The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) supports faculty-mentored undergraduate research during the summer. This is an opportunity for students to work with a faculty mentor on a research topic relevant to their interests and educational goals during the summer. The expectation is that students will devote 8-10 weeks of full-time effort to the project. Students will present their research findings to other SURF recipients during events in the summer and fall. Students will receive a $4000 stipend, $750 in housing allowance, and up to $500 for research supplies, and mentors will receive a $1000 stipend. Whether a student is a seasoned researcher or this is their first undergraduate research project – SURF is a great chance to expand their educational experience.
Awards from 2025
Decoding the Metabolome: Uncovering Novel Bioactive Compounds from a Streptomyces sp., E. J. Almeida Farland
Development Of 3D-Printed Hemostatic Forceps for Surgical Applications, Manuel Barragan Garcia
Mimicking the Active Site of Proteins, Alex Bosch
In silico Molecular Docking of CD74, Angela Chen
Synthesis of DNA and MALDI Analysis, Joanna Choi
The Impact of Autonomous-Based Programs on Socio-Emotional, Cognitive, and Behavioural Development in School-age Children, Maja Cvijanovic
Separation and Analysis of Glycans from Bovine Alpha-1-acid Glycoprotein (AGP), Nathan Diep
Using Chirality to Improve the Effects of HDAC Inhibitors, Fariel Enyong
Mob Mentality: How the Media Shapes Societal Perspectives of the Mafia, Kaitlyn Ferreira
Understanding UOP Student Housing Decisions: A Machine Learning Approach, Aniela Jensen
Tree Encroachment on Drying Fen Ecosystems, Eleanor Lobdell
Structural and Functional Characterization of Cancer-Associated D- Dopachrome Tautomerase Mutants, Joshua Miu
Quantifying Hormones with LCMS to Study Female Birdsong Regulation, Amanda Nguyen
Autonomic control of heart rate; examining peripheral inputs that influence power spectra components of heart rate variability, Anthony Nguyen
Preserving Pichia: A Study on Its Longevity on Freeze-Dried Rodent Pellets, Felice Nguyen
Age-Dependent Differential Expression of KV7 Channels and Their Role in Mesenteric Arterial Contractility in Rats, Valeria Rosseau Nunez
Understanding the Antibiotic Activity Contained in the Carlson Lab Natural Products Library, Sofia Avelina Pelera
Using DNA barcoding to identify female Rhyacophila and work toward morphological identification, Heather Shin
Nitrogen Mustard Derivatives, Angela Trinh
Investigating Telomerase Expression in Patiria miniata and its implications on age-related diseases, Bellynda Trinh
Identifying Hydroxylamine Transition States in PEPICO Experiment, Tran Yen "Nhi" Vo
Awards from 2024
The Proof is in the Pudding, Pecans, Sliced Ham, Cheese Curls...: Coding Recall Order to Measure Strategy Use., Emma Garber
Language Without Barrier: A Machine Learning Based ASL Analyzer, Khanh Linh Nguyen
Optimization of Adipogenic Differentiation Potential of Lipedema-Origin Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs), Zakary Raymond
Investigating Groundwater in Sierra Nevada, Olivia Silvestre
Electrospinning for Corneal Tissue Engineering Applications, Mackenzie Tobertga
Awards from 2023
Evaluating climate change impacts on susceptible macroinvertebrate species in natural alpine springs of the Sierra Nevada, Jenny Dagnino
Feminism for the Descamisadas: a Rhetorical Analysis of Eva Perón's Speeches, Kayleigh Fick
Diversification of Pedagogy: Music for Clarinet by American Women Composers of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries, Abigail Miller
Tapping into the Potential of the Fungal Metabolome via Coculture and Chemical Elicitors, Ananya Srivatsan
Decolonizing the American Literary Canon Through Native American Storytelling and Counter-Narratives, Jenna Williamson
Awards from 2022
Investigating Art Gallery Problems, Matthew Cowen
Expression and Characterization of a Potential Human Anti-Cancer Protein, Gc-Maf, Rajan Patel
Does Service-Learning Increase Feelings of Empathy in Students?, Daneli Santillan
Finite Mutation Classes of Quivers where Vertex In-Degree and Out-Degree is Two, Christopher Uchizono
Awards from 2021
Population-level variance in the morphology of myodocopid ostracod population over juvenile development, Joyce Chen
Photogrammetry In Virtual Reality, Ryan Damerell
In-Vitro 3D model of Infectious Diseases, Jef Andrei Pelera
Carnival or Cathedral: Designing a Historical Role-Playing Game on Conservation and the National Parks, Corey Pfitzer
The Humanization of Asian Americans: Dispelling the Model Minority Myth in Relation to Higher Education, Brooke Tran
Black Opera and Black Opera Companies in the United States, Molly Westlake
Awards from 2020
Bathymetric Map Creation Using Arial Robots, Robert Ashby
Short Movies of Kam Minority Cultural Heritage, Angelique Doty
