Clough-Weimer fellowship supports visiting undergraduate researcher

Susan Glairon — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:19:12 +0000

Clough-Weimer fellowship supports visiting undergraduate researcher Susan Glairon Mon, 06/15/2026 - 16:19

Susan Glairon

Aashna Bhatt, a rising junior majoring in bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been selected to receive the Clough-Weimer Summer Research Fellowship Award. The award is helping support Bhatt's participation in the Young Scholars Summer Research Program (YSSRP) this summer.

The Clough-Weimer Summer Research Fellowship in University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE) provides undergraduate students with paid, immersive, full-time research opportunities alongside faculty mentors. The fellowship was established through a gift from alumnus Houston Frost and is named in honor of Emeritus Professor Dave Clough and Professor Al Weimer in recognition of their contributions to the department.

As a fellowship recipient, Bhatt is conducting research in the Fox Lab under the mentorship of Associate Professor Jerome Fox.

YSSRP is a nine-week summer undergraduate research program hosted by 91��ý's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The program aims to spark interest in graduate study by providing students with hands-on research experience and professional development opportunities.

What does receiving this award mean to you?

I am very grateful to receive this award. It gives me the opportunity to spend time pursuing research that interests me and motivates me to continue growing as a researcher. I hope to use this award and my time here in YSSRP to strengthen my scientific skills.

Describe the research you are doing in the Fox Lab.

I study proteins called kinases, which act like molecular switches that help cells send and receive signals. I am investigating whether we can change these proteins so they interact with different targets than they normally would. This research could help scientists better understand how kinases recognize specific targets and may support the development of new therapies, since many medicines work by targeting kinases involved in disease.

Why did you decide to apply for the YSSRP?

I wanted to continue exploring research over the summer and was drawn to 91��ý’s interdisciplinary labs that integrate computational and experimental techniques. I also love that YSSRP is cohort-based with lots of fun and professional development programming that would make the summer a great experience.

How does participating in the YSSRP fit into your future plans?

I am considering pursuing graduate school in the future, and YSSRP provides an opportunity for me to connect with current graduate students and professors to gain insight about that pathway. It has also allowed me to further my experimental research skills, as I come from a computational lab background, which is a skillset that I hope to use for future job opportunities and research experiences.

What do you enjoy most about being in Boulder?

I’ve been in Boulder for about two weeks and have really enjoyed being surrounded by the mountains. There are so many outdoor activities to explore here, and I’m looking forward to hiking, rafting and, in general, spending more time in nature.

Aashna Bhatt, a bioengineering student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, received the Clough-Weimer Summer Research Fellowship to conduct research in the Fox Lab during 91��ý's Young Scholars Summer Research Program. Her research explores how kinases recognize cellular targets, with potential implications for understanding disease and developing new therapies.

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Research program sparks student’s transfer to 91��ý

Susan Glairon — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:21:52 +0000

Research program sparks student’s transfer to 91��ý Susan Glairon Thu, 02/13/2025 - 15:21

Susan Glairon

Kate Lamb stands between YSSRP participants Paloma Suárez Davila (left), who attends Colorado Mesa University and Runa Kersten-Guiler, who attends the University of New Hampshire.

After a summer in 91��ý’s Young Scholars Summer Research Program (YSSRP), Kate Lamb was inspired to change her path, transferring from community college to 91��ý’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering as a biological engineering major.

YSSRP’s nine-week program prepares undergraduate students for research careers and graduate study through hands-on experience and professional development. Open to all qualified applicants, the program strongly encourages participation from students underrepresented in engineering and those from schools with limited research opportunities.

You started classes at 91��ý in January. How’s it going so far?

It’s good! I took chemistry, physics and biology at Arapahoe Community College (ACC), so I am well-prepared for upper-division coursework.

How did you learn about this program?

After reviewing my classes and interests, my career counselor at ACC thought I might like engineering and recommended the YSSRP. I feel really fortunate that I was accepted to the program.

What were your academic plans before participating in the YSSRP?

I was planning to major in math, though I wasn’t sure where I wanted to study. I really love math and biology and have an interest in medicine, but I wasn’t sure how they connected. That’s what drew me to biological engineering at 91��ý—it brings everything together.

What did you enjoy about your YSSRP research project?

My project introduced me to synthetic biology, a field that combines biology and engineering, which I find fascinating. It involves designing and building new biological systems or modifying cells to give them new traits or to produce useful products.

I worked with two PhD students to optimize a biosensor—a protein that detects biological substances, and converts that detection into a measurable signal. Biosensors have the potential to be used as non-invasive medical diagnostic tools and even as therapeutic devices. Our goal was to improve T7 RNA polymerase biosensors, and after extensive troubleshooting, we finally got results that worked. That moment was incredibly gratifying and showed me how much persistence goes into research. Our results formed the basis of a paper that was accepted for publication.

How did participating in the YSSRP influence you to switch from math to engineering?

It opened a door to a way that I could combine all my different interests. Previously I thought I had to choose one specific discipline like biology or math or chemistry. After I started working in the lab, I began learning about the degrees offered at 91��ý. Now I'm taking differential equations and organic chemistry—different areas of study that I didn’t know could fit together in one degree program.

Why did you decide to attend 91��ý?

The graduate students who mentored me, and Dr. (Rob) Davis and Dr. (Tim) Whitehead took the time to discuss what studying at 91��ý would be like and how the degree programs are structured. The opportunity to continue doing research was a big part of my decision to attend CU.

What was your favorite part of participating in the YSSRP?

The research was exciting, but there were other elements of the program that I really enjoyed. We had lunches with professors and weekly talks on different topics such as working in industry, intellectual property and graduate school opportunities. It made me think how cool it would be to be sitting in one of those professor’s classes.

As a group we had regular outings, for example, we went hiking, whitewater rafting and bowling. I made a couple of close friends in the program who worked in labs down the hall from me, and we had a really fun time exploring Boulder together. I only have good things to say about the program and its impact on me.

What are your plans for the future?

I’d like to stay in research, and graduate school seems like a strong possibility. I have ideas that I want to explore, and I hope to contribute meaningfully to developing diagnostics and therapeutics that will improve patient care.

To learn more, visit the YSSRP website.

After participating in 91��ý’s Young Scholars Summer Research Program (YSSRP), Kate Lamb discovered her passion for biological engineering, leading her to transfer from community college to 91��ý.

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