Black Bear profiles

A photo of Nhan Chau

Nhan Chau: Designing for science at Maine EPSCoR

Growing up in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, Nhan Chau and her little brother would watch cartoons together — Doraemon, a Japanese anime about a time-traveling robotic cat, was their favorite. She promised him that one day, she would make art of her own. As an intern at Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine, […]

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A photo of Kaia De Vries

Kaia De Vries: National math award winner loves a challenge

Complex math problems can intimidate some second-year college students, but they invigorate Kaia De Vries. The University of Maine sophomore dives headfirst into real analysis, permutations, inversions and other challenging queries presented to her, honing her skills so she can become an adept mathematician.  In recognition of her hard work and passion, the American Mathematical […]

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A photo of Liza White

Liza White: Engineering new applications for paper mill products

Growing up in Rumford, Maine, Liza White learned the extent to which paper manufacturers contribute to the rural economies in which they operate. Residents would regularly say “paper is money” in relation to the mill’s importance; they would celebrate its successes and shudder when it struggled.  Changes in global demand have brought both economic uncertainty […]

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A photo of Ross Sousa

Ross Sousa: Using new tools to solve old problems on the farm 

While working part-time on farms and in greenhouses, University of Maine senior Ross Sousa of Somerset, Massachusetts learned firsthand how disease can ruin crops. Memories of farmers’ plight, combined with a passion for plant pathology and finding more sustainable agricultural resources, encouraged him to get involved in research to determine whether lobster shells can combat […]

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A photo of Evan Warburton

Evan Warburton: A fun guy studying fungi

Evan Warburton is wild about mushrooms. He forages for edible mushrooms, grows oyster mushrooms in his apartment and researches how fungi interact with trees as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Maine. Inspired by the community of UMaine mycologists, Warburton is growing into a great researcher in his own right, studying the underground fungal […]

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A photo of Nick Sinacola

Nick Sinacola: Balancing business classes and baseball

Nick Sinacola, a baseball pitcher from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, found at home at the University of Maine and the Maine Business School. The 2021 America East Pitcher of the Year had a banner season as a junior. In July 2021, Sinacola made history when the San Francisco Giants signed him in the 7th round pick […]

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A photo of Miriam Talalay speaking at an awards ceremony

Miriam Talalay: Congressional Gold Medal winner and lifelong animal caretaker

Like many first-year students at the University of Maine, Miriam Talalay has several passions — animals, drawing and playing violin, just to name a few. What sets her apart is a medal from Congress recognizing her excellence in all that she does. The Congressional Award encourages and recognizes youth for initiative, service and achievement, and […]

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A photo of Brandy Soos

Brandy Soos: Mentorship and research go hand in hand

Brandy Soos came to the University of Maine with years of lab experience, but the Ph.D. student’s research on influenza A virus in Ben King’s lab may be her most cutting-edge project yet — and she’s training the next generation of scientists while she does it. Soos says she “got bitten by the science bug” […]

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A portrait of Samuel Weafer

Samuel Weafer: Using student research to become a better scientist

When Samuel Weafer decided he wanted to do research as an undergraduate, the perfect project and the right mentor seemed to find him. Weafer’s research experience in Benjamin King’s lab in the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences has taught him invaluable scientific skills, but he says it has also shown him that it is […]

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