Before the incoming class of sport analytics students take their first class in the聽, they receive a life lesson from , chair of the sport analytics department.

Paul, a sports economist, highlights how recent graduates are blazing a trail across the sports landscape. He then tells the newest sport analytics students that they, too, are destined to make a lasting impact as some of the best and brightest minds.

鈥淚t can be scary starting off at college, but when they think about all the wonderful things they are going to accomplish in their careers, it鈥檚 rewarding seeing how excited students get about their futures,鈥� Paul says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what keeps me going.鈥�

The message hit home for Gavin Stein 鈥�26 and Jacob Kalamvokis 鈥�26, who assembled the nomination that helped Paul receive the (SOURCE) Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring.

鈥淗e鈥檚 sharing how sport analytics graduates are taking over the world, and that you’re all going to continue that,鈥� Stein says. 鈥淭o an 18-year-old freshman who hadn’t even taken a class yet, Dr. Paul鈥檚 words left a lasting impression.鈥�

鈥淚 was nervous after that speech, because I was just starting here, but I was ready to run through a brick wall. I knew I could do anything I wanted to,鈥� Kalamvokis says.

An Investment in the Next Generation of Leaders

The annual SOURCE Award is based on student nominations, honoring faculty members who provide exceptional guidance to undergraduate researchers. During the ceremony, which was held on March 26, Kalamvokis and Stein presented the award to Paul, reading excerpts from their nominations to those in attendance.

Stein and Kalamvokis say Paul is passionate about supporting student-driven research, and that, through a willingness to lend a helping hand or offer constructive feedback, Paul exemplifies what it means to invest in the next generation of sport analytics leaders.

Paul views his role as part cheerleader, part coach: there to share his expertise and position the students in a place where they can succeed.

鈥淎s educators, our end goal is to help our students live out their dreams by working in this industry,鈥� Paul says. 鈥淭hey put their faith in us to help them fulfill those dreams. We encourage them and set them up for success once they graduate.鈥�

Wins on the National Stage

The confidence Paul instilled in them on day one has fueled their growth as researchers.

Competing head-to-head against teams of law school students from across the country, Stein and classmates Liam Roberts 鈥�26 and Sam Otley 鈥�26 became the first team of undergraduate researchers to Tulane Professional Basketball Negotiation Competition in February.

Stein and Kalamvokis have also presented their research at marquee events, including the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Analytics Conference, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference and the Arizona State NBA Trade Deadline competition.

鈥淔rom freshman year, I鈥檝e known I want to work in the NBA, but I truly couldn鈥檛 have imagined back then being in the position I am in now,鈥� Stein says. 鈥淭he trust and support that Dr. Paul showed in all of us from literally the second we stepped on campus is what has driven all of us to accomplish what we have at 性视界.鈥�

Kalamvokis and sport analytics Associate Professor presented 鈥淪tatistical Accuracy of Sports Betting Markets and Their Efficiency鈥� at the 2025 International Association of Sports Economists Conference in Las Vegas.

鈥淒r. Paul is a huge driving force for what the student researchers can do here. He鈥檚 such a special, unique leader,鈥� says Kalamvokis, named an inaugural Class of 2026 Falk College Scholar. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the beating heart of this program, the father of sport analytics on campus, and knowing he鈥檚 in your corner gives you freedom and the confidence to go out and pursue your dreams.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see what our students are capable of,鈥� Paul says. 鈥淕etting to watch our students grow and evolve, I鈥檓 blessed and lucky to be a part of that.鈥�

For Eva Quackenbush ’26, an interest in maternal and fetal health that began with personal curiosity has grown into a rigorous public health research project with direct implications for how clinicians monitor and make decisions about the most vulnerable newborns.

Quackenbush, a public health major with a concentration in healthcare management in the , worked under the mentorship of , associate professor of public health, on a study examining whether patterns detected in fetal heart tracing鈥攖he monitoring of a baby鈥檚 heart rate during labor鈥攃an predict short-term outcomes for infants born between 23 and 26 weeks of gestation. These babies occupy a narrow clinical window clinicians call “periviable,” a zone where survival has improved in recent decades but where the tools guiding clinical decisions remain poorly understood.

An Understudied Population

Fetal heart tracing is a well-established tool used to signal when medical intervention may be needed in full-term pregnancies. But its predictive value in periviable births has been largely unexplored. That is the gap Quackenbush and Kmush set out to close.

Their study drew on a retrospective cohort of 90 periviable deliveries at a regional referral hospital in upstate New York between January 2017 and August 2022. In their project, two independent maternal-fetal medicine specialists reviewed four key fetal heart tracing indicators鈥攂aseline heart rate, variability, accelerations and decelerations鈥攁nd compared them against an overall composite score. They analyzed those patterns against neonatal outcomes, including lung disease, eye defects, brain hemorrhage and mortality.

The findings were consistent across every model tested: none of the fetal heart tracing patterns were statistically associated with adverse birth outcomes, meaning that the patterns could not reliably predict which babies would fare worse.

“Our research concluded that the heart tracing patterns in this population of periviable infants have no predictive value,” Quackenbush says. That may sound like a null result, but it is a meaningful one, because establishing what does not predict outcomes in this population is itself a critical step toward better clinical understanding, she says.

