Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

Student and faculty researchers team up to drive societal change

Susan Martonik — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:47:47 +0000

Student and faculty researchers team up to drive societal change Susan Martonik Wed, 10/14/2026 - 12:47

This summer, classrooms gave way to labs, field sites, and data sets as 911�� faculty and students partnered to tackle some of society's most pressing challenges. The research teams explored complex issues—many aligned with the university’s Grand Challenge Initiative—examining them from multiple perspectives and generating new insights to help shape future solutions.

These Summer Team Impact Projects, supported by grants from Mason Impact, were led by faculty members who assembled teams of undergraduate and graduate students from across disciplines. Students—who received stipends to support their participation—took part in a one-week boot camp to begin the 10-week program, along with various enrichment activities throughout the summer. The students shared their findings at the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research Summer Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact.

Summer Team Impact Project researchers Abigail Naidoo (left) and Katelyn Mckee present at the OSCAR Summer 2026 Celebration. Photo by Susan Lawrence.

The research spanned a wide range of topics, including homelessness and climate-related challenges, using virtual reality to support health, changes in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to better understand how people move through cities, and the impact of generative AI on student writing.

Susan Lawrence and Courtney Massie, director and assistant director, respectively, of the Writing Center, led a project titled “Student Writers and Generative AI: Investigating Practices, Knowledge, and Critical Literacies.” Working with a team of six undergraduate students and one graduate mentor, their research examined how 911�� students are integrating generative AI into their writing processes in realistic academic settings. It also explored the extent to which writers saw themselves thinking critically and the ownership they felt over their work.

While Lawrence and Massie oversaw the project, their team of students led the research-- interviewing participants, coding results, and analyzing data to generate findings.

“I conducted qualitative research using in-depth interviews and coding to determine insights about how 911�� students use generative AI in their writing,” said Marisa Parikh, an Honors College student majoring in public administration in the Schar School of Policy and Government. “One of the most valuable things I learned was how new developments in technology are impacting students today. This helped me look more long term at how institutions can promote accessibility to education for all students and use this technology as a tool to increase student success outcomes.”

Lawrence spoke highly of the student researchers’ work. “Having a multidisciplinary team of student researchers was a major asset for this project,” she said. “They connected easily with participants during interviews, and their diverse perspectives on generative AI helped shape how we ultimately interpreted the data.”

The team has submitted their project for presentation at the International Writing Centers Association conference in October and are moving toward publishing a manuscript. Beyond its scholarly contributions, the project also highlighted the Writing Center as a valuable setting for research on writing and literacy.

Jenna Krall, associate professor of global and community health, and Marybeth Mitcham, assistant professor of global and community health, both in the College of Public Health, along with Fengxiu Zhang, assistant professor in the Schar School, led another Summer Team Impact Project on “Supportive Housing as Climate Resiliency: Resident, Community, and Government Perspectives.” Working with a team of nine student researchers, the project sought to understand the challenges of homelessness and environmental hazards using community health, environmental science, and policy frameworks.

“There are huge knowledge gaps in this space, so we split our researchers into three groups to gather multiple perspectives,” said Krall. “Our team meetings became a space where the students could experiment and sandbox ideas for how to analyze the data they collected. They weren’t just checking boxes; they were helping build a knowledge base to inform future research and practice.”

Professor Krall's Summer Team Impact Project members take a field trip to the Lamb Center. Photo by Jenna Krall.

The research team presented their findings to local partners, including the Lamb Center and the City of Fairfax. Efforts are also underway to publish the research.

“The project provided me with real-life experience of how it is to work on a team, in particular building my skill of patience through the research process, understanding the reason for the project, working with colleagues, and letting creative ideas flow,” said student researcher Alex Romero Valenzuela, a community health major in the College of Public Health who is pursuing a master's degree in public health through 911��'s bachelor’s-to-accelerated master's (BAM) program.

For Krall, the experience was rewarding both professionally and personally. A 911�� alum, she participated in a summer research project as an undergraduate. “I’ve wanted to apply for this grant since I started teaching at 911��,” she said. “It’s especially meaningful to come full circle and introduce current students to research as a potential career path.”

“The Summer Team Impact Projects provide valuable experience for all involved. Faculty can pursue research in areas of personal and professional interest, while students gain hands-on experience with research design, implementation, and analysis,” said Jesse Guessford, director of curriculum and initiatives in the Office of Undergraduate Education. “This program brings together two of 911��’s key priorities: supporting student success and creating opportunities for faculty scholarship and innovation.”

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One mission, many paths: 911�� senior advances youth mental health through research and outreach

sbrown79 — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:36:02 +0000

One mission, many paths: 911�� senior advances youth mental health through research and outreach sbrown79 Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:36

911�� senior Mehmood Shajih has built his college experience around one goal: creating better mental health outcomes for young people.

That mission has shaped both his academic path as a psychology major in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and his long-running internship with Prince William County (Virginia) Schools (PWCS)—a unique opportunity that was created specifically for him.

Mehmood Shajih. Photo provided.

Shajih, who is also part of 911��’s Honors in Psychology program, first became interested in developmental psychology in high school. As a student in the biomedical science program at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia, he completed a year-long research project on how parents influence children’s behavior. He also worked with AlphaBEST, a before- and after-school care program, where he saw firsthand how early mental health and education challenges can affect children.

And when he wasn’t studying students’ behavior, he was advocating on behalf of it. As a member of his high school student senate, Shajih represented his peers to county leaders and built relationships with school system officials. That’s how he met Anaid Shaver, former PWCS administrative supervisor of career counseling.

“When he reached out to inquire about an internship, his background and clear interest in child psychology and youth development aligned directly with the office’s mission,” Shaver said.

There was only one problem.

“There were no internship positions in her office; she had never had an intern before,” said Shajih. “But we spoke about my interests and career goals and basically developed the role that I eventually took on together.”

That initiative made an impression on Shaver.

“Rather than taking on pre-defined tasks, Mehmood actively developed and implemented the College and Career Student and Alumni Ambassador Program from the ground up,” Shaver said.

For Shajih, who immigrated to the United States in 2016, the work is personal. He said he faced challenges navigating the college application and financial aid processes.

“My parents and I were unfamiliar with the post-high school graduation processes in America, so I was learning about that process all on my own,” he said. “Now, I really want to help students facing the same issues that I faced before.”

Shajih and psychology professor Sabine Doebel at the 2026 OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact. Photo provided.

As an intern with PWCS, Shajih supports initiatives designed to help students think about their futures early and often. “There is a level of preparation that can be instilled no matter where you are in life,” he said.

Shajih has assisted with college and career fairs, helped develop school-based college and career clubs, and created systems to support long-term program success. He also developed a standard operating guide for the clubs and introduced pre- and post-surveys so school staff could better assess student outcomes and program effectiveness.

He also helped organize PWCS’s broader focus on career exploration. The district offers specialty programs in areas such as nursing, biotechnical, biomedical, firefighting, and auto tech, among others.

“They’re a great way to get students interested in these fields early on and keep them on track,” said Shajih. “Students can change their mind at any point, but at least they are gaining knowledge about different fields.”

Shajih said the work he does for his internship, which was funded by the Honoring Our Community Fellowship Program, a paid fellowship program for Honors College students, was heavily reinforced by his academic experience at 911��, where he worked on child developmental research with his mentors—911�� psychology professors Jennifer Brielmaier and Sabine Doebel.

Mehmood's intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning stood out early on during his time in the Honors program,” said Brielmaier. “I saw tremendous growth in Mehmood. Not only did he improve his analytical, writing, and oral presentation skills, but he became a leader within his Honors cohort.”

Shajih’s research focused on the marshmallow test, an assessment of children’s ability to delay gratification. Over three semesters, he worked closely with his mentors to complete and defend his honors thesis. He later developed that meta-analysis into a research paper, Why Wait? A Meta-Analysis of Task and Sample Moderators of Children’s Performance on the Marshmallow Test, which was published in the Journal of Cognition and Development.

Shajih presents his research: "Why Wait? A Meta-Analysis of Task and Sample Moderators of Children’s Performance on the Marshmallow Test." Photo provided.

“Meta-analyses are much more methodologically sophisticated and labor-intensive than the projects undertaken by most of our Honors students,” Brielmaier said. “Mehmood was involved each step of the way, from designing the study to screening abstracts for inclusion to developing the code for data analysis.”

At the spring Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact, Shajih was one of six students recognized with a 2026 OSCAR Excellence Award for his research.

Looking ahead, Shajih said he plans to attend medical school and hopes to build a career that combines clinical care with research, particularly in work involving children and adolescent mental health. He sees his research and internship experiences as a foundation for that future.

