Fall 2025 URCA Recipients
East Carolina University’s Office of Undergraduate Research announced that 50 student investigators received Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) awards for the Fall 2025 semester.
The award provides support for faculty-mentored research and creative projects led by undergraduates in four categories:
- Biomedical Science – Any science that applies principles of the natural sciences (life or physical) to medicine or health
- STEM – science*, technology, engineering, and mathematics
*Any science that does not apply principles of the natural sciences (life or physical) to medicine or health - Social Science
- Arts and Humanities
Students apply for the award with a defined project narrative and budget justification summary that they’ve developed in collaboration with a faculty mentor(s).
Awards range from $1,000-$2,000 for each project. The awards may go toward project materials and an assistantship for the student(s).
Award recipients are required to present their findings at venues such as ECU’s Research and Creative Achievement Week (RCAW), the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS), or other scholarly venues deemed appropriate by their mentors.
The Fall 2025 URCA award recipients are:
| Principal Student Investigator | Major | Co-Investigator | Project Category | Mentor's Academic Unit | Faculty Mentor | Faculty Co-Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarthak Acharya | Software Engineering | STEM | Computer Science | David Hart | ||
| Awesome Akinbanjo | Engineering | STEM | Engineering | Stephanie George | ||
| Scott Alkins | Chemistry | STEM | Chemistry | Adam Offenbacher | ||
| Gema Andrade | Psychology | Edward Alcantara | Humanities/Arts | Foreign Languages and Literatures | Laura Levi Altstaedter | |
| Jennette Antinore | Neuroscience | Biomedical Sciences | Psychology | Tuan Tran | ||
| Clayton Brown | Chemistry | STEM | Chemistry | Robert Hughes | ||
| Greta Bublitz | Chemistry | Biomedical Sciences | Physics | Juan Beltran-Huarac | ||
| Sydney Coll | Chemistry | STEM | Chemistry | William Allen | ||
| Tala Cottle | Dance | Humanities/Arts | School of Theatre and Dance | John Dixon | ||
| Annaleise Darrohn | Nursing | Social Sciences | College of Nursing | Thompson Forbes | ||
| Sophie Davis | Engineering | Biomedical Sciences | Physiology | Jitka Virag | ||
| Leanna Dover | Biology | Katherine DeFeo | STEM | Chemistry | Adam Offenbacher | |
| Drew Elliott | Computer Science | STEM | Computer Science | Moritz Dannhauer | ||
| Kiran Feliksdal | Public Health | Social Sciences | School of Dental Medicine | Vanessa Pardi | Mark Moss | |
| Mariana Franca Basana | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | School of Dental Medicine | Ramiro Murata | Vanessa Pardi | |
| Whanyichukwu Frank-Ito | Public Health | Social Sciences | Public Health | Lori Ann Eldridge | Jennifer Matthews | |
| Reagan Frazier | Dance | Humanities/Arts | School of Theatre and Dance | Tommi Galaska | ||
| Gabriela Gervasio | Public Health | Chloe Cannon | Social Sciences | Health Education and Promotion | Leslie Cofie | Alice Richman |
| Jaida Hernandez Dones | Physics | Biomedical Sciences | Physics | Juan Beltran-Huarac | ||
| Gabriella Jaramillo | Public Health | Social Sciences | Health Education and Promotion | Lori Ann Eldridge | ||
| Sruthi Kannajoshyula | Psychology | Biomedical Sciences | Physical Therapy | Erzsebet Szatmari | ||
| Jacob Krakover | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Morgan Milton | ||
| Caramia Landis | Community & Regional Planning | Social Sciences | Community and Regional Planning | Misun Hur | ||
| Molly Lasure | Engineering | STEM | Engineering | Alex Vadati | Acela Martinez Luna | |
| Daisy Mangum | Chemistry | STEM | Chemistry | Jack Pender | ||
| Maximilian Martinez | Engineering | STEM | Engineering | Randall Etheridge | ||
| Kaylee Meer | Neuroscience | Social Sciences | Psychology | Christyn Dolbier | ||
| Maria Mendoza-Guerra | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Srinivas Sriramula | ||
| Shovan Monroe | Art | Humanities/Arts | School of Art and Design | Angela Wells | ||
| Victoria Omekenge | Psychology | Social Sciences | Psychology | Jeannie Golden | Victoria Omekenge | |
| Giovanna Otranto | Neuroscience | Biomedical Sciences | Kinesiology | Nicholas Murray | ||
| Savanah Perry | Biology | Social Sciences | Biology | Tim Christensen | ||
| Olivia Phillips | Biology | Social Sciences | Social Work | Abby Schwartz | ||
| Gianna Provenzano | Environmental Studies | STEM | Biology | Rebecca Asch | Mike Muglia | |
| Macy Riffle | Social Work | Courtney Phang | Social Sciences | Social Work | Mi Hwa Lee | |
| America Sanchez-Vera | Psychology | Social Sciences | Psychology | Jeannie Golden | ||
| Walker Shore | Dance | Humanities/Arts | School of Theatre and Dance | John Dixon | ||
| Aarzoo Singh | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Physiology | Jitka Virag | ||
| Noah Smith | Engineering | STEM | Engineering | Stephanie George | ||
| Caleb Spruill | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Physiology | David Tulis | ||
| Nora Stinagle | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Lauren Anllo | ||
| Colton Summers | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Physiology | David Tulis | ||
| Mary Sweeney | Neuroscience | Social Sciences | Communication Sciences and Disorders | Matthew Walenski | ||
| Simran Takhar | Neuroscience | Cameron Fox | Biomedical Sciences | Physiology | Stefan Clemens | |
| Emma Taylor | Biology | STEM | Chemistry | Robert Hughes | ||
| Diya Thaker | Neuroscience | Biomedical Sciences | Internal Medicine | Myon-Hee Lee | ||
| Bryce Tilghman | Neuroscience | Biomedical Sciences | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Xian Wu | ||
| Susannah Catherine Webster | Biology | STEM | Biology | Elizabeth Ables | ||
| Haley Williams | Chemistry | Biomedical Sciences | Chemistry | William Allen | ||
| Ethan Wittenborn | Biology | Biomedical Sciences | Pharmacology and Toxicology | Tracey Woodlief | Xian Wu |
