Prior Participants

The UAMS Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has proudly sponsored the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program since 1992. Over the years, our highly competitive program has successfully recruited students from many colleges and universities across Arkansas as well as from other states.

2025 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Anna Bolding	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville	Brian Koss, Ph.D
Carmella Lewis	University of Arkansas – Fort Smith	Alicia Byrd, Ph.D
David Jackson	Rhodes College	Eric Enemark, Ph.D
Nikolai Mannon	Hendrix College	Kirk West, Ph.D
Rowan McCollum	Hendrix College	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
Naomi McNaughton	Harding University	Mohammad Rahman, Ph.D
Huy Nguyen Le	Augustana College	Joonas Jamsen, Ph.D
Riranda Seeboonruang	Hendrix College	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
Warren Smith	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Kevin Raney, Ph.D

Riranda Seeboonruang, Naomi McNaughton, Rowan McCollum, Nikolia Mannon, Huy Nguyen Le, Warren Smith, Carmella Lewis, Anna Bolding, David Jackson.

2024 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Anna Bolding	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (AR)	Brian Koss, Ph.D
Elijah DeCuir	Union University	Tudor Moldoveanu, Ph.D
Lillian Francis	Hendrix College	Isabelle Racine-Miousse, Ph.D
Autumn Gault	Hendrix College	David Ussery, Ph.D
Lizzie Hicklin	University of Central Arkansas	Sean Taverna, Ph.D
Erica Johnson	University of Central Arkansas	Eric Enemark, Ph.D
Agustín Kalinowski	Hendrix College	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
Sally Santillan	Henderson State University	Sayem Miah, Ph.D
Faith Stephens	Arkansas State University	Katie Ryan, Ph.D

Picture of SURF students standing in front of artwork — Erica Johnson, Autumn Gault, Sally Santillan, Agustin Kalinowski, Lillian Francis, Alekhya Kavi(SURF Pharm/Tox), Lizzy Hicklin, Faith Stephens, Anna Bolding, Elijah DeCuir, Sam Chesshir (Proteomics)

2023 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Yoo-Jin Ahn	Washington University St. Louis (MO)	David Ussery, Ph.D
Olivia Bice	Hendrix College (AR)	Katie Ryan, Ph.D
Carter Bierbaum	University of Central Arkansas (AR)	Grover Miller, Ph.D
Jeremiah Canady	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (AR)	Isabelle Racine-Miousse, Ph.D
Anthony Carreira	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (AR)	Wayne Wahls, Ph.D
Robin Eluvathingal	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (AR)	Kimberly Stephens, Ph.D
Fardeen Kawsar	Emory (GA)	Eric Enemark, Ph.D
Daniela Perez Laguna	Arkansas State (AR)	Tudor Moldoveanu, Ph.D
Michelle Mia	University of Texas at Austin (TX)	Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D
Sreevatsav Seenivansan	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville (AR)	Alicia Byrd, Ph.D
Kate Jackson	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
John Schaller	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D

2023 SURF Students — Carter Bierbaum, Daniela Perez Laguna, Michelle Mia, Robin Eluvathingal, Fardeen Kawsar, Jeremiah Canady, Yoo-Jin Ahn, Thomas Williams, Sreevatsav Seenivasan, Natalie Stocks, Anthony Carreira, John Schaller, Kate Jackson, Oliva Bice. Natalie and Thomas with Proteomics.

2022 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Izzeldin Ahmed	Arkansas State University (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Marlee Richardsonn	Westminster College (MO)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D
Claire Greene	Arkansas State University (AR)	Justin Leung, Ph.D.
Savannah Huyvaert	Colorado University – Boulder (CO)	Ruud Dings, Ph.D
Aidan Doss	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	Isabelle Racine-Miousse, Ph.D.
Yiren (Elaine) Zhang	Colorado College (CO)	Eric Enemark, Ph.D.
Claire Doshier	Vanderbilt University (TN)	Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D.
Erik Bergstrom	Missouri Science and Technology (MO)	Alicia Byrd, Ph.D
Katie Diekman	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
Isabell Ritter	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D

SURF participants — Elaine Zhang, Dayna Eom, Claire Greene, Savannah Huyvaert, Erik Bergstrom, Aidan Doss, Izzeldin Ahmed, Mary Richardson, Isabell Ritter, Katie Diekman, Walker Hendricks. Dayna and Walker with Proteomics . Not pictured Claire Doshier.

2021 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Izzeldin Ahmed	Arkansas State University (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Marlee Richardsonn	Westminister College (MO)	Katie Ryan, Ph.D.
Gabrielle Hightower	Missouri University of Science and Technology (MO)	Justin Leung, Ph.D.
Bobby (Wangjie) Tu	Cornell University (NY)	David Ussery, Ph.D.
Tripti Shukla	University of Arkansas Little Rock (AR)	Isabelle Racine-Miousse, Ph.D.
Harry Jeffery	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	Eric Enemark, Ph.D.
Mason Mccrury	King’s University (TN)	Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D.
Jaycee Hall	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D
Ashytn Bell	Hendrix College (AR)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D

2019 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Haven Griffin	Hendrix College (AR)	Giulia Baldini, M.D., Ph.D.
Laura Osborn	Ave Maria University (FL)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Sasin “Copter” Payakachat	Hendrix College (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Thomas Raney	Hendrix College (AR)	Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D.
Sasha Richardson	Fayetteville State University (NC)	David Ussery, Ph.D., Se-ran Jun, Ph.D.
Aarion Romany	Caldwell University (NJ)	Alicia Byrd, Ph.D.
Matthew Thompson	Harding University (AR)	David Ussery, Ph.D.

SURF students and mentors — Thomas Rainey, Samantha Kendrick, Laura Osborn, Sasin “Copter” Payakachat, Matthew Thompson, Dave Ussery, Haven Griffin, Giulia Baldini, Haylee Greer, Alicia Byrd, Aarion Romany, Anika Moorjani, Sasha Richardson, and Se-ran Jun. Not pictured: Paul Miller

2018 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Darcy Hagood	Vassar College (NY)
Anirudh Pidugu	Emory University (GA)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Thomas Raney	Hendrix College (AR)	Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D.
Humam Shahare	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Riley Sinnott	Tulane University (LA)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Ana Swearingen	Harding University (AR)	David Ussery, Ph.D.
Terri Tran	Hendrix College (AR)	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.

SURF 2018 group photo — (left to right) Grover Miller, Ph.D., Ana Swearingen, Terri Tran, Riley Sinnott, Anirudh Pidugu, Thomas Raney, Humam Shahare, Darcy Hagood

2017 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Camila Cardenas	Columbus State University (GA)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Sarah Glass	Hendrix College	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Miranda McMickens	Louisiana Tech University	Venkat Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
Connor Purvis	Harding University	David Ussery, Ph.D.
Sylvia Szwedo	UA Little Rock	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Anirudh Pidugu	Emory University	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.

SURF 2017 Participants — Back Row row: Sylvia Swzedo , Connor Purvis, Anirudh Pidugu Front row: Sarah Glass , Camila Cardenas, Miranda McMickens And Dr. Grover P. Miller

2016 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Emily Helm	University of Central Arkansas	Robert Eoff, Ph.D.
Bryce Johnson	University of Central Arkansas	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Melissa A. Sorsby	Hendrix College (AR)	Mari Davidson, Ph.D. & Wayne Wahls, Ph.D.

2015 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Leslie Dunmire	Arkansas Tech University	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Ahn Duong	Siena Heights University (MI)	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Curtis Goolsby	University of Arkansas-Fayetteville	Donald M Mock, M.D., Ph.D.
Emily Helm	University Central Arkansas	Robert Eoff, PhD, Alan Tackett, Ph.D.
Hsin-Ping Wang	Hendrix College (AR)	Wayne Wahls, Ph.D.

2014 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Oktawia Clem	Henderson State Univ. (AR)	Alan Tackett, Ph.D.
Jacob D. Haddock	Lyon College (AR)	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Lisa Headley	Hendrix College (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Cass Martin	University Central Arkansas	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Edouard Niyonsaba	Univ. of Central Arkansas	Karen Abbott, Ph.D.
Ariel Noble	Univ. of Ark.-Little Rock	Guilia Baldini, M.D., Ph.D.
Dakota Pouncey	Hendrix College (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Anthony Rusher	Arkansas State University	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Tatsiana Savenka	Univ. of Central Arkansas	Robert L. Eoff, Ph.D.

2013 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Allison K. Knott	Univ. of Central Arkansas	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Samia Nawaz	Hendrix College (AR)
Dakota Pouncy	Hendrix College (AR)	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Megan Reed	Henderson State University	Robert Eoff, Ph.D.

2012 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Asli Ahmed	Hendrix College (AR)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.
Grace Coggins	Vanderbilt University (TN)	Robert Eoff, Ph.D.
Claire Desrochers	Univ. of Central Arkansas	Kevin Raney, Ph.D.
Adam C. Johnson	Hendrix College (AR)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.
Lisa Orr	Univ. of Ark.- Little Rock	Alan Tackett, Ph.D.
Nevena Ostojic	Wartburg College (IA)	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.
Kaila Pianalto	Univ. of Ark.- Fayetteville	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Charles Pugh	Harding University (AR)	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Sebastian Pyrek	Univ. of Ark.- Little Rock	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.
Vicki Sharma	Univ. of Ark.- Fayetteville	Kevin Raney, Ph.D.

2011 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Sabrina Goddard	University of the Ozarks	Alan B. Diekman, Ph.D.
Jessica Hartman	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Murtaza Shabbir-Hussain	University of Wyoming	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.
David Vong	Drury University (MO)	Wayne P. Wahls, Ph.D.
Maroof Zafar	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Robert Eoff, Ph.D.
Anna Dineva	Universite de Montpellier 1 (France)	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.

