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2025 GIDP Research Showcase - see you there!

On December 11, 2025, students from numerous Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs will participate in the annual GIDP Research Showcase. In addition to spotlighting GIDP research, we are also showcasing undergraduate research from students affiliated with the AWARDSS and UROC programs. Guests will include faculty, staff, students, mentors, family members, alumni, community partners, and other stakeholders. The event creates space to engage in meaningful conversations about the research and problem-solving mechanism that these students are developing to address real-world problems. We are grateful to faculty, students, alumni, and staff for their commitment to improving conditions in so many important areas that are relevant worldwide. Looking forward to seeing you at Showcase!  

GIDP  Research Showcase

December 11, 2025

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Bear Down Gymnasium

2025 GIDP Showcase Agenda

  • 10:30-10:35 AM - Welcome by Elena Chabolla, GIDP Administration
  • 10:35-10:40 AM - Speaker Introduction by GIDPAC Chair David Quanrud
  • 10:40-10:55 AM - Keynote Speaker, Monica Landgrave Serrano
  • 11:00 AM -12:00 PM - Poster Sessions, Mix & Mingle 

     

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Monica Landgrave Serrano

ALRS Alumna (2024): Monica Landgrave Serrano is an urban planner dedicated to creating more connected and resilient desert cities. With a background in architecture and a Ph.D. in Arid Lands Resource Sciences, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective that bridges design, research, and policy. As Lead Planner for the City of Tucson, she is currently working on a grant-funded initiative to enhance bus stops citywide with green infrastructure to make transit spaces safer and more comfortable.  By supporting the mobility of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, her work fosters a more livable Southern Arizona for all.

2025 Research Showcase - GIDP students alphabetical by program

Christie Kelly, AIS PhD minor

Christie Meninick - PhD minor - American Indian Studies GIDP

Native Women in Leadership: Using a Sequential Exploratory Mixed Method to Modify the Career Aspiration Survey-Revised

Michael Spears, AIS

Michael Spears - PhD - American Indian Studies GIDP

From Time Immemorial Through the Atomic Age: An Ethnographic Study of Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Astrid Cambuston, Applied Biosciences

Astrid Cambuston - PSM - Applied Biosciences GIDP

Evaluation of Fogging Technology for Controlling Salmonella enterica Newport on Roma Tomatoes and Extending the Shelf-Life of Berries using Edible Films

Nguyen Dang, Applied Biosciences

Nguyen Dang - PSM - Applied Biosciences GIDP

Comparative Analysis of Inoculation and Recovery Techniques for Better Recovery of Listeria monocytogenes from Ready-to-Eat Meats 

Kylie Davis, Applied Biosciences

Kylie Davis - PSM - Applied Biosciences GIDP

Evaluation of the ABBIE Gene-Editing System in Targeting GYS1 in Ovarian Adenocarcinoma Cells

Nada Elnady, Applied Biosciences

Nada Elnady - PSM - Applied Biosciences GIDP

Site-Specific cis-Diabody Conjugation for Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Development

Keyania Campbell, AIAR

Keyania Campbell - PhD - Applied Intercultural Arts Research GIDP

Teaching Cultural Memory in Environmental Humanities: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina

Sydney Streightiff, AIAR

Sydney Streightiff - PhD - Applied Intercultural Arts Research GIDP

Exploring Awe Through Co-Created Arts and Health Programming with Hispanic Older Adults

Diana Githu, ALRS

Diana Githu - PhD - Arid Lands Resource Sciences GIDP

Towards Land Degradation Neutrality: Evidence on Collaborative Governance and Sustainable Land Management in Dryland Regions

Joona Mikkola, ALRS

Joona Mikkola - PhD - Arid Lands Resource Sciences GIDP

Carbon Management in Arid Lands: Pathways to Food Security and Resilience

Akshita Sharma, Applied Mathematics

Akshita Sharma - PhD - Applied Mathematics GIDP

A Theoretical Model for Oxygen Transport to the Cerebral Cortex: From Microvascular Flow Redistribution to Macroscopic BOLD Responses

