Undergraduate Research Awards

The Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) and International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) program was established by the Irving K. Barber Endowment Fund Advisory Committee to provide exceptional learning experiences for undergraduate Arts, Social Sciences, and Science students at UBC’s Okanagan campus. The program’s purpose is to encourage undergraduate students enrolled in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science to pursue innovative and original research as part of their learning experience while at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The awards are aimed primarily at students in their third year of study.

  • The URA offers a $10,000 award plus a maximum of $1,500 for research expenses.
  • The IURA offers a $10,000 award plus a maximum of $1,500 for research expenses.

FASS Undergraduate Research Awards Symposium

On September 18, 2024, the incredible work being done by undergraduate researchers in the Undergraduate Research Awards (URA) and International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) programs were presented. View Abstracts.

Sponsored by the Irving K. Barber Endowment Fund and the International Student Initiative.


2025 Applications

The application package must be received no later than 4 p.m. on January 26, 2025.

Contact

Dean’s Office
Please direct all application questions here
fass.research.ubco@ubc.ca

URA Coordinator
Dr. Paul Davies
Paul.G.Davies@ubc.ca

 

 

Recent Recipients

Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor
Cody Teichroeb Psychology Differences in Micro-dosers and Non-microdosers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Zachary Walsh
Minnie Tsai Community, Culture and Global Studies Transcending Cultural Boundaries: The Practice of Simultaneity on Social Media Shannon Ward
Emily Fuller Psychology Body Empowerment for Gender-Diverse Youth (BEYOND) Maya Libben
Belle Chabot History and Sociology Racial Intolerance in Kelowna: An Ethnographic Study of Indian Students’ Experiences Luis Aguiar
Sanaa Shaikh Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Homeland Politics Abroad: Investigating the Impact of Diasporic Mobilisation on Sikh Canadian Immigration Jim Rochlin
Osana Ratnaharan History and Sociology Mental Health Emergency Visits at the Intersection of Age and Immigrant Status Agnieszka Doll
Soule Cretney Psychology Perceptive Accuracy on Romantic Interest Across Time in Zoom Speed Dates Lauren Human
Omana Pisharoty

 

