UH Undergraduate Research and Major Awards

UH Undergraduate Research and Major Awards The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards is a clearinghouse for mentored research opportunities, national fellowships, and major awards advising.

OURMA serves the entire University of Houston undergraduate population. Conducting undergraduate research typically entails serving as a research assistant to a faculty member on an ongoing research project. This means student researchers will be responsible for one aspect of the professor's larger, existing research project. There are some students, however, who conceive of their own research ideas, and then this project is mentored by a faculty member.

COMING UP! If you want to take the first steps of becoming a researcher but are not sure where to begin, please join us ...
09/08/2026

COMING UP! If you want to take the first steps of becoming a researcher but are not sure where to begin, please join us for our Getting Started in Research webinar on Friday, September 11 or September 25 at 2-3pm! In this webinar, you will learn the benefits of engaging in research, how to identify and connect with a potential faculty mentor, and about OURMA's various research programs and resources!

Registration is required. To learn more and register, visit our online calendar at uh.edu/OURMAevents

"Quantum tools communicate by transmitting "quantum systems". In transmission, those systems can lose some parts, so I l...
09/04/2026

"Quantum tools communicate by transmitting "quantum systems". In transmission, those systems can lose some parts, so I look for embeddings of these quantum systems that essentially repeat the information in a way that if a piece was destroyed, it’s partially repeated in the other pieces enough to almost completely reconstruct it. My goal is to show randomly generated embeddings are close to optimal for higher dimensional systems.

For me, SURF has finally given me the chance to give real, substantial contributions to a science. Upon completion of SURF, I will submit our work to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Having a published paper will be a tremendous support in my journey to graduate school. This will support applications to non-affiliated REUs, fellowships, and internships. In fact, I have struggled thus far to find a facet of my career that won’t be tremendously supported by my experience in SURF."

Ayden Edwards is a junior honors mathematics major and a 2026 SURF recipient. His interests in math include analysis, algebra, and geometry, but is still undecided on what he wants to specialize in, as he is too excited by everything. Ayden enjoys critical thinking in applied situations, and does it for leisure. His experience with high-level problem solving from activities like the Putnam Competition have come back around to support him through his research. 💡 🔍

The Honors College at the University of Houston
UH College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics (NSM)

"My research topic is about the exploitation of Black Women’s Labor in the U.S. I researched scholarship on Black woman'...
09/02/2026

"My research topic is about the exploitation of Black Women’s Labor in the U.S. I researched scholarship on Black woman's labor and Black cultural production to learn how these topics connect with one another to remedy the systemic oppression of Black women's labor exploitation. As a call to action for Black women’s ownership and leadership roles to increase within industries that profit from Black cultural production to ensure Black women are compensated for the cultural and economic value they have established in this country.

The summer research has taught me that researching is a journey that consists of learning about the world around you in a different context than what I thought was possible. My previous research experiences were under provisions I was already familiar with. But this summer I worked under different provisions that I had to create by myself and with my mentor under a topic that is a part of me, that is my first time having the opportunity to research about. I’m thankful for the Mellon cohort as they were a great support system this summer in guiding me on my research journey. And I am grateful for the opportunity I had this summer to work with other like-minded students in my cohort that has been a motivating force for me this summer, to see the outcome of all our research and where it will potentially take us."

Genesis White is a public policy major at the Hobby school of Public Affairs where she serves on the undergraduate student advisory council and previously as a civic ambassador increasing civic engagement on campus. Genesis is a current Mellon Research Scholar and was a 2025 SURF recipient where she systematically tracked the legislative policies of the 47th presidency to determine whether they benefited all of America on an economic and equality level. While conducting her own research, she was also coding democratic erosion in different countries during her fellowship at the Democratic Erosion Consortium. What Genesis learned from these two experiences inspired her to apply to the Mellon program to continue her research. 💡

Hobby School of Public Affairs

"My research was about adapting a spot-array lateral flow assay to chemiluminescent transduction, enabling smartphone-ba...
08/31/2026

"My research was about adapting a spot-array lateral flow assay to chemiluminescent transduction, enabling smartphone-based quantification for biothreat detection. It works like a standard lateral flow test (like a pregnancy test). Except instead of lines that would show up, these are little spots that are coded specifically to a target. You conjugate these Antibody-coated particles into the sample that bind to the target. Then you apply the sample onto the strip and as the sample wicks along the strip, the particles get captured at spots printed with a second antibody that sandwiches them. Now instead of a visible line showing up to see if there is a positive target in solution, we use glow-stick chemistry that makes the captured particles light up, then take a photo with a smartphone. Bright spots mean the target is present, and some antibodies are conjugated with different fluorescent colors to show if there are multiple targets in the sample!

My summer as a SURF recipient has meant a lot to me as it has given me a huge opportunity to involve myself in in-depth research and teach me what it was like to be a researcher. Through this program I have built a strong foundation in research, and I have gained invaluable experience I can apply throughout the entirety of my career."

