Student research mentors (SRMs) play a vital role in the vibrant life of undergraduate research and creative work at Syracuse University and are especially integral to the student governance of The SOURCE. SRMs serve in paid student employee positions as peer mentors to students in all phases of the research and creative process, assist with SOURCE planning, outreach, programs, and office tasks, and design and implement their own project to foster undergraduate research.
Office Hours | Fall 2023
SRMs have open office hours each week in 208 Bowne Hall. Whether you’re just getting started brainstorming ideas or are polishing your final presentation, we’re here to help.
Mondays
9:30am – 12:30pm (Riona)
11am – 2pm (Peter)
2pm – 5pm (Anamika)
Tuesdays
9am – 12pm (Peter)
12:30pm – 2:30pm (Lillian)
2pm – 4:30pm (Sylla)
Wednesdays
9am – 10:30am (Skyla)
9:30am – 12:30pm (Riona)
12:45pm – 2pm (Sylla)
1:30pm – 5pm (Morgan)
Thursdays
12:30pm – 2pm (Skyla)
12:30pm – 2:30pm (Lillian)
2:30pm – 5pm (Lindzy)
Fridays
9am – 12pm (Anamika)
10:30am – 1:30pm (Skyla)
12:45pm – 3pm (Sylla)
2:30pm – 5pm (Lindzy)
Student Research Mentors
Lindzy Berdon ’24
College of Arts and Sciences | Biochemistry
Research: Impact of TRAP 1 phosphorylation by c-Abl and its effect on the regulation of apoptosis in kidney cancer cells in the Urology department at Upstate Medical University
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Hobbies: reading and learning how to play guitar
Sylla Diallo ’25
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs | International Relations and African American Studies
Research Interests: Emancipatory politics, revolutionary academic leaders, Walter Rodney and the Underdevelopment of Africa, revolutionary political mindset and processes
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Hobbies: African intellectualism, Soccer, Music, Grassroots organizing
Anamika Faria ’24
College of Arts and Sciences | Biology and Forensic Science
Research on fruit flies in the Neuroscience Department at Upstate Medical University with Dr. Sijun Zhu
Hometown: New York City, New York
Hobbies: cooking, singing, dancing, playing tennis
Peter Ganunis ’25
College of Visual and Performing Arts | Film
College of Engineering and Computer Science | Computer Science
Developing tools for video stylization with artificial intelligence and image processing techniques with Prof. Cooper Battersby
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Hobbies: punk rock, plastic spoons, power lines in nature
Motolani Oladitan ’24
College of Arts and Sciences | Psychology
School of Information Studies | Innovation, Design, and Start-ups
Research interests: The impact of art-based and culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions on the development of cultural resiliency in children belonging to underrepresented groups
Hometown: London, United Kingdon & Lagos, Nigeria
Skyla Ross-Graham ’25
College of Arts and Sciences | Psychology
Research on ADHD as a moderator in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and sluggish cognitive tempo; the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase physical activity among adolescents with ADHD with Prof. Kevin Martin Antshel
Hometown: Queens, New York
Hobbies: volleyball, art, reading
Riona Sheik ’24
College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs | International Relations and Political Science
Whitman School of Management | Finance
Research on the role of multinational corporations transitioning energy policies in Southeast Asia with Prof. Jay Golden
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Hobbies: cooking, running, travel
Lillian X. Zhao ’24
School of Architecture | Architecture
Her research interests are related to Asian and Asian American identity and how they are related to architecture and architectural education. For example, she has explored how Milk tea shops act as third spaces for Asian Americans and its importance in identity formation and spatial connections.
Hometown: Sugarland, Texas
Hobbies: Art, cooking, reading
Skills: Connecting diverse ideas
Student Research Mentor Alumni
Zar Nigar Ahmad ’21
College of Engineering and Computer Science | Aerospace Engineering, Psychology and Mathematics
Auto-ignition and laminar flame properties research with Dr. Ben Akih-Kumgeh (Combustion Lab) and simulating aerospace vehicles using Engineering Sketch Pad (ESP) with Prof. John Dannenhoffer (Computational Methods Lab).
Caroline Baggeroer ’20
College of Arts and Science | Biology and Neuroscience
Neuroscience research on influence of neurotoxicants on expression of essential transporters in the brain with Prof. Sandra Hewett.
Jordan Barrett ’18
College of Arts and Sciences | Physics and Mathematics
Mathematics and physics research with multiple mentors.
