MODEL FOR EXPANSION OF UNDERGRAD RESEARCH

Program’s expansion boosts student research opportunities

UTA undergraduate research program helps students present their work at academic conferences

University of Texas at Arlington

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“At the conference, I presented my work on rotating detonating engine nozzles to students from other universities, professors and other AIAA members,” said Wilson, who along with his partner, Khushi Piparava, presented their work and won second place among student presenters. “I got to see the research and work done by my peers at other universities, and it solidified my plans to stay on at UTA and pursue my Ph.D. in aerospace engineering.”

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Credit: UTA

Aerospace engineering senior Philip Wilson attended an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) conference. Rohit Raut, a senior physics major, presented his work at a nuclear research symposium, and senior biology major Jaden Rankin had the opportunity to feature her research at an entomology conference.

These and other University of Texas at Arlington students were able to showcase their original research at major symposiums thanks to UTA’s expansion of its popular undergraduate research program that provides funding for select students to present at academic conferences.

“At the conference, I presented my work on rotating detonating engine nozzles to students from other universities, professors and other AIAA members,” said Wilson, who along with his partner, Khushi Piparava, presented their work and won second place among student presenters. “I got to see the research and work done by my peers at other universities, and it solidified my plans to stay on at UTA and pursue my Ph.D. in aerospace engineering.”

The initial expansion of this program supported eight students, each receiving up to $1,000 based on the costs of attending a symposium.

“We’re allowing a select group of students to showcase their original research at international conferences, which allows students to network with future collaborators, talk to possible employers and experience firsthand what it’s like to be an established researcher,” said Kayunta Johnson-Winters, director of undergraduate research at UTA and an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “The response from the students and their faculty advisors has been so encouraging.”

The program enabled Raut, an aspiring physicist, to attend a meeting at CERN, the European Organization of Nuclear Research.

“As a physicist and a researcher, it’s always exciting to be at CERN,” Raut said. “You never know if the person standing next to you in the lunch line is the physicist who inspired you to pursue physics.”

Raut will graduate in the spring and is applying to doctoral programs to study high-energy physics, particularly in neutrino and dark sector research, which explores the fundamental particles and forces that shape the universe.

Rankin said her experience in the program has strengthened her commitment to pursuing graduate studies in biology.

“Attending Entomology 2024 last November allowed me to learn more about the field of insect research,” she said. “It was my first major research symposium, and it was so incredibly exciting to meet people at all levels of education.

“I plan to pursue a Ph.D. and possibly work in a national park after I finish my studies.”

Ken Perry presented research on the connection between high-fat meals and cardiovascular health—conducted with his faculty mentor, R. Matthew Brothers—at the American Physiological Society meeting. He received two awards for his presentation.

“The first award was given to about 100 people, but the second was more of a competition meant to honor the top 10 undergraduates at the entire conference, which had over 20,000 people,” Perry said. “It was really a huge honor for me.”

Ben Gervasi, a senior art history major, attended the Midwest Art History Society Conference, calling it an “amazing opportunity to network with experts in the field.”

After earning his degree this spring, Gervasi plans to attend graduate school to further his study of late-19th-century French art. Eventually, he hopes to teach at the university level.

“Research is not confined to the papers you write,” Gervasi said. “The events you attend and the places you explore naturally inspire your research and keep it fresh.”

Program participants:

• Lucine Devejian, Fort Worth (Nolan Catholic High School)
  Attended American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Antonio
   
• Ben Gervasi, Arlington, (Martin High School)
  Attended Midwest Art History Society Conference, Chicago
   
• Ken Perry, Arlington (Arlington High School)
  Attended American Physiological Society Summit, Long Beach, California
   
• Ravi Ramkissoon, Mansfield (Timberview High School)
  Attended American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Antonio
  Attended American Chemical Society, Youth Challenge, Singapore, February 2025
   
• Jaden Rankin, Terrell (North Forney High School)
  Attended Entomology 2024, Phoenix
   
• Rohit Raut, Jhapa, Nepal (Dhulabari Secondary School)
  Attended DUNE Collaboration Meeting and DUNE LArTPC Analysis Workshop, Geneva, Switzerland
   
• Philip Wilson, Mansfield (Mansfield High School)
  Attended AIAA Region IV Student Conference of 2024, Stillwater, Oklahoma
   
• Carson Wright, Waxahachie (Waxahachie Global High School)
  Attending Symposium for the Communication of Complex Information in March 2025, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Learn more about UTA’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities on its website or email the office.

