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Vanderbilt hosts 10th annual Undergraduate Research Fair

The Fall 2023 Undergraduate Research Fair was held on Nov. 9 in the Student Life Center Commodore Ballroom. Nearly 200 Vanderbilt undergraduate students presented their research to faculty members and their peers. The fair is sponsored by the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt and the Office of the Provost.

In addition to students showcasing their work, representatives from The Wond’ry, Data Science Institute, Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, SyBBURE Searle Undergraduate Research Program and Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal promoted their initiatives, internship opportunities and research programs for undergraduates. Vanderbilt faculty judged and awarded presenters for their noteworthy posters.

Jiahe Wang, a senior at Vanderbilt majoring in psychology, conducted research in Sweden when she studied abroad and emphasized the importance of her research in learning about child behavior and development.

“This research is about studying the social behaviors in children especially when they present their behaviors in digital platforms like games,” Wang said. “This study is in the beginning stages because I only had about a month to conduct it, so I want to look more closely into the results. For example, for a future plan, I want to turn this into a more applicable project that is long-term.”

Junior Carolina Rocha Lima, who traveled to Curaçao to study the reconstruction of southern Caribbean climate variability as part of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, reflects on how doing this research helped solidify her analytical skills.

“I think having hands-on field work by collecting the original water samples but then also doing lab research by creating graphs and interpreting them works very well with giving me a deeper understanding of the field that I’m studying,” Rocha Lima said.

On a similar note, senior Lohitha Basa’s research focused on the high maternal and childhood mortality rates in India and talked about the importance of addressing these stark statistics.

“I’m from South Asian descent. We have the second highest maternal deaths in the world right behind Nigeria, and, growing up, I was always curious about the factors that play into this, so I conducted this research to enhance the outcomes and help marginalized people,” Basa said.

Basa additionally shared her experience with the Office of Immersion, how it has contributed to her research endeavors and her future goals.

“I got the Education Enhancement Fund from the Immersion Office to go to India and learn more about these populations by observing and interviewing them, which was very eye-opening,” Basa said. “I think learning about how to make medicine more equitable is really important and being able to address those issues as a practitioner would make me a better doctor in the future.”

Sophomore Sarah Goldstein, who was an REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) student during the summer at the University of Chicago, spoke about her collaboration with Dr. Nicolas Chevrier and graduate student Madison Plaster on a research project investigating interorgan signaling during disease induction in live organisms.

“After getting trained by Madison, I was able to run most of the experiments independently, but I was still working a lot with her, and we also worked on some professional development,” Goldstein said. “This whole experience helped me determine whether I was passionate about research or not. I’m happy that I’ve found immense passion for research.”

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Undergraduate Science Education at Harvard

A world of exploration. a world of expertise..

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities (HUROS) Fair

HUROS 2019 Photo Gallery

Harvard Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Science (HUROS) Fair

The Harvard Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Science (HUROS) Fair is an annual poster session during which Harvard-affiliated laboratories and research groups showcase their current research projects to Harvard College undergraduates. Groups come from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard Medical School, the Broad Institute, the Arnold Arboretum, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, McLean Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

HUROS Fair Workshop Photo Galleries

Huros workshop 2019 photo gallery, huros workshop 2018 photo gallery.

Science Research Fair Workshop

The Fall semester workshop schedule has begun October. These workshops will provide information for Harvard undergraduates on how to prepare and plan their time at the HUROS research fair, and how to engage with researchers and faculty at the event. For questions regarding the workshops please contact Undergraduate Science Research Advisor  Kate Penner

What is the Harvard Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Science (HUROS) Fair? The HUROS Fair is an annual poster session where Harvard-affiliated laboratories showcase their current research projects to Harvard College undergraduates. Groups come from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, Harvard Medical School, the Broad Institute, and Harvard-affiliated hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, McLean Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Why do we organize the HUROS? The HUROS facilitates scientific discussions between Harvard undergraduates and Harvard graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and other researchers. The fair is an effective way both for undergraduates to meet many scientists and learn about their cutting-edge life sciences research and for scientists to describe and explain their experimental approaches. The fair benefits both undergraduates and Harvard’s life science researchers. Many undergraduates report finding a host lab at the fair, and the Harvard scientists who present a poster relish the chance to speak with a large number of undergraduates, some of whom join their research groups.

When is the HUROS? HUROS 2023 will be held on October 20, 2023 from 1:00-4:00 pm. This timing gives students time to find a host lab and apply for summer research fellowships, which typically have deadlines in January, February, or March.

