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“How Irish Identity in Ireland Was Transmitted and Adapted in Chicago”Marranca Award winner

Katie followed the links between Irish and Irish-American culture from Dublin to Chicago, putting her UROP award toward research that resonates with Notre Dame’s own heritage. Her work was later included in a poster session at the American Anthropological Association’s annual meeting.

Katie Shakour anthropology and Arabic Daniel Krcmaric political science and economics

“Do Nuclear Weapons Make the World a Safer Place?”McGrath Award winner

Thanks to his UROP award, Daniel was able to accept an unpaid summer internship at the Center for National Policy in Washington, D.C. Drawing on that experience and his own research, he concluded that nuclear proliferation should theoretically increase the likelihood of peace, a finding at odds with current U.S. policy.

Francys Verdial psychology, biological sciences, and science, technology, and values

“Choosing to Care: Needs and Resources of Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren”

Collaborating closely with a local organization of grandparent caregivers, Francys set out to learn more about this population and to further understanding of its characteristics and needs. She received two UROP awards—one to conduct her research and another to present it at the Gerontological Society of America’s annual meeting.

Kenneth Sawyer Negro liberal studies and preprofessional studies

“The Natural State of Man: A Study of Hindu Texts and Their Influence on Indian Self-Understanding”McGrath Award winner

Kenneth used his UROP grant for travel to a small ashram in the west coast jungles of India. He focused his research project on the concept of “self-understanding” and found that there are significant differences between Christians and Hindus because of their respective views on the soul.

“An Analysis of the Economic and Social Costs of China’s Three Gorges Dam”McGrath Award winner

The construction of China’s Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric river dam, has been both heralded as a feat of engineering and condemned as a massive mistake. Gavin applied for UROP funding so he could travel to China and study firsthand the dam’s economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Gavin Payne economics, Chinese, and Italian

“Reality Bites: Monastic Dentition Refutes Historical Claims for a Vegetarian Diet” Marranca Award winner

By analyzing human remains from a Byzantine monastic community in Jerusalem, Katie addressed conflicting theories about the monks’ diet. UROP funds allowed her to purchase a special camera lens for use in her study as well as attend the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists to present her research.

Katie Keegan anthropology and biological sciences

“Climate Security in South Africa: A Low-Carbon Path”

Seng Foundation Award winner

Peter Christman political science and peace studiesPeter received his UROP grant for travel to Cape Town, South Africa, where he explored the role of alternative energy technologies in the country’s future energy mix and whether investment in them will sacrifice sustained economic growth. His project led him to conduct interviews with local policymakers, university professors, and employees of energy companies and grassroots organizations.

U n d e r g r a d u a t e R e s e a r c h O p p o r t u n i t y P r o g r a m W h a t ’ s Y o u r I d e a ? M a k e I t R e a l .