Endowed Student Research

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Last Updated: Sep 10, 2025, 10:43 AM

The College of Health and Human Sciences proudly supports student research through competitive endowed awards that recognize excellence, innovation, and potential in health-related fields. These awards provide critical funding to graduate students conducting impactful research under the mentorship of CHHS faculty. From behavioral neuroscience and developmental disabilities to cancer biology and mental health interventions, these projects reflect the college’s commitment to advancing scientific discovery and improving lives.

Two prestigious opportunities celebrate emerging scholars whose work exemplifies academic rigor, creativity, and real-world relevance.

Dr. Judy C. Drolet and Dr. R. Larry Townsend Student Health Research

New in FY2025, the Dr. Judy C. Drolet and Dr. R. Larry Townsend Student Health Research Award is made in combination with the Elena M. Sliepcevich Faculty Research Award.

Recipients

  • 2025
    • Joseph McCracken, graduate student in the School of Human Sciences, for his research with Dr. Meungguk Park on Assessing comparative efficacy of physical exercise, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depressive symptoms of adolescents and young adults.

Marlene Rotbart Matten Excellence in Health Research Award

The Marlene Rotbart Matten Excellence in Health Research Award is an annual award to support health-related research, broadly defined to include basic and applied research, for a female student who is enrolled in a Masters or Doctoral program.

Recipients

  • 2025
    • Tamara Coulter, School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences doctoral student studying under the direction of Dr. Michael Hylin and Dr. Camilo Hurtado-Parrado, for her research on  Impulsive Choice and Neuroinflammatory Morphology in the Impulsive Pathway of Rats Exposed to Severe Frontal Traumatic Brain Injury.
  • 2024
    • Jessica Hinojosa, School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences doctoral student studying under the mentorship of Dr. Lesley Shawler for her research, An Examination of the Feasibility of a Brief Behavioral Sleep Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • 2023
    • Claudia Ford, School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences masters student with support from  Dr. Michael Hylin (https://academics.siu.edu/human-behavioral/psychology/faculty/hylin-michael.php) and Dr. Camilo Hurtado-Parrado for her research, Combined Methods of Chronic Early Life Stress and Its Functional and Structural Effects During Adolescence.
  • 2022
    • Titas Roy, Department of Physiology Master’s Student, with mentorship from Dr. Dale Hales for her research titled, Endocannabinoid system and Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer.
    • Rebecca Seward, School of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences doctoral student under direction from Dr. Ryan Redner for her study focused on Increasing Physical Activity among People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.