Summer SURF 2025 Team Project Descriptions
The faculty invited to serve as mentors for the 2025 SURF program represent a broad cross-section of academic disciplines at the University, and they represent a wide variety of paths that individuals take to pursue careers as faculty with research interests.
When submitting the application, students should address their interest in the specific project and how their qualities and experiences can aid the faculty in their research. Students may want to contact the specific faculty mentor to get acquainted with the faculty and to discuss their interests and project.
You can find an application link for each project at the end of their project descriptions listed below.
SURF Faculty Bios and Research Projects (2025)
The following faculty have been invited to mentor students in the summer 2025 SURF program.
Dr. Joshua Gold is currently an assistant professor of Health Science at California State University, Channel Islands. Grounded in the socio-ecological model, Dr. Gold research program operates at the intersection of social-health psychology and public health, exploring the role social and psychological factors play in health promotion and chronic disease prevention. In particular, his studies have focused on obesity across the lifespan and its relationship with psychosocial constructs such as rurality, subjective-wellbeing, and weight-based stigmatization. More recently, Dr. Gold research and training have adopted an implementation and dissemination focus as he looks to build a research program aimed at developing, testing, evaluating, and disseminating healthy behavior change interventions in underserved communities
Project Title and Description - "Perspectives on Weight Management in Latino Communities"
Background Diabetes remains a critical public health issue in the United States, with Latino/Hispanic and low socioeconomic status (SES) populations experiencing disproportionately high rates. Latinos are 70% more likely than non-Hispanic whites to be diagnosed with diabetes, and barriers such as limited healthcare access and financial constraints exacerbate disparities in prevention and treatment. Existing diabetes prevention programs, such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), were developed over two decades ago and have not been widely updated to incorporate recent advancements in weight management. Innovative strategies such as time-restricted eating (TRE), pharmacological interventions (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic), and internet-based weight-loss programs have shown promise in managing prediabetes and obesity. However, these approaches have primarily been studied in higher SES and majority-white populations. Understanding how individuals in lower-income Latino communities perceive and engage with these interventions is essential for developing culturally relevant and effective prevention strategies. This study aims to explore weight-management beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors in a prediabetic, low SES Latino population in Ventura County. By engaging directly with community members, we seek to identify knowledge gaps, barriers, and culturally relevant strategies to improve diabetes prevention efforts. Research Design This study will be conducted in collaboration with Westminster Free Clinic (WFC), a grassroots healthcare provider with locations in Oxnard, Santa Paula, and Thousand Oaks. WFC offers free medical care to uninsured and low-income individuals and has an active diabetes clinic, making it an ideal partner for this research. We will recruit 20 participants from WFC to take part in focus groups examining their weight-management beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors. Focus groups will be conducted in English and Spanish to ensure accessibility. Discussions will explore perceptions of diabetes, weight-management strategies, and experiences with newer interventions such as TRE, pharmacotherapy, and internet-assisted weight-loss programs. Participants will also identify barriers to adopting these strategies, including financial, cultural, and structural challenges. Focus group discussions will be audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative coding methods to identify key themes. Findings will inform culturally tailored recommendations for improving diabetes prevention efforts in this population. Role of Student Researchers Student researchers will play an active role in every stage of the project. They will collaborate with WFC partners to develop the interview guide, assist with participant recruitment, and help facilitate focus groups. Students will also gain experience in transcribing, coding, and analyzing qualitative data, developing valuable research and analytical skills. Additionally, students will contribute to research dissemination efforts, including presenting findings at conferences and co-authoring manuscripts for publication. This project provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in community-based research and develop skills in qualitative data collection, cultural competency, and public health intervention design. Conclusion This research aligns with 海角社区CI鈥檚 commitment to equity, inclusive excellence, and community engagement by addressing an urgent public health issue in an underserved population. By mentoring students in community-based research, we will not only generate insights that can inform diabetes prevention efforts but also equip students with practical skills that will enhance their future academic and professional success. Through this project, we aim to empower both students and community members by fostering a deeper understanding of weight management and diabetes prevention in a way that is both inclusive and impactful.
