The College of Science ACCESS Scholars Program is a multi‑year cohort experience for students majoring in science and mathematics. It provides a signature first‑year experience, fully funded, along with continued opportunities for research, leadership development, and community building throughout students' undergraduate journey. ACCESS Scholars clarify their academic and career goals, build meaningful connections, develop leadership skills, and join a network of mentors and more than 800 alumni. The program offers financial support, hands‑on experiences, and a vibrant community of future science leaders. 

Aaboli Samant (chemistry)
Screening for Antimicrobial Natural Products from Soil Bacteria
Faculty Mentor: Jose Miguel Robes (chemistry)
Host Laboratory: Aaron Puri (chemistry) 

Addison Marcy (chemistry)
Wait, did she just say what I think she said? Investigating False Hearing and Its Effects on Brain Activity Using EEG
Mentor(s): Jack Silcox (psychology PhD student) 
Host Laboratory: Brennan Payne (psychology) 

Alejandra Perez Rivas (biomedical engineering, honors Integrated minor in human rights and resources)
Gallium Recovery From US Rare Earth Mine Process Stream
Mentor(s): Abdulkaium Sayem (metallurgical engineering) and Xinbo Yang (metallurgical engineering)
Host Laboratory: Xinbo Yang (metallurgical engineering) 

Ashely Wright (biochemistry)
Solid-Phase Synthesis and Cyclization of Peptides for Therapeutic Applications
Mentor: Andrew Roberts (chemistry) and Clare McGrath (chemistry)
Host Laboratory: Andrew Roberts (chemistry) 

Charley Foster (honors chemical engineering, biology minor)
Overview of Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy and How to Optimize Accuracy of Measuring Gallium
Mentor: Hailey Paine (metallurgical engineering)
Host Laboratory: Xinbo Yang (metallurgical engineering) 

Liza (Elisabeth) Muhlestein (biochemistry and bioinformatics, computer science minor)
Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Extracts from Soil Bacteria
Mentor: Miguel Robes (chemistry)
Host Laboratory: Aaron Puri (chemistry) 

Iris Bradley (biochemistry and bioinformatics, anthropology minor)
From City Streets to Mountain Peaks: Tracking biodiversity and gene flow of Utah’s wildflower and arthropods
Host Laboratory: Daniel Souto Vilarós (Science Research Initiative) 

Juan Garcia (biology)
Using stable isotopes to understand how soil properties affect water evaporation across different depths
Mentor(s): Jade Ventura (chemical engineering), Oscar Nava (biochemistry), and Ricardo Avendano (biochemistry)
Host Laboratory: Rachel Havranek (geology and geophysics) 

Megan Herr (atmospheric sciences)
Temperature Controls on Snowflake Density as Observed from the DEID
Mentor(s): Karlie Rees (atmospheric sciences)
Host Laboratory: Tim Garrett (atmospheric sciences) 

Mia Kabella (chemistry and computer science)
Enhancing Iron Oxidation in Bioleaching Systems
Mentor: Emmanuel Owusu-Fourdjour  (PhD Candidate in metallurgical engineering)
Host Laboratory: Xinbo Yang (metallurgical engineering) 

Milo Smith (biology and earth and environmental sciences)
Owl Collision rates in the Western United States
Mentor: Jordan Herman (PhD Ecology and Evolutionary Biology)
Host Laboratory: Austin Green (Science Research Initiative) 

Nora Langer (applied mathematics and chemistry)
Influence of Alcohol Branch Site on the n-octanol/water Interface
Mentor: Taylor Ottley (chemistry)
Host Laboratory: Aurora Clark (chemistry)