From the effects of American dog tick saliva on wounds to college students' approach to critical thinking, research projects conducted by students at The University of Memphis are varied to say the least.
These projects, along with many others, will be presented today in The University Center Ballroom at the 18th Annual Research Forum from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
"The purpose of the Student Research Forum is to showcase and celebrate the research activities of graduate and undergraduate students," said Melinda Jones, director of the honor's program.
The event gives students the opportunity to share their diverse research topics with members of The University community, she said.
The forum, co-sponsored by The U of M graduate school and honors program, will highlight poster presentations of 117 students' research projects in seven categories. They range from life and health sciences to engineering, and physics to liberal and fine arts. Students from the graduate school and honors program will be judged separately for each of the seven categories. Each category will receive cash prizes of up to $150.
Zach Nahmias, psychology and biology major, will present in the life and health sciences category. He has been working on his project, the inhibitory effects of tick saliva, for three months and will present his research in a public forum for the first time, he said.
"The consortium-style approach to public presentation will, I hope, be an appropriate stepping-stone toward individual honors thesis presentations in front of a committee," he said.
And although he is a little nervous, he believes his enthusiasm for his topic will outweigh any anxiety, he said.
"The research presentation will prepare me for my internship seminars at the Mayo Clinic this summer," he said.
It is important for students to present their research so The University can see what kind of work is being done through the school, according to Mohamed Laradji, assistant physics professor and faculty advisor for some of the students participating at the forum.
"I think it's a very good thing," he said. "The students have really done some top quality research."
Heather Woolls, senior microbiology and molecular cell science major, has been researching parathyroid hormone signaling for more than three semesters. Her research at The U of M has helped her make gains in her future endeavors, she said.
"I am using my background as a step in my education," she said. "I am continuing with graduate school in the PhD program in chemical biology and pharmacology at Ann Arbor, Mich."
With the Student Research Forum growing each year, it is clear that research efforts are growing and gaining support, said Peggy Hancock, assistant director of the honors program.
"Our aim is to become more and more of a research university," she said. "And this shows that we are doing that."
Some other project topics include food security and the utilization of leftover rice, as well as non-traditional presentation of traditional music, Hancock said.
"So many of the presentations are just mind-boggling," she said.
