The University of Illinois and the College of Applied Health Sciences have many research opportunities available to undergraduate students. We encourage all students to get to know the research efforts of faculty on campus and within the college:
Students Pursuing Applications, Research and Knowledge (SPARK)
SPARK is an AHS program that encourages top-caliber incoming freshmen to engage in undergraduate research during their first year in AHS. Incoming students are invited to participate. Students who participate can earn up to a $2,500 work stipend by participating in undergraduate research.
SPARK provides a gateway for creating a full educational experience for students. This includes building a solid academic foundation, developing effective research and communication skills and applying these skills to real-world situations. Graduates are ready to enter the workforce, graduate school or professional health graduate programs.
If you have questions about the SPARK program, contact Tonya Pulley at tonyap@illinois.edu.
AHS Undergraduate Students Presenting Research
We are proud to showcase the great research done by our undergraduate students. These students enhance their education by working with faculty on research projects. These AHS students have two opportunities each year to share their work, the AHS Undergraduate Research Expo and the campus-wide Undergraduate Research Symposium.
5th Annual AHS Undergraduate Research Expo (AURE)
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1st Floor Huff Hall
AHS Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Illini Union
Oral Presentations
Oral Panel 5 – Interconnected Technologies | 9:00 – 10:15 AM, Room 215
- Robert Mattas (KIN): How to Design an Assistive Robot Centered Around Older Adults in Healthcare
Oral Panel 8 – Mitigating Marginalization | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Room 210
- Stephanie Hu (KIN), Nethra Yuvaraj (IHLT): Disability, Rurality, and Inequality: Housing, Employment, and Health Disparities in the United States
Oral Panel 10 – Mental Health & Human Development | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Room 213
- Alisha Amin (IHLT): Systematic Review on the Effects of Flow-Based Training on Cognitive and Motor Functioning among Adults
- Ashwathi Nair (IHLT): Transformative Knowledge: Exploring the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Inflection Points in the Lives of the Formerly Incarcerated
- Peyton Lamphear (IHLT): The Relationship Between Social Media and Body Image Among College Students
Oral Panel 12 – Engineering & Optimization | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Room 217
- Gassan Abudayeh (CHLH): Using ¹⁹F MRI to Simultaneously Map Disease Biomarker Activity and pH
Oral Panel 14 – Nutrition & Health | 12:15 – 1:30 PM, Room 210
- Kendall Gruenenfelder (IHLT): Social Media Eating Disorder Forums: A Content and Thematic Analysis
- Christopher Atadero (IHLT): The Relationship between Illinois School Meal Diet Quality and District Socioeconomic Status
Oral Panel 27 – Quality of Life Improvement & Functional Capabilities | 3:45 – 5:00 PM, Room 211
- Jesiah Bradshaw (KIN): Development of a mHealth Fall Management Application for People Who Use Wheelchairs and Scooters Full-Time: Clinician Insights
- Joaquin Gavina Jr (CHLH): Toward XR-Based Training for Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: A Hierarchical Task Analysis of Device Use
Poster Presentations
Community Health
| Student | Presentation Title | Session* |
| Abigail Anokye | A Comparative Review of Smart Walkers and Normal Walkers in Assistive Mobility Devices for Older Adults | 2F |
| Ali Rehmani | Effects of an 8-week Mindfulness Meditation Program on Cognition in People with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | 1E |
| Anthony Giustino | Defining Childhood Obesity A Comparison of BMI-Based Cutoff Systems | 2C |
| Asha Suresh | Global Physical Activity Research in Early Childhood (GoPEarly!): A Systematic Review Protocol | 5D |
| Charlotte Yoon | Beyond the Checklist: A Scoping Review of Interpersonal Barriers and Facilitators to Social and Structural Determinants of Health (SSDOH) Screening | 1A |
