UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT
THE GOAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO’S OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (OUR) IS TO ENSURE THAT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL DISCIPLINES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR
TIME AT USD. THIS SUPPORTS THE ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP AND ACCESS AND INCLUSION PATHWAYS IN THE USD’S STRATEGIC PLAN,
KNOWN AS ENVISIONING 2024. THE OFFICE PROVIDES UNIQUE SERVICES AND SEVERAL ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH PROGRAMS TO ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS ON CAMPUS. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS INCLUDE: • RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
• FUNDING TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH •OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESENT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH • FUNDING FOR TRAVEL TO
PRESENT RESEARCH FINDINGS • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS SERVICES FOR FACULTY MENTORS INCLUDE: • RESEARCH
ETHICS AND INTEGRITY • MENTOR TRAINING • RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING MENTORING SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019-20 INCLUDE: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEARLY 500 STUDENTS TO PRESENT THEIR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON CAMPUS THROUGH THE CRE-
ATIVE COLLABORATIONS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND THE SUMMER RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM. SUPPORTING MORE THAN 125 STUDENTS TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES. CONTINUING TO
PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. DESPITE MOVING TO REMOTE LEARNING, THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONTINUED ITS COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS BY MOVING THE CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE (CCURC) TO AN ONLINE PLATFORM. WE ALSO SUPPORTED STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
(SURE) AND THE PRE-UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (PURE) PROGRAMS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH REMOTELY THIS SUMMER. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AT USD, WHETHER YOU ARE A STUDENT, FAC-
ULTY MEMBER, STAFF OR COMMUNITY MEMBER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2020-21 AS WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT USD’S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS. THE GOAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO’S OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
(OUR) IS TO ENSURE THAT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL DISCIPLINES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR TIME AT USD. THIS SUPPORTS THE ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP AND ACCESS AND INCLU-
SION PATHWAYS IN THE USD’S STRATEGIC PLAN, KNOWN AS ENVISIONING 2024. THE OFFICE PROVIDES UNIQUE SERVICES AND SEVERAL
ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH PROGRAMS TO ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS ON CAMPUS. SERVICES FOR STUDENTS INCLUDE: • RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY • FUNDING TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH •OPPORTUNITIES TO PRESENT INDEPEN-
DENT RESEARCH • FUNDING FOR TRAVEL TO PRESENT RESEARCH FINDINGS • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS SERVICES FOR
FACULTY MENTORS INCLUDE: • RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY • MENTOR TRAINING • RECOGNITION FOR OUTSTANDING MENTORING
SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2019-20 INCLUDE: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEARLY 500 STUDENTS TO PRESENT THEIR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON CAMPUS THROUGH THE CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND THE SUMMER RESEARCH
COLLOQUIUM. SUPPORTING MORE THAN 125 STUDENTS TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND TO PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES. CONTINUING TO PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. DESPITE MOVING TO REMOTE
LEARNING, THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONTINUED ITS COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS BY MOVING THE CREATIVE COLLABO-
RATIONS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CONFERENCE (CCURC) TO AN ONLINE PLATFORM. WE ALSO SUPPORTED STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SURE) AND THE PRE-UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (PURE) PROGRAMS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH REMOTELY THIS SUMMER. WE HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AT USD,
WHETHER YOU ARE A STUDENT, FACULTY MEMBER, STAFF OR COMMUNITY MEMBER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2020-21 AS WE CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT USD’S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS. THE GOAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO’S OFFICE
OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (OUR) IS TO ENSURE THAT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ALL DISCIPLINES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH, SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR TIME AT USD. THIS SUPPORTS THE ENGAGED SCHOLARSHIP
AND ACCESS AND INCLUSION PATHWAYS IN THE USD’S STRATEGIC PLAN, KNOWN AS ENVISIONING 2024. THE OFFICE PROVIDES UNIQUE
SERVICES AND SEVERAL ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH PROGRAMS TO ALL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS ON CAMPUS. SER-
VICES FOR STUDENTS INCLUDE: • RESEARCH ETHICS AND INTEGRITY • FUNDING TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH •OPPORTUNITIES
11 Research
workshop topics
68 Summer
Undergraduate Research Experience scholars
11 Pre-Undergraduate Research Experience scholars
5Faculty and student networking events
234 Average
number of Creative Collaborations Presentations in the last five years
6Outstanding
Undergraduate Research Mentor Awards
66 Summer
Research Colloquium Presentations
125 Regional
and national conference travel awards
18 Creative
Collaborations disciplines represented
• Architecture • Biochemistry • Biology • Biophysics • Business • Chemistry • Computer Sciences • Economics • Engineering • English
• Environmental and Ocean Sciences • Humanities • Marketing • Mathematics • Physics • Social Sciences • Theatre • Visual Arts
Message from the Dire The goal of the University of San Diego’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is to ensure that undergraduate students from all disciplines have the opportunity to engage in research, scholarly and creative activities. Studies using data from the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE) found that such activities engage all students in active learning that improves their critical thinking skills, retention and graduation rates, as well as careerreadiness and placement —— especially for first-generation and under-represented students. In addition, students conducting research and hands-on projects in the humanities, arts and social sciences are more likely to engage in culturally relevant projects that contribute beyond academia. This supports the Engaged Scholarship and Access and Inclusion Pathways in USD’s strategic plan, known as Envisioning 2024. Services for students include: • Research ethics and integrity • Funding for independent research • Opportunities to present independent research
ctor • Professional development workshops
Pre-Undergraduate Research Experience
• Funding for travel to present research
(PURE) programs to conduct research
findings
remotely this summer.
