Nine undergraduate students from Missouri University of Science and Technology traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri, on Monday, April 11, to participate in the annual Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. 

The event, which is designed to inform Missouri’s lawmakers about research at Missouri universities, welcomes undergraduate students from all four University of Missouri System campuses. Student participants work on research projects under the direction of faculty advisors and present their research.

Missouri S&T places an emphasis on providing research opportunities to undergraduate students. The following students will appear at the Missouri State Capitol to represent Missouri S&T:

• Justin Chern, a senior in chemistry from St. Louis, presented “Developing Flexible Non-enzymatic Biosensors for Continuous Health Monitoring.” The work is directed by Dr. Manashi Nath, an associate professor of chemistry.
• Caleb Fink, a junior in mechanical engineering from Troy, Missouri, presented “High-fidelity Numerical Simulations of Tornadoes through Combining CM1 and CFD.” The work is directed by Dr. K.M. Isaac, professor and associate chair of aerospace engineering.
• Richard Gorzel, a senior in computer engineering from St. Peters, Missouri, presented “Intuitive user interface and software optimizations for cost effective and low training soil property discovery.” The work is directed by Dr. Xiong Zhang, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
• Ashley Harkins, a senior in psychology and biological sciences from Nixa, Missouri, presented “Effects of Auditory Stimuli on Attention in Visual Search.” The work is directed by Dr. Devin Burns, an associate professor of psychological science.”
• Elanor Jackson, a senior in computer engineering from St. Louis, presented “Analysis of Cybersecurity and Survivability for Autonomous Vehicles.” The work is directed by Dr. Sahra Sedigh Sarvestani, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Dr. Ali Hurson, a professor of electrical and computer engineering.
• Steven Karst, a senior in physics from Ballwin, Missouri, presented “Machine Learning Optimizes a Survey of Dark Energy.” The work is directed by Dr. Shun Saito, an assistant professor of physics.”
• Clinton Schwarz, a senior in history from Licking, Missouri, presented “Marine Corps Recruit Training: Why a Centralized System of Recruit Training was Established and How it Helped Create a Unique Enlisted Culture in the Marine Corps.” The work is directed by Dr. John McManus, Curators’ Professor of history and political science.
• Heath St. Dennis, a junior in biological sciences from Bucklin, Missouri, presented “Phylogeography of the Bigmouth Shiner, Notropis Dorsalis.” The work is directed by Dr. David Duvernell, chair and professor of biological sciences.
• Nathan Swadley, a senior in mechanical engineering from Willard, Missouri, presented “Miniature Fatigue Testing Controller Parameter Estimation Based on Frequency Response and Material Properties.” The work is directed by Dr. Frank Liou, the Michael and Joyce Bytnar Professor and director of manufacturing engineering.