Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Graeme Grainger conducted research this summer on a saliva-based test to detect radiation-induced lung injury — a test that could potentially be used for astronauts exposed to space radiation.

Working on the project with Dr. Amber Paul, assistant professor in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology and director of the Omics Lab for Health and Human Performance, also helped him to discover his potential career path: immunology.

“This research has really helped me stay motivated in school and pushed me in the direction of what I want to do,” said Grainger, a senior Aerospace Physiology major. “I’d like to be involved in figuring out what we need to know to keep astronauts safer in space.”

Grainger was among more than 90 students who presented 58 research projects at Embry-Riddle’s second annual Summer Research Symposium. Held at the Mori Hosseini Student Union, the event featured work by students across all the colleges on the Daytona Beach Campus, as well as students pursuing degrees through the Worldwide Campus.

“It’s amazing how much engagement we’ve had over the summer,” said Dr. Mihhail Berezovski, director of the university’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). “Summer is a good time for students to fully dedicate themselves to research with fewer distractions.”

Alexis Friendly, a Worldwide graduate who recently earned her master’s degree in Human Factors, said she enjoyed connecting with other student researchers exploring artificial intelligence. Working with College of Aviation faculty mentor Dr. Herb Hoffmann, she investigated how AI systems, such as facial-recognition and chatbot tools, can influence how people interpret risk, verify information, make decisions and engage emotionally.

“It’s been validating to see how my work fits in with other AI-related research projects,” said Friendly.

Carolyn Richardson, a senior Electrical Engineering major, worked with Dr. Fan Yang, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, on research that spurred her interest in biomedical engineering. The project focuses on developing a preliminary, affordable diagnostic tool for acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. The tool uses an AI-based neural network model to pinpoint cancerous cells by analyzing blood smear images.

Richardson will present her research at the Biomedical Engineering Society 2026 Annual Meeting.

"Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common pediatric cancer in the world, so receiving support from the Office of Undergraduate Research to work towards a more accessible solution for diagnosis has been amazing,” she said.

Richardson was among 32 students who received Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) grants, which provide students with a stipend and funding to support their research over the summer. For the past two years, the Office of Undergraduate Research has been able to support more students with SURF awards, thanks to colleges providing additional funding.

Conner Nurse spent the summer working with Dr. Shuzhen Luo, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Robotics and Intelligent Learning Lab. His project, designing an upper-body robotic exoskeleton for mobility augmentation in reduced-gravity environments, helped him land a NASA Pathways internship at Kennedy Space Center in the fall.

“The SURF grant gave me the peace of mind to not have to work or have other obligations this summer and just focus on my research,” said Nurse, a senior Mechanical Engineering student.

SURF recipients work closely with faculty mentors during the summer to build strong research skills. The experience can also help them secure internships and jobs and prepare them for industry and graduate school.

Bansari Patel, a junior in the College of Aviation and a SURF grant recipient who aspires to become a commercial pilot, had the opportunity to be involved in data-driven research relating to aviation safety. With Dr. Flavio Mendonca, an associate professor and researcher in the Aeronautical Science Department, she analyzed wildlife strike incidents involving commercial aircraft across the United States. The study is on-going, and she expects to publish her research paper by the end of September 2026.

“Dr. Flavio’s support, guidance, mentorship and encouragement throughout this journey have been incredible. His expertise and knowledge have helped me grow as a researcher and made this project a truly rewarding experience,” said Patel.

Shivika Singh, a sophomore in the David B. O’Maley College of Business and SURF grant recipient, found a novel way to showcase her research, which analyzed the financial determinants of profitability among major U.S. commercial airlines. Through a QR code on her poster, attendees could view her pre-recorded presentation.

“Conducting this research pushed me to think like both an analyst and a storyteller,” she said, “translating years of airline financial data into insights that actually mean something.”

Singh said collaborating with Dr. Jayendra Gokhale, associate professor in the Accounting, Economics, Finance and Information Sciences Department, has given her the confidence to pursue more ambitious research going forward.

“It confirmed that this is the kind of work I want to keep building toward as I look ahead to graduate study,” she said.