2026 Summer Undergraduate Researchers

Sofia Araujo, Data Science and Anthropology ’27 
Project: Flooding and Human Health – Flood Focus 
Mentors: Claire Masteller, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Sofia is a junior from Recife, Brazil, double majoring in Data Science and Anthropology. She  loves volleyball, drawing, and visiting museums, and is always on the lookout for a new  neighborhood to explore in St. Louis. She can’t wait to spend the summer working in  Dr. Masteller’s lab!

Joshitha Bodavula, Chemistry ’29
Project: Assessing Urban Soil Lead Risk
Mentors: Jeffrey Catalano, Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences

Joshitha is a rising sophomore from Normal, Illinois majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Environmental Studies. She is passionate about taking what she learns from chemistry and applying it to the world in a way that can impact environmental and human health, and she is particularly interested in exploring aspects of the One Health initiative through chemical research. Outside of academics at WashU, Joshitha is a member of Mosaic Whispers acapella, design chair of the WashU American Chemical Society chapter, and a future WUSA! Additionally, she enjoys reading, playing tennis or volleyball, and lots of coffee and matcha.

Logan Fox, Statistics and American Culture Studies ’27
Project: Climate and Health Resilience
Mentors: Catalina Feixas and Lindsay Underhill, Architecture

Logan (he/him) is a rising senior from Bow, New Hampshire double majoring Statistics and American Culture Studies. Logan specializes in the intersection of quantitative analysis and cultural narratives. He is very excited to be a part of the CftE program this summer to support data-informed community engagement initiatives. In his free time, he is active in student theatre, enjoys all things Boston sports, and is an avid cinephile. 

Jemma Kushen, Environmental Engineering ’27
Project: How Do Microbes Affect Indoor Air Quality?
Mentors: Jenna Ditto and Yingxi Lu, Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering

Jemma is a dual-degree Environmental Engineering student with background in anthropology and economics from Pitzer College. She is interested in life-centered design of built infrastructure and sustainable agriculture, including the relationship between microbial microbiomes and their broader environment. She enjoys spending time in the student garden, hiking, and finding all the best places to eat. 

Ariana Li, Data Science ’28
Project: Computer Vision for Forestry
Mentors: Nathan Jacobs and Daniel Cher, Computer Science

Originally from Kunming, China, Ariana is a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a major in Data Science with double minors in Astrophysics & Astroparticle Physics and Writing. As a researcher with the Center for the Environment Summer Research Program, she works within the Multimodal Vision Research Lab under the guidance of Professor Nathan Jacobs and mentor Daniel Cher. Ariana is particularly interested in exploring the intersections of computer vision, machine learning, and geospatial data processing. Outside of her academic work, she is a member of the WashU Figure Skating Club and an avid enthusiast of aviation, photography, and hiking. 

Torena Liang, Chemical Engineering ’28
Project: Smart Sorbents for Water Cleanup
Mentors: Zhiling Zhang and Shyam Chand, Chemistry

Torena is a sophomore from Shanghai, China, majoring in Chemical Engineering at McKelvey. She has a special interest in Material Science and regenerative materials. Outside of academics, she’s part of the hospice club at WashU, and loves exploring nature, traveling, golfing, and spending time with friends. 

\Jason Lin, Chemistry ’28
Project:  Evaluating Bioplastic Production
Mentors: Arpita Bose and Tahina Ranaivoarisoa, Biology

Jason is a rising junior from Phoenix, Arizona, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Music. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, going to the gym, and singing. He is currently a member of WashU’s After Dark A Capella group and volunteers with Gateway to the Great Outdoors. He is passionate about helping the environment, particularly in exploring how microscopic interactions and processes can have macroscopic effects, which is why he is so excited to join the Bose Lab this summer!

Allison Millinger, Environmental Analysis ’28
Project: Mapping Impacts of Data Centers, Vacancy, and Extreme Urban Heat in St. Louis
Mentors: Elizabeth Hubertz and Eric Conners, Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic

Allison is a rising junior majoring in environmental analysis with a minor in the DASH program. They are passionate about environmental justice and hope to explore this area even more in their research this summer. At WashU, Allison is on the frisbee team and is an executive member of the Burning Kumquat, WashU’s student garden. In their free time they love to read and do puzzles of all kinds.

