Mariela Castanon
Major(s): Sport & Exercise Science (B.S.)
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2021
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Fiaud
Title of Research: The Impact Sleep Has on Performance: A Systematic Review
Career Aspirations: I would like to pursue a career in research, whether its reviewing data or being in a laboratory. Any field related to the body and movement.
Extra-Curricular Interest: Anything related to Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology or Biomechanics is an interest of mine.
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? Apart from this being a unique experience and learning about the research process, I have also been able to apply this knowledge directly to my classes. More specifically Research Methodology. It also taught me how to not be afraid to reach out to professors that are more than willing to help guide me towards the right direction.
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Isaias Colunga
Major(s): Sports and Exercise Sciences - Exercise Science, B.S.
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2020
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Fiaud
Title of Research: The Perception of Safety for Activities During the Covid-19 Pandemic—a Survey
Career Aspirations: To become a Physical Therapist
Extra-Curricular Interest: Participation of the Student advisory council, fundraisers at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church, and Intermural sprots.
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? It has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of what my degree has to offer. I feel as though I am more prepared for my future, not only professionally but also academically. The program has also allowed me to better understand what I am capable of accomplishing. Although this program has changed due to COVID-19 its transition has been handled well and has had an immense impact on me. I can go forward with a sounder basis of public speaking, academic research, and social skills.
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Lyanna DeLeon
Major(s): Life Science Biology
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021
Mentor: Dr. Nabarun Ghosh
Conferences: TSM College Station
Title of Research: An Investigation on the Household and Allergenic Fungi of Texas Panhandle
Career Aspirations: I aspire to work within a clinical lab setting doing immunology research.
Extra-Curricular Interest: I have willingly served various community service projects. Such as the High plains food bank, Wesley community garden center, Snack pack 4 kids and Red cross.
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? McNair has enhanced my academic experience by better preparing me for graduate school research and what to expect in terms of the research process.
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Sharon Quintero Diaz
Major(s): B.A. Political Science and History
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2021
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Macaualy
Title of Research: Structural Dysfunctionality in the United Nations
Career Aspirations: Diplomacy, Academia
Extra-Curricular Interest: Model UN Club, WT Democrats
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? As a McNair Scholar, I was able to explore a single topic over an extended period of time and see the different conclusions from academics in different fields related to Global Diplomacy with the guidance of an experienced faculty member. Conducting research under these conditions made me reflect quite a bit on where I currently am in my academic career and the possible fields of study I would consider pursuing. All in all, I believe the elaboration of a question and thesis into a finished product gave me perspective to the possible limitations to methodology and the skills I wish to develop in the future to be able to go past that hurdle.
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Nicholas Dominguez
Major(s): Physics Major with a Minor in Mathematics
Classification: Junior
Anticipated Graduation Date: Spring 2022
Mentor: Dr. Keshav Shrestha
Title of Research: Superconducting Materials and BCS Theory
Career Aspirations: Once I finish my physics degree at WTAMU I plan on attending graduate school for a Masters degree in either physics or computing. I plan on getting a job as either a theoretical physicist or working on quantum computing.
Extra-Curricular Interest: I enjoy listening to music, hiking, and spending time with my family.
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience?
Being a McNair Scholar has shown me the true nature of what it is like to be a researcher and this experience has shown me all the steps required to attend a graduate program.
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Eliana Flores
Major(s): History
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021
Mentor: Dr. Bryan Vizzini
Title of Research: 19th and 20th Century Mexican Identity: Expressing Gender and Culture Through the Arts
Conferences: Western Literature Association, Student Research Conference, McNair Baylor Conference
Career Aspirations: Archivist or Latin American Professor
Extra-Curricular Interest: Literature, Folklore
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? Being a McNair Scholar has given me the opportunity to use my knowledge as a historian and further enhance my research/analytical skills. The McNair program has prepared me in various ways of what to expect when considering graduate school and what expectations will come from me. I am fortunate enough to say I am proud to be a part of an incredible program teaching me how to work independently through research.
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Yanai Otero La Porte
Major(s): Psychology
Minor: Spanish
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021
Mentor: Dr. Rahul Chauhan
Title of Research: The Effects of COVID-19 on Perceived Organizational Support and Employee morale
Career Aspirations: Become a professor that teaches classes related to Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Extra-Curricular Interest: Tennis, reading, volunteering, writing, music, video games, traveling, and Netflix
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience?
I always knew that being a McNair Scholar was going to be good for me, but I did not realize just how much I would need it. This program gave me the opportunity to dive into the world of research accompanied by several amazing people who served as resources to guide us through this process. With this knowledge, I know that I will be more successful in future projects both as an undergraduate and as a graduate student. With a better idea of how to succeed in this area, as well as support from the members of the program itself, I know that I will be successful in both graduate school and my subsequent academic career. More than just research, McNair helped me prepare for the GRE and even learn a few tips and tricks for handling school related stress. This program has not only enhanced my academic experience, but it was also changed my life.
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Adriana Martinez
Major(s): Mechanical Engineering
Classification: Junior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2022
Mentor: Dr. Keshav Shrestha
Title of Research: The evolution of the magnetic properties of Europium-doped Calcium Iron-Arsenide Superconductor
Career Aspirations: I hope to go into biomedical engineering and work on the improvements of current medical technology such as prosthetics
Extra-Curricular Interest: Orchestra, Band
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? Being a McNair scholar has allowed me to branch out to different areas in my field. Had I not been given this opportunity, I would not have learned about a phenomenon that could help improve future technology across multiple fields.
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Gabriel Martinez
Major(s): History
Classification: Junior
Anticipated Graduation Date: Fall 2021
Mentor: Dr. Timothy Bowman
Title of Research: “Mexican Migrants in the 1980s: How Shepherding Offered Sanctuary to Undocumented Mexicans in the United States.”
Career Aspirations: History professor
Extra-Curricular Interest: Public Service
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? Being a McNair Scholar has enhanced my analytical and writing skills, and my ability to conduct research.
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Jennifer Martinez
Major(s): Psychology/Pre-med
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: December 2021
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn Bouma
Title of Research: The Impact of Chronic Stress on Cardiovascular Disease
Career Aspirations: Psychiatrist
Extra-Curricular Interest: Outside of attending class, I enjoy volunteering as a scribe and translator at Amarillo’s Heal the City, as well as participating in WT’s Pre-Healthcare Club. I also enjoy taking walks with my frenchie.
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience? Participating as a McNair scholar has enhanced my ability to self-discipline. It has also shown me how to research subjects I am curious about, and how research significant impact on the modern world.
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Valeria Porras
Major(s): Sport and Exercise Science
Classification: Senior
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2021
Mentor: Dr. Vanessa Fiaud
Title of Research: Barriers Faced by Students with Physical Disabilities on a College Campus
Career Aspirations: Physical Therapist
How has being a McNair Scholar enhanced your academic experience?
McNair has taught me the importance of research. It allowed me to look deeper into what research means. I believe it helped my academic experience by knowing how to properly conduct research and how to look for good quality articles. Performing research over the course of several months taught me numerous things and how I will be applying this in the future as I prepare for graduate school and my future career.
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