July 28, 2026
Turning a Personal Connection into Creative Scholarship
Story and photos by Logan Jackson Alex Tyrrell has spent the past few summers working on a variety of personal writing projects. This summer, Tyrrell is taking her writing to a new level. Through the Cherng Summer Scholars program, Tyrrell is writing about Crooked Creek, which runs through Weldon Spring, Missouri. Part of the creek is close to where Tyrrell grew up, and she spent a lot of time exploring the area. “It’s a creek that I got acquainted with in my teenage years,” Tyrrell said. “The creek is in a very suburban area, so there’s…
July 27, 2026
From First-Year Curiosity to Cherng Summer Scholar
Story and photos by Logan Jackson When Cole Brodeur arrived at Mizzou two years ago, he knew that research was going to play a major role in his college journey. “I came to campus wanting to get involved in research,” Brodeur said. “I had a biology teacher in high school who really inspired me to pursue a career in science. She was very passionate, and I quickly developed an interest in science and research.” Eager to get involved right away, Brodeur, a biochemistry major, took the Honors College’s Intro to STEM Research course (GN_HON 2453H) during…
July 26, 2026
Taking Research to the Next Level
Story and photos by Logan Jackson While Ajay Tosh’s research journey at the University of Missouri began during his freshman year, he has been able to take his work to the next level this summer through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. “It’s really nice to have funding to amplify work that I’m passionate about,” said Tosh, a junior biological sciences and neuroscience double major. “I’ve never been paid to conduct research – and this program is providing important support for me throughout the summer. It’s great that I can put all my focus into my research and…
July 22, 2026
Tracing the Path of AI Policy
Story and photos by Logan Jackson Henry Birkmeier was introduced to the impact of research last year through the ASH Scholars program. He’s building on that work this summer through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. Birkmeier’s project centers on artificial intelligence (AI) policy diffusion, examining how federal AI policies influence state policymaking and how AI policies spread from one state to another. He began the project last fall as an ASH Scholar. “Our early discussions focused on what type of policy diffusion we wanted to explore, and AI is such a timely topic, so…
July 21, 2026
Making Connections in the Lab
Story and photos by Logan Jackson Jennifer Boyd spent last summer gaining valuable research experiences through the Summer Research Exposure Program (SREP), which pairs first- and second-year undergraduates with faculty members to engage in mentored research and creative activities. Her work earned her continued funding through the SREP+1 program during the following academic year. “I honestly never thought I would be involved in research,” said Boyd, a junior biological sciences major. “I always thought it sounded cool, but it felt like something that was unattainable. Mizzou has helped me realize that it’s…
July 20, 2026
A Second Summer of Storytelling
Story and photos by Logan Jackson Josiah Anderson has spent the past two years at Mizzou searching for every available opportunity to improve his writing skills. Last summer, he was able to explore the short story genre through the Cherng Summer Scholars program. This summer, he’s returning for a second year in the program. “There are not nearly as many creative scholarships when compared to research scholarships, which I completely understand,” said Anderson, a junior English major. “But as a creative writer, I would obviously love to be paid to work on a project that I’m passionate…
July 19, 2026
Research Takes Root
Story and photos by Logan Jackson Noah Davis was scrolling through YouTube shorts late one night when one video caught his attention. The short featured scientists discussing a variety of research developments in plant science. Davis had cared for houseplants for years and remains passionate about all things plants. “I was just thinking about how cool it was that researchers were doing this high-level work, and I was interested in what would eventually happen,” Davis said. “I then realized that I could be part of that type of work; I could help find answers to challenging questions.”…
July 15, 2026
From the Newsroom to the Statehouse
Story by Logan Jackson While Anna Boyle expected to spend her time at the University of Missouri chasing story ideas and writing on deadline as a journalism major, she didn’t expect to find a new area of interest – politics. Boyle, a senior, has since added a constitutional democracy minor and spent significant time in Jefferson City last semester, serving as a legislative intern for two representatives in the Missouri House of Representatives. “Within journalism there are naturally a lot of political conversations,” Boyle said. “Being in that space and part of those conversations sparked an…
July 14, 2026
Finding History in the Fishbowl
Story by Logan Jackson As a senior constitutional democracy major, Abby Plenge has spent countless hours on the fourth floor of Jesse Hall, the home of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy. While the entire space has served as a special place for Plenge, there is one spot that has always been a bit more unique – the fishbowl. A study space utilized by constitutional democracy students, the fishbowl features a decades-old mural painted by James P. Hatfield, a Mizzou graduate and longtime college professor. During Plenge’s time as a marketing ambassador for the Kinder Institute, her…
May 17, 2026
Connecting Health, History and Humanity
Story and photos by Logan Jackson For Carolyn Orbann, anthropology has always been about people — their stories, their cultures, the systems they build and the ways they care for one another across time. That curiosity has carried her from childhood years spent overseas in Kenya and South Africa to archaeological work in Joshua Tree National Park, and eventually to classrooms and research laboratories at the University of Missouri, where she now mentors Tigers exploring questions about health, policy and human behavior. This spring, Orbann, a teaching professor in the College of Health Sciences and affiliate…