Nineteen University of Nebraska–Lincoln students presented research and creative projects April 3 to fellow students, faculty and staff during the 2025 Mini-Symposium for First Year Research Experience students. The event was hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and the TRIO/Student Support Services Program.
Each fall, Undergraduate Research and Fellowships staff match eligible first-year undergraduates with faculty mentors to conduct a research or creative project. The FYRE employment is supported by federal work-study, the TRIO/Student Support Services Program or the STEM-POWER program. Participation in undergraduate research and first-year experiences are both considered high-impact practices for undergraduate education by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. The FYRE program combines both practices, ensuring that first-year students build social connections with faculty mentors and researchers while gaining first-hand knowledge of how Nebraska’s research innovations contribute to solving global challenges.
The mini-symposium theme, “Cultivating a Growth Mindset,” reflects the FYRE program’s commitment to providing enriching research opportunities that foster curiosity, creativity, resilience, adaptability and reflection on the value of the first-year experience. In addition to the mini-symposium, FYRE students participate in monthly skill-building workshops and complete a professional development program facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships and the TRIO/Student Support Services Program.
Ioanna Kipourou, a graduate assistant and master’s student in educational administration, and Chanasei Ziemann, STEM-POWER project coordinator for the School of Biological Sciences, co-lead FYRE student advising and activities throughout the year. Ziemann, a 2024 graduate in biological sciences, also recently published her Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences (UCARE) work.
At the mini-symposium, Kipourou’s keynote speech highlighted the benefits of adopting a growth mindset and learning how to engage in academic conferences in the first year.
“We provide Huskers with a supportive space to share their research and professional development achievements,” Kipourou said. “The mini-symposium celebrates their hard work toward growth and prepares students for their future research presentations. It’s also a day to look back and reflect on their first year as college students, researchers and scholars.”
Research provides experiential growth through development, opportunity and curiosity, especially for first-generation students, said Marianna Burks, assistant professor of practice in biological sciences and co-director of the STEM-POWER program. “It has been amazing to see what these students have accomplished in one year.”
Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor, dean of undergraduate education and professor of English, agreed.
“It was thrilling to see the quality of our FYRE students’ discovery and learning at this year’s symposium,” she said. “Our faculty and Undergraduate Research and Fellowship staff have done an excellent job in guiding these first-year students to foster curiosity, resilience and critical thinking through the power of academic mentorship.”
The following students presenting at the FYRE Mini-Symposium. They are listed alphabetically by hometown, with their academic major(s) and faculty mentor’s name(s).
Nebraska
Bellevue:
- Jacki Petrow, environmental and sustainability studies, and political science, Emira Ibrahimpasic
Denton:
- Jennifer Gamez Martinez, biochemistry, Eric Weaver
Lincoln:
- Shereen Ahmed, nutrition and health sciences (pre-dentistry), Eric Weaver
- Ruqiah Al-Ramahy, biological sciences, Rajib Saha
- Trecie Bosa, psychology, Ian Keesey
- Oliver Gray, fisheries and wildlife (pre-veterinary medicine), Leslie Rault-Bucklin
- Ben Hoover, biochemistry and psychology, Kurt Piepenbrink
- Henry Le, marketing, Etsuko Moriyama
- Mimi Mimi, biochemistry, Colin Meiklejohn
- Jason Nunez, political science and Spanish, Emira Ibrahimpasic
- Corinthia Sanders, communication studies (pre-law), Satveer Kaur
- Eh Ta Taw, finance and global studies, Emira Ibrahimpasic
- Adam Tong, nutrition and health sciences, Daizaburo Shizuka
- Handsone Tong, chemistry, Michael Burton
- Ali Waly, secondary education, Kara Viesca
Omaha:
- Bryan Anguiano-Rivera, fisheries and wildlife (pre-veterinary medicine), Kristi Montooth
- Penelope Johnson, undeclared, John DeLong
Papillion:
- Jayla Hancock, pre-health, Nicole Iverson
- Kayley Kubela, fisheries and wildlife, Leslie Rault-Bucklin
In addition to the presenters above, the following students completed the FYRE program this year. They are listed alphabetically by hometown, with their academic major(s) and faculty mentor’s name(s).
Nebraska
Lincoln:
- Jackson Birch, electrical engineering, Hideaki Moriyama
- Mason Chandler, economics, Susan Vanderplas
- Izy Corio, undeclared, Patty Kuo
- Noor Hammad, biological sciences (pre-dentistry), Katie Eichhorn
- Chloe Toomey, environmental engineering, Tian Li
Lyons:
- KayLei Svendsen, psychology, Yingying Wang
McCook:
- Abbey Diaz-Parra, animal science, Amy Desaulniers
Omaha:
- Charles Herron Jr., plant and landscape systems, Lise Pingault
Papillion:
- Brandon Blodgett, electrical engineering, Xia Hong
- Kinley Harris, biological systems engineering, Yihe Huang
Rushville:
- Allan Tullis, pre-health, Rebecca Roston
Wahoo:
- Jesse Stebbing, physics, Xia Hong
Elsewhere in the U.S.
Pella, Iowa:
- Lauren Winn, psychology (pre-physician assistant), Yingying Wang
Andover, Kansas:
- Macey Moore, microbiology and forensic science, Nicole Buan
Liberty, Missouri:
- Olivia Walker, Physics, Susan Vanderplas
Rapid City, South Dakota:
- Kaden Wangen, computer science, Liang He
