UNC Fall Undergraduate Symposium
Description
Fall Symposium Full Schedule
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Poster Presentation Session
Poster Research Excellence Award Finalists
- Rachel Anderson, Faculty Mentor: Ramesh Kumar Muralimanohar
Title: The Impact of Accelerated Speech on Comprehension in Young Adult Learners - Parker Coffelt, Faculty Mentor: Andrea James, PhD
Title: Spatial and temporal effects of vasculogenesis in CBD treated zebrafish embryos - Camden Lane and Zuleima Garcia Chavez; Faculty Mentor: Aaron Apawu
Title: Fast Scan Cyclic & Differential Pulse Voltametric Analysis of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) & Ibuprofen in Pharmaceutical Formulations - Joanna Pugliese; Faculty Mentor: Joanna Lewis
Title: Extraneous load from typography during procedural training in virtual reality - Misty Rae, Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Linley
Title: Cognitive Flexibility In Rodents: Effects of Sex And Anxiety - Jasmine Vork; Faculty Mentor: Nancy Karlin
Title: AI vs Human Feedback: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Motivation
General Poster Session
- Arianna Coles and Cameron Ketchum; Faculty Mentor: Stephen Mackessy
Title: Rattlesnake Venoms: Components, Diversity, Themes, and Antivenoms - Hadley Everdeen, Faculty Mentor: William D. Woody
Title: When Two Extremes Meet: A Study on Amplifying and Mitigating Influences of the Misinformation Effect in Eyewitness Testimony - Anwei Forgues; Faculty Mentor: Reid Hayward
Title: Heart Rate Variability in Cancer Patients Undergoing an Exercise Intervention - Roddy Hunt; Faculty Mentor: Caitlin Raaz
Title: Barriers to Access of Speech-Language Pathology Services in the Latine Community - Emilia Kelly; Faculty Mentor: Theoklitos Karipidis
Title: Mothers and Mental Health: Exploring Self-Efficacy, Postpartum Depression, and Positive Interventions in Psychology. - Mikaela King; Faculty Mentor: Cindy Shellito
Title: Climate Change and Corn: Investigating Temperature and Precipitation Impacts on Yellow Dent Corn Harvest Timing across Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska - Atlas Ojendiz, Faculty Mentor: Sarah Off
Title: Imperfect Machine Studios LLC: A Strategic Business Plan to Focus on Community Storytelling - Jasmin Pacheco Luna and Cole Rhodes; Faculty Mentor: Elise Allen Kurstak
Title: Barriers for Transfer Students? Expectancy-value Beliefs and Belonging Uncertainty among Transfer and Non-transfer University Students - Brianna Unrein, Terra Hall, and Ethan Tong, Faculty Mentor: Aaron Apawu
Title: Characterization and Comparison of Soil Samples in Forensic Investigation - HON 100 Class Presentations, Faculty Mentors: Michael Kimball and Chelsie Romulo
Title: Intergenerational Wisdom: Elder Oral Histories as Preparation for an Uncertain Future- Group 1: Alana Pol, Nolan Gibbs, Phoebe Seager, Regina De Jesus Diaz
- Group 2: Katie Gruwell, Macey Smith, Sara Taylor, Tim Williams
- Group 3: AJ Hafner, Arianna Parra, Eden Cramer, Valeria Escalante
- Group 4: Asher Kessler, Jessy Trask, Kory Powell, Wren McGinley-Harrin
- Group 5: Angelina Aiello, Claire Boyer, Jacob Smith, Hannah Harr
- Group 6: Emma Sweeney, Jewelie Sehjal, Skyler Shields, Taylor Matteson
2:30 – 4:15 PM Performing Arts and Oral Research Presentations
Performing Arts Creative Excellence Award Presentations
- 2:30 PM Ryan LaTourrette and Diego Pastor, Faculty Mentor: Randall Harmon,
Title: Performance of J.S. Bach's Violin Sonata with Continuo in E minor, BWV 1023i. Adagio ma non tanto - 2:45 PM Umi Givens; Faculty Mentor: Randall Harmon
Title: Je Taime, from La Bête et Belle - 3:00 PM Jo Weaver Douglas; Faculty Mentor: Sandra Harmon
Title: "I (don't) Think I Mattered: Factors that Contribute to Black Women and Nonbinary Student Attrition at UNCO"
Oral Research Excellence Award Presenter Session
- 3:15 PM Karla Conchas Vergara; Faculty Mentor: Andrea James,
Title: Assessing the Potential of an EGFR signaling pathway inhibitor (afatinib) to improve Keratin 5 Intermediate Filament Networks in Zebrafish Models - 3:30 PM Jae Fast; Faculty Mentor: Stephanie Linley,
Title: Emotional working memory across the visual mental imagery spectrum: Considerations for aphantasia - 3:45 PM Adrianna Soto-Confer and Mo Awan; Faculty Mentor: Stephany Linley
Title: Unraveling the Cognitive Cost of Anxiety: Implications for Behavioral Flexibility - 4:00 PM Kira Villarreal; Faculty Mentor: Yuyan Han,
Title: Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Dose-Dependent Cannabinoids in Repairing β-Oxidation in MASLD
Oral Research Excellence Award Presenter Session
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM Reception
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Keynote Speaker and Awards
4:30 PM Keynote: Carter Norris, Senior History: Secondary Education, Phelps Family
C.A.P. Scholar
4:40 PM Awards Presentations:
-
- Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Works Grant Awardees
- UNC Phelps Scholarship Recipient Recognition