Building New Skills

Undertaking this clinical research project required Quackenbush to build an entirely new technical skill set. She had no prior experience with coding, but with guidance from Kmush she learned R, the statistical coding language, and applied it to complex regression analyses and data modeling.

“Dr. Kmush has been an incredible mentor for the statistical analysis work that I have been conducting,” Quackenbush says. “She has been guiding my familiarization with R, as well as the process of preparing research for presentation at all levels.”

Quackenbush鈥檚 聽work in the lab was made possible in part by the 性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE), which helped fund her project and teamed her with Kmush as a faculty mentor. Quackenbush also broadened her clinical health background through involvement with the University鈥檚 and an internship with the . And beyond coding, she built competencies in scientific writing and research communication, skills she says she will carry into her next career phase.

This spring, she and Kmush presented their findings at the conference in Baltimore, an unusual distinction for an undergraduate researcher. Quackenbush says they hope their study will serve as a foundation for expanded research in the periviable population, including studies with larger sample sizes to further validate the results.

From Data to Policy

This fall, Quackenbush will begin legal studies at the in New York. Her goal is to work in health policy, focusing on improving health outcomes through policy determinations, compliance issues and interdisciplinary collaboration.

While her future path moves her out of the lab, an experience she says has been as much about personal growth as scientific discovery, Quackenbush sees her time there as central to the work ahead. “While my career won’t be directly related to clinical public health activity, I anticipate including many concepts from the public health field into my work in health policy,” she says.

Whether it鈥檚 analyzing data or shaping health policy, Quackenbush says her goal remains to work toward better outcomes for patients. She leaves the lab having contributed one more piece of a puzzle that clinicians, families and policymakers are still working to 聽solve.

Understanding of copper formation means examining material forged at depths of nine to 19 miles beneath the Earth鈥檚 surface. Remarkably, Emerson Long 鈥�26 has spent the past year recreating those conditions in a campus lab.

Long is a double major in geology and physics in the (A&S). She and her faculty mentor, , professor of petrology and experimental geochemistry in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, have spent the past year examining how copper behaves when magma (molten rock) and fluid coexist at the crushing pressures and temperatures of the lower continental crust.

The work has implications that reach far beyond the laboratory. That鈥檚 because copper is used in modern and clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, lithium ion batteries and LED lighting.

鈥淲hile my research doesn鈥檛 directly relate to finding and extracting copper deposits, it does give us a better understanding of the entire system for copper deposit formation,” Long says. “It鈥檚 really exciting to me to contribute to that understanding in some way.鈥�

Going Deep to Understand the Surface

Copper deposits near the Earth’s surface that are extracted from mines are formed when copper-rich hydrothermal fluids move upward through the crust and deposit minerals along the way. Those fluids originate much deeper in the Earth鈥檚 magmatic systems, where molten rock and aqueous fluid coexist under intense heat and pressure. Long and Thomas are studying how copper splits itself between magma and fluid at those extreme source conditions.

Previous research on copper partitioning has focused on shallower, upper-crust-level conditions. This project goes beyond prior work to assess what happens at conditions equivalent to those found in the lower continental crustal source regions where magmas are generated. It鈥檚 a largely unexplored frontier in the study of copper deposit formation.

High-Pressure Science

To simulate those deep-Earth conditions in the lab, Long runs experiments in piston-cylinder devices, instruments capable of generating extraordinary pressures and temperatures found miles underground. When an experiment concludes, the magma cools into a glass and the fluid gets trapped in tiny pockets within a piece of quartz, called fluid inclusions. Long then uses a suite of sophisticated analytical instruments to measure the copper concentration in both the glass and the fluid inclusions.

That 鈥渄eep dive鈥� into the data helps extract meaning from material forged under those precise conditions. 鈥淚 really enjoy the hands-on aspects of this research the most,鈥� Long says. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a few other short-term projects that have been more computational-based and I鈥檝e realized that I really love lab work. I also just find the high-pressure experiments to be really fun and it鈥檚 really crazy to me still that we can emulate such extreme conditions in the lab.鈥�

That focus recently took her to the facility in Denver, where she used specialized instrumentation (laser ablation ICP-MS, a type of mass spectrometry), one of the only ways to measure the chemistry of fluid inclusions. There are only a handful of facilities in the U.S. capable of doing that type of analysis, a notoriously difficult process.聽 鈥淚t was a really great experience,鈥� Long says. 鈥淚 learned so much about the technique and it was really amazing to be there and help with the analyses since it is such a niche method.鈥� Being at the U.S. Geological Survey facility also allowed her to observe professionals conducting scientific research for a government organization, she says.

Long also took her studies globally experience that mirrors a prompting students to shape the future as engaged global citizens by combining studies in diverse areas of interest. She enjoyed both her science major and French/Francophone Studies minor during an immersive experience there, where she lived with a French host family, learned more about French history and culture, participated in a community internship conducting physics research at the University of Strasbourg, and took several courses in French.

