MURS Faculty
The following is a list of faculty members at Mercer University who have indicated that they are willing to take a student for the Mercer Undergraduate Research Scholar Training Initiative (MURS). The list is divided by location.
Students who are selected to participate in MURS will receive a $4000 taxable stipend for the 10-week program ($2000 if only participating in one summer session) for working ~40 hours per week with their faculty mentor. Students in MURS on the Macon or Atlanta campuses will also be provided housing in university facilities, although they are not required to stay on campus. Housing is not available in Columbus or Savannah, so these locations will be accessible only to students living in those areas.
Any questions about MURS should be directed to Dr. Garland Crawford.
MURS Positions in Macon
Dr. Frank McNally – Physics – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Cosmic rays are the most energetic particles in the known universe. By studying the energy region where they transition from galactic to extragalactic sources, we hope to uncover their origins, unlocking a study of astrophysical laboratories impossible to replicate on Earth. Using simulation and data from the IceCube Observatory, students will work toward this goal in one of two ways: 1) testing improvements for a deep-learning-based reconstruction of cosmic ray energy, or 2) studying time dependencies in sky maps of the cosmic-ray arrival direction. Both topics involve the processing and analysis of large amounts of data; prior programming experience is not required, but a willingness to learn is a must.
Dr. Elizabeth Peterson – Biology – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Antibiotic resistance genes naturally occur in antibiotic-producing soil bacteria such as Streptomyces or Bacillus organisms. Through horizontal gene transfer, these resistance mechanisms have spread from environmental producer organisms to pathogenic bacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, a process exacerbated by selective pressure from antibiotic misuse and overuse. One area of research examines the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment resulting from human activity using qPCR analysis and metagenomic sequencing. Many resistance genes identified belong to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, which use energy from ATP hydrolysis to mediate functions ranging from drug efflux to target site protection. Canonical ABC transporters contain two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) and transmembrane domains (TMDs) responsible for substrate transport. In contrast, members of the ABCF subfamily lack TMDs and consist of two fused NBDs connected by an inter-linker domain that likely contributes to ligand specificity. Previously characterized ABCF proteins confer antibiotic resistance by protecting the bacterial ribosome from ribosome-targeting antibiotics, while others may play a role in protection against DNA-targeting antibiotics. Two ABCF proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis remain poorly studied and have not been biochemically characterized. In a second project, we aim to optimize purification conditions for these two ABCF proteins (5102 and ABCF1) using pET28a N-terminal His-tag expression constructs. Following purification, these proteins will be biochemically characterized through ATP-binding and hydrolysis assays, including tryptophan quenching and ATPase activity measurements. Future studies will involve site-directed mutagenesis of conserved regions within the NBDs and inter-linker domain, functional analysis of isolated domains, and ligand identification. Additional work will include cloning ABCF genes from pathogenic species such as M. tuberculosis and M. leprae to assess conservation of structure and function across ABCF proteins.
Dr. Benjamin Greulich – Biology – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
First summer session only (May 18 – June 19)
TGF-β signaling typically regulates apoptosis, suppresses cell growth, and immune responses. However, in cancer, this pathway shifts to promote tumor progression through epithelial-to mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, immune evasion, and angiogenesis, with TGF-β signaling’s role changing from tumor-suppressing to tumor-promoting as cancer develops. The ETS related gene, ERG, has previously been implicated with the proliferation, invasion and survival of prostate cancer, leukemia, and Ewing sarcoma. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis shows that high ERG expression is associated with decreased survival in cancers such as bladder, cervical, gastric, and renal cancers. These findings are particularly significant because ERG has not been extensively studied in these contexts. Preliminary functional assays demonstrated that ERG knockdown in Hela cells led to a significant decrease in cell migration. The addition of TGF-β to cells with ERG knockdown partially restored migration, suggesting that TGF-β could compensate for the loss of ERG expression. This project will explore the connection between ERG and the TGF-β signaling pathway through evaluating cellular phenotypes and activity of cellular pathways upon genetic alterations and drug treatments. Large data sets, including ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data will be analyzed to complement these phenotypic assays. Finally, this project will attempt to identify and test drugs that target ERG and determine their efficacy and feasibility as a potential strategy for modulating TGF-β expression and inhibiting cancer cell migration.
