Major: Sociology

Minor: Labor Studies, Social Data Science

Project Title: "How Unionization Shapes Filipino Workers' Political Views"

Los Angeles has been a major site for immigrant worker organizing in the past few decades, and has shaped much of the American labor movement broadly. Unions nationally often organize workers both in the workplace and in the political arena, civically engaging workers and oftentimes changing their political views based on principles of unity, diversity, economic and social justice, etc. But not much research has been done on the political engagement of unionized vs. nonunionized immigrant and POC workers. 

This study focuses on Filipino workers and their political attitudes based on their union status, and attempts to understand unionization as it shapes views of politics both domestically, and in their home countries.

Major: Economics

Minor: Russian Language

Project Title: "Dual Labor Market Theory and Eastern European Migration: Understanding Occupational Segmentation in Los Angeles"

Lisa Tiutiunnik is a rising third-year student majoring in Economics with a minor in Russian Language. Originally from Russia, she moved to the United States with her family six years ago. Her research focuses on the occupational segmentation of Eastern European immigrants in Los Angeles, employing Dual Labor Market Theory through regression modeling using data from the American Community Survey (2000 – present). While Los Angeles is a major hub for Eastern European migrants, this group has not been as extensively studied compared to other migrant communities. In her research, Lisa explores the factors contributing to occupational segmentation and examines why these outcomes sometimes diverge from those predicted by Dual Labor Market Theory.

Major: Political Science

Minor: Chicana/o Studies

Project Title: "From Machismo to Modernity: Gender and Work in Latino Immigrant Families"

Anthony Echeverria is a rising senior at UCLA, where he is majoring in political science and minoring in Chicana/o Studies, with interests lying in the intersections of healthcare, law, and policy. Born to Mexican parents who immigrated to the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California in the mid-1980s, Anthony has been able to learn and retain many of the cultural values and norms that are prevalent within Latino culture. Some of these include beliefs pertaining to gender identity and the expectations that traditionally come with these roles. Due to these pervasive influences, Anthony has become interested in these dynamics and has been inspired to research them more closely in his project for the Summer Research Incubator program. With his research inquiry focusing on the intersection of migration and labor in Los Angeles, Anthony is specifically researching how gendered expectations and norms within Latino culture influence the types of employment Latino immigrant families pursue, as many, including his own, hold onto cultural values that may affect job choices and the labor market overall, with women sometimes gravitating toward domestic work while their male counterparts may gravitate toward blue-collar or physically demanding roles. With an interest in this niche area growing steadily, Anthony hopes to further his work from the Summer Research Incubator through some of the additional research programs that UCLA offers this coming academic year. He hopes to gain much closer insight into these cultural phenomena that widely impact the Latino community in ways that are often overlooked.

Major: Linguistics and Computer Science

Project Title: "Why has middle-class Chinese unlawful migration to the United States - and specifically to regions such as Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley - erupted in the last few years? How can unconventional sources, such as online forums and blog posts help us better understand these new trends by drawing on first-hand accounts?" 

Chinese immigrants are a common phenomenon in the United States, especially in the greater Los Angeles region. Contrary to the Model Minority Myth, however, is a huge population of undocumented Chinese immigrants, some are even very recent arrivals, both in LA and in other parts of the United States. The difficult political/economic atmosphere in China contributes to the complex phenomenon of many middle-class families fleeing a country with positive economic growth. In order to understand this phenomenon, we turned to social media, where we can find debates, first-hand accounts, and even advertisements from immigration agencies. Through examining this material, it is interesting to see what we can learn about this group from such unconventional source. 

Major: Political Science & Labor Studies

Project Title: "An Influx of Infographics: Examining What Role Instagram Infographics Played in Mobilizing Voters in the 2020 Presidential Election" 

Kathryn Maffeo is a rising third-year student at UCLA double majoring in both Political Science and Labor Studies. Hailing from the Central Valley of California, the conservative voices which surrounded her from a young age motivated Kathryn to pursue the advancement of progressive policy. Her passion for public service is evident through her experiences in the political field, spending much of her time organizing for political campaigns. Additionally, Kathryn combines her interest in electoral politics with her social media skills, serving as the Communications Director for a youth-led PAC in which she manages all social platforms and content creation. Alongside grassroots organizing, she maintains a strong interest in research, with future aspirations of attending graduate school while continuing to advocate for progressive policy.

Major: Political Science, Sociology

Project Title: "How is social media being used as a tool in the current 2024 presidential election?”

Breanna is a 2nd year first generation student at UCLA from San Diego, California. With a background in studying Political Science, Breanna chose her research topic to further analyze the relationship between social media and politics in todays context. The social media platforms include ‘Tiktok’, which has become a very popular and influential platform, as well as the platform ‘X’, formerly known as ‘Twitter’. Through her research, Breanna hopes to look into how these platforms are used during election periods. Breanna intends to use her experience gained with the Summer Research Incubator program in furture research opportunities and career.

Major: American Indian Studies

Minor: Music Industry

Project Title: Surveillance, Protests, and the Palestinian Liberation Movement

Jenelle is studying American Indian Studies and planning on doing a PhD program in Anthropology/Native American Studies. She wants to create an indigenous based curriculum for a higher education institution that is governed by the local Yokut tribes in Central California.  

Major: English and Public Affairs

Project Title: "Humor, Shame, and Paradox: TikTok as a Tool for Facilitating Bisexual Belonging"

Sara Green is a rising second year at UCLA, double majoring in English and Public Affairs. She aspires to attend law school after completing her undergraduate education. Sara's research project examines the ways bisexual women, specifically those with male partners, utilize TikTok to seek queer validation and in an attempt to process the paradoxical nature of their identities. This paradox lies in how bisexual women are perceived by others (e.g., as not queer enough or as going through a phase) versus how they perceive themselves. By close reading a series of TikToks through the lenses of performance and affect theory, Sara seeks to understand the performances of humor and shame present across the short form videos. Sara hopes her research will illuminate some of the ways modern media, such as TikTok, shapes queer identity and community, as well as highlight the experience of bisexual women. 

Major: Psychology

Project Title: "Fictional Escapism & Body Mutability: Film as a Force for Trans Audiences"

Soren Kaur is an emerging second-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology at UCLA. Recognizing how complex and fragmented the journey of figuring out one’s identity can be, Soren strives to analyze the role of external forces in shaping individuals' internal mental health and general well-being. This project examines how film can be a powerful tool in this process, exploring how characters or narratives shown on screen can shift viewers’ relationships with their identity for the better. Particularly, Soren is interested in analyzing the impact that the film I Saw the TV Glow has on trans audiences and how it speaks to the trans experience. This is especially revealed through the analysis of film reviews. They aim to examine the film’s depiction of fictional escapism and body mutilation through a trans lens and analyze how this resonates with viewers, moving them closer to a sense of belonging and comfortability in their own skin. 

Major: Sociology

Project Title: "Consistent Self, Alternative Realities: How Audience Expectations Shape the Perception of Queer Women’s Identities"

Yiran has a continuous research interest in exploring the intersections of school environments, peer interactions, LGBTQ+ identity, and mental health. Her current project employs Erving Goffman’s theoretical framework of social performance to investigate the identity development and social interactions of three cisgender queer women, around 20 years old, particularly during high school. Yiran uses qualitative semi-structured interviews to examine how the participants navigated their authentic selves in various environments, transitioning from primary and middle school, where LGBTQ+ visibility was minimal and heteronormativity was pervasive, to high school. The study reveals that while the participants consistently presented their authentic selves, their identities were often interpreted through heteronormative assumptions in less inclusive settings, reflecting Adrienne Rich’s concept of compulsory heterosexuality. In contrast, in queer-friendly spaces, these assumptions were absent, highlighting how identity perception is shaped by the audience’s expectations and the inclusivity of the environment, as Goffman’s theory suggests.

Major: Theater

Project Title: "Today for you, tomorrow for me": Ephemerality in performance, queerness, and the musical Rent"

Everett Wall is a rising sophomore at UCLA, majoring in theater with a particular interest in directing, stage management, and dramaturgy. He especially loves to work with queer artists and storytellers, and seeks out queer-affirming works and projects as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community himself. Everett’s research project for the Summer Research Incubator details the connection between queerness and performance through ephemerality, and uses a critical analysis of the musical Rent (a favorite of his!) to do so. Rent not only brought in younger and more economically diverse audiences, but also furthered the cultural conversation about AIDs, queer bodies, and diversity on stage and in the public eye. In his project, Everett uses a lens shaped by Rent, queer theory, and the work of performance scholars such as Peggy Phelan to critically examine the aforementioned connection and its broader cultural impact.

Major: Political Science, Middle Eastern Studies

Project Title: "Lost in Translation: Linguistic Barriers to Nagorno-Karabakh's Lasting Ceasefire"

Sofia Gevorgian is a rising third-year double majoring in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. On the pre-law track, she is involved in numerous advocacy nonprofits, prompting her research interests in peace-building and justice, with a particular emphasis on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 

In her Summer Research Incubator project, she explores how discrepancies between state and independent translations of the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire declaration challenge a universally-understood and thus accepted agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Throughout her research, Sofia is leveraging her proficiency in Armenian, consulting Azerbaijani and Russian speakers, and conducting contextual research on the impact translation has had on interstate peace treaties. This research project aims to shed light on a largely understudied breach of human rights in the South Caucasus and the geopolitics fueling its continued instability.

