unites States has 94 commercial nuclear power plants across 28 states. Developing advanced nuclear fuels will enable the continued use of reliable, caron-free power for millions of Americans.
One thing to know about my project
Nuclear energy is the most reliable of any other energy source by a landslide. With an energy demand higher than ever, the U.S. is currently investing in dozens of projects to power data centers and chemical plants with nuclear energy – not just homes and businesses!
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Growing up in Meridian, I got involved with research as a high school intern in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering.
Nolan Olaso
Helping other researchers better understand what they’ve made by examining their samples at the nanoscale.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
The egregious energy and water consumption of datacenters is rapidly expanding with the AI boom of the past year, and will only continue to grow. As more complex models are trained, more users are added and the ever growing desire for more compute power remains. My research assists those at Boise State who are tackling that grand challenge by progressing on a novel approach to high temperature quantum computing using DNA nanotechnology.
One thing to know about my project
Persistence is everything in research, the few clean scans I was able to acquire were only possible after many previous attempts, countless minute changes to imaging parameters and sample prep and nearly a year of work.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Originally I had hoped to use my research experience to help me find a job. Now because of the infectious curiosity of BSU graduate students and faculty I hope research is my job.
Luca Manning
My research uses lasers to look at environmentally relevant compounds on ice. Model molecules are used to help inform climate change research and astrobiological studies.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
My research focuses on fundamental studies that will help improve climate models and support atmospheric research. By understanding how model molecules interact at ice-air and water-air interfaces, we can develop strategies to address climate change, global warming, and environmental contamination. This research also offers insight into the surface-specific reactions that might occur on other planets and moons, especially on the theorized “ocean worlds” in our solar system.
One thing to know about my project
Research can be intimidating and frustrating, and at times certain aspects can even feel impossible. But research is a marathon, not a sprint — and all the hard work you put in eventually turns into something incredibly rewarding. Through this project, I’ve gained invaluable skills and knowledge, and it’s opened doors to opportunities I never expected. Most importantly, it’s helped me discover a sense of purpose that will shape my path moving forward.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
My interest in research comes from a desire to leave the world a little better than I found it. Research gives me the chance to ask big questions and search for answers that could help protect our planet and expand our understanding of the universe. I’m also incredibly inspired by my mentor and my friends in the lab, who push me to be the best version of myself and constantly strive for excellence in science.
Kiryn Willett
My research does a comparative analysis of news coverage of Israel-Palestine from countries that have colonized countries and countries that were colonized.
Hometown: Evergreen, Colorado
The Big Picture
My research can help us better understand and recognize how culture, history, and politics can influence reporting, even when they claim to be objective. As news has become more global, it is important to understand how where our news is coming from can influence our worldview of places outside the U.S. My research aims to uncover some of the ways in which our history shapes reporting, and how reporting shapes the present.
One thing to know about my project
While journalists may try to do their best to be unbiased, they also work within the context of their country’s culture and their work places editorial vision. While some ideas or perspectives are accepted as fact in one country, historical events are often taught differently internationally, so it important to examine a variety of perspectives on international issues and understand what influences their perspective.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
The Boise State debate team, the Talkin’ Broncos, went to Ireland for an international tournament and while there I noticed Ireland had a different stance on Israel-Palestine than the U.S. and as a student journalist I wondered how media may have played a role in shaping that. I was also curious how their different histories and cultures could impact reporting.
Joseph Nigro
I researched how Hispanic restaurants in the Western Treasure Valley bring people together and shape their communities. Through interviews and town visits, I explored how these businesses provide a sense of home, economic opportunity, and a connection to cultural traditions
Hometown: Emmett, Idaho
The Big Picture
This project sheds light on an often overlooked and underserved community, highlighting their perspectives and contributions through food. It has also helped me refine my approach to ethnography, which I will incorporate into my master’s thesis to better understand and document cultural experiences.
One thing to know about my project
This project shows that Hispanic restaurants are more than just places to eat, they are cultural anchors, economic drivers, and vital community spaces. The people operating these places of business excel in resilience and determination.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Coming from a multiethnic and multilingual family, food was what brought everyone together at the table in my household. This project was a natural extension of that experience as I enter into humanities studies, allowing me to explore how food creates connections, preserves culture, and shapes communities.
Bren Becerra
Cost effective Predictive modeling systems for PDEs.
Hometown: Emmett, Idaho
The Big Picture
This research contributes to our understanding of predictive models for PDEs and how we can improve upon their cost effectiveness without significant loss of accuracy.
One thing to know about my project
Adaptive mesh refinement is a delicate balance between accuracy and cost of calculation.
Who or what inspired your interest in research?
Michal Kopera and Antonne Chacartegui
Noah Thomas
The purpose of this study was to assess the policies and use of whole food tube feeding practices in healthcare settings. Included was the implication of healthcare facilities needing to evaluate and revise their enteral feeding protocols to better accommodate patients using blended tube feedings.
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
The Big Picture
Implications consisted of healthcare facilities needing to revise and reevaluate their enteral feeding protocols. Associated with this research are implications of future research which will examine the impact and effectiveness of emerging BTF policies and strategies to enhance staff education and patient/caregiver support.
One thing to know about my project
Previous research reports that BTF supports growth and weight in children and adults, reduces gastrointestinal symptoms, and improves oral intake compared to commercial formula. Despite these benefits, BTF may not be supported in healthcare settings due to facility policies. Specifically for hBTF, 54.5% of facilities had a policy, but 56.9% lacked staff education or competency assessments. This means that these individuals are inadequately prepared when receiving whole food feeds when in the home setting.