The 糖心视频logo native graduated this spring with a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering after years of involvement in research projects, student leadership, and outreach initiatives across campus.

McNerny said he chose UA 糖心视频logo because of its strong academic environment and mentorship opportunities.

鈥淭he graduate school at UA 糖心视频logo is world class in terms of research, mentorship, and furthering education,鈥� he said.

During his time at UA 糖心视频logo, McNerny balanced advanced research with service that extended beyond the university to the broader community. At the Cyberspace Operations, Research and Education (CORE) Center, he designed virtual reality simulations of industrial control systems for the Consortium for Cyber Innovation. The work is supported by a grant from the Department of Energy focused on protecting critical energy infrastructure from cyberattacks.

He also used his interest in technology to improve public safety on campus. Drawing on his professional experience as a traffic safety specialist, he developed a technology designed to make crosswalks safer for pedestrians and wildlife.

His research explored how signals from vehicles and mobile devices could be detected near intersections, allowing the system to warn pedestrians and drivers of one another’s presence before they come into view. McNerny says these technologies could help reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians and wildlife regardless of visibility, weather conditions, or existing safety infrastructure.

In addition to his research, McNerny has mentored fellow students and held leadership positions as chair and secretary of the Association for Computing Machinery student chapter.

His passion for technology education also led him to teach virtual reality and cybersecurity summer camps for K-12 students. Through programs hosted by the Emerging Analytics Center and GenCyber, McNerny introduced students to emerging technologies while encouraging thoughtful discussions about their ethical use.

鈥淚 am inspired by seeing how excited students are when they try VR for the first time,鈥� McNerny said. 鈥淓mpowering them with the tools to make their own worlds and seeing their creativity blossom is a reward in itself.鈥�

One of McNerny’s favorite college memories, he said, came during a trip to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he and fellow students showcased an augmented reality game they developed called 鈥淪pook Splat.鈥�

While he has enjoyed opportunities to present projects and lead student organizations, some of his most meaningful experiences happened behind the scenes in the lab.

鈥淭hose quiet hours in the lab, not knowing if the project I had been working on for months would actually work,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen resting on it and finding out how to fix the problem immediately the next day. Those moments are rare and meaningful.鈥�

After graduation, McNerny plans to pursue a career in engineering while continuing his research at the CORE Center. 

鈥淚f my work helps people feel safer and improves their quality of life in any way, I have made an impact,鈥� he said.

The post Engineering Graduate Advances Cybersecurity and Public Safety appeared first on News.

The program, created by the Arkansas Research Alliance and AR-NETWORK, provides funding, mentorship, and professional development support to faculty researchers across Arkansas.

The ERL Program provides $30,000 annually for up to two years along with professional development opportunities such as mentorship and proposal development training. The grant is designed to strengthen Arkansas researchers’ competitiveness for external funding and help grow sustainable research programs within the state.

Siraj said the award will play an important role in advancing her research program at UA 糖心视频logo.

鈥淩eceiving the ERL award is deeply meaningful to me and to the research program I am building at UA 糖心视频logo,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淚 believe this opportunity will significantly strengthen my leadership capacity, proposal development skills, and ability to build and manage high-performing research teams.鈥�

Siraj鈥檚 research spans areas such as nanomedicine, lithium energy storage, and flexible electronic technologies. She plans to use the funding to support student researchers, expand research collaborations, and enhance the university鈥檚 research capabilities through new equipment and resources.

Siraj said she hopes the program will help her build stronger partnerships across Arkansas while advancing workforce development and innovation.

鈥淭hrough the ERL Program, I hope to build strong partnerships with state agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure that our research contributes meaningfully to Arkansas鈥檚 economy,鈥� Siraj said. 鈥淚 believe the program will provide an important platform for developing competitive research proposals and translational research strategies through interdisciplinary collaboration across Arkansas and other states.鈥�

Looking ahead, Siraj hopes her research will contribute to the development of sustainable energy technologies and support economic growth in Arkansas and beyond.

鈥淭hrough ERL mentorship and training, I aim to further mature this technology, strengthen federal grant proposals, and secure sustained external funding that will support continued research development, workforce training, and future commercialization efforts,鈥� she said.

The post UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Dr. Noureen Siraj Awarded Emerging Research Leaders Grant appeared first on News.

鈥淚 envisioned getting the degree, and at the same time, it didn鈥檛 seem possible that I would get accepted into the program,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 actually applied 鈥�knowing鈥� I would get rejected.鈥�

Instead, she began a new chapter at UA 糖心视频logo and worked toward a degree that once felt out of reach.

Taylor, a Conway native, earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Arkansas in 2013. After graduating, she spent years working in service-oriented jobs while repeatedly putting off graduate school.