Meet Jaydon Harris, a sophomore honors chemical engineering student planning to minor in chemistry. Jaydon has worked with the Willson Research Lab since the beginning of his freshman year, and plans on pursuing a career in biotechnology with a focus on health diagnostics or work in the pharmaceutical industry. Jaydon was a 2026 HERE participant and is building off of his SURF research through his participation in the Fall 2026 PURS. 💡

The Honors College at the University of Houston
UH Cullen College of Engineering

Komathi is a chemistry major at the University of Houston whose research explores the reactivity of heterobimetallic cat...
08/28/2026

Komathi is a chemistry major at the University of Houston whose research explores the reactivity of heterobimetallic catalysts, contributing to a novel area of organometallic catalysis. Her work focuses on synthesizing and characterizing a catalyst containing two different metals, zinc and lithium, and investigating its ability to catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone to produce poly(ε-caprolactone), a biodegradable polymer. By studying the catalyst’s structure, selectivity, and composition, she hopes to harness the unique cooperative properties of heterobimetallic systems to promote the development of sustainable polymers.

Through the Energy Scholars Program, Komathi has deepened her passion for scientific discovery and gained a greater appreciation for how fundamental research can address challenges in energy and sustainability. In the future, she hopes to pursue an MD/PhD, aspiring to become a radiologist. 💡

UH Energy
UH College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics (NSM)
The Honors College at the University of Houston

"My research focuses on further understanding how facial mimicry changes over time in toddlers born preterm and whether ...
08/25/2026

"My research focuses on further understanding how facial mimicry changes over time in toddlers born preterm and whether these developmental changes are associated with broader socioemotional functioning. By following toddlers longitudinally, I hope to understand early socioemotional development better and contribute to research that may help identify children who could benefit from earlier support and intervention.

The SURF program has been an incredibly meaningful experience because it has allowed me to grow not only as a researcher but also as an aspiring physician-scientist. Throughout the summer, I have strengthened my skills in behavioral coding, data management, scientific communication, and data collection comprising of EEG preparation, while gaining a deeper appreciation for the value of longitudinal research. Working alongside such supportive mentors has reinforced my passion for improving the lives of children through both research and clinical care.

After graduation, I plan to pursue a master's degree in biomedical sciences to further develop additional experience conducting medical research before pursuing an MD/PhD. My long-term goal is to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist, bridging the gap between patient care and research to improve understanding in neurodevelopment and develop interventions that improve mental health outcomes for children and adolescents."

Meet Jonas Amaya, a senior at the University of Houston, majoring in Psychology with minors in Biology and Human Development & Family Sciences. This summer, he participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program while working with Dr. Johanna Bick, the principal investigator of the Laboratory of Early Experiences and Development (LEED). 💡

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at UH

Welcome back Coogs! OURMA is happy to see everyone on campus again, and excited to help more undergraduate students get ...
08/24/2026

Welcome back Coogs! OURMA is happy to see everyone on campus again, and excited to help more undergraduate students get started and accomplish their research goals.

Please join us for our first webinars of the new academic year focused on getting started in research on Friday, September 11 or September 25 at 2-3pm! In this Getting Started in Research webinar, you will learn the benefits of engaging in research, how to identify and connect with a potential faculty mentor, and about OURMA's various research programs and resources!

Registration is required. To learn more and register, visit our online calendar at uh.edu/OURMAevents

"Summer research as a Mellon recipient has been less about finding answers than learning where and how to dig.In advanci...
08/21/2026

"Summer research as a Mellon recipient has been less about finding answers than learning where and how to dig.

In advancing an analysis of Black gender formation, this study addresses an area that remains significantly under-explored within existing scholarship. Specifically, it examines tomboyism within the Black dark-skinned community, which has been in a few ways a form of subjective research for me. Throughout this research process I’ve also found joy in exploring different methods to conduct literature reviews and film analysis.

The Mellon Cohort, likewise, has been enriching and a continuous reminder to keep questions open ended. I most enjoy Pomodoro Mondays, where my interest of the week was primarily captured and set into motion. I look forward to seeing where this research will lead me and my peers, both individually and as scholars."

Meet Fatoumata Traore, a senior in an accelerated dual degree program working towards a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and Master of Public Policy degrees. 💡

Hobby School of Public Affairs
UH Bauer College of Business

University of Houston Cougars continue to travel and expand their academic horizons and impact communities around the gl...
08/21/2026

University of Houston Cougars continue to travel and expand their academic horizons and impact communities around the globe through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. As it celebrates its 80th year, eight UH students and alumni have been awarded scholarships from the Fulbright program, the world’s largest international academic exchange initiative.

Join us in congratulating these incredible Coogs, and learn more about their achievements and Fulbright awards in this linked article from the Honors College at the University of Houston: https://bit.ly/4wrXjtl

The Fulbright Program
University of Houston
The Honors College at the University of Houston
UH Learning Abroad

"We often think that our shortcomings in energy usage stem from our energy production, but a lot of our energy inefficie...
08/21/2026

"We often think that our shortcomings in energy usage stem from our energy production, but a lot of our energy inefficiency comes from the devices we use every day. Despite their popularity, Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are distinctly unstable and energy inefficient in the deep blue and deep red region. I've continually worked to combat this problem by designing new organometallic complexes for emissive materials within these OLED devices. The Energy Scholars program offers far more than your average REU program, it orients your research towards tangible problems that we see impact our whole world. I recommend the Energy Scholars program to anyone interested in research, including even those unfamiliar with the field of energy and sustainability."

Meet Will Myers, a chemistry major and 2026 Energy Scholar! Will has spent the Spring 2026 semester and summer months researching for this project, which also played a role in Will receiving the 2026 ACS Catalyst scholarship. 💡

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