Application & Participant Information

Move in: June 1, 9:00am-11:00am

Program Start: June 1, 11:00 Welcome Picnic, 1:00 pm SURFS Orientation, 1034 JAAC

Program End: July 9th Poster Session, 10:00 & Celebration, 11:30

Move out: July 9th (1:00 pm – 3:30 pm)

Dress Code

This summer, you will be performing research in a professional environment. While we do not require specific dress, we ask for you to be conscious of your lab or clinical setting. Please also be sure to follow the safety dress rules of your laboratory.

Seminars

We will be offering seminars on applying to graduate programs, putting together a poster, practicing a presentation, and faculty talks.

The housing location will be determined shortly. Students will be provided with double bed rooms, for students staying with us this summer. Some guidelines are below! Check out these helpful guides on our move in day reslife website for what you can and cannot bring into the dorms.

All students staying with us will have abide by regular university policies during the summer including the visitation policy. They will have to check in and out guests during the hours at the front desks. 

For check in and out, the students will complete a room condition report with an RA on their arrival and departure and exchange keys and will be responsible for cleaning the space on their departure per our normal checkout processes. They will not need to schedule a time to come check in, we will have the front desk staffed and ready to check the ​students in as they come. 

We will not be providing meal plans for SURFS participants, but you can purchase one on your own.

The cafeteria hours for the summer will be posted when they are available.

You can purchase a meal plan here: https://belmont.sodexomyway.com/

We have gotten special permission for SURFS students to use a kitchen and will email those details. However, because it is a special circumstance there are some things to note. It is your job to keep the kitchen clean because it is a shared space for RAs. If use of the space gets out of hand, they may have to close it up. Please do not let other residents know that you are able to use this space. We have special permission because of the program you are in..

The Recreation center will be open from 8-4 during the week.

This research program introduces undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to Data Science research using top-tier journal articles. Students will develop an understanding of Data Science research and develop their own research articles in Data Science.

We will study the fundamental principles and techniques of data science and data mining research. Additionally, we will examine real-world examples and cases to place data science/mining techniques in context, develop data-analytic thinking, and illustrate that proper data science research is as much an art as it is a science.

Special skills taught include: 1). Critical study, analysis and review of key data science articles. 2). Identification of critical research topic; 3) Using Data Science Research Methods to address a research problem; 4) Learning how to develop and write a scientific research paper; 5) How to professionally disserminate and communicate your research findings to your audience/stakeholders for them to understand

Important Information for Participants: Participants should have passion for 1). reading and analyzing journal articles; 2) data analysis and problem-solving ; 3) writing

Email me: rudy.bedeley@belmont.edu 

In this project, we investigate topics in classical geometry, but with a twist: we work over a space consisting of only finitely many points. In such a space, what does one even mean when they talk about a line? Do two such lines always intersect? But most importantly, what theorems from geometry remain true? We will primarily investigate Poncelet’s Porism, a celebrated theorem from 1822, from the perspective of geometry over finite fields. We also suspect that there is a connection between conics in a certain finite space that could afford a novel geometric representation in music theory.

Important Information for Participants: Students should have a background in multivariable calculus or linear algebra. While neither is strictly required, students will be expected to write proofs.

Email me: adam.cartisano@belmont.edu 

Special Skills Taught: Clinical assessment and goniometry; Postural control testing; Musculoskeletal evaluation; Movement analysis; Evidence-based reasoning

Important Information for Participants: No previous knowledge will be required for this project.

Email me: hunter.derby@belmont.edu 

The interaction of electromagnetic (light) waves with matter is one of the most important phenomena that we encounter from day-to-day. It allows us to see the world, to send messages over long distances, and allows plants to generate energy from the Sun. How light interacts with matter depends on its frequency and wavelength. Students in my group have worked on a variety of projects from synthesizing gold nanoparticles in a solution, growing silver nanoparticles in a microscope slide, to electroplating thin films of silver on a glass substrate. In each of these cases, our goal is to learn to manipulate materials at the nanoscale to control their interaction with light.

More recently, my students and I have explored the interactions of electromagnetic fields with living matter. We have exposed zebra fish embryos to 60 Hz electromagnetic fields (e.g., from power lines) to measure any effects on there development. We hope to extend this to microwave frequencies (bluetooth, wi-fi, cellular) in the near future.