For years, Taylor talked about applying to graduate school. Friends, coworkers, and people close to her encouraged her to take the chance and apply to social work programs. Eventually, Taylor said her friends told her to 鈥渏ust apply鈥� because the worst outcome would simply be not getting accepted.

鈥淚 think others seeing potential in me and believing in me helped me take that next step,鈥� Taylor said.

Even after submitting the application, Taylor had doubts about getting accepted. Instead, she found herself beginning a new chapter at UA 糖心视频logo.

鈥淲hen I found out I got accepted, I really was in shock,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I was intelligent enough for graduate school.鈥�

Those feelings of imposter syndrome didn鈥檛 disappear right away. Taylor started the Master of Social Work program part time and online while balancing two full-time jobs, often with overtime at both. During graduate school, she also completed internships at Gateway Recovery Center, Arkansas Foodbank, and Rise House, a domestic violence shelter. Outside of school and work, she volunteered with Arkansas Hospice, formerly known as LifeTouch Health, and previously volunteered with Heart of Hospice while living in Fort Smith.

Taylor said it took time to gain confidence in herself while balancing the demands of work, internships, and school. One conversation with an advisor became especially meaningful during the most difficult stretches of graduate school.

鈥淭hey told me, 鈥楳inden, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and you are in it,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淭hat resonated with me because this degree took more time for me than what I seemed to notice for others around me. It was definitely a marathon and not a sprint.鈥�

At one point, Taylor took a year-long break from the program before returning in summer 2025 to complete her second internship and final year of classes. Around the same time, she made the difficult decision to leave one of her jobs so she could focus more fully on school and her well-being.

鈥淚 would tell my younger self to drop job No. 2, focus more on school, and your mental and physical health, and more than anything, believe in yourself,鈥� Taylor said.

Taylor鈥檚 professional experiences throughout the years helped shape her understanding of social work and confirmed that she had chosen the right path.

After earning her undergraduate degree, she worked in ABA therapy before taking positions within several Arkansas Department of Human Services divisions, including Developmental Disabilities Services, the Division of Youth Services, and the Division of Children and Family Services. Her work included supporting adults with developmental disabilities, working with juvenile youth, serving as an investigator, and helping families in protective services.

She currently works with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a role she says continues to inspire her every day.

鈥淭he thing I love most about this job is that many folks think we are helping these individuals, but really, they are inspiring us to do better in our own lives,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淲hen you get to witness people start to thrive in life because they finally get a good team of workers around them, well, that feels amazing.鈥�

鈥淚 knew that I wanted to help people,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know exactly what that looked like, but I knew that I had a heart that wanted to serve and help others.鈥�

Throughout the program, Taylor said one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at UA 糖心视频logo was the support she found within the School of Social Work community.

鈥淲e really can do anything that we want if we continue on, seek support, and have people who believe in us who, in return, help students believe in ourselves even more,鈥� she said.

Taylor鈥檚 longtime friend, Muriel Schrepfer, senior graphic designer and marquee manager in the Office of Communications and Marketing, said Taylor鈥檚 persistence and compassion have always stood out.

鈥淢inden is the kind of person who keeps showing up, even when life makes it hard,鈥� Schrepfer said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known her since eighth grade, and she has always been caring, goofy, kind, and full of life in the best way. She鈥檚 worked multiple jobs to get through school while fighting battles most people never see, and she still manages to show up for everyone around her with so much heart.

Watching her earn her master鈥檚 in social work makes me endlessly proud of the resilience, compassion, and strength she carries every single day. I truly can鈥檛 wait to see where life takes her from here.鈥�

Taylor鈥檚 graduate school journey also included personal moments outside the classroom. During her final year of school, her dog Yuki, whom she had adopted, passed away. She is now fostering another dog, Nalani, whom she plans to adopt after graduation.

As she prepares for commencement, Taylor鈥檚 next steps include passing the Association of Social Work Boards master鈥檚-level examination and continuing toward becoming a licensed certified social worker.

She also hopes to focus on personal goals she placed on hold while balancing graduate school, including improving her physical health, returning to boxing, relearning sign language, becoming fluent in Spanish, and strengthening her writing skills. She also plans to spend time this summer with her two young nephews, Parker Reid and Wyatt James.

Looking back on the journey that brought her to graduation day, Taylor hopes others who doubt themselves will continue pursuing their goals anyway.

鈥淚t really is amazing once you go from doubting your potential to seeing that you do have qualities to bring to any table and into any room,鈥� she said.

The post From Self-Doubt to Social Work: Minden Taylor Earns Master鈥檚 Degree at UA 糖心视频logo appeared first on News.

UA 糖心视频logo students and Donaghey Scholars Honors Program members Zane Austin and Nistha Neupane are bringing national attention to campus innovation after winning a competitive startup pitch event through America250, an initiative marking the United States鈥� 250th anniversary. Their nanotechnology-based company, NanoLit, earned both national recognition and funding through the event.