“The research and internship experiences that came from my time at 911�� were priceless,” Shajih said. “They’ve helped me start a dedicated career to do more for the children in my community.”

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OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact highlights undergraduate research and creative pursuits

Susan Martonik — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:31:00 +0000

OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact highlights undergraduate research and creative pursuits Susan Martonik Mon, 09/28/2026 - 11:31

Every year, hundreds of 911�� students step beyond the role of learner and into the role of researcher, creator, and scholar. Some spend months in laboratories running experiments and poring over data. Others conduct interviews, create original works of art, analyze public policy, or tackle complex questions facing their communities. The culmination of those efforts was on full display this spring at the OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact, an annual showcase of undergraduate research and creative projects from across the university.

Hosted by the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)—which supports undergraduate research through funding, faculty mentorship, and opportunities for students to present their work—the spring 2026 celebration featured the scholarship of 165 undergraduate students from every 911�� school and college that enrolls undergraduates. Together, they presented 91 research posters and projects spanning the sciences, humanities, social sciences, arts, education, business, and public policy.

“This event represents the essence of what 911�� is about,” said Keith Renshaw, senior associate provost for undergraduate education. “It’s making sure each and every student has the opportunity to go beyond the classroom and engage in the hands-on work that applies what [they’ve] learned.”

911�� students present research at the OSCAR Celebration. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

The posters showcased projects ranging from designing an intake and exhaust system for a Formula race car engine to developing predictive models for personalized breast cancer treatment and examining the effects of Botox on the immune system, offering a glimpse into the breadth of questions 911�� students are exploring through undergraduate research.

Much of the work celebrated at the event was a direct result of encouragement, planning, and funding from OSCAR. Among the many presenters who worked with OSCAR was Amaiyahmonet Parker, a student in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences majoring in English and minoring in international and comparative studies and African American studies.

Inspired by the work of we.REIGN, The Roots Policy Lab, and the Education Law Center, Parker’s research examined how policies intended to support Black communities affect Black women and girls in Philadelphia, her hometown. After receiving funding through OSCAR’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, Parker traveled throughout Philadelphia, meeting with participants and conducting fieldwork. OSCAR also connected her with 911�� faculty member Wendi Manuel-Scott as a project mentor, whom Parker described as an invaluable asset to her research.

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Parker said of the work conducting ethnographic interviews and thinking critically about policymaking.

For Jesse Guessford, director of curriculum and initiatives in Undergraduate Education, that transformation is among the greatest benefits of undergraduate research.

“OSCAR connects students to research and faculty mentorship, and this connection changes how the students view themselves,” Guessford said. “Their thinking shifts from just working in their future field to becoming someone who is transforming their field.”

The celebration also recognized members of the 911�� community whose mentorship and scholarship have helped advance undergraduate research. The 2026 OSCAR Excellence Awards were presented to six students and three faculty members:

Students

Mehmood Ul Hassan Shajih, Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Kiersten Jewell, Environmental Science, College of Science
Alexia De Costa, Applied Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computing
David Lancaster, Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing
Ava Brumfield, Environmental Science, College of Science
Angela Victoria Rojas Rivera, Medical Laboratory Science, College of Science

Faculty

Lee A. Solomon, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science
Sabine Doebel, Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Eileen Roesler, Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Kim Eby, a member of the team that helped shape the university’s infrastructure for undergraduate research as vice provost for faculty affairs and development, congratulated the award recipients and all student presenters, recognizing the dedication and persistence required to pursue original scholarship.

“These experiences have prepared you for whatever your next steps and journeys are,” she said. “This work requires diligence and persistence, and I hope you see yourselves as the scholars and creators you are. You have earned that identity.”

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Student and faculty researchers team up to drive societal change
October 14, 2026
One mission, many paths: 911�� senior advances youth mental health through research and outreach
October 6, 2026
OSCAR Celebration of Student Scholarship and Impact highlights undergraduate research and creative pursuits
September 28, 2026
OSCAR associate director earns national recognition for advancing undergraduate research
September 28, 2026
911�� sends record number of students to National Conference on Undergraduate Research
May 26, 2026

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OSCAR associate director earns national recognition for advancing undergraduate research

Susan Martonik — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 14:50:33 +0000

OSCAR associate director earns national recognition for advancing undergraduate research Susan Martonik Mon, 09/28/2026 - 10:50

Behind many successful researchers is a mentor who helps shape their academic journey. For countless undergraduate researchers at 911��, that mentor is Karen T. Lee, associate director of the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR), a newly inducted fellow of the Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR).

