News

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program has announced Jason Finley, PhD, and Markus Nauroth, PhD, as its Fall 2025 URCA Vaughn Vandegrift Research Mentors. Nominated by the URCA students, mentors Finley and Nauroth each received a certificate and a $100 deposit into a university account of their choosing.

The Vaughn Vandegrift Research Mentors honor is awarded during the fall and spring semesters and recognizes outstanding faculty mentors and student researchers.

"The URCA program has been a success over the years because of the dedication of faculty like Drs. Finley and Nauroth to their students. Faculty mentors help their students transform their classroom studies into experiences which provide a higher impact of learning,” said Ariel Belasen, PhD, professor of Economics, Department Chair and Coordinator for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities.

The URCA program encourages, supports and enables undergraduate students of all disciplines to participate in research and creative activities under faculty mentorship. These experiences allow undergraduate students opportunities to engage in scholarship, interact with faculty, and fully connect in the educational process of discovering and creating.

Finley is an assistant professor who specializes in cognitive psychology.

“It means a lot to be recognized for mentoring students in the exciting and intricate ways of cognitive psychology research!  In my lab we combine curiosity, creativity, and scientific rigor,” said Finley.

“This semester my URCA students and I have been running an elaborate experiment on human memory involving a wearable camera, a wizard costume, and a variety of clever multi-sensory stimuli (e.g., animal sounds, Legos, garlic powder, pineapple juice).  I enjoy giving students guidance and hands-on experience with every aspect of research, from trials and tribulations to the joys of discovery and everything in between.  Science is a collective endeavor toward understanding the universe.”

Nauroth is an assistant professor whose research specialties include cyber security, generative AI and reinforcement learning.

“Being selected as a Vaughn Vandegrift Research Mentor is an incredible honor because it reflects the enthusiasm, creativity, and hard work of our undergraduate researchers,” said Nauroth.

“In today’s highly digitized and interconnected economy, organizations face unprecedented exposure to cyber threats that can disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and undermine public trust. The advent of artificial intelligence has amplified these risks, enabling attackers to launch more sophisticated, scalable, and adaptive intrusions. Confronting these challenges requires a broad range of technical, analytical, and strategic skills. This is why creating awareness among students and equipping them with the knowledge to protect organizations and institutions is imperative. By mentoring undergraduate researchers, we help cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals who will play a vital role in safeguarding our digital future.” 
 
PHOTOS:  Jason Finley, PhD; Markus Nauroth, PhD