Other projects have included using computational methods to model these interactions.In the past, I've also had students who were interested in various biophysics projects including the physics of dance (West Coast Swing or other forms), using compartment models for viral spread or Parkinsons' medication, and the forces involved in cheerleading or soccer.

Special Skills Taught: Python coding, optical spectroscopy, nanomaterials fabrication, and more

Important skills needed: Projects are available for all skills and course work, but chemistry experience (general chemistry or above) is needed from at least one group member for synthesis projects.

Email me: davon.ferrara@belmont.edu 

Our research explores how cancer cells communicate and adapt by releasing tiny “packages” called extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry proteins, RNA, and other biomolecules. These vesicles can promote tumor growth, spread, and drug resistance—making them an exciting target for discovery. Using mass spectrometry–based proteomics, we analyze the complex mixtures of proteins in these vesicles to identify changes that occur under different treatments or isolation conditions. Students will gain hands-on experience culturing cancer cells, isolating EVs using dialysis and electrophoresis, and analyzing proteins through advanced instrumentation and bioinformatics. The ultimate goal is to uncover new biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could help fight cancer.

Special Skills Taught: gel electrophoresis, cell culture, mass spectrometry, proteomics, bioinformatics, UV-Vis spectroscopy, dialysis, chromatography

Important skills needed: Should have completed organic chemistry

Email me: amy.ham@belmont.edu 

The specific project conducted will depend on the interests of the SURFS participants. We will use survey research to examine the influence of social/environmental (e.g., relationships, stress) and individual (e.g., personality, sense of self) factors on psychological and/or physical health outcomes (e.g., sleep quality, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction). Students will create a study and develop surveys, collect data from participants, and conduct statistical analyses to test their hypotheses.

Special Skills Taught: Survey construction (using Qualtrics), data collection (using Prolific online platform), running and interpreting results of statistical analyses (using SPSS)

Email me: abigail.heller@belmont.edu 

This project will involve designing and conducting an online data collection examining how body image, objectification, identity, and gender influence the educational, physical, and social/emotional outcomes of adults (18+ year olds). Students will learn to develop research questions and hypotheses related to variables that interest them and design/conduct a study testing these hypotheses. After data collection is complete, students will learn how to select the appropriate statistical analyses and how to conduct them in SPSS or R. Finally, students will learn how to present their research for a conference-type setting. This project is flexible and easily adaptable to students’ specific interests!

Special Skills Taught: Literature review, study/hypothesis development, Data collection using Qualtrics/Prolific, Data Analysis in SPSS and R, presenting research

Email me: jessica.hocking@belmont.edu 

My work focuses on how animal structure (ie bones, muscles, and shape) affect their function in a given environment or under varying physiological conditions. I work on a wide range on animals including frogs, fish, turtles, lizards, and insects. In my lab, you will have the opportunity to work with local researchers at Nashville Zoo, Vanderbilt, and Metro Parks conducting lab or field based research. Previous work in my lab has studied, insect flight, infectious diseases in amphibians, muscular anatomy, and locomotor performance. Skills you can learn include advanced dissection techniques, high speed camera analysis, biomechanics, animal husbandry, and field techniques.

Special Skills Taught: Dissections, high speed camera work, animal husbandry, field collection techniques, Electromyography

Important skills needed: physiology classes may be helpful but not necessary!

Email me: chase.kinsey@belmont.edu

A series of diazonium (perfluoroalkyl)aryl sulfonylimide (PFSI) zwitterionic monomers are planned to be synthesized. These partially fluorinated monomers, containing trifluorovinyl ether and diazonium groups, are designed for polymerization and covalent bonding to carbon electrodes in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
The 2nd project's goal is to develop theranostic nanoparticles (NPs) that enhance cancer diagnosis and targeted therapy. By combining CDs, FA, and anticancer drugs, these NPs aim to detect early-stage cancer and selectively treat tumor cells.

