ANN ARBOR—Students from the University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) will present their research at the 16th annual UROP Spring Research Symposium Wednesday (April 7) at the Michigan League. The event is free and open to the public.

The program begins at noon with a faculty luncheon, a research scholars forum and an awards ceremony. From 4:30-7:30 p.m., more than 450 students will showcase their research in poster and oral presentations throughout the Michigan League. Their research represents collaborations with U-M faculty researchers from all academic disciplines on topics as wide ranging as the trans-national politics of “bling bling” (a plethora of jewelry worn by some celebrities) to the role of contracts in the entertainment industry to gait patterns of children with Down Syndrome.

At 12:30 p.m., the awards ceremony will recognize seven individuals for outstanding research mentorship. Students nominated the award recipients and a student committee selected the finalists. This year’s recipients are: Keith Baar, assistant research scientist, mechanical engineering; Kenneth Cooke, assistant professor, pediatrics and communicable diseases; Roger De Roo, assistant research scientist, space physics; Tony England, professor, atmospheric, oceanic and space science and electrical engineering; Lorelle Meadows, assistant research scientist, naval architecture and marine engineering; Lawrence Molnar, director, Business and Industrial Assistance Division; Dragomir Radev, assistant professor, School of Information, electrical engineering and computer science.

Since UROP’s inception, the program has won many awards for integrating the University’s research and teaching missions, and for successfully fostering student engagement, said Sandra Gregerman, director of UROP. These awards include a National Science Foundation Recognition Award for the Integration of Research and Education and the White House Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The program is ranked the No. 1 undergraduate research program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

UROP was one of several initiatives created to improve the retention and academic achievement of underrepresented students. Today the program is open to both minority and majority students while maintaining its original emphasis on underrepresented minority students and women in the sciences.

Related Links:

• UROP