ACCOMPLISH Scholars |

Student Name	Period Major	Bio
Camila R Amado	2023 – 2024 Biology	My name is Camila Amado, I am a senior perusing in Biology at Umass Dartmouth since 2019. I chose Biology to get into medical field. During my academic year I work for the STEM lab on campus, I also recently became CNA certified which lead me to working as a nursing assistant at a nursing home. I found a passion toward the nursing department, so my plan is to pursue nursing after finishing my Biology degree. My plan is to continue igniting interest in the STEM community.
Ryan D Berry	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Ryan Berry and I’m a Junior here at UMass Dartmouth. I’m pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Data Science and plan on continuing into graduate school for a master’s in data science. Starting this year, I’ll be working on cyber security research as a research assistant. I’m also the Treasurer for the Big Data Club and a team leader for one of our eSports teams.
Kaylin F Burns	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	I am an upcoming junior Majoring in Computer Science at UMass Dartmouth with a concentration is game design planning on a master’s in cyber security. I am hoping to expand my interests in cyber with future internships and I am currently tinkering with AI (for fun of course, not a big fan of the AI overhype) I am looking to apply my skills of Artistry and problem solving to the world of cyber and game design. Cyber defense is severely misused by our government and corporations and it is inportant for the common people to have access to technology to protect their private data and identity ,as well as anonymity. I am working towards that goal, as well as looking to support a family in the future as I phase out of the field and into home life. This is where I start for my goals as I journey forward
Olivia K Collins	2023 – 2024 Bio Engineering	My name is Olivia Collins and I am a senior in bioengineering. My primary research interest is early cancer detection, which I plan to research this year and next year while obtaining my master’s as part of the 4+1 program. My project involves obtaining Raman spectroscopy signatures from cancerous exosomes to develop a library of molecular fingerprints. This will serve as a database for future exosomal comparisons to ultimately detect the presence of cancerous exosomes in the blood. Apart from doing research, I tutor calculus and waitress on the weekends!
Joshua D Cusack	2023 – 2024 Mathematics	Hello! My name is Joshua Cusack and I am majoring in Mathematics here at UMass Dartmouth! I intend to pick up Secondary Education later on in addition to mathematics with the hope of becoming a teacher when I graduate, as I took a teaching internship my senior year and enjoyed it. I plan on completing a 5th year master’s degree, and my hobbies include swimming, practicing keyboard and listening to music!
Jacob da Ponte	2023 – 2024 Mechanical Engineering	I am currently a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering at UMass Dartmouth. I am a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and SolidWorks Club. I was part of the first graduating class (2022) of the Robotic & Engineering Technology Shop at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School. My interests include robotics, manufacturing, and designing.
Mason S Ferbert	2023 – 2024 Bio Engineering	Mason Ferbert is a sophomore studying Bioengineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. Currently, he is working on his first research project with his advisor Dr. Sankha Bhowmick. This project aims to perform a controlled release of JP4-039 in an electrospun nanofibrous scaffold. This project is in collaboration with Brown University’s cardiovascular research team. The Department of Undergraduate Research funded this project. Mason is also the founding E-Board Member and vice-president of the Engineering Ambassadors program on campus. This program aims to do community outreach to schools to inspire the next generation of engineering students while helping current students on campus. Before Mason joined Umass Dartmouth he attended an 8-week internship headed by the chairperson of the Bioengineering Department, Dr. Tracie Ferreira. He was trained in many fundamental wet laboratory skills that were translated into his current research. Mason’s overall goal is to establish a biotech-focused nonprofit that will uplift communities in need using Biotechnology. When he is not in the classroom or lab, Mason enjoys taking walks across campus, playing video games, and reading Sci-fi.
Kevyn Jorge	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Kevyn Jorge and I am a computer science major in my sophomore year at Umass Dartmouth. I am a part of the Association for Computer Machinery club. During my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends, reading books and playing video games.
Moeisha Joseph	2023 – 2024 Biology	My name is Moeisha Joseph and I am a biology major with a minor in aging and health. I am an active member in campus life through my roles as the current treasurer for the Caribbean Student Association and the event coordinator of Stemming while Black. I am a passionate and driven student with a clear goal- to become an OBGYN PA. After learning about the staggering statistics surrounding black maternal mortality rate in comparison to all counterparts, I knew that this was an issue that demanded my presence. I am committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that every expectant black mother receives the highest quality care, but also providing a safe space for mothers all mothers to feel as thought they have the freedom to ask any questions and share any complaints without any shame or fear. My journey in the field of biology has been marked by an unwavering dedication to understanding the intricacies of the human body, from cellular processes all the way down to the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth. I have consistently sought opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills, both inside and outside the classroom. Over the summer, I had the privilege of working as a hemodialysis technician in an end-stage renal clinic, which allowed me to garner many of the patient care skills I have now. I am now, through school, employed to work as a student athletic trainer where I see about 500 athletes and provide the care needed to treat them. As I continue my education and pursue my goal of becoming a PA, I am dedicated to learning, growing, and advocating for the well-being of pregnant black women. I look forward to contributing to the improvement of healthcare outcomes in this underserved community, and I am excited to make a positive impact on the lives of the women and families I will have the privilege to serve.