The competition, , invited student teams from colleges across the country to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Out of applicants nationwide, only 30 semifinalist teams were selected to travel to California鈥檚 Bay Area for in-person pitching and evaluation.

NanoLit was designed to address the harsh side effects of chemotherapy by creating a more targeted treatment approach that reduces damage to healthy cells.

鈥淭he hair loss, nail bed damage, and loss of immune function that we see in cancer patients are due, at least in part, to the effect of chemotherapy,鈥� Austin said. 鈥淏y formulating a drug that is highly selective towards tumor cells, we can mitigate these dangers without compromising the efficiency of the drug, and overall improve patient outcomes鈥�

Their goal is to develop a drug that maintains treatment effectiveness while reducing harm to healthy cells, potentially improving patients鈥� quality of life during cancer care.

For Neupane, the research carries personal significance.

鈥淥ncology is a field I have dreamt of being in for so long,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the opportunity to get to know the field of oncology from the clinical setting for two years, and from behind the fume hood for four years. On top of that, I went through my own tumor operation that put many things into perspective for me.鈥�

The startup grew out of years of undergraduate research in Dr. Noureen Siraj鈥檚 lab at UA 糖心视频logo, where both students worked on nanotechnology-related projects and developed the foundation for NanoLit.

The competition itself was unlike anything the students had ever experienced before. Throughout the event, participants were filmed as part of the competition experience while pitching and networking with fellow founders and judges.

鈥淔rom day one, we were taken on a full filming set, had our hair and makeup done, and had microphones placed on us,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淚t was like our own small moment of being on reality TV, undergraduate Shark Tank edition.鈥�

The judging panel included high-profile figures such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, the CFO of OpenAI, and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios along with other prominent entrepreneurs and investors.

Austin and Neupane said the experience felt surreal, as it gave them the opportunity to present their work to entrepreneurs and innovators who have played major roles in shaping technological and financial innovation in the United States over the past several decades.

鈥淚 was entirely starstruck when we had the opportunity to meet individuals like Rosie Rios and Tim Draper,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淭o have such influential people be so interested in our startup felt like we had stepped into an entirely different world 鈥� the world of entrepreneurs.鈥�

Austin said the experience also reinforced the value of the work the team has been pursuing in the lab for years.

鈥淭his was the pinnacle of my undergraduate career, that鈥檚 for certain,鈥� Austin said. 鈥淭his experience meant seeing that what we鈥檝e been doing in the lab actually matters.鈥�

Competing alongside students from institutions such as Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Pennsylvania initially felt intimidating, the students said, but the experience ultimately reinforced their confidence in the research happening at UA 糖心视频logo. 

鈥淏eing able to put UA 糖心视频logo on the map and have students from universities like Johns Hopkins and Stanford be so impressed by our work puts into perspective how well we have done on our journey so far,鈥� Neupane said. 鈥淚t became so clear to me why Dr. Siraj has pushed us so hard the past few years to prepare us for opportunities like this.鈥�

The team ultimately advanced as one of 10 finalists and received $25,000 in grant funding to continue developing NanoLit.

Part of the awards package was a scholarship to Draper University, an entrepreneurial training program founded by venture capitalist Tim Draper, which Austin plans to attend. 

鈥淚 will be taking this opportunity over the summer to go and learn everything I can about building a business from the ground up,鈥� he said.

Neupane, a graduating senior, said this experience highlighted both the potential of NanoLit and the opportunities still ahead for the company. Meeting entrepreneurs and professionals from a wide range of fields also gave her a new perspective as she prepares to begin medical school at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine as part of the Class of 2030.

鈥淭his gave me a different type of passion and respect for the role that business and marketing play in medicine, and it is certainly something I hope to learn more about going into medical school and beyond,鈥� she said. 

Both students said they believe their success came down to a combination of passion and communication.

Neupane said their willingness to openly share their ambition for advancing oncology research helped set them apart, noting that judges described their pitch as 鈥渋nsane鈥� in the best way.

Austin added that a key part of their training in Dr. Siraj鈥檚 lab was learning how to make complex science accessible. He said being able to clearly communicate their ideas to judges without a technical background ultimately played a major role in their success.

鈥淲e weren鈥檛 afraid to show them our big dreams and passion for this field,鈥� Neupane said.

From the research lab to the national stage, Austin and Neupane鈥檚 journey showcases how UA 糖心视频logo students are transforming big ideas into meaningful change.

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The Magnet Cove, Arkansas, resident earned a bachelor鈥檚 in studio art with a minor in photography from UA 糖心视频logo in 2017, but never imagined she would pursue a master鈥檚 degree.

