The Office for Undergraduate Research hosted the Faculty Research Showcase in the Student Center Ballroom on Wednesday.
Professors and labs on campus in need of student research assistants attended, along with those spreading awareness of their projects, representing eight academic fields.
“I’m looking to do research as a profession and get a Ph.D. way down the line. So seeing the actual people presenting the research is inspiring. Also, it’s giving me an idea of what sort of projects I might end up working on,” said Adam Kerwin, a freshman majoring in microbiology.
As students traveled from table to table, they saw research projects ranging from biology and engineering to fine arts and religious studies. Open to students from all colleges, the event drew in some who have never completed any research as well as students in academic programs that require research projects.
“It gives you valuable, real world experience and problem solving skills and helps you meet professors,” said Roman Comer, a freshman majoring in electrical engineering. “And it looks good for job applications too.”
As a major research institution, ongoing projects and innovation are a major priority and privilege of The University of Alabama. Students find this equally as important.
“Everything’s always evolving, and without research, we wouldn’t have more technology to make our lives better. And I think it’s very important because, especially as a pre-med student, research has always developed medicine better so that we can make sure that the quality of life is better,” said Dakota McElhaney, a junior studying kinesiology.
While Kerwin is studying microbiology and wants to work in vaccine development, he found himself exploring the social science projects.
“The religious studies one is really fascinating. They’re using light map projections to kind of basically reimagine the kind of buildings and what they might have been used for in the early days of Christianity. I think it is a really interesting idea to just kind of reinvent what we already know,” Kerwin said.
The Office of Undergraduate Research encourages students to find passion in research by gaining assistance in academic research, contributing to student development and developing their mentoring skills.
“You’re not gonna gain anything by just, you know, doing the same thing over and over again. I think research is kind of the future. It’s how we’re gonna improve on ourselves and help the world,” Kerwin said.
