MSU students earn spot at national research conference

Morehead State University students are gaining hands-on research experience and showcasing academic excellence on a national stage through opportunities like the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

The spring event, held in Richmond, Virginia, hosted more than 4,000 undergraduate students. Ten MSU students presented:

• Gwen Akers (Class of 2026), an English teaching and Spanish major, from Ashland, presented “These Bright Hills: Helen Price Stacy's Human-Interest Poetry,” mentor Dr. Matthew Sutton.
• Jaylee Collier, a senior mathematics major from Jenkins, presented “Reexamining the Alignment of STEM General Education Learning Outcomes in the 21st Century,” mentor Dr. William Tidwell.
• Labindra Dhami, a sophomore finance major from Darchula, Nepal, presented “Bold Flavor, Bolder Strategy: Were They Enough to Make Doritos’ “Ultrasound” Super Bowl Advertisement Memorable,” mentor Dr. Devin Lunt.
• Victoria Hall (Class of 2026), an English major from Salyersville, presented “Aphra Behn: Restoring Canonical Standing Through the Classroom,” mentor Dr. Philip Krummrich.
• Ethan Henderson (Class of 2026), a mathematics major from Olive Hill, presented “Identifying Academic and Non-academic Factors Associated with Undergraduate Mathematics, Mathematics Teaching, and Space Systems Engineering Programs,” mentor Dr. Wilson González-Espada.
• Josiah Kilburn (Class of 2026), a biology major from Castle Rock, CO, presented “On leading the Kentucky Ant Project, a Lab Run Entirely by Undergraduates Making Massive Scientific Impact,” mentors Dr. David Peyton and Dr. Sean O’Keefe.
• Kelsey Lewis, a junior veterinary science major from Clearfield, presented “Investigation of the Impact of HPLC Mobile Phase pH on the Quantification of Nicotine in E-Liquids Containing Freebase Nicotine versus Those Containing Nicotine Salts,” mentor Dr. Emmalou Schmittzehe.
• Emily Russell (Class of 2026), an English major from Salyersville, presented “Æmilia Lanyer’s Dedicatory Verses: The Construction of Meaning in Salve Deus Rex Judæorum,” mentor Dr. Philip Krummrich.
• Cheyenne Stark, a senior pre-physician assistant & biomedical sciences major from Smiths Grove, presented “External Standard versus Standard Addition Quantification of Nicotine in E-Liquids Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC),” mentor Dr. Emmalou Schmittzehe.
• Carlie Trotta, a senior veterinary science major from Pleasureville, presented “Assessing the Impact of Flavoring Additives on the Quantification of Nicotine in E-Liquids Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC),” mentor Dr. Emmalou Schmittzehe.

Jaylee Collier, a senior mathematics major from Jenkins, said presenting at NCUR allowed her to connect directly with the students most impacted by her work and emphasize the importance of preparing them with skills that extend beyond the classroom.

“My research in STEM education for non-STEM majors has been eye-opening, as it explores not only the experiences of students like me, but the broader implications for the future of society,” she said. “This experience not only strengthened my communication skills but also challenged me to make my research more accessible, relevant, and impactful beyond academia.”

Tidwell, one of the mentors who traveled with several of the students, said, “I think that working with the undergraduate students is really rewarding to see them discover new truths about the world and to see them share that information with their peers and the broader academic community. NCUR does a great job of providing a platform for students to disseminate their work, connect with and learn from peers in their disciplines, and explore new options beyond their undergraduate degrees.”

Alexis Mathews (Class of 2017, 2019), coordinator of undergraduate research and NCUR campus coordinator, said she is thankful to all those who helped the students with their travel expenses.

“Traveling to national conferences is, unfortunately, a hefty cost for students, but the benefits are substantial, allowing them to make connections and build their communication skills,” she said. “To reduce this barrier, we are thankful that the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Honors Program were able to significantly help these ten students with conference registration and hotel costs.”

Mathews adds that support for programs like this helps expand access to undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities for MSU students.

Support Now

For more information about the Center for Career Development & Experiential Education, contact Mathews at ugresearch@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2229.