Kennesaw State University

In one moment, Heru Crooks' life trajectory changed when he was paralyzed in a car crash in 2016. Crooks, now a Kennesaw State sophomore, says that unfortunate turn of events actually gave him the clarity to see his future as a scientist studying stem cell treatments - the same treatments that helped him recover sooner than his doctors expected after the accident.

The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the Spring 2023 Symposium of Student Scholars, featuring 658 students, 375 research projects, and 199 mentors. The event is held twice each year to give undergraduate and graduate researchers across all disciplines an opportunity to present their work to a broader audience.

Kennesaw State University's Wellstar College of Health and Human Services hosted its annual Research and Engagement Day, highlighting the college's research, scholarship and community impact. "For me, RED is a day of celebration," said Mark Geil, associate dean of research and operation of Wellstar College.

Kennesaw State mechanical engineering major Kevin Tran is creating his own 3D-printed lab prototypes for testing and research. Tran also is one of four Research Students of the Year for the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

Four Kennesaw State University students showcased their research at Posters at the Georgia State Capitol, an annual presentation of undergraduate research to state legislators. Brittany Aguilar, Kimberly Gomes, Emma Smalley, and Dalvin Ross were among the 40 students from across the state selected for the presentation.

Several Kennesaw State University students were recognized for their research efforts, earning the top prizes at the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars hosted by KSU's Office of Undergraduate Research. Awards were given for the best undergraduate and graduate presentations.

The College of Science and Mathematics recognized 10 students who were selected to receive stipends to pursue their individual research interests during a 10-week program established by Birla Carbon, a worldwide chemical manufacturer.

Kennesaw State University's Lauren Christian knows the importance of the phrase "healthy as a horse." As an equestrian, she's been around horses her whole life and used her undergraduate research to help horses and their owners.

The Office of Undergraduate Research hosted the Fall Symposium of Student Scholars to showcase research conducted by Kennesaw State students. Held in the fall and spring, the Symposium draws hundreds of student researchers presenting projects in a myriad of disciplines.

Kennesaw State University chemistry major Kaia Ellis is one of nine undergraduate students chosen from a pool of hundreds of applicants for a prestigious 10-week summer research program in chemistry at Northeastern University in Boston. The research opportunity is part of the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).

Kennesaw State University graduate student Nathaniel Jones will present his undergraduate research on the federal Pell Grant program to members of Congress, their staff members and other officials at the annual Posters on the Hill event.

Kennesaw State University has announced the winners of the Symposium of Student Scholars held on campus this week. A total of 668 student researchers presented 438 projects across a variety of disciplines.

Five students will represent Kennesaw State University at the Posters at the Georgia State Capitol event, a showcase of the state's best undergraduate research, on March 30. The selected KSU students are Destini Chambers, Jessie Chen, Gabrielle Jones, Nathaniel Jones and Luci Wilgus, with their research presentations covering a range of disciplines.

A Savannah native, Kennesaw State University student Olivia Harrell grew up marveling at the architectural beauty of her city's most historic buildings, including the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist and SCAD's Ruskin Hall. When she ventured away from downtown to the area bordering Savannah's urban core, however, she often left disappointed in the lack of attention paid toward saving the history of its predominantly African American communities. Now a fifth-year architecture student in Kennesaw State's College of Architecture and Construction Management, Harrell is using her thesis to explore how Black history in Savannah can be preserved for years to come.

Kennesaw State University is being represented by nearly 100 students this week at the 2018 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Edmond, Oklahoma. More than 4,000 students from 400 colleges and universities are presenting their research April 4-7 at the prestigious annual conference. With 93 students attending, Kennesaw State's number of participants is second only to the host institution, the University of Central Oklahoma.

Eight Kennesaw State students were honored recently for their scholarship and research at the 2017 STEM Innovators Conference in Atlanta, hosted by the University. The 12th annual symposium and research conference recognized outstanding Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholars.

The College of Science and Mathematics officially recognized 10 new 2016 Birla Carbon Scholars at the Birla Carbon Symposium. Nearly 100 students, faculty, staff and Birla Carbon executives reviewed posters at the symposium in August 2016. Katerina Slavicinska's research project won the Top Poster Award at the symposium. This year's scholars are: Jonathon Ard, physics; David Axford, biology; Graeme Bettler, chemistry; Soprinye Dappa-Fombo, biology; Rebecca Hyche, biology; Elena Ninova, biology; Katerina Slavicinska, chemistry; Omar Ugarte Trejo, chemistry; Danielle Varljen, biology; and Courtney Willett, biology. The scholars program was developed in April 2014 with a $250,000 pledge from Birla Carbon for a five-year annual gift of $50,000 to support research opportunities for students in Kennesaw State's College of Science and Mathematics. The program has awarded 30 Kennesaw State students each a $4,000 stipend since 2014.

Kennesaw State University Masters in Integrative Biology student Brandy Riekert's passion for conservation biology translated into two major wins recently, which provide a combined $5,000 in grant and award monies. Both reward her research on the Harper's Dodder, a rare and endangered native plant vine known to grow only in Georgia and Alabama. Riekert was awarded a $4,500 Catherine H. Beattie Fellowship award from the Garden Club of America and Center for Plant Conservation, and the Jeane Reeves Research Grant from the Georgia Native Plant Societyfor $500, according to Professor of Biology Susan M. E. Smith, coordinator of the master's program in integrative biology. Full story here.