| Clarissa Harrington | Exploring the Relation between Income Disparity and Mental Health Among Black Youth | 5A |
| Eden Drajpuch | Associations Between Picky Eating at 24 and 36 Months and Children’s Cognitive Flexibility at 48 months | 2C |
| Evelyn Moody | Social Connectedness: A Pilot Needs Assessment | 5D |
| Harshita Varanasi | Analyzing Multiple Sources in Understanding Students’ Perceptions about Language Use in Spanish Courses | 1C |
| Joey Green | The Hidden Stresses of Healthcare: Exploring Feelings of Moral Injury in American Healthcare Workers | 5D |
| Maryam Polus | Early Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Motivational Phase of an Online Physical Activity Intervention for People with Multiple Sclerosis | 3D |
| Melanie Buynack | Perceptions of Cooking Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their Care Partners | 1E |
| Melanie Buynack | The Impact of Kitchen Design on Cooking Ability in Older Adults: A Systematic Review | 3D |
| Natalie Steiger | Policy Brief on Strengthening the Connections Between Park Equity and Substance Use | 5A |
| Rachael Adewumi | Cerebral Blood Flow during Cold Stress in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Patients | 5D |
| Ria Shah | Innovations in Dialysis: Analyzing Accessibility, Sustainability, and Efficiency in Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment (2016-2026) | 1A |
| Shreena Patel | Adiposity is Associated with Hippocampal Relational Memory in School-Aged Children | 5D |
| Sinit Keste | Adolescent Male Obesity Despite Physical Activity: Evidence from the YRBSS, Illinois, USA | 3D |
| Sofia Logacho | Home Visiting Participation as a Predictor of Asthma Control in Three Illinois Programs | 1A |
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
| Student | Presentation Title | Session* |
| Aashvi Kothadia | Head and Facial Gesture Interfaces for Hands-Free Assistive Control in Upper-limb Mobility Impairments | 5D |
| Adeline Gilmore | Quantitative MRI to Explore Sex Differences in Glenoid Labrum Integrity | 4A |
| Aditya Shaha | Social Inequities, Early Alcohol Exposure, and Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Survey-Based Study of Students in Champaign-Urbana | 2E |
| Agne Malcius | From TikTok to Truth: Using Creative Digital Learning to Bust Nutrition Misinformation on Social Media | 1A |
| Alan Oliva | The Second Shift: How Work Follows Healthcare Workers Home | 5D |
| Alex Tobin | Everyday Actions Reveal Cognition: Activities of Daily Living for Cognitive Assessment | 1A |
| Alexa Landfair | Updated Physical Activity Levels across the Lifespan | 1A |
| Alexander Arango | Defining Childhood Obesity A Comparison of BMI-Based Cutoff Systems | 2C |
| Amelia Kozlowski | From TikTok to Truth: Using Creative Digital Learning to Bust Nutrition Misinformation on Social Media | 1A |
| Andrew Musil | Examining The Relationship Between Hair Cortisol Concentrations and Cognitive Performance in Early Adolescents Aged 8–14 Years. | 3D |
| Dhriti Patel | Exploring Older Adults’ Challenges and Preferences Using Digital Tools to Navigate Medicare | 2E |
| Dhruthi Daggubati | Effects of Chronic Exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) and Diisononyl Phthalate (DiNP) on the Colon of Female Mice | 1B |
| Elizabeth Geraghty | Using Mobile Health Technology to Support Medication Self-Management in Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Case Study | 3D |
| Emily Hahm | Overexpressing the Photosynthetic Enzymes of C4 Pathways in Maize Under Chilling Conditions | 3C |
| Fatima Pantoja Lara | Understanding Concerns and Challenges with Falls among People Aging with Multiple Sclerosis | 1A |
| Hailey Radenbaugh | Evaluating Nature-Based and Mindfulness Interventions for Child Stress: Protocol for a Pilot RCT | 2C |
| Hanvita Ramineni | The Relationship Between Social Determinants, Health Responsibility, and Stress Management in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study | 1A |
| Jessie Choi | Everyday Actions Reveal Cognition: Activities of Daily Living for Cognitive Assessment | 1A |