Kahlan A Keene	2023 – 2024 Mathematics	I am a freshman majoring in mathematics. I am on the tennis team and in my free time am an avid reader.
Robert A Kennedy III	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Bobby Kennedy I am a sophomore pursuing a computer science major with a concentration in cybersecurity. I chose a major in computer science because I enjoy problem solving through computer technology. On campus, I am the treasurer of the UmassD robotics club as well as a member of the Association for Computer Machinery club. I also work in the engineering department as a lab assistant.
Allie B Kimball	2023 – 2024 Biology	I’m an incoming freshman from a small town in central Maine. I will be majoring in marine biology, and I will also be on the Track and Field team. I love spending my free time with my friends and being outdoors. With my major, I plan to help the environment as best as I can by doing rescue and rehabilitation with marine wildlife.
Shawn J Koohy	2023 – 2024 Mathematics	I am a senior mathematics major with a concentration in applied and computational mathematics along with a minor in physics. I was previously a tutor and teaching assistant for various calculus classes and am currently working at UMassD conducting research in the field of Physics-Informed Neural Networks, a numerical method for solving partial differential equations. Along with my current research at UMassD, I am also working on modeling liquid metal dynamics with collaborators from NC State University, Marist College NY, and the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I also had the honor of conducting research in the past at Clarkson University NY, looking at numerical solutions to high-dimensional PDEs using neural networks. My research interests include neural networks, PDEs, fluid dynamics, modeling, numerical analysis, scientific computing, and computational physics. After my senior year, I plan on starting my Ph.D. in applied mathematics with a research focus on computational fluid dynamics, PDEs, and modeling. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, exercising, and spending time outdoors.
Carlos A LazcanoGuzman	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	I’m Carlos Lazcano. I came to the United States looking for a better future ten years ago! I’m a transfer student from Bristol Community College, I currently hold an associate degree in engineering. I work as an associate operations supervisor at Millstone Medical in Fall River, Mass. I transferred to UMass Dartmouth to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, I became very interested in the program after taking a programming class in C. I’m passionate about robotics and artificial intelligence and I’m working hard to learn as much as possible about the subjects, hoping to land a career in developing more intelligent robots. I considered going to college and obtaining a degree something impossible because of the costs. However, my family has supported me in my journey making my dream possible, I’m just a few semesters from graduating. This award will help me cover tuition and shift my focus to my studies by making my workload lighter.
Logan P Martelly	2023 – 2024 Mechanical Engineering	I am a mechanical engineering major at UMass Dartmouth. I am finishing up my summer internship heading into my senior year. I have a strong foundation in my field working as a fleet mechanic making repairs to anything from construction vehicles to heavy equipment. I have managed to gain many skills in my position such as welding, fabricating, and diagnostic work. I also have an extensive background in the field of construction. Over the years I have worked as part of a team to build homes and commercial buildings from the ground up. As for my current employment, I have been working as a mechanical engineer with a plastics and silicone injection molding company which specializes in medical equipment. In my time with this company, I have had the chance to work with an effective team of engineers to design automation processes and come up with effective solutions for complex production problems. I have also had the chance to work with many other medical companies through my current employment such as Boston Scientific, Atrium, Siemens, to name a few. I have also been pursuing many research opportunities upon my return to UMass Dartmouth for my senior year with a focus in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. In my free time, I have been restoring a 1978 C3 Corvette, and a LS swapped 1986 CJ7 Jeep.
Mary P McDonald	2023 – 2024 Mechanical Engineering	I am a sophomore mechanical engineering student. Thus far into my career, I have been learning more about engineering, and I am excited to apply what I have learned in the classroom to research opportunities in the future. I am especially interested in automotive engineering and hope to pursue a career in this field. This fall, I will be working as a Learning Lab Assistant for the freshman general engineering class, as well as continuing to work at the Office of Student Accessibility Services.
Bryan C Obidike	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Bryan Obidike, I am a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, the Big Data club as well as the Track and Field team. I’m a sophomore computer science major at UMass Dartmouth. During my free time I enjoy reading books and articles that pique my interests.
Mia C Oliveira	2023 – 2024 Biology	Hello, my name is Mia Oliveira and I am a sophomore at UMD studying Marine Biology. I am also part of the Honor’s college and have a job caring for research fish on campus. I love my biology classes, especially Ecology & Evolution and Bio labs. Outside of classes, I have been an avid horse rider across the Southcoast for the past 11 years. At home, I have 40 fish across 4 tanks, and I love to learn more and more about them.
