From April 20 to 24, Stevens hosted the second annual undergraduate research week. Iterating on feedback from last year, the week was filled with meaningful events designed for students to network, learn from each other, and strengthen community bonds.
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defined undergraduate research as “a mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.” Each year, CUR designates a week in April as “Undergraduate Research Week,” which is a national celebration for campuses to congratulate their students and thank their faculty for guiding them. It started in November 2010 when the U.S. House of Representatives declared the week of April 11, 2011, as the first “Undergraduate Research Week.”
At Stevens, the week was a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Academics (OUA), Student Government Association (SGA), and the Commuter Student Union (CSU). According to Noor Kanaan, one of the week’s student organizers, the planning started months in advance with the organizations collaborating to coordinate logistics, secure room spaces, invite speakers, and ensure that students made the most out of it.
It was led by Andrés Mansisidor, Noor Kanaan, Kazi Tishan, Victoria Okonkwo, and Sofiia Goncharuk, along with other student leaders and partners. This year, event advertisements, through Instagram and flyers on campus, began earlier, which led to a significant increase in the number of attendees, with over 200 students participating during the week’s events. The full list of events was as follows:
Monday, April 20: Undergraduate Research Week Kickoff Event
Held in the UCC Gallery, it was a perfect way to kick off the research week through opportunities to network with fellow students, hear from professors, and play a fun trivia game. Additionally, awards were presented to undergraduate students and faculty alike, honoring their research and mentorship.
The full list of awardees was:
Outstanding Researcher Award: Athena Efthymiou (Class of 2027, Biomedical Engineering) with faculty mentor Dr. Antonia Zaferiou.
Rising Researcher Award: Isabella Lee (Class of 2029, Physics) with faculty mentor Dr. Xiaofeng Qian.
Honorable Mention: Evnika Myhovych
Young Innovator Award: Rhea Bachani (Class of 2027, Chemical Biology) with faculty mentors Dr. Sunil Paliwal and Dr. Kwahun Lee.
Honorable Mentions: Brendan Lee and Emily Lossman.
Outstanding Mentor Award: Dr. Eman AlOmar
Early Career Mentor Award: Dr. Xiaofeng Qian
Senior Mentor Award: Dr. Hongjun Wang
Towards the end, two alumni speakers discussed their research journeys. The first, Erika McCarthy, was a Chemistry major from 2021 and a Ph.D candidate at Rutgers University. The second was Sean Karg, a Physics major from 2021 and a Ph.D candidate at Princeton University.
Tuesday, April 20: Research Fellowships Info Session
Similar to last year, a virtual info session was held discussing research fellowships and where to find them.
Wednesday, April 21: Research Social Hour
The event, hosted by SGA and CSU, was a student and faculty lunch that served as an informal opportunity for students to speak and connect with their professors in a casual setting.
Thursday, April 22: Lunch with the Director of Undergraduate Research
Similar to last year, students conversed with each other and with Andrés Mansisidor, the Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, about their research journeys, fellowships, and academic goals at Pi Kitchen.
Friday, April 24: Undergraduate Research Movie Night
This night was a new addition to the lineup of events and was hosted by CSU and OUA. Coupled with free popcorn, a casual and informal setting, and a fun film about research and discovery, it was a great way to conclude the research week.
There are still plenty of ways to get involved in research and explore your passions. From keeping up to date with Instagram for undergraduate research to exploring the research and fellowship website, there’s a world of research waiting to be discovered.
