Very few students jump at the chance to do an extra assignment to enhance their learning. But, 103 students put forth the effort to complete a research project and present it at The 17th Annual Student Research Forum Monday.
The University of Memphis Graduate School and Honors Program sponsored the event, which had the largest participation to date. Undergraduates and graduate students showcased their work on 3-D poster boards and talked about their findings in the University Center Ballroom.
Dr. Karen Weddle-West, assistant vice-president of Graduate Studies, said the forum is not only used to highlight the work of students, but it also prepares them for the professional world and its challenges. Dr. Melinda Jones, director of the University Honors Program believes that the research also helps participants with senior theses and work in a master's or doctoral program.
"We are always pushing research and graduating with honors," Jones said. "The forum is a wonderful opportunity to help do those things.
Plus, the campus gets to see what the student researchers are doing."Senior biology major Walter Johnson did his research on the American dog tick, which can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Johnson began his research in January 2004 with the aid of Dr. Lewis B. Coons.
Johnson plans to continue his work hoping to eventually find a vaccine to fight off the disease the tick can carry.
Johnson said he has learned a lot about chemistry and giving presentations that will help him as he pursues work one day as a forensic scientist.
Karen Moffitt, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Management, also believes her research will be useful once she becomes a professor.
Moffitt submitted work in last year's forum and presented two projects Monday morning. Moffitt worked with fellow management doctoral student Tejinder Billing to explain the reasons behind student retention at The U of M. Moffitt and Billing started their study in Fall 2002 and plan to do further research this summer.
Moffitt said she also hopes to get her work published in an academic journal.
Even though they spent considerable amounts of time on their projects, the participants did not find it hard to schedule the research in their time.
The work of the participants did not go unnoticed as nearly 50 U of M faculty members went to each participant and rated their projects. Linda Bennett, an associated dean of the College of Arts and Sciences served as a forum judge. She found the research of the students to be very stimulating.
"Everything that I have looked at has been well thought out," Bennett said. "It has been very interesting to talk to the students."
During the noon luncheon the winners in the five undergraduate and eight graduate categories were announced. The first and second place winners received cash prizes courtesy of The Office of the Provost.
