Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)—in a combined effort with the USD College of Arts & Sciences, the Sanford School of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences—SPURA provides undergraduate students with an intensive research experience focused on substance use and addiction.

Over the summer, students worked alongside faculty mentors on research projects while also participating in professional development and activities designed to strengthen their research, communication and career-development skills.

“SPURA gives students the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research while building confidence in their own abilities,” said Bridget Diamon-Welch, Ph.D., director of research and innovation for the USD School of Health Sciences. “It also gives faculty mentors fresh perspectives and the opportunity to help shape the next generation of scientists and health professionals.”

On July 31, the SPURA students presented their summer research at the 2026 Eastern South Dakota Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was held on the USD campus.

The multidisciplinary event brought together undergraduate researchers and faculty from across the region and provided students with opportunities to communicate research findings and develop professional scientific communication skills.

Their projects demonstrated the breadth of contemporary addiction research, addressing questions spanning substance use and co-occurring health outcomes, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, mental health and well-being, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other behavioral and biomedical topics.

Student researchers included:

  • Sridevi Swaminathan, sophomore, biology major at the University of Akron — “The Effect of Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Quality on Mental Health and Coping Outcomes Among Survivors of Sexual Assault”
  • Isabella Fallon, senior, psychology major at USD — “Assessing the Psychological Well-Being of Healthcare Workers Parenting Young Children Post-Disaster”
  • Ian Candy, junior, neuroscience and communication major at George Mason University — “Neural Differences Between Hazardous and Non-Hazardous College Drinkers Using the P300 Event-Related Potential”
  • Jordan Schmidt, junior, medical biology major at USD — “Beyond the Substance: Examining Polysubstance Use and Co-occurring Health Outcomes”
  • Sarah Schrader, senior, psychology and communication sciences and disorders major at USD — “Evaluation AI Responses to SUD Related Queries”
  • Brianna Deaver, senior, medical biology major at USD — “Mitonuclear Genetic Variation Modulates Antioxidant Responses Relevant to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders”
  • Asia Sletten, junior, neuroscience major at USD — “Occupational Engagement and Emotional Wellbeing Among College Students at Risk for Substance Abuse Disorder”
  • Duncan Snethen, senior, medical biology major at USD — “True in Blue: Quantifying Morphological Deficits in Ethanol Glyphosate Co-Exposed Zebrafish Using Alcian-Blue Stain”

For several students, the summer also included an opportunity to share their research nationally. Candy, Swaminathan and Fallon also presented at the NIDA Summer Research Education Program Showcase, where they joined undergraduate researchers participating in NIDA-supported research education programs across the country.

For more information, please visit the SPURA webpage.

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