We are so excited to share that Briana Salinas, Lead Theoretician and Data Analyst of Curran's Nanophysics Research Group (CNRG), has been awarded the Provost's Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS) from the University of Houston. This competitive scholarship provides $1,000 semester-long funding for a faculty-mentored research project. Open to students of all majors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, PURS offers a unique opportunity for hands-on research experience and academic growth. As a Mathematics major, Briana develops mathematical models, runs MATLAB simulations, and interprets experimental data to better understand how nanoscale structural connectivity impacts light behavior, contributing to advancements in nanophotonics and materials science. In the Fall 2025 semester she will be working on her PURS project that bridges percolation theory and nonlinear optics under the guidance of Dr. Seamus Curran. 

Alongside Briana, we’re also thrilled to celebrate Haley Torres, who was recently awarded a $1,000 Physics Departmental Research Award in support of her future project on nonlinear optics. Haley’s research will also be conducted within CNRG and is generously sponsored by Dr. Curran, Dr. Stokes, and Dr. Koerner. We’re incredibly proud of both Briana and Haley for their accomplishments and the exciting impact their work will bring to the field of nanophysics and optics!