Students with a high academic record entering their senior year—above a 3.5 GPA—can pursue Honors by completing significant or original work in their major. These projects are some of the finest work Ursinus students have completed, often leading to work in graduate school or by future Ursinus students. Students who complete a project of remarkable discipline and originality can earn Distinguished Honors.
Theses/Dissertations from 2026
Modernidad, Heterogeneidad y Utopía en Todas las Sangres de José María Arguedas, Matthew J. Adams Jr
Quantum Many-Body Scars Impede Thermalization, Juniper J. Bauroth-Sherman
Microplastics Influence Early Carbon Mineralization and Residue Decomposition Without Altering Net Nitrogen Mineralization, Noah M. Berger
Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy of the 61Ni(d, pγ)62Ni Transfer Reaction, Ewan M. Chattin
Biophysical Characterizations and Applications of DNA-Lipid Micelles, Cianna Chung
Ticking Time Bomb: The Economic Ramifications of MLB's Pitch Clock, Katie Ciuffreda
The One-Shot Ceiling: Comparing RAG and Fine-Tuning Architectures for AI-Assisted Math Mentoring, Michael J. Cummins
Differentiation of Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Beta-Like Cells In Vitro, Charles J. Cunningham V
The Impact of Stress on Visual Processing of Erotic and Non-Erotic Images, Erin Dychdala
Political Epistemology: An Interdisciplinary Approach Towards Identifying Virtuous Political Belief Formation, Riley Frymoyer
Investigating the Capacity of TDP-43 Low Complexity Domain to Target Protein Aggregates in Yeast, Nicholas J. Grahame
Gamma-ray Spectroscopy of One-Neutron Knockout From 72Se, Alyssa Himmelreich
Differences in Gendered Educational Experiences Through a Hegemonic Lens: Cultural Influences on Schooling Norms, Camille M. Hubbs
The Thermalization of Isolated Quantum Systems, John Keim
Micromagnetic Simulations of Field-Driven Antiferromagnetically Coupled Skyrmions, Aidan D. Kirk
Assembly and Stability of DNA-Lipid Micelles for Drug Delivery Applications, Sophia Kosvitch
Exploring Microbiome Communities of Two Belize Coral Species Five Years After Reciprocal Transplant, Lily E. Kratz
Scared of the Stage: Combating Post-Performance Rumination with Expressive Writing, Sophia Kumar
Dual Roles of PAM-1 in CDK-1-Dependent Mitotic Timing and Centrosome-Intrinsic Regulation in C. elegans Embryos, Alyssa H. Lemmon
Why Read in the Age of Post-Literacy?, Corrine H. Martello
Anti-French Sentiment as a Factor in the Coup Belt, Foster P. McGrath
Bats in a Modified Suburban Landscape, Brittany Morgera
Exploring Greener Suzuki–Miyaura Couplings of Indole Scaffolds, Tyler J. Moyer
Pwnagotchi: Deauthentication Attacks, WPA Handshakes, and Wireless Network Security, Emily Musgrove
Investigating the Role of the Ribosome-Associated Complex and the Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex in ER Stress Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kathryn Petersen
Analyzing Preparedness for Compliance with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Across Member States of the European Union, Vincent Pfattner
Red-backed Salamander Color Polymorphism and Responses to Changing Environmental Conditions, Andrew Philburn
Fortified Borders, Fractured Markets: The Impact of Border Fortifications on Trade and Foreign Direct Investment, Jessica R. Pizzo
The Impatience of Winning: An Analysis of Time Discounting, Predictive Modeling, and the NBA Draft, Alec R. Plante
"Mirrored Frequencies": Episode 1, Leo Quinn and Naila Twyman
"Mirrored Frequencies": Episode 2, Leo Quinn and Naila Twyman
"Mirrored Frequencies": How to Make an Audio Drama, Leo Quinn and Naila Twyman
Cortisol Awakening Response: Cognitive and Physiological Manifestations in Young Adults With and Without Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Brooke Richards
Dynamics of Neuronal Maturation and Migration in the Growing Axolotl Spinal Cord, Ella Roche
Payrolling in the Deep, Kyle Rosenfeld
Investigating the Role of Cotranslational Stalling on Prionogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Cole Sexton
Too Much Light? A Design Journey, Caitlin G. Shanahan
What Is Happening in Major League Baseball? A Structural Snapshot in an Evolving Economic Landscape: A Case Study, Max K. Shilstone
When Wedding Bells Stop Ringing: An Economic Analysis of the U.S. Fertility Crisis, Mia Sideris
Fundamentals of Impact Mechanics and Applications to Hydrocode Simulations, Gavin Soueidan
Speaking of Language: The Relationship Between Language as Capital and Minority Language Education, Alex J. Zelaya
Theses/Dissertations from 2025
Uncovering a Role for PAM-1 in Spindle Dynamics in the One-Cell C. elegans Embryo, Jasmine Borie
Waiting: A Case Study of the Norristown Transportation Center, Colin Brier
Approaches to Student Motivation: An Analysis and Application of Humanistic and Behavioral Psychology, Amanda Carideo