Julian Mitchell, Computational Biology/Genomics and Statistics ’27
Project: Predicting and Mitigating Human-Snake Conflict in Honduras
Mentors: Jonathan Losos and Tasman Ezra, Biology

Julian is a rising senior from O’Fallon, IL, double majoring in Computational Biology and Statistics and minoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is pursuing a career in genetic counseling and is deeply passionate about advocacy for animal welfare. He helps lead WashU’s Allied Scholars for Animal Protection (ASAP) chapter and looks forward to applying environmental biostatistical research this summer to improve animal welfare. He also enjoys playing the trombone and working as a Programming Assistant for the Spectrum Office at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at WashU.

Eliana Oden, Environmental Engineering ’27
Project: Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Health Risks
Mentors: Rodrigo Reis and Yi Wang, Prevention Research Center

Eliana Oden is a first year dual-degree student studying Environmental Engineering. She previously attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, where she received a bachelor’s in physics with a minor in computer science. She has always felt protective of the environment and known she has wanted to pursue a career that makes a positive change on the health of the world and its inhabitants. She interned with the EPA in the summer of 2024 and learned a lot.  At Hendrix, she also played 4 years of collegiate Indoor and Beach Volleyball, and enjoys playing whenever she is able. She even coaches for a local volleyball club during the school year. Eliana hopes the research she does this summer helps provide knowledge about how environmental injustice can impact different communities.

Amy Oku, Chemical Engineering ’29
Project: Minimizing Release of Lead From Plumbing Materials When Introducing Advanced Treated Water
Mentors: Daniel Giammar and Qi Wang, Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering

Amy is a rising sophomore from Chicago, Illinois majoring in chemical engineering. As an advocate for climate policy in high school, she is excited to research environmental health through an engineering lens this summer. On campus, she enjoys hosting events for EnCouncil, helping WashU labs adopt sustainable habits as a Green Labs Intern, and playing tennis with the club tennis team. In her free time, you can find her going on a run around Forest Park or baking with friends in one of the dorm kitchens.

Maddie Peck, Biology and Anthropology ’29
Project: Flooding and Human Health – Community health impacts
Mentors: Theresa Gildner, Anthropology

Maddie (she/her) is a rising junior from Cabot, Arkansas. She is double majoring in biology on the ecology and evolution track and anthropology. During the Center for the Environment Summer Undergraduate Research Program, she looks forward to learning more about the intersection of human health and the environment. In her free time she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and playing the fren ch horn in WashU’s wind ensemble. 

Kate Rusin, Chemical Engineering ’28
Project: Simulate Wildfire Chemistry in Lab
Mentors: Lu Xu, Energy, Environmental, and Chemical Engineering

Kate is a rising junior majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in computer science. She grew up in Wilton, Connecticut and is passionate about what engineering can do for the environment, especially relating to climate change and air quality. At WashU, she co-captains the sailing club and works as a chemistry mentor and theater technician. In her free time, she loves to paint, read, and spend time outdoors.

Anika Thomas, Political Science and Anthropology: Global Health and Environment ’27
Project: Inherited Displacement
Mentors: Mitra Naseh and Zeynep Ilkkursun, Social Work

Anika is a rising senior from Seattle, Washington majoring in Political Science and Anthropology: GHE with a minor in Psychology. She is passionate about the intersection between law and policy and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys watching crime shows, going on runs, and listening to music. She is excited to get involved in research and spend the summer in St. Louis!

Baiming Zhang, Mechanical Engineering ’27
Project: Analysis and Design of a Emission Free Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Aircraft
Mentors: Ramesh Agarwal and Irtiza Nazim, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Baiming Zhang is a rising junior from Shenyang, China studying Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering. His academic interests align with sustainable aviation, clean energy systems, aircraft design, and the application of engineering principles to challenges. Through this research, he is excited to explore how hydrogen fuel cell technology can support the development of more sustainable aircraft. In his free time, Baiming enjoys reading and spending time in nature. He is looking forward to deepening his understanding of sustainable aerospace research this summer.