Owen Funk, of UW’s Technology Transfer Office, speaks to students and other participants in UW’s recent Research and Inquiry Across the Disciplines event. (UW Photo)
The University of Wyoming recently hosted its annual Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
Across the Disciplines (URID) event, showcasing the breadth and depth of undergraduate
research projects and creative works.
URID featured research from UW and Wyoming community college students. Students presented
their work through oral presentations, poster sessions and creative projects spanning
the sciences, creative arts and humanities. Some 273 students presented more than
134 oral talks and 206 posters in this year’s event, highlighting the culture of research
and inquiry among Wyoming’s student population. Creative arts presentations also were
included.
The event also included a featured lunch presentation by Owen Funk, of UW’s Technology
Transfer Office, who discussed the University of Wyoming’s Accelerating Research Translation
Program and its role in advancing research toward real-world applications.
“My time visiting with students from UW and the community colleges reminded me that,
when students are given the opportunity to research and learn alongside our talented
faculty, they not only expand their knowledge, but they also unlock Wyoming’s future
that is contained in their potential,” says UW Board of Trustees Chair Michelle Sullivan.
“When our undergraduate students conduct research and creative projects under the
mentorship of dedicated faculty, it enhances student experience, increases their retention
and supports their success after graduation in their careers or in professional or
graduate degree programs,” says Parag Chitnis, vice president for research and economic
development.
Two categories of awards were presented during the event to recognize outstanding
student achievement.
The Accelerating Research Translation Award honored student projects with strong potential
for translational impact. Award recipients included:
-- “Mind and Mission: Quantifying Virtual Navigation Performance under Stress using
Biobehavioral Markers,” by Lily Brongo, a UW computer science major from Spencerport,
N.Y.
-- “Use of Specialized Organic Nodes for the Selective Separation of Rare Earth Elements,”
by Hannah Gott, a UW microbiology major from Colorado Springs, Colo.
-- “Using LLMs to Enhance Computer Vision,” by Connor Rothfuss, a UW computer engineering
major from Laramie.
-- “Fungi to the Rescue: Can diverse fungal communities degrade plastic/polymer pollution?,”
by Kayla Horsen, Tamara Rozmetova, Zoey Deneva, James Knudson, Paul Curry, Samantha
Rivas, Ethan Joy, Katelyn Dandridge, Amber Rogers, Nick Hertling and Harrison Compton,
Northwest College biology students.
-- “Vat Photopolymerization of Ultra-Soft Polymer Foams,” by Holden Eigenberger, a
UW mechanical engineering major from Cheyenne.
The Sarah Collins Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Award, presented by the Phi Beta
Kappa Society, recognized additional excellence in undergraduate research:
-- “Against Empathy: How Fascism Wields our Conscience Against Us,” by Aidan McGuire,
a UW philosophy and religious studies student from Evanston.
-- “Individual Xenopus tadpoles display distinct and enduring visual preferences,”
by Cutter Barrus, a UW psychology major from Powell.
URID continues to serve as a vital platform for undergraduate students across Wyoming to share their research, engage with peers and faculty, and explore opportunities to expand their academic and professional pursuits, UW leaders say.
