Photo Essay: How undergraduate research experiences impact OSU students
Monday, April 27, 2026
Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | OSU Brand Management | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu
Undergraduate research at Oklahoma State University isn’t just an extracurricular assignment; it’s something students experience, shape and carry with them long after graduation.
From their first spark of curiosity to presenting final projects at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, students are stepping beyond the classroom and into discovery. They’re testing ideas, solving problems and sometimes failing forward.
That hands-on approach is part of what makes OSU’s land-grant mission come to life. Undergraduate researchers are building skills that go far beyond textbooks. They’re learning how to think critically, communicate complex ideas and adapt when things don’t go as planned.
Each year, hundreds of students share their work across disciplines, demonstrating not only what they’ve learned, but what they’ve contributed. For many, it’s a moment in their journey that clarifies career paths, builds confidence and opens doors to future opportunities in graduate school and the workforce.
But beyond the presentations and projects, undergraduate research is about growth. It’s about discovering new interests, gaining confidence and realizing you’re capable of more than you thought.
Here’s how OSU students describe the experience in their own words:
What led you to pursue undergraduate research at Oklahoma State University?
“I wanted more hands-on experience outside the classroom, more than anything. I’m pre-med, so I naturally lean in that direction, but I’ve been trying to find research opportunities throughout my undergrad. I’m really grateful to Professor Upul for giving us — especially seniors — the chance to have that experience before we graduate. That was my main goal: to do something beyond the classroom and get that real, hands-on experience.”
Hometown: Frisco, Texas
“It actually started because of a scholarship — I was part of the Freshman Research Scholarship program. I’m a senior now, and I’ve just continued doing research since then. Over time, I’ve really developed a passion for it. Honestly, if it weren’t for that scholarship, I don’t think I would’ve been as interested in research at the beginning.”
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
What’s the most valuable lesson undergraduate research has taught you?
“The most valuable experience I had is getting to work in a dynamic team and getting to learn how to communicate data and work effectively.”
Hometown: Mustang, Oklahoma
“I think the most valuable part has been learning that you can do it. I'm a first-gen in student, so I came in not really knowing what research was, and I was always very nervous. I felt a lot of imposter syndrome, even just looking at posters. Over time, I’ve been able to build confidence, lean on my mentors, lean on some friends, and realize you can do it, even though you're a first-gen student from South Texas.”
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
How do you feel maybe better prepared for the workforce or your future?
“It’s given me real experience designing something that actually works. We’re using real materials and contributing to real research and a paper. In high school, projects felt more like assignments — but this is something we genuinely enjoy working on, and it feels much more real.”
Hometown: Owasso, Oklahoma
“I think it taught me a lot more about the professional field rather than just the academic side. I actually presented this poster last week at a ceramics conference in Seattle, and that experience really gave me perspective on the difference between academia and industry and how research actually gets applied and shared with companies.”
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona