The program is a project of the Council for Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship, designed to give undergraduate students in any academic field experience in conducting a scholarly research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

"I am excited to supervise this new cohort of USD’s best and brightest,” said Gina O’Connor, grant specialist I at USD. “Undergraduate research experiences offer important skills in career and graduate school preparation, including critical thinking, professionalism and teamwork. I am also thankful for the faculty mentors who dedicate their time in ensuring all these students have a beneficial experience.”

Students interested in the scholarship applied during the spring semester. Candidates completed a rigorous application review and interview process before being selected as a UDiscover Scholar and awarded a $5,500 stipend.

Scholars include:

  • Elise Aeilts,conservation biology major and sustainability minor

  • Project: “Effects of Human Impact on Nestling Stress”

  • Faculty mentor: Andrea Liebl, Ph.D, associate professor in the Department of Biology

  • Madison Burns, medical biology major

  • Project: “Investigating Selenium Bioaccumulation in the False Map Turtle (GraptemysPseudogeographica) Through Aquatic Vegetation”

  • Faculty mentor: Jake Kerby, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biology and interim associate dean in the College of Arts & Sciences

  • Andrew Crosse, psychology major and biology and communication studies double minor

  • Project: “Predicting Alcohol Use in Undergraduate Students With Machine Learning”

  • Faculty mentor: Taylor Bosch, Ph.D. ’18, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology

  • Kunjan Dodani, accounting major

  • Project: “Can Financial Ratios Expose Hidden Corporate Financial Distortion?”

  • Faculty mentor: Sara Tippit, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting in the Division of Accounting andFinance

  • Ellie Goetzinger, medical biology major and arts in health and interdisciplinary sciences double minor

  • Project: “Determination of the Lethal Concentration and Effective Concentration for Imidacloprid in Calico Crayfish (OrconectesImmunis)”

  • Faculty mentor: Jake Kerby

  • Hailee Graf, medical biology and history double major and interdisciplinary sciences minor

  • Project: “Rapid Detection of Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification”

  • Faculty mentor: Jake Kerby

  • MD Islam, computer science major and mathematics minor

  • Project: “G4web: A Web-Based Interface that Makes Radiation Simulation Easy to Start”

  • Faculty mentor: Jing Liu, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Physics

  • Shishir Kaphle, mathematics and computer science double major

  • Project: “Machine Learning Exploration of Basic Feelings Induced With Music”

  • Faculty mentor: Gabe Picioroaga, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences

  • Margaret Kathol, psychology major and arts in health and addiction counseling and prevention double minor

  • Project: “The Effects of Psychological Distance Framing on Climate Change Concern in Midwestern Populations”

  • Faculty mentor: Jake Kraft, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology

  • Leyli Mammedowa, biomedical engineering major and mathematics minor

  • Project: “Predictive Modeling of West Nile Virus in South Dakota Using Public Health and Climate Data”

  • Faculty mentor: Ranjeet John, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biology

  • Isabelle Neville, physiology, cell and molecular biology major and sustainability minor

  • Project: “Using Size Spectra to Analyze the Effects of Sampling Bias on Stream Macroinvertebrates”

  • Faculty mentor: Jeff Wesner, Ph.D., associate chair of biology and professor in the Department of Biology

  • Jaden Plooster, business analytics and finance double major

  • Project: “Does AI Framing Shape Market Reactions to Layoffs? Evidence From Corporate Disclosure Narratives”

  • Faculty mentor: Nicholas Wilson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Accounting and Finance

  • Chitrashen Sah, computer science major and mathematics minor

  • Project: “Developing an AI Framework for Identifying Therapeutic MicroRNAs for Cardiac Pathologies From Scientific Literature”

  • Faculty mentor: William Chen, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Biomedical & Translational Sciences

  • Patrick Wadley, history and international studies double major and Russian studies minor

  • Project: “Processing, Preserving, and Presenting the Alfred S. Frost Papers”

  • Faculty mentor: Daniel Daily, dean of libraries

Between May and July, each student scholar commits to at least 300 hours of research and will attend professional development sessions related to conducting research and creative scholarship. All students spending their summer doing research at USD are welcome to attend these seminars and should contact the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs for details.

Students present their findings along with SPURA students during a poster session held by the South Dakota INBRE Convocation on July 31, 2026. Students will also present their research at IdeaFest in the spring, April 7 to 8, 2027.

Applications for UDiscover are open to USD full-time undergraduate students in any discipline. For more information about the UDiscover Scholars program, email the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs at [email protected].

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