Major: Human Biology and Society, B.S.

Project Title: "Trust in Translation: AI's Role in Culturally Sensitive Mental Health Services for Non-English Speakers Through Online Therapy Platforms"

Nala Son is a rising fourth-year student at UCLA, majoring in Human Biology and Society. Her passion for healthcare advocacy is deeply rooted in her Vietnamese upbringing, where she first discovered the complexities of language in healthcare communication. Reflecting on her grandmother’s healthcare experience, Nala became aware of the significant gaps in understanding and care that can arise from language barriers. The realization that the Vietnamese word "thuốc" simultaneously means medicine, drugs, and cigarette highlighted for her the critical importance of accurate translation in healthcare, particularly for non-English speaking patients. This personal reflection, combined with her aspiration to become a Physician Assistant, drives her commitment to bridging the connections between society and the implications of health.

Nala's current research explores the intersection of AI-based translation tools and culturally competent care in mental health. She examines how these technologies can either bridge or exacerbate existing gaps in healthcare, especially for marginalized communities. Her work underscores the importance of developing AI systems that go beyond simple word-for-word translations, ensuring they are sensitive to cultural nuances and capable of delivering care that is both effective and respectful. Through her research, Nala aims to contribute to a more equitable healthcare landscape, where all patients, regardless of language or background, can receive the care they deserve.

Major: Comparative Literature

Project Title: "From Inscriptions to Identity: Linguistic Landscapes and Political Narratives of Angel Island"

Ella Liang is a rising second-year undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Comparative Literature. Ella’s research is focused on the role of language and translation in shaping immigrant narratives at Angel Island and San Francisco’s Chinatown. Her work explores how language, from Chinese poems inscribed at Angel Island to the linguistic landscape of Chinatown, acts as a powerful factor in public memory and national narratives. By examining translational debates such as domestication vs. foreignization, Ella suggests that these spaces—and the immigrant identities they are linked to—are themselves dynamic translations, constantly shifting between foreign and American.

Positioning her research within Asian American Studies, Ella attempts to challenge conventional views of the Angel Island poems as static historical artifacts but also literary works with cultural significance. Her project critically analyzes how memorials and public spaces influence the Asian American story, revealing the complexities of assimilation and historical erasure in U.S. history and society.

Major: Comparative Literature

Minor: Accounting

Project Title: "How do gender-biased Korea community sites lead users in their 20s to 30s to perceive their economic identities as social failures?"

Irene Huh is a first-year undergraduate student studying Comparative Literature and Accounting. She aspires to attend law school and become a corporate lawyer. Irene's interests include playing the violin, studying Korean history, and analyzing market trends.

Currently, Irene is exploring the role of Korean gender-biased community sites in shaping complex, intersectional identities at the crossroads of gender and socioeconomic status. Specifically, she is investigating how these sites contribute to the recent social phenomenon in Korea, where increasing numbers of people in their 20s and 30s perceive themselves as social failures.

As a researcher, Irene believes that economics plays a significant role in transforming lives, which drives her interest in how financial literacy and awareness influence individuals in making informed decisions and improving their socioeconomic trajectories. She aims to merge her academic background with her passion for law, economics, and social justice, with the ultimate goal of advocating for equitable opportunities and reducing economic disparities across diverse populations.

Major: Psychology, Disability Studies

Project Title: "Social Media & Representation in Transition: Lack of Visible Nonwhite Transmasculine Youth Narratives, White Ideals, & Self-Concept"

Kaden Phan, an emerging second-year double majoring in Psychology and Disability Studies, is dedicated to amplifying voices of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups within mental health systems. In witnessing first-hand lack of representation in such systems, Kaden is committed to diversifying conversations about intersectionality and identity in an attempt to challenge pre-existing standards in psychological care; with ambitions to broaden scopes, Kaden aims to provide a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of mental health and be an advocate for diverse experiences and perspectives of communities that are not made conventionally visible in mainstream narratives. Kaden's current research project explores the lack of nonwhite transmasculine narratives on social media (TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, etc.) This investigation delves into when pushed to the forefront, how whiteness within transmasculine youth’s social media spaces can perpetuate white-centric ideals in experience, beauty, and personal feelings in transition. In a further analysis through Carl Roger’s definition of self-concept, Kaden seeks to examine how personal integration of these ideals within nonwhite transmasculine youth affects (in)congruence of their identity, current/future self, and how they view their transition goals and ideals. 

