N.C. A&T Hosts Virtual Undergraduate Research Symposium

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 20, 2020) – The Office of Undergraduate Research at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University kicked off Undergraduate Research Week with a virtual symposium hosting approximately 100 students and faculty members April 20.

The Spring 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium began with an inspirational presentation from Leonard Williams, Ph.D., director of the Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies. Williams, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at N.C. A&T, discussed his research journey and encouraged undergraduate students to pursue research and continuing education.

“Be prepared to participate in interdisciplinary and global research, commit to excellence and execute the plan you’ve set in place,” said Williams. “Continuing education and research opportunities are catalysts and will help add value to the positions you hold.”

Following Williams’ presentation, Office of Undergraduate Research director Mulumebet “Millie” Worku, Ph.D., announced the top three winners of the 2019 undergraduate research poster presentations:

• First-place winner: Anjali Kumari, sophomore biology student
  Poster: Development of a Time-efficient and Cost-effective Luminescence Assay to Measure the Relative Activity of Protein Kinases

• Second-place winner: Ian Livengood, sophomore mathematics student
  Poster: Modeling Tropical Cyclogenesis Frequency and Variation in the North Atlantic Basin

• Third-place winner: Imani Anderson, junior animal sciences student
  Poster: Identifying galectin-3 variants in the genome of sheep, goats and cows

Each winner shared a brief overview of their research and will receive a certificate and green research graduation cord.

“We understand undergraduate research is recognized as a high-impact learning practice and is in line with our strategic goals and vision for student success,” said Worku. “The Office of Undergraduate Research is committed to supporting our undergraduate students as they engage in mentored scholarship, original research and creative endeavors.”

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Misty Thomas, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Science and Technology, about exploring tips to navigate research opportunities from student and faculty perspectives. 

The deadline to submit abstracts and presentations for display in the Digital Commons at F.D. Bluford Library for the 2019-20 academic year has been extended to May 30.