“Thanks to the Shelby Breedlove scholarship from UA 糖心视频logo, the tuition assistance program with my employer at Arkansas Children鈥檚, and a deep value for personal and professional growth, I decided to pursue a communication degree,” Wolven said. 

Wolven serves as a strategic initiatives project manager in the Patient Experience Department and as a Family Advisory Board coordinator at Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital. She has also been a photographer for 13 years.

鈥淢y desire to improve my communication skills comes from both my role as a professional and my role as a mother to three children, one of whom is a medically complex child who inspires my journey daily,” she said.

Her graduate school journey included personal challenges that tested her resilience.

“When I was first pursuing my M.A., I was pregnant with my oldest, and also spent four months in the NICU with him during that time,” she explained. “I had to give myself grace and take my time with the master鈥檚, especially after finding out I was pregnant at the end of 2024. Though it took me a little longer than most since I was averaging one to three classes a semester, I did not give up.”

Dr. Julien Mirivel, a UA 糖心视频logo professor of applied communication, was Wolven鈥檚 master’s paper advisor. 

鈥淚n her paper, she explored the nature of resilience of families facing medical hardships, especially when dealing with a child who is medically complex,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his research echoes her own experience since her child was diagnosed at birth with rare complications. Still, she persevered through her graduate work, delivered a baby in the process, and conducted meaningful research.鈥�

Wolven has shared her research beyond the classroom, including with several staff members and parents she鈥檚 met. 鈥淚 have also had the opportunity to present my research to one of Dr. Mirivel’s positive communication classes, to our Working Mothers ERG (Employee Resource Group) at the hospital, and in the 2026 Research and Creative Works Expo,” she said.

Encouraging words from her father before he passed in 2020 helped guide her through graduate school, Wolven said.

“One of the last things I remember him really telling me, when I was at a rather low point in my life, was how he thought I should pursue school further because he thought that was always something that kept me grounded and motivated,” she said. “On the days I wanted to give up, I kept reminding myself how proud he would be of me. My mom has also always been a huge supporter. . .We all can do it if we set our minds to it – one day at a time.”

Wolven said earning her master’s degree strengthened her confidence as a communicator.

“Positive communication allows us the chance to be not only the light to others, but the light in ourselves,” she said. “The way we talk to ourselves matters. During times of adversity, lean on this. During times of triumph, share this. It makes the difference.”

The post Building Resilience Through Words: Sarah Wolven鈥檚 Graduate Journey appeared first on News.

鈥淚 was working as a paralegal and loving it, but I was laid off, and alongside applying to more jobs, I finally applied to law school,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think with my personality and strengths, being a lawyer is the best way I can contribute to society. As a paralegal, I got to observe up close how much of a difference it can make just to have access to legal information, let alone advice, and I wanted to fill that role for my family and community.鈥�

On May 16, James will earn her Juris Doctor from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at 糖心视频logo. The first-generation law student has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from Philander Smith University, an associate degree in paralegal studies from Dallas College 鈥� El Centro Campus, and a master鈥檚 degree in alternative dispute resolution from Southern Methodist University.

The Cedar Hill, Texas, native said Philander Smith professor Justice Wynne encouraged her legal ambitions, including introducing her to Bowen. Wynne passed away before James could share her law school news, but she said his guidance remained influential. 鈥淚 am not disappointed in my choice to attend Bowen, so I still have him to thank for that,鈥� she said.

While at Bowen, James served on the Black Law Student Association, the First Generation Law Student Organization,  the Honor Council, and as research editor of the Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service, vice president of entertainment for the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and Themis representative. She also worked as an inquiry law clerk for the Arkansas Municipal League (AML).

AML Legal and Inquiry Counsel Caleb Alexander-McKinzie called James dependable, dedicated, and genuinely impactful. 鈥淪he is a fantastic researcher, she has excellent intuition, and an uncommon ability to understand the balance of governmental interests and individual impact of public policy, 鈥� he said.

James describes her time on the Honor Council, a student court for resolving disputes and conflicts among students, as a meaningful experience. 鈥淎s Chief Justice, I train the new justices that are elected, determine what cases brought before us fall under our jurisdiction, and facilitate the resolution for the cases we accept,鈥� she explained.

James said support from faculty, including professors Jordan Wallace-Wolf and Aaron Schwabach, and former professor andr茅 douglas pond cummings, helped her adapt to the challenges of law school.

She appreciated cummings for 鈥漢elping me adjust to the flavor of law school as a first-generation student. I wasn’t accustomed to the writing style, the study style, but between his course assignments and office hours, I started to find a rhythm.”

