The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute is proud to introduce our 2026 Community-Academic Scholars (CAS). Representing 23 majors and minors in seven colleges, the 19 scholars in this cohort encompass a diverse array of fields of study, from kinesiology to computer engineering to urban studies.
This cohort of scholars was selected from our largest and most competitive pool of applicants. Nearly 150 students, representing 54 different majors across eight colleges and schools, applied to be a 2026 scholar. The excellence and disciplinary diversity of the applicant pool were exciting to see!
Most notable is the increasing interest from undergraduates in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Grainger College of Engineering, and the iSchool, in addition to sustained interest from undergraduates in the Colleges of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Applied Health Sciences, as well as the College of ACES.
Researchers from across the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus are working with community partners to support a variety of projects, from sustainable food systems and community-based needs assessment to culturally responsive health tools, immigrant health education, and multilingual learning. Some projects leverage technologies like digital health monitoring, robotics, and extended-reality (XR) to support older adults and people with disabilities, look at how indoor environments affect health, and promote equity-focused, responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in community-based health care and public health settings. One project will even evaluate CAS itself, offering insight into how the program supports community-academic partnerships.
The Community-Academic Scholars program relies on support from various sources to continue each year. This year, the Edward Heiken Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute Fund, which supports research that will have significant impact on studies of cognitive and brain health, is supporting scholar Roshellie Salgado’s work with Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to study the effects of mindfulness on postpartum pain. The CAS program also received crowdfunding donations from the 2026 Orange and Blue Days. If you are interested in supporting the next generation of community-engaged researchers, learn more about providing financial support.
As support for CAS and interest in interdisciplinary summer research continues to grow, so too will the number of students, researchers, and their collaborators who are helping to fulfill the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s land-grant mission to enhance the lives of the people in Illinois, across the nation, and around the world.
Meet the 2026 Community-Academic Scholars
Alisha Daga (she/her) is studying systems engineering and design, focusing on design for optimization and ergonomics, with a minor in mathematics. She is a James Scholar and works with Design for America, applying human-centered design to address local challenges. Alisha is also Orientation Leader for New Student Programs, supporting incoming Illini through workshops and campus tours. She aims to work at the intersection of technical optimization and human factors engineering, designing systems that prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and efficiency. This summer, Alisha will work with Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Prof. Avinash Gupta and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center to design and evaluate an eXtended Reality (XR) training system that helps older adults and caregivers learn vital sign measurement skills. Project details
Grace Fan (she/they) is majoring in psychology, focusing on clinical and community psychology, with a minor in sociology. She plans to become a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ populations. They have worked with Prof. LaTasha R. Holden’s lab to study how generative AI affects source memory. As a child of Chinese immigrant parents, Grace has experienced how her family’s linguistic and cultural differences limited their access to adequate health care, motivating her interest in developing culturally sensitive, community-based interventions. In their free time, Grace works crew for Illini Student Musicals. This summer, Grace will work with Carle Illinois College of Medicine Prof. Grace Park and University of Illinois Extension’s Director of Applied Health Professions Margarita Teran-Garcia alongside community partners Avicenna Community Health Center and the Chinese American Association of Central Illinois to support the adaptation and evaluation of a Mandarin-language health education program for immigrant families. Project details
Zahra Ghadeer (she/her) is pursuing a degree in molecular and cellular biology and a minor in public health. Zahra is passionate about ensuring linguistically and culturally appropriate education to empower Afghan women, particularly those from the Hazara diaspora. Zahra is also president of the Ahlul-Bayt Association, a student organization for Shia Muslim students. As part of the International Cancer Education Conference (ICEC) Abstract Program through the Cancer Center at Illinois, Zahra is developing an abstract on cancer education techniques for Afghan refugee women. She hopes to become a clinician-researcher where she will study how epigenetics can impact the health of marginalized communities. This summer, Zahra will work with Linguistics Prof. Anna Mendoza and Champaign-Urbana Refugee Center to improve English-language literacy among Afghan women refugees, while exploring the underlying social, cultural, and linguistic factors that shape their learning experiences. Project details