Emotions in Film Media, Carmen Huang
Evaluating Investment Options with Machine Learning, Arthur Jones
Georgian/Victorian English and American Women in Instrumental Music, Yuki Nagase
Awards from 2019
A Virtual Reality Recreation of the Stockton State Hospital, Claryse Adams
Determining the chemical basis of behavioral differences in male and female Eupilomedes carcharodonta, Sonya Ahmadyar
Hydro-foiling Sailboat Flight Control System Design, Mackenzie Cook
Regulation of GADD34 and CReP mRNA expression in the Unfolded Protein Response, Krithika Giresh
Conformation and Energetics of B- and Y-Ions in Peptide Fragmentation, Joshua Ho
Satellite image analysis to determine vegetation water use, Republic of Marshall Islands, Saira Purhar
Awards from 2018
Assessment of paleo-climate through analysis of spring-associated carbonate, Katie Andrews
Thermo-mechanical Analysis of Sequential Bone Drilling with Applications to Osteoarthritis Treatment, Justin Boetius
Triggers of Egg-Laying: Does Mating Call Attractiveness Matter?, Jenica Emerson
¡Viva La Raza! : The Bracero Program in California’s Central Valley, Katelyn Getchel
Molecular regulation of motility in symbiotic cyanobacteria, Thomas Harwood
Don’t talk to strangers, or should you? Shy children’s vocalizations with parents and strangers, Caitlin Reynolds
Evaluation of cis-diamine-cyclohexane derivatives as potential chiral catalysts in organic synthesis, Kelsey Wong
Awards from 2017
The role of inhibitory control on shy toddler’s adjustment, Jocelyn Camargo
Catastrophic health spending - How health spending affects poverty in underdeveloped countries, Timothy Cheng
The efficacy of utilizing behavioral skills training to improve job interview skills among military veterans, Caterina Grossi
Molecular Epidemiological Survey of Bacterial Pathogens in Dermacentor variabilis in San Joaquin County, Aeilish Guinn
Protein Analysis of Corydoras duplicareus Venom, Justin He
Awards from 2016
Ikusi: Creatures Brought to Life, Mia Arostigui Cabrera
Synthesis of Nucleobase-Neomycin conjugates, Mingheng Ling
Combining Aesthetics, Sustainability, and Structural Integrity in Tiny House Design, Aimee Mahoney
Creation of a New Multimedia Composition for Live Performer, Fixed Media (audio), and Video, Scott Nelson
Natural Compound Testing on T. vaginalis, Sabrina Noritake
Investigation of Forces in Bone Drilling for Orthopedic Surgery, Nasser Saleh
Assessment of Water Resource Susceptibility to Climate Change: Republic of the Marshall Islands, Sara Warix
Preschool Teacher’s Role in the Emotion Coaching of Children, Jillian Yelinek
Awards from 2015
The Last Health Insurance Gamble: Who Purchases and Who Should Purchase Long-Term Care Insurance?, David Caranza
Social Media and Organizational Transparency: A Case Study of McDonalds’ Customer Engagement Campaign, Gitane Chaisson
Environmental Factors Associated with Transmission of Avian Parasite Infections in California, Chase Crimmins
Ontogeny of Middle Ear Tuning in Tungura Frogs, Betty Lee
Investigations into the Nature of Dimetallic Bonds within Octachloroditechnetate Anions using Computational Methods, Johnson Liu
Markov Chains and Modeling Statistics for Educational and Analytic Purposes, Timothy Shumate
From Hanfu to Xiao Qinxin: The Evolution of China's (Middle Class) Fashion, Sarah Yung
Awards from 2014
Determining the Effect of Mangiferin on the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Lung Cancer Cells, Zubair Amin
The Politics of Religion: Islam in a Neo-liberal State, Adnan Hashtam
The Legal Basis for a Top Two System of Elections: The Case of Washington’s Initiative 872, Sarah Lutz
Design and Synthesis of a Water-Soluble Ligand for Detection and Extraction of Metal Ions, Nhi Nguyen
Water Polo Database, James Price
Hardening and acclimation in the neotropical tungara frog (Engystomops pustulosus), Pacific Vo
Awards from 2013
The Politics of Revolutionary Literature: Garcia-Marquez and Borges, Tanairi Alcaraz
Applications of Structurally Modified Cyclam Ligand in Ion Extraction and Stabilization, Angelique Cao
The Cease Fire Initiative: Its effectiveness in Reducing Violent Crime Across Cities, Adam Falcon
LBGT the final frontier of human rights: A case study of same-sex marriage in Spain, Faith James
Filesystem Independent Framework for Data-Intensive Computing, Austin Kimbrell
Neo-Slave Narratives, Black Feminist Theory, and the Battle for Reproductive Rights, Danielle Procope
Larval ecology of S. adiaste: development of tools for restoration of an imperiled butterfly, Cassidi Rush
Microbial Effects on Metal Mobility in Urban Wetlands, Katie Teague
Awards from 2012
Characterization and localization of subtilisin-like serine proteases in Trichomonas vaginalis as new chemotherapeutic targets, Kai Hsiang Chang
Papermaking: A Form of Sustainable Art, Jessica Fong
Ad Hoc Senor Networks Sinks and Topology Algorithm, Jennifer Johnson
