Students Prepare to Present Research at State Capitol

A select group of Utah State University and University of Utah undergraduate researchers will share their research findings with the state's elected officials at the annual Research on Capitol Hill event on Feb. 8.

This year marks a return to in-person presentations in the main rotunda of the Utah Capitol building in Salt Lake City after a one-year virtual hiatus.

A group of 20 students will represent Utah State University at the Capitol, with research focuses varying across multiple disciplines, ranging from the impact of ACL injuries to reducing algal blooms in Utah.

“We know firsthand the exceptional benefits that come from strengthening ties between our undergraduates and our faculty researchers and having them tackle projects that are important to our state, nation and the world,” USU President Noelle Cockett said.

Undergraduate students from both universities will discuss their Utah-related studies with legislators and others in attendance. To qualify for the presentation opportunity, the student researchers must have a presentation that is tailored toward the improvement of Utah.

Research on Capitol Hill is one of the presentation opportunities provided by USU's Undergraduate Research Office. The event gives students a formal place to practice articulating their research and emphasizing the policy implications of their work.

This year, Utah State University will be participating in Research on Capitol Hill as a Carnegie R1 research institution, which recognizes the highest tier of research universities in the nation. The University of Utah is also recognized as an R1 research institution.

Utah State was also recently awarded for its undergraduate research efforts with the Award for Undergraduate Research Achievement. In response to the award, Cockett said that “undergraduate research is central to who we are as a land-grant institution.”

The presentations will be available for public viewing following the event on the Office of Research website, along with many other past presentations.

In addition to Research on Capitol Hill, the Office of Research will be hosting the Student Research Symposium on April 12-13 during Research Week. The symposium is a rigorous academic event where approximately 300 undergraduate and graduate student researchers will share their efforts and findings.

More information about undergraduate research opportunities at Utah State can be found at https://research.usu.edu/undergradresearch.