{"id":25807,"date":"2025-11-06T12:42:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/?p=25807"},"modified":"2025-12-19T12:34:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:34:26","slug":"investing-in-innovation-wsu-everetts-undergraduate-research-awards-empower-future-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/investing-in-innovation-wsu-everetts-undergraduate-research-awards-empower-future-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Investing in innovation: WSU Everett\u2019s undergraduate research awards empower future leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

*Article first posted on the WSU Foundation official website<\/a>, in November, 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Keith Powell, WSU Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In research, modest investments can help big ideas bloom. Nowhere is that truer than at Washington State University Everett. In September 2024, the university awarded four undergraduate students each a $1,000 research grant to pursue independent projects tackling real-world challenges. Funded through a dedicated endowment, these awards are more than financial support \u2014 they are a catalyst for innovation, leadership, and the future of science and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the classroom to the lab and beyond, these Cougs turned curiosity into hands-on research that not only advanced their academic journey but also contributed to their respective fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Kelly \u2013 Engineering the future of infrastructure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major: Mechanical Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly\u2019s research focused on the load-bearing characteristics of composite beams made from carbon fiber, epoxy, Nomex core, and aluminum sheets. His findings suggest that these materials could outperform traditional concrete beams in terms of strength and sustainability \u2014 especially in small-scale bridge infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A pressure chamber used in Kelly\u2019s research.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWithout the funding, I wouldn\u2019t have had access to the materials needed to test my idea,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cMeeting with my mentor and figuring out when and how to ask questions in an independently driven environment was one of the most important skills I improved\u2026 This experience is valuable not just for higher education, but also as a resume builder and a way to foster technological advancement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly is now pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering at WSU Tri-Cities, with this research experience serving as a foundational step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gusta Beard \u2013 Protecting crops through entomology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major: Organic and Sustainable Agriculture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beard used her award to study the effects of insect growth regulators (IGRs) on the spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), a pest that causes significant damage to berry crops in Washington. Stress-induced behaviors like \u201cegg dumping\u201d were observed in her experiments with certain IGRs. These types of observations guide the process of research, leading to findings that could inform future pest management approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Gusta Beard works at a microscope.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI knew I wanted to work in entomology, but I had no idea where to start,\u201d Beard said. \u201cBy working with my professor, I was able to find a topic that both interested me and was relevant to local farmers\u2026 Within a semester, I gained a clearer understanding of the field and its importance to society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grant also enabled her to attend the Entomological Society of America conference, where she connected with professionals and secured an internship with WSU\u2019s entomology lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gusta will pursue a doctorate at the Northwest Research Extension Center in Mount Vernon after completing her last undergraduate courses this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kwon-Yu Chen \u2013 Advancing cybersecurity through hardware research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major: Cybersecurity<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kwon-Yu collaborated with Professor Shih-Lien Lu to analyze SRAM mappings in modern CPUs and explore their potential for use in hardware-based security systems based on Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs). While proprietary systems posed challenges, ARM-based processors offered promising avenues for experimentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe grant gave me access to advanced computing resources and time to work closely with my professor,\u201d Chen said. \u201cBeing part of a research project not only gave me technical skills, but it also made me more confident in the career I want to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While not required, students were encouraged to work with faculty mentors during their research. Kwon-Yu shared, \u201cTalking to Professor Lu and having him as a mentor has elevated my experience greatly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The power of undergraduate research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These stories are a powerful reminder that WSU Everett\u2019s research grants do more than fund projects\u2014they unlock potential. \u201cThe funding doesn\u2019t just buy materials\u2014it endorses the ability for students to better themselves and those around them,\u201d said Kelly. From engineering and agriculture to cybersecurity, these student-led projects reflect the bold ideas and diverse talents that define the Cougar spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the momentum continues: a new cohort of student researchers was selected this September to receive grants, ready to take on the next wave of real-world challenges. With continued support from the endowment, WSU Everett is fueling innovation, removing financial barriers, and empowering students to lead with purpose and vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get involved<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you a student with a bold idea? A faculty member ready to mentor? A donor looking to make a lasting impact? WSU Everett\u2019s Research Program is your gateway to meaningful discovery. To learn more about how you can support research at WSU Everett, please contact Hayley Larson, director of development, at hayley.larson@wsu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\tSupport WSU Everett Undergraduate Research\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

*Article first posted on the WSU Foundation official website, in November, 2025. By\u00a0Keith Powell, WSU Foundation. From the classroom to the lab and beyond, these Cougs turned curiosity into hands-on research that not only advanced their academic journey but also contributed to their respective fields.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41976,"featured_media":25808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wsuwp_accessibility_report":null},"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25807"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25807"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25955,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25807\/revisions\/25955"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25807"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=25807"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.everett.wsu.edu\/everett-wds3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=25807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}