Lina Gil (she/her/ella) is a first-generation college student and a James Scholar, double majoring in Spanish and psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology. Passionate about mental health and health disparities, Lina is working toward her goal of becoming a therapist so that she can offer Latinx and other minoritized communities the culturally sensitive mental health care they deserve. She is currently serving as an advanced peer educator in the Counseling Center Paraprofessionals Program and has worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Alcohol Research Lab. This summer, Lina will work with Wendy Rogers, a professor of health and kinesiology and Persons Assuming Control of the Environment (PACE) to study the everyday challenges and unmet needs of people aging with long-term disabilities. Project details
Amanda Jamrog (she/her) is a James Scholar studying history, with the goal of pursuing a career in education. Passionate about community engagement and school-community partnerships, Amanda hopes to pursue an advanced degree and examine how the history of education policy has shaped today’s classrooms. She is also involved in Project 4 Less, a registered student organization focused on reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity. This summer, Amanda will work with the Community-Academic Scholars Program and Haden Botkin, a professor in the Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications (ALEC) program, to facilitate structured reflection on community–campus partnerships using the Transformational Relationship Evaluation Scale (TRES). Project details
Isabel Jimenez (she/her) is studying health and kinesiology. She aims to become a primary care physician, working in rural or other under-served communities. In addition to volunteering at Carle Hospital and coaching gymnastics for Special Olympics, Isabel works in Prof. Jonathon Senefeld’s Human Integrative Physiology Lab studying how metabolic health impacts muscle fatigue and force production during exercise. Isabel is passionate about exploring how lifestyle interventions can help manage some of the chronic diseases she has seen affect her own family members (like chronic pain). This summer, Isabel will work with Food Science and Human Nutrition Prof. Manabu (Mani) Nakamura and Avicenna Community Health Center to evaluate a dietary and lifestyle intervention aimed at reducing blood pressure among adults with hypertension. Project details
Ellie Kim (she/her) is a neuroscience major with the goal of becoming a physician. She co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Global Medical Missions Alliance, serves as an ER technician, and contributes to research in Prof. Manuel Hernandez’ Mobility and Fall Prevention Research Laboratory, where they are investigating balance and gait dysfunction in older adults using different behavioral and neural measurements. This summer, Ellie will work with Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Prof. Yiwen Dong and the ID8Lab Foundation to explore how in-home digital health technologies can better support long-term health monitoring across the lifespan. Project details
Manh Nguyen (he/him) is a statistics major. He is gearing up for ESG Real Estate Laboratory’s World Cup Business Development Internship where he will learn how large-scale global events like the World Cup can positively and sustainably impact the cities that host them. Manh plans to combine his passions for statistics and programming by becoming a data analyst. He is excited about his project this summer because it’s a concrete way to support local public health workers. He will work with fellow scholar Aman Saji as well as Discovery Partners Institute Senior Research Associate Anuj Tiwari and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) to design and evaluate an AI-supported system that automates evidence-grounded drafting for public health accreditation. Project details
Zoe Rains (she/they) is a first-generation student studying psychology. She is passionate about youth mental health and aspires to work with young people as a psychiatrist, therapist, or school counselor. In the Conformity, Attitudes, Threat, and Stereotypes (CATS) Lab of Prof. Kimberly Rios, they are currently working on a project examining how age and weight perception affects perceived sexuality. This summer, Zoe will work with Graphic Design Prof. Catalina Alzate and CUPHD’s Great Start Program to critically examine how AI is shaping community-based health care, with a focus on maternal health and doula work. Project details
Aman Saji (he/him) is a computer engineering major. Through his work in Prof. Johnathan Makela’s Remote Sensing and Ionosphere Lab, Aman is motivated to conduct research that solves real-world problems and does not simply live in academic papers. He is especially interested in the kind of complex data that often shows up in projects involving health care or remote sensing where he believes there is a greater opportunity to genuinely change things. This summer, Aman will work with fellow scholar Manh Nguyen as well as Discovery Partners Institute Senior Research Associate Anuj Tiwari and CUPHD to design and evaluate an AI-supported system that automates evidence-grounded drafting for public health accreditation. Project details
Roshellie Salgado (she/her) is a first-generation student studying neuroscience with a passion for health equity. She has worked on projects to expand access to mental health care, nutritious foods, and health education in underserved communities. Ultimately, she aims to become a physician with a focus on advancing equitable, patient-centered care. This summer, Roshellie will work with Health & Kinesiology Prof. Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo and CUPHD to support a study evaluating a remote, mindfulness-based intervention for women experiencing postpartum pain and depression. Project details