James credits Professor Terrence Cain with pushing her to grow academically. 鈥淗e made me take law school seriously and really forced me to reckon with the idea that I fully don’t understand what’s going on, and I better figure it out,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever, once I committed to doing the work and figuring it out, he was committed to making sure the work was done properly so I could learn and succeed.鈥�

She added that she received valuable advice from Dean of Academic Affairs Lindsey Gustafson, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Rejena Grotjohn, and former Dean Theresa Beiner.

“Jazmine is a very thoughtful and dedicated student,” Beiner said. “She always followed up after tests to see how she could improve her law school performance. She was also consistently prepared for class.”

She said she remains especially grateful for her parents’ support. 鈥淚 want to thank my parents, Miles and Tonnie James, for loving me, supporting me, comforting me, and encouraging me throughout my time in law school,鈥� she said.

After graduation, James will focus on preparing for the bar exam. As she prepares to begin her legal career, she encourages future law students to remember the human side of the profession.

鈥淢y big advice is to remember people,鈥� she said. 鈥淓verything starts to look like a case study in school, so we don’t always instinctively and fully appreciate that all the cases we are learning about were decided by real people because things happened to other real people.” 

James said the law should always be considered in the context of the people it affects.

鈥淲e are remiss to consider rules and laws without contextualizing them to the people creating and governed by them,鈥� she said.

The post Guided by Purpose: Jazmine James Finds Her Calling in the Law appeared first on News.

At the University of Arkansas at 糖心视频logo, psychology researchers are exploring these questions through a growing network of labs focused on sleep, cognition, and human-AI interaction.

Across three specialized lab spaces, faculty and students are examining how biological, cognitive, and technological forces intersect to shape human behavior. From tracking brain activity during sleep to modeling how stress affects memory and studying how people interact with AI systems, their work is helping answer questions that are increasingly relevant in everyday life.

Measuring Sleep and Its Consequences

In the department鈥檚 Biobehavioral Laboratory, often referred to simply as the sleep lab, Dr. David Mastin studies how sleep and sleepiness affect everyday life.

Sleep affects nearly every aspect of daily functioning, from reaction time and memory to mood and overall health. According to Mastin, many people operate at a deficit without realizing it.

鈥淎lmost everyone carries a sleep debt,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like being overdrawn in your checking account. You owe your body sleep.鈥�

He also notes that modern life makes that debt difficult to avoid, as artificial light, technology, and constant stimulation can disrupt natural sleep patterns and keep people from getting the rest they need.

That deficit can have serious consequences. Even one night without sleep can significantly impair performance.

鈥淚f you pull an all-nighter and we put you on a driving simulator, you would make as many mistakes as someone who is legally drunk,鈥� Mastin said.

The space is equipped with tools designed to measure brain activity, including electroencephalography (EEG), which tracks brain waves during different stages of sleep. A nap bed and observation room allow researchers to monitor eye and body movement without disturbing participants, while biofeedback equipment measures the body鈥檚 physiological responses to different stimuli.

Beyond these tools, the lab also relies on controlled sleep tests that measure alertness and fatigue, providing objective data that can be compared with how participants report feeling.

Much of the lab鈥檚 research extends beyond campus. Mastin and his students frequently work in the community. Right now, for instance, they are studying firefighters to better understand how sleep impacts performance in high-stakes environments. 

As part of this research, Mastin and his students attended a firefighter convention in Hot Springs to interview participants about their sleep habits. The next step is to digitize the survey to reach firefighters across different regions and cultures, with the goal of improving both their well-being and performance. 

Students play an active role in the research process, contributing to ongoing studies and developing their own projects under faculty guidance. Through this work, the lab connects physiological measurement with real-world behavior, bridging psychology with biological and health sciences to show how sleep quietly shapes nearly every part of daily life.

Understanding How We Think Under Stress

Just down the hall, Dr. Colton Hunter鈥檚 cognitive psychology lab focuses on how stress shapes the way people process and remember information.

Hunter鈥檚 research centers on working memory, the short-term ability to hold and manipulate information. Specifically, he studies how socioeconomic status influences cognition, examining how stress from factors such as income, education, and environment contribute to changes in how people process and recall information 鈥� highlighting how psychological processes are shaped by broader economic and social forces.. His primary research examines the effects of financial worry on working memory.

鈥淭he idea is that your financial problems might be occupying mental resources,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like the equivalent of having too many tabs open on your computer. It鈥檚 going to slow down performance.鈥�

In one common task used in his lab, participants are briefly shown a set of colored squares before the image disappears and reappears. They are then asked to determine whether anything has changed. While the task appears simple, it allows researchers to measure how much information a person can hold in mind, how accurately they respond, and how quickly they process what they see. 

These tasks are paired with socioeconomic survey data and written responses in which participants reflect on financial stressors, personal challenges, and neutral daily experiences. Hunter鈥檚 research explores whether financial stress uniquely impairs cognitive performance compared to other types of stress.

