STUDENTS AND DISCOVERIES
Undergraduates lead high-impact research
May 4, 2026
Colorado State University is among the nation’s top research universities, so it makes sense that students in their earliest years would dive into research and artistry to extend their classroom learning. Thousands of CSU students are doing just that. In laboratories and studios, you’ll find undergraduate students working shoulder to shoulder with world-class faculty.
These newbie scientists have much to contribute and much to gain in pursuit of new insights that benefit society and the planet. Increasingly, CSU undergraduates conduct mentored lab work to enrich classroom curricula with additional knowledge, technical skills, and career competencies. These projects change the lives of students involved, leading to academic success, new career plans – and inspiration to improve our world.
Disease warriors
Two students in biomedical sciences joined research through a prestigious national program funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Milayo Garner, above, survived childhood leukemia; it motivated her to become a pediatric cancer research physician. She’s got a jump start by investigating how to pique the body’s immune system to fight bone and skin cancer.
Raul Hernandez Robles, top, is studying links between Type 2 diabetes and schizophrenia with plans to become a neurology researcher. His studies rely on the fruit fly, which has disease genetics matching many of those in humans.
Cyberloafing inquisitor
Jackson Wall, a finance major, is studying the effects of “cyberloafing” – or digital distractions during the workday. That might mean checking sports scores, watching YouTube videos, or shopping online. Findings suggest a low level of cyberloafing might help employees to effectively clear their minds and transition between tasks at work.
Alzheimer’s evaluator
Could driving skills reveal cognitive impairment among Alzheimer’s patients, stroke survivors, and others with neurological concerns? Psychology student Eleanor Larson is working to find out. She and mentors use driving simulators and remote sensors to assess signs of cognitive decline. It’s an easy and effective alternative to a full neuropsychological assessment.
Music therapist
Tirzah Rowe is an accomplished musician conducting research into best practices in music therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. She and her mentors hope to improve therapeutic practices for patients with movement challenges.
Dam analysts
Engineering undergraduates constructed a hydraulic model to test aspects of Halligan Dam north of Fort Collins. Their analyses will help guide construction at Halligan Reservoir, which supplies water for city of Fort Collins residents. The students have worked with government and industry partners on the unique project.
Neutrino sleuth
Chloe Rectanus, a physics student, is pitching in on a leading-edge international research project that seeks to understand tiny, abundant, and nearly massless particles called neutrinos. Many physicists think these particles were a byproduct of the Big Bang and that their behavior led to formation of the universe – so understanding neutrinos could answer fundamental questions about Earth.
Equine investigator
Cristal Morales Chavez, a student in equine science, is evaluating how horses respond as they provide therapeutic riding sessions for children with autism. Findings are expected to direct care for horses used in therapy sessions. After all, if the horse isn’t at its peak or doesn’t respond well, the partnership between horse and human is not as beneficial as it might be.
Reporting: Jeff Dodge, Stacy Nick, Josh Rhoten, and Allison Sylte.
Photography: Kevin Samuelson, Ben Ward, John Cline, Hannah Tran, and Ron Bend / Colorado State University.
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