Jaden Rankin said her experience in the program has strengthened her commitment to pursuing graduate studies in biology.

“Attending Entomology 2024 last November allowed me to learn more about the field of insect research,” she said. “It was my first major research symposium, and it was so incredibly exciting to meet people at all levels of education.

The program enabled Raut, an aspiring physicist, to attend a meeting at CERN, the European Organization of Nuclear Research. “As a physicist and a researcher, it’s always exciting to be at CERN,” Raut said. “You never know if the person standing next to you in the lunch line is the physicist who inspired you to pursue physics.”

Ben Gervasi, a senior art history major, attended the Midwest Art History Society Conference, calling it an “amazing opportunity to network with experts in the field.” 

After earning his degree this spring, Gervasi plans to attend graduate school to further his study of late-19th-century French art. Eventually, he hopes to teach at the university level.

“Research is not confined to the papers you write,” Gervasi said. “The events you attend and the places you explore naturally inspire your research and keep it fresh.”

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UTA

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks in the top five nationally for veterans and their families (Military Times, 2024), is No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and is No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas

 

Research reveals hidden risks from plastic-coated fertilizers in soil

A study by University of Missouri researchers focuses on the microplastic pollution generated by polymer-coated, control-release fertilizers, highlighting the need for biodegradable alternatives.

University of Missouri-Columbia

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Maryam Salehi, right, works with graduate student Anandu Gopakumar Nair in her Lafferre Hall lab at the University of Missouri.

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Credit: Zac Anderson/University of Missouri

Farmers are always looking for smarter ways to boost crop health, and one of the industry’s latest game-changers is polymer-coated, controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs). These high-tech soil enhancers deliver nutrients gradually, ensuring plants get exactly what they need when they need it without the waste of traditional methods.

While PC-CRFs can boost crop efficiency, a new study from University of Missouri researcher Maryam Salehi and collaborators uncovers a downside — microplastic pollution. As the polymer coatings break down in the soil, they release tiny plastic particles into the environment.

“In PC-CRFs, the plant nutrients are enclosed within a microcapsule,” said Salehi, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Mizzou’s College of Engineering. “This microcapsule is designed to slowly release the fertilizers into the farmland over time. The non-biodegradable coatings left over after this process is complete can be considered microplastics.”

For Salehi and colleagues, this raises concerns about the long-term impact of this microplastic pollution to the health of people and animals.

Since previous studies have detected microplastics in farmland, Salehi’s team is focused on two bigger questions: how much is being released, and what kinds of plastics are involved?

Until researchers can answer these questions, Salehi suggests farmers use more sustainable alternatives such as biodegradable coatings. But if PC-CRFs must be used, she urges farmers to implement effective stormwater management to prevent these microplastics from running off into nearby water sources.

Salehi said more research is needed to fully understand the consequences of PC-CRFs on the environment.

“Various soil environments, moisture conditions and soil organisms can impact the disintegration of the microcapsule differently,” she said. “Also, PC-CRFs may use different types of plastics, so further research is needed to determine the variations between them.” “Mechanisms of microplastic generation from polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs

 

Sediment transport restored after demolition of the Olloki dam

A study by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) shows that the demolition of a dam on the river Leitzaran has increased the mobilisation of pebbles in terms of number and distance

University of the Basque Country

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Askoa Ibisate in the laboratory of the University of the Basque Country ( UPV/EHU)

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Credit: Nuria González. UPV/EHU

Thanks to the momentum of European Union policies, disused dams are being removed for the purpose of restoring rivers. One example of this is the Olloki dam (Gipuzkoa), which was the subject of a study by fluvial geomorphology geographers from the Fluvial Functioning research group. The dam used to be located in Leitzaran and was demolished, above all, to improve the habitat of the salmon. In fact, for the river to function properly and for the habitats to be in a good condition, the geomorphology of the river has to function correctly. Among other things, it is very important to renew the riverbed and, to do this, the transport of sediments and water flows must be adequate: “Rivers are a transport system and if they are to fulfil their ecological function, they need to move water, sediments, nutrients and living beings. But it is the dams themselves that create obstacles. We say they are like blood clots that form in veins,” explained the researcher Askoa Ibisate.