Oluseyi T Omobomi	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Seyi Omobomi, and I am a junior computer science major at UMass Dartmouth. I am a member of the honors college and I have a passion for coding. I play soccer and video game during my free time, and I also used to solve Rubik cubes competitively.
Obehi A OmonUkpebor	2023 – 2024 Biology	My name is Obehi, I am an incoming freshman at Umass Dartmouth with a biology major. I have hopes of becoming a pediatrician and growing my knowledge in the STEM field.
Abigail R Perry	2023 – 2024 Biology	I am a sophomore in the Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, majoring in Biology on a Pre-Med track. This academic year, I plan to elect minors in Aging and Health and Biochemistry, while also pursuing research opportunities. My future educational goals include medical school with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric physician. I am actively involved in campus life, participating in many clubs and organizations. I am a member of the UMASS Dartmouth varsity field hockey team and was named to the Little East Conference Honor Roll and Dean’s List each semester. As an alumni member of the UMASS Dartmouth STEM 4 Girls program, I was honored to give a welcome speech and introduce the keynote speaker at the 2022 event on campus, where I also served as a volunteer. I am an Orientation Leader and am an active member of the Pre-Health Society, Synthetic Biology Club and the Great Outdoors Club. During my first year, I worked on campus in the Advanced Nursing Program and am working in athletics this year. Outside of UMASS Dartmouth, I work as a mentor with young children learning English. My hobbies include cooking, baking, going to the beach and attending concerts. I love studying science and feel passionate about gaining a strong STEM education to propel me forward into the medical field. I am grateful for the Accomplish Program for helping to support my educational journey
Jacob I Perry-Mojica	2023 – 2024 Electrical Engineering	I’m a Sophomore at UMass Dartmouth looking to strive in the electrical engineering field. One of my dreams was to help create something that would immerse people in a thrilling ride and work for a theme park such as Six Flags or even a place like Disney World. I’ve always had been fascinated with the mechanical and wiring of how things worked including roller coasters and rides. I work my hardest and try my best to give people my best work. I’ve had many hardships but have overcome them with the love of friends and family and continue to strive because of them. Without them I wouldn’t be who I am.
Lillian Shanor	2023 – 2024 Civil Engineering	I am going into my sophomore year at UMassD as a Civil Engineering student, and I am looking forward to all of the challenges that I will face. I have a deep appreciation for math and science, and I also value creativity. UMassD allows me to pursue both of these sides of myself, and I cannot wait to explore all of the resources and opportunities that will become available this year.
Christian D Taylor	2023 – 2024 Computer Engineering	My name is Christian Taylor and I am a senior majoring in Computer Engineering at UMass Dartmouth. Throughout my studies I have learned about circuit theory, digital electronics, and embedded systems. I’ve also gained experience in many programming languages such as C, Python, C#, VHDL, and MATLAB. I became an undergraduate researcher in the summer of 2022. For my first research project I helped a team create a resilience tool using Python. The research project I am currently working on is creating an agent-based model of nonviolent action. I was awarded the UMass Dartmouth Cybersecurity Undergraduate Fellowship for my efforts. Besides academics I enjoy tennis and playing piano.
Jessica A G Welsh	2023 – 2024 Computer Science	My name is Jess and I am a sophomore here at UMass Dartmouth. I am studying computer science, which portrays my love for coding and software organization. Other than focusing on my courseloads, I spend my time being involved with clubs, exploring, reading, and listening to all types of music. On campus, I am the vice-president of the Outdoor Club, the treasurer of the Society of Community Leaders, and involved in the Student Government as the President of the Class of 2026. I look forward to staying involved and creating a future that ties my leadership to my programming.
Viktoriya A Balabanova Feature story	2022 – 2023 Physics	I am a rising senior, majoring in Physics at UMass Dartmouth and also a full-time mom to a toddler. I found my love for physics rather late in my adult life and never looked back. I am especially interested in new energy sources and improving energy harvesting techniques for a more sustainable future. My first research project, on which I am still working on, is about Characterizing the Friction Induced Triboelectric Effect of Polymers. This project aims in improving current models for Triboelectric Generators (TEGs), which are designed to work in a charge-saturated state, the results of which is the waste of mechanical energy and low energy conversion efficiency. I was awarded the OUR Summer Award from UMass Dartmouth for this research project for the beginning of this summer, while I also received an REU award at Boston University funded by NSF for 10 weeks as well. My REU experience at BU was focused on preparing and evaluating a ferroelectric sample, to be used in the CASPEr-Electric Experiment. This specific experiment uses solid-state NMR to search for axion-like particles (dark matter candidate), which interact with the Pb nuclear spins in the sample that my lab partner and I prepared. I am also quite interested in Nuclear Physics and Engineering and intent to further my knowledge and education on topics related to these fields.
