A dozen Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences faculty members have received funding through SUNY for the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program.
Faculty Members Receive SUNY Undergraduate Research, Activities Awards
By Dirk Hoffman
Published December 17, 2025
Twelve Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences faculty members have received funding through the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program for projects starting in January 2026.
A SUNY-funded program in partnership with the Experiential Learning Network, Career Design Center, and Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development, the program has a goal of broadening access to research and creative activities for undergraduates at the University at Buffalo.
Faculty Mentored Research, Creative Activities
Through the program, undergraduates will participate in faculty mentored research and creative activities across various disciplines and have opportunities to interact with other undergraduate and graduate students engaged in research at UB.
The program is designed for faculty to offer structured, mentored research experiences for undergraduates. Strong mentoring plans are a vital part of the program, providing meaningful support for student growth, learning, and long-term success.
Various Disciplines Represented by Funding
The Jacobs School awardees and their projects are:
| Faculty Member | Title and Department | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences | “FAK, Lamellipodin, and Survivin as Potential Mechanotherapeutic Targets in Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer” | |
| Caroline E. Bass, PhD | associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology | “3D Reconstruction of VTA GABA Neuron Projections in the Brain” |
| Sarah E. Bowman, PhD | associate professor of biochemistry | “Studying Structure and Function of Bacterial Proteins Using Structural Biology and Enzymatic Assays” |
| professor of structural biology | “Examining Enzymes of Natural Product Biosynthesis” |
| Yolanda Huang, PhD | assistant professor of microbiology and immunology | “Isolation and Characterization of Viruses (Bacteriophages) That Kill Common Human Gut Bacteria” |
| Amanda H. Klein, PhD | associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology | “Investigation of KATP Channel Subunits in the Peripheral and Central Nervous Systems” |
| Andrew T. Lombardo, PhD | assistant professor of biochemistry | “Introduction to Force and Motion in Human Cells” |
| Michael Martynowycz, PhD | assistant professor of structural biology | “AI-Assisted Crystal Detection in the TEM to Accelerate MicroED” |
| Melissa R. McCartney, PhD | associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology | “Understanding Biology and Biomedical Undergraduate and Graduate Career Development” |
| Aviv Paz, PhD | assistant professor of structural biology | “Exploring Drug Resistance Mechanisms in Pathogenic Bacteria” |
| Monica Pillon, PhD | assistant professor of structural biology | “Phosphorylation-Mediated Regulation of the Human Schlafen 14 Ribonuclease” |
| Rutao Yao, PhD | professor of radiology | “Develop and Validate Voxel-Wise System Characterization Metrics for Design Optimization of Self-Collimation Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography” |