In this context, to demonstrate the true effectiveness of the removal of the dam, the work by the UPV/EHU analysed how the demolition has affected the transport of sediments throughout the whole process: “We knew the river would recover, but we didn't know how. Nor in what way different points of the river would be affected. So we measured the movement of the pebbles in three specific locations, before, during and after the demolition of the dam. The results show a significant increase in the volumes of sediment transported, especially along the stretches under the influence of the dam, and that the stones have travelled longer distances than expected,” Ibisate explained.

In terms of the amount of sediment mobilised, the study indicates that the number of displaced stones has increased, especially after the dam was completely demolished, although Ibisate was keen to clarify that this occurred gradually. In other words, these movements did not occur suddenly: “When it comes to demolishing dams, one of the fears is that the sediment accumulated over the years will suddenly be displaced like a wave and, as a result, the uses and infrastructure located on the flood plain downstream will be damaged. What we have in fact seen is that the process is regulated and the stones are transported gradually.”

It was stressed that the study provides information that is of great help to the authorities when planning dam demolitions. Although in each case the specific characteristics of the streams need to be looked at, the research makes it possible to better understand the functioning of rivers and the sediment flow regime; that way, the geomorphological responses to the demolition of the dams can be predicted, and a specific strategy designed.

The UPV/EHU researcher also highlighted the displacement of the stones: “There are stones that travelled 8.8 kilometres in one year, and that's a lot. We didn't think the sediments would move so much, and the other experts in the field were also surprised.”

1,800 stones monitored over 7 years

To obtain the results, during the seven years that the research was in progress, 1,800 stones (300 each year) were released at three points in the river: in two areas affected by the dam (one upstream, one downstream) and at a control site beyond its influence. “The control point enabled us to discover that the changes in the transport of sediments caused by the demolition of the dam were actually due to the demolition itself and not to other factors, such as, for example, a significant increase,” Ibisate said.

The stones distributed around Leitzaran had a code embedded inside them. So to find out how much sediment had moved, they inspected the river using a detector (similar to a metal detector): “When the device detects a code, it informs us which stone it is and gives us the GPS coordinates. So we know where we released it, where it has appeared and, therefore, how far it has travelled,” explained Ibisate.

The researchers said it was a monumental task, as the river had to be scanned, metre by metre, over a distance of 11 kilometres from bank to bank, and because it was monitored over a seven-year period. However, the fact that it has been working for so long is precisely what has made the UPV/EHU research so valuable: “Normally, due to lack of funding, monitoring is carried out for 1-2 years, before and shortly after the dam has been demolished. By contrast, we deposited the first stones in 2016, and over the following six years we were able to see how far they had got. Meanwhile, during the summers of 2018 and 2019, the wall was demolished in two phases and, subsequently, we monitored the movement of the sediments until 2022. So we had the opportunity to collect information for three full years after the entire dam had been demolished. It is a very long period of time and, so, the results are significant,” Ibisate added. What is more, in recent years there have been a whole range of hydrological conditions, which makes the information gathered even more enriching. In fact, after the demolition of the dam it was also possible to measure the influence of the flow rates on the transport of sediments.

Further information

Askoa Ibisate is a researcher in the Physical Geography area of the department of Geography, Prehistory and Archaeology. She belongs to the subgroup that focuses on fluvial geomorphology within the Fluvial Functioning research group. The study of the Olloki dam is part of the LIFE IREKIBA project, which was conducted in collaboration with the IGME and the Universities of Santiago de Compostela and Zaragoza.

Askoa Ibisate is also a lecturer on the Degree course in Geography and Land Management and on the Master's course in Biodiversity, Ecosystem Functioning and Management.

