Undergraduate Researchers
Healthy Discoveries undergraduate research program
College of Health
Get to know the Healthy Discoveries program undergraduate researchers
- What was their path to OSU?
- Why are they interested in research?
- Why did they want to be part of Healthy Discoveries?
- What research will they be working on and with whom?
- What are their future career or academic plans?
2025
Clara Arnold
Public health undergraduate student
Clara Arnold, a public health undergraduate and pre-medical student at OSU's College of Health, discusses her research on microplastics in drinking water and their relationship to low birthweight rates in Oregon.
2025
Katie Bird
First-year public health undergraduate student
Katie Bird, a first-year public health undergraduate, discusses her research on life vest impact on fishermen's safety and performance with Dr. Laurel Kincl, and her plans to pursue a master's degree in either social work or public health.
2025
Adrienne Graf
Nutrition undergraduate student
Adrienne Graf, a nutrition undergraduate, discusses her research on environmental contaminants in human donor milk at the Dallas Lab and her plans to pursue a career as a registered dietitian focusing on pediatric or maternal nutrition.
2025
Maslin Mason
College of Health undergraduate student
Maslin Mason, an undergraduate at OSU's College of Health, discusses research on trace metals and nontuberculosis mycobacteria virulence with Dr. Danelishvili and plans to become an epidemiologist advocating for marginalized communities.
2025
Michelle Olmos
Public health undergraduate student
Michelle Olmos, a public health undergraduate, discusses her research with the Fisherman Led Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) and her goal to pursue graduate studies in epidemiology or infectious disease research.
2025
Emma Ryan
Kinesiology student, pre-therapy and allied health option
Emma Ryan, a kinesiology student specializing in pre-therapy and allied health, discusses her research on ankle stability biomechanics and her aspirations to become a sports medicine physician.
2025
Maxwell Schwarzmann
Kinesiology undergraduate student
Maxwell Schwarzmann, a kinesiology undergraduate, discusses his research on Special Olympics basketball athletes' training methods and his entrepreneurial goals in the physical and mental wellness space.
2025
Christina Young-Valdovinos
Second-year public health undergraduate student
Public health undergraduate Christina Young-Valdovinos discusses her research on Latinx food security in Linn-Benton communities and her goal to become a pediatrician after completing her studies.
2024
Grace Bliesner
Kinesiology
Grace Bliesner engages in research evaluating trauma-informed care training’s impact on first-year teachers, aiming to foster supportive educational environments.
2024
Annika Jacobson
Kinesiology
Annika Jacobson conducts biomechanics research on shoulder proprioception, aiming to apply findings to athletic injury prevention.
2024
Heewon Kim
Public Health
Public health student Heewon Kim conducts research on donor milk preservation methods to improve antimicrobial efficacy for preterm infant nutrition.
2024
Diane Koopmann
Nutrition with an option in Nutrition and Health Sciences
Nutrition student Diane Koopmann examines the digestion of bovine whey proteins, integrating academic learning with laboratory research to pursue her goal of becoming a physician.
2024
Cedar Kvist
Nutrition
Nutrition student Cedar Kvist examines the impact of the Breakfast After the Bell program on elementary school attendance, aiming to enhance child health and educational outcomes through research.
2024
Julie Louangchoumphonh
Human Development and Family Sciences, Education with an option in Health Teaching
Julie Louangchoumphonh examines the college advising process for DACA students in rural communities, identifying barriers and proposing strategies to enhance support through her undergraduate research.
2024
Kate Metcalf
Public health, health tech
Undergraduate student Kate Metcalf engages in interdisciplinary research on human-robot interaction within skilled nursing facilities, aiming to enhance resident well-being through socially assistive robotics.
2024
Allison Nofziger
Human Development and Family Sciences
Undergraduate researcher Allison Nofziger investigates the correlation between adverse childhood experiences and preschoolers’ problem behaviors, contributing to the Interplay study’s findings.