- Fall Undergraduate Symposium Judge recognition
- Fall Undergraduate Symposium Participant Certificates
- Research/Creative Excellence Awards Presentation
Eligibility
Presentation Categories
Research Poster Presentations
Poster sessions involve displaying a visual representation of the research project
on a large poster including a mixture of text with tables, graphs, and pictures to
present your findings in a visually interesting and accessible way. This will serve
as a tool to prompt discussion with colleagues during a 1 hour poster session. Students
stand by their posters to discuss their work with conference attendees and answer
questions. Items typically included: Title, Authors, Abstract, Introduction, Materials
& Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, and References. All students listed
as presenters on the poster and on the application must be present for the entire
1 hour poster session. Student presenters should be prepared to give a 5 minute overview
of their poster and then ask for questions, and will repeat their presentation multiple
times during the 1 hour poster session.
Student must print their own poster. Maximum size of the poster is 48" x 48". Recommended
size is 36" tall x 48" wide.
Printing information for printing posters: https://www.unco.edu/academic-engagement/aew/for-attendees.aspx
Visual Arts Displays
Max size of 30-inch width x 40-inch height for displaying on board or may be propped on an easel. Please bring hangers for affixing to board, and 20 inches width x 20 inch height x 20-inch depth for displaying on table.
Students can showcase their research or creative projects through visual arts displays, which may include paintings, sculptures, photography, digital art, and other visual media. Note: If selected into NCUR Conference - Please consider standard shipping box sizes and weight restrictions when considering the piece (e.g. https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/packing/supplies/boxes.html or https://www.ups.com/us/en/shipping/how-to-ship-package.page)
Oral Presentations
These are traditional presentations where students present their research findings or projects to an audience using PowerPoint slides or other visual aids. Each presenter is allotted a 12-minute time slot for their talk, followed by a 3 minute Q&A session. A laptop will be provided loaded with PowerPoint.
Performance Art Presentations
Scheduled in a series of other oral presentations with a 12-minute presentation (to include sharing of live version or recording of performance) with 3 minutes Q&A.
This category allows students to present research or creative projects through performances, such as musical performances, theatrical acts, dance routines, spoken word, or other artistic expressions. Note: If live performance is preferred, we encourage students to provide needed musicians, actors, dancers, readers, etc. as presenters and/or co-presenters as part of their submission. Alternatively, please plan to pre-record the performance piece so it can be shared in a digital format during the presentation.
Research and Creative Excellence Awards
At Fall Undergraduate Symposium, all presenters selected to present in the Symposium
will be finalists for Research and Creative Excellence Awards. Note: Additional poster presentations may be selected to participate in the event, but
these will not be eligible for award consideration. Announcements regarding finalist
selection will happen approximately 2 weeks prior to the event.
First place will be presented in each of the four categories. The judging criteria
will be posted on the website. First place presenters will receive a $100 gift card,
pending Office of Financial Aid eligibility review. If the presentation includes multiple
students, all students must be undergraduate level, and the $100 prize will be split.
If the presentation includes more than 4 presenters, only the lead presenter will
receive the gift card, which will be designated for covering expenses for the presentation
preparation.
NCUR Selection
The candidates chosen at the Research Symposium to attend NCUR will be asked to submit their abstracts to NCUR. The selected candidates will work with the Office of Undergraduate Research to edit their abstract with the final version of their abstract due no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 19th, 2025 to Office of Undergraduate Research (our@unco.edu), and students will be assisted in their submission to the NCUR application site.
Examples of Past Posters (from 2021 UNC Research Day).
On Campus printing Resources
Students may print through the MAST Institute.
School of Biological Sciences and Communications Sciences & Disorders also provide in house printing for students working with faculty in those departments.
Off Campus Printing options
Other Printing Options utilizing local businesses:
Judging Criteria
For Research Projects:
Rubric for Fall Symposium Presentations
For Performing Arts Projects:
Rubric to be posted prior to the event.
