Research Week showcases students’ work Celebrates collaboration between faculty and students

Photo by Andrew Shurtleff

Undergraduate students work on a lab project in Gilmer Hall.

By Matt Kelly

Student research will be the topic, starting March 29, when the University launches its second annual Research Week.

During the week, winners will be announced for 40 Harrison undergraduate research awards, five Kenan awards for research on the Academical Village and eight “Double ’Hoo” awards for research teams of graduate and undergraduate students. The Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award will be given to a professor demonstrating commitment to mentoring undergraduate research.

“Research plays to the strength of the University,” said Nicole F. Hurd, assistant dean of the Center of Undergraduate Excellence. “We are a major research University with an intimate learning environment.”
Since the introduction of the Harrison Awards five years ago, Hurd said students have become better candidates for fellowships, graduate and professional school admissions, and career placement.

“Research has been opening doors and advancing students in meaningful ways,” she said. In the past five years, undergraduate research has tripled, according to Hurd. Much of that is paid for by the students themselves.

One of the strengths of the University is how many students are pursuing research regardless of funding,” Hurd said.

Many of the research projects are based in the humanities.

“Unlike many of our peer institutions, U.Va. has a large number of students doing research in the humanities and social sciences,” she said. “We have had more Harrison Awards given out for humanities research than for the hard sciences.”

Several undergraduates will present their findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium on Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Newcomb Hall. Topics include “Video Surveillance and the Privacy Arms Race,” “Determinations of Foreign Direct Investment Flow in China,” and “Protecting the Displaced Children Along the Thailand-Burma Border.”

Graduate students will hold a research symposium, too, at Newcomb Hall, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Research Week is a chance to showcase on-going research and a chance for students and faculty to seek out new opportunities,” Hurd said.

Research Week events also include:

• “How to Get Involved with Research in the Science and Engineering Fields,” a student panel discussion, Monday, 5 p.m., Science and Engineering Library.

•“Faculty Reflections on Research in Science, Nursing and Engineering,” a discussion by Ann G. Taylor, director of the Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies at the School of Nursing; Robert G. Kelly, associate professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Peter C. Brunjes, associate dean for graduate studies and research, Monday, 6:30 p.m., Science and Engineering Library.

• A fireside chat with award-winning historian and College of Arts & Sciences Dean Edward L. Ayers, who will discuss his Civil War research and how to be involved in humanities research, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Science and Engineering Library.

• A release party for the Oculus, a publication of undergraduate research, on Wednesday, 4 p.m., Clemons Library.