Dr. Samantha Deal – Biology – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Second summer session only (June 22 – July 24)
Sleep is a conserved biological need for our physical and mental well-being. However, sleep disruption is common, particularly with certain diseases and with age. Dr. Deal’s lab focuses on understanding the role of mitochondria in sleep decline and how this relates to aging. We use the model system Drosophila melanogaster (i.e., fruit fly). Just like in humans, the humble fruit fly needs sleep, shows sleep decline with age, and shares many genes with humans that regulate mitochondria and brain function. Using genetic manipulations, we can selectively reduce gene expression to disrupt mitochondrial function or restore mitochondrial health, and then examine their effects on sleep. In this summer program, students will perform dissections and fluorescence microscopy to determine what types of mitochondrial dysfunction are seen in sleep mutants. They will also investigate whether rescuing mitochondrial health in sleep mutants is able to improve sleep and/or aging phenotypes. Lastly, they will perform studies to determine the cellular mechanism causing sleep dysfunction in specific mitochondrial mutants. The goal of this summer work, and future work in the lab, is to determine whether specific mitochondrial functions are important for sleep as we age, as well as whether other age-related traits can be separated from sleep decline by improving mitochondrial health.
Dr. Cameron Kunzelman – Communication Studies and Theatre – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
First summer session only (May 18 – June 19)
This summer project centers on the relationship between historical strategy games and the situations that they model. By surveying several historical wargames, our work will focus on what I am calling the granularity of historical simulations. By reading through archival materials around these games, and playing some of them, we will work up a data set the determines what the high and low grades of granularity are within them. We will use that information to write an explanatory piece of scholarship that analyzes what is gained and lost by higher levels of granularity in terms of historical information and the contingent outcomes of both the historical situations and the games that simulate them.
Dr. Caroline Anglim – Bioethics and Medical Humanities – School of Medicine
First summer session only (May 18 – June 19)
The Mercer University Campus Grant will aim to advance the concept of religion as a social determinant of dying well in the American healthcare system. This concept builds on the public health research and policy model that identifies circumstances or conditions of daily living as primary to health and wellness—rather than healthcare services themselves. The grant activities turn the focus to palliative and hospice medicine, wherein the medical aim is not always to cure but rather to comfort and aid in the dying process. The student research associated with this grant will center on questions of how religious communities prepare for death or support each other in death and dying, how religion or spirituality impacts mental health at the end of life, what religious assets or resources might improve the experience of dying in the American healthcare system, and how leaders in religious communities and healthcare institutions might work together to better meet the needs of dying patients and their families. Student researchers will work directly with the grant PIs to develop a research project that supports their interests and skills.
Dr. Szabolcs Blazsek – Economics – Stetson-Hatcher School of Business
We develop a score‑driven fractionally integrated quasi‑autoregressive model with Student’s t innovations (t‑FI‑QAR), in which the degree of fractional integration, the conditional mean, and the conditional scale evolve via likelihood‑based updates. Using monthly U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) land‑and‑ocean temperature anomalies for six regions (Arctic, Antarctic, Atlantic Ocean, Northeast Pacific Ocean, Northern and Southern Hemispheres) from January 1850 to October 2025, we show that the degree of fractional integration rises over time across all regions, implying increasingly persistent temperature dynamics.
