2026 College of Social and Behavioral Science Undergraduate Research Awards

By: Sumiko Martinez

College of Social and Behavioral Science students were honored at the Undergraduate Research Awards for Office of Undergraduate Research along with recipients from other colleges across the University of Utah.

 

College of Social and Behavioral Science Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher – Gracyn Hinojosa

One of the 2026 College of Social and Behavioral Science Outstanding Undergraduate Researchers is Gracyn Hinojosa. Gracyn is a senior pursuing a degree in anthropology. Shane Macfarlan, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Anthropology, has been a teacher and research mentor to Gracyn for three years.

Gracyn has worked with Macfarlan extensively, from an introductory Culture & the Human Experience course to a Culture, Ecology, and Sustainability course in Baja California Sur, Mexico as well as two semesters of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and co-authoring a paper that has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. In addition to her work with Macfarlan’s Undergraduate Ethnographic Lab, she was recently hired as an undergraduate researcher in the Applied Ethnography Unit in anthropology where she is developing and administering program evaluations.

Over the course of her studies and research, Gracyn has presented at a national conference, the Society for Applied Anthropology, and also received an award for Best Overall Poster from the Office for Undergraduate Research (Spring 2025).

Macfarlan says, “This award [Best Overall Poster] is a testament to her abilities. She largely designed the poster herself, and it’s really clear to me she has a keen eye for presenting scientific research to the public in ways that are visually interesting and accessible. Her work in this space was exemplary…I’m so grateful for her dedication and passion to anthropological research.”

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College of Social and Behavioral Science Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher – Kian Robison

One of the 2026 College of Social and Behavioral Science Outstanding Undergraduate Researchers is Kian Robison. Kian is a rising senior pursuing an honors bachelor’s degree in environment, society & sustainability. Akiko Kamimura, professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology and director of the Health, Society & Policy program has been working with Kian since 2024 as a research mentor.

Kamimura lauds Kian’s independence and critical thinking skills as well as his leadership among student research teams, saying, “In addition to his active participation in research-related activities on campus, he has demonstrated positive contributions to the research culture of the department, college, and university.” She adds, “I have mentored many undergraduate researchers. He is absolutely one of the best.”

Kian has contributed to several research projects thus far, including a Bennion Scholar project on uninsured free clinic patients’ illness and healthcare experiences, an honors thesis about water quality and public health risks in Indigenous communities of the Bolivian Altiplano. He is also working on another research project about cancer risk awareness among Indigenous women in rural Bolivia. Between these projects, Kian has gained experience with project planning and preparation, data collection (interviews and focus groups), data analysis, and manuscript preparation as both a first author and a co-author. 

In addition to conducting research, Kian has gained insights into the administration and award process that is integral to academic inquiry, working with the Office of Undergraduate Research as both a Pre-Awards Specialist and an Undergraduate Research Leader. He has also participated in UROP and presented his work at Research on Capitol Hill in February 2026.

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College of Social and Behavioral Science Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor – Lee Raby

Lee Raby, associate professor in psychology, received the CSBS Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor award for 2026. Raby is deeply committed to mentoring undergraduates as researchers through his involvement in UROP, SPUR, and as a mentor for students writing honors theses. During his ten years at the University of Utah, he has mentored 35 undergraduate students, providing structured and highly individualized mentorship. Many of his mentees have earned publications, awards, and the Undergraduate Research Scholar Designation upon graduation.

Cecilia Wainryb, professor in the Department of Psychology, says, “Dr. Raby’s record reflects an intentional, effortful, sustained, and highly successful commitment to undergraduate research mentorship. By providing individualized training and guidance, integrating students into his active research program, supporting students’ professional development, and embedding research into his undergraduate instruction, Dr. Raby has created an environment in which undergraduate research is both accessible and impactful. In my view, these efforts have been and remain critical in helping launch the next generation of researchers and practitioners.”

Raby’s lab also provides students with meaningful research experience as he conducts a longitudinal study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to examine how parents’ experiences of emotional dysregulation shape their children’s emotional and social development. This opportunity to participate in an established, complex research team gives students an incredible understanding of the way scientific research informs our everyday lives, societal challenges, and academic and professional disciplines.