Where is the HUROS? HUROS 2023 will be held at the Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH) first floor, located at 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Student Registration: contact Kate Penner for registration link (see right panel of this webpage).

Presenter Registration and Abstract Submission: contact Kate Penner for registration information.

When can I set up my poster? Presenters can set up their posters starting at 12:15pm. What size should my poster be? Our poster boards are 3'X4', so we can accommodate posters that are either 3'X4' or 4'X3'.  How do I print my HUROS poster? Posters can be printed in the following places on campus and of campus locations such as FedEx. Individuals submitting abstracts are responsible for poster printing fees. MCB graphics: http://mcbweb.unix.fas.harvard.edu/poster-printer/static/pdfs/mcb_graphics_poster.pdf http://mcbweb.unix.fas.harvard.edu/poster-printer/#today_anchor HMS Mail and Print Services: http://www.hums.harvard.edu/node/25 Download logos: http://mcbweb.unix.fas.harvard.edu/poster-printer/logos/listing/

How can I find out more?   Contact Kate Penner  to find out more.

HUROS 2018 Photo Gallery

Harvard Undergrad Research Opportunities in Science (HUROS 2017)

Harvard Undergrad Research Opportunities in Science (HUROS 2016)

The Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Fair (LSURF 2015)

The Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Fair (LSURF 2014)

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HUROS 2023 will be held on October 20, 2023, from 1:00-4:00pm at the Student Organization Center at Hilles (SOCH) first floor located at 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Email Undergraduate Science Research Advisor  Kate Penner to join our email list to find out about more research related events and opportunities!

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Undergraduate Research Fair

The Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research Fair will be held on Thursday, January 18th from 4:30-6:00pm at the Stanley Hall B1 Atrium. This will be our first IN-PERSON fair! 

Learn more about:

• The Physics Directed Reading Program
• Opportunities for Summer Research
• Strategies to Land your First Research Position

And meet Physics faculty researchers, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students so you can learn more about their science. Chair Siddiqi will say a few opening words at 4:40pm and the rest of the time is reserved for you to interact with student groups and researchers.

Directions: Enter Stanley Hall and proceed to the stairwell at the back of the first floor Atrium and head downstairs to the B1 level Atrium. 

Here is a recording of the first half-hour portion of the SP23 fair where we presented tips and reminders for undergraduates seeking experience in research.  The URAP website is the other structured means by which you can learn about formal physics research opportunities available.  If you were unable to attend the fair and/or if you do not obtain a position this semester, we recommend that you:

Explore our Physics Research and Faculty website to learn more about faculty areas of research and the kind of science you might be interested in.  Consider cold emailing faculty, postdocs, and/or grad students from a particular lab to see if there are any research positions available this spring or fall. (Tips for how to cold-email can be found here (Cal workshop), and through online resources ( example 1 , example 2 ).

Explore our Physics Undergraduate Research webpage and Physics Research Opportunities Board to learn more about research wisdom and opportunities from the physics community. 

More about our physics research fairs:

On the first Thursday after the start of classes each semester, the Physics Department has been hosting an undergraduate research fair. The Virtual Physics Undergraduate Research Fair is organized by student leaders in the department with support from department staff.

This fair is targeted at undergraduates from all years looking to join a physics research group or who might be just looking to learn more about physics research generally.  Students who have never done research are particularly encouraged to attend. At the fair, there will be a Zoom room where attendees can ask students questions about their research experiences. 

The fair starts with a presentation about resources available to help students learn  more about research. After the conclusion of the presentation, attendees will be invited to join the Zoom rooms set up by each lab that is present. Some, but not all, Physics faculty attend, and share about their research and available research positions (if applicable).  In some cases, faculty may offer in-person lab tours or office hours so  students can follow up with them. After the event, students can apply to available research positions via URAP and/or GoogleForm application that will be sent to all research fair participants.

Stay tuned in early August and in December/January each year for information on how to attend the next Virtual Physics Undergraduate Research Fair!

Other Links

• At Parturient Porta Vestibulum Integer Sociosqu Vitae Aptent Aptent Praesent Rhoncus Urna

Undergraduate Research

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as “an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.” Undergraduate research is proven to be a high-impact educational practice that increases student engagement, retention, and success.