鈥淭he idea is that for participants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, writing about financial worries would potentially take away from their working memory performance more than a neutral event, but also more than any other type of stressor,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something special about financial stress.鈥�

A key feature of the lab is a high-powered computing system that allows Hunter to run complex statistical models and analyze large amounts of data quickly 鈥� work that would otherwise take days or even weeks.

The lab integrates students into every stage of the research process. Undergraduate participants contribute to ongoing studies as participants, while others serve as research assistants through independent study, gaining hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. This approach also allows Hunter to examine how financial worry affects cognition specifically within the student population.

Studying the Future of Human-AI Interaction

In the department鈥檚 newest lab, Dr. Mohsen Rafiei is exploring one of psychology鈥檚 quickest evolving frontiers 鈥� how humans interact with artificial intelligence.

Rafiei鈥檚 lab focuses on human-AI interaction, examining how people use, interpret, and trust increasingly sophisticated systems. 

鈥淲e are trying to understand how people interact with AI,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e want to understand how you as a human being interact with a smart system so we can learn to optimize that system for you.鈥�

One current project looks at how students use AI in their daily lives, including whether they trust the results from their questions 鈥� and whether or not that trust is warranted.

鈥淎I systems are probabilistic, which means there is always a good chance they are wrong,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any students don鈥檛 know this and trust whatever answer they are given. Our goal is to learn how to optimize this so we can address this problem.鈥�

To study these interactions, Rafiei鈥檚 lab is equipped with advanced tools that allow researchers to observe both behavior and brain activity in real time. Eye-tracking technology reveals where users focus their attention on a screen, while EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems measure which areas of the brain are active during interaction. Virtual reality headsets allow researchers to build immersive environments 鈥� such as a classroom with an AI assistant 鈥� and study how people respond in more lifelike scenarios. 

The lab also houses an incredibly powerful computer, known as an AI cluster, that allows researchers to run and customize AI models locally. By operating outside of internet-based systems, the lab can test models in a controlled environment without privacy concerns, giving researchers the ability to study how people interact with AI systems specifically designed for the experiment.

Together, these tools allow Rafiei and his students to examine not only what people do when interacting with AI, but also what is happening in their minds as they do it.

The work is inherently interdisciplinary, combining psychology with neuroscience, computer science, and physiology to better understand how humans engage with increasingly intelligent systems.

Students play a key role in that process, gaining hands-on experience working with AI models and advanced research tools. Skills gained in this lab prepare them for emerging careers in human-AI interaction.

鈥淭his is a new field,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淲e know about human cognition and perception, but how do we interact with another intelligent system? We don鈥檛 even know all the questions we need to ask yet.鈥�

As AI systems become more advanced and increasingly human-like, the challenge becomes even more complex.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not like interacting with a tool,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more like interacting with another intelligent being. And there are still so many open questions we need to answer.鈥�

Looking Ahead: Expanding Innovation in Psychology

Across all three labs, a common thread is clear: the future of psychology at UA 糖心视频logo is increasingly hands-on, interdisciplinary, and grounded in real-world impact.

For Dr. Sherwin, chair of the Department of Psychology, the new labs mark a turning point in the department鈥檚 identity.

鈥淩esearch has clearly become more prominent,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e intentionally building a department that is more uniformly engaged in research.鈥�

That shift is being driven in large part by new faculty hires, whose work is expanding both the scope and scale of research opportunities available to students. In the past, demand for research experience often outpaced availability. Now, that dynamic is reversing.

鈥淲e went from having more students than research opportunities to suddenly being in the opposite situation,鈥� she said.

As the department grows, so does its emphasis on preparing students for careers beyond the classroom. Through lab work, students gain practical experience in skills Sherwin says are valuable across industries such as data analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

To support that growth, the department is also introducing a new 鈥淩esearch Experience鈥� course this fall, designed to give students earlier and more accessible entry into lab work. The course allows students to begin developing research skills before moving into more independent, advanced projects.

鈥淧eople don鈥檛 always realize how marketable research skills are,鈥� Sherwin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really where our discipline shines at the undergraduate level 鈥� teaching students how to manage and present data, think critically and analytically, and answer questions effectively.鈥�

As psychology continues to intersect with fields like artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and data science, the work happening at UA 糖心视频logo is positioned at the forefront of that shift.

With new labs, advanced technology, and a growing emphasis on student-driven research, the department is not only keeping pace with the future of the discipline 鈥� it is helping define it.

The post Exploring the Human Mind: Inside UA 糖心视频logo鈥檚 Innovative Psychology Labs appeared first on News.

Originally from Nigeria, he began his academic career at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he built a strong foundation in chemistry. At UA 糖心视频logo, his work began to shift, and he developed his skill in multiple scientific disciplines.