Click to apply to Dr. Gold's project!
Dr. Ahmed Awad is currently Professor of Chemistry at 海角社区CI. He received his Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry from University of Ulm in Germany, and did his postdoctoral research at Iowa State and UC Santa Barbara. His research interest is in design and development of novel therapeutics for treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. He focuses on nucleoside analogues and nucleic acids chemistry to develop novel therapeutics.
Project Title and Description - "Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel nucleoside analogues as therapeutics for pancreatic cancer"
Pancreas is a gland in the digestive system produces enzymes that regulate blood sugar. In pancreatic cancer, uncontrolled cell growth begins in parts of the pancreas which develop tumors that interfere with its function. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages, and it spreads rapidly to nearby organs such as liver. In the US over 50,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are reported annually making it the 3rd most common cause of cancer deaths. Symptoms includes loss of appetite, weight loss, pain in the upper abdomen and in the back, fatigue and depression. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, with a mean survival rate of approximately six months. Drug resistance, and overall aggressive biology are major challenges in the treatment. Nucleosides are the building blocks of the nucleic acids, RNA and DNA. Current standard chemotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer is gemcitabine, a nucleoside analogue that has been approved by FDA in 1997. However, its effectiveness is far from satisfactory due to cellular mechanisms limiting its transport, activation, and overall efficacy. The survival rate at 12 months was 18% for gemcitabine patients. Therefore, development of novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer is crucial. In this proposed SURF project, students will design and develop novel nucleoside analogues and investigate their efficacy for treatment of pancreatic cancer. The project plans are designed considering the possibility of carrying out some of the work in a virtual environment. The first part involves computational studies to design and optimize the proposed chemical structures. The results will be analyzed to examine the binding affinity of the proposed molecules to important enzymatic targets in pancreatic cancer. The toxicity properties will be also computationally evaluated. A widely used computational biology software that is available for 海角社区CI students, through accessing 海角社区CI Virtual Labs, will be utilized for these studies. The participating SURFers will perform literature survey on the development of such therapeutics, perform the computational studies and analyze their data, and will develop an effective and convenient methods to synthesize the developed molecules. The faculty member will introduce the synthetic methods, and will propose alternative solutions for possible problems. With the guidance鈥檚 of the faculty research mentor, students will collect reported protocols and will develop their synthetic schemes. Students proposals will be discussed before an efficient synthetic route is recommended. In the in-person lab work, after intensive training provided by the faculty, students and the faculty will work on their synthetic protocols, purify the products by column chromatography, characterize new compounds by spectroscopic techniques (Mass, IR, and NMR), and analyze their data for the final conclusion. These compounds may be submitted to the National Cancer Institute for screening in their cancer cell line assay system.
Click to apply to Dr. Awad's project!
As an environmental microbiologist, Dr. Becerra has worked on environmentally related projects like determining the bioavailability, fate and transport of metal contaminants in tidal systems, the natural attenuation of acid mine drainage, and changing soil carbon storage due to global climate change. Currently, her research group is interested in microbial decomposition of dead plant roots, fostering a sense of belonging in STEM courses, and the antibacterial effects of Chumash medicinal plants which will be the focus of the summer project.
Project Title and Description - "Investigating the Antibacterial Potential of Chumash Medicinal Plants"
For centuries, traditional medical systems have used plants rich in diverse antimicrobial phytochemicals to combat infections and other ailments. Certain herbal medicines are especially clinically valuable because the bioactive compounds found in plant roots, leaves, stem barks, and flowers are known to treat infection without leading to antimicrobial resistance. Recognizing that 海角社区CI is on Chumash land and that the Chumash have a rich history of using native California plants for various medical treatments, the major goal of this research study is to determine the antimicrobial effect of these native California plants. The following research objectives are to 1) test the susceptibility of medically-relevant bacteria and other model organisms to native California plant extracts and 2) test the toxicity of the plant extracts on the model organisms. Time permitting, additional objectives are to 3) determine the minimum inhibitory and microbicidal concentrations and 4) characterize the phytochemicals contained in the plant extracts. Previously, undergraduate students screened 20 plants for antibacterial activity. They tested the extractability of four different solvents and extraction techniques, focusing on the maceration method. During this summer research period, we will be evaluating a different extraction method called the Soxhlet extraction to see if the extracts produced using this method yields greater antimicrobial effect using theKirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. In previous work, students also tested these plant extracts on 8 bacterial species. This summer, we will be evaluating not only other bacterial species, but a variety of model eukaryotic organisms. We will be testing the toxicity of the plant extracts and determining the minimum inhibitory and microbicidal concentrations of the plant extracts. Students previously used colorimetric assays to screen for the presence of a suite of phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. This summer, we will expand our screening for other phytochemicals and investigate other methods for quantifying these potentially bioactive compounds such as using gas chromatography.