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Journal

Geomorphology

DOI

10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109542 

Article Title

Bedload response to dam removal: Results from a 6-year particle tracking survey in the Leitzaran River (Basque Country)

When dads take leave, moms breastfeed longer

Study finds longer paternity leave is linked to longer infant breastfeeding

Northwestern University

• Dads taking more leave were 31% more likely to have partners breastfeed at eight weeks

• Study adds to evidence linking fathers’ leave with family benefits

• ‘In medical training, no one talked about involving dads’

CHICAGO --- Fathers who take at least two weeks of leave after their child’s birth are significantly more likely to report longer breastfeeding duration, according to a recent survey led by scientists at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

“Our study shows fathers play a key role in breastfeeding success — and time off lets them provide crucial support when it matters most,” said lead study author Dr. John James Parker, an assistant professor of pediatrics and medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, pediatrician at Lurie Children’s and internist at Northwestern Medicine.

The findings, published this week in BMC Public Health, provide the first analysis, using father-reported data, of the influence of paternity leave on breastfeeding in the U.S. Breastfeeding provides important health benefits for both mothers and infants, yet rates in the U.S. remain suboptimal. Only 46.5% of infants are exclusively breastfed through three months.

How the study was conducted

Using data from the PRAMS for Dads survey, scientists analyzed answers from a representative sample of 240 employed fathers in the state of Georgia. They found that fathers who took two or more weeks of leave were 31% more likely to report their infant being breastfed at eight weeks compared to those who took less than two weeks.

Among families who started breastfeeding, those where dads took at least two weeks of leave had a 25% higher rate of continued breastfeeding at eight weeks than those where dads took less time off. This was true even after adjusting for paternal, maternal and infant characteristics.

“Fathers can support breastfeeding by taking on hands-on baby care — changing diapers, burping, rocking and feeding expressed milk — while also ensuring mothers get the nutrition, hydration and rest they need to recover,” Parker said. “All these father-supportive activities are easier when fathers have more generous leave.”

The study also found disparities in paid leave access, with white fathers more likely to receive paid leave than fathers from other racial and ethnic groups. In total, 73% of employed fathers in the sample reported taking leave, with slightly over 50% receiving some paid leave. Fathers who took paid leave were more likely to take at least two weeks off.

‘In medical training, no one talked about involving dads’

Parker, a father of three, says his own experience around his children’s births inspired his research. “When I became a father, I realized how absent dads were from the conversation,” he said. “In medical training, no one talked about involving dads or why that mattered.

A turning point came when his pediatrician gave him tips on supporting his wife with breastfeeding. “It made me feel part of the team,” he said. “Now, I do the same for the dads I work with.”

Paternity leave in the U.S.

The U.S. lags behind other high-income countries in providing paid parental leave. A 2022 study found only 13% of employers offer paid paternity leave to all their male employees, and most fathers who get paid leave take only one week or less.

Thirteen states and Washington, D.C., have passed paid family leave laws, though only nine states have fully implemented them. “These disparities highlight challenges for families and underscore the need for more research,” Parker said. “We hope our study helps policymakers — and how that impacts family health.”

This study was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Cooperative agreement #U38OT00140) and CDC Innovation Fund, Office of Science/Office of Technology and Innovation. 

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Journal

BMC Public Health

DOI

10.1186/s12889-025-22013-x 

Article Title

Fathers’ work leave and infant breastfeeding in a state-representative sample of fathers in Georgia, United States

Article Publication Date

24-Feb-2025

How parenthood may help keep your brain young

Rutgers University

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Parents' brains may be getting an unexpected benefit from raising children: protection against some effects of aging, according to a new study of nearly 37,000 adults.

The research from Rutgers Health and Yale University, published in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences, found that parents show patterns of brain connectivity that directly oppose typical age-related changes, with the effect strengthening with each additional child.

The finding held for both mothers and fathers, suggesting the benefits come from the experience of parenting rather than biological changes from pregnancy.

“The regions that decrease in functional connectivity as individuals age are the regions associated with increased connectivity when individuals have had children,” said senior study author Avram Holmes, associate professor of psychiatry at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and core faculty member of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute and the Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research.

The research analyzed brain scans and family information from the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research source. The analysis showed how different brain regions communicate with each other. The team focused particularly on areas involved in movement, sensation and social connection.

They found that parents with more children tended to have stronger connectivity in key brain networks, especially those involved in movement and sensation. These same networks typically show decreased connectivity as people age.

