MACON, Ga. — Three Mercer University students have been selected for the highly competitive international fellowship Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Germany. The program offers undergraduate students from North American, British and Irish universities the opportunity to complete a 10-week summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.
Rising junior Florence Nyambura Nduna, a biology and art double-major minoring in global health studies from Zambia and Kenya, will be joining the Insect Visual Neuroethology lab at the University of Konstanz to investigate how insects use floral guides to locate nectaries.
“To say I am incredibly grateful and excited would be an understatement,” Nduna said. “It is nothing short of a blessing to have the opportunity to engage in a research program that not only aligns with my academic interests but also allows me to experience German culture and collaborate with people who share a passion for scientific discovery.”
At Mercer, Nduna is a Stamps Scholar, in the University Honors Program, a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and a general board member for MerServe. She is an ecology research assistant for Biology Professor Dr. Heather Bowman Cutway.
Dr. Amy Nichols-Belo, associate professor of global health studies and anthropology, met Nduna in Nairobi, Kenya, in spring 2024 when Nduna was being recruited as a Stamps Scholar.
“Florence is an outstanding student who truly demonstrates the ethos of the liberal arts,” said Dr. Nichols-Belo. “She is intellectually curious, an outstanding student and a true servant leader. As someone who is passionate about the natural world, Florence will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to complete an internship at Universitat Konstanz through the RISE-Germany program.”
After graduation, Nduna plans to pursue doctoral studies in ecology with a focus on conserving vulnerable wildlife populations.
Rising junior Jordi Riera Shephard, a mechanical engineering major with a minor in mechatronics, from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, will be conducting 12 weeks of research at the Hamburg University of Technology.
“As an international student, my education has been funded by a global mindset,” said Shephard. “Getting to work on the development of technology full time as a researcher in a field I am so passionate about, while sharing a lab with students from all over the globe, makes me feel like I am one step closer to achieving my goals.”
At Mercer, Shephard is a Presidential Scholar and treasurer of the Mercer Robotics Club under the Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, which is under the directorship of Dr. Anthony Choi, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
“Jordi has been an outstanding contributor to both the Mercer Robotics Club and the Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory from the very beginning,” said Dr. Choi. “He quickly distinguished himself as a researcher with exceptional potential, combining strong technical ability with initiative and dedication.”
Dr. Lianjun Wu, associate professor of mechanical engineering, has mentored Shephard through his undergraduate research and has worked closely with him developing his honors project.
“He is a remarkably dedicated student who combines technical rigor with a genuine curiosity for complex engineering challenges,” Wu said. “His selection for the RISE Germany fellowship is a testament to his hard work and his tremendous potential as a future researcher.”
After receiving his undergraduate degree, Shephard plans to pursue a double master’s in robotics and business administration and ultimately work on entrepreneurship in technology development, specifically in robotics. He said he is “passionate about the pursuit of bringing robotics into harsh labor environments that put humans in dangerous conditions, increasing the efficiency of tasks through automation while improving working conditions.”
Rising senior Lila Turbiville, a biomedical engineering major from Pensacola, Florida, will be working at the Bridge Institute for Experimental Tumor Therapy at the University of Duisburg in Essen.
“I am honored to have this opportunity because it will give me the chance to exclusively focus on research in an intensive international setting,” Turbiville said. “I know that I will be challenged and pushed, which I think is an essential aspect of individual growth. I am also eager to analyze the nuances of international research and compare them to my experiences in the U.S.”
At Mercer, Turbiville is in the Engineering Honors Program, a member of Phi Eta Sigma and a Stamps Scholar. She also conducts research in the lab of Dr. Joanna Thomas, associate professor and chair of biomedical engineering.
“Lila is an incredibly driven young researcher,” said Dr. Thomas. “Lila’s motivation to ultimately contribute to research focused on reducing chronic side effects of cancer therapies is deeply personal. I have no doubt that what she will learn in Essen will bring her closer to succeeding in her pursuit of earning a Ph.D.”
After receiving her undergraduate degree, Turbiville plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and conduct research into targeted cancer therapies that are tumor-specific and less toxic than conventional treatments, and surgery techniques that are less invasive.
