MSU celebrates undergraduate research with summer symposium
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擲howcasing multifaceted, innovative research currently underway at 花秀直播 State, 11 students recently were recognized for successful faculty-guided projects during the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium at the university鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.
Open to MSU undergraduate students of all majors, the annual competition featured project submissions that were assigned to one of four categories, including arts and humanities, biological sciences and engineering, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences. In recognition of the university鈥檚 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a community engagement and service-learning track also was included for the fourth year.
A team of 24 campus faculty members representing a cross-section of academic areas served as judges for the competition.
鈥淲e view the encouragement and support of undergraduate research for all 花秀直播 State students to be part of our core mission,鈥 said Seth F. Oppenheimer, professor of mathematics who also serves as the honors college鈥檚 director of undergraduate research.
鈥淯ndergraduate research allows students to dive deeply into important ideas and topics in a rigorous and creative manner, paving the way for future intellectual work and exploration in academics, business and life,鈥 Oppenheimer said.
Residents of 花秀直播, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Texas, this year鈥檚 winners include (by project type and category):
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
FIRST鈥擫ily A. Hebert of Brandon, a sophomore English and psychology double-major advised by Tommy Anderson, associate professor of English and director of prestigious external scholarships for MSU鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.
VISUAL DISPLAYS
ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
FIRST鈥擩essica N. Smith of Picayune, a senior agricultural information science/agricultural communication major advised by Quisto Settle, assistant professor in the School of Human Sciences.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擟iarra N. Smith of Starkville, a sophomore biochemistry major advised by Jeffrey Eells, associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine鈥檚 Department of Basic Sciences.
SECOND鈥擨zabella Gomes Almeida, an animal and dairy science major from the Federal University of Lavras. Participating in the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program at MSU, she was advised by Jean M.N. Feugang, MSU assistant research professor of animal and dairy sciences.
THIRD鈥擜nna C. Jackson of Starkville, a senior biological sciences major advised by Mark Welch, associate professor of biological sciences.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:
FIRST鈥擜llyssa Paul, a University of Central Florida mechanical engineering major participating in a Physical Properties of Materials Program Research Experience for Undergraduates funded by the National Science Foundation. While at MSU, she was advised by Masoud Rais-Rohani, professor of aerospace engineering.
SECOND鈥擩aylin Myers, a Tuskegee University chemical engineering major who is participating in the MSU James Worth Bagley College of Engineering鈥檚 Research Experience for Undergraduates program directed by Associate Dean and Professor James Warnock. She was advised by Hongjoo Rhee, associate research professor at MSU鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.
THIRD鈥擜aron C. Scoggin of Lawrence, a senior chemical engineering major advised by Priscilla Hill, associate professor of chemical engineering.
SOCIAL SCIENCES:
FIRST鈥擡mily B. Damm of Starkville, a senior communication/broadcasting and public relations major advised by Skye Cooley, assistant professor of communication.
SECOND鈥擡lizabeth L. Roshelli of Peachtree City, Georgia, a sophomore communication/public relations major advised by Skye Cooley, assistant professor of communication.
THIRD鈥擧armon Duke of Hooks, Texas, a junior landscape architecture major advised by Elizabeth Payne Tofte, assistant professor of landscape architecture.
Featured speaker for the symposium was MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Judith L. 鈥淛udy鈥 Bonner.
In addition to the honors college, the symposium is sponsored by the offices of the Provost and Executive President, and Research and Economic Development, along with the Center for the Advancement of Service-Learning Excellence, MSU Extension Service, National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, and Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Learn more about the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at and .
MSU is 花秀直播鈥檚 leading university, available online at .