Washington State University: Summer Research Welcomes Undergraduates Nationwide

Sixty-seven students from New York to Southern California and Florida to Washington have arrived at WSU Pullman to participate in summer undergraduate research programs with mentoring faculty.

“They represent 42 universities in 21 states and will take part in several projects focused on such topics as gerontology, crop resiliency, waves in the universe and technology, plant genomes, and race and policing,” said Jeremy Lessmann, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, which helps to coordinate the summer programs. Many of the projects are transdisciplinary and some are in partnership with other colleges and agencies.

Supporters of the programs include the National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), National Institutes of Health, and professors’ own project funds.

The students live in residence halls, work in faculty research facilities, attend weekly brownbag lunch sessions with guest speakers, and socialize with their lab teammates and new friends. On Aug. 2, at the end of their programs, they will share their research findings at a symposium and poster event.

“WSU Pullman has offered summer research programs to students from across the country for decades, and every year is the ‘best ever,’” said Lessmann. “Our faculty and staff enjoy and benefit from the experience as much as the students. Summer research is a tradition.”

The students’ home institutions include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Harvey Mudd College, Purdue University, the University of Michigan, Pennsylvania State University, and others. There are also students from Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Whitworth, WSU, and Wenatchee Valley College.

The Aug. 2 symposium is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Smith CUE Atrium at no charge.