Sheila Whitman, Applied Mathematics

Sheila Whitman - PhD - Applied Mathematics GIDP

Material Informatics for Structural Alloys

Danielle DiFranco, CBIO

Danielle DiFranco - PhD - Cancer Biology GIDP

The role of nuclear EGFR in breast cancer metastasis

Makena Manes, CBIO

Makena Manes - PhD - Cancer Biology GIDP

Estrogen Receptor Promotes Structural Memory in Breast Cancer

Vannia Puig Rivera, Cognitive Science

Vannia Puig Rivera - PhD minor - Cognitive Science GIDP

Assessing spontaneous goal-oriented cognition in relation to goal-accomplishment and well-being in younger and older adults: A Think Aloud Approach

Mandy Dhahan, College Teaching

Mandy Dhahan - PhD - College Teaching Certificate GIDP

Reclaiming Mindfulness in Educational Spaces

Marium Yousuf, College Teaching

Marium Yousuf - PhD - College Teaching Certificate GIDP

Investigating the Success of Multiple-Choice Assessments in a Math Classroom

Pablo Aran Sekul, Ecosystem Genomics

Pablo Arán Sekul - PhD - Ecosystem Genomics GIDP

Elevation Drives Ecological Turnover in Lichen and Moss Endophytic Communities

Zoe Jensen, EIS

Zoe Jensen - PhD - Entomology & Insect Science GIDP

Elucidating the genomic basis of Vip3Aa resistance in Helicoverpa zea through GWAS and transcriptomic analysis

Marshall Ledford, Genetics

Marshall Ledford - PhD - Genetics GIDP

Volatile traits expand the microbial playbook

Sawsan Wehbi, Genetics

Sawsan Wehbi - PhD - Genetics GIDP

Origins of the genetic code revealed by ancient proteins

Asiya Sainudeen, Global Change

Asiya B. Sainudeen - PhD minor - Global Change GIDP

Exploring the Moisture Sources and Pathways for South American Rainfall Using Variable-Resolution CESM Simulations

Mikaila Bantuga, Neuroscience

Mikaila Bantugan - PhD - Neuroscience GIDP

Altered mitochondrial function and inflammation in a humanized APP/APOE mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease risk

Yu Jung Chen, Neuroscience

Yu Jung Chen - PhD - Neuroscience GIDP

Arc mRNA expression pattern in CA1 hippocampal subregion reveals ensemble stability differences across age and cognition

Keila Espinoza, Physiological Sciences

Keila Espinoza - PhD - Physiological Sciences GIDP

Loss of Acid Ceramidase in Macrophages Alleviates Chronic Colitis

Ranon Plett, Physiological Sciences

Ranon Plett - PhD - Physiological Sciences GIDP

C937 is a Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase- (MAPK-) Biased PAR2 Antagonist that Limits Alternaria alternata-Induced Asthma in Humanized Mice

Logan J. Sherrill, Roshan

Logan J. Sherrill - MA - Roshan GIDP Persian & Iranian Studies

Ḥamza al-Iṣfahānī (c. 893-970 CE): Medieval Methods of Historical Narrative and Ideological Legitimation

Caroline Scheuer Neves, SLAT

Caroline Scheuer Neves - PhD - Second Language Acquisition & Teaching GIDP

Identity and Power in Critical Portuguese Language Pedagogies: Intersections of Sociolinguistic, Ideological, and Affective Contexts in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

Lucia Velasquez Encinas, SLAT

Lucia Velazquez Encinas - PhD - Second Language Acquisition & Teaching GIDP

Are Occupations Gendered? A Mental Imagery and Language Study

Subin Oh, SLAT

Subin Oh - PhD - Second Language Acquisition & Teaching GIDP

Linguistic Field Leverage: Strategic Multilingualism in the Korean Feminist Response to Deepfake Sexual Crime

Serdar Sen - SLAT

Serdar Sen - PhD - Second Language Acquisition & Teaching GIDP

Challenges and Affordances of Telecollaboration Projects

Evan Martin-Casler, SCCT

Evan Martin-Casler - PhD minor - Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory GIDP

