{"id":2301,"date":"2026-08-07T05:50:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T05:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/?p=2301"},"modified":"2026-08-07T05:50:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T05:50:19","slug":"2026-sure-grant-recipients-and-faculty-mentors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/2026\/08\/07\/2026-sure-grant-recipients-and-faculty-mentors\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 SURE Grant Recipients and Faculty Mentors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Office of Faculty Engagement is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Grants. These awards support undergraduate students as they pursue original research and creative scholarship under the mentorship of Stetson faculty members. Through the SURE program, students engage in hands-on research across a variety of disciplines, contributing to new knowledge while developing valuable scholarly and professional skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Natalie McCoy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Echoes of the Early Modern English Songscape<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Joel Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natalie Reese McCoy’s research investigates \u201cThe sad nymph, Echo,\u201d an understudied seventeenth-century song preserved in the manuscript Anne Twice, Her Booke: Songs Vnto the Violl and Lute<\/em>. Drawing on research conducted at the New York Public Library, the project aims to produce the first modern transcription and professional recording of the piece while bringing greater attention to the contributions of women composers and musicians in early modern England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Owen Lazarus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> The Sino-German Relationship and the American Response, 1927\u20131941<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Leander Seah<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owen Lazarus’s research examines the relationship between China and Germany from 1927 to 1941 and how the United States responded to that partnership. By studying this period of international diplomacy and conflict, the project explores how shifting alliances and global tensions shaped American foreign policy in the years leading up to World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nicholas Lucchese<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Theodore Roosevelt, Japan, and the United States in the Asia-Pacific, 1897\u20131909<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Leander Seah<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicholas Lucchese’s research examines President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration and its approach to diplomacy with Japan as an emerging global power. By exploring historical strategies for navigating shifting international relationships, the project offers insights that may inform contemporary discussions about how the United States engages with rising powers in today’s geopolitical landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amy King<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Active Site Modifications in [NiFe] Hydrogenase for Enhanced Biomimetic Catalysts<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Meghan McGreal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amy King’s research uses computational methods to study modifications to the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenase, an enzyme involved in hydrogen production and utilization. By examining how changes to the enzyme’s structure affect its function, the project aims to inform the design of more efficient biomimetic catalysts for clean energy and sustainable chemical applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ilanthy Henry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Analysis of Variance in Gene Expression in Drosophila melanogaster Testis<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Sepideh Dadkhah<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilanthy Henry’s research examines patterns of gene expression in the testis of Drosophila melanogaster<\/em>, commonly known as the fruit fly. By analyzing variation in gene activity, the project aims to deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms that influence reproductive biology and contribute to broader insights in genetics and developmental biology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mary DeNote<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> King Arthur as a Political Tool from the Plantagenets to the Windsors<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Kimberly Reiter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary DeNote’s research explores how Arthurian legend has been used by the House of Plantagenet and the modern House of Windsor to shape royal identity and legitimacy. By comparing the ways these two British dynasties have drawn on the stories and symbolism of King Arthur, the project examines the enduring influence of myth and history on monarchy and national identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eloisy Goncalves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Comparing Bone-Conducted to Air-Conducted Sound During Singing<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Chadley Ballantyne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Miyazato – Stetson University’s First G.I. Generation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Stetson University’s First G.I. Generation<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Jacob Walters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin’s research explores the experiences of World War II veterans who attended Stetson University through the G.I. Bill and compares them with veterans at similar small, private liberal arts colleges across Florida. By examining themes of civic service and postwar education, the project seeks to better understand Stetson’s place within the broader history of higher education and its connection to national and regional developments following World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aayusha Sapkota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Institutional Capacity and the Distributional Effects of Payment Digitalization \u2013 Nepal<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Khushbu Mishra<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aayusha Sapkota’s research explores how the digitalization of payments affects different populations in Nepal and the role institutional capacity plays in shaping those outcomes. By examining the distributional effects of digital payment systems, the project aims to better understand how financial technologies influence economic inclusion and access across communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Candela Tourn\u00e9 Mu\u00f1oz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> The Role of Information in Shaping Higher Education Aspirations in Uruguay<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Sarah Lingo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candela Tourn\u00e9 Mu\u00f1oz’s research explores how access to information about universities, scholarships, and other educational opportunities influences the higher education aspirations of high school students in Uruguay. By examining whether greater awareness of available resources encourages students to pursue further education, the project aims to identify ways to better connect students with opportunities that support their academic goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vivian Jones<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Using 3D-Printing to Examine the Mechanical Properties of Developing Tissue<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Holley Lynch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna Boltz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Comparing Endogenous Tidal Rhythms of Mangrove Tree Crabs (Aratus pisonii), Mosquito Lagoon<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Corie Charpentier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Emily Cloudman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ozone Disrupting Canine Biofilms<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Michele Skelton <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emily Cloudman’s research examines the use of ozone therapy as a potential treatment for antibiotic-resistant ear infections in canines. The project evaluates whether ozone could serve as an effective alternative to traditional antibiotic therapies and support the development of new strategies in veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aiden Ramsey <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project:<\/strong> Florida’s Youth Turnout Problem<\/em>
Faculty Mentor:<\/strong> Dr. Kelly Smith<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aiden Ramsey’s research examines why Florida experiences lower youth voter turnout than much of the rest of the United States. By compiling a comprehensive dataset spanning all 50 states from 2000 to 2024, the project analyzes voter turnout alongside registration laws, campaign spending, demographic factors, and education policies to better understand the influences on youth civic participation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Office of Faculty Engagement is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Grants. These awards support undergraduate students as they pursue original research and creative scholarship under the mentorship of Stetson faculty members. Through the SURE program, students engage in hands-on research across a variety of disciplines, contributing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-awards"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2301"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2436,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2301\/revisions\/2436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.stetson.edu\/faculty-engagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}