Click to apply to Dr. Becerra's project!
Dr. Brenton Spies is a faculty member in the Environmental Science and Resource Management (ESRM) Department at 海角社区 Channel Islands. His research focuses on conservation biology, restoration ecology, and endangered species management. He collaborates with state, federal, and local partners on conservation initiatives aimed at protecting sensitive species and habitats. Dr. Spies is dedicated to mentoring students and fostering a deeper understanding of ecosystem dynamics, species conservation, and environmental stewardship in California鈥檚 coastal and aquatic environments.
Project Title and Description - "Assessing Population Resilience, Dispersal, and Post-Fire Recovery of the Endangered Tidewater Goby"
Assessing Tidewater Goby Population Resilience, Dispersal, and Post-Fire Recovery The tidewater goby, a federally endangered fish endemic to California, inhabits coastal lagoons and estuaries, where it depends on intermittent connectivity between small, isolated populations. This connectivity is often facilitated by extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, that temporarily open estuaries to the ocean, allowing dispersal and recolonization. Over the past three years, California has experienced unusually high rainfall, increasing the likelihood of goby movement between habitats. However, little is known about how these events have influenced population structure, genetic connectivity, or long-term viability. This research will assess goby populations across multiple sites and update conservation models with new data on dispersal, habitat conditions, and recovery potential. Additionally, this project will evaluate the impacts of the recent Palisades Fire on goby habitat and contribute to conservation. In response to fire-related sedimentation and water quality changes, emergency efforts on January 17, 2025 relocated gobies from Topanga Canyon Lagoon to Heal the Bay Aquarium and the Aquarium of the Pacific for temporary care. This summer, these gobies will be reintroduced, and we will monitor their survival while evaluating broader post-fire habitat recovery. Project Goals and Objectives This study will refine the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service鈥檚 (USFWS) Tidewater Goby Recovery Plan by updating models of population dynamics, habitat connectivity, and resilience. Key objectives include: 鈥ssessing Population Status and Dispersal: Conducting surveys in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties to evaluate goby presence and movement following recent rainfall. 鈥pdating the Metapopulation Viability Model (MVA): Integrating new field data on goby occupancy and connectivity to refine conservation strategies. 鈥valuating Post-Fire Habitat Recovery: Assessing water quality, sedimentation, and habitat suitability at Topanga Canyon Lagoon and other fire-affected sites. 鈥onitoring Reintroduction Efforts: Tracking goby survival and adaptation in Topanga Canyon Lagoon, measuring reintroduction success. Student Researcher Involvement Student researchers will play an active role in all project phases, gaining hands-on experience in conservation science, ecological monitoring, and data analysis. Their responsibilities will include: 鈥onducting seine net surveys to assess goby populations. 鈥easuring water quality (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) and sediment composition. 鈥ssisting in goby reintroduction and monitoring post-release survival. 鈥ompiling and analyzing data using R programming for metapopulation modeling. 鈥ollaborating with USFWS, CA State Parks, RCDSMM, and two public aquariums. This project will provide critical data on how recent rainfall has influenced goby dispersal and connectivity, refining conservation models and informing management. By integrating field assessments with updated modeling, we will improve understanding of the species鈥 resilience and recovery after environmental disturbances. Additionally, the study will evaluate how habitat conditions change post-wildfire, ensuring conservation actions are data-driven. By engaging students in hands-on conservation research, this project provides training in ecological fieldwork, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students will gain professional experience working alongside conservation agencies, helping them build skills for careers in environmental science, resource management, and ecological restoration. Through fieldwork, data analysis, and conservation action, this research will contribute to tidewater goby recovery while preparing the next generation of conservation professionals. Findings will be shared with USFWS, CA State Parks, and other agencies to ensure management strategies are based on current scientific data.