Services for faculty mentors include:
The office provides unique services and
• Research ethics and integrity
research programs to all undergraduate
• Mentor training
students and faculty members.
• Recognition for outstanding mentoring
The programs offered through OUR help
Some highlights from 2019-20 include:
create a dynamic and collaborative
Supporting more than 125 students to
environment that increases academic
conduct independent research and to
skills, develops personal and professional
present it at national conferences.
relationships, improves pedagogy and
1 2
Providing opportunities for nearly 500 students to present their independent
teaching practices, and connects students to careers and the community.
research on campus through the Creative
Whether you are a student, faculty member,
Collaborations Undergraduate Research
staff or community member, we look
Conference and the Summer Research
forward to 2020-21 as we continue to
Colloquium.
support USD’s undergraduate students and
3
Continuing to provide these opportunities
their educational endeavors.
during a global pandemic. Despite moving to remote learning, we honored our commitment to students by moving the Creative Collaborations Undergraduate Research Conference (CCURC) to an online platform. We also supported students in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) and the
Elisa Maldonado Greene, PhD Director, Office of Undergraduate Research
42 2019-20 Undergraduat Research Workshops
Research-related workshops hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and campus allies are available to USD students, staff and faculty throughout the year. These workshops provide attendees information about research, how to get started, how to make the most of it and how to advance into research-based academics and careers. 2019 and 2020 workshop topics: • USD SACNAS Chapter Meeting • Research 101: What is Research and How Do I Get Started? • Summer Research Programs Application • Graduate School Panel/Conversations with Graduate Students • Proposal Writing • Writing an Abstract • Poster Presentation • Summer Research Orientation • Summer Research Seminar —— Dr. Divya Sitaraman • Summer Research Seminar —— Dr. Anthony Bell • Summer Research Seminar —— Dr. David Hu
te Research Events Lab Crawl The Second Annual Lab Crawl took place on Friday, April 12, 2019. The goal of the Lab Crawl is to expose USD students, faculty, staff and community partners to undergraduate research on campus. Thirteen labs in four different buildings opened their doors to visitors. The following departments participated, including the Department of Art, Architecture + Art History, which participated for the first time:
Networking Events The Office of Undergraduate Research also hosts several networking events throughout the academic year and the summer so students have the opportunity
• Psychological Sciences • Math Studio • Digital Humanities Studio • Environmental and Ocean Sciences
to meet faculty and other students involved
• Physics and Biophysics
in research on campus.
• Chemistry and Biochemistry
Below are some of the networking events
• Biology
held each year:
• Donald’s Garage and Fabrication Lab
• Tea and Cookies with OUR
• Department of Art, Architecture + Art History
• Sharetea Social • Summer Scholars Mixer • OUR End-of-Summer Celebration • OURMA Mixer
Continued on next page
EVENTS
C ONT INUED
given to a tenured faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences. This year’s winner was Professor of Mathematics Lukasz Pruski, PhD.
Outstanding Undergraduate Research
On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, we held an
Mentor Award (OURMA) Mixer
OURMA Mixer as part of Research Week. We
The Outstanding Undergraduate Research
held a formal awards ceremony and invited
Mentor Award (OURMA) recognizes
the students who nominated the awardees
research mentors who bring respect
to say a few words about their mentors.
and excellence to the practice of
The awardees then gave short speeches
mentoring undergraduates in research
about their mentoring philosophies and
and scholarly activities. These individuals
experiences.
have a longstanding commitment to the
2020
development of research scholars.
