Embry-Riddle Students Shine on National Stage at Undergraduate Research Conference

At a national conference showcasing undergraduate research, seven Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students shared work that spanned cybersecurity, psychology, conservation and other disciplines.

“Opportunities like this give us a chance to practice professional speaking, build our networking skills and share the work we’ve put into our research over the past two years,” Hailey Thatcher, a Global Security and Intelligence Studies student, said of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), a three-day event held this past April at a Pittsburgh convention center.

“Participating in NCUR allows our students to present their ideas on a national level,” said Dr. Anne Boettcher, assistant dean of Research at the Prescott Campus. “It validates the strength of their work and the value of our cross-disciplinary approach.”

Thatcher and fellow Global Security and Intelligence Studies student Lauren Estrada presented their project titled “Exploring Incentives and Barriers to Cybersecurity Education.” The two surveyed students across multiple degree programs to understand what motivates or discourages them from pursuing cybersecurity coursework.

“We found that while many students recognize cybersecurity’s importance, perceptions of difficulty and lack of exposure were major deterrents,” said Estrada.

Their research proposes a reimagined course sequence that integrates cyber topics in ways that apply to a student’s academic interests and career goals.

“By aligning our recommendations with employer needs for cyber-savvy professionals across industries, our research offers a roadmap to broaden cybersecurity education,” Thatcher said. “Not just at Embry-Riddle, but at other universities as well.”

Another project focused on cybersecurity brought together Cyber Intelligence and Security (CIS) student Maliah Juker and Software Engineering student Emanuele Bossi to address modern phishing threats. Their study combined community outreach with artificial intelligence to assess public awareness of phishing techniques and evaluate the effectiveness of machine learning models in identifying increasingly sophisticated phishing methods.

The pair tested AI models trained on older datasets against modern phishing email scams. While classical models accurately detected older phishing emails, their performance dropped significantly against newer attacks. These results emphasize the need for regularly updated data and adaptive defenses.

“Although 96% of working adults report being aware of threats, over 70% still engage in risky behaviors online,” Bossi said.

Students from the Prescott Campus were among thousands of undergraduates from across the nation gathered to present their research at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Chloe Nelson)

Saving Elephants, Preventing Elder Abuse

Mechanical Engineering majors Gabriel Ledezma and Zachary Garcia presented their “Jumbo Shoo” project, which was developed in partnership with the conservation group Elephants, Rhinos & People (ERP). The system aims to prevent elephant encroachment on human settlements in the African country of Namibia by detecting elephant activity and triggering a low-frequency seismic signal that safely diverts the animals.

Forensic Psychology student Chloe Nelson collaborated with faculty mentor Dr. John Woodman, an assistant professor in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department, to conduct a systematic review of studies on elder abuse. The project synthesized findings from seven key studies to identify four standard profiles of people potentially prone to engaging in elder abuse: overwhelmed caregivers, dependent caregivers, opportunistic exploiters and deliberate abusers.

The findings, which Nelson presented at the conference, could inform the development of a psychological assessment tool to improve abuse detection and reporting systems.

“Defining these profiles could help professionals — from social workers to healthcare providers — identify risk factors and intervene earlier,” Nelson said.

Mentoring Across Disciplines

Embry-Riddle faculty also contributed research to the conference. Assistant Professor Katy-Jan Bobseine presented her project, “Mentoring Beyond Our Ken: Uncovering Interdisciplinary Research Potential.” The research explores the value and challenges of mentoring outside one's academic domain.

“My role in advising research began with Hailey and Lauren seeking a mentor who could help them investigate incentives and barriers to cybersecurity education,” said Bobseine. “The partnership has illuminated how much good communication, strong research methodology and equal amounts of humility and curiosity can transcend topical divides.”

By stepping beyond disciplinary boundaries, Bobseine and her students uncovered a broader model for mentoring and collaboration.

“Faculty can grow by engaging in unfamiliar topics,” Bobseine added. "And students can thrive when encouraged to take ownership of their expertise within a cross-collaborative team.”

This interdisciplinary model is central to the mission of Embry-Riddle’s Undergraduate Research Institute (URI).

“Interdisciplinary mentorship not only strengthens the research — it prepares students to think beyond their majors,” said Boettcher, who also directs the institute. “It equips them for the kind of collaborative, hybrid work they’ll face in their careers.”