Meet Your Research Champions

Our Online High School Research Program connects you with elite mentors who combine academic excellence, extensive teaching experience, and a passion for inspiring future innovators and leaders.

Dr. Marissa Seamon

PhD Neuroscience
Expertise
Biomedical Research, Neurodegenerative Disease (Parkinson’s), Nutrition, Inflammation, Metabolic Conditions, Psychiatric Disorders, Psychology

I earned my Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Augusta University in December 2021, after receiving my B.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA. My graduate school research included animal studies in obesity research and clinical Parkinson’s disease research, resulting in seven publications. Before graduate school, I worked as a Residential Counselor in a level IV Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility. Currently, I am a Recruiting Partner for Work In Biotech, LLC and co-own a scientific writing and editing company called A.I.M.E. Higher Scientific Communications LLC.

Dr. Mackenzie Hagan

PhD Cell Biology & Anatomy
Expertise
Biomedical Research, Bone Biology, Orthopedics, Microscopy, Imaging, Radiation Biology, R&D, Emergency Medicine

I earned my Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and Anatomy from Augusta University in May 2021, after completing my B.S. in Kinesiology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Prior to enrolling in college, I was Nationally Certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. I have an extensive background in orthopedics, with 10 years of combined academic experience in bone biology, sports medicine, and emergency medicine with additional expertise in cancer biology. My research has resulted in nine publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, I am an Applications Scientist at KUBTEC Scientific and co-own a scientific writing and editing company called A.I.M.E. Higher Scientific Communications LLC.

Dr. Bahae Samhan

PhD Management Information Systems
Expertise
Computer Science, Heath IT,
Information
Systems

I am an Associate Professor of Business Information Systems at Illinois State University, where I started in 2016, after earning my PhD in Management Information Systems from Washington State University. I have a Master’s degree in telecommunications and computer networking, a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, and certifications in software engineering and database administration. I am an active researcher with a focus on Health IT, with several publication on this and other topics, such as Augmented Reality (AR), cloud computing, the impact of excessive technology use on children, and organizational technology readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Heather Morton

PhD Industrial Organizational Psychology
Expertise
Psychology,
Heath Sciences,
DEI, Data Analysis

I earned my M.A. and Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational (IO) Psychology from Liberty University, graduating in November 2023. Beforehand, I obtained my B.A. in Health Sciences from Sienna Heights University. My graduate school research focused on the lived experiences of organizational justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace for individuals with a history of criminal behavior. I currently work as an adjunct psychology professor and conduct research at Colorado Technical University. In addition to my career in academia, I am a consultant who uses evidence-based practices to help organizations make data-driven decisions.

Austin Scholp

Austin Scholp PhD candidate Biomedical Engineering
Expertise
Biomechanics, Cell Culture, Tissue Engineering, Publication

I received my BS and MS degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2016 and 2018, respectively. I am currently a third-year PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. My research focuses on the development of in vitro models of tissue fibrosis. While earning my Master’s degree, I explored various aspects of voice research, including the development of aerodynamic assessment devices and ex vivo laryngeal modeling. Thus far, I am an author on 2 book chapters and 28 articles in various scientific journals.

Dr. Olga Tereshina

PhD History
Expertise
Social Science, History,
Data Analysis,
Research Planning

I am a creative Social Sciences researcher with a PhD and 8 years of experience in academic writing and proofreading. I worked as an Associate Professor, was the leader of academic programs, and a mentor. I edit and proofread theses, write reports, and conduct data analysis. I conduct both qualitative and quantitative research projects. I can help you with research problems, plans, methodology, hypotheses, the object of research, tools, a literature review, data analysis, and final reporting. I have several publications and extensive experience with APA formatting.

Dr. Callie Zaborenko

PhD Sociology and Gerontology
Expertise
Sociology, Data Analysis,
Research Methods,
Social Detriments

I recently received my PhD in Sociology and Gerontology from Purdue University. During my graduate program, I had the chance to teach two courses, Intro to Sociology and Intro to Statistics in Sociology. My areas of interest are the lifecourse effects of adverse childhood experiences and quantitative methodology. I have publications in peer-reviewed journals, including The Gerontologist, Law & Society, and PLOS One. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to mentor young scholars.

Dr. Ty Swansboro

PhD Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Expertise
People Science, Human Resources, Organizational Psychology, People Research, Marketing, Leadership, Team Development

I am a dedicated lifelong learner on a mission to help people achieve their goals! I currently work as an Adjunct Psychology Professor, consultant, and Professional Skydiver. I received my PhD in I/O Psychology in 2023 from Liberty University and also have an MBA concentrated in Marketing. My research contributions focused on the predictive nature of perceived organizational support and job embeddedness on turnover intention. My passion for education, lifelong learning, and teamwork stems from my time serving in the USAF as a special operations Combat Controller.

Dr. Niki Guilz

PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology
Expertise
Biology, gene editing, immunology, and metabolism

Dr. Niki Guilz earned her PhD in Nutritional and Metabolic Biology from Columbia University in 2023 and is now a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Emily Mace’s lab. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Biomaterial Science from New York University. With over five years of experience in teaching, mentorship, and research publication, Niki is dedicated to supporting young researchers. Her current work focuses on understanding human immunodeficiencies that impact natural killer cells, using techniques like gene expression analysis, microscopy, and flow cytometry. Niki aims to uncover potential immunotherapies for NK cell deficiencies and contribute to the broader field of immune system biology.