Shawn J Koohy	2022 – 2023 Mathematics	I am a junior mathematics major with a concentration in applied and computational mathematics along with a minor in physics. My first research project dealt with learning about neural networks during spring 2022. From that point I was accepted in to an 8-week REU summer program, at Clarkson University, aimed at numerical solution to high-dimensional PDEs using neural networks. This was done by reformulating second-order semi-linear parabolic PDEs into backward stochastic differential equations (BSDE). In recent years these high-dimensional BSDEs have seen much success when it comes to simulating and solving. During my time at this REU I have spent a lot of time working with reaction-diffusion equations such as the Allen-Cahn equation, finding spatial and time evolution solutions to lower-dimensional cases, then focusing on time evolutions in higher-dimensional spaces such as 3D, 5D and 60D. Over these 8-weeks me and my advisor had been putting together a paper with our results which we hope to submit to a journal for publication sometime in the near future. For the past couple of semesters and the forth coming semesters, I work as a math TA and tutor for calculus classes. My research interests include number theory, PDEs, machine learning, computational mathematics, computational physics, and particle physics. Outside of my academics I listen to a lot of music, play guitar, and like to go mountain bike riding along with mountain hiking.
Bryan C Obidike	2022 – 2023 Computer Science	My name is Bryan Obidike, I am a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, the Big Data club as well as the Track and Field team. I’m a sophomore computer science major at UMass Dartmouth. During my free time I enjoy reading books and articles that pique my interests.
Logan Cabral <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span> Feature story	2021 – 2022 Physics	Logan C. Cabral-Pelletier is a senior studying physics with a concentration in astrophysics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His previous research was at UMass Dartmouth in computational astrophysics on a project titled Binary Population Synthesis. This project aimed understand what initial binary mass, eccentricity, and semi-major axis, can lead to carbon-oxygen and oxygen-neon white dwarf mergers that end in a Type Ia supernova event. His other research experience was at Cornell University’s Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Science on a project titled Constraining Hazards For Future Lander Missions To Europa: Perspectives From The Earth, where he explored how hazards scale on icy areas of the Earth that share physical processes with surface terrain on Europa. This was done by using satellite remote sensing data of images at different resolutions of analogs in Greenland and Antarctica that contain Europa-like features in an attempt to simulate images taken by the Europa Clipper 2024 mission. Logan is currently in the physics 4+1 program at UMass where he will do his master’s thesis project on Optimizing Additively Manufactured Composite Materials For Electromagnetic Shielding. His research interests include astrobiology, planetary science, astrophysics, and mechanical engineering. Logans hobbies include rock climbing and long-distance running.
Ian Gifford <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>	2021 – 2022 Physics	Ian Gifford is a BCC transfer student that’s currently a senior in Physics at UMASS Dartmouth. He got re-elected this year as President of UMASS Dartmouth’s chapter of the Society of Physics students and is actively coordinating and leading events. He’s completing a research paper on the initial conditions of double degenerate Carbon/Oxygen-Carbon/Oxygen and Carbon/Oxygen-Oxygen/Neon merger systems. Distributions of the initial masses, initial eccentricity, initial semi-major axis, and detonation delay time play a key role in the paper. He attended a five-week Summer module sponsored by NASA and earned the opportunity to visit Langley Research center for a week in October of 2019. This involved seminars, NASA employee interviews, facility tours, team building, and a Martian Rover team project. He served on the College of Engineering student council in Spring 2021. Ian is currently applying to the new Physics 4+1 program. He spends most of his spare time playing guitar.
Joe Arena	2021 – 2022
Keigan Cullen	2021 – 2022
Mckenzie Ferrari Feature story	2021 – 2022	Mckenzie Ferrari is a junior physics major concentrating in astrophysics at UMass Dartmouth. Her first research project aimed at understanding potential progenitor systems of type Ia supernovae, which result from the explosions of white dwarfs. Her work primarily involved classifying the synthetic, or computed, spectra produced from a model of an explosion of a white dwarf with a mass of around 1.4 solar masses. Her research is featured in the Astrophysical Journal paper “Near-Chandrasekhar-Mass Type Ia Supernovae from the Double-Degenerate Channel.” She has presented her work on this project at multiple conferences and will be presenting at the Posters on the Hill conference in April 2022. Her latest research project relates to super-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs, which, when detonated, are believed to result in overluminous supernovae events. In the summer of 2022, she will be a summer intern at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics working on a project about Cepheid variables. During the school year, she is the resident Peer Mentor for the Women in Engineering engagement community, a living community on campus for first-year students, and is a member of the College of Engineering Student Advisory Council. She is also co-captain of the UMass Dartmouth Women’s Tennis Team and loves hiking in her free time.
Rebecca Rodrigues	2021 – 2022	Rebecca Rodrigues is a senior majoring in mathematics with a concentration in applied & computational mathematics at UMass Dartmouth. Her current research project involves computing far-field gravitational-wave signals. It centers around finding a way to accurately propagate gravitational-wave signals through designing and implementing numerical algorithms in Python. On campus, she has held various leadership positions including a supplemental instruction leader for Calc 1, a peer mentor for the College of Arts & Sciences, and the vice president of the Society of Women Engineers. In the future, she hopes to continue to spark engagement in the STEM community.
Madeline Shaklee	2021 – 2022