The 2019-20 Outstanding Undergraduate
2019
Research Mentor Award (OURMA) went
The 2018-19 Outstanding Undergraduate
to Assistant Professor of Chemistry and
Research Mentor Awards (OURMA) went
Biochemistry Anthony Bell, PhD, and
to Assistant Professor of Psychological
Professor of Environmental and Ocean
Sciences Jena Hales, PhD, and Assistant
Sciences Nathalie Reyns, PhD. The Glenn D.
Professor of Physics and Biophysics Ryan
White, Jr. ’78 Faculty Research Award went
McGorty, PhD. This year was the second
to Chair and Professor of Environmental
year that we awarded the Glenn D. White,
and Ocean Sciences Sarah Gray, PhD.
Jr. ’78 Faculty Research Award, which is
To reduce the risk related to the COVID-19 virus, the OURMA Mixer was transitioned to a virtual event which took place on Thursday, April 23, 2020. The awardees,
students, and OUR staff attended the awards ceremony held via Zoom.
Summer Research Colloquium On Aug. 8, 2019, we held the Second Annual Summer Research Colloquium. The goal of the Summer Research Colloquium is for summer research scholars to share the research they conducted during the summer in an oral presentation. SURE and McNair Scholars are required to present their research, while PURE and Summer Research Scholars were encouraged to present. We had 66 students present their research in six different rooms, which were divided based on disciplines: Life and Physical Sciences; Behavioral Neuroscience and Mathematics; Social Sciences; Engineering and Computer Sciences; and Creative Works. We had 16 departments represented, from Biology to Psychological Sciences to Arts, Architecture + Art History. An article about the event was featured in the USD News Center and can be read here: www.sandiego.edu/news/detail. php?_focus=72957
2019-20 Creative Collabor The Creative Collaborations Undergraduate Research Conference was held on April 11, 2019. The event showcases undergraduate research, scholarly activities and creative works from all disciplines conducted in partnership with faculty mentors. Student projects are presented using posters, interactive and visual arts exhibits. Among the presentations were studies about the Salem Witch trials and the #MeToo movement; methods to estimate urban parrot populations in San Diego; and the birth of Korean Beauty or K-Beauty. Other research presented at the undergraduate research conference resulted in a product. Examples included a floating robot used to remove plastic debris floating on the surface of the ocean, an autonomous lawnmower and a machine for recycling banana stems into construction materials. The high-quality work of our students reflects the intellectual curiosity of our undergraduate students, the outstanding abilities of the research mentors, as well as USD’s commitment to academic excellence and experiential learning opportunities.
rations Research Projects Many of the students who participate in
The event featured 79 presentations
Creative Collaborations also publish their
from a variety of disciplines including the
work in academic journals and present
Arts and Humanities; Life and Physical
their projects at regional, national and
Sciences; Engineering, Math and Computer
international conferences. Participating
Sciences; and Social Sciences. Among
in research activities fosters critical
the presentations were studies about
thinking skills, prepares students for the
the influence of space fiction on space
21st century workforce and helps them
policy; accessory dwelling units as an
decide whether to include research in their
affordable housing option in San Diego;
academic and professional careers.
movement patterns of leopard sharks;
Disciplines
and the impact of Instagram on anxiety.
Architecture • Biochemistry • Biology •
A group of students also collaborated with
Biophysics • Business • Chemistry •
students and faculty members from the
Computer Sciences • Economics •
Azrieli College of Engineering in Jerusalem,
Engineering • English • Environmental and
Israel, and presented their research on
Ocean Sciences • Humanities • Marketing •
wastewater treatment and treatment during
Mathematics • Physics • Social Sciences •
water desalination.
Theatre • Visual Arts
Digital USD
Virtual Creative Collaborations
OUR partnered with Digital USD to publish,
To reduce the risk related to the COVID-19
preserve and provide open online access
virus, the Creative Collaborations
to Creative Collaborations posters. In 2019,
Undergraduate Research Conference was
55 students published their posters on
transitioned to a virtual event. Virtual
Digital USD and 40 students published their
Creative Collaborations took place from
posters on Digital USD in 2020.
April 21 to April 23, 2020. We hosted the event via Blackboard, with students recording their poster presentations using a video recording platform called GoReact.
