The Undergraduate Research Scholars Program is designed to foster a culture of research excellence and innovation among undergraduate students, providing them with a platform to engage in extended research experiences. With the aim of encouraging scholarly endeavors and recognizing outstanding research achievements, this program offers a comprehensive opportunity for students to immerse themselves in their academic interests deeply. Spanning the academic year, the program encompasses research projects that begin in Fall 2024 and conclude in Spring 2025, culminating in a showcase of scholars’ work through both poster and oral presentations at a research symposium. This symposium, scheduled on April 30, 2025, serves as a forum for students to present their findings to the academic community.
2024-2025 Undergraduate Research Scholars
| Proposal Title | Student | Major | Faculty Member | Faculty Dept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Study of Relationships Among Artificial Intelligence Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction on Customer Engagement | Annemarie Williams | HMGT | Dr. Po-Ju Chen | HMGT |
| Applications of in vitro Pollen Tube Germination Assays in Cotton | Macie Powell | SCSC | Dr. David Stelly | SCSC |
| Character Development through Sport: Examining Differences in “fair play” in a Youth Tournament in Mexico | Alberto Espinoza | RPTS | Drs. Andrea Ettekal and Chad Nelson | ALEC |
| Cognitive Effects of Xylitol | Avery Dean | NUTR | Dr. Karen Beathard | NUTR |
| Cognitive Effects of Xylitol | Anna Tillinghast | NUTR (HHT) | Dr. Karen Beathard | NUTR |
| Environmental DNA Detection of an Endangered Moss | Luis Hurtado | ECCB | Dr. Daniel Spalink | ECCB |
| Establishment of Bovine Upper Airway 3D Organoid Model for Studying Mechanism | Olivia Trevino | POSC | Dr. Yuhua Farnell | POSC |
| How the Knowledge of Food Science and Nutrition Systems Effects the Nutritional Habits of Students | Morgan Marburger | AGCJ | Dr. Robert Strong | ALEC |
| Identification of De Novo Genes with Different Evolutionary Ages in A. Thaliana through Comparative Genomic Analyses | Nicole Rosenfeld | GENE | Dr. Claudio Casola | ECCB |
| Impact of Microbiome-Based Short Chain Fatty Acids on Mouse Colonic Organoid Growth and Gene Expression | Jennie Kim | NUTR | Dr. Robert Chapkin | NUTR |
| Isolation and Identification of Non-Toxic Monascus Strains for Safer Industrial Applications | Khadija Ayesha | FSTC | Dr. Seockmo Ku | FSTC |
| Let’s Welcome Artificial Intelligence, the New Boss of the Hospitality Industry | Kimberly Long | HMGT | Dr. Robert Huy Gip | HMGT |
| Mercury Levels of Nonmigratory Passerines – Potential Local Contamination Sources | Hannah Bretthorst | ECCB – Vertebrate Zoology | Dr. Jacquelyn Grace | ECCB |
| Optimizing Extraction Methods for Monascus Red Pigment | Ian Konvicka | FSTC | Dr. Seockmo Ku | FSTC |
| Overexpressing Melon CYP74 in Arabidopsis Thaliana and Transiently Transformed Melon to Characterize Subcellar Localizations of CYP74 and Volatile Profiles of Transformed Plants | Aidan Souder | HORT | Dr. Hisashi Koiwa | HORT |
| Role of Microbiome-Host Interaction in the Intersection of Metabolic Syndrome and Organophosphate Flame Retardant Exposure | Emma Thomas | NUTR | Dr. Jenny Wu | NUTR |
| The Behavioral Effects of Nosema Ceranae on Apis Mellifera Queens | Tara Lanning | ENTO | Dr. Juliana Rangel | ENTO |
| The Effect of Dietary Carbohydrate Composition on Cognitive Performance | Ryan Arenz | NUTR | Dr. Karen Beathard | NUTR |
| The Impact of Meal Timing on PCOS Risk During Adolescence | Ellie Goen | NUTR | Dr. Heidi Vanden Brink | NUTR |
| The Impact of Metal Pollutants on Amphibian Occupancy of Lentic Systems | Prineet Anand | BESC | Dr. Lee Fitzgerald | ECCB |
| The Impact of Selection and Drift on De Novo Gene Evolution and Retention | Catherine Chaison | GENE | Dr. Claudio Casola | ECCB |
| The Influence of a Field-Based Learning Curriculum on Attitudes and Behaviors of Natural Resources Management College Students and Recent Graduates | Caitlin Castro | RWFM | Dr. Beth Silvy | RWFM |
| The Influence of Sleep Quality on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Risk During Adolescence | Savli Patel | NUTR | Dr. Heidi Vanden Brink | NUTR |
| Investigating Perceptions of Cannabis Among Young-Adult Users and How Product Packaging and Labeling Can Influence Consumer Behavior | Maci Guay | AGCJ | Drs. Holli Leggette and Benjamin Montemayor | ALEC; HLTH |
| Using 3D Renders of Keel Bones to Analyze Keel Bone Fractures | Cody Poole | POSC | Dr. Morgan Farnell | POSC |
Purpose
To encourage and support undergraduate students pursuing research experiences, and to recognize excellence in research.