Student Name

Period
Major

Bio

Camila R Amado

2023 – 2024

Biology

My name is Camila Amado, I am a senior perusing in Biology at Umass Dartmouth since 2019. I chose Biology to get into medical field. During my academic year I work for the STEM lab on campus, I also recently became CNA certified which lead me to working as a nursing assistant at a nursing home. I found a passion toward the nursing department, so my plan is to pursue nursing after finishing my Biology degree. My plan is to continue igniting interest in the STEM community.

Ryan D Berry

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Ryan Berry and I’m a Junior here at UMass Dartmouth. I’m pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Data Science and plan on continuing into graduate school for a master’s in data science. Starting this year, I’ll be working on cyber security research as a research assistant. I’m also the Treasurer for the Big Data Club and a team leader for one of our eSports teams.

Kaylin F Burns

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

I am an upcoming junior Majoring in Computer Science at UMass Dartmouth with a concentration is game design planning on a master’s in cyber security. I am hoping to expand my interests in cyber with future internships and I am currently tinkering with AI (for fun of course, not a big fan of the AI overhype) I am looking to apply my skills of Artistry and problem solving to the world of cyber and game design. Cyber defense is severely misused by our government and corporations and it is inportant for the common people to have access to technology to protect their private data and identity ,as well as anonymity. I am working towards that goal, as well as looking to support a family in the future as I phase out of the field and into home life. This is where I start for my goals as I journey forward

Olivia K Collins

2023 – 2024

Bio Engineering

My name is Olivia Collins and I am a senior in bioengineering. My primary research interest is early cancer detection, which I plan to research this year and next year while obtaining my master’s as part of the 4+1 program. My project involves obtaining Raman spectroscopy signatures from cancerous exosomes to develop a library of molecular fingerprints. This will serve as a database for future exosomal comparisons to ultimately detect the presence of cancerous exosomes in the blood. Apart from doing research, I tutor calculus and waitress on the weekends!

Joshua D Cusack

2023 – 2024

Mathematics

Hello! My name is Joshua Cusack and I am majoring in Mathematics here at UMass Dartmouth! I intend to pick up Secondary Education later on in addition to mathematics with the hope of becoming a teacher when I graduate, as I took a teaching internship my senior year and enjoyed it. I plan on completing a 5th year master’s degree, and my hobbies include swimming, practicing keyboard and listening to music!

Jacob da Ponte

2023 – 2024

Mechanical Engineering

I am currently a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering at UMass Dartmouth. I am a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and SolidWorks Club. I was part of the first graduating class (2022) of the Robotic & Engineering Technology Shop at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School. My interests include robotics, manufacturing, and designing.

Mason S Ferbert

2023 – 2024

Bio Engineering

Mason Ferbert is a sophomore studying Bioengineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. Currently, he is working on his first research project with his advisor Dr. Sankha Bhowmick. This project aims to perform a controlled release of JP4-039 in an electrospun nanofibrous scaffold. This project is in collaboration with Brown University’s cardiovascular research team. The Department of Undergraduate Research funded this project. Mason is also the founding E-Board Member and vice-president of the Engineering Ambassadors program on campus. This program aims to do community outreach to schools to inspire the next generation of engineering students while helping current students on campus. Before Mason joined Umass Dartmouth he attended an 8-week internship headed by the chairperson of the Bioengineering Department, Dr. Tracie Ferreira. He was trained in many fundamental wet laboratory skills that were translated into his current research. Mason’s overall goal is to establish a biotech-focused nonprofit that will uplift communities in need using Biotechnology. When he is not in the classroom or lab, Mason enjoys taking walks across campus, playing video games, and reading Sci-fi.

Kevyn Jorge

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Kevyn Jorge and I am a computer science major in my sophomore year at Umass Dartmouth. I am a part of the Association for Computer Machinery club. During my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends, reading books and playing video games.

Moeisha Joseph

2023 – 2024

Biology

My name is Moeisha Joseph and I am a biology major with a minor in aging and health. I am an active member in campus life through my roles as the current treasurer for the Caribbean Student Association and the event coordinator of Stemming while Black. I am a passionate and driven student with a clear goal- to become an OBGYN PA. After learning about the staggering statistics surrounding black maternal mortality rate in comparison to all counterparts, I knew that this was an issue that demanded my presence. I am committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that every expectant black mother receives the highest quality care, but also providing a safe space for mothers all mothers to feel as thought they have the freedom to ask any questions and share any complaints without any shame or fear.

My journey in the field of biology has been marked by an unwavering dedication to understanding the intricacies of the human body, from cellular processes all the way down to the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth. I have consistently sought opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills, both inside and outside the classroom. Over the summer, I had the privilege of working as a hemodialysis technician in an end-stage renal clinic, which allowed me to garner many of the patient care skills I have now. I am now, through school, employed to work as a student athletic trainer where I see about 500 athletes and provide the care needed to treat them.