At the University of Pittsburgh, the aim of undergraduate research is to allow students to follow their curiosity by exploring topics and questions currently relevant in their field with the guidance of a dedicated and experienced faculty mentor. By using discipline-specific knowledge, along with a desire for answering questions, students will gain vital experience in collecting and analyzing data, presenting findings, and finding entry-points into critical discussions in their field.

As a research institution, we value the importance of undergraduate research experience to prepare students for their career pathway or in the pursuit of further education. Pitt’s aim is to help students in any major develop their research skills and then use those skills to make a real-world impact.

Continue reading about the undergraduate research framework.

Undergraduate researchers are students at the University pursuing baccalaureate degrees who seek out opportunities to gain experience in research methodologies, data collection, and writing and presenting aspects of research.

Read more about the goals for undergrad research.

As a research university, Pitt has a vast array of research opportunities for undergraduates across schools and disciplines. Here you will find a small sampling of sites that can get you started on exploring research opportunities during your time at Pitt.

The bi-annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression Fair gives undergraduates from across the University the opportunity to exhibit faculty-mentored posters and research projects in Humanities, Social Sciences and Sciences. 

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Office of undergraduate education, undergraduate research fair, new location: the fall 2023 research fair will take place on monday, november 27th from 5pm-7pm in the exhibition hall, midtown ballroom..

The deadline to apply as a Research Fair presenter is Thursday, November 16th!

This event offers a night of research where students can present their work, labs can share about their group and current openings, and attendees can explore the field of research and connect with potential positions. Free food will be provided to attendees and presenters!

Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions!

Interested in attending the event to learn more about research projects and open positions.

Scan the QR Code or click the button below to RSVP!

• GT Engage RSVP

Interested in presenting at the event? Click the applicable link below.

Presenter Sign-Up Deadline:  Thursday, November 16th, 2023 .

Are you a researcher looking to present a project?

(Note that a 250 word abstract is required for submission)

• Individual Signup

Are you a research group?

Advertise your lab, program, or project at the event!

• Research Group Signup

Labs In Attendance

• Nian Liu Lab   | Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Habanero Extreme Scale Software Research Laboratory   |  Computer Science
• Buckley Lab for Translational Diffuse Optics   |  Biomedical Engineering
• Water-Energy Research Lab   |  Mechanical Engineering
• Holly Bauser-Heaton Lab  |  Biomedical Engineering
• VIP Quantum Engineering / Multiscale Systems Engineering Research Lab   |  Mechanical Engineering
• Dr. Thomas DiChristina Lab   |  Biological Sciences
• Electric Propulsion and Plasma Physics Lab   |  Aerospace Engineering
• Quantum Engineering Program   |  Mechanical Engineering
• iFAN Lab   |  Mechanical Engineering
• Styczynski Lab   |  Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
• Tsukruk Lab   |  Materials Science & Engineering
• Automation and Robotic Lab  |  Building Construction
• Summer Scholars Program   |  Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Dr. Josh Kretchmer Lab   |  Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Farzaneh Najafi Lab   |  Biological Sciences

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University of Missouri

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Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research fair.

Ask Mike Stambaugh to nutshell the arc of his research career and he starts with just that — nutshells.

“I did research in forestry at Mizzou, and one of my duties was to separate the meat from the hull in walnuts,” said Stambaugh, an associate professor of forest ecology in the School of Natural Resources and director of the MU Tree-Ring Laboratory . “The undergraduate research experience took away a lot of mystery for me about what happened behind closed doors. It made me feel important and part of a team.”

MU researchers analyze trees, such as this circa 1686–1813 red pine section from Wisconsin, to look back in time.

Stambaugh’s lab is one of dozens of groups presenting cutting-edge research opportunities and student success resources at the Undergraduate Research Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, in the Bond Life Sciences Center. His team of dendrochronologists — researchers who study the science of tree rings — use data to advise land managers on prescribed burns, predict drought cycles and more.

“Some of the best historical information comes from tree rings, and we think of the pieces of wood as books,” said Stambaugh, who will be displaying several eye-catching specimens at the event. “We help tell a story that includes humans, climate and the environment. We interpret the periods of time and what it implies for today.”

Stambaugh earned all of his degrees from Mizzou — bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate — a journey that began with hands-on undergraduate research. It’s part of the reason he is so enthusiastic about including younger Tigers in his lab.

Dendrochronologists at MU use tree rings to reveal answers from the past.

“We’re always looking for great students,” Stambaugh said. “If you’re interested, stop by!”

Associate English Professor Michael Marlo’s academic trajectory was also influenced by his early research experiences. A researcher of African linguistics, Marlo often referenced the Kenyan language he studied as an undergraduate throughout his academic career.

