Agents of Change

After a year-long hiatus, we return with an insightful conversation on research and leadership, two fundamental pillars of education at the University of Connecticut. President Katsouleas reminisces his cutting-edge undergraduate research on plasma-based particle accelerators in the field of electrical engineering and applied physics. In light of the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, we discuss the significance […]

Saurabh is a senior at UConn and recipient of the University Scholar laureate, among other recognitions. In this concluding episode, we dive deeper into the University Scholar program and Saurabh’s growth as a curious student and researcher since his freshman year. Saurabh shares words of advice for students who wish to start interdisciplinary research outside […]

Avadhut and Gaganjot both work in a kinesiology lab focusing on using an application and other techniques to understand various learning disabilities and developing ways to tackle this issue in kids. They both discuss their unconventional application of biliteracy in the lab and the impact of this experience on their views toward research. For those […]

Nicole and Imane are seniors at UConn that participated in funded research abroad over the summer. They both had the amazing chance to go to Australia to conduct research under a fellowship offered by UConn’s LSAMP program. Nicole and Imane discuss their growth as student leaders through the program and emphasize how students can apply […]

Hind and Jonathan are currently involved in RESULTS, a club on campus that focuses on ending poverty through political action. Hind is co-president and has been involved in the national chapter’s annual conference held in Washington, DC, where the leaders of various campuses discuss the largest issues and take action politically. These two discuss leading […]

Wanjiku (Wawa) is a prominent activist on campus who is also a Truman Scholar, Udall Scholar, and UConn’s first Rhodes scholar. She is the co-founder of UCAFE, UConn Access to Food Effort, an IDEA grant that influenced a state initiative (HB 7257) and federal policy (Closing the  Hunger Gap Act). Wawa discusses the importance of […]

Jacob is currently a journalist and serves on the Executive Board for STEMTalk magazine. It is the only student-run STEM-based magazine on UConn campus. He is a computer science major and has published numerous articles in the magazine. Jacob’s interest in STEMTalk was driven by his previous research on how to prevent coral bleaching. For […]

Akash is involved in LINKS (Laboratory of Intelligent Networks and Knowledge-perception Systems), an engineering lab on UConn campus with military applications. He directly works in software development for path optimization, more specifically how to move from Point A to Point B with obstacles in the most efficient way. He also researches the use of a […]

Ajitha launched a low-cost CPR training program at Danbury Hospital over the summer. CPR was taught to the families of patients identified as high risk (low cardiac output, previous MIs, ST-elevation). An instructor and EMT herself, Ajitha discusses how she was able to apply her training from UConn in her hometown. For those interested in […]

Serena leads a nutritional intervention that investigates the effect of the nutrient choline on blood health markers (triglycerides, HDL/LDL cholesterol, glucose, inflammatory markers). Egg intervention in healthy adults has shown counter-stereotypical results—a decrease in LDL cholesterol, blood triglycerides, and blood sugar. Serena examines how this intervention affects a population with metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized […]

IDEA grant recipient Danielle Cross shares her research on the effects of representation in film on White American’s views towards African Americans. Her study specifically introduces counter-stereotypical African American characters by changing the race of previously White characters to Black. Through this IDEA funded research, Danielle hopes to explore whether the claim that increasing representation […]

Thomas Shao discusses his Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) grant project: studying the observational behavior of mice in Dr. Etan Markus’s psychology lab. He also reviews his application process for SURF, a summer award available for all UConn students. Guests Thomas Shao – Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) grant recipient For those interested in becoming […]

Global Health Spaces on Campus (GloHSoC) executive director Amisha Paul leads UConn’s first-ever Hackathon centered around Global Health. Amisha shares her experience joining the team and pioneering this “call-to-action” event. Guests Amisha Paul – Executive Director of Global Health Spaces on Campus (GloHSoC) For those interested in becoming involved in GloHSoc or have any questions, contact […]