Mentorship and Mastery

Later, Thomas’ science lab on campus provided Long with a wealth of experiential learning opportunities and allowed her to gain an impressive range of technical skills. She has conducted electron microprobe analysis, laser ablation mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Those experimental and analytical methods聽 represent an arsenal of cutting-edge geochemical lab techniques capable of identifying the chemical fingerprints of minerals and rocks at an extraordinarily fine scale.

The (SOURCE) supported Long’s work through Bridge and Fellowship awards. She also worked with the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising. She says her awards, including a summer living stipend, made it possible to dedicate added time over a summer in 性视界 to sustain the momentum on her lab research.

In August, Long begins Ph.D. studies in geology at Purdue University, where she鈥檒l continue conducting similar experimental research. For her, the appeal of the geological field goes beyond technique or career preparation. It is about being able to contribute in a hands-on way to one of the defining challenges of the coming decades: building the clean energy economy the world needs, starting with a deeper understanding of the Earth beneath our feet.

Millions of soccer players across the globe compete on surfaces that are anything but the manicured, perfectly marked grounds of televised competitions.

Student researcher ’26 understood that across West Africa and in many other countries, soccer (known throughout much of the world as football) is played on compacted sand, gravel lots, dirt patches and worn urban grounds. The industrial and interaction design major in the (VPA) also recognized that most commercially available soccer boots fall far short of the needs of players who compete on those rough, improvised, uneven surfaces. He recognized that those playing conditions demand different performance qualities than the footwear mainstream athletic shoe manufacturers offer.

“My goal is to study these overlooked playing environments and design footwear that better supports performance, comfort, durability and accessibility for the people who use it,” Barrie says. “Ultimately, I want to show how footwear design can become more inclusive, locally responsive and socially meaningful when it is rooted in the needs of a community.”

Research 鈥極n the Ground鈥�

With his research project, “Boot of Dreams: Designing Soccer Footwear for Informal Play in West Africa,” Barrie has been doing just that. His work is guided by , a professor of practice in VPA’s , whom Barrie calls “a role model whose guidance extends well beyond the classroom, shaping how I think about design, responsibility and purpose.”

Barrie is also working with , professor and director of the School of Design, who helped him secure travel funding in addition to his research stipend from the (SOURCE). Those funds enabled him to travel to Guinea for firsthand research with soccer players there.

鈥淭hat was an opportunity that helped me move beyond assumptions about what players need and gain an actual understanding of their experiences,” Barrie says.

As someone who has lived in both Guinea and the United States and traveled widely around the world, Barrie brings a true global perspective to his work. It鈥檚 a viewpoint that informs his understanding of how different communities approach sport and design and deepens his insight into underrepresented players and their environments.

Careful Listening

Barrie says his research in Guinea had a major impact on the design of his soccer cleat. 聽In addition to learning that many players use footwear that is incompatible for their playing conditions, he also recognized that many rely on just one pair for a long period of time. When that pair wears out too quickly, 聽it affects more than just comfort or performance; it can cause players to miss practices and games and lose consistency in development, he says.

“That insight shifted my thinking,” Barrie says. “Instead of approaching the project like a traditional cleat made mainly for formal field conditions, I began thinking about a shoe designed specifically for the realities of informal West African play鈥� prioritizing durability, comfort and longer wear while also considering traction and support for the kinds of surfaces these players actually use.”

Design for Real Needs

For Barrie, this project 聽allowed him to explore how thoughtful, research-driven design can respond to real-world needs rather than simply following market trends. It also helped lead him to a career in footwear and product design that addresses community challenges and creates solutions. 聽An internship at last year became a 鈥渇oot in the door鈥� for a new career there; after graduation, he begins a role as a Designer II, Promo Color, Materials & Graphics Design聽staff member for Nike鈥檚 Jordan brand.

“‘The Boot of Dreams’ is about creating a shoe for players who continue to defy the odds and dream through the game,鈥� he says. “The right footwear can help young players stay on the pitch longer, practice more consistently and keep pursuing what they love.”

性视界 University undergraduates are getting their moment to shine this spring, presenting original research and creative work to peers, faculty and the broader campus community across a series of symposia and showcase events running through the end of the semester.

鈥淔or a researcher, learning how to effectively present their work is a crucial part of the research process. Whether a student is sharing a completed project with conclusions, or a work-in-progress still in development, the dialogue and conversation with a broader audience is always clarifying,” says Kate Hanson, director of the (SOURCE). “Our undergraduates do incredible research, guided by dedicated faculty mentors, and our campus community is warmly welcomed to engage with and celebrate this work.鈥�

The SOURCE Spring Showcase includes the following:

Thursday, March 26

Lundgren Room, 106 Life Sciences Complex, 4-6 p.m.
The event will feature four 鈥淭ED-style鈥� student research talks and a presentation of SOURCE and Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA) awards.

Friday, March 27

Life Sciences Complex Atrium, 2-4 p.m.
This interdisciplinary event will feature more than 100 students presenting research and creative activity.

The entire campus community is invited to attend the events.

A complete list of programs in March, April and May with event and registration details can be found on (check back for updated information).

