From helping upgrade the world's largest particle detector to exploring the culture of Black rodeo athletes, Oklahoma State University undergraduate students demonstrated the breadth of research taking place across campus during the 2026 Undergraduate Summer Research Expo.

The annual event brought together 88 students from various disciplines to present projects spanning the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. The expo also reflected the many stages of undergraduate research. Some presenters had only recently graduated from high school and were completing their first research experiences, while others were preparing to publish their findings.

For Dr. Flera Rizatdinova, department head of physics and a particle physicist, undergraduate research is central to the student experience.

“We take research by heart,” Rizatdinova said. “It's our passion. It's the love of our lives. So we really want to share our passion with our students.”

The physics department showcased students participating through multiple programs, including the National Science Foundation-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program and the Niblack Research Scholars program. Students presented research in areas such as quantum information science, supernovas using James Webb Space Telescope data, neutrino physics, materials science and particle physics.

Rizatdinova said undergraduate research helps students build skills that extend beyond the laboratory.

“It develops several critical skills that are highly valued on the job market,” Rizatdinova said. “It develops critical thinking, time management, focus on the result and the ability to present.”

Among the presenters was Niblack Research Scholar Amelia Frisbee, who is conducting research in radiation physics under the mentorship of Dr. Eric Benton, professor of physics.

“I've been interested in medical physics for quite some time,” Frisbee said. “Dr. Benton has a really good radiation physics lab, and upon his recommendation, I applied to the Niblack Research Scholarship with him.”

Frisbee said events like the Undergraduate Summer Research Expo give students valuable opportunities to compare their work with peers while preparing for future careers.

“It's really good to see what other students are doing and how your poster stands with them,” Frisbee said. “It's good to learn about different kinds of fields and have this kind of experience because this experience is going to be important for the next step, in graduate school, to put on your resume or your job application.”

2026 Undergraduate Summer Research Expo

Story By: Mak Vandruff | makenzie.vandruff@okstate.edu