About the Program:

The ACES Undergraduate Research Scholars Program engages undergraduate students in research. Faculty members serve as mentors while students gain valuable experience working on cutting-edge research projects alongside experts in the field. The program provides undergraduates with a solid foundation in research methods to better prepare them for entry into professional and scientific fields.

*Application for the 2025-2026 cycle will open on August 25th* 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Classified as an “undergraduate” at New Mexico State University in the College of ACES.
• Completed a minimum of 12 credit hours at New Mexico State University.
• Achieved a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
• Classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior.
• Commit to a minimum of 10 hrs/week for research for each semester.

Program Benefits:

• Learn how to conduct research by working directly with ACES faculty.
• Apply course content to your own independent research project.
• Be part of making new discoveries.
• Develop critical thinking and communication skills.
• Present research and scientific meetings.
• Gain a competitive edge for professional or graduate school. 

Contact Information:

Dr. Jennifer Hernandez Gifford

Title: Program Director, Professor - Department of Animal Range Sciences, Knox Hall #219

Email: jgifford@nmsu.edu

Research Project Summaries 

•  2024 - 2025 ACES UG Research Project Impacts

2024-2025 ACES Open House Poster Awards Recipients 

1st Place - Artibeus Jamaicensis as a Novel Model: Quantifying and Comparing Leptin Receptors in Bat Placentas

• Alana K. Pedersen-Kamaka
• Thomas Eiting
• Sheena Bettis
• Teri Orr (Faculty Research Mentor)

2nd Place - Using eBird Data to Explore Trends in Wintering Abundance of American Kestrels (Falco Sparverius) in Mesilla Valley

• Ellary Battle
• Megan Lemmo
• Martha Desmond (Faculty Research Mentor)

3rd Place - Effects of CXCL12 Inhibition/Activation on Cytokine Expression in the Developing Sheep Placenta

• Kassandra Valdez
• Ema Alvarez
• Samantha Baez
• Ryan Ashley (Faculty Research Mentor)

4th Place - Exploring Biostimulant Impact on Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) Growth and Nutrient Uptake

• Anahi Flores
• Maria Alvarez
• Dr. F Omar Holguin (Faculty Research Mentor)

Honorable Mention - Impacts of Manipulating the CXCL12/CXCR4 Chemokine Axis During Implantation on Glucose and Amino Acid Transporters in the Developing Placenta

• Makayla Mullins
• Kyla Saucedo
• Samantha Baez
• Ryan Ashley (Faculty Research Mentor)