Now, among other projects, Marlo heads up “Documenting Luyia Together,” a team of student researchers dedicated to cataloguing languages from the Luyia cluster spoken in Kenya and Uganda. The project is part of the ASH Scholars Program , a collaboration between the MU Honors College and the Office of Undergraduate Research highlighting arts, science and the humanities.

Michael Marlo’s research documents languages in East Africa.

“Undergraduate research has totally reshaped paths for my work because of the students making their own discoveries and pushing their own ideas,” said Marlo, whose team members have traveled to Kenya to record indigenous folk tales. “I enjoy ​​working with students over time as they advance and find the next questions to ask.”

In Fang Wang’s virtual reality lab at the College of Engineering, students are answering questions. For a special assignment unveiled at the Missouri bicentennial celebration, Wang’s class was tasked with designing a virtual museum to display 98 paintings in the Missouri: Heart of the Nation collection. The virtual reality (VR) environment allows patrons to “wander” the exhibit and observe the paintings up close — perhaps even more closely than one would in real life.

Sam Nichols and Fang Wang challenge students to explore limitless spaces in the College of Engineering’s Virtual Reality Lab.

“This project allowed students to put their skills to use in a real-world application where people are going to download and consume the content,” said Wang, an assistant teaching professor in the Information Technology Program. “We’re looking into sculpture for the next project to see how we can use photos from different angles and use artificial intelligence and make it look like the real thing at a museum.”

Undergraduate Research Fair Schedule

Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 McQuinn Atrium in the Bond Life Sciences Center

11 a.m.–Noon  

• Rocio Rivera ( Animal Sciences ): Examine cow and mouse oocytes and embryos using a microscope 
• Candy Sall, Jessica Boldt, Alex Jones ( Museum of Anthropology ): Look at a variety of archaeological samples and discuss modern analytical techniques 
• Prasad Calyam, Alicia Esquivel Morel, Rounak Singh ( Electrical Engineering & Computer Science ; CERI Center): Demo drone prototype hardware and cloud algorithms to do real-time video processing 
• John Henry Adams, Kimberly Moeller, Rachel Brekhus, Lily McEwan ( University of Missouri Libraries ): Sp2021 undergraduate research in Special Collections exhibit; library tech tools.
• Rachel Newman, Erik Potter, Iman Poostdoozan ( Fellowships & Advanced Studies ) 
• Anne-Marie Foley ( Office of Service Learning ): Learning in the Community 
• Office of Undergraduate Research

Noon–1 p.m.  

• John Henry Adams, Kimberly Moeller, Rachel Brekhus, Lily McEwan ( University of Missouri Libraries ): Spring 2021 undergraduate research in Special Collections exhibit; library tech tools. 
• Mike Stambaugh, Joe Marschall ( School of Natural Resources ): Examine tree-ring specimens 
• Fang Wang, Sam Nichols ( Information Technology ): View the interactive virtual reality art exhibition of “Missouri-Heart of the Nation.” Display Scruggs-Vandervoort-Barney Collection from UM Museum of Art and Archaeology to celebrate Missouri’s 200th anniversary. 
• Office of Undergraduate Research 
• Paula McSteen ( Biological Sciences ): Compare giant corn plants with modern agricultural varieties
• Chris Josey ( Communication ; ASH Scholars Program ): Present research on social-identity focused news 
• Michael Marlo ( English ; ASH Scholars ), Bobby Love, Miya Russell and Caroline Topham: Linguistic documentation of understudied languages
• Rebecca North, Crystal Rein ( School of Natural Resources ): Measure water clarity using a secchi disc. 

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Spring Undergraduate Research Festival

The Spring Undergraduate Research Festival is a presentation opportunity for all students engaging in undergraduate research who wish to share their work. Please see the 2024 Program Brochure to see the students who will be presenting in each session.

Application Information

The 2024 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival application is now closed. We invite the Ohio State community to visit Pomerene Hall's TDAI Ideation Zone to see the student presenters. 

Who can participate and what are the benefits of participation?

The annual Spring Undergraduate Research Festival is a research poster forum for students to share their mentored research projects with the broader academic community. At the Spring Festival, we offer presentations during 60 minute sessions, where students convey their research with the aid of a poster. As with the other forums hosted by UR&CI, the Spring Festival is not specific to any discipline; students from all disciplines across the university are invited to apply, and student presenters should prepare to discuss their research with a general audience. The Spring Festival is open to all undergraduate students at Ohio State who are participating in faculty-mentored research, and students can present on projects that are still ongoing - final results are not necessary for participation.