Other symposia and research-related events this spring include:

• , Wednesday, March 25, 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center
• , Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Life Sciences Complex Atrium
• , Friday, April 3, 9:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m., 608 Bird Library
• , Friday, April 10, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Collegian Hotel and Suites, 1060 E. Genesee St.
• , Thursday, April 16, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Nancy Cantor Warehouse, Auditorium, Room 100A
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Milton Atrium, Life Sciences Complex
• , Friday, April 17, 10 a.m., 101 Newhouse 1
• , Tuesday, April 28, 3-5 p.m., 220 Eggers Hall
• , Wednesday, April 29, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Hall of Languages, multiple locations (complete schedule will be available on the after April 8)

On Aug. 8, 2023, the town of , in West Maui, Hawaii, was consumed by one of the in U.S. history. The result: more than 2,000 acres burned, 12,000 residents displaced and 102 people killed. Despite the devastation and ongoing community grief, Hawaii鈥檚 governor West Maui to tourists just two months later.

That decision sparked significant controversy and spurred thousands of residents and Native Hawaiians to political action. They wanted fire victims to have more time to grieve their loved ones, secure new housing and heal as a community.

For Sophia Hiatt, a senior in the , the disaster was the catalyst for a year of scholarly inquiry and the subject of her political science distinction thesis. As a multiracial person of Native Hawaiian heritage, Hiatt has long been interested in Hawaiian politics and perspectives鈥攁n interest solidified through a Tufts University summer high school program to develop leadership skills for social change. She focused on the Native Hawaiian community and , she says.

鈥淭his [thesis] project was far more than simply another academic requirement. It was a meaningful and introspective experience that allowed me to reconnect with the history, culture and people who mean so much to me. Local and Native voices are too often absent from public discourse, and I felt a responsibility to ensure that the voices of community members are recognized and credited for their work,鈥� Hiatt says.

Her research included analyzing the grassroots organization 鈥檚 Instagram posts, critically comparing its strategies to two other Hawaiian land-based movements, determining how it amassed 21,000 followers and assessing how it conducted voter education and registration drives. She examined how the group helped pass land-use regulation bills that opened housing for displaced fire victims, aiding community members to maintain island residency. She also interviewed group founder Jordan Ruidas.

SOURCE Support

Supported by the (SOURCE), Hiatt took her research further. She traveled to Maui to gauge the destruction and witness the organization鈥檚 impact firsthand, and attended the , a community holiday market held at the site of a Buddhist temple destroyed by the fires.

The opportunity to conduct on-the-ground inquiry in Maui and to see the impact of the fires was transformative, Hiatt says. “Being present at the market鈥攖he actual site of so much loss and resilience鈥攇ave the research a depth and texture that no amount of reading could provide.鈥�

Mentors and Guides

Hiatt says she approached the project 鈥渨ith deep humility, mindful of the lives lost and the real people who are not only living with the consequences of this disaster but are also using this moment to reshape the political and social dynamics of their community.鈥�

She credits thesis advisor , professor of political science; , assistant professor of political science; and , who leads the school’s Political Science Distinction Thesis Seminar with helping her hone analytical and critical thinking skills, build confidence in academic spaces and develop stronger scholarly writing practices. “Their mentorship has been invaluable,” Hiatt says. “It has pushed me to approach complex questions with more rigor and more care.”

Hiatt would like to see her research published in an undergraduate research journal in hopes of inspiring other students to learn of 尝腻丑补颈苍腻鈥檚 post-fire political landscape and perhaps continue the research.

She also believes the lessons she鈥檚 learned this past year will carry forward into her career. After Commencement, she plans to work full time in compliance at Fidelity Investments before applying to law school in the future. “My commitment to institutional accountability and transparency ultimately connects both my thesis research and my future professional goals,” she says.

The role of entrepreneurship driving economic development in Kenya. Education systems and the propaganda machines behind them in Eastern European socialist states. The preservation of Polish castles and their use for telling the country鈥檚 history.

Those are just three of the independent research projects seven 性视界 students pursued internationally last year as Tyler Center Fellows, supported by a聽$20,000 grant to and the (SOURCE) by the .

For the students who participated, it was a life-changing experience.

鈥淭his fellowship changed who I am,鈥� says Mason Burley 鈥�27, a double major in adolescent education and history in the School of Education and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

The University has once again received an award from the Tyler Center for 2026 and is currently accepting applications for fall 2026 fellowships based in Santiago and Strasbourg. Below, three students who received the fellowship in 2025 share their experiences.

鈥楻esearch Something You Love鈥�

Burley, whose research project was focused on the education systems during the era of socialist republics in Poland, Romania and Moldova, says the Tyler Center Fellowship was his first substantial experience with research.

鈥淚 am fascinated by Joseph Stalin and his cult of personality and, more specifically, how his sheer influence on the region consumed every single aspect of life,鈥� Burley says. 鈥淔rom school, jobs, social life, government and interpersonal connections. Stalin was lurking in all of these, and it has been a goal of mine to see its effects firsthand.鈥�

The Tyler Center grant and research opportunity opened the gates for him to study the topic in-depth and in-person.

鈥淚t is my academic goal to be a well-rounded educator who is exceptionally knowledgeable in my content area,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 felt that this type of deep immersive, experiential type of research would benefit not only me academically but my students in my future classroom.鈥�

The experience made Burley fall in love with research and “experiencing” history, and has since inspired two additional research projects.