Structured Unfreedom: Improving Schools, Society, and the Relationship Between Them Through Meaningful Learning and Autonomy, Meghan Carroll
Colonial Waste and Liminal Space: A Look Behind the Muhlenberg General Store, Ciara S. Chagnon
Bars, Barristers, and Bias: A Content Analysis of Legal Plays, Evan Chartock
Nonthermalizing Dynamics of Interacting Rydberg Atoms, Nicolaus A. Chlanda
Le Kabary et le Fokonolona au Grand Écran, Josh E. Coster
Decade-Long Deals: The Forces Driving MLB’s Lengthening Contracts, Benjamin Cuccolo
Development of Buchwald-Hartwig Amination Reaction of Unprotected, Functionalized Indoles, Grace O. DeCostanza
Humanity, Monstrosity and Uniquity: A Stirnerian Theory of Art-Horror, Moldwarp Delgado
Lunar Secondary Crater Identification Through Semi-Automated Data Aggregation: The Beginnings of the Pipeline, Annalyse Dickinson
Computational Analysis of Proton Conductivity Factors in Grotthuss-style Mechanisms, Brock Dyer
Simulated Recovery: Measuring the Impact of Structural Adjustment on Economic Development in Latin America, Daniel Espinal
The Physiological Responses of Exaiptasia pallida Under Different Light and Feeding Conditions, Ivy Foster
Social Identity and Belongingness: College Students’ Happiness, Life Satisfaction, and Personal Growth, Julia Gallo
Everything But Wrestling: How Women Wrestlers Perform Dominance, Lauren Gherman
Variation in Bike Infrastructure Across American Cities, Jason D. Greenberg
Chromatographic Method Development for the Detection of Plastic Degradation Products, Danielle Hanna
Border Restrictions in the Rise of Anti-Immigration Politics, Katherine Hein
Are All Sports Betting Losses Created Equal?, Dylan M. Hollick
The Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex Modulates Response to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Steven Janik
Support For Progressive Taxation Amidst Economic Inequality, Emma J. Jones
Ribosome Stalling Increases Sup35 Prion Conversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hayley Kane
Causes of Voter Wait Times During the 2022 U.S. Midterm Elections, Christopher Kiss
Optimization of the Heat Treatment Protocol and Metrology of Ge-As-Pb-Se Glass, Jake S. Klucinec
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of G4DFsc, Maya Kyriakos
Quantifying and Characterizing Microplastics in the Greater Philadelphia Region, Emily Lybashev
"Nothing About Us Without Us": State-Level Disability Accommodation in the Wake of the ADA, Megan F. Matteucci
Synthesis, Purification, and Characterization of Potential Small Molecule Methyltransferase Inhibitors, Alannah E. Miller
The Secret Life of NIM: How Regulation Affects Bank Balance Sheets and Consumer Consequences, Alexandra Nenish
Cover Cropping: How Sustainability & Economics Can Work Hand in Hand (Pt. II), Emma Reyes
Protein Interactions Between PAM-1 and Cell Cycle Proteins in C. elegans, Madison Smith
Investigating DnaJB Chaperone Protein Interactions in Parkinson's Disease, Erin K. Stubbs
Young Adults’ Attitudes Toward the Elderly, Aging, and Death, Emily Taylor
Developing Model Systems to Study Enveloped Viral Pathogens, Hana Yolacan
Theses/Dissertations from 2024
The Role of MBK-2 and CDK-1 in Oocytes and Early Embryos of pam-1 Mutant C. elegans, Alexa R. Alessandrini
Prefrontal Cortex Activity When Processing Concrete and Abstract Words: A fNIRS Study, Luke Ammazzalorso
FBO or No? Explaining USAID Partnerships with Faith-Based Organizations in Development Aid, Abigail Behm
CDK-1 Location and Activity in the Gonad Interacting with pam-1 in C. elegans, Sarah Bell
Small Molecule Reactivity Pathways with DFsc Proteins, Alex Bender
Detecting the Degradation Products of Cutin and PET, Matthew Burns
The Alchemy of Diversification: A Deep Dive Into the Stock-Bond Correlation, Evan Coffey
Exploring Population Dynamics of a Stage-Structured Host-Parasitoid Model of Acyrthosiphon pisum with Increased Longevity of Aphidius ervi, Kasey L. Cooper
Writing, Performance, Resistance: Examining Feminist Ideology and Theory in Theatre Since the Second Wave, Olivia Cross
Using Microfossils to Examine Paleoclimate Through Glacial / Interglacial Cycles at ODP Site 1233, Chile Margin, Southeast Pacific Ocean, Abigail Duimering
Rewrite the Past and Remember the Future: How Expatriates Built an Independent Ireland, Morgan Grabowski
Signal Processing Algorithms for Doppler LiDAR Sensors, Samantha Grubb
Who Wins Post-Conflict? Political Party Transformation in Northern Ireland During the Brexit Era, Shannon Henes
Which Justices are Just? An Investigation of the Factors That Influence College Student Perceptions of Judicial Impartiality, Carly Henning
How Generation Z Canceled the United States Government: An Analysis of Trust, Corrine Hofmann
Isolation of Aged Mouse Primary Microglia as a Model System for Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Michael Landis