Psychology Why Young Women Swallow the Red Pill: Analysing the Aesthetics and Rhetoric of Issue-Framing within Female- Oriented Antifeminist Subcultures Bonar Buffam and Ilya Parkins
Madison Eagle Psychology Discrimination of Chronic Pain Treatment and Perceptions: A Preliminary Analysis Paul Davies
Cosette Robertson Psychology Effects of Concurrent Cannabis and Alcohol Use on Psilocybin Microdosing: A Longitudinal Analysis Zachary Walsh
Student Name Department ProjectTitle Supervisor
Kyle  Vallido Psychology Examining interhemispheric inhibition during the simultaneous combination of multiple action states Sarah Kraeutner
Jillian Law Psychology The Zoom speed dating study Lauren Human
Emily Chisholm History and Sociology Patterns of hyper-individual discourses of sexual violence within sexual health education learning materials in British Columbia Emily Snyder
Ella Serber Psychology Emotion amplification: visual imagery, disgust, and OCD Maya Libben
Aleyna Kirilmis Economics, Philosophy and Politival Science The opioid crisis: a call to arms Min Hu
Cheyanne Kraig Psychology The role of experience on the category fluency test Elena Nicoladis
Lilly Shoemaker Psychology A plot analysis of college romance novels: tropes, sexual scripts, and problematic behaviours Jan Cioe
Jacklyn Awotwi-Pratt Psychology Does gesture encouragement improve children’s reading comprehension? Elena Nicoladis
Aarohi Yadav Psychology A computational model of the cultural evolution of innovations Liane Gabora
Aiisha Rishi Psychology Victim blaming in the media: a study of indigenous vs. white women Elena Nicoladis
Danielle Gallina Community, Culture and Global Studies From tree fruits to grapes: exploring the conversion of orchard to vineyard in the Okanagan Valley Donna Senese
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor
Allison Karpinsky Community, Culture & Global Studies Language documentation and revitalization through digitization: A Kala Case Study Christine Schreyer
Carlie Unrau Psychology Social consequences of first impressions – Zoom Lauren Human
Parres Holliday Psychology The effect of mental practice frequency on improving athletic performance Sarah Kraeutner
Annette Nicoletti-Carriere Psychology Developing stories to introduce a representational system for visualizing elusive aspects of cognition Liane Gabora
Samantha Barg Psychology Body dissatisfaction and its relationship to self-viewing behaviour: a moderator analysis Maya Libben
Xioali Xiong* Economics, Philosophy & Political Science Investigating foreigners in contemporary China Manfred Elfstrom
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor(s)
Emily Eaton Community, Culture & Global Studies Reading in a pandemic:  discovering the current and historic influence of literature Fiona McDonald
Renoir Ashlea Gauvin Community, Culture & Global Studies Equitable Food Bank Access:  Identifying Barriers for Indigenous Peoples Gabrielle Legault
Prisha Mangesh Vaidya* Community, Culture & Global Studies Socially Distanced Darshan:  Hindu rituals and devotion for Ganesh Chaturthi David Geary
Katie Brand Community, Culture & Global Studies Babywearing:  Using Social Media to Identify an Online Community of Practice Christina Schreyer
Samantha Maki Psychology Appearance of Female Genitalia in Pornography Jan Cioe
Emma Alcott Psychology Risk interactions:  Early Childhood educators’ responses to child behaviors Jamie Piercy
Mariza Micallef Psychology Psychological Functioning in Post-Concussive Syndrome Before and During the Pandemic Maya Libben
Soumyaa Subramanium (Kumar)* Psychology Suicide in Digital Media:  Does media adhere to guidelines for suicide? Carolyn Szostak
Stephanie Awotwi-Pratt History and Sociology Black – Canadian Women’s Reproductive Health in Canada Deana Simonetto
Braydon Neiszner Economics, Philosopy and Political Science Estimating Regional Determinants of Greenhouse Gas Emmissions in BC to inform Canadian Carbon Pricing Policies Andrea Craig
Mallhi Prapti* Economics, Philosopy and Political Science Impact of gender inequalities on women’s labour force participation in India Khan Islam
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor(s)
Sydney Bosetti Microbiology The role of O-acetylated sialic acid on intestinal mucus in regulating host-microbe symbiosis in the gut Kirk Bergstrom
Sakshi Khanna Biology Studying transcription factor genes regulating flower initiation in Cannabis sativa Soheil Mahmoud
Taryn Murray Biology Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocytes Andis Klegeris
Anusha Shivram Biology Co-operative Behaviours of Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Urban Singapore Karen Hodges
Arantxa Da Fonseca Chemistry Electrophysical response to astrocytes exposed to kainic acid-based agonists of receptors in a2q pro Frederic Menard
Destiny Ellenor Chemistry The Functionalization of Carbon Nitride for a Greater Understanding of its Photocatalytic Activity Robert Godin
Ryland Todd Giebelhaus Chemistry Sifting Through the Weed:  Untargeted metabolomics to discover new terpenes in Cannabis sativa L. Susan Murch
Kaede Hirabayashi Chemistry Melatonin and Serotonin Perceive Environmental Cues in Arctic Plants Susan Murch
Kamal Narayana Chemistry Assessment of the digestion of milk oligosaccharides by human gut bacteria Wesley Zandberg
Amir Sardari Romina Chemistry The Role of Quantum Effects in Stability of Ribonucleotide Reductase Gino DiLabio
Darina Vekhova Chemistry Investigation of the NOX2 enzyme inhibitor (VAS2870) – via protein labeling Frederic Menard
Matthew Currie Computer Science Matching People in Historical Metis Records Ramon Lawrence
Meng Tian Computer Science Improving crowd counting accuracy for deep learning architectures Mohamed Shehata
Sarah Wyse Mathematics Modeling the effect of stochasticity on a mathematical predator-prey system Rebecca Tyson
Jasmine Lamoureux Process Geomorphology Spatial Analysis of the Effects of Forest Roads on Water Quality in Streams Bernard Bauer
Luke Williams Earth Science Methane transport through floodplain trees Ed Hornibrook
Delator Hini Community Female and Homless:  Exploring the Barriers and Coping Strategies of Homeless Women in Kelowna Carlos Teixeira
Hanna Paul Anthropology Unpacking Cultural Relativism of Menstruation and Moon Time for Women in the Okanagan Fiona McDonald
Lydia Wood Psychology A Canadian Update to Neuropsychological Normative Data Maya Libben
Reagan Zinck Psychology Shaping opinions:  An analysis of Canadian press coverage of climate change Carolyn Szostak
Camille Morissette Sociology Support Systems in Athletes that have Suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries Deana Simonetto
Jonathan Gilbert Romaniuk History Faith and Works:  A History of Canadian Community Service in the Diocese of Kootenay During WWI & WWII Ben Nilson
Shao Yuan Chong Political Science Evaluating Trauma from Protests in the Hong Kong Community Since 1997 Manfred Elfstrom
Paige Kinniburgh Political Science Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of Mobile Versus Fixed Injection Sites Adam Jones
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA)
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor(s)