He says visiting Poland, Romania and Moldova, speaking with people and learning their stories was an experience he’d repeat in a “heartbeat.”

鈥淒o whatever your heart says,鈥� Burley says. 鈥淕o to a new place and touch the earth. Eat food from a street cart. Put everything that you鈥檝e ever learned away for a second and just experience life as it passes by. Be you, unapologetically. Then come back to campus and show everyone just how cool it is that you got to research something you love.鈥�

鈥楤e Creative鈥�

For Ella Roerden 鈥�27, the fellowship also allowed the pursuit of a passion project.

A student in the Maxwell School studying anthropology and international relations, Roerden visited five medieval castles around Poland with the goal of analyzing and comparing how they鈥檝e been preserved and restored, as well as how they鈥檙e being used as museums in the present day.

鈥淭he narratives all differ, and they each tell a different part of the story of Poland,鈥� says Roerden. 鈥淚 was drawn to castles because of my childhood love of fairytales, all of the magic, dragons and princesses. When I learned that Poland had over 500 castles, I knew I had to find a way to visit some and incorporate them into my studies.鈥�

Like Burley, she says the experience opened her eyes to research, which previously she thought had to be “formulaic and physical.” Gaining the experience of pursuing a topic in the humanities has her looking forward to an international relations capstone.

鈥淚f you’re already going to be in a different country, take advantage of the opportunities and resources there that we don’t have here in 性视界 (like medieval castles) and be creative!鈥� Roerden says.

鈥楶ut in All Your Effort鈥�

Mary Begley 鈥�26, a Whitman School finance and entrepreneurship major graduating in December, traveled to Kenya in May 2025 with a professor and fellow students, supported by her grant.

鈥淚 had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and experience how businesses operate within an emerging economy,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ecause of this opportunity, I decided to conduct independent research where I spoke one-on-one with small business owners to learn about their experiences running a business in Kenya.鈥�

The best part, she says, was speaking with entrepreneurs and learning about their work, their passions and the challenges they face as business owners.

She encourages other students to consider the Tyler grants.

鈥淧ut in all your effort,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or me, I was very new to research and had no idea how to conduct it at first. But having the right people around you and consistently asking questions or seeking feedback really helped me throughout the process.鈥�

How to Apply

Fall 2026 Tyler Fellows鈥攕upported by awards up to $3,000鈥攚ill design projects in Santiago or Strasbourg with guidance from a home campus faculty mentor, as well as 性视界 Abroad and SOURCE staff. Students must first be accepted into one of those programs.

As part of the fellowship, they will take a 鈥淩esearch in Community鈥� seminar and participate in cohort activities with Tyler Fellows from other institutions.

鈥淭he Tyler Center for Global Studies Fellowship not only provides essential funding to support students鈥� international undergraduate research activities but also facilitates a community of scholars engaging with cross-cultural research both here at 性视界 University and in the larger, multi-institution Tyler Center program,鈥� says Kate Hanson, director of SOURCE. 鈥淪tudents navigate the complexities of research with another culture alongside fellow students and mentors in a program that facilitates discussion and reflection.鈥�

Interested students should first email ugresearch@syr.edu to express their interest in the Tyler Fellows Program and then prepare a project proposal and apply through .聽Applications are due by April 2 or July 9.

An information session for interested students will be held Thursday, March 19, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the sixth floor of 100 Sims Drive.

SOURCE can also help students develop research ideas, find faculty mentors and prepare application materials. Contact the SOURCE team at ugresearch@syr.edu or 315.443.2091.

For 性视界 University senior , research isn’t confined to a laboratory. She鈥檚 taking her work directly into the community鈥攈osting events, screening participants and listening closely to people who have long been underserved by the health care system.

Weltman, a dual major in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and neuroscience with a minor in psychology in the (A&S), is conducting research in the under the mentorship of , A&S assistant professor of CSD.

Pei, a certified speech-language pathologist, researches ways to maximize cognitive-communication rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injuries and how health communication discrimination affects their health care access and recovery.

Pei and Weltman are working in the project, 鈥淚ntegrating Culturally Adapted Principles in Cognitive Communication Rehabilitation,鈥� which addresses a critical gap in speech-language pathology: the absence of culturally tailored care.

鈥淭he long-term goal of this research study is to improve speech-language pathologist therapy participation and outcomes for all clients, regardless of their backgrounds, thereby ensuring consistent healthcare delivery to all,鈥� Weltman says.

Community Research Model

To gather insights, the research team uses a community-based model, hosting engagement events at locations such as the Westcott Community Center, Mckinley- Brighton Elementary School, Cicero Community Center, Interfaith Works of CNY and the Jewish Community Center of 性视界. Participants come from local nursing homes, YMCAs, elementary school programs and other local groups that support community centers and senior companion programs. The events include presentations on healthy aging that feature games and prizes, free cognitive screenings and opportunities to participate in surveys and interviews. Weltman then analyzes those findings and connects them to the psychotherapy adaptation and modification framework鈥攁 systematic guide used to customize standard psychological treatments to fit a client鈥檚 specific personal background.

