Meet Voica from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
The Slow Rebellion: Postmodern SF As Temporal Capitalist Critique Voica Armstrong (she/her) (2027) | English Voica is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a third-year English major hoping to double major in Political Economy or Legal Studies. For her SURF project this summer, she is examining how postmodern science fiction challenges the fast-paced and fragmented experience of time shaped by modern capitalism. By analyzing six science fiction novels within their social and economic contexts, Voica explores how the genre imagines alternative ways of experiencing time and offers new perspectives on […]
Meet Ryan from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Creating A Hawaiʻi Sign Language Video Dictionary Ryan Rinerson (he/him) (2027) | Linguistics and Spanish Ryan Rinerson is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a third-year transfer student majoring in Linguistics and Spanish. For his SURF project this summer, Ryan is working to preserve Hawaiʻi Sign Language (HSL), the indigenous sign language of the Hawaiian Islands, by documenting linguistic, cultural, and historical knowledge from native HSL signer and educator Linda Lambrecht. His goal is to create the first public HSL video dictionary, helping preserve an endangered language and support future […]
Meet Nandhini from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Investigating CK2 In Alveolar Interferon Regulation Nandhini Sundar (she/her) (2027) | Molecular and Cell Biology and Minor in Data Science. Nandhini is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Data Science. For her SURF project this summer, Nandhini is studying how interferon signaling can be regulated in the lung without disrupting the growth of alveolar type II (AT2) cells, which are essential for lung repair and gas exchange. Using precision-cut lung slice models, she is testing whether inhibiting Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) […]
Meet Eyouel from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Identifying Mars-Shine in MAVEN SEP Particle Observations Eyouel Abate (he/him) (2027) | Astrophysics Major and Aerospace Engineering Minor Eyouel is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient majoring in Astrophysics with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. For his SURF project this summer, Eyouel is investigating whether a subtle reflected-light effect from Mars, similar to Earthshine on the Moon, can be detected in NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft data. By analyzing measurements from the Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) instrument alongside spacecraft geometry and Martian surface reflectivity, he aims to determine whether variations in background signals […]
Meet Ailsa from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Empirical Analysis Of Side-Channel Attacks On Commercial Microkernels Ailsa Sun (Any Pronouns) (2028) | Mathematics and Computer Science Ailsa Sun is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient double majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. For her SURF project this summer, Ailsa is investigating the security of HarmonyOS 5, a commercial microkernel operating system used by millions of people across Asia. Her research focuses on side-channel attacks, a type of security vulnerability that can expose information through the way a system operates. By analyzing HarmonyOS’s communication protocols and potential weaknesses, Ailsa aims […]
Meet Candido from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Thermal Tolerance and Post-Heat Stress Recovery in Porcelain Crabs Candido Santos (He/Him) (2028) | Integrative Biology (Integrative Human Biology emphasis) Candido Santos is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a third-year Integrative Biology major with an emphasis in Integrative Human Biology. Working in the Stillman Lab, Candido is investigating how porcelain crabs respond to heat stress by comparing the thermal tolerance and recovery of species with different environmental adaptations. By measuring physiological responses such as heart rate and metabolic function, his research aims to better understand how marine organisms cope […]
Meet Alejandra from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
A Stellar Pas de Trois: Dynamics of Triple Systems in Common Envelopes Alejandra Meza (2027) | Physics and Astrophysics Alejandra Meza is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a third-year Physics and Astrophysics major. For her SURF project this summer, Alejandra is studying the dynamics of triple star systems in which a binary pair is engulfed within the expanding gaseous envelope of a dying star. Motivated by gravitational-wave observations from binary mergers, her research explores how these complex interactions can lead to high-energy transients with both gravitational and electromagnetic signals, […]
Meet Laurie From SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Linguistic Hybridity & National Consciousness In 21st-Century Poetry Laurie Desiderio-Giampiccolo (2026) | English Laurie Desiderio-Giampiccolo is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a fourth-year English major. For his SURF project this summer, Laurie is exploring how bilingual poetry challenges traditional ideas of American identity and authorship. By comparing the work of Salvadoran poet Javier Zamora with earlier bilingual writers, he examines how the use of Spanish in contemporary literature reflects changing understandings of nationality, language, and belonging in 21st-century America. What made you choose this research project? How did your […]
Meet Kian from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Single Cell Dynamics Along The Central Dogma In The Drosophila Embryo Kian Naini (2027) | Molecular and Cell Biology Kian is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. For his SURF project this summer, Kian is studying how gene regulatory networks drive pattern formation during embryonic development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. By combining live embryo imaging with computational modeling of protein diffusion and gene expression dynamics, he aims to understand how single cells organize into structured tissues and how molecular processes shape variability and […]
Meet Kristie from Strauss! | OURS Student Spotlight
Kristie Moore (2027) | Global Studies Kristie Moore (’27, Global Studies) is a Mexican-Slovak American from Southern California. She will use her Strauss Scholarship to lead Central Asia Peace Scholars, a year-long program empowering 150 youth from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan through leadership training, peace education, and community projects. Kristie has studied Russian and Tajiki through CLS and Boren Scholarships and conducted field research across Central Asia. She plans to pursue a PhD in conflict resolution and a career in mass atrocity prevention. What are you planning to do with […]