| | It's a busy time at the Office of Undergraduate Research! We had a very successful time at Research in the Capitol along with the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University. The office took 31 students to present 20 posters in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building. SURF is rapidly approaching at the end of the month, be sure to sign up if you'd like to help judge.
Our newest event, the Quick Pitch Challenge, had the Final Competition last night, April 9th from 5-6 PM in 217 MacLean Hall. The top five students gave their 3-minute research pitches, and three winners were selected!
Applications for academic year 2025-2026 ICRU Fellowships are due this Friday, April 11th, be sure to get yours in!
Best,
Tawny Tibbits
Director, Office of Undergraduate Research | | Calling for all faculty, graduate/professional students, post-docs, professional staff, and community members!
This year we have over 200 undergrads from over fifty different majors presenting research supported nearly 50 different departments across campus!
We need you to serve as evaluators of undergraduate posters who wish for valuable feedback on Wednesday, April 30th. This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved with undergraduate researchers as well as discover more about current research that is underway at the University of Iowa. | | | Presentation Opportunities | | | | Support Iowa's undergraduate researchers at the Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF).
SURF 2025
April 30th, 3:30-6:00pm
2nd Floor of the Old Capitol Mall
We will have Exhibit Hall presentations, the Linkedin Photo Booth, and some great snacks - make sure to stop by!
Need help making your poster? Resources are available! Contact OUR if you would like help creating your poster, and check our socials for information about an upcoming Poster Workshop. | | | The Quick Pitch Challenge final competition occurred last night, April 9th from 5-6 p.m. Each presenter did an outstanding job presenting their research in 3 minutes. The winners were Klaertje Hesselink, 1st place; Jessica Miller, 2nd place; Darby Forsyth, 3rd place. We are so proud of all the students that participated in QPC.
Thank you judges for your time to support students and provide feedback. Thank you to those who came out to support. Please visit the Quick Pitch Challenge to see the presenters with their slides! | | | | Looking for funding for the academic year? The ICRU Academic Year Fellowship is perfect for you! The OUR funds undergraduate researchers in any discipline to work with UI faculty and staff on research projects throughout the academic year. ICRU Academic Year Fellows receive stipends of $2,500 and gain valuable research experience that will set them up for future careers.
Apply Here!
Academic year application deadline: April 11, 2025 | | | We are looking for student employees for next fall to assist with event coordination, social media, communications, and data entry. If you are excited to get students involved with research and want to be a part of a fun work environment, become an OUR front desk clerk! The position offers 5-10 hours/week and pays $14.00/hour. Click here for more information.
| | | | The OUR took 30 undergraduate researchers to present to Iowa's legislators on March 31st for Research in the Capitol (RIC). We got the chance to hear from RIC's Student Speaker, Hiruni Sumanasiri, who presented her project, "Identifying Challenges in Establishing Cancer Research Resources in Iowa".
"RIC helped me strengthen my science communication skills and showed me the value of advocacy in research." - Hiruni Sumanasiri
To learn more about Hiruni's experience at RIC, click here. | | | We are so happy to announce that Seren Castellano, an OUR ambassador, was named the 2025 Goldwater recipient! Seren is working in two research labs, the Nieman Lab, run by Dr. Nieman, and the Evolution Anthropology lab, run by Dr. Kitchen. The Goldwater is a prestigious national scholarship awarded to college sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise in research. To learn more about Seren and her research, click here. Congratulations, Seren! | | | Other News and Information |
KANI Interdisciplinary Climate Science and Engineering Summer Camp
A two-week paid summer opportunity is available for all undergraduate students currently enrolled at UI from June 2nd-13th. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on training in emerging technologies to professional development sessions, with the aim to understand climate science and resilience in rural communities. Click here to learn more.
College of Engineering Research Open House
The annual Research Open House welcomes students, faculty, staff, and the general public to learn about the exciting research going on in the College of Engineering. The event will take place on April 24th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Seamans Center.
Latham Science Engagement Fellowship
The Iowa Sciences Academy (ISA) is seeking undergraduate students interested in research and science communication. This program is designed to enhance research opportunities and strengthen science outreach communication skills. Deadline to apply is April 30th, apply here.
Undergraduate Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science
The CCTS requires 16 credit hours, including two courses on translational research and clinical shadowing, and is ideal for students pursuing medical or graduate school. It offers research opportunities and connections with medical experts at Iowa.
1st Generation Brain Research Workshop
Are you a first-generation college student interested in getting involved in human brain research? Apply for the 1st Generation Brain Research Workshop, a free hands-on instruction that will show undergraduates human brain research techniques, such as EEG, TMS, and fMRI from August 19th-22nd. Learn more here!
Summer Research Opportunities
Summer undergraduate research opportunities are a great way to expand your research skills and gain new experiences in a wide range of disciplines throughout the nation--and in some cases--the world.
Follow OUR on Social Media
Want to see what we are up to? Follow us on social media to stay updated with all things research. We answer questions, send updates on what's happening, post about events, and talk about future opportunities. Check us out at: Instagram LinkedIn
Contact us:
Tawny Tibbits, OUR Director, tawny-tibbits@uiowa.edu
Liz Saathoff, OUR Associate Director, elizabeth-saathoff@uiowa.edu
Laura Kowalski-Bliss, OUR Coordinator, laura-kowalski-bliss@uiowa.edu
Office of Undergraduate Research
undergraduate-research@uiowa.edu
https://our.research.uiowa.edu
6 Gilmore Hall
319-335-8336 | | | |
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