Spring Academic Showcase Celebrates Undergraduate Research and Achievement

More than 30 NSM majors presented their undergraduate research at University of Houston’s Spring Academic Showcase 2013.

The event, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and The Honors College, celebrated the mentored research achievements of students through poster and oral presentations. Posters prepared by NSM students covered research completed in NSM’s six departments or in other colleges. Other NSM students presented posters as part of team projects focusing on global health issues.

Trisha Thacker, a biology major, gave an oral presentation on research she did with Dr. Scott Wendefer in the Pediatric Renal Department of Texas Children's Hospital. Her presentation, "Intravenous Immunoglobulin in the Management of Lupus Nephritis," covered findings that published in the journal, Autoimmune Diseases, in September 2012. Thacker co-authored the paper with Wendefer.

For Sophia Lauer, doing research in Tony Frankino’s lab in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry had many positive outcomes.

“Undergraduate research broadens your scope of knowledge while integrating concepts learned in class,” said Lauer, a biology major. “The research experience challenged me, gave me a more diverse intellectual background, built my confidence in my abilities, and helped me establish a network of connections with others in my lab.”

Math major, Greg Funchess, benefited from his experience with mentor Daniel Onofrei in the Department of Mathematics. “Doing math research and presenting the results has improved my speaking and presentation skills,” Funchess said. “I’ve learned how to better explain my research and the importance of speaking in layman’s terms.”

Thirteen NSM faculty members mentored students presenting at the academic showcase.

- Kathy Major, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics