UNG students earn undergraduate research grants

Ten students with seven faculty mentors represented three UNG colleges and the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of North Georgia (UNG) Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) awarded student-faculty collaborative research mini-grants for the 2025-26 academic year. The ten students and seven faculty mentors represent various departments across three UNG colleges and the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis.

Why it matters

The grants provide valuable research opportunities for UNG students, allowing them to develop critical skills in areas like research, writing, and presentation that will prepare them for graduate work and careers. The diverse range of funded projects also showcases the breadth of research being conducted at UNG.

The details

Among the grant recipients is Sofia Quiros, a junior political science major, whose research examines how countries use hosting the FIFA World Cup to craft an international image. Other funded projects include studies on the effects of e-cigarette exposure on lung and bone health in mice, as well as research on mineral identification, engineering, and crayfish behavior.

  • The grants were awarded in February 2026 for the 2025-26 academic year.
  • The students will present their research at the 31st Annual Research Conference on March 20, 2026 at UNG's Gainesville Campus.

The players

Sofia Quiros

A junior political science major at UNG who is researching how countries use hosting the FIFA World Cup to expand their international image and influence.

Dr. Bibek Chand

Quiros' faculty mentor and an associate professor of sociology at UNG.

Lindsey Malcolm

A junior at UNG who is studying the effects of e-cigarette exposure on bone health in mice.

Dr. Cathy Whiting

A professor of biology at UNG who is supervising research projects on the effects of e-cigarette exposure.

Michael Manzanarez

A UNG student from Loganville, Georgia who is researching innovative machine learning approaches for mineral identification.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Sofia's research is impactful as it uses a comparative case study to assess how countries use hosting the World Cup as a means of expanding their image and place in the world. The project has the potential to give us insights into how different countries use the same event to pursue similar goals in international politics.”

— Dr. Bibek Chand, Faculty mentor (monroelocal.org)

“It's scary to think that vaping could damage and weaken your bones. I hope research like this will help people understand that there are dangers to vaping, and they are potentially weakening their bones.”

— Lindsey Malcolm, Junior student (monroelocal.org)

What’s next

Based on feedback from upcoming conferences, Quiros plans to refine her manuscript and submit it for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

The takeaway

The diverse range of undergraduate research projects funded by UNG's CURCA grants showcases the university's commitment to providing students with valuable hands-on research experiences that will prepare them for graduate work and future careers.