Sydney Bosetti

Microbiology

The role of O-acetylated sialic acid on intestinal mucus in regulating host-microbe symbiosis in the gut

Kirk Bergstrom

Sakshi Khanna

Biology

Studying transcription factor genes regulating flower initiation in Cannabis sativa

Soheil Mahmoud

Taryn Murray

Biology

Extracellular cardiolipin regulates select immune functions of astrocytes

Andis Klegeris

Anusha Shivram

Biology

Co-operative Behaviours of Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata) in Urban Singapore

Karen Hodges

Arantxa Da Fonseca

Chemistry

Electrophysical response to astrocytes exposed to kainic acid-based agonists of receptors in a2q pro

Frederic Menard

Destiny Ellenor

Chemistry

The Functionalization of Carbon Nitride for a Greater Understanding of its Photocatalytic Activity

Robert Godin

Ryland Todd Giebelhaus

Chemistry

Sifting Through the Weed:  Untargeted metabolomics to discover new terpenes in Cannabis sativa L.

Susan Murch

Kaede Hirabayashi

Chemistry

Melatonin and Serotonin Perceive Environmental Cues in Arctic Plants

Susan Murch

Kamal Narayana

Chemistry

Assessment of the digestion of milk oligosaccharides by human gut bacteria

Wesley Zandberg

Amir Sardari Romina

Chemistry

The Role of Quantum Effects in Stability of Ribonucleotide Reductase

Gino DiLabio

Darina Vekhova

Chemistry

Investigation of the NOX2 enzyme inhibitor (VAS2870) – via protein labeling

Frederic Menard

Matthew Currie

Computer Science

Matching People in Historical Metis Records

Ramon Lawrence

Meng Tian

Computer Science

Improving crowd counting accuracy for deep learning architectures

Mohamed Shehata

Sarah Wyse

Mathematics

Modeling the effect of stochasticity on a mathematical predator-prey system

Rebecca Tyson

Jasmine Lamoureux

Process Geomorphology

Spatial Analysis of the Effects of Forest Roads on Water Quality in Streams

Bernard Bauer

Luke Williams

Earth Science

Methane transport through floodplain trees

Ed Hornibrook

Delator Hini

Community

Female and Homless:  Exploring the Barriers and Coping Strategies of Homeless Women in Kelowna

Carlos Teixeira

Hanna Paul

Anthropology

Unpacking Cultural Relativism of Menstruation and Moon Time for Women in the Okanagan

Fiona McDonald

Lydia Wood

Psychology

A Canadian Update to Neuropsychological Normative Data

Maya Libben

Reagan Zinck

Psychology

Shaping opinions:  An analysis of Canadian press coverage of climate change

Carolyn Szostak

Camille Morissette

Sociology

Support Systems in Athletes that have Suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries

Deana Simonetto

Jonathan Gilbert Romaniuk

History

Faith and Works:  A History of Canadian Community Service in the Diocese of Kootenay During WWI & WWII

