McNair Scholars Alumni

Chandra graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity emphasis. His McNair research, entitled “A Prototype to Secure Sensitive Data Using Ethereum Blockchain” explores the cutting-edge technology called blockchain to build a framework that preserves the medical data from attackers. Chandra has presented his work at multiple undergraduate research conferences. Chandra will enter the Computer Science master program at Boise State University beginning August 2018. This consists of a full tuition waiver, and a stipend for the duration of his master program.

Chandra started his research at ISPM lab as a sophomore and has published an academic paper as a first student author in blockchain technology while working in Dr. Dagher’s ISPM lab in the Boise State University Department of Computer Science. Chandra was also accepted into University of Washington and the University of Michigan.

Philip graduated with a B.S. in Physics, with a minor in Applied Mathematics and a Biophysics Emphasis. His McNair research, entitled “DNA Translocation Through Single Lysenin Channels” explores the application of the toxin lysenin for the characterization of single stranded DNA molecules. Philip has presented his work at multiple professional and undergraduate research conferences. Philip will enter the Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD program at the University of California, San Diego beginning August 2018. This consists of a full tuition waiver, and a stipend for the duration of his doctoral education.

Philip has interned at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland in the Heliophysics division and has co-authored a publication while working in Dr. Fologea’s Biophysics lab in the Boise State University Department of Physics. Philip was also accepted into Vanderbilt University and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Andres graduated with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, with minors in Physics, Mathematics, and Applied Mathematics. His McNair Research, entitled “Density functional theory studies of Cy5 dye interactions with DNA” examines chromophore-DNA interactions for quantum coherence. Andres has presented his work at multiple undergraduate research conferences. Andres will enter the Electrical Engineering PhD program at Princeton University beginning September 2018. This consists of a full tuition waiver and the Princeton President’s Fellowship. Andres is the recipient of a 2018 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellowship award totaling $138,000 over 3-years. He is also a Boise State Top Ten Scholar.

Andres has interned at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland for two summers and has co-authored three publications with the Materials Theory and Modeling Group at the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering. Andres was accepted to University of Michigan, Columbia University, and Arizona State University.

Travis graduated with a B.S. in Geoscience with a Geology emphasis. While at Boise State University, Travis has conducted original research as a McNair Scholar entitled, “Zircon Exsolution from Rutile: Constraints on Ultra-High Temperature Metamorphism of Lower Crustal Granulites from Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa”. Travis also completed an National Science Foundation funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at Penn State with laboratory work at the University of Maryland, Carnegie Institute of Science, Witwatersrand University, and field work in the Bushveld in South Africa exploring the multiple sulfur isotopes of the Bushveld magmatic rocks. Travis has presented his summer and McNair research at multiple national conferences including the Geological Society of America’s Annual Meeting.

Additionally, Travis was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellowship award totaling $138,000 over 3-years for his proposal of a follow-up study of the multiple sulfur isotopes in the Bushveld based off of his previous research during the Bushveld REU. Travis will enter the Department of Geosciences PhD program at Princeton University beginning in August 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. Blair Schoene. This consists of a full tuition waiver, and a minimum of 5 years stipend. Travis was also accepted with full funding into Penn State, University of Maryland, and University of California Santa Barbara.

Alondra graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Honors Mechanical Engineering. Her ongoing McNair research, is titled, “Nanoscale Electrical Thermometry for Heat Flow Measurements Across 2D Material Interfaces”. During the Summer of 2017, Alondra flew down to NASA’s Johnson Space Center to present and test a year long research project as part of the Micro-g NExT Program. She then interned at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Maryland under the Physical Measurement Laboratory. Her work at NIST focused on creating a program automating an Ultra-Low Current Amplifier (ULCA) using LabVIEW to automate currents down to a picoammeter.

Beginning Fall 2018, Alondra will be continuing her doctoral studies in the Mechanical Engineering program with minors in Heat Transfer and Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, under the guidance of Dr. Ravi Prasher, the division director of the Energy Storage and Distribution Resources Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Her research will be conducted at the LBNL, studying nano-to-macroscale thermal energy processes. This consists of a full tuition waiver and a $31,000 annual stipend for the duration of her doctoral degree. In addition, Alondra was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program award totaling to $138,000 over 3-years.