Four University of New Mexico undergraduates have been selected as recipients of the fall Undergraduate Research Scholarship. Each student will receive a $500 departmental award to support their research in collaboration with UNM faculty.
The scholarship is designed for students who are currently unpaid for their research activities, whether those projects are independent studies, departmental honors projects, or other academic work.
This year’s recipients are Sarah Lee, Lucien Gil Rey, Paniz Aghapour Maleki, and Ava Clayton.
Sarah Lee, a senior majoring in psychology, is researching the gap between climate change knowledge and activism. Her project examines communicative, psychological, and sociodemographic factors that could motivate more pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to conduct research on the psychological components of climate change activism. In a busy world that is increasingly challenging to keep up with, it can be difficult to allocate space, time, and energy to the issues that matter most to us,” said Lee. “As climate change can be especially overwhelming, I am excited to work with the great faculty and resources at UNM to understand and tackle this issue from a transdisciplinary approach.”
Lucien Gil Rey is also a senior psychology major. His proposed research investigates whether individuals with higher sensation-seeking tendencies face an increased risk of substance use when they have dissociative symptoms. “This project is one of the steps to achieve my academic objectives, as well as an excellent opportunity to start working on my areas of interest, and to learn new skills that will help me in future endeavors,” said Gil Rey.
Paniz Aghapour Maleki is a junior biology major focusing on isolating compounds from Ericameria nauseosa—part of broader efforts investigating Navajo medicinal plants for potential antibacterial properties. She aims to identify new drug leads from natural products while fostering engagement with Indigenous communities in scientific research. “This research project has taught me that the material I’ve learned in my coursework—chemistry, biology, statistics, and even ethics—come together in a meaningful way,” said Maleki. “It’s one thing to study these subjects in class but applying them to real-world drug discovery has increased my understanding of each subject and their broader impact.”
Ava Clayton is a sophomore biology major whose work centers on ticks found in New Mexico and the western United States. Her project seeks to identify common tick species in order to develop strategies for reducing tick-borne disease transmission. “I’m deeply grateful to the Honors community for connecting me with incredible mentors and opportunities like this research, which has shown me the real-world impact science can have and has pushed me to further pursue my education,” said Clayton.
More information about scholarship opportunities can be found at URAD’s website or through its newsletter.
