As a first-generation student, Tyler Ball started her freshman year with the ACCESS Program for Women in Science, enabling her to participate in research in the field of chemistry. Ball’s dedication to chemistry and work ethic reaches beyond the average; she actively seeks out opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge related to chemistry, even studying foundational organic chemistry skills over Christmas break. This is evident from her commitment to research starting her second semester of college in distinguished professor Matt Sigman’s laboratories, undertaking a project in the oxidative addition mechanism of electrochemically generated pyridine-oxazoline-ligated Co(I) complexes. This hard work and extra time to fully understand the material led to a publication in the National Professional Society Journal.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was not deterred but instead took the opportunity to focus on computational chemistry. She seamlessly transitioned to performing chemistry quantum computations remotely. Her unrelenting determination to overcome academic and personal challenges is a testament to her character, a characteristic noted multiple times by her letter writers. It is clear that Ball is a rising star in the academic and research world, they note, which will provide her with the foundation to successfully pursue a green chemistry doctorate.

Jason Manning’s biomedical engineering journey began with a visit to the hospital for restricted circulation to the heart due to a swollen pericardium. Unsatisfied with the “unknown” reason for this swelling, Manning immediately dove into the world of biomedical engineering, focusing on cardiac research as a freshman at the University of Utah. He started conducting research in 2014 when he first studied the genotoxicity of caffeine at BYU. Since beginning his undergraduate career at the U, he has worked in Professor Jeffrey Weiss’ lab studying the mechanics of angiogenesis in soft-tissue engineering. He presented his research on time series imaging of angiogenesis to the Undergraduate Research Competition at the Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransportation Conference in June 2020. Manning’s research received a third-place award out of more than 100 entries, an impressive achievement for this young researcher. His research through Weiss’ lab will result in co-authorship on two original research articles. Throughout his endeavors, Manning continues to be motivated to continue learning and asking difficult research questions. He is a hardworking, productive and insightful young man, to which all his letter writers enthusiastically attest. Undoubtedly, they say, Manning will continue to positively impact the medical community in years to come.

Devon Cantwell is a doctoral student in political science. She received a Fulbright Research Award to conduct research in Vietnam.
She will examine how cities address human security issues such as the needs of individuals, including food, water and shelter. To advance scholarship in this area, Cantwell’s research uses the case study of Ho Chi Minh City to explore three key questions:

1. What role do cities play in global climate change governance?
2. Do cities influence how state actors craft and enact climate action plans?
3. How do cities diffuse policy to national and international levels of governance?

Understanding Vietnam's climate change would contribute to broader impacts in climate change governance literature significantly by helping to explain Global South pathways for climate change adaptation and mitigation.