CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE AWARDEES!

Anthropology professor recognized by American Association for the Advancement of Science

Dr. Marta Alfonso-DurrutyCongratulations to Marta P. Alfonso-Durruty, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work! She was selected to receive the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s 2026 Robert W. Sussman Award for Scientific Contributions to Anthropology. The award recognizes meritorious scientific contributions to the field of anthropology by mid-career anthropologists.

Dr. Alfonso-Durruty has made exceptional contributions to biological anthropology, particularly through her studies of skeletal biology, diet, and population history. Her research integrates biological and cultural perspectives to enrich our understanding of the lives and interactions of past peoples in the Andes and Patagonia.

She has also provided vital leadership in the field, including as a National Science Foundation rotator program director for biological anthropology.

 

College selects 32 Undergraduate Research Awardees

Undergraduate students enrolled full-time in any major in the College of Arts and Sciences are invited to apply for research awards to conduct projects with faculty members in the college. The awards are given in spring, summer and fall semesters. Learn more and apply for summer awards by March 1 and fall awards by May 1!

Congrats to these Spring 2026 awardees!

  • Meredith Caudill, psychology and philosophy; mentored by Gary Brase, psychological sciences
  • Surya Chandramouli, integrated computer science; mentored by Safia Malallah, integrated computer science
  • Chloe Danner, environmental science; mentored by Jesse Nippert, biology
  • Evan Dickson, biochemistry and molecular biophysics; mentored by Socrates Munoz, chemistry
  • James Divierte, psychology; mentored by Jennifer Smith, psychological sciences
  • Sadie Doffing, psychology; mentored by Mary Cain, psychological sciences
  • John Eggleston, wildlife and conservation biology; mentored by Loretta Johnson and Jack Sytsma, biology
  • Taylor Ewer, cellular biology and integrative health studies; Sebastian Wendel, health sciences
  • Jack Francis-Cummins, biology and Spanish; mentored by Katsura Asano, biology
  • Erin Frenk, chemistry; mentored by Takashi Ito, chemistry
  • Moussa Gacko, biology; mentored by Shijiao Huang, biochemistry and molecular biophysics
  • Isabella Ginie; biochemistry, microbiology, and chemical sciences; mentored by Christer Aakeroy, chemistry
  • Kelsie Heitman, psychology and transformation studies; mentored by Gary Brase, psychological sciences
  • Gabi Hendricks, psychology & dance and the human experience; mentored by Kate Digby, dance
  • Robin Imbeau, history and social transformation studies; mentored by Mary Kohn, Chapman Center for Rural Studies
  • Izzy Kelly, dance and the human experience & kinesiology; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
  • Marie Kerschen, medical biochemistry and biology; mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry
  • Jaidyn Koehler, English Literature and French; mentored by Kara Northway, English
  • Annika Lindt, medical microbiology; mentored by Brian Geisbrecht, biochemistry and molecular biophysics
  • Layne McAfee, fine arts; mentored by Mary Kohn, Chapman Center for Rural Studies
  • Tsam Myu Shawng Maji, Biology; mentored by Bethany Plakke, psychological sciences
  • Carter Oliver, biology and gerontology; mentored by Heather Bailey, psychological sciences
  • Brock Olson, statistics and data science; mentored by Cen Wu, statistics
  • Jace Pickering, chemical sciences; mentored by Patricia Calvo, chemistry
  • Daniela Ramos, biochemistry; mentored by Katsura Asano, biology
  • Hector Andres Ramos, mathematics and secondary education; mentored by Craig Spencer, mathematics
  • Vanessa Sanders, physics and computer engineering; mentored by Itzik Ben-Itzhak, physics
  • Ava Sedlacek, music; mentored by Julie Pentz, dance
  • Roslyn Strong; fisheries, wildlife, conservation & environmental biology; mentored by Ruth Welti, biology
  • Lillian Taylor, psychology and anthropology; mentored by Don Saucier, psychological sciences
  • April Thomas, mathematics and physics; mentored by Gabe Kerr, mathematics
  • Jasmine Wolf, animal biology; mentored by Maria Diehl Faryna, psychological sciences