R.E.C.O.N. Mentors, University of Cincinnati

Provost

R.E.C.O.N. Mentors

Note: Please do not contact the R.E.C.O.N. Mentors directly through their email. If you would like to be mentored, please click here.

Jake Haseman- Aerospace Engineering

My name is Jake Haseman, I am a fifth year Aerospace Engineering student at UC. I was a member of the Track & Field team as a discus/hammer thrower and made it to the first round of nationals the last 2 years. I'm currently performing research under Dr. Jeng at the combustion research center located in Centerhill. The general topic is "characteristics of axial swirlers" and I'm investigating the effect of confinement ratio and vane angle on expansion angle and the size of the central recirculation zone. I plan on pursuing my master's degree once I finish my undergrad studies, concentrating on fluid dynamics/propulsion.

Joe Honeck- Aerospace Engineering

My name is Joe Honeck, I am a fourth year Aerospace Engineering student here at UC. I am currently the President of the University of Cincinnati Rocket Club, member of the Formula SAE team, and member of the Nano Satellite team. I am a Co-op at Barnes Aerospace in Westchester as a Quality Engineer and have also worked as a Manufacturing and Process Engineer. After graduation, I plan on pursuing a career in the rapid prototyping and manufacturing field using Direct Metal Laser Sintering and other various forms of “3D” printing for the aerospace and automotive industries.

Matt Rasch- Pre-Med/Biology

I am a fourth year Pre-Med/Biology student and have conducted motor neuron research in the Molecular Biology Department at the College of Medicine for the past year. I plan to go onto medical school and eventually become a neurologist. Although clinical medicine is my true passion the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research has been incredibly valuable. In addition to research, I have shadowed a number of local physicians and have been a member of various public health volunteer organizations. I became a RECON member in order to share my experiences and to lend a hand to fellow students looking for opportunities that will make them competitive job and professional school applicants.

Ben Hazen- Pre-Med/Biology

My name is Ben Hazen and I am a senior Pre-Med/Biology student. During my sophomore and junior years, my research focused on the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in HCV/HIV co-infected patients in Dr. Jason Blackard’s Lab. Currently, I am the assistant program coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly Endeavors, and Creative Practice. During my time at the University of Cincinnati, my greatest challenge has been applying to medical school. As I look forward to continuing my education in medical school next year, I have come to realization that I could write a small book of the things I did not know when I started the application process. I am passionate about helping as many students as possible learn from the knowledge I have gained and the mistakes I have made in applying for medical school.

Charles Ebersbacher- Pre-Med/Biomedical Engineering

I am a 4^th year Pre-Med/Biomedical Engineering student. I started my research career by participating in REU under Dr. Urmila Ghia in the Computational Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. I am currently working for Dr. Hyo-jick Choi in the Nanobiological Systems Laboratory in the Engineering Research Center. I am interested in applications of nanotechnology in medicine and the design and development of medical devices. My time is also spent with GlobeMed promoting global health, volunteering at the VA Medical Center Cincinnati, and following the Bearcats, Browns, and Cavs.

Jacob Kallenbach- Biomedical Engineering

My name is Jacob Kallenbach and I am a third year Biomedical Engineering major pursuing a minor in Psychology. I enjoy skiing, mountain biking, watching How I Met Your Mother, listening to Jack Johnson and Macklemore, and I love playing soccer for the UC Men’s Club Soccer team. On campus, I am involved in the Biomedical Engineering Society, CEAS Ambassadors, the National Kidney Foundation’s kidney walk/ 5K, and the Arthritis Foundation’s walk. Since April 2012, I had the incredible opportunity to work in Hong Lab for Computational and Molecular Biology, which has the vision to understand molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms and their interconnected network with other cellular processes such as cell cycle, DNA damage response, and metabolism in Neurospora Crassa. Specifically, I worked on over-expressing numerous core genes, involved in such cellular processes, and then I observed, collected, and recorded data from these over-expression constructs. I hope to share these eclectic experiences with my fellow undergraduate students and enlighten them to the plethora of opportunities offered at UC.