Click to apply to Dr. Spies' project!
Dr. Jos茅 M. Alamillo is Chair and Professor of Department of Chicana/o Studies at California State University
Channel Islands (海角社区CI). Dr. Alamillo is an expert on Mexican American cultural history
with a focus on labor, immigration, gender, leisure, and sports. He is the author
of Making Lemonade out of Lemons: Mexican American Labor and Leisure in a California
Town (2006) and co-author of Latinos in U.S. Sport: A History of Isolation, Cultural
Identity, and Acceptance (2011), Deportes: The Making of a Sporting Mexican Diaspora
(Rutgers University Press, 2020). He is currently working on two research projects:
(1) Dark Waters: Floods, Ethnic Mexicans, and the Politics of Disaster Relief along
the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. This book will examine the relationship between disaster
relief organizations and ethnic Mexicans in the aftermath of flood disasters in southern
California, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas. (2) Untold Legacies: A Ventura County Ethnic
Studies Reader. This edited book will bring together scholarly essays, testimonios,
and creative expressions that center that center subjugated histories and knowledges
of racially minoritized groups and communities in Ventura County, CA.
Project Title and Description - "Labor of the Land: Ventura County Farmworkers"
The project is to conduct research for an upcoming exhibition titled 鈥淟abor of the Land: The Journey of Ventura鈥檚 Farmworkers鈥 scheduled to open Aug 29th, 2026, at the Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula, California. Students will partner with the Museum of Ventura County (MVC) to document the historical and contemporary contributions of farmworkers in Ventura County. The lush green fields that make Ventura County attractive to residents and visitors, is largely due to the sweat and labor of farmworkers. However, we still know very little about the history of farmworkers in the county. Student researchers will collect primary and secondary sources into a repository, write a review of the literature, develop a historical timeline of key events and laws, compile images and photographs for the exhibition, and provide input and feedback to the MVC curatorial team. Some of the research questions that students will explore include: (1) Who were the racially and ethnically diverse farmworker communities that settled in Ventura County? (2) Describe the various types of work that farmworkers (men, women and children) did and explain how their labor contribute to the growth and maintenance of Ventura County鈥檚 agricultural industry? (3) What type of housing did farmworkers find, how much did they earn compared to other workers, and how did use family, culture and community to carry them through the most difficult challenges? (4) Why and how did farmworkers resist various forms of exploitation and find ways to cope and adapt to difficult situations? (5) Identify and describe the various farmworker support organizations in Ventura County, past and present? (6) Describe some stories of hardship, contributions, survival, and success? (7) What are the main challenges today that Ventura County鈥檚 farmworkers face and how can we best support them?
Click to apply to Dr. Alamillo's project!
Dr. Ariel Vaughn is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at 海角社区CI. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry
at the University of Southern California. Her research is focused on making chemistry,
and science as a whole, more inclusive. As an Indigenous woman from a rural community,
this passion hits close to home. The Vaughn Lab focuses on designing homework assignments
that help students understand why chemistry matters to their lives and see themselves
as scientists. Dr. Vaughn strongly believes in building community in the classroom
and in her research group.