2019-20 Funding Program SURE Scholars
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) is an educational summer research program that supports USD undergraduates to engage in research, scholarly activities and creative works for up to 10 weeks during the summer. The SURE application is student-driven —— students identify a faculty mentor and topic of inquiry and formulate a project proposal in collaboration with the faculty mentor. SURE is open to students in all disciplines. SURE Scholars benefits include: • Stipend • Research supply funds • Reduced USD summer housing rate • Participation in academic and professional development workshops • Becoming a member of USD’s Research Scholars program In 2019, we received 70 applications. The committees reviewed proposals and accepted 33 students, including 17 from Life and Physical Sciences, six from Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Sciences; three from Social Sciences; three from Humanities; and four from Creative Works.
ms The SURE program ran from June 3, 2019, to August 9, 2019. On the first day of the program, we held an optional
3) Meet other students interested in STEM/M research
Summer Research Orientation and 24
4) Become familiarized with the campus prior to the start of the fall semester.
students attended. The workshop set the
Other PURE benefits include:
expectations for the summer research
• Competitive stipend
experience and aligned expectations with
• Research supplies
mentors.
• On-campus housing credit
In 2020, we received 82 applications and accepted 35 students, including 20 from
• Participation in academic and professional development workshops
Life and Physical Sciences, four from
In 2019, we received nine applications and
Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Sciences; four from Social Sciences; two from Humanities; and five from Creative Works.
accepted five students: Devin Villalpando worked with Lukasz Pruski, PhD, in the Department of Mathematics; Victoria Cendejas worked with Jena Hales, PhD,
PURE Scholars
in Behavioral Neuroscience; Carlos De La
The Pre-Undergraduate Research
Rosa worked with Bryan Cornwall, PhD, in
Experience (PURE) is an eight-week
the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering;
educational summer research program
Trina Nguyentu worked with Joe Provost,
designed to give entering students (first-
PhD, in the Department of Chemistry and
year and transfer) the opportunity to get
Biochemistry; and Thanh Trinh worked with
involved in a research project the summer
Dr. Anthony Bell, PhD, in the Department of
before beginning their first year at USD.
Chemistry and Biochemistry.
This is a unique opportunity to: 1) Gain real-world experience in science, technology, computer science, engineering, math or medicine (STEM/M) 2) Interact closely with a faculty mentor
Continued on next page
FUNDING
C ONT INUED
In 2020, all six exceptional applicants were accepted to the program: Kaliyah Clyde worked with Satyan Devadoss, PhD, in the Department of Mathematics; Katherine Garcia worked with Arietta Fleming-Davies, PhD and Wilnelia Recart Gonzalez, PhD in the Biology department; Salma Godoy worked with Jena Hales, PhD, in Behavioral Neuroscience; Bridgett Montiel worked with Anthony Bell; PhD, in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Chase Hill worked with Melissa Gibbons, PhD, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering; and Hope Romero worked with Joan Schellinger, PhD, in the Department of Chemistry and
Examples of conferences that recipients of OUR travel awards have attended: • New Direction Humanities • 8th World Youth Buddhist Symposium • American Chemical Society 256th National Meeting
Biochemistry.
• Busan International Architectural Design Workshop
Travel Awards
• APA Division 45 Research Conference
OUR may award up to $500 per student (or
• MathFest 2018
up to $1,000 per group) to present original research, scholarly, or creative projects at
• UC San Diego Summer Research Conference
a regional or national conference.
• SACNAS • Society for Social Psych
2019-20 Funding and Expenditures • UC San Diego CRASSH
The Office of Undergraduate Research receives funding
• American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting
from USD’s Office of the Provost; the USD Strategic
• American Physical Society (APS) March Meeting
Beckman Coulter Foundation
• Western Psychological Association Convention
Stipends: $318,222 (Faculty and Student Support)
Estimated number of awards in the last five years:
Federal Work Study: $6,000
2015-16: 29 single awards 2016-17: 21 single, 5 group awards
Creative Collaborations Research Conference: $18,391.70
2017-18: 12 single, 8 group awards
Staff: $106,313
Initiatives Program; the Genentech Foundation; and the
Travel Awards: $12,166.18
2018-19: 19 single, 9 group awards 2019-20: 17 single, 5 group awards
Student Spotlights Sylas Anderson: SURE Scholar, Biophysics Elizabeth Bushnell: SURE Scholar, Environmental and Ocean Sciences Trina Nguyentu: PURE and SURE Scholar, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Stipends 69% Federal Work Study 1% Travel Awards 3%
Alessandra Pingol: SURE Scholar, Visual Arts
Creative Collaborations 4%
Ramon Solis: PURE and SURE Scholar, Biology
Staff 23%
T
D
T
K
D
โ ข
P
E
P
A
1
P
R
F
(
H
U
S
(
A
S
O
I
D
F
S
R
C
N
L
R
U
R OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Maher Hall, Room 252
W
5998 Alcalรก Park
S
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
O
(619) 260-7840 www.sandiego.edu/ugresearch
E
A
S
V