How to Apply
Interested students for the AY25-26 cohort will be invited to apply in Spring 2025. Applications will open on March 19 and close on May 7. To ensure the success of these research experiences, the program provides professional development activities, including how to connect with a faculty mentor, proposal preparation, abstract writing, and presentation preparation; guiding students through the critical stages of their research experiences. Upon successful completion of the program, each scholar is awarded a $1,000 scholarship as a recognition of their dedication and hard work. Additionally, faculty mentors, who play a crucial role in guiding and supporting the scholars throughout their research journey, are eligible to receive up to $500. This funding is intended to cover various costs associated with the research, including materials, travel, or other necessary expenditures, ensuring that both scholars and mentors have the resources they need to achieve excellence in their research endeavors.
Scope
Undergraduate research projects will be completed over the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, with poster and oral presentations occurring at a research symposium to be held on a reading day at the end of the Spring 2026 semester. Students will apply for the research scholars’ program in Spring 2025, with 2024-2025 cohort students being eligible to re-apply along with new applicants. Support for proposal writing will be provided. Each scholar successfully completing the program will receive a $1,000 scholarship, and the faculty mentors will receive up to $500 to support costs of materials, travel, or other expenditures (budget sheet to be submitted by the faculty mentor upon student scholar selection).
Support Provided to the Student Research Scholar:
2024-2025 Cohort
- Abstract Writing Workshop, March 21, 2025
- Poster Presentation Workshop, April 11, 2025
- Feedback from judges following the research symposium
- Awards for the best posters and oral presentations
2025-2026 Cohort
- LAUNCH Presentation describing available research programming for undergraduate research scholars – recording and transcript –
- Zoom Link
- Passcode: wDj$2xQ1
- Program Informational Session (TBA)
- Proposal Preparation Writing Workshop (TBA)
- Proposal Writing Worksheet
Program Timeline
Eligibility
Student Eligibility
- Undergraduate student with a primary major in any of the 15 departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Sophomore or Junior with an expected graduation date between May 2026 and May 2027
- Completed online Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
- Submitted research proposal, collaboratively developed with and approved by the research faculty mentor, by May 7, 2025
- Will be registered in the future for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 XXXX-491 research credits
Faculty Mentor Eligibility:
- Primary faculty appointment is in one of the 15 departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Faculty have a XXXX-491 Research Section
- T/TT, APT, and AgriLife Faculty are all eligible to serve as research faculty mentors
- Collaboratively develop and approve the student’s research proposal, XXXX-491 credits and the student’s weekly time commitment
Application Materials and Prompts to be Submitted in InfoReady:
- Student Name, UIN, primary major, expected graduation date
- Expected number of Fall 2025 XXXX-491 research credits
- Weekly time commitment for each semester (minimum of 3+ hours/week for 0-1 credits, 3+ hours for each additional credit hour)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) completion certificate
- 2-page proposal including an introduction, specific aims, methodology, expected results, potential pitfalls, and alternative approaches
- Faculty research mentor approval of the proposal, research credits, and weekly time commitment
Program Resources
- Program Announcement – PDF
- Orientation Recording and Transcript –
- Zoom Link
- Passcode: wDj$2xQ1
- Proposal Writing Guide
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
- Spring 2025 Deadlines Schedule
Other Resources
Questions
Please contact Dr. Craig Coates,
Associate Dean for Programmatic Success
979-321-5780
[email protected]