Visit the 2023 Spring Festival Program Brochure to see all the presenters listed by session time.

When and where will the 2024 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival be held?

The 2024 Spring Festival will take place in-person on Thursday, April 4, in the TDAI Ideation Zone in Pomerene Hall across five sessions throughout the day:

Session 1: 9:00am – 10:00am 

Session 2: 10:30am – 11:30am 

Session 3: 12:30pm – 1:30pm 

Session 4: 2:00pm – 3:00pm 

Session 5: 3:30pm – 4:30pm 

Where can I find examples of Undergraduate Research Festival posters and presentations?

Templates for research posters can be found on our Writing and Presenting Research page .

Some posters from previous Undergraduate Research Festivals can be accessed in the OSU Libraries' Knowledge Bank Undergraduate Research Festival collection .

Browse the Spring Festival program to see all the great presenters who participated in the 2022 Spring Undergraduate Research Festival.

The presentations from the 2021 Virtual SURF can be found at:  https://u.osu.edu/2021springfestival/

Fall 2022 Undergraduate Research Fair is Sept. 8

Media inquiries.

• 615-322-6397 Email

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Sep 1, 2022, 8:45 AM

The fall 2022 Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Student Life Center ballroom.

The fair will feature poster presentations of student research projects that are representative of a variety of fields and disciplines. Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver is the keynote speaker for this year’s event. Breakout sessions are scheduled during the fair and will provide attendees with information about research opportunities for undergraduates across and beyond campus.

The event program will be posted on the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair webpage .

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend the research fair. The event is free and open to the public. This event coincides with Family Weekend ; all are welcome to attend.

The Undergraduate Research Fair is sponsored by the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt in partnership with the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program , the Littlejohn Family, the Goldberg Family and the Office of the Provost .

Any questions about the Undergraduate Research Fair should be directed to the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt ( [email protected] ).

Explore Story Topics

• Immersion Vanderbilt
• Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt
• Office of the Provost
• Undergraduate Research Fair
• Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair
• Vanderbilt Undergraduate Summer Research Program

by UMSL Daily | Apr 8, 2024

Biology student Jesse Laseter (center) speaks to State Sen. Brian Williams (at left) about his research during UM System Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. Laseter and fellow biology major Zachary Pfeiffer (at right) have been researching the presence of small predators in Missouri glades. (Photos by Abbie Lankitus/University of Missouri System)

Seven University of Missouri–St. Louis students joined with 36 of their peers from across the University of Missouri System in taking part in Undergraduate Research Day last Thursday at the Missouri State Capitol .

UMSL students (front row, from left) Julia Talbert, Cory Perkins and Addison Vogt and (back row, from left) John Granicke, Zachary Pfeiffer, Jesse Laseter and Brittany Bounds took part in UM System Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol last Thursday in Jefferson City, Missouri.

The annual event was a chance for students to meet with legislators and share their research innovations from a breadth of disciplines, including biology, health, history and psychology.

“The University of Missouri System Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol illustrates these student accomplishments and allows our elected officials to see, firsthand, the exciting innovations taking place at the University of Missouri–Columbia , University of Missouri–Kansas City , Missouri University of Science and Technology and the University of Missouri–St. Louis,” UM System President Mun Choi wrote in a letter to legislators.

As the only public research universities in the state, MU, UMKC, Missouri S&T and UMSL provide unique student opportunities to work alongside faculty members on groundbreaking research in areas that range from science to medicine to the humanities. The lessons students learn through research help prepare them for graduate and professional studies at top universities as well as careers in leading industries.

This year’s UMSL participants at the UM System Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol were:

Brittany Bounds, nursing Faculty mentor: Vanessa Loyd , College of Nursing “Healthy Eating at Project Compassion”

Project Compassion is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for single mothers. Through interaction with clients, Bounds and fellow nursing students learned that the majority of meals they eat come from fast food restaurants. The project was designed to encourage the preparation of home-cooked meals. The goal was to minimize the risk factors associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus by incorporating healthy substitutions that are sustainable.

