Let鈥檚 talk research: 91传媒 undergraduates shine in spring symposium
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜nthropology, biochemistry, biological engineering, music education and psychology were among academic programs well-represented during Mississippi State鈥檚 recent Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Hosted by the university鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, the annual competition featured more than 200 submissions from students conducting faculty-guided research. Projects were assigned to one of four categories鈥攁rts and humanities, biological sciences and engineering, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences. Certain categories had multiple award winners due to the large number of submissions.
In recognition of the university鈥檚 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a community engagement track also was included.
A team of more than 100 faculty, staff and graduate students representing a cross-section of academic areas served as competition judges.
David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development, said undergraduate students are an integral part of the multi-faceted research underway at 91传媒.
鈥淓very day, our faculty, staff and students are conducting fundamental to applied research that provides innovative solutions, creative works and new scholarship that address pressing local, state, regional, national and global needs,鈥 he said. 鈥淯ndergraduate research gives our students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to new areas of interest and helps them develop skills, collaborate with faculty and peers, and gain confidence. It is exciting to see the results of their efforts on display at this symposium.鈥
This year鈥檚 winners represent Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont, as well as Nigeria and Sri Lanka. They include (by project type and category):
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
FIRST鈥擠avid N.S. Jenkins, a senior music education/instrumental major from Franklinton, Louisiana.
SECOND鈥擝rady A. Kruse, a sophomore computer science major from New Haven, Missouri.
VISUAL DISPLAYS
ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
FIRST鈥擜lex J. Davis, a sophomore music education/instrumental major from Columbus.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擩ordan A. Coggins, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Saucier.
SECOND (tie)鈥擲amantha T. Curran, a junior biochemistry/pre-medicine and bioinformatics major from West Grove, Pennsylvania.
SECOND (tie)鈥擟hristine S. Grant, a senior biological engineering major from Melrose, Connecticut.
THIRD (tie)鈥擱eilly M. Reeves, a senior biomedical engineering major from Madison.
THIRD (tie)鈥擧eather L. White, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Athens, Alabama.
THIRD (tie)鈥擩aylan R. Sears, a senior biological sciences/pre-medicine major from Atoka, Tennessee.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擩acob A. Rogers, a senior aerospace engineering/astronautics major from Poultney, Vermont.
SECOND鈥擫ucia L. Lang, a senior aerospace engineering/astronautics major from Hattiesburg.
THIRD (tie)鈥擟aleb Foster, a senior mechanical engineering major from Sturgis.
THIRD (tie)鈥擬aleen Kidiwela, a senior geosciences/professional geology major from Sri Lanka.
THIRD (tie)鈥擮binna D. Muoh, a senior chemical engineering major from Nigeria.
SOCIAL SCIENCES:
FIRST鈥擫aura N. Ingouf, a senior anthropology and history double-major from Decatur, Alabama.
SECOND (tie)鈥擲amantha R. 鈥淪am鈥 Shurden, a fall 2018 psychology bachelor鈥檚 graduate from Starkville.
SECOND (tie)鈥擩immie B. Webb, a senior business economics and finance double-major from Pelahatchie.
THIRD (tie)鈥擨sabella J. Durham, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Prattville, Alabama.
THIRD (tie)鈥擧annah N. Irwin, a senior environmental economics and management major from Moss Point.
THIRD (tie)鈥擠ixie S. Priest, a senior agricultural education, leadership and communication major from Pontotoc.
THESIS RESEARCH COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
FIRST鈥擱achel A. Booth, a senior psychology major from Lindale, Texas.
SECOND鈥擨sabella J. Durham, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Prattville, Alabama.
THIRD鈥擲afaa N. Siddiqui, a junior anthropology major from Harvest, Alabama.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH TRACK
SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING
ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
FIRST鈥擲ara N. Peppers, a senior landscape architecture major from West Memphis, Arkansas.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擩avad A鈥檃rabi, a sophomore microbiology major from Starkville.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擝lade C. Hodges, a senior agricultural engineering technology and business major from Cleveland.
SOCIAL SCIENCES:
FIRST鈥擡mily M. McCabe, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Franklin, Tennessee.
PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH COMPETITION
SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH PROMOTION; DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION; MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION; AND MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF HEALTH DISPARITIES
FIRST鈥擳aylor R. Ladner, a sophomore microbiology and biochemistry double-major from Picayune.
SECOND鈥擟aleb Foster, a senior mechanical engineering major from Sturgis.
THIRD鈥擬mesoma I. Okafor, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Nigeria.
THETA TAU TOMORROW BUILDER AWARD
SPONSORED BY THETA TAU PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING FRATERNITY
OVERALL鈥 Emily M. McCabe, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Franklin, Tennessee.
In addition to the honors college and aforementioned competition sponsors, the symposium is supported by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, Office of Research and Economic Development, Department of Sociology, National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center and Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
For more on 91传媒鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, visit .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .