Arrix Ryce
Biochemistry / Religion, Medicine & Society - Medical Sociology
Summer Undergraduate Minority Research (SUMR) Program
“Arrix completed a mentored research experience at the University of Pennsylvania's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI). His two research projects aimed to identify unmet palliative care needs among hospitalized patients with COPD and to characterize attitudes toward minorities within medicine. Additionally, Arrix composed a piece called "Reestablishing a Medical Space for Hope and Healing" that has been published on the SUMR Times Blog of Penn LDI” – Arrix Ryce
Meghana Shownkeen
Neuroscience - Neurology
SEM analyis of the Ultrastructure and Composition of Cerebal Thrombi Retrieved by Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices in Ischemic Stroke Patients
“My research uses scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the fine structure of cerebral thrombi retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy devices in ischemic stroke patients.” - Meghana Shownkeen
Michael Ortega
Neuroscience - Law and Mental Health
Improving Strategies for Diverting People with Mental Illness Away from the Criminal Justice System
“With funding from Beyond the Book, I studied a population of individuals at the intersection of Miami-Dade County’s mental health and criminal justice systems. Specifically, I recorded their progress through a court-run linkage service program - the Criminal Mental Health Project - to identify and correct gaps or redundancies in our services. I also travelled to the 35th Biannual International Congress on Law and Mental Health in Prague to collaborate with teams around the world involved in similar research.” – Michael Ortega
Nidhi Patel
Neuroscience - Humanities
Jumpstart
“My Beyond the Book experience explored a sustainable model for donating educational materials to influence microsystem processes in rehabilitation schools in India. Through this award I was not only able to donate backpacks, uniforms, physical education activities and much more to five schools but also established a structured model for donation by maximizing funds. Data collection from previous schools I had donated to reported increases in number of students attending as well as long term student retention.” – Nidhi Patel
Kyla Leonard
Psychology - Psychology
Effects of Infant Touch on Behavior
“Infant touch, such as skin-to-skin contact and massage is a vital aspect of infant rearing; however, little is known about the effects of social touch on behavior. My research explored individual differences in reactions to social touch, priming effects of social touch on visual attention to faces, and the relationship between touch enjoyment/avoidance and visual attention to faces.” – Kyla Leonard
Sarah Price
Anthropology - Anthropology
Burials, Food Life, and Understanding the First Floridians
“Over the summer of 2017, thanks to the Beyond the Book Scholarship, I was able to conduct a research project examining the skeletal material of several ancient Floridian groups, with the guidance of Monica Faraldo and Dr. Linda Taylor of the University of Miami’s Department of Anthropology. I took measurements and visual assessments of the skulls, mainly the faces, of the individuals in each collection in the hopes of understanding more about their ancestry, migration to the Americas, and possible relationships to the other groups in the study. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I was given to put my education to practical use and develop real world skills while forging connections with professionals in my field” – Sarah Price
Bennett Leeds
Musical Theatre - Greek Theatre History
Ancient Greek Theatre: A Link to the Past
“My Beyond the Book travels brought me to the birthplace of theatre in the heart of Athens. I visited some of the largest theaters in the world and immersed myself in Greek culture by seeing contemporary productions across the Greek peninsula. With my scholarship, I gained perspective on the roots of my work that my normal undergraduate experience would not have provided me.”- Bennett Leeds
Christine Li
Biology and Economics - Biology/Neuroscience
Gap junctions and neural coordination of the egg-laying circuit in Caenohabditis elegans
“Gap junctions are essential intracellular structures needed for cell communication and regulation. Our research investigates the function of the UNC-7 and UNC-9 innexin gap junctions in egg-laying behavior and circuit.” – Christine Li
Faraah Bekheet
Chemistry - Adolescent HIV Education and Awareness
Promote 2 Prevent
“The Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of Miami is Miami’s sole clinic that provides free STD, HIV, and pregnancy testing and treatment exclusively for adolescents. Unfortunately, Miami has the highest rate of HIV infection in the country, emphasizing the importance of the clinic’s mission. In the past, the clinic has primarily partnered with local schools to conduct testing, which limits access to young adults that dropped out of high school or did not continue their education after graduation, a population that is more prone to endangering behaviors. Therefore, research over the summer was devoted to testing ways of expanding the clinic’s reach through social media marketing and partnering with local business that employ young adults, such as restaurants and retail stores.” – Faraah Bekheet
Robert Eddy
Musical Theatre BFA Acting - Shakespeare
Exploring Shakespeare's London in a Modern World - Change to " The Crusade of Connor Stephens"
“The Beyond the Book scholarship permitted me to obtain a deeper understanding of the American theatrical world through my work as Associate Director on the critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway production of The Crusade of Connor Stephens. Coupled with my exploration of the other current running Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, my research provided insight into the ways in which we can make progressive theatre accessible for American audiences. I now return to my studies at the University of Miami with the motivation to cultivate an environment of conscious theatre makers." - Robert Eddy
Jack Adcock
Biology and Psychology - Ecology and Behavior
Effects of Biogenic Amines on Aggression and Recognition in the Weaver Ant
Mollie Cole
Mulcahy
Matthew Wiefels
Frederic Vallejo
Sarah Monsey 
Lily Giardino
Emily Wheeler