Research at Texas A&M spans from entomology to investigating lyme disease. These research projects and projects similar to them presented at the Undergraduate Research Expo on Oct. 4 in the MSC Bethancourt Ballroom.
The Undergraduate Research Expo was an all day event where undergraduate students interested in getting involved with research on campus were able to learn more about the opportunities afforded to them. Ph.D. and graduate students were also able to present their research projects during a poster session and recruit undergraduate students to be a part of their team.
There were multiple events planned for the expo, including a research opportunities and resource fair along with poster sessions where students presented their research and informationals regarding how to get started in research followed by socials in the evening.
The Undergraduate Research Expo is one method students could use to get involved in research at A&M. It can be a meaningful experience to many who decide to delve into the research environment according to applied math junior Devyn Rice.
“I’ve definitely grown personally and gained personal skills,” Rice said. “I’ve gotten to work in the classroom with students in the lab and been able to make a difference for them … impacting them in a different way than their teacher was able to.”
Rice said that undergraduate research is a wonderful opportunity, with several open spots, including spots on her own research team.
“It lets you explore what you’re already interested in,” Rice said. “So my math classes, my stat classes that have no relevance to me right now, they now have an application that I don’t have to wait five years to seek. I learned more statistics before I got into my stats class and then when I got into my stats class, it was completely relevant. ”
The event was not only for students to present their research, it was also a resource fair where many organizations, such as the Texas Sea Grant, could present their purpose and mission to students at A&M.
Mia Zwolinksi, a research coordinator for the Texas Sea Grant College Program, said that it is important for students to be exposed to research early on.
“Immerse yourself in research, it’s not just for graduate students,” Zwolinski said. “It’s for undergrads as well. And you have the great opportunity to learn how to write a thesis. So you don’t have to wait to be a graduate students to learn how to write a thesis.”