Learning New Skills

The work has pushed Weltman to develop skills that span clinical science, data analysis and community organizing. She has learned to code interviews, extract and analyze data, develop surveys and create clinical manuals, and says these technical competencies will serve her well in her future career as a speech-language pathologist specializing in neurogenic communication disorders.

Just as important, she has learned to see the broader landscape of how health care reaches and serves all patients. She says that work has allowed her to identify specific barriers to health care and learn how to recognize how personal nuances affect speech-language therapy.

Weltman鈥檚 research is already reaching beyond 性视界’s campus. She is preparing to submit a proposal to , a significant milestone for an undergraduate researcher.

She credits her faculty mentor with making that trajectory possible. Weltman has worked with Pei since her sophomore year and says the relationship fundamentally shaped her academic and professional path.

鈥淔rom my very first assigned task, Dr. Pei has believed in my potential and supported me every step of the way,鈥� Weltman says. 鈥淲ithout her and the lab, I would have never concentrated on the field of cognitive communication, which has inspired my future career.鈥�

The (SOURCE) has also been instrumental in her work, Weltman says. SOURCE is where she first learned about the range of available to undergraduates.聽 The office provided research project components, including a received this past year. In addition, SOURCE support such as and programming including orientations, workshops and check-in meetings, have underpinned her ongoing success, she says.

For Weltman, the research is ultimately about more than data or frameworks鈥攊t is about making sure every patient, regardless of background, has a real chance at recovery.

性视界 University has been selected as a 2026 awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, one of just 14 institutions nationwide to earn the prestigious recognition. The award provides funding to support six scholar-mentor pairs over three years, with two undergraduate Beckman Scholars named each year beginning this spring.

The Beckman Scholars Program provides 15-month mentored research experiences for exceptional undergraduate students in chemistry and life sciences. Each scholar receives comprehensive support during two full summers and an academic year of intensive research engagement, professional development opportunities and preparation for graduate or medical school.

, professor of physics聽 in the and interim dean of the , is principal investigator. 鈥淭he Beckman Scholars Program will provide transformative research experiences for students who demonstrate exceptional promise in science and engineering working with our outstanding faculty from the ,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his award recognizes the University鈥檚 deep commitment to undergraduate research and our proven track record of offering experiential training in interdisciplinary fields.鈥�

Fourteen faculty members, all of whom are affiliated with BioInspired, will serve as Beckman Mentors. They are (chemistry and biology), (chemistry), (physics), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), (chemistry), (biomedical and chemical engineering), (biology), Ross (physics), (physics), (chemistry) and (biomedical and chemical engineering).

Scholars will participate in BioInspired鈥檚 annual symposium, present at national conferences and receive mentoring support from the .

Application Process

The will handle student recruitment and selection, onboarding and ongoing support.

The Beckman Scholars Program is open to sophomores working on research in one of the Beckman Mentor labs. Scholars must commit to 15 months of continuous research and be interested in pursuing a graduate degree and leadership roles in their field of study. The 2026 cohort of Beckman Scholars will be funded through summer 2027.

Applications will be handled through the process. Interested students should submit an intent to apply form by Thursday, Feb. 12, with final applications due Thursday, Feb. 26.

Information sessions for first-year students interested in future Beckman Scholar opportunities will be held in February and March.

For more information about eligibility and the application process, visit the SOURCE website at or contact SOURCE Director Kate Hanson at 315.443.2091 or khanso01@syr.edu.

The (CSE), launched last fall, brought together the University鈥檚 student support programs into a single administrative structure in order to build synergies and better serve students.

As of last week, those programs are now together in a single physical space as well, at .

鈥淭his move truly creates a centralized hub for student success, academic support, engagement and persistence,鈥� Assistant Provost for Academic Programs and CSE Director Tommy Powell says. 鈥淚t brings together multiple high-impact student support offices with a shared mission: helping students thrive academically, personally and professionally from their first day on campus through graduation.鈥�

CSE serves all undergraduate students, with a focus on student transition and adjustment to college; academic skill-building and coaching; retention and persistence; engagement, belonging and experiential learning; and clear communication and coordination across support services.

CSE comprises multiple programs working closely together:

• First Year Seminar
• Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS)
• Retention and Student Success
• SOURCE (性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement)
• Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising
• Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
• McNair Scholars Program
• Our Time Has Come Scholars
• Remembrance Scholars
• STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program) and CSTEP (College Science and Technology Entry Program)
• Shaw Center for Public and Community Service
• Living Learning Communities

Student-Athlete Academic Services, located in the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, is also a core part of the CSE.

The building is located at the corner of Sims Drive and College Place, adjacent to Sims Hall. Drop-ins are welcome.

For more information, call 315.443.2005.

Each year, five undergraduate students from 性视界 University join students from the 14 other Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) institutions to showcase their research or creative work at the . This year鈥檚 conference is the 16th annual and will be held from Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12, at Florida State University.

Students interested in attending this year鈥檚 conference need to apply by Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. All travel, lodging and meal expenses are funded for student presenters.