John Granicke, economics Faculty mentor: Rob Wilson , Pierre Laclede Honors College “Jefferson Barracks Post Theater: A Place for People to Gather”

The Jefferson Barracks Military Post had a rich and extensive history during its 120 years as an active military installation. The Post Theater was just one aspect of everyday life at Jefferson Barracks. Granicke’s project was part of a collection of historic research blogs about Jefferson Barracks done in collaboration with St. Louis County Parks. The blogs will soon be available to view on the Jefferson Barracks County Park website . The story of the Jefferson Barracks Post Theater begins with the Old Post Theater, which was built during World War I. From 1933 to 1944, four more post theaters were built at Jefferson Barracks. They showed the latest Hollywood movies in addition to instructional military films. Soldiers and their families living at Jefferson Barracks often invited guests over for dinner and a show at the Post Theater. Numerous events and celebrations were held at the Post Theater over the years. The theater ceased operations after Jefferson Barracks was decommissioned in 1946. A few years later, the Archdiocese of St. Louis purchased the Post Theater and converted it into a church for the parish of St. Bernadette. The Post Theater building remained in continual use for over 70 years, until St. Mark Catholic Church absorbed St. Bernadette in August of 2023. Currently the former Post Theater building is used once a week for mass, but its future remains uncertain.

University of Missouri System students set up poster presentations in the third floor rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol during Undergraduate Research Day last Thursday.

Jesse Laseter and Zachary Pfeiffer, biology Faculty mentor: Aimee Dunlap , Department of Biology “Harmony in the Glades: Analysis of a Small Predator Location Survey”

Small predators, despite their size, play pivotal roles in ecosystem balance. Primarily, through their predation of herbivores, they indirectly benefit native plant communities. By reducing the damage from herbivory, herbaceous plants have a higher likelihood to thrive and proliferate. This is crucial in the restoration of Missouri glades. However, for small predators to achieve this, they rely heavily on their ability to navigate through their environment. One factor that may influence their ability to traverse their environment is recreational trails. Trails can cause habitat fragmentation by disconnecting one larger area into two. Trails also have significantly different microclimate than the surrounding glade and little ground cover to protect from aerial predators, possibly deterring small animals from crossing. Laseter and Pfeiffer’s hypothesis posited that by looking at the locations of the herpetofauna and tarantulas found in Missouri glades, in comparison to nearby walking trails, they would see evidence that they might be avoiding such areas.

Cory Perkins, psychology Faculty mentor: Hannah White , Department of Psychological Sciences “Deconstructing Diagnostic Criteria for ADHD”

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder , or ADHD, is a highly prevalent disorder across development. Early detection is a critical first step to early intervention but the average age of diagnosis is 7. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, includes 18 symptoms for ADHD. The purpose of this project was to determine how these 18 symptoms individually map onto effortful control, surgency, and negative affect (measured via the Child Behavior Questionnaire) in 3-6 year olds. A better understanding of how ADHD symptoms manifest in that age range has the potential to move the average age of diagnosis and help connect children with resources earlier.

Julia Talbert, biology Faculty mentor: Bethany Zolman , Department of Biology “Investigating the Impact of Edaphobacter aggregans (WBG1) on Arabidopsis thaliana Development”

Acidobacteria is a phylum of bacteria that make up 50% of soil microbes. While making up a large proportion of bacteria found in soil, this phylum is largely unexplored with limited information about the bacteria and their impact on plant growth. The selected target of this study was Edaphobacter aggregans, WBG-1, which is a part of a subdivision of acidobacteria. Examining the bacteria’s effects on the development of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana could provide insight into understanding this unknown phylum of soil-dwelling bacteria. Acidobacteria are an important realm to investigate as they affect agriculture practices. With Missouri being such a hotspot of farming, it is important to know the function of what is in the soil.

Addison Vogt, psychology Faculty mentor: Hannah White , Department of Psychological Sciences “Effects of Written and ScreenBased Media on Infant Attentional Control”

Vogt’s study investigated how exposure to both television and book media impacts infant executive function, as assessed through attentional control. Specifically, eye-tracking was used to examine infants’ average fixation duration as an index of how efficiently they divide their attention in a visual scene. A sample of 44 3½-month-old infants participated in a social cognition eye-tracking study, where they viewed static images of human bodies. Results indicated the more hours per week parents reported reading to their infants, the stronger attentional control infants demonstrated by showing lower fixation durations. The number of hours infants were reported to watch television per week, however, did not predict attentional control. The current study suggests being read to may promote executive function in infants as young as 3½ months, providing further evidence parents should read to their infants early and often, and suggesting reading time may be a useful target for intervention and prevention studies aimed to promote robust cognitive development.

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