| Jordan Phan | The Relationship Between Social Determinants, Health Responsibility, and Stress Management in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study | 1A |
| Kamalika Nandyala | Biological Stress Reactivity in Early Childhood Findings from the Family Life Project | 1A |
| Kristina Tomanov | Perioperative Inflammatory and Autonomic Changes Under General Anesthesia as Triggers for Sudden Cardiac Death: A Systematic Review | 4B |
| Lilly Dinkov | Preliminary Study of Environmental Risk Perceptions in Family Childcare Homes | 1A |
| Mahi Rathod | Social Inequities, Early Alcohol Exposure, and Long-Term Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Survey-Based Study of Students in Champaign-Urbana | 2E |
| Matt Guiney | Everyday Actions Reveal Cognition: Activities of Daily Living for Cognitive Assessment | 1A |
| Matthew Specht | Clinician Nutrition Prioritization and Referrals in Dementia Care | 3A |
| Matthew Specht | Influence of Background Noise Type on Speech Recognition using the Digits-in-Noise Test | 4A |
| Meghan Edwards | Weight, Menopause, and Movement: Predictors of Femoral Neck Bone Density in U.S. Women | 5D |
| Muhammad Ahmed | Addressing Nutrition Myths in South Asian Diets: Developing Caregiver Education Materials for Chronic Disease Management | 5D |
| Parker Donnan | Exploring Healthcare Challenges among Older Adult Polio Survivors | 1A |
| Rutu Patel | Home-Based Exercise in Older Adults with Multiple Sclerosis: Descriptive Results from an Online Survey of Barriers, Preferences, and Beliefs | 1A |
| Ryan Anderson | Improving Speech Intelligibility in Noise Using Bone-Conduction Communication | 1A |
| Saiesha Bollapragada | Metal Meets Mutation: The Role of Post-Translational Modifications in Copper Binding Affinity | 1B |
| Salma Bennaye | Improve Accessibility and Interoperability of One Health data using Tableau: The Case of Emerging Plant Diseases | 4D |
| Samantha Pagnucci | Sprint Velocity Differences Across a Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball Season | 3D |
| Sarah Edwards | Perceptions of Cooking Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and their Care Partners | 1E |
| Sarah Edwards | The Impact of Kitchen Design on Cooking Ability in Older Adults: A Systematic Review | 3D |
| Sean Farnsley | Domain Variability in Intermediate Intrinsic Capacity Classes Using Latent Modeling: A Scoping Review | 3D |
| Timber Rose | Using Mobile Health Technology to Support Medication Self-Management in Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Case Study | 3D |
| Vaishnavi Balmuri | Developing a Wearable Fall Detection and Management Device for Wheelchair/Scooter Users | 1A |
| Valerie Weinshenker | Developmental Phthalate Exposure Impacts Hormone Dependent Behavior in Mouse Models | 2D |
| Vincent Nguyen | Defining Childhood Obesity A Comparison of BMI-Based Cutoff Systems | 2C |
| Yu Zheng | Classifying Intensity During Cognitive–Motor Exercise: Accelerometer Cut-Point Sensitivity During the Square-Stepping Exercise in Older Adults | 3D |
Kinesiology
| Student | Presentation Title | Session* |
| Adrian Nguyen | Physical Activity Levels Between Boys and Girls, and on Weekends and Weekdays | 5D |
| Amberlyn Aimone | Serial Mediation Analysis of Affective Exercise Experiences, Motivation, and Exercise Variety on Exercise Frequency | 2E |
| Angel Urquizo | Exploring Older Adults’ Challenges and Preferences Using Digital Tools to Navigate Medicare | 2E |
| Ava Vasicek | “Mary, Get Your Gun!” Women, Shooting Sports, and the Hidden Histories of Illinois Campus Life During the Twentieth Century | 3A |
| Brooke Silbernagel | Serial Mediation Analysis of Affective Exercise Experiences, Motivation, and Exercise Variety on Exercise Frequency | 2E |
| Cecilia Santiago | The Lutein Lessons: The Impact of Nutrition Education and Children’s Lutein Intake | 1A |
| Farooq Hamza | The Effects of Differing Weather Conditions on Race Day Results in Male and Female Elite Marathoners at the Chicago Marathon (2016-2025) | 5D |
