PSU McNair Scholars Program 

The PSU McNair Scholars Program has served over 400 students since 2014. At least 200 faculty mentors have supervised McNair Scholars' research projects. Scholars have been accepted to PhD and doctoral programs in the US and abroad. PSU McNair scholars have enrolled in doctoral programs at PSU, Harvard, Yale, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Oxford, London School of Economics, University of Washington, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and other prestigious universities. McNair scholars have been awarded the Fullbright, National Science Foundation grants, and other prestigious fellowships and grants.

Topanga J. Adanna
Psychology Major 
Native American and Black studies Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Karlyn Adams-Wiggins

Research Project: A Coven of Shadows in Academia: Oregon's Infernal Legacy

Connect: E-Portfolio 

Tiffany C. Aguilera
International Studies Major

Faculty Mentor: Shawn Smallman Ph.D.

Research Project: ¿Y qué pasó con el kan kan kan?

 

Shresta R. Anand  
General Science and Public Health Majors
Biology Minor

Faculty Mentor: Andrew W. McHill Ph.D.

Research Project: The Impact of Sleep Variability on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
 

Megan L. Borns
Applied Linguistics Major
Anthropology Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kim Brown

Research Project: In-Progress
 

Domonique K. Brock-Chatto
Psychology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Karlyn Adams-Wiggins

Research Project: Current Benefits and Limitations for Treating PTSD with MDMA-Assisted Therapy
 

Michael Z. Castillo   
Computer Science Major

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Alex Hunt

Research Project: Predicting Turbulence-Induced Roll Angle Deviations Using Pressure Sensors and Neural Networks on Fixed-Wing Model

Connect: Linkedin Profile
 

Laura Costal-Lagarde
Biology Major
Chemistry Minor

Faculty Mentor: Ken Stedman Ph.D.

Research Project: Mutagenetic Analysis of the Minor Capsid Protein vp3 of the Archeal Fusellovirus SSV1
 

Acamaro S. Cutcher
Mathematics & Computer Science Majors
Physics Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Safa Mote

Research Project: Application of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) to recover oscillatory modes of Atmospheric observations
 

Priscilla G. Daniels-Mark
Social Science & Liberal Studies Major
History and Writing Minor

Faculty Mentor: Alex Stepick Ph.D.

Research Project: Maria Rita Valdez de Villa my 5th great-grandmother: An Afro-Mexican California Rancho owner
 

Tammi H. A. Fierro 
Environmental Science Major
Water Resources Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elise Granek

Research Project: Establishing Microplastics Presence in Early Life Stage Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
 

Shiloh Frost
Social Psychology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Emily Shafer

Research Project: Who's afraid of femininity? An examination of hegemonic masculinity and envy
 

Nathan P. Gheorghita
Psychology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cynthia Mohr

Research Project: Measuring the Experience of Social Connection within Online and In-Person Conversations

Connect: Linkein Profile
 

Juvenal Gonzalez Martinez
Biology and Biochemistry Major

Faculty Mentor: Justin Courcelle, PhD

Research Project: Identifying proteins in the completosome of DNA replication
 

Joshua W. Hootman
Biology Major

Faculty Mentor: Susan Masta PhD

Research Project: Dragon Pseudoscorpions Shed Light on Ancient Climate History in the Pacific Northwest
 

Magdalena Karasinska
International and Global Studies Major
Anthropology Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leopoldo Rodriguez

Research Project: The Future of Peaceful Multilateralism
 

Sara V. Lopez
Social Work Major
Chicano Latino Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Rodriguez-JenKins

Research Project: How does racism show up in the Pacific Northwest?
 

Lynette Lubiak
Public Health Pre-clinical Major

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew J. Mashburn

Research Project: Social Emotional Learning with Children and SocialCognitive Therapies used in Treatment for Schizophrenia: What is The Relationship Between Them?

Darius Mani Yaw
Indigenous Nations and Native American studies Major

Faculty Mentor: Judy BlueHorse Skelton

Research Project: Etuaptmunk: The Pursuit of Sovereignty Through Learning the Traditions and Culture of my Afro Indigeneity Using Gentle Action Theory in Order to Heal to Place, Mind, Body and Spirit.

Connect: E-Portfolio, Linkedin Profile
 

Anna Mele
Biology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Mitch Cruzan PhD

Research Project: Phenological shifts in springtime flowering species across geographic regions due to climate change
 

Monica Nesta-Beltran
Applied Linguistics Major

Faculty Mentor: Janet Tom Cowal M.A

Research Project: Houselessness in Oregon

Claudia Orozco-Esquivel
Social Work Major
Chicano Latino Studies Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Rodriguez-JenKins

Research Project: Social Work BEYOND Band-aid Solutions: Exploring the needs and wants of students at Portland State University's School of Social Work through understanding student experiences and perspectives

Connect: Linkedin Profile

Tyrese Ostin-Bordeaux
Biology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Anne Thompson

Research Project: Revealing the Role of Saccharibacteria (TM7) in the Oral Cavity and its Potential Applications and Therapeutic Benefits
 

Purya Rabet
Philosophy Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Maurice Hamington

Research Project: Safe-Haven Ignorance: The Epistemic Refugee
 

Amy Ramos 
Chicano/Latino Studies Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Cristina Herrera

Research Project: Navigating the Ivory Tower as a Chicana Single Mom

Connect: Linkedin Profile

Sade Robinson
Social Work Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lalaine Sevillano

Research Project: Exploring the Academic Experiences of Black Women Undergrads
 

Abigail Rubio
Psychology Major
Neuroscience Minor
Child, Youth and Family Studies Minor

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lalaine Sevillano

Research Project: An Exploration of Ambiguous Loss
 

Ahmed Safa
Computer Science Major 

Faculty Mentor
Dr. Bart Massey

Research Project
Solving Hangman

Niah M. Swendseid
Public Health Major

Faculty Mentor
Dr. Di Deng

Research Project
Cigarettes for Breakfast: Analyzing Marketing Strategies used by Food and Tobacco Companies

Khelen R. Walsh: Psychology Major 

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leslie Fuller

Research Project: Examining the Anxiolytic Effects of Flavonoids in Passionflower: A Gut-Brain Axis Perspective
 

Eseniya Zinkina
Public Health Major

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Alex Foster & Annette Crawford MS

Research Project: Leveraging Non-Required Volunteer Experiences in Student-Run Clinics to Improve System Science Healthcare Delivery: A Non-Curricular Benefits

MCNAIR ALUMNI