Five Irvine Valley College (IVC) students showcased their research prowess at the 11th Annual California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Summer Research Symposium held on August 8 at the Titan Student Union Pavilions at CSUF.
The symposium is part of Project RAISE (Regional Alliance in STEM Education) and serves as a platform for community college students to present their summer research conducted at CSUF's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. This year, 46 students participated in the Undergraduate Research Experience (URE), each receiving a $5,000 stipend for their contributions.
IVC was proud to be one of nine area community colleges with students engaged in this prestigious program. The five IVC participants included:
- Steve Salinas - Chemistry & Biochemistry - Design and synthesis of dual soluble epoxy hydrolase/fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors as potential therapeutics for chronic pain treatment.
- Lucius Gibbons - Electrical & Computer Engineering - Building a neural network for autonomous fire detection.
- Julissa Maupin - Biological Sciences - Investigating the impact of the P0 Protein from Turnip Yellows Virus on processing of autophagy related protein ATG8c in Nicotiana benthamiana.
- Angel Rivera - Mechanical Engineering - Green 3D printing: Leveraging solar energy for sustainable additive manufacturing.
- Alexander Martinez - Computer Science presented - Pairs trading strategy for electrical vehicle manufacturers stock data.
Salinas, Gibbons, Maupin and Rivera are also members of the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program at IVC, which supports educationally disadvantaged students to excel in STEM fields. The CSUF Summer Research Symposium provided an invaluable opportunity for all the student participants to share their research findings, network with peers and professionals, and gain exposure to the broader scientific community. In addition to the URE participants, the event featured posters from other research experiences at CSUF, further enriching the collaborative and educational atmosphere.
"We are incredibly proud of our students' achievements and their dedication to advancing their knowledge and skills in STEM fields," said IVC President Dr. John Hernadez. "Their participation in Project RAISE and the CSUF Summer Research Symposium highlights the quality of education and support they receive at Irvine Valley College."
For IVC information, visit Project RAISE or speak to Judith Benavidez in the IVC Counseling Center for information about how to apply for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Experience.