Earlier this summer, Lee received the CUR Fellows Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Leadership. This lifetime achievement award recognizes CUR members who are leaders and role models within the undergraduate research community and whose careers represent the values and ideals set forth by CUR.

“I am thrilled to be one of the recipients of the CUR Fellows Award,” said Lee. “I believe that undergraduate research has the power to transform a student’s educational experience—helping them build confidence, develop critical skills, and discover new possibilities for their future. I’m grateful to be part of a 911�� community that is deeply committed to creating those opportunities.”

Karen Lee (left) receives the CUR Fellows Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Leadership from CUR President Karen Resendes. Photo provided by the Council on Undergraduate Research.

For more than three decades, Lee has advanced undergraduate research through mentorship, program development, and national leadership. Beginning her career as a faculty researcher in biology, she mentored dozens of undergraduate students in ecological research, with nearly half of her peer-reviewed publications including undergraduate coauthors. Her leadership has been instrumental in institutionalizing undergraduate research programs at multiple institutions.

At 911��, Lee continues to expand access to research opportunities through innovative funding programs, peer-leadership models, and cross-campus collaborations. Her sustained contributions have helped hundreds of students engage in meaningful research experiences and have strengthened the undergraduate research ecosystem locally, regionally, and nationally.

“Karen’s recognition as a fellow of the Council on Undergraduate Research reflects her steadfast leadership in advancing undergraduate research and mentoring students,” said Ajay Vinzé, interim provost at 911�� when Lee received the award. “Through her work with OSCAR, she has expanded opportunities for 911�� students to engage in discovery, scholarship, and creative inquiry, and her national recognition will further strengthen 911��’s commitment to undergraduate research.”

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911�� sends record number of students to National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Katarina Benson — Tue, 26 May 2026 14:23:23 +0000

911�� sends record number of students to National Conference on Undergraduate Research Katarina Benson Tue, 05/26/2026 - 10:23

This April, 63 911�� students presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Richmond. NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research across disciplines. This year marked 911��’s highest attendance to date, and many students were able to attend due to support from the Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR).

Students listen to a speaker at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Photo provided

For Karen T. Lee, associate director of OSCAR, accompanying the students to NCUR each year is one of her favorite parts of the job. “Sharing results is the ultimate step in completing a research or creative project, and sharing them at a national conference like NCUR allows students to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field, and to meet students and faculty working on similar projects and learn to network as professionals,” she said. “Having this experience as an undergraduate, early in their career, is a real boost in their confidence.”

Both Michael Kaleem, a junior majoring in community health with a concentration in clinical science, and Auj Atteeq, a senior majoring in computational and data science, were supported by OSCAR grants this year.

Kaleem with his research poster. Photo provided

For Kaleem, NCUR was the first time he has presented his research outside of 911��. With his project, “Rest and Results: The Relationship Between Sleep, Stress, and Grade Point Average (GPA) in Undergraduates,” Kaleem found that while sleep didn’t necessarily affect students’ GPA, students’ stress levels influenced both their sleep quality and their academic performance.

A member of the Honors College and OSCAR's Undergraduate Research Scholars program, Kaleem credits Lee and his mentor Ali A. Weinstein, a professor of global and community health, for helping him hone his research skills. He hopes to work in the health care field in the future and plans to continue his studies at 911�� and pursue an accelerated master's in public health with a concentration in health policy.

In her project, “Thermal Stress Impact on Global Bleaching Events,” Atteeq found a positive correlation between sea surface temperature and coral reef bleaching across the globe. Essentially, rising temperatures disrupt the homeostasis of coral reef systems, causing them to turn white and become vulnerable to starvation and disease. Coral reefs support at least a quarter of all marine life, making Atteeq’s research incredibly important.

Atteeq with her research. Photo provided

Atteeq originally began her research as a final project for one of her computational and data sciences classes. OSCAR staff member Kim Seligman encouraged her to continue the work and apply to attend NCUR. She received a travel grant from OSCAR to attend the conference. In the future, Atteeq wants to continue her research on climate science and plans to pursue a career in academia.

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Art history senior curates exhibit on women artists and their perspectives on aging

Katarina Benson — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:33:36 +0000

Art history senior curates exhibit on women artists and their perspectives on aging Katarina Benson Fri, 05/15/2026 - 11:33

911�� senior Silas Fransen plans to pursue a career as a museum curator.