| Gizel Fahimi | Interview Study on the Effects of a Robotic Showerhead and its Ability to Improve Accessibility in the Showering Environment | 5D |
| Hailey Griffin | Administrative History of Women’s Physical Education at the University of Illinois Before Title IX, 1899 – 1972 | 5D |
| Jackie Palmer | A Human-Centered Iterative Approach to Reminiscence Therapy Survey Design | 2F |
| Jacob Kirk | Comparison of Upper-Extremity Joint Kinematics Across Wheelchair Propulsion Conditions Using Markerless Motion Capture. | 5D |
| Jaewoo (Danny) Moon | Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Home Ecological Application of Thermotherapy, Walking, and Vascular Effects (HEATWAVE) Study | 1A |
| Jennifer Arriaga- Lopez | Hearing Sensitivity and Health Beliefs in English Learners Versus Monolinguals | 5D |
| Jennifer Arriaga-Lopez | Listening Effort During Bilingual Adult Speech Recognition: An EEG Study | 1E |
| Katherine Bollman | Upper Body Bone Mineral Density Responses to a Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball Season | 5A |
| Keelyn Gallagher | Nutristand: Developing an Adjustable Stand for Gravity-Based Gastrostomy Tubes | 5D |
| Mia McHugh | Flipping Over Gender Disparities: Women’s Gymnastics at the University of Illinois, 1903 – 1974 | 5D |
| Mihir Patel | Disabled Individuals’ Experiences in Physical Education: An International Scoping Review of Literature for 20 Years | 3A |
| Milayna Grisham | The Relationship between Shoulder Structure and Self-Reported Pain Outcomes in Wheelchair Athletes | 5D |
| Nathan Fierer | Prenatal PFAS Exposure and Sleep Health in Early Childhood | 3D |
| Pranav Kondagunta | MIND: Mind-body intervention and Neural Dynamics: A Randomized Cross Over Protocol | 5D |
| Taylor Woods | Cerebral Blood Flow during Cold Stress in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection Patients | 5D |
| Winnie Chen | Making Waves: Uncovering the ‘Water Women’ of the University of Illinois | 3D |
| Yongchan Lim | Climate-Induced Risks and Maternal-Infant Health: An Analysis of Global Inequities and Systemic Barriers | 3D |
Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
| Student | Presentation Title | Session* |
| Ari Piller | Athlete Advocacy Groups as/and Collective Activism: Insights from Podcasts with Athletes | 5A |
| Brody Pekelder | Public Risk, Private Gain? A Capital Budgeting Analysis of the Chicago Bears Stadium Development | 2E |
| Dulce Estrada Flores | The Effects of Fitness Tracker Apps and Wearables on College Students’ Self-Reported Health-Related Anxiety | 1E |
| Ian Zubrickas | The Impact of mHealth-Supported DASH and Dietary Interventions on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review | 1A |
| Jack DeNardo | Athlete Advocacy Groups as/and Collective Activism: Insights from Podcasts with Athletes | 5A |
| Jinye Qiu | How Agritourism in China Generates Positive Economic Benefits | 1E |
Speech & Hearing Science
| Student | Presentation Title | Session* |
| Abby Surburg | Identifying Children with Ongoing Risk for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): A Comparison of Grammatical Measures at Age 3 | 3A |
| Abrahám Chávez | Listening Effort During Bilingual Adult Speech Recognition: An EEG Study | 1E |
| Abrahám Chávez | Hearing Sensitivity and Health Beliefs in English Learners Versus Monolinguals | 5D |
| Anika Winbush | Impact of Experience, Noise and Radios on Firefighters Speech Understanding | 3D |
| Elise King | Exploring Sex-related Differences in Autism Traits in Individuals with Down Syndrome with and without Co-occurring Autism | 2C |
| Elise Lavaty | Early Gesture Use in Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome: A Comparative Analysis | 2C |
| Ella Redden | Exploring Implications of Talker Familiarity for Children Using a Forward and Backward Digits-in-Noise Test | 2C |
| Emma Morrical | Impact of Experience, Noise and Radios on Firefighters Speech Understanding | 3D |
| Hailey Weaver | Auditory Brainstem Response: Assessing Young Adults with and without Speech-in-Noise Difficulties | 3D |
| Isabelle Ramirez | Impact of Experience, Noise and Radios on Firefighters Speech Understanding | 3D |