As I continue my education and pursue my goal of becoming a PA, I am dedicated to learning, growing, and advocating for the well-being of pregnant black women. I look forward to contributing to the improvement of healthcare outcomes in this underserved community, and I am excited to make a positive impact on the lives of the women and families I will have the privilege to serve.

Kahlan A Keene

2023 – 2024

Mathematics

I am a freshman majoring in mathematics. I am on the tennis team and in my free time am an avid reader.

Robert A Kennedy III

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Bobby Kennedy I am a sophomore pursuing a computer science major with a concentration in cybersecurity. I chose a major in computer science because I enjoy problem solving through computer technology. On campus, I am the treasurer of the UmassD robotics club as well as a member of the Association for Computer Machinery club. I also work in the engineering department as a lab assistant.

Allie B Kimball

2023 – 2024

Biology

I’m an incoming freshman from a small town in central Maine. I will be majoring in marine biology, and I will also be on the Track and Field team. I love spending my free time with my friends and being outdoors. With my major, I plan to help the environment as best as I can by doing rescue and rehabilitation with marine wildlife.

Shawn J Koohy

2023 – 2024

Mathematics

I am a senior mathematics major with a concentration in applied and computational mathematics along with a minor in physics. I was previously a tutor and teaching assistant for various calculus classes and am currently working at UMassD conducting research in the field of Physics-Informed Neural Networks, a numerical method for solving partial differential equations. Along with my current research at UMassD, I am also working on modeling liquid metal dynamics with collaborators from NC State University, Marist College NY, and the University of Missouri – St. Louis. I also had the honor of conducting research in the past at Clarkson University NY, looking at numerical solutions to high-dimensional PDEs using neural networks. My research interests include neural networks, PDEs, fluid dynamics, modeling, numerical analysis, scientific computing, and computational physics. After my senior year, I plan on starting my Ph.D. in applied mathematics with a research focus on computational fluid dynamics, PDEs, and modeling. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing guitar, exercising, and spending time outdoors.

Carlos A LazcanoGuzman

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

I’m Carlos Lazcano. I came to the United States looking for a better future ten years ago! I’m a transfer student from Bristol Community College, I currently hold an associate degree in engineering. I work as an associate operations supervisor at Millstone Medical in Fall River, Mass. I transferred to UMass Dartmouth to pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science, I became very interested in the program after taking a programming class in C. I’m passionate about robotics and artificial intelligence and I’m working hard to learn as much as possible about the subjects, hoping to land a career in developing more intelligent robots. I considered going to college and obtaining a degree something impossible because of the costs. However, my family has supported me in my journey making my dream possible, I’m just a few semesters from graduating. This award will help me cover tuition and shift my focus to my studies by making my workload lighter.

Logan P Martelly

2023 – 2024

Mechanical Engineering

I am a mechanical engineering major at UMass Dartmouth. I am finishing up my summer internship heading into my senior year. I have a strong foundation in my field working as a fleet mechanic making repairs to anything from construction vehicles to heavy equipment. I have managed to gain many skills in my position such as welding, fabricating, and diagnostic work. I also have an extensive background in the field of construction. Over the years I have worked as part of a team to build homes and commercial buildings from the ground up. As for my current employment, I have been working as a mechanical engineer with a plastics and silicone injection molding company which specializes in medical equipment. In my time with this company, I have had the chance to work with an effective team of engineers to design automation processes and come up with effective solutions for complex production problems. I have also had the chance to work with many other medical companies through my current employment such as Boston Scientific, Atrium, Siemens, to name a few. I have also been pursuing many research opportunities upon my return to UMass Dartmouth for my senior year with a focus in Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. In my free time, I have been restoring a 1978 C3 Corvette, and a LS swapped 1986 CJ7 Jeep.

Mary P McDonald

2023 – 2024

Mechanical Engineering

I am a sophomore mechanical engineering student. Thus far into my career, I have been learning more about engineering, and I am excited to apply what I have learned in the classroom to research opportunities in the future. I am especially interested in automotive engineering and hope to pursue a career in this field. This fall, I will be working as a Learning Lab Assistant for the freshman general engineering class, as well as continuing to work at the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

Bryan C Obidike

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Bryan Obidike, I am a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, the Big Data club as well as the Track and Field team. I’m a sophomore computer science major at UMass Dartmouth. During my free time I enjoy reading books and articles that pique my interests.

Mia C Oliveira

2023 – 2024

Biology

Hello, my name is Mia Oliveira and I am a sophomore at UMD studying Marine Biology. I am also part of the Honor’s college and have a job caring for research fish on campus. I love my biology classes, especially Ecology & Evolution and Bio labs. Outside of classes, I have been an avid horse rider across the Southcoast for the past 11 years. At home, I have 40 fish across 4 tanks, and I love to learn more and more about them.

