Three Warrington students accepted as 2025-2026 University Scholars

How does psychology and financial decision making intersect? How is AI transforming the professional landscape of contract development?: Questions like these will no longer be a gap in academic literature, but rather the topics of study for the 2025-2026 University Scholars. 

Undergraduate students Elena Projkovska (BSBA ‘28), Chloe Hutt (BSBA ‘26) and Mahak Reji (BSBA ‘28) were recently accepted into the University Scholar Program to pursue a year-long research project in their selected topics. 

The University Scholar Program introduces undergraduate students into the realm of academic research through guiding them through a year-long research project. Selected by a committee each spring, the accepted students are granted a stipend and given a mentor to facilitate their research process. 

Historically, some University Scholar students have pursued a lifelong interest in their research. For example, Projkovska did research on how pilots make decisions under pressure throughout high school. This idea opened the door to her interest in the role of psychology in high-stakes environments. At the intersection of both finance and psychology, she plans to research Behavioral Finance and its Impact on Investment Decision-Making that focuses on how psychological biases influence financial choices and market outcomes. 

Projkovska and Bank of America Associate Professor of Finance Baolian Wang, plan to analyze stock data from past market events and survey investors about the decisions they made to find direct links between investor psychology and price movements. 

“I’m hoping this research not only helps investors better understand their own decision-making but also encourages more awareness of behavioral finance as a crucial part of financial education and strategy,” Projkovska said. “It means a lot to be part of a program that supports curiosity and gives students the chance to do real research. Being accepted feels like a big step toward the kind of work I want to do in the future and it motivates me to dive deeper into my field.” 

Other University Scholars use this research opportunity to look into their future professional landscape. Inspired by her interests and observations of AI as an undergraduate student, Hutt will investigate The Influence of AI on Contract Development, Negotiation, and Operation – Will Lawyers Become Obsolete?

Alongside Huber Hurst Professor Robert Emerson, Hutt intends to combine academic research and real-world insight with case studies, scholarly work and interviews to analyze the AI’s current capabilities. With these findings, she hopes to determine the feasibility and the risks of AI handling contracts and what that means for the future of legal practice.

“The subject is so current and fast-evolving, and I’m eager to learn from professionals in the field while developing my own perspective,” Hutt said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow as both a student and a researcher and to contribute meaningfully to an area that is so timely and relevant.”

Throughout the upcoming year, these participants will publish their work in a scholarly journal and present their findings at the annual University of Florida Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium. 

Congratulations to these students for this prestigious opportunity to be introduced to the world of academic research!