Project Title and Description - "Does Learning from the Land Help? Analyzing Students鈥 Sense of Belonging from Indigenizing the Microbiology Classroom through Antibacterial Use of Traditional Medicines"
Indigenizing the classroom is one form of Culturally Responsive Teaching, a technique that uses the cultural characteristics and perspectives of diverse students as a way to teach them more effectively. In this project, we look at how Indigenizing the microbiology classroom has had an impact on students鈥 sense of belonging at CI. In the classroom, students completed a laboratory where they measured the antibacterial properties of traditional Chumash medicines. These were investigated to look for potential sources of antibiotics. Students completed a pre- and post-survey before and after doing the laboratory experiment to measure how students felt their cultures connected to STEM and their sense of belonging in the classroom, in STEM, and at the University. For this SURF program, we will explore the pre- and post-survey responses to look at how students鈥 sense of belonging changed in response to the experiment. Researchers in the laboratory will, alongside the faculty member, explore the student survey responses and learn how to categorize data quantitatively and qualitatively. SURFers will undergo extensive NVivo 14 training, learning the necessary coding skills to analyze the student responses. To help remove any coding biases, multiple researchers will independently code the same data categories for comparison. The faculty mentor will facilitate comparison meetings to ensure that researchers agree on the coding categorizations. With the guidance of the faculty research mentor, SURFers will learn how to graphically represent this data and communicate their findings within the research group and beyond. In addition to sharing their research in regular group meetings, group meetings will be a time for SURFers to learn new skills, for example how to write abstracts. Researchers will be encouraged to apply to conferences including the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference. A more complete analysis of the data is likely to go beyond the summer and into the Fall 2025 semester. Ideal SURF students will have interest in participating in the publication process for this data, anticipated to begin in Fall 2025. Outstanding SURFers interested in continuing research with the Vaughn Lab will be nominated for research and scholarship awards.
Click to apply to Dr. Vaughn's project!
Dr. Neomie Congello is an Assistant Professor at 海角社区 where she
teaches in the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Dr. Congello is the assistant
chair of the nursing program and director for the ADN/RN-BSN program. She also mentors
new faculty in medical-surgical and research courses. Dr. Congello currently serves
as research chair for the Gamma Tau at-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
Honor Society of Nursing.
Project Title and Description -"Student Self-efficacy and the Dedicated Education Unit Model"
2025 Summer SURF Program Project Proposal Abstract Student Self-efficacy and the Dedicated Education Unit Model Introduction: Nursing competence is crucial in the ever-changing healthcare system as students are required to display knowledge, skills and attitudes learned rather than complete a checklist of their clinical skills. Effective clinical education is essential to provide quality care for an aging population during the present nursing shortage combined with a faculty shortage that limits instructors to classroom teaching and less availability for clinical teaching. The Dedicated education Unit (DEU) model introduces a strategy to address the nursing/faculty shortage while continuing to support adequate nursing education. Through low student-to-nurse ratios in the DEU, students have increased one-on-one learning opportunities from trained nurse preceptors in the clinical teacher role. As students provide hands-on patient care at the bedside, they can develop clinical competence necessary to potentially join the health care team upon graduation. Although research has shown a high level of student satisfaction associated with DEU clinical experiences, other measures of outcomes are needed for continued evaluation of the model. Self-efficacy has been shown to improve clinical performance and clinical competency. However, little is known of how clinical experiences gained in the DEU can influence the perceived self-efficacy of students. Purpose: This study aims to examine self-efficacy of baccalaureate nursing students using the Adapted Self-Efficacy Scale based on their traditional and DEU clinical experiences. Methods: A quasi-experimental study will be conducted with three cohorts of students enrolled in a nursing program in Southern California. A convenience sample of approximately 168 students will be interviewed in Fall 2025. Upon receiving approval from the institutional review board, the adapted 10-item General Self-Efficacy Scale will be available online for students to complete anonymously before and at the end of their clinical rotation. The Statistical Package for Social Science will be used to calculate frequencies and descriptive statistics of self-efficacy levels of students who have had DEU and traditional clinical rotations. Next, independent-sample t-tests will be used to calculate and compare the pre- and post-composite scores for students in both types of clinical rotations. Finally, a paired t-test will be used to examine pre- and post-clinical self-efficacy among students in the DEU clinical group. Conclusions: Expectations are that insights gained from a greater understanding of self-efficacy for clinical performance will help provide a more beneficial approach for the DEU clinical in nursing programs and in preparing students for competent nursing practice. Role of Student Researchers in the Summer SURF Program: Students will be given opportunity to participate in the following with faculty guidance: (1) Revise current literature review table (2) Update literature review chapter (3) Plan research study for Fall 2025 (4) Revise research poster for study proposal Full completion of the four opportunities mentioned above will be based on the research abilities of student researchers and progress made during the Summer SURF program.