Ben Nilson

Shao Yuan Chong

Political Science

Evaluating Trauma from Protests in the Hong Kong Community Since 1997

Manfred Elfstrom

Paige Kinniburgh

Political Science

Analysis of the Relative Effectiveness of Mobile Versus Fixed Injection Sites

Adam Jones

 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor(s)
Elinor Binson* Biology Study of transcription factor genes that control flower development in lavender Soheil Mahmoud
Athena Ranger Biology The role of histone deacetylases in brain glial cell signaling Andis Klegeris
Sophia Russo Biology Effects of Nicotine Transport on insect renal transcriptome profiles: qPCR validation of mRNA-mRNA Mark Rheault
Lucas Starchuk Biology Effects of SAMe in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids induced toxicity in the heart Sanjoy Ghosh
Taylor Gray Chemistry Investigating milk glycoprotein digestion in order to create more human-like infant formulas Wesley Zandberg
Yuen Yee Leung* Chemistry Oxidation of camptothecin (CPT) backbone through the use of oxidative enzymes Thuy Dang
Nina Mohtarundin* Chemistry Developing a screening tool for identifying methods to block the growth of gut pathogens Wesley Zandberg
Sydney Neumeier Chemistry A novel elctrophoresis assay to quantify single moelcule interactions Isaac Li
David, Theo Hallinen* Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics Student Response to Various Teaching Methods in Frist Year Physics at UBCO John Hopkinson
Matthew Saurette Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics Modeling Urban Dispersal of Mountain Pine Beetles Influenced by Low-Level Wind Currents Rebecca Tyson
Tianhao Wang* Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics Mobile-Based Solution for Senior Citizens to Improve Their Technological Skill Khalad Hasan
Marcus Savery Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences Quantifying fugitive emission of methane from the Glenmore Landfill Edward Hornibrook
Nicholas Tochor Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences Spatial-temporal sampling approaches for wildlife occupancy modeling Mathieu Bourbonnais
Shaniya Anand* Community, Culture and Global Studies Vile Biimo Le’shaha (We Share The Same Understanding): Inspiring Healing Through a Conlang Christine Schreyer
Eric Douglas Community, Culture and Global Studies North Okanagan Analysis of Consumer Food Behavior Mary Stockdale (Eric Li – MGMT)
Madelaine Lekei Community, Culture and Global Studies The Enabled Environment: Understanding Bathrooms as Sensory Inclusive Public Spaces in the Okanagan Fiona McDonald
Keeley Lainchbury Psychology Bias in the Legal System: How Race and Confessions Impact a Verdict Paul Davies
Ross St. George Psychology Utilizing Smartwatch Technology to Prevent Substance Use Disorder Relapses Marvin Krank
David Shifflett Psychology The Space-definedness of the Blind, Blindfolded, and Sighted Paul Gabias
Maxine Van Zyl Psychology Comparison of WCST and ToH in Assessing Executive Function and Predicting MPAI Scores Harry Miller
Joanne Scofield History and Sociology To Help or Harm: Optimizing International Support of Pro-Choice Activism in El Salvador Jasmin Hristov
Daniyal Mirza* Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Decriminalization Model for Canada Carey Doberstein
Michaela Sullivan-Paul Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Are Canadian Provinces Drunk on Power? A Look into the Effects of the Interprovincial Trade Barrier Carey Doberstein
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Department Project Title Supervisor(s)
Mitchell Figura Biology How Specific Fatty Acids Impact the Inflammation and Disease Processes in the Mammalian Heart Sanjoy Ghosh
Clerissa Heck (Copeland) Biology Allopregnanolene’s effect on the progression of neurogensis Bruce Mathieson
Makoto Kishida* Biology The effects of organic cation transporter CRISPR gene knockdown on xenobiotic excretion in insects Mark Rheault
Emily Manzer Biology Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Sensory Neurons Undergoing Trophic Deprivation Philip Barker
Nora Melisa Perea Garcia* Biology Detection of Caspase Activity using Genetically Encoded Sensors Philip Barker
Gabriel Zavala* Biology Determining expression of lavender transcription factors through qPCR Soheil Mahmoud
Simon Edelmann Chemistry Synthesis of a fluorescent dye with application for Kainite Receptor Imaging Frederic Menard
Sydney Fearnley Chemistry Traction force microscopy and fluorescent live cell imaging to quantify cell adhesion forces Isaac Li
Alexander Garner Chemistry Development of chemical tools to sequence plant pectin to understand plant fungal reistance Wes Zandberg
Sylvain Gretchko Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics The Effects of Climate Change on Spatial Predator-Prey Dynamics Rebecca Tyson
Georgia Taylor McRae Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences Influence of Flow Regulation on Stream Temperature: Mission Creek, BC Bernard Bauer
Amy Doricic Community, Culture and Global Studies Nesolat Kijinosi Tiholat (To Learn Thus to Understand:) Constructing Compassion through Dothraki Christine Schreyer