鈥淐ompleting my master鈥檚 degree in chemistry means a lot to me, both academically and personally,鈥� Afolabi said. 鈥淚t shows how far I鈥檝e come, from building my foundation in Nigeria to developing my research interests at a more advanced level.鈥�

He found a new direction combining chemistry with technology after seeing the limits of more traditional approaches.

鈥淚 saw how time consuming, and sometimes subjective, those methods could be,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what pushed me to explore more data-driven approaches.鈥�

That shift became central to his work in the lab.

鈥淪tephen has been in my research group for about two years,鈥� said Dr. Jerry Darsey, professor in the School of Physical Sciences鈥揅hemistry and director of the Center for Molecular Design and Development at UA 糖心视频logo. 鈥淎lthough he chose to pursue a master鈥檚 degree rather than a Ph.D., he accomplished some very interesting and useful work for our center.鈥�

Darsey said Afolabi developed a software program that allows the lab鈥檚 spectral data to be used in its artificial intelligence research. The spectrometer produces data in one format, and before it can be used in AI models, it has to be converted into another.

鈥淪tephen wrote a program to make that conversion possible,鈥� Darsey said. 鈥淗e also built a bridge between our quantum simulation program and the data processing system. That kind of work makes our research more efficient and more connected.鈥�

The program was written in Python, making it compatible with many of the lab鈥檚 existing research tools.

He also started working on ways to make it easier and faster to identify compounds using infrared (IR) data.

鈥淔or me, it wasn鈥檛 just about learning new tools,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was about finding better ways to understand the data and make the process more efficient.鈥�

Afolabi sees this work as part of a broader shift in how science is done.

鈥淭hey can help us test ideas faster, handle large amounts of data, and find patterns we might miss otherwise,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 replace chemistry, they make it stronger.鈥�

That sense of growth hasn鈥檛 just happened in the lab. Moving to the United States meant adjusting to a new culture and academic system.

鈥淭hat experience pushed me to become more independent and more confident in myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 always easy, but it helped me grow.鈥�

He also found value in working with students from different backgrounds, which helped him see problems from new angles.

His academic path has also shaped that perspective. Along with chemistry, he holds a Certificate of Achievement in Geology, which has influenced how he approaches scientific problems.

鈥淚t helps me look at problems in a more complete way,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot just at the molecular level, but also how those ideas connect to real-world systems.鈥�

Graduate school helped him grow into a steady, collaborative and persistent leader.

鈥淟eadership isn鈥檛 always about being in charge,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 about staying committed, helping others, and working through challenges together.鈥�

He said studying in both Nigeria and the United States shaped how he understands science and the way he approaches problems. His early education focused on theory, while his graduate studies emphasized research and application.

鈥淏oth experiences shaped me in different ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow I feel more prepared to approach problems from different angles.鈥�

After graduation, Afolabi plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry and continue working in computational chemistry and machine learning, with the goal of using his research to solve real-world problems in the environment and industry.

鈥淚 want my work to make things more efficient and more accessible 鈥� to help turn complex data into something useful,鈥� he said.

UA 糖心视频logo has been part of that same progression.

鈥淚鈥檓 ready to keep growing and take on new challenges,鈥� he said.

The post UA 糖心视频logo Graduate Student Combines Chemistry and Technology to Shape Future of Research appeared first on News.

Grace Shelton, a biology major with pre-med dreams, Faith Shelton, determined to make her mark in civil engineering, and their mother Aaronda Williams, building her future in construction management, all share the same graduation date. 

Across the three women, there are 16 organizational involvements, 13 scholarships, three majors, and one shared journey.

鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy to think about,鈥� Grace says, reflecting on the idea of all graduating together. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we ever would have thought it would happen, but here we are.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 exactly planned, but maybe it was always meant to be. Aaronda remembers conversations from when her daughters were young, when she would ask them about their dreams and talk through the steps they鈥檇 need to take. 

鈥淭hey would ask me, 鈥楳om, what do you want to be?鈥� And I鈥檇 tell them. They鈥檇 say, 鈥榊ou can still do that!鈥� I always said, 鈥楳aybe when y鈥檃ll go back, I鈥檒l go back too,鈥� Aaronda recalls.

Aaronda was always grateful for the small moments.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so amazing having them on campus. We have lunch together, go to events, and cheer each other on. It means the world,鈥� Aaronda says.

But it鈥檚 not always easy. Burnout, doubt, and exhaustion are familiar hurdles. 

鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 hard to keep going,鈥� Grace admits. 鈥淏ut we always remind each other of our goals. When I felt unsure if I belonged, I could come home, talk it out, and get my motivation back.鈥�

For Aaronda, her daughters are more than just support 鈥� they鈥檙e inspiration.聽

鈥淭hey鈥檙e working, going to school, having a social life, and still showing up for me. I can鈥檛 complain about working and going to school when I see them doing it all.鈥�

That mutual inspiration is rooted in the example Aaronda set. 

