CASNR student wins grand price at Research Day at the Capitol

A pair of Oklahoma State University students won top awards for presentations March 29 at Research Day at the Capitol, including student Christian Ley, winner of the competition’s grand prize.

The 21st annual Research Day at the Capitol, held in the state Capitol rotunda, allows undergraduate researchers from colleges and universities across Oklahoma to show off research projects for Oklahoma legislators, other policymakers, and the public. The competition included poster and oral presentations judged by a panel not affiliated with participating institutions. In all, 24 top student researchers from 18 colleges and universities were selected to present.

Ley, a biosystems and agricultural engineering major from Broken Arrow, presented her research on the ability of microalgae to clean wastewater, including from oil and gas fracking, and its impact on biofuel production. Her overall win includes a $500 cash prize and a $4,000 summer internship.

Along with Ley, OSU student Carol Abraham won second place in the research-intensive institution category. Abraham, a chemical engineering student from Stillwater, presented research to improve a technique to deliver stem cells to treat cardiac disease through tissue regeneration. Her second place earned her $250.

The OSU student contingent also included Samantha Grider and Logan Kunka.

Grider, from Shawnee, is an integrative biology major who presented on her investigation of genetic disorders. Mechanical and aerospace engineering student Logan Kunka, from Owasso, shared his research of aerospace 3D printing.

“I congratulate all of our OSU undergraduate researchers who presented posters at the Research Day at the Capitol,” said Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research. “I had the privilege of attending, viewing the posters, and hearing each of the students describe her or his work. I also want to acknowledge the faculty and graduate student mentors for their vital contributions in preparing these undergraduate researchers for success.”

The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the National Science Foundation.

“We are very pleased to sponsor this prestigious event that highlights our state’s outstanding undergrad research programs,” said Dr. Ray Huhnke, Oklahoma NSF EPSCoR projector director and OSU professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering.

To learn more about Research Day at the Capitol and Oklahoma EPSCoR, visit http://www.okepscor.org.

CONTACT: Jeff Joiner, OSU Research Communications | 405-744-5827 | jeff.joiner@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.

Ferguson College of Agriculture

CASNR student wins grand price at Research Day at the Capitol