Oluseyi T Omobomi

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Seyi Omobomi, and I am a junior computer science major at UMass Dartmouth. I am a member of the honors college and I have a passion for coding. I play soccer and video game during my free time, and I also used to solve Rubik cubes competitively.

Obehi A OmonUkpebor

2023 – 2024

Biology

My name is Obehi, I am an incoming freshman at Umass Dartmouth with a biology major. I have hopes of becoming a pediatrician and growing my knowledge in the STEM field.

Abigail R Perry

2023 – 2024

Biology

I am a sophomore in the Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, majoring in Biology on a Pre-Med track. This academic year, I plan to elect minors in Aging and Health and Biochemistry, while also pursuing research opportunities. My future educational goals include medical school with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric physician.

I am actively involved in campus life, participating in many clubs and organizations. I am a member of the UMASS Dartmouth varsity field hockey team and was named to the Little East Conference Honor Roll and Dean’s List each semester. As an alumni member of the UMASS Dartmouth STEM 4 Girls program, I was honored to give a welcome speech and introduce the keynote speaker at the 2022 event on campus, where I also served as a volunteer. I am an Orientation Leader and am an active member of the Pre-Health Society, Synthetic Biology Club and the Great Outdoors Club. During my first year, I worked on campus in the Advanced Nursing Program and am working in athletics this year. Outside of UMASS Dartmouth, I work as a mentor with young children learning English. My hobbies include cooking, baking, going to the beach and attending concerts.

I love studying science and feel passionate about gaining a strong STEM education to propel me forward into the medical field. I am grateful for the Accomplish Program for helping to support my educational journey

Jacob I Perry-Mojica

2023 – 2024

Electrical Engineering

I’m a Sophomore at UMass Dartmouth looking to strive in the electrical engineering field. One of my dreams was to help create something that would immerse people in a thrilling ride and work for a theme park such as Six Flags or even a place like Disney World. I’ve always had been fascinated with the mechanical and wiring of how things worked including roller coasters and rides. I work my hardest and try my best to give people my best work. I’ve had many hardships but have overcome them with the love of friends and family and continue to strive because of them. Without them I wouldn’t be who I am.

Lillian Shanor

2023 – 2024

Civil Engineering

I am going into my sophomore year at UMassD as a Civil Engineering student, and I am looking forward to all of the challenges that I will face. I have a deep appreciation for math and science, and I also value creativity. UMassD allows me to pursue both of these sides of myself, and I cannot wait to explore all of the resources and opportunities that will become available this year.

Christian D Taylor

2023 – 2024

Computer Engineering

My name is Christian Taylor and I am a senior majoring in Computer Engineering at UMass Dartmouth. Throughout my studies I have learned about circuit theory, digital electronics, and embedded systems. I’ve also gained experience in many programming languages such as C, Python, C#, VHDL, and MATLAB. I became an undergraduate researcher in the summer of 2022. For my first research project I helped a team create a resilience tool using Python. The research project I am currently working on is creating an agent-based model of nonviolent action. I was awarded the UMass Dartmouth Cybersecurity Undergraduate Fellowship for my efforts. Besides academics I enjoy tennis and playing piano.

Jessica A G Welsh

2023 – 2024

Computer Science

My name is Jess and I am a sophomore here at UMass Dartmouth. I am studying computer science, which portrays my love for coding and software organization. Other than focusing on my courseloads, I spend my time being involved with clubs, exploring, reading, and listening to all types of music. On campus, I am the vice-president of the Outdoor Club, the treasurer of the Society of Community Leaders, and involved in the Student Government as the President of the Class of 2026. I look forward to staying involved and creating a future that ties my leadership to my programming.

Viktoriya A Balabanova

Feature story

2022 – 2023

Physics

I am a rising senior, majoring in Physics at UMass Dartmouth and also a full-time mom to a toddler. I found my love for physics rather late in my adult life and never looked back. I am especially interested in new energy sources and improving energy harvesting techniques for a more sustainable future. My first research project, on which I am still working on, is about Characterizing the Friction Induced Triboelectric Effect of Polymers. This project aims in improving current models for Triboelectric Generators (TEGs), which are designed to work in a charge-saturated state, the results of which is the waste of mechanical energy and low energy conversion efficiency. I was awarded the OUR Summer Award from UMass Dartmouth for this research project for the beginning of this summer, while I also received an REU award at Boston University funded by NSF for 10 weeks as well. My REU experience at BU was focused on preparing and evaluating a ferroelectric sample, to be used in the CASPEr-Electric Experiment. This specific experiment uses solid-state NMR to search for axion-like particles (dark matter candidate), which interact with the Pb nuclear spins in the sample that my lab partner and I prepared. I am also quite interested in Nuclear Physics and Engineering and intent to further my knowledge and education on topics related to these fields.