And thanks to the university’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR), the art history major already has one exhibit to his name.

Fransen at the opening of his exhibit. Photo by the Hylton Center.

This past spring, Fransen curated the “Fountain of Truth: Women Artists and Their Perspectives on Aging” exhibit in collaboration with Mason Exhibitions at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in the Buchanan Partners Gallery on the Science and Technology Campus.

Fransen, who graduated in May, received funding through the OSCAR Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, and was guided by 911�� faculty mentor LaNitra Berger, an associate professor of history and art history and the director of the African and African American Studies Program.

“It was certainly the most challenging thing I’ve done at 911��, but I definitely want t o do more projects like these,” Fransen said.

“Fountain of Truth” featured artwork from five Washington, D.C. area female artists—Cheryl D. Edwards, Britnee Scott, Eliza Tebo, Angela Hiebert, and 911�� alum Marie Guagenti, BFA ’24—and culminated in a panel discussion moderated by Fransen in April at the Hylton Center.

The artists, ranging in age from 37 to 87, produced a variety of styles, including oil paintings, graffiti art, and metal, to share their experiences with aging. The panel discussion also included a performance from Tebo, who performed her debut single, “Fountain of Youth,” as Gemma Sky.

“They were all very inspiring,” Fransen said. “They each pulled out unique topics, and they each had their own takeaway from it. There is so much to be learned in just aging, and it is just a very beautiful thing to be able to get to age.”

The idea for the exhibit stemmed from a paper one of Fransen’s professors referenced in a Northern Baroque Art class. The piece examined why female saints were often depicted in a more youthful state whereas their male counterparts were shown in their older age.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about this paper,” Fransen said. “I wanted to see how contemporary artists were interacting with this history or how they felt about their own aging. I was trying to place this history that had been dominated by men for a very long time back into the hands of women artists.”

Fransen moderating the discussion at the exhibit. Photo by the Hylton Center.

Fransen, who worked on the exhibit for almost a year, put out a call for art, reviewed applications, and coordinated with the selected artists. Working with Mason Exhibitions, Fransen strategically placed the artwork throughout the gallery space on the second floor of the Hylton Center.

“Professor Berger said something early on that really altered how I was thinking about this project: ‘Curators are creating something out of nothing,’” said Fransen. “We [curators] work alongside artists. There is just blank space before we walk in and turn the space into this phenomenal exhibit that is life-changing for some.”

“Silas had the vision, the knowledge, and the drive to organize the exhibition from start to finish, and he brought together a dynamic, diverse, and thoughtful group of women artists to have an important artistic conversation about aging,” Berger said.

A native of Front Royal, Virginia, Fransen plans to take a gap year before starting graduate school for art history. He said the breadth of courses he took at 911�� in art history—from the Black Renaissance in America, Art of the Islamic World, Arts of the United States, and Arts of Medieval England—helped him see the overlap of different cultures.

“I love how 911��’s Department of History and Art History is so varied,” he said. “I think it has prepared me for the next step, especially after taking on this large project on top of my classes.”

He says this knowledge will influence his future aspirations, which include being a museum curator or working as a college professor and helping with museum exhibits.

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Goldwater Scholar Sofie Strompf is finding art in science

sholla4 — Wed, 06 May 2026 14:29:15 +0000

Goldwater Scholar Sofie Strompf is finding art in science sholla4 Wed, 05/06/2026 - 10:29

Left brained vs right brained, analytical vs creative: Art and science are often placed on opposite ends of the spectrum, two disciplines at war with one another. But for Sofie Strompf, Honors College student, neuroscience major, and recipient of a prestigious 2026 Goldwater Scholarship, the divide between the two is more a matter of perspective.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Strompf was a member of the Mason Nation long before beginning her undergraduate career. As a regular student, and then assistant administrator, at Acting for Young People through Mason Community Arts Academy, she developed a deep passion for theatre.

Strompf entered 911�� ready to take the stage. Initially a technical theater major, she was inspired by a literature review project in HNRS 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry to consider a different path.

“Because of my experiences with my dynamic disability [hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome], I was really interested in familial dysautonomia, a rare genetic condition that causes severe, degenerative dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, so I chose that as my topic,” she said. “I had never had a chance to research like this before. My literature review was way over the top for anything I needed to write, because I was so interested in the topic.”

