HHMI Research Symposium Showcases 40 Students' Summer Research Projects
Summer research projects concluded, at least officially, on Friday, September 14, with the School of Arts & Sciences’ HHMI Research Symposium. The annual symposium gives students who have been conducting undergraduate research in the sciences the opportunity to present their results to faculty members and their peers. Forty students participated, including 10 Howard Hughes Fellows.
“The program is a really nice way to end students’ summer research experiences because it allows them to not only showcase their own work, but to see what other students have been working on across the science disciplines,” said Kathy Hoke, associate dean for research support in the School of Arts & Sciences.
The symposium included poster sessions, student talks, a banquet and a keynote talk by Dr. Jose Onuchic, professor of physics at the University of California at San Diego. Onuchic shared his own research in biological physics, which highlights the value of interdisciplinary interactions.
“I love telling the story about one student, a pre-freshman named Kendra Cunningham, who conducted research on campus this past summer. When she talked to me about the symposium afterwards, she said that she was most inspired by the students just one year older than her who were already giving presentations on their research. She had no idea that she’d be able to present original work to faculty and fellow students as a freshman, but after attending the symposium, she knew that she’d be up there next year,” Hoke said.
The University of Richmond’s School of Arts & Science has made a commitment to increasing undergraduate research opportunities, especially in the sciences. Over 150 students spent the summer conducting research on campus; the majority received full funding through the School’s undergraduate research fellowships, HHMI grants or private research grants. The School plans to increase that number to 200. Undergraduate research is one of the best ways to create engaged learners who see connections between the world and what they are learning in the classroom.