Thirty-six Washington State University students from WSU Pullman, Tri-Cities, Spokane, and Vancouver have received $56,000 in fellowships to support their mentored undergraduate research efforts for the 2025-26 academic year.
“Our ability to present these awards endorses each student’s interest in exploring projects and topics in their field and also helps each student to meet their financial obligations and still devote time to their research,” said Jeremy Lessmann, director of the WSU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). OUR is part of the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement in the provost’s office.
The students received fellowships for six types of awards managed by OUR. Typical awards are for $1,500 per year. Lessmann said the number of awards presented and recipient information is a good indication of the scope of interest in research, scholarship, and creative activities among the undergraduate population. It also indicates the willingness and determination of WSU faculty to engage as mentors for student researchers.
The awards and recipients are as follows.
Auvil Scholars Fellowship
- Taylor Christopherson, WSU Pullman, a neuroscience major mentored by Bertrand Tanner
- Lorelei Herber, WSU Pullman, a psychology major mentored by Chang Liu
- Sawyer Hicks, WSU Pullman, a biochemistry major mentored by Mike Konkel.
- Karina Hottinger, WSU Vancouver, a psychology major mentored by Benjamin Ladd
- Jaehong Lee, WSU Pullman, a computer science major mentored by Parteek Kumar
- Anastasia Martinez, WSU Pullman, a biochemistry major mentored by Sascha Duttke
- Henry Olsen, WSU Pullman, a biology and psychology major mentored by Gary Wayman
- Steven Randall, WSU Pullman, a music performance major mentored by Martin King
- Rachel Ritter, WSU Spokane, a nutrition and exercise physiology major mentored by Catherine Jarrett
- Caleb Roberts, WSU Pullman, a mechanical engineering major mentored by Jacob Leachman
- Katy Touretsky, WSU Pullman, a neuroscience major mentored by Kristen Delevich
Scott and Linda Carson Undergraduate Research Endowed Excellence Fund award
- Joan “Jo” Castaneda, WSU Pullman, a biochemistry and chemistry major mentored by Anjali Sharma
- Molly Lauby, WSU Pullman, a chemistry major mentored by Kevin Kittilstved
- Eva Rickard, WSU Pullman, a data analytics major mentored by Sascha Duttke
DeVlieg Undergraduate Research Foundation Award
- Jace Dunn, WSU Pullman, a computer science major mentored by Kuang Zhu
Team Mentoring Program Research Scholarship Award
- Ashley Cervantes, WSU Pullman, a genetics and cell biology major mentored by Jon Oatley
- Dalay Ledezma, WSU Pullman, a chemical engineering major mentored by John McCloy
- Aminata Sinyan, WSU Pullman, a bioengineering major mentored by Kitana Kaiphanliam
- Anita Valdez, WSU Pullman, a chemical engineering major mentored by Su Ha
Office of Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Lauren Benjamin, WSU Pullman, a neuroscience major mentored by Emily Qualls-Creekmore
- Charles Crompton, WSU Vancouver, a data analytics major mentored by Mark Beattie
- Nicole Diefenbach, WSU Pullman, a genetics and cell biology major mentored by Gary Wayman
- Samuel Faville, WSU Pullman, a mechanical engineering major mentored by Nestor Pérez-Arancibia
- Caelyn Intal, WSU Pullman, a chemical engineering major mentored by Bernard Van Wie
- Kaitlyn Ipsen, WSU Pullman, a genetics and cell biology major mentored by Laura Bartley
- Rashi Karda, WSU Pullman, a neuroscience major mentored by Shane Hentges
- Tavonput Luangphasy, WSU Vancouver, a computer science and mathematics major mentored by Xinghui Zhao
- Daniel Mrak, WSU Pullman, a chemical engineering major mentored by Su Ha
- Taylor Page, WSU Pullman, a biochemistry major mentored by Kanako Hayashi
- Miguel Palomino, WSU Tri-Cities, a computer science, electrical engineering, and mathematics major mentored by Sihui Li
- Diego Rangel Monroy, WSU Tri-Cities, a computer science, mathematics, and mechanical engineering major mentored by Yuxin Zhang
- Benjamin Wilks, WSU Pullman, a neuroscience major mentored by Anita Vasavada
- Cole Wilson, WSU Pullman, a computer science major mentored by Mehdi Hosseinzadeh
- Kate Yoon, WSU Pullman, a biochemistry major mentored by Ryan Driskell
James A. Weir Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- Allison Mata, WSU Pullman, a physics major mentored by Maria Charisi
- Ari Wilson, WSU Pullman, a genetics and cell biology major mentored by Sascha Duttke
Media contacts:
Jeremy Lessmann, WSU Office of Undergraduate Research director, jlessman@wsu.edu
