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Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Anthropology, biochemistry, biological engineering, music education and psychology were among academic programs well-represented during Mississippi State’s recent Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Hosted by the university’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, the annual competition featured more than 200 submissions from students conducting faculty-guided research. Projects were assigned to one of four categories—arts and humanities, biological sciences and engineering, physical sciences and engineering, and social sciences. Certain categories had multiple award winners due to the large number of submissions.

In recognition of the university’s Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a community engagement track also was included.

A team of more than 100 faculty, staff and graduate students representing a cross-section of academic areas served as competition judges.

David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development, said undergraduate students are an integral part of the multi-faceted research underway at MSU.

“Every day, our faculty, staff and students are conducting fundamental to applied research that provides innovative solutions, creative works and new scholarship that address pressing local, state, regional, national and global needs,” he said. “Undergraduate research gives our students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to new areas of interest and helps them develop skills, collaborate with faculty and peers, and gain confidence. It is exciting to see the results of their efforts on display at this symposium.”

This year’s winners represent Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont, as well as Nigeria and Sri Lanka. They include (by project type and category):

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

ARTS AND HUMANITIES:

FIRST—David N.S. Jenkins, a senior music education/instrumental major from Franklinton, Louisiana.

SECOND—Brady A. Kruse, a sophomore computer science major from New Haven, Missouri.

VISUAL DISPLAYS

ARTS AND HUMANITIES:

FIRST—Alex J. Davis, a sophomore music education/instrumental major from Columbus.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Jordan A. Coggins, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Saucier.

SECOND (tie)—Samantha T. Curran, a junior biochemistry/pre-medicine and bioinformatics major from West Grove, Pennsylvania.

SECOND (tie)—Christine S. Grant, a senior biological engineering major from Melrose, Connecticut.

THIRD (tie)—Reilly M. Reeves, a senior biomedical engineering major from Madison.

THIRD (tie)—Heather L. White, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Athens, Alabama.

THIRD (tie)—Jaylan R. Sears, a senior biological sciences/pre-medicine major from Atoka, Tennessee.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Jacob A. Rogers, a senior aerospace engineering/astronautics major from Poultney, Vermont.

SECOND—Lucia L. Lang, a senior aerospace engineering/astronautics major from Hattiesburg.

THIRD (tie)—Caleb Foster, a senior mechanical engineering major from Sturgis.

THIRD (tie)—Maleen Kidiwela, a senior geosciences/professional geology major from Sri Lanka.

THIRD (tie)—Obinna D. Muoh, a senior chemical engineering major from Nigeria.

SOCIAL SCIENCES:

FIRST—Laura N. Ingouf, a senior anthropology and history double-major from Decatur, Alabama.

SECOND (tie)—Samantha R. “Sam” Shurden, a fall 2018 psychology bachelor’s graduate from Starkville.

SECOND (tie)—Jimmie B. Webb, a senior business economics and finance double-major from Pelahatchie.

THIRD (tie)—Isabella J. Durham, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Prattville, Alabama.

THIRD (tie)—Hannah N. Irwin, a senior environmental economics and management major from Moss Point.

THIRD (tie)—Dixie S. Priest, a senior agricultural education, leadership and communication major from Pontotoc.

THESIS RESEARCH COMPETITION

SPONSORED BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

FIRST—Rachel A. Booth, a senior psychology major from Lindale, Texas.

SECOND—Isabella J. Durham, a senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major from Prattville, Alabama.

THIRD—Safaa N. Siddiqui, a junior anthropology major from Harvest, Alabama.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESEARCH TRACK

SPONSORED BY THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING

ARTS AND HUMANITIES:

FIRST—Sara N. Peppers, a senior landscape architecture major from West Memphis, Arkansas.

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Javad A’arabi, a sophomore microbiology major from Starkville.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING:

FIRST—Blade C. Hodges, a senior agricultural engineering technology and business major from Cleveland.

SOCIAL SCIENCES:

FIRST—Emily M. McCabe, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Franklin, Tennessee.

PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH COMPETITION

SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE, NUTRITION AND HEALTH PROMOTION; DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION; MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION; AND MYRLIE EVERS-WILLIAMS INSTITUTE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF HEALTH DISPARITIES

FIRST—Taylor R. Ladner, a sophomore microbiology and biochemistry double-major from Picayune.

SECOND—Caleb Foster, a senior mechanical engineering major from Sturgis.

THIRD—Mmesoma I. Okafor, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Nigeria.

THETA TAU TOMORROW BUILDER AWARD

SPONSORED BY THETA TAU PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING FRATERNITY

OVERALL— Emily M. McCabe, a senior biological engineering/biomedical engineering major from Franklin, Tennessee.

In addition to the honors college and aforementioned competition sponsors, the symposium is supported by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, Office of Research and Economic Development, Department of Sociology, National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center and Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

For more on MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, visit .

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