Marissa Brown ’20
College of Arts and Sciences | Biology and Neuroscience | McNair Scholars Program
Psychology research on the relationship between ADHD symptoms in young adults to abilities for empathy and emotion regulation with Prof. Kevin Antshel.
Simone Bellot ’23
College of Arts and Sciences | Communication Science and Disorders
Research on the development of morphosyntax and vocabulary in Bahamian creole english speaking preschoolers with Prof. Stephanie McMillen
Julia Chou ’22
School of Architecture | Architecture, Women’s and Gender Studies
Research on the intersections of feminist architecture theories, disability studies and design justice with Prof. Lori Brown (Architecture).
Gretchen Coleman ’22
College of Arts and Sciences, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs | Political Science, Political Philosophy
Research on trust in government among young people in Illinois.
Matthew Disbrow ’21
College of Arts and Sciences | Psychology and Neuroscience
Autism research with Prof. Natalie Russo (Psychology) and neuroscience research with Prof. Sandra Hewett (Biology).
Ohemaa Dixon ’20
College of Visual and Performing Arts | Art Photography
Arts research on the French Republic and black art collection in France with Prof. Laura Heyman.
Katelyn Eaton ’20
College of Visual and Performing Arts | Acting
Production and premiere of an original work of gig theater, “The Domestic,” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, working with Prof. Joseph Whelan.
Bailey Felix ’21
College of Engineering and Computer Science | Bioengineering
4D printing research with Dr. Henderson, research on biofilm infections related to medical devices with Dr. Ren, profiling footstrike mechanics device creation with Dr. Yung.
Colleen Ferguson ’19
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications | Newspaper and Online Journalism | Renée Crown University Honors Program
Journalism project focused on how deep-rooted cultural barriers complicate mental health treatment for Latinx college students, with Prof. Harriet Brown.
MP Geiss ’23
College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell | Policy Studies with Biology minor
Water resources and sustainable energy policy research with Prof. Peter Wilcoxen (Environmental and Energy Policy), COVID-19 economic research with Prof. Robert Bifulco (Public Economics and Education Policy); water quality research analyzing organic micropollutants with Prof. Teng Zeng (Civil and Environmental Engineering).
Justine Hastings ’21
College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education | English and Textual Studies, Secondary English Education
Documentary film as a pedagogical tool with Prof. Kelly Chandler-Olcott (Education) and Prof. Roger Hallas (English); research assistant for Engaged Humanities initiative with Prof. Brice Nordquist (Writing and Rhetoric).
Charlotte Howard ’20
College of Visual and Performing Arts | Art Photography
Photography exhibition exploring the landscape and dark history of Jeju Island, a popular tourist destination in South Korea, with Prof. Laura Heyman.
Abigail Johnson ’23
College of Arts and Sciences | Biology and Neuroscience
Research on epigenetic ways to reduce symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders in mouse models with Prof. Jessica MacDonald
Priscilla Kang ’22
Whitman School of Management | Management and Marketing | S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications | Photography
Multimedia skill development with Prof. Bruce Strong (Photography)
Julia Kazubowski ’23
School of Architecture | Architecture
Research on Mycelium as a building material and research on the construction methods of low-income rural housing in Masoro, Rwanda with Prof. Yutaka Sho
Myles Morgan ’20
College of Arts and Sciences | Biology and Neuroscience, Pre-Medical Track
The loss of system xc- and its influence on the seizure threshold; neuroscience research with Prof. Sandra Hewett.
Charles Schauer ’19
College of Arts and Sciences | Biochemistry
Renée Crown University Honors Program
Research on the therapeutic efficacy of low-frequency ultrasound with adjuvant chemotherapy with Prof. Tom Fondy.
Amanda Shaughnessy ’19
Whitman School of Management | Accounting and Finance
Research on the operational trends from the 1980s onward that contributed to rapid changes in the US domestic auto industry, with Prof. Julie Niederhoff.
Dorbor Tarley ’22
David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics | Human Development and Family Science, Pre-Medical Track | Renee Crown University Honors Program
Research on Black women’s reproductive health and how physician control has resulted in implicit and explicit biases that affect patient care, with Professor Matthew Mulvaney.
Neha Tummalapalli ’23
School of Architecture | Architecture with Policy Studies and Data Analytics minors
Research on the construction of low-income rural housing in Masoro, Rwanda with Prof. Yutaka Sho and research on unaccompanied minor detention shelters in Texas with Prof. Lori Brown