“We're seeing a widespread pattern of functional alterations, where a higher number of children parented is associated with increased functional connectivity across somatosensory and motor networks,” Holmes said.

The effect appears to be cumulative: The more children parents had, the stronger the brain differences appeared.

The findings challenge assumptions that having children primarily creates stress and strain. Instead, the research suggests parenting may provide a form of environmental enrichment that could benefit brain health through increased physical activity, social interaction and cognitive stimulation.

“The caregiving environment, rather than pregnancy alone, appears important since we see these effects in both mothers and fathers,” Holmes said.

Parents in the study also showed higher levels of social connection, with more frequent family visits and larger social networks.

However, the researchers caution that more work is needed to understand exactly how parenting creates these brain changes. The study participants were primarily from the United Kingdom, so the findings may not generalize to all cultures and family structures.

The research could have implications beyond traditional parent-child relationships.

“If what we're picking up is a relationship between enhanced social interactions and social support that comes about through having increased numbers of children in your life, then that means that we could tap into those same processes even if individuals don't have a social support network currently,” Holmes said.

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Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI

10.1073/pnas.2411245122 

Method of Research

Imaging analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Protective role of parenthood on age-related brain function in mid- to late-life

Article Publication Date

25-Feb-2025

COI Statement

E.R.O. is supported by a Kavli Institute for Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship, and an American Association for University Women International Fellowship. S.C. is supported by an American Australian Association Graduate Research Fund Scholarship and the McKenzie Fellowship from the University of Melbourne. This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (Grant Nos. R01MH120080 [to A.J.H. and B.T.T.Y.] and R01MH123245 [to A.J.H.]). S.D.J. is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Fellowship APP1174146. H.J.V.R. is supported by NIH R01 HD108218, R01 DA050636, and R21 DA052620. B.T.T.Y. is supported by the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUHSRO/2020/124/TMR/LOA), the Singapore National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Large-Collaborative-Grant (OFLCG19May-0035), NMRC Clinical-Trial-Grant-Investigator-Initiated-Trials (CTGIIT23jan-0001), NMRC Open-Fund-Individual-Research-Grant (OFIRG24jan-0030), NMRC Singapore Translational Research Investigator Award (STaR20nov-0003), Singapore Ministry of Health Centre Grant (CG21APR1009), the Temasek Foundation (TF2223-IMH-01), and the United States NIH (R01MH133334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not reflect the views of funders.

 

UH researchers making clean water more accessible

New membrane allows water to flow eight-times faster

University of Houston

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Devin Shaffer, University of Houston assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, has developed a breakthrough membrane that lets water flow through up to eight times faster while still keeping out salt, making desalination more efficient and accessible than ever before. 

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Credit: University of Houston

When you drink a nice refreshing glass of water, do you ever think, “Gee I’m glad that polymeric desalination membrane did its job!”  

Probably not, but maybe you should.  

Those thin polyamide, or plastic-like, membranes work as filters that turn salty water into fresh drinkable water. The salt-blocking membranes are widely used to turn both slightly salty water (brackish water) and seawater into fresh water. 

Enter Devin Shaffer, UH assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. He’s developed a breakthrough membrane that lets water flow through up to eight times faster while still keeping out salt, making desalination more efficient and accessible than ever before. 

Shaffer’s work, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, addresses the tradeoff between how much water can pass through (permeability) and how well the membrane blocks salt and other impurities (selectivity). If the membrane lets more water through, it may also allow more salt to pass, reducing effectiveness. If it blocks more salt, it may slow down water flow, making the process less efficient and more expensive in systems like reverse osmosis and nanofiltration. 

“We have developed a new type of ultrathin polyamide membrane with a unique, contorted structure that creates more open spaces, or enhanced free volume, within the material,” reports Shaffer. “These new ultrathin contorted membranes break that trade-off by letting water through much faster without sacrificing salt rejection, making desalination systems more efficient and cost-effective.” 

Ultimately, with these new developments, desalination could become even faster and more energy-efficient, lowering costs and making clean water more accessible, Shaffer said. 

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Journal

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

Article Title

Highly Permselective Contorted Polyamide Desalination Membranes with Enhanced Free Volume Fabricated by mLbL Assembly

Article Publication Date

28-Jan-2025