CHS Announces 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships

The College of Health Sciences proudly announces the recipients of the 2025 CHS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. This highly competitive fellowship supports exceptional undergraduate students in conducting independent, student-led research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. This year’s pool of applicants was exceptionally strong and diverse, with entries spanning clinical, basic, translational, and community-based topics.

These fellowships are sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), the UK Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), and the College of Health Sciences Undergraduate Research Program. Fellows receive funding to carry out their projects over the summer, gaining invaluable experience in research design, implementation, and scholarly development under the direct mentorship of faculty. These fellows exemplify the diverse spirit of inquiry and innovation that drives the College of Health Sciences’ research community.

We look forward to seeing the impact of their projects and the contributions they will make to the health sciences field. Please join in congratulating the following students for earning this prestigious award.

2025 CHS Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows

Isabella Bach

Mentor: Dr. Kirby Mayer and Dr. Esther Dupont (Physical Therapy)
Project Title: Muscle Fibrosis in Intensive Care Unit Survivors.

Maiya Bhandari

Mentor: Dr. Dee Dlugonski (Sports Medicine Research Institute)
Project Title: The Impact Of An Online Family Physical Activity Intervention On Parent Physical Activity Self-Efficacy.

Cooper Handshoe

Mentor: Dr. Allison Owen (Physical Therapy)
Project Title: Investigating the Role of Obesity in Post-Sepsis Muscle Dysfunction.

Abby Hennessey

Mentor: Dr. Chris Fry (Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition)
Project Title: Targeting collagen crosslinking to support muscle adaptation following ACL injury.

Brooklyn Leslie

Mentor: Dr. Keiko Ishikawa (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Project Title: The Impact of Noise Level and Speaking Task on Language Generation and Speech Production.

Emma Penewit

Mentor: Dr. Joneen Lowman (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Project Title: Evaluating Access to Telehealth Services on Rehabilitation Facility Websites.

Avery Ritchey

Mentor: Dr. Allison Owen (Physical Therapy)
Project Title: Elucidating the Role of Immune Cells in Post-Burn Myopathy

Bella Skibba

Mentor: Dr. Dee Dlugonski (Sports Medicine Research Institute)
Project Title: The Impact of Family Physical Activity Co-Participation on Family Cohesion.

Ginny Spalding

Mentor: Dr. Judy Page (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Project Title: Exploring The Impact Of Weighted Stuffed Animals On Participation During Pediatric Therapy Sessions For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Gracee Spears

Mentor: Dr. Janine Bartley (Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Project Title: Investigating Children's Toy Preferences to Develop Adaptive Play Solutions.