Six Oklahoma State University students joined peers from across the country in one of the nation’s largest undergraduate research gatherings as they showcased their work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, held April 13-15 in Richmond, Virginia.

The conference highlights student achievement across all academic disciplines while providing opportunities for professional development, networking and graduate school exploration, a reflection of OSU’s land-grant mission to expand access to education and advance research that serves communities in Oklahoma and beyond.

Among those presenting was Katelynn Biggs, a music education senior, who shared her research on diversifying the secondary French horn curriculum. While she has presented before, Biggs said this experience stood out because of the conference’s size and interdisciplinary scope.

“I presented at the National College Music Society Conference in Spokane, Washington this last October, but that is music specific, and so it wasn't nearly as large,” Biggs said. “It was nice to talk to people who were in the sciences, who didn't necessarily have a background in music, or know all about music the way I do.”

Biggs said being in the same room as various researchers from different disciplines left her feeling inspired, as if everyone’s passion for their pursuit of discovery was contagious.

Students must apply and be selected by the Council on Undergraduate Research to participate in NCUR, making the opportunity highly competitive. Biggs said the selection process added to the significance of the experience and built anticipation leading up to the conference.

Presenting alongside research from STEM fields offered a unique, and at times intimidating, environment that pushed her outside her comfort zone.

“It was almost an intimidating experience, because right beside me there was a wonderful researcher doing brain cancer research and how different lasers affect the tumors,” Biggs said. “I was like, ‘Oh, man! That’s real deal lab research.' It’s an amazing opportunity to present at the same level and in the same space. It really showed me that the research I’m doing is important.”

Even so, Biggs said the exposure to different disciplines ultimately expanded her perspective and helped her think more intentionally about her future.

“There were so many graduate schools there recruiting, and I think what I gained most from this conference was being able to talk to different grad schools and start planning my next steps,” Biggs said.

Upon reflection, the opportunity to present her research and engage in conversations with peers showed Biggs the future of innovation is bright. Especially in a place where researching music is just as important as any other study.

She added that support from OSU played a key role in making the opportunity possible.

“I feel very thankful for the support I've had at OSU,” Biggs said. “The Greenwood School of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences have been very supportive of me traveling and helping fund my research travel, because that stuff can get expensive too sometimes.”

OSU students who presented included:

• Katelynn Biggs, instrumental music education, “Beyond the Prescribed Music List: Female-Composed Music for the Modern Horn Student”
• Ruthie Presswood, psychology, “The Creation and Evaluation of an Ethnically Informed INQ-15 in BIPOC College Students”
• Chole Tolle, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, “UV-Treatment of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Wastewater”
• Kalen Strunk, microbiology and environmental biology, “Establishing a Baseline for Argentinian Thread-Waisted Wasps: A Species Level Checklist of Sensu Stricto"
• Sanaa Smith, criminology and criminal justice, “Faith on Display: Investigating Religious Discrimination in the Workforce”
• Marley Harris, fine arts, “The Resurfacing Interest in Brutalism and Its Cultural Significance on Self-Expression: Analyzing the Intersection of Architecture and Graphic Design

The OSU Henry Bellmon Office of Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research supports students attending conferences by providing funding for registration and scholarships to offset travel costs.