Strompf reached out to Ali Andalibi, previous senior associate dean for research for the College of Science, for mentorship as she explored the possibilities in more research-focused pathways. During her second year at Mason, she completed research with Andalibi with the support of an Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP) grant from 911��’s Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) and interned at the Medical University of South Carolina. These experiences affirmed her love of science and research, and she transitioned to the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience.

“Research is just identifying a problem and coming up with a way to look at that problem from a bunch of different angles to understand it better and thinking outside the box to solve it. That in itself is a creative process,” she said. “So I think that having this background in creative arts and humanities has actually made me a better researcher from the start.”

With her love of research, Strompf’s academic career has developed as much in the lab as in the classroom. Under the guidance of Professor Lance Liotta and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Marissa Howard, she’s been supporting and developing research projects in the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) for the past four years. Last year, her work in the lab was supported by an National Institutes of Health Diversity Supplemental research grant. This grant bolstered her experiences in the lab, leading her to develop her own hypothesis regarding secretory mitophagy (a new process of cellular mitochondrial recycling discovered by CAPMM researchers) as it relates to neurodegenerative disease. She hopes to continue research related to this hypothesis as a PhD student after graduating in 2027.

Strompf delivering a presentation. Photo provided.

There’s another angle to Strompf’s work as well: advocacy and policy. “I’m trying to be part of this movement of young, early career scientists and researchers who really want to share all these cool new discoveries with the public and the world,” she said.

For her, that includes outreach work as part of the Nexus234 Innovation District, teaching local elementary, middle, and high school students about cells during Nanotechnology Day and other community events; serving as a mentor for the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP); and mentoring other undergraduate students as an OSCAR Peer Leader.

She also actively advocates through her positions on the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia’s (SCHEV) Disabilities Access to Higher Education Advisory Committee, Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR), and the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP).

“I’ve worked closely with a lot of SCHEV staff to talk about disability policy and draft policy recommendations, as well as lobbying and meeting state representatives to share why inclusion and accessibility matter,” she said.

Receiving a Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes students with the potential to be the next generation of research leaders, is a true testament to her dedication and perseverance.

Megan Bruening, director of the Office of Fellowship, said, “it has been our pleasure to work with Sofie and watch her grow over the course of her undergraduate career at Mason. Her intellectual curiosity, impressive work ethic, and determination to serve others makes her stand out as a promising STEM researcher.”

“Often, there is hardly any representation in science for students with disabilities, and it can be hard not to feel alone or unwelcome,” Strompf said. “Receiving the Goldwater Scholarship is especially meaningful in this context, as I feel like it validates both my place in science and that of other students with disabilities. Despite the challenges I have faced, a team of accomplished, established scientists believes in me and my potential to contribute meaningfully to my field.”

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Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game

sholla4 — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:52:28 +0000

Patriot Performance Lab helps athletes stay in the game sholla4 Tue, 03/03/2026 - 12:52

To be an NCAA Division 1 student-athlete, you need a village. From dieticians to strength trainers to physical therapists, developing and maintaining fitness for elite competition is a collaborative effort. One way that 911�� Intercollegiate Athletics and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) keep our athletes in top form is through evidence-based practices and science. That's where the Patriot Performance Lab comes in.

Erica King, right, works with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

The Patriot Performance Lab’s role is twofold: They monitor and measure athletes’ health as well as conduct research studies on athlete performance. Over the years, they’ve conducted numerous studies with various D1 teams—such as testing vitamin D levels in basketball players and knee joint adaptations in volleyball players—while providing athletes with critical data on their health metrics like body composition, VO2 Max, strength measurements, and more.

Margaret Jones. Photo by John Boal Photography.

“We’re not just a research lab,” emphasized Margaret Jones, professor in CEHD’s Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management Division and director of the Patriot Performance Lab. “Providing health services to athletes is also critical. It’s what makes the partnership work.”

Strong science communication skills are essential in this field. Researchers need to be able to translate data and results to coaches and student-athletes so they can adjust and improve. Chris Green, professor of sport management and director of the Center for Sport Management, works with the lab to help staff develop research communication skills.

“It’s relatively new to consider sports management in sports science,” she said. “The field as a whole is starting to ask how we can make good management decisions around athlete health and performance data. But the Patriot Performance Lab is already doing this work. It’s one of the things that makes us unique, and it’s what makes our work impactful.”

