2020 Holster Scholars

The Holster Scholar Program is a highly selective enrichment opportunity for curious first-year Honors students that supports a small number of motivated students interested in independent research, design, or creative projects the summer following their first year. Holster projects are in-depth, individualized learning experiences.  Beyond some basic requirements, projects are self-designed.  The Holster Scholars Program is made possible by a generous gift from Robert (’68) and Carlotta (’68) Holster.


Erik Choi
Project: The Role of Sex Hormones in Heterotopic Ossification
Mentor: Prof. David Goldhamer, Molecular & Cell Biology


Mandira Gowda
Project: Incorporating Deep Lab Cut Software to Better Understand the Processes that Contribute to Observational Learning in Rats
Mentor: Prof. Etan Markus, Psychological Sciences


Katie Hooker
Project: Investigating Reading and Language Phenotypes Through FOXP2 Genetic Variants
Mentor: Prof. Nicole Landi, Psychological Sciences


Musa Hussain
Project: Intersectionality and the Climate Movement 
Mentor: Prof. Mary Bernstein, Sociology


Paul Isaac
Project: A Sticky Situation: An Investigation of Horseshoe Crab Clotting Factors
Mentor: Prof. Rachel O’Neill, Molecular & Cell Biology


Jerome Jacobs
Project: A Wearable Armband Biosensor for Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring
Mentor: Prof. Insoo Kim, Biomedical Engineering


Neal Krishna
Project: Characterizing the Genetic and Molecular Landscape of Supratentorial Ependymoma
Mentor: Prof. Joseph Lo Turco, Physiology & Neurobiology


Sarah Marze
Project: Songs of Salem: Toward the Hanging Tree
Mentor: Prof. Kenneth Fuchs, Music Composition


Charles Schwarz
Project: Exploring the Effects of Anthropomorphism and Realism in Emotional Reactions to Robots
Mentor: Prof. Kristine Nowak, Communication


Elisa Shaholli
Project: Comparing Representations of Physical, Visible Disability and Diabetes in Fantasy Films
Mentor: Prof. Brenda Jo Brueggemann, English


Joshua Yu
Project: Correlating Intracellular Distribution of Nanoparticle Therapeutics with Cytotoxicity
Mentor: Prof. Xiuling Lu, Pharmaceutical Sciences