Dr. Abigail Dowling – History – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
My project, “Negotiating Natural Resources,” is a book-length study of how elites battled on, in, and about land and natural resources in the contentious three decades (1302-29) leading up to the Hundred Years’ War between England, France, and the Low Countries (1337-1453). It focuses on episodes of war, territorial expansion, inheritance disputes, rebellion, and peace to understand the social, political, and economic roles that natural resources, such as timber, mineral ores, and stone, played in late medieval elite society. While focused on human management of natural resources and its role in human culture and society, I also address the consequences of management on the environment. The primary sources I use are account books from a peer of France, Countess Mahaut d’Artois. At nearly 12,000 separate documents, I must use an online “AI-assisted” platform, Transkribus, to do the first pass on the transcriptions, which I then correct and tag for export into my database for mapping and visual analysis (GIS). The student should have intermediate fluency with French and/or Latin to help tag the transcribed manuscripts, load the tagged entries into the database, and be able to clean the data for input into GIS. Ideally, the student would be familiar with environmental history methodologies and analytical methods to aid in setting up visual analyses. Students with experience in training LLM and database and QGIS integration are also welcome. I am open to and encourage students to use the transcribed account books to work on their own medieval environmental scholarship.
Dr. Sarah Bauer – Environmental and Civil Engineering – School of Engineering
Obtaining nutritious food is increasingly challenging due to rapid urbanization and the environmental impacts of conventional agricultural practices. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), particularly hydroponic systems, offers a promising pathway to enhance urban food security while improving resource efficiency. This research program centers on a pilot-scale hydroponics system that serves as a hands-on research platform where students will lead independent and collaborative research projects evaluating the overall sustainability of the hydroponic CEA system, including water and energy use, nutrient inputs, and system productivity, while applying life-cycle and systems-based thinking. In addition, students will investigate crop-specific nutrient requirements by designing experiments that compare nutrient formulations and growth responses across multiple food crops. Through these activities, participants will gain immersive research training in experimental design, system operation, quantitative data analysis, and sustainability assessment, while developing skills in scientific communication through manuscript preparation and conference presentations. The program emphasizes mentorship, interdisciplinary learning, and the integration of environmental engineering principles with sustainable food production, preparing students for careers in science and engineering.
Dr. Annie Mulholland – Exercise Science – College of Health Professions
Heat stress and strain is an increasingly dangerous occupational hazard but measurement of physiological responses to heat exposure in the workplace is expensive, invasive, and often not compatible with work duties. A survey instrument for measuring heat stress and strain would provide an inexpensive and noninvasive method for estimating the effects of workplace heat exposure, but the survey instrument needs to be validated before it can be used appropriately. The project goal for this summer is to pilot the Heat Strain Index (HSI) survey and analyze the collected data to validate the survey questions. There may also be other opportunities in Dr. Mulholland’s lab this summer to help with laboratory-based data collection on the physiological responses to simulated occupational work in a hot and humid environment.
Dr. Melinda Hollingshed – Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management – School of Engineering
This research investigates the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing process improvement methodologies within organizational contexts. As businesses increasingly seek competitive advantages through operational excellence, generative AI presents unprecedented opportunities to augment traditional process improvement frameworks including Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. The study examines how generative AI tools can increase the efficiency and robustness of core process improvement activities. This includes exploring AI applications in value stream mapping, root cause analysis, process simulation, and predictive analytics. The research will assess whether AI-enhanced tools can accelerate improvement cycles, identify optimization opportunities more comprehensively, and provide deeper insights than conventional approaches. A critical component of this work addresses the ethical and safety implications of deploying AI in process improvement contexts. This encompasses examining potential algorithmic biases, data privacy concerns, transparency requirements, and the impact on workforce dynamics. The research will develop frameworks for responsible AI integration that balance innovation with ethical considerations and human oversight. Additionally, the project explores practical implementation strategies for embedding generative AI within established methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma. This includes investigating how AI can support DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) phases, facilitate continuous improvement culture, and complement rather than replace human expertise. Through literature review, case study analysis, and potentially empirical testing, this research aims to provide actionable insights for organizations considering AI adoption in their process improvement initiatives while establishing guidelines for ethical and effective implementation.