鈥淪eeing our mom balance everything, that鈥檚 what shaped our mindset,鈥� Grace reflects. 鈥淗er strength influenced us a lot.鈥�

Still, the women have built their own campus families, branching out into leadership programs, sororities, and student organizations. 

鈥淲e鈥檝e found mentors and friends at UA 糖心视频logo,鈥� says Faith, 鈥渂ut our family bond is always there, too.鈥�

Each woman can pinpoint moments that will stick with her forever. For Aaronda, it鈥檚 lunch together at The WOW Cafe with all her daughters. For Faith, it鈥檚 the quiet joy of everyone gathered in her dorm, just talking, just being together. For Grace it is the memory of all of them realizing they would be graduating together after all. 

As graduation nears, emotions run high. 

鈥淚鈥檒l be grateful and at peace,鈥� Aaronda says. 鈥淚 can finally breathe.鈥� 

Grace knows she鈥檒l be emotional, thinking of how much she鈥檚 grown since her shy, uncertain middle school days. Faith, too, feels the weight of her family鈥檚 achievement, coming from a background without many degrees, and now adding three new ones at once.

Looking to the future, they look to the legacy they hope to leave. 

For Grace, representation in medicine is key. 

鈥淭here aren鈥檛 enough Black women physicians. I want to open a practice for underserved communities and be someone people can see themselves in,鈥� Grace says.

Aaronda dreams of creating a nonprofit to help women enter construction, opening doors that have too often been closed. 

鈥淲e need more women in construction, and I want to show them the way鈥攇ive them a clear pathway to a career,鈥� Aaronda says.

Faith is focused on civil engineering and preparing for a career in roadway and infrastructure design.

鈥淚 want to create infrastructure that strengthens and connects communities,鈥� Faith says.

What鈥檚 next? More giving back, more mentorship, more dreams. Maybe even graduate school, Aaronda jokes 鈥� though with two more daughters still in high school, she might have company again.

For now, the focus is on celebrating, on capturing a family photo in cap and gown, on reflecting on just how far they鈥檝e come 鈥� together.

The post A Family Affair: Mother and Daughters Graduate Together appeared first on News.

When asked about the initial reaction to joining the board, Rafiei described it as both an honor and a responsibility. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just a title,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚DSPP is doing important work that bridges research and public policy. The invitation represents an opportunity to contribute in ways that go well beyond traditional academic work.鈥�

IDSPP is an organization dedicated to strengthening the relationship between design research, legal reasoning, and public impact. Its broader aim is to support applied design research and ensure that legal and policy discussions are informed by strong evidence. The organization contributes to public discourse through research initiatives, amicus briefs and working papers 鈥� all aimed at integrating scientific understanding of design into real-world contexts.

鈥淭he invitation felt like a natural fit because my work consistently explores the ways research can connect human behavior, design and decision making in practical settings. IDSPP鈥檚 commitment to bringing rigorous design-related research into public and legal contexts is deeply meaningful to me,鈥� said Rafiei.

Design science plays an important role in public policy. Design shapes how people interact with products, systems, and institutions, affecting usability, access, behavior, and decision-making. This means design is not just a creative issue 鈥� it is also a public one. By bringing evidence-based approaches to design-related policy questions, organizations like IDSPP help ensure that legal and policy decisions are informed by scientific understanding. 

Serving on the IDSPP board has already begun to challenge and expand Rafiei鈥檚 perspective as a researcher. 

鈥淚t expands my thinking by pushing me to consider how research can function outside academic settings,鈥� said Rafiei. 鈥淚n research, we often focus on theory, methods and findings, but in a role like this, you also have to think about how evidence is interpreted in broader public, legal and institutional contexts. That is valuable because it pushes me to think more carefully about how research can be communicated, applied and made useful in higher-stakes environments.鈥�

Rafiei also sees the opportunity as one that extends beyond his own work, with benefits for the university community.

He hopes to bring back stronger models for how academic research can translate into real-world impact, particularly in public conversations, policy decisions and interdisciplinary collaboration. For Rafiei, seeing how research is applied in legal and policy contexts reinforces the importance of scholarship that contributes to broader societal discussions.

Personally and professionally, the appointment represents a meaningful milestone for Rafiei, reflecting his commitment to research that extends beyond academia.

鈥淚t reflects the work I care about most 鈥� research that matters beyond academia,鈥� Rafiei said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a chance to work alongside experts from different fields, contribute my perspective, and continue growing as a scholar. It鈥檚 about connecting strong research with real-world application 鈥� that鈥檚 the kind of work I鈥檓 most passionate about.鈥�

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