Mathematics Undergraduate Research
Research Opportunities in Math
How do undergraduates do research in mathematics?
Many of the Department of Mathematics faculty members are engaged in scholarly research and often have opportunities for students. In addition, the department is currently participating in interdisciplinary research with the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems and Department of Chemistry.
Students may participate in undergraduate research in two ways:
- Individual, independent study conducted on a topic selected by the student
- Individual or group studies conducted on an existing faculty member's research interest
These options are an essential part of the University's Undergraduate Research Program (URP) and Quality Enhancement Program (QEP). The department's research activities support both the URP and QEP programs.
For additional information on recent research projects in math and other
disciplines, visit the University Undergraduate Research page
Current Research Projects
2022-2023
Hanna Joy Jefcoat
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
CHCHD2 Impact on Autosomal Dominant Parkinson 22.
First Place STEM Poster Session November 2022, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2023
Andrew Mullins
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Characterizing a Variant of TGFBR2 associated with Marfan Syndrome
STEM Poster Session November 2022, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2023
Scarlett Swinea
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Exploration of the FBXW7 Missense Mutation R505H
STEM Poster Session November 2022, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2023
Emily Gregory
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Exploration of the GNB5 Protein Variants at Position L307R
STEM Poster Session November 2022, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2023
Ruben Henrickson
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Investigation of PKD2 Variants
STEM Poster Session November 2022
Baxter Avie Halder
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Exploration of the Gene CLCN5 in Dent Disease
Third Place in STEM Poster Session November 2022
Recent Research Projects
2021-2022
Morgan Fisher
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Exploration of Gene CLCN2's Role in Bipolar Disorder
Presented at NABT CESR Poster Session 2022, STEM Poster Session 2021, and HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022
Emily Ingle
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Investigation of E181K on CDKL5 Gene
Awarded Honorable Mention at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholars Day Presentation 2022
Abbey Steadman
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Characterization of K510N on the APP Gene
Awarded Best Presentation at ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholars Day Presentation 2022
Hannah Robertson
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Investigation of PSEN1 Variants Related to Dementia
Third Place Award at HudsonAlpha Symposium, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholars Day Presentation 2022, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ STEM Poster Session, Third Place ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ STEM Poster Session
Kendall Crowell
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Characterization of R354W in KCNA5 Gene
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022 and ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholar Day
Austin Castleberry
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Comparison of CYP11B1 Gene Mutations
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022 and ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholar Day
Hannah Tidwell
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Characterization of P73L on TREX1 Gene
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022 and ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholars Day 2022
Irma Ajualip Huarcas
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Exploration of the FECH Protein Variants C411G and C411F
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Scholars Day 2022, and STEM Poster Session 2021
Olivia Morris
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Investigation of variants of F8 and F9 relate to hemophilia
Presented at NCUR 2022, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022, Selected as CUR STR Intern 2022, second place ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ STEM Poster Session 2021
Luke Terwilliger
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
An Investigation of the PSEN2 Swap Mutation T380M
Intern at HudsonAlpha BioTrain Program, Presented at Alabama Academy of Science 2022, First Place STEM Poster Session 2021, HudsonAlpha Symposium 2022, Selected as CUR STR Intern 2022
Page Joyner
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Beta Hexosaminidase A and Tay-Sachs Disease
Presented at STEM Poster Session 2021
Jalen Goodloe
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
A Study of the Variant R1628P in the LRRK2 Protein Linked to Parkinson's Disease
Presented at STEM Poster Session 2021
David Friend
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Analyzing Variant G345S of HEXA in Humans
Presented at STEM Poster Session 2021
Anja Einarsdottir
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
PTPN22 Associated with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and the Unknown of Variant K750N
Internship Summer 2021 at deCode in Iceland, Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2021 and ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ 3MT competition
Chong Zhao
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Computational analysis of the consequence of the missense swap Y454S inHARS1
Josie Williams
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
An investigation of the association between the MERTK mutation R727Q and retinitis pigmentosa
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2021
Sydney Leavitt
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
An Exploration of the Impact ofTP53and Its Missense Mutation R249K on Glioblastoma
Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2021
Holden Mullican
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
A Computational Analysis of the Exploration of Alzheimer’s Disease with the Variant A360T in PSEN1.
First Place ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ 3MT, Presented at HudsonAlpha Symposium 2021
2020-2021
Anja Einarsdottir
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Jacob Laughlin
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Rebekah Sameulson
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Dylan Uibel
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Jenna Marvin
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Meet Patel
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
A Missense Swap on SLC6A1 Gene from Q to K at AA Position 209
Bliss Bailey
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Whitley Waters
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Khushmeet Kathuria
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Grace Dodd
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Jennifer Olszyna
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
2019-2020
Ethan Hood
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Investigation of the Structure of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein 3D Model and its Relationship with ACE2
Chloe Carroll
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Bioimformatics Analysis of ASXL3
Jessa Plunket
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Bioinformatics in Secondary Education
Breanna Martin (HS)
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Genetics Education in the High School Classroom
Amber Mills
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Bioinformatics Investigation of RAC1
Justin Watson
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Bioinformatics Analysis of TREM2 Gene
Sara Gentry
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
An Exploration of SLC6A1 Gene with a Missense Swap of Glutamine for Arginine at AA position 199
Jordan Wright
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger
Studying the Significance of Variant F5Y on SLC6A1
Sara Woodley
Faculty Mentor – Dr. Cynthia Stenger