Green has been essential, Jones said, in helping lab members develop their communication skills and better understand how information is being shared from researchers to coaches to athletes.

“When they understand why I’m asking them to wear or do something and understand how this will benefit them, they’re more likely to perform at the level required in order for us to get good data,” said Noelle Saine, BS Kinesiology ’22, MS Kinesiology ’23, and a third-year PhD student. Saine, who was herself a student-athlete in track and field, understands the importance of strong communication between sport scientists and athletes.

“It’s establishing trust that what we’re doing will improve their health and performance,” said Jones.

Noelle Saine, right, runs a strength test with a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

Collaboration with the coaches and athletic trainers is also critical. “We couldn’t do what we do without them,” said Saine. “They see the benefits and importance of what we do.”

Postdoctoral research fellow Erica King, BS in Bioengineering ’21, PhD Bioengineering ’25 and a former student athlete in swim and dive, has been leading the work on knee joint adaptations since she was a graduate student. She led a recent 9-month study using wearable sensors for tracking load during practice, counter-movement jump testing, wearable and clinical ultrasound, MRIs, and surveys to assess the load demands on volleyball players’ knees.

“At the end of the season, we were able to show the coaching staff the average number of jumps athletes complete in a 15-16 week period and the direct effects of that from a joint adaptation standpoint,” she said. “They found that data really helpful, and now they can tailor practice sessions to better support the players and help alleviate strain that could lead to injury.”

Athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers often come to the lab with questions for study and ideas. A blood lactate study with the swim team last spring was requested by the swimmers, who applied for and received an Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) grant to fund the study. The team collected data from blood draws, heart-rate monitors, DEXA scans, and jump testing. Early review suggests athlete stroke specialization and maximal power generation capabilities significantly impact accumulation in blood lactate levels during all-out swim bouts.

Noelle Saine leads a VO2 Max test on a student-athlete. Photo by John Boal Photography.

And as Saine and King can attest, the Patriot Performance Lab offers 911�� students the opportunity to do hands-on research in a wide range of fields. There are opportunities for all levels of research, from postdocs like King to high school students interested in exploring this world of research for the first time.

“Having that R1 designation really gives us the extra push to be able to dive deep into research,” said Saine. “Faculty have always encouraged me to find what I’m passionate about and pursue it. And my experience has been that instead of being competitive, everyone wants to work together to push forward and improve.”

Green noted that Jones’ experience as both researcher and practitioner is also an important piece of the puzzle that makes the Patriot Performance Lab work. “[Jones’] capacity to connect all these parts and have both credibility and an understanding of what the needs are sets us apart,” she said.

Jones said she appreciates the openness and willingness of people at 911�� to work together.“We’re supported on both sides by CEHD and Athletics.”

“The Patriot Performance Lab reflects what 911�� does best, bringing research and practice together in service of people,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of CEHD. “Our student-athletes are performing at the highest levels, and they deserve evidence-based support that protects their health and enhances their performance. This partnership between CEHD and Athletics ensures that science goes beyond the lab, to directly improve lives.”

Explore the possibilities in the College of Education and Human Development

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College of Education and Human Development

Athletics

Mason Athletics

Patriot Performance Lab

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

Bioengineering

School of Kinesiology

Research

Students

Meet the 911�� senior changing breast cancer research

Katarina Benson — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:40:18 +0000

Meet the 911�� senior changing breast cancer research Katarina Benson Tue, 03/03/2026 - 11:40

In January, 911�� senior Angela Victoria Rojas Rivera, Medical Laboratory Science major, represented the university at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC). Led and hosted by Harvard University, NCRC is the largest student-run research conference in the United States. Only 200 students are selected to attend.

Rojas Rivera’s project “Extracellular Vesicle–Driven Immune Programming at the Sentinel Lymph Node in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer” found a new immunotherapy approach that helps the body recognize breast cancer cells as a threat, allowing the immune system to respond faster.

Rojas Rivera at the NCRC. Photo provided

“By changing the cancer’s messages, this localized immunotherapy helps the immune system respond earlier and more effectively, offering a promising strategy to prevent cancer from spreading while reducing side effects,” she explained.

After presenting her earlier findings at the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa) poster event last year, Rojas Rivera has continued to work on her research at 911��'s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) with her mentors Lance Liotta and Marissa Howard. After graduation, Rojas Rivera plans to pursue a PhD in biomedicine or proteomics.