Dr. Eazaz Sadeghvaziri – Environmental and Civil Engineering – School of Engineering
Driving Simulator Scenario Development and Human Behavior Research: Driving simulators are powerful research tools used in transportation engineering, psychology, and human factors to safely study driver behavior in realistic but controlled environments. This project introduces undergraduate researchers to the process of designing and implementing virtual roadway environments and conducting behavioral driving studies using a high-fidelity driving simulator. The student will first learn how driving simulators are configured and calibrated, including hardware components, software interfaces, and data acquisition systems. They will then receive hands-on training in building roadway networks and traffic scenarios using simulator development tools. This includes creating intersections, road geometries, signage, traffic control devices, and environmental conditions (e.g., weather, lighting, traffic density). After gaining foundational skills, the student will design and implement an original simulator scenario focused on different driving behavior types (e.g., cautious, aggressive, distracted, or fatigued driving). The student will help develop experimental protocols, recruit participants, and conduct simulator sessions. Data collected from the simulator (e.g., speed, lane position, braking, reaction time) will be processed and analyzed to identify behavioral patterns and safety implications. Through this project, the student will gain experience in transportation research methods, human behavior analysis, experimental design, and data interpretation. The project will culminate in a research poster and presentation at Mercer’s undergraduate research symposium, with the potential for co-authorship on a conference or journal publication. This opportunity is ideal for students interested in transportation engineering, computer simulation, human-computer interaction, or safety research. Students will develop valuable technical, analytical, and research skills applicable to careers in engineering, technology, and behavioral science. Second project: Using Artificial Intelligence to Create Educational Videos: Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how educational content is created and delivered. AI tools can now generate visuals, narration, animations, and interactive media, enabling educators to produce engaging instructional videos more efficiently than traditional methods. This project explores how AI can be used to design and produce effective educational videos for teaching complex concepts in transportation and engineering. The undergraduate researcher will learn how to use emerging AI media tools for script generation, visual creation, voice synthesis, and video assembly. The project will begin with a review of best practices in educational video design, including cognitive load principles, visual clarity, pacing, and learner engagement. The student will then evaluate and compare different AI tools for educational content creation. The core of the project involves developing a series of short educational videos explaining transportation-related topics (e.g., traffic safety concepts, autonomous vehicle technology, or roadway design principles). The student will design storyboards, generate AI-based visuals and narration, and assemble videos using AI-assisted production workflows. The effectiveness of the videos will be assessed through student feedback and learning comprehension measures. This research will help identify practical guidelines for using AI in educational media production and will contribute to innovative teaching methods in engineering education. The student will gain skills in AI applications, digital media production, instructional design, and research evaluation. This project is well suited for students interested in artificial intelligence, education, digital media, communication, or engineering. Students will develop technical, and research skills highly relevant to modern education and technology careers.
Dr. Amro Khasawneh – Industrial Engineering and Industrial Management – School of Engineering
This undergraduate research project focuses on water electrolysis as a method for producing green hydrogen, hydrogen generated using renewable electricity with minimal environmental impact. As global energy systems shift toward low-carbon solutions, green hydrogen is gaining attention as a promising option for clean energy storage, transportation, and industrial applications. This project introduces students to the science and engineering behind hydrogen production while building hands-on research and problem-solving skills. Participants will design, build, and test a laboratory-scale water electrolysis system to study the fundamental electrochemical processes involved in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The project will examine how operating conditions such as voltage, current, temperature, and electrolyte composition influence hydrogen production rate and system efficiency. Students will also explore how electrolysis systems can be powered by renewable energy sources, highlighting the connection between clean electricity and sustainable fuel production. In addition to experimental work, the project emphasizes data collection, performance evaluation, and clear technical communication. Students will analyze results, interpret system performance, and reflect on the broader role of hydrogen in future energy systems, including challenges related to efficiency, cost, and scalability. By the end of the project, participants will gain practical experience with clean energy technologies and develop a stronger understanding of how engineering research contributes to sustainable solutions.
