Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement
The university offers undergraduates the opportunity to reach beyond the classroom to pursue the excitement of original research and creative projects. Every spring, the Office of Research organizes the Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURCA) -- a two-day exhibition and performance event for students. In 2008, some 290 students entered 162 projects from nine colleges, one school, and one department. The projects judged to be the best overall are recognized with Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Awards:
Aaron Benson, from the College of Arts and Sciences, is a senior in studio art. Benson worked under the direction of Dr. Sally Brogden on his project, “Loss.”
Soumyo Dutta, Norman Rivera and Tyrone Phillips from the College of Engineering's Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering were recognized for their research project “Design, Build, and Fly: The Evolution of a Model Aircraft.” Their faculty advisor was Dr. Robert Bond.
Jeff Tithof, from the College of Arts and Sciences, is a junior in physics. Tithof worked under the direction of Dr. Yuri Kamyshkov on his project “New Covariant Constrains for New Forces of Nature.”
The William Harris III Undergraduate Research Award was presented to Abagale Reddy, a senior in nutrition, for her project “The roles of beta-hyroxybutyrate and glucose in the efficacy of a new experimental diet formulation for the treatment of epilepsy in the EF mouse model.” Reddy was advised by Dr. Melissa Hansen-Petrik.