“I am deeply committed to developing this research into a real, effective treatment,” she said.

From a student with no prior research experience to a confident scholar with deep expertise, Angela has become a force within 911��’s research community,” said Liotta, who is co-director of CAPMM. “Her excellence extends far beyond the lab. By representing the university at the NCRC, Angela elevated not only her own voice but also the visibility of 911�� and the College of Science.”

Rojas Rivera is also one of only four students admitted to the highly selective histology program at Inova Hospital, a full-time, 10-month (40-week) training program designed to prepare current university students for careers as certified histotechnologists. She credits her mentors and Office of Student Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) for allowing her to stand out as a candidate.

“911�� offers strong access to research opportunities, particularly through funding programs like OSCAR and faculty mentorship, which make it easier for undergraduates to become involved in meaningful research,” she said. “That kind of support plays an important role in helping students take research seriously and pursue it beyond the classroom.”

Asked about her advice for undergraduates who’d like to take the next step in their research career, Rojas Rivera said: "Don’t overthink it—just do it. Even as undergraduates, our work has value and taking that first step can shape not only our careers, but the future of science itself.”

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Research

College of Science

Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine - CAPMM

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

Students

911�� researchers lead statewide study on ethical use of AI in higher education

sbrown79 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:07:37 +0000

911�� researchers lead statewide study on ethical use of AI in higher education sbrown79 Tue, 02/17/2026 - 11:07

911��’s leadership in advancing 21st-century education took another leap forward this month when several university researchers were named to a statewide project exploring the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and learning in higher education classrooms.  

Funded by a State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Fund for Excellence and Innovation grant, the cross-disciplinary, cross-institutional project aims to promote ethical integration of AI into educational settings. 

The initiative, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Teaching and Learning,” involves 80 faculty, graduate students, and staff from multiple Virginia institutions including University of Virginia, James Madison University, Roanoke College, Bridgewater College, and Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Amanda Bryan, an assistant professor in 911��’s Department of English and co-lead on the study, said it is “designed to test onboarding activities in increasing students’ ethical and responsible use of AI tools.”

Amanda Bryan. Photo provided.

 The study is an example of a Mega Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, or SoTL, project. It’s one of 11 projects 911�� is involved in, generating evidence of learning from multiple institutions.

“The research team designed the activities, which we then make available to other professors to adapt to their own disciplines and provide us data on how effective the activities were in increasing ethical use of AI tools for the students,” said Bryan.

The team also considered different levels of activities to accommodate students who were inexperienced with AI versus those who had advanced skills. 

“We took the task on ourselves that we’re asking students to do because we actually used AI to revise the activities in the ethical, responsible way that we would want students to be able to do,” said Bryan, who is conducting this project with data from students in her ENGH 302 Advanced Composition course. 

“We asked students open-ended questions, including whether they think they’re over-reliant or under-reliant on generative AI tools. That feeds directly into the next activity, which is all about under-reliance, over-reliance, and the harm of being either. We want students to find a cushy middle,” she said. 

The team got their first round of data from students in spring 2025, which showed that just providing these discussion spaces has increased students’ ethical thinking about AI use in college by more than 60%, explained Bryan. 

“We went to the institutional review boards at all the different institutions to get permission to do the research,” said Breana Bayraktar, an educational developer with 911�� and one of the projects primary investigators.  

Students working on their laptops in class. Photo by Getty Images.

Bayraktar said thanks to the support of the SCHEV grant, they've been able to hire graduate research assistants and get undergraduates involved in organizing the collected data. 

“We support each of the institutional teams for their research objectives and collect data from students,” said Bayraktar. “There's a number of teams that have done presentations or have written projects that are either published or on the track to publication that have come out of the different research projects. With this data, we were able to make one coherent project with one survey.” 

Students in 911��’s Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), and OSCAR Research Assistant (OSCAR-RA) Program also helped in the research. 

“The students really gain professional experience and exposure to real-world research practices. It’s very much a mentoring role with the students,” Bayraktar said. 

There is an Open Educational Resources (OER) portion of the study, “so even after this study is complete, all of the research methods and activities we’re using are being compiled into OERs for future use under a creative commons license,” said Bryan.  

Under this SCHEV grant, 911�� is hosting three conferences on AI, the last of which will be in May 2026. The grant funding goes through summer 2026. 

Learn more about AI at 911��

In This Story

Amanda Leigh Bryan

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SCHEV

Artificial Intelligence

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR)

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