Critical Youth Geographies in Turbulent Times: Alternative Practices of Spacemaking and Community Building

Huiqi Zhang

Huiqi Zhang - PhD minor - Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory GIDP

Fibers of Production: The Politics of Paper Recycling in China

Tim Mo, STATS DS

Tim Mo - PhD - Statistics & Data Science GIDP

Shifted Maximum Subarray and Its Application in Change-point Analysis

Shudong Sun, STATS DS

Shudong Sun - PhD - Statistics & Data Science GIDP

Quantifying Dataset Similarity to Guide Transfer Learning

2025 Research Showcase - UROC-affiliated students alphabetical by last name

Elena Brown - UROC Scholar

Elena Brown - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Clinical and Economic Implications of Mental Health and Gastrointestinal Disorder Comorbidity in Adolescents and Young Adults in Hospital Care: A Cross-sectional Analysis with a Focus on PTSD 

Randall Candaso, UROC Scholar

Randall Candaso - UROC Summer Research Institute

Using Machine Learning to Project End of Career Athlete Trajectory: What Defines Immortal Legacy?

Nathaniel Chavez - UROC Scholar

Nathaniel Chavez - UROC Summer Research Institute

Bridging the Gap Between Moral and Economic Disagreements of Rationalization: A Computational Methodology in Contract Jurisprudence

Dania Cruz Jimenez - UROC Scholar

Dania Cruz Jimenez - UROC-PREP

Resilience and Sense of Belonging in Latina Daughters of Immigrants

Chaz DeCouteau - UROC Scholar

Chaz DeCoteau - UROC Minimizing Heath Disparities

Using Co-Immunoprecipitation to Investigate the Potential for SNX1.3 to Disrupt the Interaction Between p120 Catenin and HPV L1

Jahaziel Galvan - UROC Scholar

Jahaziel Galvan - UROC Minimizing Health Disparities

Photoacoustic Imaging and Spectroscopy in Quantifying Soft Tissue Constituents for Better Diagnosis of Cancer

Gypsie Giroud - UROC Scholar

Gypsie Giroud - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Quality of Life, Internalizing Symptoms, and Predicting Social and School Functioning 

Neryanne Jinon - UROC Scholar

Neryanne Jinon - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Exploring cross-cultural knowledge and help-seeking behavior of Filipino & Japanese American Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Genetic Counselors

Stefanie Lukomski - UROC Scholar

Stefanie Lukomski - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

The Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Emotional Synchrony During Romantic Partner Interactions

Ntsumi Machiana - UROC Scholar

Ntsumi Machiana - UROC Summer Research Institute

Exploring the synthesis and properties of Glyonic Liquids

Ash Maxwell - UROC Scholar

Ash Maxwell - UROC Minimizing Health Disparities

An Age and Sex Structured Disease Model: Bovine Tuberculosis in Deer

Grace Mazurik - UROC Scholar

Grace Mazurik - UROC Summer Research Institute

Time Interval Estimation in the TgF344-AD rat model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Julianna Molinero - UROC Scholar

Julianna Molinero - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Community Support and Self-Efficacy in First-Generation College Students of Color

Natalia Morales - UROC Scholar

Natalia Morales - UROC Summer Research Institute

How Student-Centered Learning Can Be Used to Support Hispanic/Latinx Students and Instructors in Higher Education

Mila Natera - UROC Scholar

Mila Natera - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Accommodating Neurodivergent Heritage Spanish Speakers in Higher Education Bilingual Programs

Christina Petrin - UROC Scholar

Christina Petrin - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Barriers to Student Success in Higher Education Through the Lens of Students with Disabilities: Assessment and Intervention

Elias Post - UROC Scholar

Elias Post - UROC Summer Research Institute

Rainfall and Runoff in the Bronx Wash

Ella Salem - UROC Scholar

Ella Salem - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

Exploring State Mindfulness and Disordered Eating Behavior Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

Valeria Villagrana - UROC Scholar

Valeria Villagrana - UROC AWARDSS-Plus Scholar

The Familial Influence on Educational Aspirations and Expectations: The Roles of Familism, Feelings of Support, and Family Routines