Seven Irvine Valley College (IVC) students, part of a cohort of 51, showcased their research prowess at the 12th Annual California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Summer Research Symposium, held on August 7 at the Titan Student Union Pavilion.
The symposium marks the culmination of the Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) hosted by Project RAISE (Regional Alliance in STEM Education), which empowers community college students to present research conducted at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). Students from IVC were mentored by faculty from CSUF’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Over the course of eight weeks, each participant engaged in hands-on, faculty-guided research and received a $5,000 stipend through the URE program.
The students are members of IVC's Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, which supports educationally disadvantaged students in pursuing and excelling in STEM fields.
IVC students included:
- Evan Garcia | Mechanical Engineering with PI Darren Banks: Dynamics of thermo-cavitation bubbles in narrow liquid gaps.
- Clarice Encarnacion | Biological Sciences with PI Nilay Patel: Cannabidiol before doxorubicin treatment decreases TNF-α and NF-kB activation in astrocytes.
- Joy Padilla | Electrical and Computer Engineering with PI Jaya Dofe: Detecting combinational hardware Trojans via machine learning on gate-level structural features.
- Haley Barrios-Gomez | Mechanical Engineering with PI Sagil James: Comparative evaluation of lithium-ion and hybrid hydrogen fuel cell power systems in UAVs.
- Chris Rodas | Computer Science with PI Doina Bein: Offshore opportunity: Evaluating pairs trading in the deep-sea mining sector.
- Gustavo Valencia | Computer Science with PI Sampson Akwafuo: Data fights disease: Predicting dengue fever with AI.
- Susan Zelidon | Electrical and Computer Engineering with PI Ankita Mohapatra: Programming sensor nodes for early wildfire detection technology.
The CSUF Summer Research Symposium offered students an invaluable platform to share their findings, connect with peers and professionals, and gain exposure to the broader scientific community. In addition to URE participants, the event featured posters from other research programs at CSUF, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation.
“Our students continue to impress us with their talent, curiosity, and perseverance,” said IVC President Dr. John Hernandez. “Engaging in advanced research alongside university faculty not only strengthens their STEM expertise but also demonstrates the transformative opportunities available through Irvine Valley College and programs like Project RAISE.” For more information about Project RAISE or to apply for the 2026 Undergraduate Research Experience, visit the Project RAISE website or contact Judith Benavidez in the IVC Counseling or MESA Center.