A young woman presenting her research at a symposium, pointing to a colorful academic poster filled with graphs and text. She is wearing a patterned green and yellow shirt and speaking to a small group of people gathered around her. Other research posters and attendees are visible in the background.

2025 Undergraduate Research Symposium showcases student achievement across all disciplines

Friday, April 25, 2025

Media Contact: Page Mindedahl | Communications Specialist | 405-744-9782 | page.mindedahl@okstate.edu

On Tuesday, Oklahoma State University celebrated the creative and scholarly achievements of its undergraduate students at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Hosted each spring, the Undergraduate Research Symposium offers students from all academic disciplines the opportunity to present the results of their research, scholarship and creative activity to the OSU community and beyond. The event is open to faculty, staff, students and the public.

Along with student presentations, three faculty researchers were recognized with the 2025 Excellence in Research Mentoring award. This award honors faculty mentors for their success and impact in supervising undergraduate research students.

The following professors were honored:

Dr. Yu Feng — associate professor of chemical engineering
Dr. Liz McCullagh — assistant professor of integrative biology
Dr. Matteo Minghetti — associate professor of integrative biology

Whether through scientific discovery, social science exploration, artistic expression or interdisciplinary collaboration, OSU undergraduates are actively shaping the future through hands-on learning. This year’s symposium continues to reflect the university’s land-grant mission and commitment to experiential education that begins in the classroom and reaches into the community.

“I didn't know what research was when I first got into it, but getting an opportunity at a land-grant university to work closely with faculty to do research literally changed my life,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, vice president for research. “It’s important for land grant universities to have not just the ability for graduate students and postdocs to conduct research, but also to have those opportunities for undergraduates. It fits with our strategy of who we are at Oklahoma State University. Not every university is like this.”

Participants can choose one of three presentation formats: traditional poster presentations, concise oral flash talks, or performing and visual arts presentations. These varied formats allow students to tailor their presentations to their discipline while gaining valuable experience communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences.

The symposium also serves as an accessible entry point for underclassmen or students new to research. OSU faculty are encouraged to bring classes to attend the event, and students not yet involved in research are invited to attend and learn about the wide range of opportunities available at OSU.

Students from OSU’s signature undergraduate research programs, like the Freshman Research Scholars, McNair Scholars, Niblack Research Scholars, OK-LSAMP Scholars and Wentz Research Scholars, were represented at the event.

Workshops and resources were offered in the weeks leading up to the event, including abstract writing and poster preparation sessions, designed to help students refine their ideas and build confidence in their presentation skills.

The date of April 22 was selected to coincide with the National Council on Undergraduate Research’s official celebration of Undergraduate Research Week. The week was first recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 to honor the essential role of undergraduate research in higher education.