鈥淢eeting of the Minds is a valuable opportunity for outstanding students to present and receive feedback on their intellectually engaging research and creative work,鈥� says Odette Marie Rodriguez, assistant director of the 性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) who will accompany the students to MoM. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l get the chance to meet students from across the country and enjoy sunny Florida weather in April at our host institution for this year, Florida State University. Meeting of the Minds allows us to showcase the very best of undergraduate student researchers at SU, and the 性视界 Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) MoM committee enjoys preparing the students to share an effective and professional presentation of their work.鈥�

A panel of faculty members and staff select the presenters based on the academic quality of the project, clarity of expression in the proposal, completeness of research/creative project, independence of the project and potential impact of the conference participation to help the student achieve their goals. The students selected will work with the MoM committee to prepare their oral or poster presentations.

Last year, Ayla Ray 鈥�27, a biology major in the College of Arts and Sciences and environment, sustainability and policy major in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, presented on the stability of common mycorrhizal networks (underground fungal networks that connect plants) under warming and drought. Other students presented a multimedia journalism project on the Erie Canal, a creative project exploring reuse and sustainable fashion, an architecture exhibition on spatial storytelling in horror film and an anthropology study of U.S. peacemaking efforts in Bosnia.

鈥淒uring the Meeting of the Minds you become extremely close with your fellow SU presenters, but also with students from up and down the East Coast,鈥� says Ray. 聽鈥淏reaks were filled with collaboration and networking. I met incredibly intelligent individuals and exchanged ideas regarding graduate school opportunities, scientific techniques, Fulbright programs and more. Leaving the conference, I felt that I had not only developed my presentation abilities but had also gained a cohort of peers and connections.聽I strongly encourage students to apply for this opportunity.鈥�

For more information about the 2026 MoM Conference, contact Kate Hanson, director of the SOURCE, at聽khanso01@syr.edu听辞谤 .

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagements (SOURCE) six different research experiences for undergraduate first- and second-year students on Fridays from January through February 2026 called SOURCE Explore.

SOURCE Explore programs are hands-on, interactive workshops designed to introduce students to research through short-term research activities led by a faculty member or research staff member. SOURCE Explore programs are for students in their first or second year with no prior research experience but who are curious to learn more. Students from all majors (or undeclared) are encouraged to apply, and participants will receive a $250 stipend upon completion of the program.

The program takes place on Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, with the final presentation on Feb. 27 from 2鈥�4 p.m.

Space is limited to 8-12 participants per cohort.

Cohorts this year represent the fields of nutrition, fashion design, communications and more. The six SOURCE Explore programs being offered are:

• How Our Lives Became Plastic: Researching Material Culture in the Archives, offered through the Special Collections Research Center at the University Libraries
• Analyzing Media & Popular Culture through a Social Justice Lens with Newhouse鈥檚 CODE^SHIFT Lab
• Material as Method: Research through Textile Experimentation
• Capturing Veteran Stories: Oral History Planning for the Modern Tenth Mountain Division Resource Center
• The Impact of Hydration Status on Body Composition
• InferredMe: Data-driven Self-Reflection on AI Interactions

Interested students .

Filmmaker and cinematographer , a graduate of the 鈥� (VPA) , has been nominated for a prestigious student award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

Edelson is one of six nominees for the George Spiro Dibie ASC Award鈥擴ndergraduate Category鈥攐ne of the society鈥檚 , which champions rising talent at the formative stages of filmmakers鈥� careers. She was nominated for the narrative short student film 鈥�,鈥� on which she served as director of photography. The ASC will announce the winner on Oct. 12.

鈥淢y experience working on this film forever changed me as a cinematographer, thanks to my collaboration with the writer and director of 鈥楾he Wren in the Wood,鈥� [fellow Class of 2025 film major] Emma Baker,鈥� says Edelson. 鈥淎n important inspiration for the film came from Guillermo del Toro鈥檚 鈥楶an鈥檚 Labyrinth.鈥� I studied the visual style of that film and noted techniques that suited the story Emma and I hoped to tell. I was struck by how it felt as if the camera knew more than the characters it was following. We wanted to incorporate this feeling to hint at the presence of something supernatural. By using soft, fluid camera movement, we gently guided the audience into the world of the film.鈥�

As a film major in VPA鈥檚 Department of Film and Media Arts, Edelson was introduced to the art of cinematography and developed a strong technical and aesthetic foundation, which she continues to build on through practice and exploration. She polished her skills while studying abroad for a semester through 性视界 Abroad鈥檚 in Prague, Czech Republic, and completed her education with the , part of the 性视界 University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program, which enabled her to connect with the film industry during her senior year.

Edelson also received a聽 (SOURCE)聽Fellowship to fund her senior thesis film 鈥�.鈥� The SOURCE supports undergraduate research and creative inquiry. It provides financial assistance for original and innovative work, fostering student-driven exploration and development.

鈥淚 am proud to have begun my journey as a cinematographer at 性视界 University,鈥� says Edelson. 鈥淚 was able to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that deepened my appreciation for the art of filmmaking and prepared me for a professional career in the industry. I was especially fortunate to learn from professors such as , whose encouragement and support strengthened my love for cinematography and motivated me to pursue the art form with confidence.鈥�

鈥淭he American Society of Cinematographers is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized associations in the film industry,鈥� says M茅ndez, associate professor and program coordinator of film in the Department of Film and Media Arts. 鈥淗aving one of our students receive such an honor is a clear confirmation that our film education effectively prepares students to compete on an international stage.鈥�

Edelson鈥檚 cinematography has been awarded Best Cinematography by the Indian Independent Film Festival. Her work was also selected for the Kookai International Film Festival, Indie Shorts Mag Film Festival and 性视界 University鈥檚 New Filmmakers Showcase. Now based in Los Angeles, she works as a freelance filmmaker in the camera department.

When junior , an environmental engineering major in the , was growing up, her parents taught her the sensibility of re-using goods, thrifting what she needed and making the best use of everything she had. Around her Bentonville, Virginia, home, she picked up things at auctions, thrift stores and even out of the garbage. 鈥淒umpster diving,鈥� something she had wanted to try, became part of her routine once she arrived at 性视界 University.

One day, a Department of Public Safety officer stopped Lubkemann at a campus dumpster and asked for identification.聽 After confirming her student status, the officer recounted how the night before, he鈥檇 ejected a man who wasn鈥檛 a student for doing the same thing Lubkemann was doing.

鈥淭hat was one of the most impactful experiences I鈥檝e had, not only at the University but in my life,鈥� Lubkemann explains. 鈥淭o me, it was so unjust that a piece of plastic set me apart from others who might need things.鈥� She says she recognized that removing the person from the scene 鈥渕ight have been the difference between a man and his dinner.鈥�

After that incident, Lubkemann began to reflect on her privileged student status and the injustice that she could access found objects on campus while others were barred from obtaining those throwaway goods. 鈥淚 grew up very privileged, but I was instilled with the value of not taking more than you need. There are things in the garbage that aren鈥檛 actually garbage. A lot of stuff is thrown away before its expiration date,” Lubkemann says. “I found my calling in environmental engineering due to the critical shortage of professionals in the field and by a passion for sustainability, which I see as not just an environmental issue but also a social and economic imperative.鈥�

A ‘Revamped’ Idea

After observing high levels of textile waste on campus and how those without a vehicle have limited access to donate clothing or buy affordable used things,聽 Lubkemann devised the idea for her business, 鈥�.鈥�

Her company is a research-based, pioneering, sustainability-driven mobile enterprise redefining textile waste management through a mobile thrift store and donation hub, currently operating from a repurposed minibus. It takes in discarded yet valuable textiles from their point of disposal and offers an accessible, community-centered solution that diverts waste from landfills while ensuring that high-quality secondhand goods remain in the local economy.

Lubkemann spoke about her idea with ,聽 性视界 University Libraries strategic initiatives advisor and a faculty member in the . She encouraged Lubkemann to submit her idea for a mobile donation center/thrift store/re-distribution hub in the competition. Lubkemann then developed a 10-page business plan, entered the competition and won $5,000.

鈥淚 never thought anyone would find interest in this; I thought it was a pipe dream. Who would think a top U.S. university would invest in such a small idea? But Linda gave me the confidence to pursue it, and that was one of the things that totally launched me into this initiative. I like to say Revamped was born from a dumpster, which gives me hope any idea or dream can take shape if you work towards it. It鈥檚 really taken off from there,鈥� she says.

Adding Funds, Growth

Lubkemann has continued to refine and grow her company and gain funding. She has won $25,000聽 from campus competitions since November 2024, including the at the , a award, the and research monies. Her achievements include the following:

• Obtaining a DBA (鈥渄oing business as鈥�) certificate and starting a limited liability corporation (Ava Lubkemann LLC).
• Acquiring a minibus and outfitting it to serve as mobile thrift shop/donation center.

  

• Establishing a account for potential investors.
• Hosting pop-up sales, cross-campus co-branding events and creating a to distribute on campus.
• Researching textile waste distribution to define more community re-distribution channels.
• Contacting local businesses seeking storage space for additional collected items.
• Ideating two podcasts about Revamped and sustainable living.
• Asking the Sustainability Management group to add sustainable entrepreneurship student ambassadors.
• Contacting George Washington University and Lewis and Clark College to gauge their interest in replicating the Revamped program.

That鈥檚 hardly Lubkemann鈥檚 limit. From finding goods, to reworking and repairing them, to setting up the mobile store and planning distribution points, she does most of Revamped鈥檚 work herself, helped by , the company’s marketer, a student in the Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Ava is also a resident advisor, entrepreneur-in-residence at the聽 student business incubator, a part-time Orange Innovation Scholar worker and a research fellow on the 鈥檚 Carbon Capture Team. She continues to enter competitions such as and present at the . She鈥檚 also taking 17 course credits.

The Long View

The busy student has no shortage of vision, either. Lubkemann envisions expanding the company and hopes its success lets her form a 501C3 nonprofit organization to funnel a mass accumulation of textile waste to people who really need it.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what matters to me, trying to make a positive impact in the community. I was raised on the principle, 鈥榃herever you go leave it a better place than you found it,” Lubkemann says. “I think that鈥檚 the core of making Revamped what I want it to be鈥攁 community-oriented program that connects universities with their communities and advocates for the little guy and people who are in need.鈥�

Goods can be purchased from Revamped鈥檚 Instagram page, listing, or soon-to-launch website, revampedthrift.com. Lubkemann also plans to announce future campus sales and events via those avenues.