Undergraduate Research Week Poster Competition Winners Announced

Clockwise from top left: Lucia Barraza, Gary Jackson, Olive Kuester, Daisy Rehbock, Colton Gattis, Emilee Walden and Madison Price.

The University Libraries, Honors College and Division of Research and Innovation are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Undergraduate Research Week Poster Competition in each of the seven research categories. Congratulations to these students and all who participated. 

ARTS AND HUMANITIES 

The winning poster for the Arts and Humanities category is “Gender Equality Threatened: A Digital Analysis of Spanish Right-Wing Political Parties” by honors student Daisy Rehbock, who majors in international and global studies.

“This research pushed me outside my comfort zone and forced me to interact first-hand with hard truths about what social media is being used for in the modern day,” said Rehbock. “However, I believe the impacts of this research are important and worth all the hours I spent scrolling right-wing Twitter and Facebook accounts. I want to thank my incredible mentor, Dr. Lisa Corrigan, for guiding me along this research process and giving me all the tools to be successful. I owe her the world. I feel excited and prepared for my post-grad journey as it takes me to Panama to serve in the Peace Corps and then to graduate school.”

EDUCATION

The winning poster for the Education category is “Understanding the Impact of Food Insecurity Among First-Generation College Students on the University of Arkansas Campus” by honors student Madison Price, who studies agricultural business. 

“My experience conducting research during my undergraduate career was transformative,” said Price. “It not only deepened my knowledge, but also fostered a passion for discovery that motivates me to pursue a master’s degree. The research experience itself equipped me with valuable skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and problem-solving, which will be instrumental for my success in graduate studies.” 

ENGINEERING

The winning poster for the Engineering category is “Utilizing Spatial Transcriptomics to Compare Gene Expression in Volumetric Muscle Loss Injury Recovery” by Honors College Fellow Colton Gattis, whose major is biomedical engineering. 

“This experience allowed me to truly dive into the complexities of bioinformatics and discover my own strengths and weaknesses within it,” said Gattis. “I’ve since been able to enhance my skill set in a way that has been extremely attractive to employers, and I will continue to expand this skillset as I strive to expand my familiarity with this field. I plan to utilize what I’ve learned in this project along with advice from my mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Wolchok, to guide me as I transition to the next chapter of my life.”

HEALTH

The winning poster for the Health category is “Perceptual Responses to Partial Water Immersion Body-Bag Cooling Following Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia” by honors student Lucia Barraza, who majors in exercise science.

“This project was an eye opening experience for me, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved in research during my undergraduate career,” said Barraza. “I’ve been able to learn so much about the research process and all the work that goes into making important studies happen. I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. McDermott, for his advice and support, and for letting me be a part of such a cool project.”

NATURAL SCIENCES 1 

The winning poster for the Natural Sciences 1 category is “Investigation of the Protein Dynamics Responsible for the Establishment and Maintenance of Compartmental Boundaries” by Bodenhamer Fellow Gary Jackson, who majors in biology and chemistry.

“I have been deeply grateful for the lessons that research has taught me,” said Jackson. “It has led me to question the little things in life, and to see the beauty in scientific inquiry and discovery. Through research, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the world around me, igniting a passion for exploration and understanding that will continue to shape my identity.”

NATURAL SCIENCES 2 

The winning poster for the Natural Sciences 2 category is “Mathematics-AI Based Phylogenetic Analysis of Influenza Mutation Data” by honors student Emilee Walden, who studies mathematics and biology. 

“Undergraduate research has been such a rewarding experience!” said Walden. “I have had a lot of fun getting to contribute to research in infectious disease as well as develop new skills in preparation for graduate school.”

SOCIAL SCIENCES

The winning poster for the Social Sciences category is “The Impact of Long-Term Partisan Monopolies on Voter Turnout” by political science major Olivia “Olive” Kuester. 

“My experience as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Arkansas has ignited my passion for data, statistics, and political science,” said Kuester. “Being immersed in academic research has equipped me with an invaluable skill set that I’m excited to carry into my Ph.D. program at the University of Iowa in August. And of course a big thanks to Dr. Parry and the Office of Undergraduate Research for supporting both me and my project!”

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.