Special Skills Taught: organic lab synthesis skills, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, Fluorometer

Important skills needed: General chemistry and labs

Email me: hua.mei@belmont.edu 

Digitoxin is one of two drugs classified as cardiac glycosides that are used to treat certain heart conditions. Results from this lab and others suggest that the drugs may be helpful in contributing to cell death of triple negative breast cancer. This is an extremely aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. The research in my lab continues to study the cell mechanisms by with digitoxin reduces cell viability of two triple negative breast cancer cell lines.

Special Skills Taught: sterile cell culture techniques, immunofluorescence microscopy, protein chemistry

Important skills needed: General chemistry or biology

Email me: marilyn.odom@belmont.edu 

In this work, we will explore the neurophysiological underpinnings of individual differences in cognitive performance. We will use electroencephalography (EEG) to assess brain wave activity in response to various cognitive stimuli. Cognitive domains explored include: memory, attention, language, visuospatial navigation, and more.

Special Skills Taught: EEG net application, EEG experiment setup, ERP data processing, coding, etc.

Email me: michael.oliver@belmont.edu 

Zebrafish embryos are a useful model for studying early development. Because they develop outside the mother’s body and are transparent, we can observe changes as their organs form. In this project, students will expose embryos to different drugs, beginning with ethanol, at varying concentrations and developmental stages. They will examine changes in body shape, heart rate and rhythm, and spontaneous movement. By comparing treated embryos with controls, students will investigate when embryos are most sensitive to drug exposure and which developmental features are most affected.

Special Skills Taught: Embryo Handling & Staging, Solution Preparation & Drug Dilution, Microscopy & Imaging, and Basic Data Analysis

Important skills needed: Bio I and Intro Neuro I

Email me: jinhee.park@belmont.edu 

AI coding agents increasingly submit complete pull requests (PRs) with minimal human intervention, shifting software development from AI-assisted to autonomous workflows. As these agents become more prevalent, ensuring the code they generate is adequately tested. In this project, we will aim to analyze the tests written by agents as well as the degree to which agentic pull requests are tested.

Special Skills Taught: testing, data analysis, paper writing

Important Information for Participants: Programming 2 needed

Email me: esteban.parrarodriguez@belmont.edu 

Why do some tissues readily regenerate after injury while others, such as the retina, do not? My lab focuses on one specific retinal cell type, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and asks the question: can we steer these cells' first responses to injury toward regeneration? Students will learn how to grow RPE cells in culture, create controlled "injuries" in the dish, and track how the cells respond using fluorescence microscopy and molecular biology techniques such as qPCR. Along the way, they'll learn to communicate their science, sharing their discoveries at a poster symposium. Together, we'll hunt for the key factors that could turn the retina into a more regeneration-friendly environment, which is a step toward one day restoring vision lost to injury or disease!

Special Skills Taught: cell culture, injury modeling, RNA extraction, qPCR, immunofluorescence, fluorescent microscopy, data analysis, scientific poster preparation & presentation

Important Information for Participants: BIO 1150 and 1155 required

Email me: sara.ramirez@belmont.edu 

We have been developing a novel instrument that is exquisitely sensitive in detecting heavy metal contamination in environmental samples. This device uses a method called square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry to detect Pb2+ ions at part-per-billion levels. The instrument can detect lead in drinking water, soil samples, etc. Work is needed to convert the instrument to a more user-friendly package as well as developing advanced methods for the detection of other metals.

Special Skills Taught: Advanced analytical chemistry techniques, coding, electrical circuit design

Email me: thom.spence@belmont.edu 

From earth, we can observe planets outside of our own solar system, called exoplanets, orbiting their host star. When they pass in front of their star, they block an amount of light traveling to us from the star. Are you interested in exploring how planetary radii, orbital distances, and host star types affect these transit depths and durations? Take part in a NASA Citizen Science program known as Exoplanet Watch! You will gain experience working with a Meade LX200-ACF reflector telescope to record quality datasets to submit to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) repository. We will then analyze our data in addition to the community's available datasets, which can lead to intriguing publications in Astrophysics: such as discovering and/or confirming new exoplanets and monitoring stellar variability. Connect with a community of like-minded scientists interested in exploring planetary diversity!

Special Skills Taught: Experimental work in utilizing a telescope to collect data "hands-on", as well as meaningful analysis of community datasets using foundational data science techniques.

Important Information for Participants: An interest in astronomy and physics, motivation to learn

Email me: beverly.warner@belmont.edu