Click to apply to Dr. Congello's project!
Dr. Ronald W. Berkowsky is an Assistant Professor in the Health Science Program at 海角社区CI. His recent scholarship
has employed a community-engaged approach (featuring partnerships with Ventura County-based
agencies and nonprofits) to identify and address local healthcare-based elder concerns,
including investigating issues surrounding LGBTQIA+ healthcare through the life course.
He is committed to scholarship, teaching, and service that promotes age-inclusiveness,
utilizes an elder justice framework, and addresses the needs of an increasingly diversifying
elder population.
Project Title and Description -"Generative AI Use and Psychological Well-Being among Older Adults"
Despite ageist assumptions to the contrary, research shows that older adults are highly interested in learning to use information and communication technologies (ICTs, like Internet-connected computers and smartphones) as well as new and emerging applications. One such emerging application is that of generative artificial intelligence (AI) like chatbots. Generative AI applications (e.g., ChatGPT) use natural language processing to identify patterns in large quantities of data 鈥 through this, such applications make predictions on what may be a reasonable and accurate response to a user prompt. There is a growing body of literature not only examining the ethical implications of generative AI and its contributions towards efficiency in work, but also in examining these applications as avenues for creative and reflective activities. This poses a particularly interesting area of inquiry, as creative and reflective exercises have long shown significant benefits towards the health and well-being of older adults. This project will explore use of generative AI (more specifically, ChatGPT) for creative and reflective exercises among older adults to promote measures of psychological well-being (i.e., autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations to others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance). This project will utilize a community-engaged approach where SURF students will work closely with the Ventura County nonprofit Communicare in: (1) developing an intervention designed to teach older learners how to use ChatGPT for personal storytelling and self-reflection, (2) drafting associated learning materials (e.g., a tailored user manual), (3) designing a research protocol to assess the intervention and associated outcomes, and (4) drafting grant applications to seek financial support in carrying out the study. SURF students selected to this team will provide guidance and assistance in the planning stages of the research project during Summer 2025, but students may have the option to remain on the project in the 2025-2026 academic year and contribute to the testing and evaluation of the intervention if they choose. By evaluating the feasibility and impact of AI-driven writing interventions for older adults, this study will contribute to research on technology adoption in aging populations while offering actionable insights for a community-based organizations like Communicare. This project will also provide SURF students with experience in research planning and, more specifically, the challenges of designing and implementing a robust technological intervention with older adults.
Click to apply to Dr. Berkowsky's project!
Dr. William Munroe is a faculty member in the Chemistry Department at 海角社区CI. He received his Ph.D. in
Biochemistry and performed his postdoctoral research at the University of California,
Los Angeles. His research interests involve studying small molecule-protein and protein-protein
interactions. He is currently focusing on studying senolytic compounds.
Project Title and Description -"Evaluating senolytic drugs using a planarian model system"
This project aims to utilize a planaria (flatworm) model system to study senolytic agents and how they affect senescent cells. Senescent cells are cells which have reached the end of their replicative lifespan. However, these cells do not die, but rather enter a condition known as senescence. These senescent cells remain metabolically active. During aging, senescent cell accumulate in the body and are thought to be a contributor to aging. Senolytics are a class of drugs that target senescent cells and clear them from the body. Different members of this class of drugs elicit this effect by acting upon different protein pathways. Planaria are a unique model system due to the presence of large amounts of stem cells. This allows for an incredible regeneration capacity of an individual animal. This organism is routinely used as a model system for studying tissue regeneration &/or stem cells due to the persistent maintenance of this cell type in the organism. Student workers will grow the planaria, prepare the planaria samples that will be examined for changes to the proteome, as well as perform data analysis. This is a mass spectrometry method to determine the identities of proteins which change in a cell homogenate sample. This method will be used to determine which protein changes which occur during treatment.
Click to apply to Dr. Munroe's project!
