NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Last Friday, Rutgers University’s Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates held their ninth annual university-wide Undergraduate Research Symposium.
The Symposium was at the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue, and it featured the work of 450 student researchers from over 60 different departments.
Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers evaluated the presentations.
Aresty Programs include the Summer Science Program, the Research Assistant Program, the Aresty-Chemistry Scholars Program, the Undergraduate Research Fellowships Program, or through our annual spring workshop series.
“The Symposium showcases Rutgers research at its finest,” said Matthew Evans, Director of Aresty Research Undergraduates.
The event describes itself as“a celebration of scholarship and creative activity.
“The Symposium is a chance for undergraduates to present a paper or poster on their findings to an audience of faculty, peers, and the New Brunswick community… high school students, friends, family, and recruiters from the private sector.”
Evans told NewBrunswickToday.comthat the guests had the opportunity to “see first-hand how Rutgers integrates students into the life of a research university.
“Rutgers strives to integrate students into the research university to have them work alongside professors in the creation of knowledge.
“Projects range in subject from English to engineering, in scale from the nuclei of cells to the nuclei of galaxies, and in scope from the behavior of genes to the behavior of nations.
Evans adds that it is important to “hear from students how research matters, not only for their education, but also for Rutgers’ role as an engine of knowledge and innovation for the state of New Jersey.”
Juliana Ritter, an undergraduate in the Research Assistant Program, explains that the Aresty experience “was a great opportunity to academically explore and investigate a subject fully and with great detail.
The title of Ritter’s presentation was “Love and Flows in Caribbean and LatinoAmerican Cultural Production”, and she worked with Advisor Carlos Decena.
“Through my project, I became consumed by how immigration reform affects the homosexual Latino and Caribbean communities within the United States. I was able to reach out and expand my political, social and scholarly interests.
“I definitely recommend the program for any student interested in research.”
Shannon Gravatt, another Aresty undergrad research student did her work with Advisor Dr. Kristen Syrett at the RUCSS Developmental Language Lab.
She says that the Symposium “was a great opportunity to showcase what we have been working on all semester.It is amazing to see just how much research has been happening all year.”
“The Aresty Symposium provided a really friendly audience… Presenting began to come naturally when I realized I know my research very well. “
Her project, “Matrix Readings are Grammatical When ACD is Embedded in a Finite Embedded Clause,” required analyzing surveys completed by other students.
“We are excited to continue this study in the coming year and begin running children in this study as well.”
Molly O'Brien started writing for New Brunswick Today as a freelance reporter in February 2013.
Molly writes stories on government, arts, free events, bilingual events, education and more.
Molly graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in French Linguistics and Linguistics, where she also studied Writing and Journalism. Molly also graduated Rutgers Law School.
She is open to any suggestions for stories or tips. You may contact her via text at 732-743-8993.