2024
Javier Rey-Rosa
Kinesiology
Undergraduate researcher Javier Rey-Rosa studies jump landing biomechanics in individuals with chronic ankle instability, contributing to improved rehabilitation approaches.
2024
Andria Slaughter
Pre-Health | Nutrition
Undergraduate researcher Andria Slaughter examines how protein digestion processes are altered during space travel, combining in-lab studies on bovine milk proteins with a NASA-aligned literature review to inform future space health strategies.
2024
Fiker Tsehaye Berhe
Human Development and Family Sciences and Women | Gender and Sexuality
Undergraduate researcher Fiker Tsehaye Berhe examines how physical activity influences cesarean section outcomes, aiming to inform better health practices for women globally.
2024
Louisa Vu
Nutrition | Pre-dietetics option
Nutrition undergraduate researcher Louisa Vu enhances digestive health research by creating a standard operating procedure for the SHIME model, supporting future studies in the Dallas Lab.
2024
Molly Wheeldon
Human Development and Family Science
Undergraduate researcher Molly Wheeldon analyzes global data to assess how endocrine-disrupting compounds in personal care products may influence breast cancer risk, aiming to inform public health practices.
2023
Iggy Aldama-Shaw
First-year, Nutrition
Undergraduate researcher Iggy Aldama-Shaw examines the effectiveness of the Double Up Food Bucks program through qualitative analysis, aiming to inform strategies to combat food insecurity in Oregon.
2023
Allison Barr
First-year, Human development and family sciences
Allison Barr is a first-generation student at OSU-Cascades working on research to measure belonging and resilience in Central Oregon communities.
2023
Paige Campbell
Kinesiology Pre-therapy and allied health option
Paige Campbell, an OSU Honors College student researching child development through the Red Light Purple Light intervention program while pursuing her kinesiology degree.
2023
Zach Glenore
Kinesiology Pre-therapy and allied health option
Undergraduate researcher Zach Glenore is conducting research on chronic ankle instability is gaining hands-on biomechanics research experience while pursuing his goal of becoming a physical therapist.
2023
William Green
Third-year, Human development and family sciences
William Green overcame research challenges to study the pandemic's effects on foster children's mental health while preparing for a career in children's counseling.
2023
Karalyn Holt
Third-year, Nutrition Nutrition and health sciences option, pre-med track
Undergraduate researcher Karalyn Holt, a junior nutrition pre-medicine student, is investigating environmental toxins' impact on child development while preparing for a career in pediatric oncology.
2023
George Krecklow
Second-year, Public health and Bio-health sciences Pre-med track
Undergrad George Krecklow is contributing to children's health research at OSU while preparing for graduate studies in public health policy and systems.
2023
Camryn Lau
First-Year, Nutrition: Health sciences option
Camryn Lau is an OSU pre-med and Army ROTC student researching cooking improvisation as a solution to food insecurity while promoting undergraduate research opportunities.
2023
Ella Lukens
First year, Human development and family sciences Child development option, pre-med track
Undergrad Ella Lukens is a first-year HDFS student researching how flame retardants affect children's cognitive and behavioral functioning.
2023
Ashley McKelvey
Fourth-year transfer student, Nutrition Dietetics option
Transfer student Ashley McKelvey is analyzing immune-signaling proteins in breast milk at Oregon State University while pursuing her goal of becoming a pediatric dietitian.
2023
Allyson McOmie
Junior, Kinesiology Pre-therapy and allied health option
Undergrad Allyson McOmie is a kinesiology student researching physical activity and equity while pursuing her goal of becoming a physical therapist specializing in concussions and brain injuries.
2023
Nick Nasca
Third-year, Psychology Minor in Spanish OSU-Cascades
Undergraduate researcher Nick Nasca is applying his experience in youth coaching to create innovative measurement tools for digital engagement in mental health interventions for foster youth.
2023
Maeve Sahalie Sievertsen
Second year, Human development and family sciences Minor in Spanish
Undergraduate researcher Maeve Sahalie Sievertsen is investigating the understudied relationship between wildfire smoke exposure and pediatric mental health while preparing for a future in healthcare.