From left: Biology senior Jacob Roy, healthcare studies senior Nanditha Niranjan and neuroscience and history senior Arlin Khan won the top honors in the poster competition during Undergraduate Research Week.

University of Texas at Dallas students showed their penchant for discovery during Undergraduate Research Week, which was held April 15-19 and sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Education.

“We are very fortunate to have some of the best opportunities for undergraduates to engage in research here at UT Dallas,” said Dr. Jessica C. Murphy, dean of undergraduate education and Mary McDermott Cook Chair for Undergraduate Education. “Our team in the Office of Undergraduate Education does an excellent job helping students learn more about research opportunities and empowering undergraduates to articulate their experiences as they pursue a career and graduate school.”

Psychology and child learning and development senior Faith Crighton compared how boys and girls were informally instructed about science by their parents for her research project.

A poster competition capped the week with presentations from 15 finalists chosen from nearly 200 entrants. Students presented their work to a panel of industry judges from Brinker International Inc., Doosan Robotics Americas, Trace3, Veritex Community Bank and Walmart Health.

Biology senior Jacob Roy, who also is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs, placed first in the poster competition for his research in developing a new approach to RNA modulation. Healthcare studies senior Nanditha Niranjan placed second for her work exploring the impact of educating refugees about the U.S. health care system in reducing the cost of health care. Neuroscience and history senior Arlin Khan finished third for her research on the use of vagus nerve stimulation to aid in the recovery of laryngeal nerve damage.

Students learned much more than basic experimental design throughout their experiences. In addition to technical abilities, they picked up a wide range of professional skills necessary to pursue careers beyond graduation.

“Science takes a lot of patience. All of this took multiple semesters of work,” Khan said. “In a world where things are really instantaneous, I think science is one of those things you have to learn to be patient for and let things work out. I also learned critical thinking and problem solving.”

Garth Edwards, executive vice president at Veritex Community Bank, said: “The subjects of the research are so diverse —  some of these subjects are so relevant today, and some are like, ‘We probably need to be thinking more about them.’ It’s so amazing what [the students] are doing. I’m very encouraged.”

In addition to poster presentations, research week included a match day with more than 20 labs and 200 students, resume workshops and a panel discussion.

Visual and performing arts senior Hayley Honescko studied the development of communication skills through theater participation for her research project. “[Dr. Carie S.T. King] helped me find not what I should be researching, but what I am interested in. How can I bring my words to mean something and be impactful? She just empowered that in me. As Dr. King always says, ‘Live in inquiry,’” she said.