| Janie Lee | Examining Spelling Patterns in Kindergarten and First Grade Writing Samples Across Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing. | 1E |
| Jenna Quafisheh | Examining Spelling Patterns in Kindergarten and First Grade Writing Samples Across Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing. | 1E |
| Jessica Krklus | Exploring Sex-related Differences in Autism Traits in Individuals with Down Syndrome with and without Co-occurring Autism | 2C |
| Jocelyn Gomez | Listening Effort During Bilingual Adult Speech Recognition: An EEG Study | 1E |
| Kaliyah House | Mental Health Outcomes in Low-Wage Black Healthcare Workers | 1A |
| Karissa Zimmerman | Exploring Sex-related Differences in Autism Traits in Individuals with Down Syndrome with and without Co-occurring Autism | 2C |
| Kate Harty | Improving Speech Intelligibility in Noise Using Bone-Conduction Communication | 1A |
| Lizbeth Magallanes | Hearing Sensitivity and Health Beliefs in English Learners Versus Monolinguals | 5D |
| Lucy Keigher | Descriptive Language Analysis on Communication between Children with Multiple Disabilities and their Parents during Storybook Reading | 2C |
| Lydia Oesterling | Listening Effort During Bilingual Adult Speech Recognition: An EEG Study | 1E |
| Madalyn Moore | Impact of Experience, Noise and Radios on Firefighters Speech Understanding | 3D |
| Maya Kwiecien | Auditory Brainstem Response: Assessing Young Adults with and without Speech-in-Noise Difficulties | 3D |
| Sabrina Manogura | Everyday Life Challenges for Persons with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment | 1A |
| Savannah Vahl | Evaluation of Clinical Reliability and Cloze Predictability of the QuickSIN Test for Assessment of Speech Recognition in Noise | 4C |
| Stacey Pontikes | Examining Spelling Patterns in Kindergarten and First Grade Writing Samples Across Narrative, Informational, and Opinion Writing. | 1E |
| Stephanie Romero | Analyzing Multiple Sources in Understanding Students’ Perceptions about Language Use in Spanish Courses | 1C |
| Sylvia Techmanski | Identifying Children with Ongoing Risk for Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): A Comparison of Grammatical Measures at Age 3 | 3A |
| Tania Jain | Impact of Experience, Noise and Radios on Firefighters Speech Understanding | 3D |
| Tara Graham | Evaluation of Clinical Reliability and Cloze Predictability of the QuickSIN Test for Assessment of Speech Recognition in Noise | 4C |
| Tess Giddens-White | Everyday Life Challenges for Persons with Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment | 1A |
*Poster Sessions
- 1A – Health & Wellness | 9:00 – 10:15 AM, Ballroom (2nd Floor)
- 1B – Cells & Molecules | 9:00 – 10:15 AM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 1C – Humanities, Culture & Society | 9:00 – 10:15 AM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 1E – Social Science & Human Behavior | 9:00 – 10:15 AM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 2C – Learning & Human Development | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 2D – Nature, Life & Environment | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 2E – Social Science & Human Behavior | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 2F – Design Thinking & Innovation | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 3A – Society, Culture & Social Issues | 12:15 – 1:30 PM, Ballroom (2nd Floor)
- 3C – Food, Plants & Animals | 12:15 – 1:30 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 3D – Health & Wellness | 12:15 – 1:30 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 4A – Science & Technology | 2:00 – 3:15 PM, Ballroom (2nd Floor)
- 4B – Cells & Molecules | 2:00 – 3:15 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 4C – Data & Information | 2:00 – 3:15 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 4D – Nature, Life & Environment | 2:00 – 3:15 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge
- 5A – Social Science & Human Behavior | 3:45 – 5:00 PM, Ballroom (2nd Floor)
- 5D – Health & Wellness | 3:45 – 5:00 PM, Illini Rooms ABC & South Lounge