The first annual Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) Student Research Exhibition will be held Tuesday, April 26 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 1400 at the Columbus Learning Center (CLC).

Seven research teams, comprised of seven students and four faculty members, will showcase their work in a poster session and informal discussion in the CLC’s Summerville Room. Each student-faculty research team received $1,000 grants from IUPUC’s Office of Student Research, reports Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, director of the newly formed program designed to engage students in undergraduate-level research.

This was the first year undergraduate student research grants have been awarded at IUPUC.

According to Dr. Marwan Wafa, IUPUC’s vice chancellor and dean, the Office of Student Research is an important component of the campus strategic plan.

Promoting academic and scholastic achievement through collaborative faculty-student projects is an important part of our goal to attract and retain academically prepared students and to provide them with a best-in-class small university experience, Wafa says. “Participating in research projects an important part of the university experience because it allows students to delve more deeply into specific subjects or topics that are of personal interest to them. It also exposes them to the basics of academic research, which is important for those who decide to attend graduate school,” he added.

In order to receive a grant, students had to secure a faculty mentor, complete and submit a detailed proposal and application, and complete a rigorous vetting process by the OSR review committee, which is comprised of faculty members representing each IUPUC academic division. The students then completed their projects with direction and guidance from a faculty mentor.

The IUPUC student researchers chose an eclectic mix of subjects and questions to explore.

• Ashley Begley, psychology major | To Vacation or Not to Vacation. Does taking a vacation make people happier and how long do the effects of vacationing last?
• Daphne Davis, psychology major | Effects of Pet Companionship on Human Relationships. How does being an active, engaged pet owner relate to human warmth and compassion? Will pet owners who are attached to their pets have happier romantic relationships because they are warm-hearted individuals?
• Sara Empson, English major | Recovering the Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven: Poetry and American Dada. This project interprets the work of a highly experimental poet and starving artist by interpreting her complex poems and exploring their significance.
• Andrea Osmon, nursing major | Hand Hygiene and Drying Techniques. The number of microorganisms present on the hands is compared in two different methods for hand drying according to medical standards for appropriate hand hygiene. It also explores the effectiveness of alcohol to further reduce the number of microorganisms present after washing and drying.
• Ashley Perko, business major | Jackson County Residents Banking Relationship. What segment of adults in Jackson County do not have established bank accounts? What are the reasons these individuals choose to not utilize a bank for managing their money?
• Natalie Richart, psychology major | Does Art Therapy Relieve Stress? The efficacy of art therapy in reducing feelings of mild stress is explored.
• Julie Riggs, business major | Untitled project. This research will explore the optimal environments for learning.

IUPUC faculty mentors participating in the projects include:

• Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, assistant clinical professor, Indiana University School of Nursing
• Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick, assistant professor of English, Division of Liberal Arts
• Jung Kook Lee, assistant professor of marketing, Division of Business
• Joan Poulsen, assistant professor of psychology, Division of Science

Students and faculty will be on hand to discuss their projects in more detail. Light refreshments will be served. Interested members of the community are invited to attend.