Dr. Robert McManus

PhD Cognitive Psychology
Expertise
Cognitive Psychology, Behavioral Science, data analysis, social media, attitudes towards climate change, tech/industry research

I received my PhD in Cognitive Psychology from North Dakota State University, where I studied how physical actions influence our perception of the environment around us. Specifically, I examined how using tools triggers perceptual changes as we mentally prepare to interact with nearby objects. Since completing my PhD, I have worked as a research consultant with an engineering firm, assisting with the writing and editing of literature reviews. These reviews covered various topics of interest for clients in the tech industry, including climate change, social media, and terrorism. I have several publications in high-impact, peer reviewed journals and extensive experience with the research, writing, and publication process.

Dr. Khadijah Shanazz

PhD Pharmacology
Expertise
Biomedical Research, Deep brain stimulation, neuromodulation, acetylcholine, 2-photon microscopy, behavioral science, inflammation, biological psychology, psychiatric disorders, Data analysis

I earned my PhD in Pharmacology from Augusta University in December 2022, after completing my B.S. in psychology at Augusta University. My graduate school research was focused on sex differences, inflammation, and memory in a rodent model of PTSD resulting in 5 peer-reviewed publications. My current post doctoral work utilizes deep brain stimulation of the basal forebrain to make brains smarter and reverse some aspects of cognitive decline. We use chronic cranial windows to image cholinergic activity at the cortex while stimulating to determine the effects of different stimulation parameters to optimize cholinergic responses. This work has resulted in 1 peer reviewed publication to date.

Dr. Troy Newhart

PhD Aerospace Engineering
Expertise
Aerospace Engineering

Troy Newhart is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia with a Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University. His research interests include dynamic system modeling with an emphasis on uncertainty and complex system characterization. Troy currently works for the department of the Navy as an aerospace engineer within the Warfare Analysis and Digital Modeling Department. Throughout his career Troy has been involved in various modeling and simulation efforts, from high resolution physics-based computational fluid dynamics to agent-based mission simulations. In his free time Troy enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and practicing Jiu Jitsu.

Dr. Rahul Biswas

PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Expertise
Machine Learning and AI, Statistical Modeling and Causal Inference, Computational Neuroscience, Biomedical Signal Processing (EEG, fMRI, Neuropixels, and others), Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Psychometrics, High-Dimensional Data Analysis, Python Programming, Statistical Software (R, MATLAB)

I hold a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (2024) and an M.S. in Statistics (2023) from the University of Washington, following a B.Stat. and M.Stat. from the Indian Statistical Institute. My research focuses on computational neuroscience, causal inference, machine learning, high-dimensional statistics, and public health, with 15 publications. I’ve contributed to brain network modeling, neurological disease biomarkers, and Alzheimer’s studies, with research internships at Columbia University and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Currently, as a Postdoctoral Researcher at UCSF, I apply machine learning and AI to neuroscience and public health.

Dr. Mikey Mohan

PhD Geography
Expertise
Remote sensing and predictive modeling of coastal forests under a changing climate

Dr. Mohan has over 10 years of expertise in remote sensing (UAVs, satellite imagery, LiDAR) and machine learning for forestry and coastal ecosystem monitoring. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography from UC Berkeley and dual MS degrees in Forestry and Operations Research from NC State University. As CEO of Ecoresolve in California, he leads projects focused on remote sensing-based mapping and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems across various regions. Dr. Mohan has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, with 2,000+ citations, and developed open-source tools like ForestGapR and TreeTop for extracting tree-level data from remote sensing.

Dr. Makeda Austin

PhD Psychology
Expertise
Health Psychology, Stress, Resilience, Mental Health and Well-Being, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Outcomes

I earned my PhD in Psychology from Northwestern University in September 2022, after receiving my B.S. in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University. My doctoral research focused on improving health equity by examining the impacts of chronic stress on an individual’s biological health, psychological health, and well-being. I am a co-author of over 10 peer-reviewed articles, 5 of which I am the first-author including an award winning critical review paper published in the Journal of Human Biology. I have worked with young people for the past 10 years in many capacities and am grateful for opportunities to continue supporting the next generation of scholars!

Dr. Kelsey Carlson

PhD Neuro-Cognitive Psychology
Expertise
Neuro-Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Research Methodology, Human-Technology Interaction, Transformative Technology

I am an experimental psychologist with 15+ years of experience in neuro-cognitive psychology, human-technology interaction, and applied research. I hold a Ph.D. and M.S. in Neuro-Cognitive Psychology from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Iowa. My research, using EEG, TMS, and behavioral measures, has explored the neurobiology of consciousness and social engagement in vulnerable populations. Since earning my Ph.D. in 2017, I have worked as an independent consultant, focusing on DEIB, organizational culture, and employee engagement.

Dr. Monica Greer

PhD Economics
Expertise
Economic modeling, Finance, Research, Statistics, Data Analysis, Forecasting, Writing, Publishing, Teaching and Tutoring.

I earned my Ph.D. in Economics from The University of Kentucky in December 1999, after receiving my M.A. in Economics from Indiana University. My graduate school research included cost modeling for electric utilities, deregulation of electricity markets, and optimal industry structure. In addition to the papers I have published in referred journals, I am the author of two books. While in graduate school, I taught Economics to undergraduates. Before graduate school, I worked in the family business after obtaining a B.B.A in Finance from the University of Kentucky. Currently, I am the Health Economics and Data Analytics Manager for ScioScientific. In addition, I have tutored students from High School to Adult, both returning to school and for improved skills. For many years I have been an Adjunct Professor of Economics at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky.