2023 AURA Awardees Announced: College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University; University of Florida; Worcester Polytechnic Institute

CUR congratulates its 2023 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments (AURA) awardees College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSBSJU) (St. Joseph, MN), University of Florida (UF) (Gainesville, FL), and Worchester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (Worcester, MA). This award recognizes institutions with exemplary programs that provide high-quality research experiences for undergraduates. A celebration of these awardees will take place on June 11, virtually.

Robotic Insect Toys Build Undergraduate Research Skills in Physics

In the American Journal of Physics, researchers developed an online undergraduate physics lab course using small robotic bugs, called Hexbug Nanos (TM), to engage students in scientific research from their homes. The bugs look like bright-colored beetles with 12 flexible legs that move rapidly in a semi-random manner. This makes collections ideal models for exploring particle behavior that can be difficult to visualize, and students used them to complete experiments to investigate concepts in statistical mechanics and electrical conduction.

George Mason University’s Bethany Usher Elected as 2023-2024 CUR President

Dr. Bethany Usher, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, has been elected to serve as president of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Usher will become president-elect on July 1, 2022, taking a seat on CUR’s Executive Board, and succeeding 2022-2023 CUR president Ruth Palmer (emeritus College of New Jersey) in the summer of 2023.

Newly Elected Representatives to CUR’s 2022-2023 Executive Board

Beth A. Cunningham, PhD (American Association of Physics Teachers), Maria Iacullo-Bird, PhD (Pace University), and Charlotte K. Simmons, PhD (University of Central Oklahoma), have been re-elected to serve as council representatives on the Council on Undergraduate Research’s (CUR) executive board.

CUR Engineering Division Announces 2021 Mentoring Awardees, Student Video Competition Winners

The Engineering Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its Mentoring Awards and winners of its Student Video Competition.

Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research Issue Features Undergraduate Research in Community Colleges

The spring 2021 issue of Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), the academic journal of the Council on Undergraduate Research, focuses on dynamic programs and initiatives advancing undergraduate research in community colleges.

Study: The key to landing a job after college? Internships, study abroad, undergrad research and more

College students who engaged in four or more high-impact practices such as study abroad or internships have a 70% chance of either enrolling in graduate school or finding a full-time job after graduating with a bachelor’s degree, finds a new University at Buffalo study.

2021 Posters on the Hill Spotlights Exemplary Undergraduate Research Projects for Policymakers, Scholars, and the Public

Via a virtual public poster session on April 28, undergraduate researchers from colleges and universities in 42 states and the District of Columbia will share their research projects in the 2021 Posters on the Hill event, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research.

CUR Health Sciences Division Announces 2021 Mentor Awardees

The Health Sciences Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its Mentor Awards, which honor exceptional mentoring and advising by higher education faculty across all subdivisions of health sciences.

CUR Health Sciences Division Announces 2021 NCUR Presentation Awardees

CUR’s Health Sciences Division announces the 2021 recipients of its NCUR Presentation Awards. The awards cover the cost of registration for undergraduates presenting original research at the 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

CUR Psychology Division Announces 2021 Psychology Research Awardees

The Psychology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its Psychology Research Awards. The recipients are undergraduate students conducting original psychological research, who receive awards of up to $500 per project.

CUR Arts and Humanities Division Announces 2021 Student Scholarship Recipients

The Arts and Humanities Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research announces the 2021 recipients of its student scholarships. The scholarships—a maximum of $300 each—support undergraduate student research and creative inquiry projects at any stage of development.

Montana State’s Gregory Young Selected as the 2021 CUR-Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Awardee

Gregory Young, professor in the School of Music at Montana State University in Bozeman, has been selected as the 2021 CUR-Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Awardee. The award consists of a plaque and $1,000 for the recipient’s work with undergraduate researchers.

First Virtual National Conference on Undergraduate Research Features COVID-19 Presentations

On April 12–14, 2021, students from institutions around the world will participate in the Nat Conference on Undergraduate Research, sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research. Faculty mentors and more than 3400 undergraduate researchers will come together online to share their research.

Davidson College’s Nicole Snyder Elected to CUR Executive Board

Nicole Snyder—professor of chemistry and assistant dean for research and creative works at Davidson College (NC)—has been elected to the Executive Board of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Representing CUR’s Chemistry Division, Snyder will begin a three-year term on the board in summer 2021.

Educational Psychologist Ruth J. Palmer Elected as President-Elect of the Council on Undergraduate Research

Ruth J. Palmer, associate professor emerita in the School of Education at The College of New Jersey, has been elected as president-elect of the Council on Undergraduate Research. She will take office as president-elect in summer 2021 and become president of the organization in summer 2022.

Dominick J. Casadonte Jr. Selected as 2021 CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee

Dominick J. Casadonte Jr., Minnie Stevens Piper Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Texas Tech University, is the 2021 CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee.

Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research Issue Features Nontraditional Approaches to Research

The winter 2020 issue of Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), the academic journal of the Council on Undergraduate Research, focuses on unusual approaches to undergraduate research such as research for chefs and a video game for biology majors.

CUR’s First Virtual UR Exchange Features Undergraduate Work across Borders amid COVID-19

The first virtual UR Exchange of the Council on Undergraduate Research featured many inspirational stories of faculty-student research conducted during the challenges of the COVID-19 environment.

$3M Department of Defense award to support UIC STEM research program

A multidisciplinary research team from the University of Illinois Chicago has been awarded a $3 million, three-year U.S. Department of Defense award to establish an undergraduate research mentoring program in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, areas with a focus on engaging undergraduate student veterans and minority students.

CUR’s First Virtual National Conference on Undergraduate Research Will Highlight Student Projects from across the Globe

On April 12-14, 2021, students from colleges and universities from around the world will participate in the 2021 virtual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), coming together online to share their research in all academic disciplines.

Kennesaw State University’s Charles Parrott Selected as a 2020 CUR­–Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Awardee

Charles Parrott, associate professor in the Department of Theater & Performance Studies at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA, has been selected as a 2020 Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)–Arts and Humanities Faculty Mentor Awardee.

CUR’s First Virtual Posters on the Hill Showcases Undergraduate Research to Policymakers, Scholars, and the Public

On April 21, students will participate in the 2020 Posters on the Hill event. This year, because of COVID-19 challenges, undergraduate researchers and faculty mentors from institutions such as Butler University, California State University–Fullerton, and University of Chicago will share their research online.

Steven J. Miller Selected as 2020 CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee

Steven J. Miller, professor of mathematics at Williams College, has been selected as the 2020 Council on Undergraduate Research-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Awardee. The award consists of a plaque and $5,000 for the awardee’s research program and/or undergraduate researchers.

Michael Dorff (BYU), George C. Shields (Furman U) Honored as 2020 CUR Fellows

Michael Dorff (Brigham Young University) and George C. Shields (Furman University) are the latest Fellows of the Council on Undergraduate Research to be honored for their leadership and service as role models for those involved in undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities.