Representing the College of Education and Human Sciences' commitment to cutting-edge research are three students who were named 2026-27 Wentz Research Scholars.

Being a Wentz Research Scholar is a prestigious honor awarded to about 40 students across the entire university. The program is funded by the Lew Wentz Foundation and administered by Oklahoma State University’s Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research. Awardees will receive a $6,000 scholarship to conduct their research project over the course of the next academic year.

Scholars must meet several milestones to maintain the title of Wentz scholar, including submitting a progress report in the fall and completing a final report at the end of the spring 2027 semester. Participants are also required to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, carry 12 credit hours each semester and attend all required program meetings.

Each scholar will present their project and results at the Wentz and Purdie Research Scholars Symposium in April 2027.

Conner Brown

Nursing

Project Title – A Receptor-Targeted Approach to ACTH-Driven Disorders

For Conner Brown, a 20-year-old nursing student from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, research offers an opportunity to bridge scientific discovery and patient care. Brown's project explores a potential new treatment strategy for conditions such as Cushing's disease and ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome.

Rather than focusing on reducing excess cortisol, which is the primary approach taken by many existing treatments, Brown's research investigates whether a small fragment of ACTH can selectively block the melanocortin 2 receptor, which plays a key role in these disorders. If successful, the research could contribute to the development of therapies that target the underlying cause of ACTH-driven disorders while avoiding effects on related receptors.

"I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to research that has the potential to improve patient outcomes," Brown said. "Research allows me to satisfy my curiosity, develop my critical thinking skills and contribute to discoveries that have the potential to improve people's lives."

Brown said his previous research experiences sparked a deeper interest in understanding the biological mechanisms behind disease and reinforced his desire to remain involved in research throughout his healthcare career. He plans to begin nursing school this fall and hopes to eventually combine research and clinical practice to provide evidence-based patient care.

Being named a Wentz Research Scholar will allow Brown to pursue independent research while working closely with faculty mentors. The scholarship funding will also help reduce financial pressures, giving him greater flexibility to balance research responsibilities with the demands of nursing school.

Brown is looking forward to presenting his findings at the Wentz and Purdie Research Scholars Symposium in 2027. Earlier this year, he presented earlier findings at Oklahoma Research Day at the Capitol, sharing his work with state lawmakers and university leaders, including OSU President Jim Hess.

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Cody Moss

Pre-med – Nutritional Sciences 

Project Title – Matcha Supplementation Attenuates High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet–Induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Reshaping the Gut Microbiota in Mice

For Cody Moss, research is an opportunity to explore how nutrition can be used as a proactive approach to improving health and preventing disease. A graduate of Stillwater High School and a pre-medical nutritional sciences student, Moss is investigating how compounds found in matcha [tea] may help reduce the negative effects of high-fat, high-sugar diets.

Working in the lab of Dr. Jiyoung Kim, Moss studies the effects of L-theanine, a compound found in green tea, on heart health and the gut microbiome. Using animal models, his research examines whether matcha supplementation can reduce inflammation and limit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy — an enlargement of heart cells associated with cardiovascular disease.

Early findings suggest the supplement may help improve heart health by altering the composition of gut bacteria and reducing cellular stress caused by poor diets.

“Nutrition is a proactive preventive approach to medicine,” Moss said. “Instead of treating symptoms with a pill, there are certain things you can outright prevent, or at least slow or delay progression of, through dietary interventions.”

Moss said his research experiences have helped him connect classroom concepts to real-world applications as he prepares for a future career in medicine. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, he is particularly interested in addressing chronic disease and health disparities in Native American communities through nutrition and public health initiatives.

His research accomplishments already include presentations at four research symposia and contributions to four in-progress publications. He also completed a summer internship at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where he conducted research on sex hormone loss and muscle atrophy, and learned advanced laboratory techniques that he continues to use in his current work.

Moss said being named a Wentz Research Scholar will allow him to continue building on years of research experience while sharing his findings with other professionals to find ways of implementing research and clinical practice. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and hopes to incorporate nutrition research into his future clinical practice.

Additionally, Moss was also selected as OSU's 2026 institutional nominee for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation's most prestigious undergraduate awards in science and research.

“Research really helps connect you more deeply to your degree,” Moss said. “It helps you get excited about your field and prepares you for the future.”

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Grace Tran

Fashion Merchandising

Project Title – Upcycling Fashion: Transforming Fabric Scraps into Luxury Resources

Grace Tran hopes to help reshape how future fashion professionals think about sustainability through her research. Originally from Vietnam and now living in Stillwater, Tran's work focuses on one of the fashion industry's most pressing environmental challenges: textile waste.

Through a paired pre- and post-study, Tran examines whether exposure to professionally upcycled garments can influence fashion students' perceptions of fabric scraps and other discarded materials. By presenting upcycled pieces in a polished and professional way, she hopes to demonstrate that materials often viewed as waste can instead be transformed into valuable design resources.

"What motivates me is the intersection of creativity and sustainability," Tran said. "I have always been passionate about fashion and design, but I truly believe the industry has a responsibility to reduce waste."

Tran advocates for the important role education plays in creating a more sustainable future for fashion. Her research seeks to contribute to a growing conversation about how [academic] exposure to innovative design practices can influence the next generation of designers and industry leaders.

With a projected 2030 graduation, Tran hopes to pursue a career as a fashion designer, incorporating sustainable design principles into her work. Being named a Wentz Research Scholar provides financial support that will allow her to continue her research while focusing on her education and professional development.

Although she admits she is both nervous and excited about presenting her findings at the Wentz and Purdie Research Scholars Symposium, Tran sees the opportunity as a significant milestone in her academic journey.

"This is the first time I have been recognized with such a significant research honor, and it means the world to me," Tran said. "I want to do justice to the work, to the research community and to everyone who has supported me."

Story By: Annie Ross | annie.ross@okstate.edu