Rebecca Denhart ’27
Rebecca Denhart ’27
Molecular & Cell Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, CLAS
Characterizing the Accumulation and Succession of Microorganisms on Bird Feeders
Rebecca Denhart is a junior honors student double-majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, pursuing a career in dental medicine. Her research interests are interdisciplinary and unified by the One Health approach. On campus, she helps lead the Birding Club and Project Smile Global, and assists with conservation biology research in the Elphick Lab. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor recreation, reading, and brewing pour-over coffee.
Generalized supplemental feeding of wild birds by humans occurs on an enormous scale in the Western world and has both positive and negative impacts on wild bird populations. Rebecca’s IDEA project will address the conflicting ecological effects of supplemental feeding and investigate how disease transmission, facilitated by bird feeders, may be involved. Experimentally, her project will test how bird activity affects the accumulation and succession of microorganisms, particularly avian pathogens, on uncleaned bird feeders over time. She hopes this project will help inform an ideal feeding strategy that minimizes adverse ecological and health impacts on wild birds.
Brianna Flores ’29
Brianna Flores '29
Mechanical Engineering, ENG
Kinetic Storytelling: An Innovative Storybook That Combines Engineering and Art
Brianna Flores is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace at the University of Connecticut. She is a member of the Honors Program, has been recognized as a STEM Scholar and Presidential Scholar, and was named to the Dean’s List in her first semester. In addition to her engineering studies, Brianna enjoys painting, drawing, and dance. She often draws on these creative interests to inspire her approach to design and problem-solving.
Brianna is developing The Enchanted Book, an interdisciplinary project that combines engineering and art. The project transforms a traditional book into an interactive experience using movement, light, sound, mechanical systems, electronics, and programming. Her goal is to bring the pages to life and create a new way to tell a story. This work demonstrates how engineering skills can be applied to creative projects, showing students that technical knowledge can be used for imaginative challenges, not just traditional problems. It also has strong educational value. The project can be used to teach any student about STEM. Through Kinetic Storytelling, Brianna shows how creativity and engineering can come together to inspire learning, imagination, and innovation.
Lucy Homer ’27
Lucy Homer ’27
Biomedical Engineering, ENG and Molecular & Cell Biology, CLAS
Improving Scientific Literacy and Bolstering the Field of Microbiology Through Children's Literature
Lucy Homer is a third-year Honors student from West Hartford, CT, pursuing a dual degree in Biomedical Engineering and Molecular & Cell Biology. Lucy's research experience spans multiple disciplines, including an exploration of neuroregeneration as a 2024 Holster Scholar, nanofabrication as an NSF INCLUDES Grant Recipient, and tissue engineering. Her work has earned her co-authorship on two papers published in 2025 in ACS Nano and Trends in Biotechnology. On campus, Lucy is involved in Camp Horizons, Holy Family Housing and Shelter, Neurodegenerative Disorders Society, and Alpha Beta Epsilon. In her free time, she loves to hike, ski, and crochet.
Veda Reddy ’27
Vedaamrutha (Veda) Reddy ’27
Molecular & Cell Biology, CLAS; Minor: Healthcare Management & Insurance Studies, BUS
Functional Validation of AI-Predicted Non-Coding RHD Regulatory Variants Using CRISPR Editing
Veda Reddy is a third-year honors student and recipient of UConn’s STEM Scholarship from Westwood, MA, majoring in Molecular & Cell Biology with a minor in Healthcare Management and Insurance Studies. Her research experience spans regenerative biology and clinical oncology, including independent, grant-funded research at UConn Health as a 2024 Holster Scholar and contributions to multi-institutional studies with JPS Health Network and UT Southwestern Medical Center examining cancer care disparities in safety-net healthcare systems. Her work has resulted in a peer-reviewed publication and first-author national conference abstract, reflecting her interest in translational research.
For her project, Veda will conduct research in Boston at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Dr. Li Chai’s laboratory, under the co-mentorship of Dr. Jun Liu (BWH) and Dr. Vanessa Scanlon (UCHC). Her project focuses on the functional validation of non-coding regulatory variants in the RHD gene predicted by Google’s AlphaGenome model, using CRISPR-based genome editing approaches. By experimentally testing AI-generated predictions, her work aims to improve understanding of gene regulation in clinically significant blood group systems and to address gaps in genomic research that disproportionately affect underrepresented populations.
Claire Zess ’27
Claire Zess ’27
Animal Science, CAHNR
Breed-Specific Gene Expression and Susceptibility to Ringworm in Dairy Heifers
Claire Zess is an Animal Science junior undergraduate with a strong interest in dairy cattle health, genetics, and management. Claire is actively involved in UConn’s agricultural community, serving as an officer in both the UConn Dairy Club and Block & Bridle Club. She hopes to attend grad school to study dairy cattle health and genetics, with the long-term goal of working in the dairy industry and managing her own small herd of livestock.
Claire’s IDEA grant project builds on her SURF research by shifting from phenotypic observation to molecular analysis. Her earlier work demonstrated that jersey heifers exhibited greater and more variable disease burden compared to Holsteins, prompting questions about the biological mechanisms behind these differences. For this project, Claire will analyze gene expression in paired healthy and ringworm-infected skin biopsies from Holstein and Jersey heifers using RNA sequencing. By identifying differentially expressed genes and immune pathways associated with infection, she aims to understand breed-specific responses to bovine dermatophytosis. By applying molecular tools to a common industry disease, she aims to inform future management and treatment strategies within UConn and the industry.