Major: Sociology

Project Title: "In Another Universe: Rewriting Queer Asian Narratives Through Anti-Nihilist Films"

Helen Juwon Park is a second-year UCLA student majoring in Sociology. Her research explores how media with anti-nihilist/existentialist narratives such as Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) can influence the expectations for the future of queer Asians and possible deviate from the narratives built by minority stereotypes and self-imposed minority expectations. The introduction of narratives in film where minorities challenge the 'norm,'  either because it is 'tradition' or because the world seems to demand it, can become a depiction of the possibility of deviating from these narratives that seem to direct their lives. Helen's project involves conducting interviews that incorporates a discussion of EEAAO's narratives and how that could change the way queer Asians describe their own narratives. Through her research, Helen aspires to highlight the relationship between the representation and narratives in media and the impact it has on changing the trajectory of our lives.

Major: Sociology and Political Science 

Project Title: "Self and AI: Undergraduate social identity in the age of Artificial Intelligence" 

Brianna Enriquez Hernandez is a rising 4th year double majoring in Sociology and Political Science, with a focus on race, ethnicity and politics. As a first generation student from a small city in the Central Valley of California, she has been influenced by her local community and hopes to return the appreciation by helping those who seek to promote diversity and social justice as she aspires to become an attorney. In the digital age with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, media literacy becomes a crucial tool in maintaining social interactions as the AI revolution exacerbates the spread of disinformation found on media platforms. Taking an interdisciplinary approach to understanding identity and identity formation, her research focuses on supplementing theories of self and society with mixed-methods research on 18-25 year old undergraduates, a key demographic for identity formation as digital natives enter adulthood. Assessing familiarity with ai-generated content and the potential implications of digital self awareness are crucial when considering broader societal dynamics. 

Major: Education & Social Transformation

Project Title: "Roots of Resilience: How can Multicultural School Gardens Foster Social-Emotional Development for Latine Immigrant Students in K-12 schools in California?"

Parmis Sanaei transferred to UCLA from a community college and is now a senior majoring in Education & Social Transformation. Parmis's research interests include food sovereignty, mental health, and environmental justice. For the Summer Research Incubator, Parmis is interested in learning more about the social-emotional benefits of school garden curriculum in K-12 schools and how these gardens can serve as a place of growth and development for Latine Immigrant Students. As an Iranian Immigrant herself, Parmis is familiar with the struggles of finding a sense of belonging and the difficulty of learning English as a second language in her experience at elementary schools. By examining school garden programs in Oakland, CA and in the Montebello Unified School District, Parmis hopes to illustrate that culturally responsive school garden programs can improve a student's sense of belonging, maintain positive relationships, and build solidarity and kinship ties to their community. 

Major: Sociology, Education & Social Transformation

Project Title: "Contradictions and Palatability: A Critical Document Analysis of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum"

Katherine Mara is a third-year undergraduate student double majoring in Sociology and Education and Social Transformation. Being half Mexican, the child of immigrants, and going to a K-12 school miles away from the US-Mexico border, Katherine has a deep connection to the intersection of immigration and education. In alignment with their experience with and passion for ethnic studies, Katherine analyzes Sample Lesson 12—US Undocumented Immigrants from Mexico and Beyond—of California’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum to identify hidden curricula regarding Mexican immigration. Through their research they also seek to understand how, if at all, the curriculum empowers students to advocate for systemic change, considering that the curriculum had to be passed through legislative systems. Katherine strives for their research to contribute to a deeper, more critical, discussion on "liberatory" education and contextualize it within the still-present socio-political systems of oppression under which it is conducted.

Major: Sociology

Project Title: "(Tentative) Enhancing School Counseling for Immigrant Students in Community College: Challenges and Strategic Solutions for language and culturally diverse students"

Ames Lee is a rising senior at UCLA, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Education Studies. As a transfer student and an immigrant who moved to the United States from Asia in 2021, Ames' academic journey is deeply personal. Initially feeling lost and frustrated in an unfamiliar educational system, Ames found guidance and support from counselors and a mentor in a mentorship program, who helped her overcome various academic and personal challenges, leading to her current success.

Motivated by these experiences, Ames has dedicated themselves to supporting other students facing similar obstacles. She had worked as a Student Ambassador and Peer Coach in the Counseling Department, roles that have deepened their interest in school counseling and solidified it as one of their career goals. Ames' commitment to school counseling is reflected in their research, which connects personal experiences with broader systemic issues.

