CSUF Student Spotlight

35th annual California State University Student Research Competition

Eleven CSUF undergraduate and graduate students competed in the recent 35th annual California State University Student Research Competition, and four of them won top awards. This year’s virtual competition, hosted by Cal Poly Pomona, featured 197 projects presented by undergraduate and graduate students from across the CSU system.

Kathryn Eckholdt, Undergraduate, Biology, NSM
Second Place, Biological and Agricultural Sciences
Title:   Talking Trash: Will a Trash Interceptor in Newport Bay, CA Intercept Wrack Subsidies, Too?
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Danielle Zacherl

Sierra Farquhar-Wulff, Graduate, Music, COTA
First Place, Creative Arts & Design
Title:   Gender Discrimination in the Choral Conducting Profession
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rob Istad

Makar Makarian, Undergraduate, Chemistry and Biochemistry, NSM
Second Place, Biological & Agricultural Sciences
Title:   Microwave-assisted Synthesis and Kinetic Studies of Donepezil-based Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stevan Pecic

Alexa Vega Rivas, Undergraduate, Psychology, HSS
First Place, Behavioral, Social Sciences, and Public Administration
Title:   Trump's Immigration Policy Impact on White and Latinx People and Their Endorsement of the American Dream
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ella Ben Hagai