Four undergraduates at The University of New Mexico have been chosen to receive the Undergraduate Research Scholarship for Spring 2025. The scholarship, presented by the Undergraduate Research, Arts and Design Network (URAD) is intended to support students who have no recourse to be paid to conduct research in their main area of interest.
The recipients are Audrey Lee, Paniz Maleki, Savannah Phelps and Muhammed Saeed. Lee and Phelps also previously received the scholarship for Fall 2024.
Audrey Lee
Lee is majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering. She is one of the student ambassadors for the Undergraduate Research, Arts and Design Network (URAD).
Her research explores using Salsola tragus, or tumbleweed, to develop a more culturally relevant and engaging organic chemistry curriculum. By combining chemical analysis of the plant with an understanding of its medicinal, cultural, and historical significance, she aims to create a teaching model that fosters inclusivity and resonates with students from diverse backgrounds.
“Through my research, I’ve learned that education is not just something I receive—it’s something I can actively shape,” she observed. “By merging chemistry with cultural exploration, I’ve discovered how interdisciplinary work sparks creativity, expanding the boundaries of traditional learning and allowing me to create new, innovative pathways in STEM.”
Paniz Maleki
Maleki is pursuing a degree in Biology. A native of Iran, she is a student staff member at Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center.
Her research aims to accelerate the rate at which students in developmental courses, such as FYEX 1030 Critical Text Analysis (CTA), progress through their degree plans at UNM by expanding the list of approved courses for these students. By reducing time to degree completion and minimizing dropout points, she hopes her research will help to improve retention and graduation rates while promoting a more inclusive and equitable higher education system.
“Through this research experience, I seek to positively impact the educational experiences of current and future students, while familiarizing myself with the research process, including different software, statistical analyses, academic writing, and the development of research questions and hypotheses," Maleki said.
Muhammed Saeed
Saeed is a biochemistry major. In the Greenberg research group, he is developing accessible, at-home organic chemistry experiments that utilize common household items like orange peels and kitchen microwaves to teach fundamental laboratory concepts. Through microwave-assisted extraction of essential oils, this research aims to make hands-on chemistry education more accessible to online learners while promoting sustainable practices. The project combines innovative teaching methods with green chemistry principles, demonstrating how everyday materials can be repurposed for meaningful scientific education.
“What fascinates me most about this research is how it reveals that chemistry isn't confined to traditional laboratories – it aids in grasping the concept that chemistry is happening all around us in our daily lives. By developing these at-home experiments, I'm not just creating educational tools; I'm helping students discover that scientific concepts can be explored and understood using materials as simple as discarded orange peels."
Savannah Phelps
Phelps is majoring in Art History and English and was awarded URAD’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship in 2024.
This semester, she is continuing to research and write for her art history honors thesis, titled Counter-Reformation Ekphrasis in Francisco de Zurbarán’s The Crucifixion (1627).
“My paper analyzes the visual strategies that Zurbarán, a 17th century Spanish painter, used to create artwork that would have a strong emotional impact on the viewer while reminding them of the proper relationship to images per the Counter Reformation. I deal with themes of trans-materiality, affect, the agency of objects, and consider how religious belief can shape our experience with a work of art, and vice versa,” she explained.
"I see the process of working on this thesis as integral training for my future education and career. Besides giving me valuable research experience, my efforts are helping me find my identity and voice as a scholar," she added.
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