2024 - 2025 NSCP Scholars

Faith Dee
North Carolina A&T State University

Major: Junior/Biology
Research Mentors: Niketa Bhawsinghka, Ph.D.
Research PI: Roel Schaaper, Ph.D.

Olivia Hsu
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Genetics and Biochemistry
Research Mentor: Kanda Borgognoni, Ph.D.
Research PI: Robin Stanley, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Fall Connection Presentation

Emma Morgan
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Research Mentors: Lisa Padilla, Asmita Singh, Ph.D.
Research PI: Carlos Guardia, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation

Coren O’Brien
University of North Carolina - Greensboro

Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentor: Edin Mathew, Ph.D.
Research PI: Darryl Zeldin, M.D.

Dhruv Ranganath
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Junior/Biomedical Engineering
Research Mentor: Kamel Mansouri, Ph.D.
Research Mentor/PI: Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D.

Isabella Russ
North Carolina State University

Major: Junior/Microbiology
Research Mentor: Natalya Degtyareva, Ph.D., Libertad Garcia-Villada Ph.D.
Research PI: Paul Doetch, Ph.D.

Ricardo Scheufen-Tieghi
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentor: José Teofilo Moreira Filho
Research PI: Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation

Kiara Smith
Fayetteville State University

Major: Senior/Forensic Science
Research Mentor/PI: Darlene Dixon, Ph.D.

Taymar Smith
St. Augustine's University

Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentors: Ryan Marquardt, Ph.D., Sylvia Hewitt
Research PI: Francesco Demayo, Ph.D.

Justin Stegeman
North Carolina State University

Major: Junior/Microbiology
Research Mentors: Yesenia Rodriguez, Ph.D., Yang Liu, Ph.D.
Research PI: Paul Wade, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Summer Connection Presentation

Arnav Thakar
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Senior/Biology and Computer Science
Research Mentors/PIs: Arun Pandiri, Ph.D., Jian Liang-Li, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Fall Connection Presentation

Giovonnii Nelson
North Carolina State University

Returning Scholar (summer)
Major: Senior/Psychology
Research Mentor/PI: Jean Harry, Ph.D.

2023 - 2024 NSCP Scholars

Sarah Combs
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Senior/Environmental Health Sciences
Research Mentor/PI: Sue Fenton, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)

Fiona Daly
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Human Biology
Research Mentor: Helena Hogberg-Durdock Ph.D.
Research PI: Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)

Jianna Evans
Fayetteville State University

Major: Junior/Computer, Information and Data Science
Research Mentor: Hamed Bostan, Ph.D.
Research PI: Jiang Liang Li, Ph.D.

Justin Gutkowski
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Research Mentor/PI: Erik Toker Ph.D. and Guang Hu, Ph.D.

Alex Marchi
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Genetics
Research Mentor: Pelin Yasar, Ph.D. and Fleur Chapus, Ph.D.
Research PI: Joseph Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Skylar Montague
Duke University

Returning Scholar
Major: Junior/Biology
Research Mentor: Steve Wu, Ph.D.
Research PI: Francesco Demayo, Ph.D.

Giovonnii Nelson
North Carolina State University

Major: Junior/Psychology
Research Mentor/PI: Jean Harry, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Summer Connection Presentation

Janell Odom
Shaw University

Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentors: Virginia Savy, Ph.D. and Lenka Redanova, Ph.D.
Research PI: Carmen Williams, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)

Precious Onwuteaka
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Neurosciences
Research Mentor/Research PI: Joan Packenham, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation

Neha Palle
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: Senior/Cognitive Science
Research Mentor: David Scoville, Ph.D.
Research PI: Anton Jetten, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation
Best Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)

Noelle Rodriquez
Wake Technical Community College

Major: Junior/Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Research Mentor: Yitang Yan, Ph.D.
Research PI: Darlene Dixon, Ph.D.

Joevensky Seme
St. Augustine's University

Returning Scholar (summer)
Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentor: Caroline Duval, Ph.D.
Research PI: Xiaoling Li, Ph.D.

2022 - 2023 NSCP Scholars

Shivani Ayyagari
North Carolina State University

Outstanding Scholar 2023
Major: Senior/Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering
Research Mentor/PI: Sue Fenton, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation (Tie)
Honorable Mention: Fall Connection Presentation

Emma Budden
North Carolina State University

Major: Junior/Microbiology – Microbial Health Sc.
Research Mentor/PI: Windy Boyd, Ph.D.

Charles Coleman
North Carolina A&T State University

Major: Senior/Bioengineering
Research Mentor/PI: Lalith Perera, Ph.D.
Honorable Mention: Summer Connection Presentation

Thusna Gardiyehewa
North Carolina State University

Honorable Mention: Outstanding Scholar 2023
Major: Junior/Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Research Mentor: Vandy Parron, Ph.D., M.S.
Research PI: Stavros Garantziotis, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Summer Connection Presentation (Tie)
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)
Best Presenter: Spring Connection Presentation

J’Ya Hunter
North Carolina A&T State University

Returning Scholar
NIEHS-SOT Scholar
Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentor: Linda Yu, M.D.
Research PI: Darlene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Dongwon Lee
Duke University

Major: Senior/Biology, Neurosciences
Research Mentor: Marine Baptissart, Ph.D.
Research PI: Marcos Morgan, Ph.D.

Skylar Montague
Duke University

Major: Junior/Biology
Research Mentor: Steve Wu, Ph.D.
Research PI: Francesco Demayo, Ph.D.

Sahana Ramamurthy
North Carolina State University

Major: Junior/Computer Science
Research Mentor: Ann Von-Holle, Ph.D.
Research PI: Clarice Weinberg, Ph.D

Briany Santos-Villalobos
North Carolina State University

Major: Senior/Biology
Research Mentor: Linda Yu, Ph.D.
Research PI: Darelene Dixon, D.V.M., Ph.D.

Joevensky Seme
St. Augustine's University

Major: Junior/Biology
Research Mentor: Caroline Duval, Ph.D.
Research PI: Xiaoling Li, Ph.D.

Kyra Varley
Duke University

Outstanding Scholar 2023
Major: Senior/Social Determinants of Health and Inequality
Research Mentor: Melissa Smarr, Ph.D.
Research PI: Claudia Thompson, Ph.D.
Best Presenter: Fall Connection Presentation (Tie)
Honorable Mention: Spring Connection Presentation