Shawn J Koohy

2022 – 2023

Mathematics

I am a junior mathematics major with a concentration in applied and computational mathematics along with a minor in physics. My first research project dealt with learning about neural networks during spring 2022. From that point I was accepted in to an 8-week REU summer program, at Clarkson University, aimed at numerical solution to high-dimensional PDEs using neural networks. This was done by reformulating second-order semi-linear parabolic PDEs into backward stochastic differential equations (BSDE). In recent years these high-dimensional BSDEs have seen much success when it comes to simulating and solving. During my time at this REU I have spent a lot of time working with reaction-diffusion equations such as the Allen-Cahn equation, finding spatial and time evolution solutions to lower-dimensional cases, then focusing on time evolutions in higher-dimensional spaces such as 3D, 5D and 60D. Over these 8-weeks me and my advisor had been putting together a paper with our results which we hope to submit to a journal for publication sometime in the near future. For the past couple of semesters and the forth coming semesters, I work as a math TA and tutor for calculus classes. My research interests include number theory, PDEs, machine learning, computational mathematics, computational physics, and particle physics. Outside of my academics I listen to a lot of music, play guitar, and like to go mountain bike riding along with mountain hiking.

Bryan C Obidike

2022 – 2023

Computer Science

Logan Cabral

Feature story

2021 – 2022

Physics

Logan C. Cabral-Pelletier is a senior studying physics with a concentration in astrophysics at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His previous research was at UMass Dartmouth in computational astrophysics on a project titled Binary Population Synthesis. This project aimed understand what initial binary mass, eccentricity, and semi-major axis, can lead to carbon-oxygen and oxygen-neon white dwarf mergers that end in a Type Ia supernova event. His other research experience was at Cornell University’s Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Science on a project titled Constraining Hazards For Future Lander Missions To Europa: Perspectives From The Earth, where he explored how hazards scale on icy areas of the Earth that share physical processes with surface terrain on Europa. This was done by using satellite remote sensing data of images at different resolutions of analogs in Greenland and Antarctica that contain Europa-like features in an attempt to simulate images taken by the Europa Clipper 2024 mission. Logan is currently in the physics 4+1 program at UMass where he will do his master’s thesis project on Optimizing Additively Manufactured Composite Materials For Electromagnetic Shielding. His research interests include astrobiology, planetary science, astrophysics, and mechanical engineering. Logans hobbies include rock climbing and long-distance running.

Ian Gifford

2021 – 2022

Physics

Ian Gifford is a BCC transfer student that’s currently a senior in Physics at UMASS Dartmouth. He got re-elected this year as President of UMASS Dartmouth’s chapter of the Society of Physics students and is actively coordinating and leading events. He’s completing a research paper on the initial conditions of double degenerate Carbon/Oxygen-Carbon/Oxygen and Carbon/Oxygen-Oxygen/Neon merger systems. Distributions of the initial masses, initial eccentricity, initial semi-major axis, and detonation delay time play a key role in the paper. He attended a five-week Summer module sponsored by NASA and earned the opportunity to visit Langley Research center for a week in October of 2019. This involved seminars, NASA employee interviews, facility tours, team building, and a Martian Rover team project. He served on the College of Engineering student council in Spring 2021. Ian is currently applying to the new Physics 4+1 program. He spends most of his spare time playing guitar.

Joe Arena

2021 – 2022

Keigan Cullen

2021 – 2022

Mckenzie Ferrari

Feature story

2021 – 2022

Mckenzie Ferrari is a junior physics major concentrating in astrophysics at UMass Dartmouth. Her first research project aimed at understanding potential progenitor systems of type Ia supernovae, which result from the explosions of white dwarfs. Her work primarily involved classifying the synthetic, or computed, spectra produced from a model of an explosion of a white dwarf with a mass of around 1.4 solar masses. Her research is featured in the Astrophysical Journal paper “Near-Chandrasekhar-Mass Type Ia Supernovae from the Double-Degenerate Channel.” She has presented her work on this project at multiple conferences and will be presenting at the Posters on the Hill conference in April 2022. Her latest research project relates to super-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs, which, when detonated, are believed to result in overluminous supernovae events. In the summer of 2022, she will be a summer intern at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics working on a project about Cepheid variables. During the school year, she is the resident Peer Mentor for the Women in Engineering engagement community, a living community on campus for first-year students, and is a member of the College of Engineering Student Advisory Council. She is also co-captain of the UMass Dartmouth Women’s Tennis Team and loves hiking in her free time.

Rebecca Rodrigues

2021 – 2022

Rebecca Rodrigues is a senior majoring in mathematics with a concentration in applied & computational mathematics at UMass Dartmouth. Her current research project involves computing far-field gravitational-wave signals. It centers around finding a way to accurately propagate gravitational-wave signals through designing and implementing numerical algorithms in Python. On campus, she has held various leadership positions including a supplemental instruction leader for Calc 1, a peer mentor for the College of Arts & Sciences, and the vice president of the Society of Women Engineers. In the future, she hopes to continue to spark engagement in the STEM community.

Madeline Shaklee

2021 – 2022

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