Karen Coppock Psychology Investigating Gender Bias with Relation to the Sentencing Gap in Homicidal Sentencing Michael Woodworth
Timothy Nemet Psychology Relationship between intimate partner violence and cannabis use Zachery Walsh
Victoria Scotney Psychology Creative Influences and Smile Diffusion Liane Gabora
Diya Wala* Psychology Gratitude and Well-Being: A Mediator Analysis Derrick Wirtz
Zoe Howell History and Sociology The Social Experience of Low Income Single Mother’s in Kelowna’s Changing Economic Market Luis Aguiar
Danielle Tataryn History and Sociology Impact of Technological Changes on the Canning Industry in BC’s Southern Interior James Hull
An-Noura-Zen-Nab Compaore Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Do you prefer foreign aid or direct foreign investment for tomorrow Madame? Ross Hickey
Shamarthi Ghosh* Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Night Lights and First Nation’s Governance Ross Hickey
Daniel Kandie* Economics, Philosophy and Political Science Municipal Amalgamation in the Okanagan: Greater Vernon Carey Doberstein
Adam Newton-Blows Economics, Philosophy and Political Science The Period That Time Forgot: Exploring Consumer Demand In The Very Short Run Julien Picault
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Major Project Title Supervisor(s)
Morgan Ashley Alford Biology Cathepsin B as a regulator of microglial immune responses Andis Klegeris
Megan Amy Buers Biology How the use of biosolids affect American kestrel nest site selection and foraging behavior Karen Hodges
Mackenzie Campbell Biology Modeling wildlife habitat in the Canadian environmental assessment process Adam Ford
Norbert Eke Statistics What a customers really saying? A modern approach to feature-based customer review mining Jeff Andrews
Michael Gauld Sociology An oral history of organized labour & activism in the Okanagan Valley Luis Aguiar
An Goto* Chemistry Making beets blue: A multi-disciplinary approach to the chemical modification of betanin Gino DiLabio
Anton Hsu* Biology Mycorrhizal fungi species involved in nitrogen distribution in lodgepole pine germinants Melanie Jones
Margaret Kate Ingram Psychology Assessment of psychopathy expression by gender Brian O’Connor
Hogun Kang Biology The expression of an insect organic cation transporter in an Sf9 insect cell line Mark Rheault
Brianne Newman Microbiology Evaluation of wine yeast viability in chemically defined grape juice medium Dan Durall
Adriane Peak Anthropology The Royal Canadian Legion: A community and organization at a crossroads David Geary
Jaclyn Salter History Voluntary organisations, municipal governments, and their relationship to the provincial government James Hull
Shaharyar Syed Statistics Novel statistical approaches in the analysis of environmental impacts Jeff Andrews
Adam Bryce Yasunaga Chemistry The effects of molecular tension on integrins and cell spreading Isaac Li
Sara Vicaretti Chemistry Improving infant formula through addition of complex carbohydrates found in human milk Wesley Zandberg
 * Indicates winners of the International Undergraduate Research Awards (IURA) 
Student Name Major Project Title Supervisor(s)
Louise Araujo Chemistry Synthesis of a compound to identify the binding site of calcium channels in the brain Fred Menard
Guiseppe (Jesse) Crescenzo Chemistry Green chromium catalysts: Using bipyridine to stabilize mixed-aryl complexes Kevin Smith
Anthony Culos Computer Science/Math Data mining a large health database Jeff Andrews
Brody James Geoghegen Biochemistry Characterization of a novel enzyme from an opportunistic pathogen Kirstin Wolthers
Lauren Hotchkiss Psychology Predictors of Hope: An experimental study of the relationship between gratitude and hope
Tracy Marie Janzen Psychology Investigating mental health care services for rural older adults Carolyn Szostak
Andrew Kennedy Chemistry Development of mass spectrometry techniques for the relative quantification of mucin-type glycans Wesley Zandberg
Justin King Biochemistry How do neurosteroids control the “birth” of new neurons in the adult brain? Bruce Mathieson
Trina Kushnerik Psychology Impact of directional implicit theories on well-being and intervention efficacy
Carolyn Lee Biology Analyzing the neuroprotective properties of oleamide on astrocytes Andis Klegeris
Tiah Lee Chemistry Comparison of chemical compounds in a medicinal plant and its loose-leaf commercial tea Susan Murch
Heather Joanne McIntyre Anthropology Expression of social identity through grave and tombstone analysis at the Vernon Municipal Cemetery Diana French
Benjamin Drew Noyovitz Biochemistry Breadfruit latex biopolymer as a replacement of petroleum-based polymers Susan Murch
Ashleigh Parker Psychology The New Normal: Developing an updated corpus of normative data for five neuropschological measures Maya Libben
Christopher John Paterson Chemistry Synthesis of sugar-bearing cobalt complexes for use as anti-tumor agents Stephen McNeil
Dakshitha Ranatunga Biochemistry Regulation of monoterpene synthesis in lavender through RNA interference Soheil Mahmoud