For her research project, titled "Enhancing School Counseling for Immigrant Students in Community College: Challenges and Strategic Solutions for Language and Culturally Diverse Students," Ames collaborates closely with counselors in California Community Colleges. The project aims to explore the experiences of counselors working with linguistically and culturally diverse immigrant students, focusing on the challenges faced by both students and counselors, successful strategies and interventions currently in place, and additional resources that counselors feel are necessary to enhance their services. Through this research, Ames hopes to gain insights that will be valuable in her future role as a school counselor, continuing the legacy of mentorship and support that has been so pivotal in her own journey.

Major: Political Science 

Minor: Philosophy

Project Title: "Educational Equity on Trial: The Model Minority Myth and the Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling"

Ananya/Anna is an incoming senior and second year transfer student at UCLA, majoring in political science with a minor in philosophy. She has a passion for political theory with an analytical focus on the law, and enjoys examining how legal systems intersect with philosophical questions about justice, equity, and societal structures. She is particularly interested in the intersection between education and law, as education is one of society's most powerful tools for bringing forth change and advancing equity, making it essential to protect through sound legal frameworks. Her project for this program delves into the recent Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. This project aims to unveil how the model minority myth may have influences the Court's decision against affirmative action. As an Indian American, Ananya has experienced the pressures and complexities of this myth firsthand, particularly in context of her education. This personal connection the topic fuels her commitment to exploring how racial stereotypes can shape legal outcomes, particularly in context of educational equity. 

Major: Art and Chicano Studies

Minor: Art Education

Project Title: "Reframing Art Education: Analyzing the Accessibility of Arts Higher Education for First-generation Black and Latino students through Counter narratives"

Isa Valenzuela is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Art and Chicano/a/x studies at UCLA. Isa is interested in documenting and analyzing oral history counter narratives through a critical race theory lens, focusing on culturally relevant/social justice art education. Isa's research focuses on the inequality of art education in secondary schools and how this affects higher education and career accessibility in the arts for Black and Latino undergraduate students, specifically first-generation students. 

Major: English 

Minor: African American Studies

Project Title: "Sports in Higher Education: The Exploitation of Black Men" 

Originally from Compton, CA, Franki is enamored with her community and is committed to opening the doors to more opportunities for young black girls and boys. Through her life experiences and research, Franki has seen how Black people are represented either as clowns or criminals. This is a statement taught to black people in America, but it is typically directed toward the black man. As many come from low or below low socioeconomic statuses their options vary between gang life (criminality) or sports (clowns used for the entertainment of others). Unfortunately, many times there is no in-between. Since the late 1900’s there have been hundreds of success stories of Black men who “made it out of the ‘hood through the entertainment of football or basketball stardom. Since then, the worth of young black men has been determined by their talent in sports. When they reach the heights of higher education sports at PWI’s, it opens the door for further exploitation of the black body for entertainment and financial gain. In return, most of these boys get no access to the NBA or NFL, along with a loss of social capital and identity. Franki's goal is to be an advocate for black men in hopes that they too see that they are more than criminals and sports entertainers.  

Major: Sociology

Minor: Community Engagement and Social Change

Project Title: "From Margins to Leadership: How Latino Professionals from Marginalized Backgrounds Achieve and Foster Upward Mobility"

Sandra is a first-generation junior at UCLA, with a keen interest in exploring research. Her research interests can be seen through the sociological lens, with topics involving social justice, social inequity, higher education, marginalized populations, socioeconomic factors, and community integration. Her research project seeks to explore the pathways through which professionally established Latinos have achieved upward mobility. This population faces many barriers that alter the trajectory toward success significantly. Recognizing this, she aims to provide valuable insight to the success strategies, offering a gateway towards initiatives aimed at enhancing the mobility of the fellow Latino community. 

Major: Sociology and Political Science 

Minor: Community Engagement and Social Change 

Project Title: "Navigating Two Worlds: First-Generation Latinx Students Balancing Home and College Identities"

Emily Anaya Martinez is a rising senior at UCLA, double majoring in Sociology and Political Science with a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change. Her research project, "Navigating Two Worlds: First-Generation Latinx Students Balancing Home and College Identities," explores how first-generation Latinx students in four-year U.S. universities navigate the balance between their home cultural identity and the new identity they develop in the college environment. The study aims to identify and analyze the academic and social factors that influence these students' identity development during their college years, with the goal of informing more effective support systems and inclusive campus environments. This research not only aligns with Emily's academic interests but also resonates with her personal experiences and future aspirations. After graduation, Emily plans to attend law school and pursue a career as an immigration lawyer, where she hopes to apply the insights gained from this project to advocate for and support immigrant communities.