Jaritzi Villegas (she/her), a first-generation college student and Legacy scholar, is pursuing a degree in environmental engineering with a concentration in public health. She plans to work as an environmental engineer in rural and underserved communities in the United States and Latin America. She is currently conducting air quality research as part of Professor Christopher Tessum’s research group. Jaritzi is also involved in Students for Environmental Engineering and Design, a student organization that connects fellow students with opportunities to address civil engineering challenges in our community. This summer, Jaritzi will work with Health and Kinesiology Prof. Sheena Martenies and the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission's Indoor Climate Research and Training Division (ICRT) to study how housing conditions and weatherization interventions affect indoor environmental quality in residential homes. Project details
Wonjin Yang (she/her) is majoring in mathematics with a concentration in applied mathematics. Prior to transferring to Illinois, she worked in a research lab focused on human computer interactions, research that she really enjoyed. Wonjin wants to use her mathematic, analytic, and computational skills to develop solutions to real-world problems that directly affect people’s lives. She was drawn to her project this summer because of her experiences providing support for her grandparents who live with mobility issues. Wonjin will work with Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Katherine Driggs-Campbell and ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community to explore how assistive robots can support navigation for older adults with visual and mobility impairments. Project details
CAS Welcomes the Bug2School Research Fellows
The CAS program leaders are also pleased to welcome the Bug2School research fellows to the cohort! Led by Dr. Carmen Blubaugh, a visiting research scientist in the Department of Crop Sciences, Bug2School is a multi-generational co-learning alliance between university researchers, college students, teachers and school-age students. They perform coordinated, collaborative ecology experiments together using school gardens as a study system.
This summer, six Bug2School fellows will join community partner, C-U Farm2School, and Dr. Blubaugh to examine how edible living mulches might smother weeds in urban garden beds while enhancing production capacity and protecting crops from insect pests. They will then translate the results of their experiments and make them accessible for their diverse audience of teachers, school-age students, and community members. Project details
Meet the Bug2School Research Team
Ace Aceves (he/him) is studying biochemistry with a minor in business. As a first-generation Latino college student, he is passionate about his role as a Research Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research, where he helps students with little to no experience find and secure research opportunities. He also volunteers with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology’s outreach and community engagement activities. Ace has worked in the laboratories of Professors Nguyen Hung and Jim Dalling. He plans to pursue a career as a conservation research scientist focused on ecology, climate change, and community-centered environmental solutions.
Tori Arduini (she/her) is studying natural resources and environmental sciences with a concentration in fish and wildlife conservation biology. She has worked in Prof. Esther Ngumbi’s lab, studying chemical interactions between crops and insects under environmental stressors like flooding and drought. Tori is an EcoRep Intern with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) and has also recently completed iSEE’s Environmental Leadership Program. She plans to pursue graduate study in entomology, focusing on plant-insect interactions in sustainable agriculture and science communication. She aims to use her career to bridge gaps between science, art, and communication.
Celia Barkley (she/her) is studying natural resources and environmental science. As the Head Garden Intern for Urbana High School’s Farm-to-School program, she managed school gardens and supported hands-on educational activities for students and teachers. She also worked at Delight Flower Farm, contributing to flower production, farm infrastructure, and farmers’ market and event sales. Celia plans to pursue a Master of Science and work with agencies such as the EPA, US Forest Service, or National Park Service, focusing on environmental stewardship and protecting natural ecosystems.
Sydney Geiger-Bryce (she/her) is majoring in earth, society, and environmental sustainability with a minor in the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Fellows Program. A returning student, Sydney has lived and worked in more than 30 countries and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian. She has also traveled to Costa Rica and—with the support of a Schlesinger Travel Grant—Sweden to better understand the impacts of climate change and sustainability efforts. A self-described naturalist, Sydney plans to apply her lifelong passion for nature to research, translation, and education, specifically focused on the relationship between urban insect ecology, native plant selection, and green infrastructure.
Alan Medina (he/him) is studying molecular and cellular biology with a minor in chemistry. Working in community gardens during high school ignited Alan’s passion for community-engaged research. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in molecular and cellular biology and become a professor. He is still exploring the research areas, but he is interested in conducting community-based biomedical research that can translate to improved health outcomes.
Rebecca Song (they/them) is studying conservation biology and urban studies. They serve as vice president of the Asian Student Association and volunteer with Downtown Greens, a nonprofit dedicated to providing publicly accessible, park-like green space, gardens, and related educational opportunities, in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. Rebecca has conducted research as part of Dr. Blubaugh’s team to better understand ecological trade-offs between immunity and reproduction in insect populations. They plan to pursue graduate study in entomology or arachnology, with a focus on ecology, conservation, and community-centered research.