Dr. Sydney Kim is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Martin V. Smith School of Business
and Economics at 海角社区CI. She joined the university in 2024 after earning her Ph.D.
in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in
Financial Accounting and Data Analytics. Dr. Kim鈥檚 research explores the role of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in corporate disclosures, financial institutions, and human capital
investment, leveraging machine learning and advanced textual analysis.As firms increase their investment in artificial intelligence (AI), the structure of their workforce is changing. AI is not only transforming how work is performed but also who performs it. This study examines how AI adoption influences firms鈥 employment strategies, particularly at the entry-level, where automation is likely to reduce traditional job postings while creating new roles requiring different skill sets. I have been actively researching AI investment and its impact on firms from an accounting perspective, with multiple ongoing projects in this area. My research examines how AI adoption influences corporate disclosures and financial decision-making. I have already developed the necessary datasets and variables for this study, allowing students to engage in a well-structured research process. Additionally, I have presented my research at several U.S. government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Reserve Board (FRB), where my findings have contributed to discussions on AI鈥檚 role in corporate strategy and regulatory oversight. My expertise in this field will enhance students鈥 learning experience, providing them with firsthand exposure to cutting-edge research and real-world policy implications. Through this project, I aim to create a collaborative research environment that supports both student development and 海角社区CI鈥檚 commitment to academic excellence. In this study, by analyzing job postings across multiple industries, this research will identify: 1. Jobs disappearing due to AI adoption, 2. New roles emerging, and 3. How workforce restructuring varies across different job levels. 4. Consequences for Accounting and Financial Reporting (e.g., Changes in compensation structure, hiring costs, and long-term financial planning) 5. Impact on Profitability and Cost Structure (e.g., short-term capital expenditures, long-term cost savings in labor expenses, profit margins, and operational efficiency) 6. Effects on Corporate Disclosures and Investor Perceptions Beyond mapping workforce changes, this study explores the rationale behind firms鈥 decisions. Are these changes driven by profitability, efficiency, or broader strategic shifts? How do firms balance AI adoption with human capital investment? Understanding these motivations provides critical insights into how AI reshapes corporate decision-making and long-term employment strategies. [Student Involvement and Learning Outcomes] Student researchers will play a key role in this project, gaining experience in data analysis, business research, and AI-driven employment trends. Their responsibilities include: 1. Literature Review: Students will explore research on AI-driven employment shifts and workforce restructuring to identify key variables for analysis. 2. Data Interpretation: Students will analyze empirical results to determine which industries and roles are most affected by AI adoption and discuss why. 3. Research Presentation & Communication: Students will summarize findings and prepare reports or presentations, building skills in academic writing and professional communication. [Broader Impact and Student Benefits] This project provides students with a multidisciplinary learning experience at the intersection of business, economics, data analytics, and technology. Students will develop skills in critical thinking, data-driven decision-making, and AI analysis, making them more competitive in business, consulting, finance, and technology careers. By engaging in discussions on the future of work and corporate strategy, students will be better prepared for an AI-integrated job market. This study contributes to the growing discourse on AI and employment, equipping students with empirical insights and research experience that are increasingly relevant in today鈥檚 technology-driven economy.
Dr. Geoff Dilly (Biology) is a marine ecophysiologist and an Associate Professor at Cal State University Channel
Islands. His research interests and expertise focus on organismal and ecological effects
created by natural and anthropogenic stressors including thermal challenges, desiccation,
acidification and microplastics. He has published, presented and received grant funding
on topics of thermal tolerance, transcriptomics, proteomics, oxidative stress, ecological
monitoring, and more. He also teaches a variety of courses including Marine Biology,
Deep-Sea Biology, Animal Physiology, Bioinformatics, and a senior capstone entitled
鈥淪ea Change: Oceans of the 21st Century鈥.
Dr. Vanina Sofia Machado is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics at California State University Channel
Islands (海角社区CI) and the director of the Sociolinguistics Speech Lab. She holds a Ph.D.
in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Toronto and specializes in sociolinguistics,
bilingualism, language contact, and speech variation. Her research explores how bilingual
speakers navigate linguistic spaces, how speech patterns evolve in multilingual communities,
and how language variation influences communication.
Dr. Malia Jade Roberson is a music theorist, piano recording artist, and Lecturer in the Department of Dance,
Music, and Theater at 海角社区CI. She holds a Ph.D. in Music Theory from UC Santa Barbara
and an M.A. in Piano Performance from UC Santa Cruz. Her research explores the intersection
of music educator marketing, public music theory, and music theory pedagogy. In November
2024, Dr. Roberson was the featured artist on Pandora鈥檚 Solo Piano station following
the release of her debut album, 鈥90s Songs for Like, Piano.鈥 She is also a recipient
of the Fall 2024 Exceptional Service Award and the Student Research Grant, which supports
her upcoming method book, 鈥淢usic Theory for Visual Learners.鈥 Dr. Roberson is dedicated
to fostering a dynamic learning environment that empowers students pursuing careers
in music academia and the industry.
Dr. Scott Feister is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at 海角社区CI. He has close ties with professionals
at scientific research laboratories and universities throughout the world. He plans
to connect SURF students with collaborators at these institutions. This summer, he
will be focused on developing embedded systems (e.g. with Raspberry Pi and Arduino)
and data infrastructure for actual use in AI-driven operations at high-power laser
laboratories (such as at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and UCLA).
Dr. Jorge Garcia is passionate about student projects. He is from Mexico, speaks fluently both languages,
loves soccer and enjoys cooking. In addition of playing guitar, he likes hiking, karaoke
and watching series/shows. His favorite classes to teach are Calculus, Real Analysis
and Markov Chains. His expertise includes Probability and recently he published a
couple of papers on Number Theory about prime numbers. 
Dr. Francisco Roman Magdaleno is a National Science Foundation fellow who works with songbirds as a comparative
model for early social development in human infants. Originally from Oxnard, Dr. Magdaleno
earned his B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Social Psychology and
a minor in Sociology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana
University, Bloomington, where his graduate research focused on vocal and social development
in the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Currently, he is continuing research
on visual and auditory signaling in cowbirds and is studying avian eggshells as a
window into early prenatal development.Songbirds are an established comparative model for social and vocal development in humans. Studies based on vocal development in songbirds, for example, have provided important insights into mechanisms that are essential for early speech development in human infants. The ability to address developmental questions in birds is facilitated by the fact that their eggshells can be easily preserved. The aim of this SURF project is to extend previous work I have conducted on the interrelation of structural features of the prenatal egg environment and enable multiple undergraduate research fellows at 海角社区 Channel Islands to be involved with this research during summer 2025. The overall goal will be for them to conduct a study that focuses on measures of eggshell size. Specifically, they will investigate the eggs of the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and relate individual differences in egg size to the number of eggs in a set laid by a female (i.e., clutch size). Student researchers will work as a team and: 1) Conduct an independent literature review of peer-reviewed articles on prenatal development in humans and songbirds. Because this material is heavily rooted in biology and psychology, this project will be inherently interdisciplinary. 2) Collect images from the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology online database, which offers free and open access to pictures of complete egg clutches from hundreds of different bird species. 3) Gather size measurements from the images that were collected. 4) Apply appropriate statistics to study the relationship between various structural features of the eggs based on clutch size. 5) Present findings at undergraduate research conferences (e.g., Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research; Fall Faculty-Student Research Showcase; Psychology Poster Session) and gain experience preparing a written manuscript for publication. All of the proposed tasks are feasible and can be easily accomplished through this eight-week faculty-mentored research project that will involve bi-weekly team meetings. In gaining valuable skills by conducting psychological research, each one of the participating undergraduate research fellows will become fit and better prepared for graduate school. A car will be required.
Click to apply to Dr. Magdaleno's project!
Dr. Maricela Becerra is an Assistant Professor of Spanish. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary analysis
of State violence, trauma, and memory in Latin America. She specializes in contemporary
Mexican social movements and memories as resistance in cultural production. Dra. Becerra's
current project explores social media as an organizing tool in the contemporary feminist
uprising in Mexico by looking at the role of hashtags in denouncing feminicidios and
digital memorials as resistance.