Claire Fischer- Criminal Justice/Psychology

My name is Claire and I am a senior majoring in Psychology and Criminal Justice. I am currently doing research through the criminal justice department under the direction of Dr. Smith. Aside from research, I volunteer at Summit Behavioral Healthcare, a rehabilitative center for offenders suffering from mental illness. For the past two years, I have presented research projects at the Undergraduate Conference at UC. After graduation, I hope to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology so I can provide treatment to mentally ill offenders. Of course, I would also love to eventually return to Spain where I studied abroad for a semester.

Justin Christopher- English Literature Creative Writing in Fiction and Africana Studies

Hello, my name is Justin Christopher, I am a third year double major. I am majoring in English Literature Creative Writing in Fiction and Africana Studies with a focus in Urban Sociology. I am the current President of U.S.A.S. (The United Students of Africana Studies). I have done research on The Prison Industrial Complex, and orally presented at the Undergraduate Research Conference in the spring of 2012. Presently, I am a McNair Scholar working on research in regards to the sociology of Hip Hop music. I am also a published author of the book “The Luxury of Misery”, which is my own autobiography. My goals after my undergraduate education are to pursue a doctoral degree in Sociology.

Stephanie Larios- Mathematics and Economics

My name is Stephanie Larios and I am a third year Mathematics and Economics major. Currently I am working on a research project for the Taft Research Center under the direction of Professor Olivier Parent in the area of urban economics. I will also be starting a new project this semester with Professor Debashis Pal. My interests are mainly in labor economics and game theory. I am a member of McNair Scholars, a program dedicated to helping students reach graduate school. Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I hope to go on to get a Ph.D in Economics, preferrably focusing on one of the more mathematically concentrated areas.

Zicheng Cai - Mechanical Engineering

I am a pre-junior student majoring in Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2015. I am also an internation exchange from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which is a top notch university in Asia. I have both self-lead research experience and faculty mentored research experience. The subjects include social science and engineering. My research on transportation and airport system was awarded first prize by the Shanghai Government. This project was with professional guidance from a professor. As an engineering student, I spend time in laboratories very often as well. I knows how engineering research works and how to learn from the professors. I have a one-semester factory experience in Shanghai, learning basic mechanical engineering manufacture and operation. I have also headed several engineering skill contest teams, and offered solutions to many college engineering challenges.

Hilary Meyer- Psychology

My name is Hilary and I am a third year Psychology major with minors in Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education and Development. I enjoy being an active member of the UC community by being involved as a teaching assistant, an Academic Internship Ambassador, a member of Greek life, and of course, cheering on our Bearcats! I am currently employed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where I conduct research under Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Crosby. I have had the opportunity to be a part of the research our lab conducts on childhood obesity and early childhood education practices. I also take part in a Neuropsychology practicum at Children’s in the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. I am hoping to continue my education into grad school and become a School Psychologist.

Batsheva Serota- Psychology

I am a Cincinnati born-and-raised third year Psychology major who loves everything about UC and my city. I love working with other students as an undergraduate teaching assistant and as a Supplemental Instruction Leader so that I can spread my love for Psychology. As an active member of RECLAIM, you will often find me advocating for women and victims of sexual assault. I am currently doing research in the Language Cognition and PMD labs in the Psychology department, and I am passionate about educating others about my research interests. In my spare time, I am usually at the zoo, watching the The Walking Dead, or making pasta salad.

Heather Perkins- Psychology

I am a Psychology major and Sociology minor who is very interested in the media, stereotypes, and identity, with an emphasis on storytelling and narrative. I am currently a teaching assistant for several classes and am looking forward to graduating soon. In addition to working at UC Human Resources, I also work at the Cincinnati branch of Ohio Mentor, which primarily provides counseling for developmentally delayed individuals with mental health issues. I’m also very active in Dr. Kallen’s Social Identity & Diversity lab, and am hard at work on several studies that investigate stereotype threat inside and outside of the media. When I graduate, I’m planning to attend graduate school with a focus in social psychology.

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