Dr. Hunmin Kim – Electrical and Computer Engineering – School of Engineering
Autonomous drone fleet with human-in-the-loop control: In this project, students will help build a team of smart drones that can automatically follow a person and work together safely. The drones will use cameras to recognize and track a human operator, then adjust their motion in real time to follow smoothly and avoid obstacles. Students will work on exciting topics such as computer vision, drone control, wireless communication between drones, and collision avoidance. The system will also include a manual control mode, allowing the human operator to take direct control of the drone fleet when needed. During the summer, students will design, implement, and test key parts of the system and gain hands-on experience with real drones, sensors, and programming tools. This project is ideal for students interested in robotics, AI, computer vision, control systems, or autonomous vehicles.
Dr. Sung-Jae Cha – Biomedical Sciences – School of Medicine
Dr. Cha’s laboratory investigates vector-borne diseases using molecular, immunological, and genetic approaches. Current research focuses on identifying ligand–receptor interactions that regulate the malaria parasite’s life cycle in both its mammalian host and mosquito vector. The lab is also characterizing ligand–receptor interactions in Leishmania parasites that underlie the three primary clinical disease forms. In addition, Dr. Cha’s group is interested in translating these findings into practical applications, particularly the development of more effective vaccines for malaria and leishmaniasis and the identification of prognostic biomarkers to reduce cerebral malaria–associated mortality in children.
MURS Positions in Columbus
Dr. Seong Won Lee – Biomedical Sciences – School of Medicine
Aging is a significant risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have identified RCAN1 as an age-associated upstream regulator whose expression is upregulated in aged medium spiny neurons (MSNs), contributing to neurodegeneration in Huntington’s disease (HD). RCAN1 inhibits calcineurin (CaN)’s phosphatase activity, thereby preventing nuclear translocation of the autophagy regulator TFEB and impairing autophagic function. Therefore, modulation of the RCAN1–TFEB axis represents a potential strategy to enhance neuronal resilience in HD. We recently identified Peptide X, a novel small peptide activator of lysosomes, which rescues HD patient–derived MSNs from neuronal cell death. In this study, we will investigate whether Peptide X could control RCAN1 expression, nuclear TFEB activity, and autophagy function in ALS. Using a microRNA-mediated neuronal conversion approach, we can generate motor neurons (MNs) from ALS patient-derived fibroblasts and test the effect of Peptide X treatment on rescuing MNs from ALS pathological phenotypes. Together, these findings will suggest that Peptide X promotes neuronal resilience by targeting RCAN1 and activating autophagy, highlighting its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr. Young Mi Oh – Biomedical Sciences – School of Medicine
Huntington’s disease (HD) results from CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which causes the aggregation of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) and leads to neuronal death. Dysfunction in the autophagy-lysosomal pathway is an early factor in HD, contributing to mHTT accumulation and neuronal vulnerability. We have identified a novel peptide that activates lysosomes, enhances zinc signaling, restores acidification, activates TFEB, and rescues autophagic flux. This summer, a student will investigate how ZC311 modulates autophagic flux and lysosomal function in directly converted HD medium spiny neurons (HD-MSNs), with a focus on LC3 flux and lysosomal acidification.
Dr. Ahmed Eltokhi and Dr. Wendy Walker – Biomedical Sciences – School of Medicine
Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic inflammatory condition that often leads to long-term neurological and behavioral impairments in survivors. Increasing evidence suggests that sleep disturbances are common following sepsis and may contribute to the progression or worsening of neurocognitive and behavioral symptoms. However, the interaction between sepsis and sleep disruption in driving these outcomes remains poorly understood. In this study, we will investigate the behavioral consequences of sepsis in a mouse model and determine whether sleep interruption exacerbates these deficits. Sepsis will be induced in mice, and surviving animals will undergo controlled sleep interruption paradigms during the recovery period. Behavioral analyses will be performed to assess locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive performance. To explore potential mechanisms, inflammatory and neuronal injury-related proteins will be measured in serum and brain tissue of sepsis survivor mice. We hypothesize that sepsis will induce measurable behavioral impairments and that sleep interruption will further worsen these outcomes, potentially through enhanced neuroinflammation. This study will provide insight into how sleep disruption influences post-sepsis neurological sequelae and may identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention aimed at improving recovery in sepsis .