2010 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Ankit Bhargava	Emory University	Alan J. Tackett, Ph.D.
Jessica Bomer	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Hannah Hankins	Henderson State University (AR)	Kevin D Raney, Ph.D.
Signe Larson	University of Central Arkansas	Alan J. Tackett, Ph.D.
Kan Hui Yiew (Nicole)	University of Ozarks	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.

2009 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Gonzalez, Claudia P	Henderson State University (AR)	Alan B Diekman, Ph.D.
Guderyon, Michael J	Louisiana State University-Eunice	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Hankins, Hannah	Henderson State University (AR)	Kevin D Raney, Ph.D.
Kovak, Matthew R	Lyon College (AR)	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Larson, Signe K	University Central Arkansas	Alan J Tackett, Ph.D.
Miller, Sharon R	Cedarville University (OH)	Craig Cooney, Ph.D.
Pham, Hanh K	Arkansas Tech University	Grover P Miller, Ph.D.
Yiew, Kan (Nicole)	University of Ozarks (AR)	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.

2008 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Danielle N. Atwood	University of Central Arkansas	Grover P. Miller, Ph.D.
Thomas Biel	Keystone College (PA)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.
Anna Brezden	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.
Charvon Cade	University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.
Michelle B. Ramsey	University of Dallas (TX)	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Jaclyn A. Taylor	Henderson State University (AR)	Alan J. Tackett, Ph.D.
Joseph Thomas	Hendrix College (AR)	Edathara C. Abraham, Ph.D.
Tyler Wilson	University of the Ozarks (AR)	Alan Elbein, Ph.D.
Kristin Wheeler	Rhodes College (TN)	Craig E. Cooney, Ph.D.
Hsuan-yi Wu	Southeast Missouri State University	Wayne P. Wahls, Ph.D.

2007 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Rakesh Bam	Southern Arkansas University	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Amber Burch	Lipscomb University (TN)	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Arjun Dasgupta	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville	Anna Radominska-Pandya, Ph.D.
Whitney Gammil	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville	Craig Cooney, Ph.D.
Raven Rice	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville	Wayne P. Wahls, Ph.D.
Shanshan Shi	Ohio Wesleyan University
Nora Smith	Ouachita Baptist University	Giulia Baldini, M.D., Ph.D.
Maria Thomas	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Alan J. Tackett, Ph.D.
Mian Wang	Drury University (MO)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.

2006 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Tiffany Armstrong	University of the Ozarks (AR)	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Samuel L. Collom	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Jordon Heath Gipson	Arkansas Tech University	Donald Mock, M.D., Ph.D.
Clint Langston	Harding University (AR)	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
John Platts	University of Dallas (TX)	Alan B. Diekman, Ph.D.
Tashina Pontzius (Brown)	Williams Baptist College (AR)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.
Ashley Prevost	Christian Brothers University (TN)	Craig Cooney, Ph.D.
Stephen D. Wagner	Harding University (AR)	Anna Radominska, Ph.D.

2005 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Carrie E. Brown	Harding University (AR)	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Justin Harney	Hendrix College (AR)
Ashley C. Miller	Christian Brothers University (TN)	Craig Cooney, Ph.D.
Kelly Robbins	Hendrix College (AR)
Daniel E. Sanders	Southern Arkansas University	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Joshua Spore	Oachita Baptist University (AR)	Alan B. Diekman, Ph.D.
Allen B. Tucker	Hendrix College (AR)	Masahiro Higuchi, Ph.D.

2004 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Randi B. Cline	Millsaps College (MS)	Wayne Wahls, Ph.D.
Samuel E. Franks	LSU-Alexandria (LA)	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Katie Koelsch	University of Montana	Alan B. Diekman, Ph.D.
Sarah W. Lomax	University of Arkansas – Little Rock
Brian Skaug	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	Timothy Chambers, Ph.D.
Ryan Thurman	University of Central Arkansas	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Robyn Poerschke	Hendrix College (AR)	Anna Radominska, Ph.D.
Michael Hall	University of Arkansas – Little Rock	Anna Radominska, Ph.D.
Nihshanka Debroy	University of Arkansas – Fayetteville	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.

2003 SURF Students

Student	College/University	Mentor
Carrie Cavanaugh	Arkansas State University	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Meghan Freiley	Texas Tech University	Robert Reis, Ph.D.
Emily Gaddis	Vanderbilt University (TN)	Robert Reis, Ph.D.
Darby A. Grace	Hendrix College (AR)	Alan Diekman, Ph.D.
Frederick Johnson Jr.	Ouachita Baptist University (AR)	Edathara Abraham, Ph.D.
Najiyah Kazi	Hendrix College (AR)	Alan Diekman, Ph.D.
Agnes Kowalska	Warsaw University of Technology	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Ayse Ozarlsan	Vanderbilt University (TN)	Alan D. Elbein, Ph.D.
P. Ryan Steed	Centre College	Kevin D. Raney, Ph.D.
Jacy Wagnon	Hendrix College (AR)	Wayne Wahls, Ph.D.
Charity Washam	University of Central Arkansas	Grover Paul Miller, Ph.D.
Regan West	University of Central Arkansas	Craig Cooney, Ph.D.