Undergraduates Showcase Summer Research Projects

More than 260 students presented 240 summer research projects to hundreds of attendees during the Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) symposium Aug. 2 at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Presenters included undergraduate researchers from UT Dallas and 27 other institutions. All were conducting research associated with UTD through one of a variety of initiatives, including the Clark Summer Research Program, which allows incoming first-year students to conduct research before starting their classes.

Dr. Donal Skinner, dean and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, said the research facilitated by the SPUR program is "essential for students because it cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of their field."

"This experience bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, and prepares students for advanced studies and diverse career paths, along with building confidence and preparing them for future academic and professional endeavors," he said.

Three students were selected to make oral presentations: business analytics junior Anjali Bhatia, whose work focused on global cybersecurity; neuroscience senior Laney Waydick, who discussed how vagus nerve stimulation alters activity in ventral tegmental dopamine neurons; and mechanical engineering senior Julius Weiler, whose research focused on a hybrid energy system for carbon-neutral buildings.

"SPUR has so many moving parts that it's exciting to see it all come together. We have the support of all seven schools on campus, which allows us to reward students for their hard work and dedication."

Wendi Kavanaugh MA'04, MFA'10, associate director of the National Merit Scholars Program and director of the Clark Summer Research Program in the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College

The poster competition featured entrants from all seven UT Dallas schools. Among the topics presented were an examination of volumetric light-sheet imaging of zebrafish hearts, a techno-economic analysis of an offshore wind and hydrogen integrated system in the Gulf of Mexico, and an evaluation of attitudes toward the consequences of the right to asylum in Germany. One hundred winners were selected by the judges.

"SPUR has so many moving parts that it's exciting to see it all come together. We have the support of all seven schools on campus, which allows us to reward students for their hard work and dedication," said Wendi Kavanaugh MA'04, MFA'10, associate director of the National Merit Scholars Program and director of the Clark Summer Research Program in the Honors College.

Watching the student presentations is inspiring, Kavanaugh said.

"The energy in the room is cheerful and infectious. Seeing students support each other by listening and asking questions about each other's posters shows how much they care about research," she said.

The campus symposium featured keynote speaker Dr. Andre Samuel, founder, president and CEO of The Citizen Science Lab, which helps underserved students in Pittsburgh participate in science and research.

The Honors College organized the event with the support of many UT Dallas schools and programs, including the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the Office of Research and Innovation. SPUR is the brainchild of Dr. Benedict Kolber, associate professor of neuroscience in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, and Ben Porter MS'08, PhD'11, associate professor of instruction in bioengineering in the Jonsson School. Several summer research initiatives at UTD are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.