Undergraduate Research
Welcome to the Office of Undergraduate Research
Congratulations to the September Undergraduate Researchers of the Month, Oscar Andrade, Alma Cruz and Yadhira Gonzalez!
These three researchers have transformed their coursework in Dr. Constanza López Baquero's Spanish Language classroom into their first venture into undergraduate research, a podcast series, and a presentation at the UNF Student Research Symposium.
The trio is now being sent by the Office of Undergraduate Research to an upcoming conference in San Antonio this September, where they will speak on a panel.
UNF Latinx, a project started by Profesora Lopez Baquero back in 2012, is a collection of student-produced podcasts designed to let Latinx students research and showcase their culture and experiences through digital media.
Through the UNF Latinx podcast, the student researchers explored multiple topics ranging from Latinx Culture:
- Alma Cruz Morillo & Yadhira González: De lo Típico a lo Trendy
Explores traditional fashion and cultural identity in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. - Yadhira González: Voces de la Resistencia
Explores LGBTQ+ history and Indigenous understandings of gender in Latin America. - Oscar Andrade: Baile con Seúl
Explores K-pop's cultural influence in Latin America, including music, dance, fandoms, and Quechua Pop.
Along the way, they learned how to research, interview, write for audio, use recording equipment, and communicate their findings to an audience. Just as importantly, they became more confident in their own voices as researchers.
This September, the Office of Undergraduate Research will send Cruz, Andrade, and González to the University of Texas at San Antonio to present their work at a conference focused on Latinx podcasting research alongside López Baquero.
Their research may have started in a classroom, but the skills they developed will follow them far beyond it.
Congratulations to our researchers of the month. The Office of Undergraduate Research can't wait to see where you and your academic journey go!
The 2026 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year
Congratulations to Dr. Indika Kahanda, associate professor of computing at the University of North Florida, on being named the 2026 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year! Kahanda was nominated by Ella Luedeke, who wrote in her nomination letter that he played a tremendous role in her success. When asked to describe his mentoring philosophy, Kahanda said that he “balances structure with freedom, guidance with independence, and rigor with encouragement. By creating inclusive, scaffolded, and authentic research experiences, I aim to help undergraduates not only acquire technical skills but also develop confidence, curiosity, and a lasting identity as researchers.”
The Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year award, which consists of a plaque and monetary prize, was presented as part of the Spring 2026 UNF Student Research Symposium on Friday, April 24, in the John A. Delaney Student Union.
Congratulations, Dr. Kahanda, on this well-deserved honor and achievement!
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