CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Two groups of Penn State Lehigh Valley students focused on different research were invited to present at the same event: the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), the largest research-based event dedicated solely to undergraduates.
Held on April 7-9 at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, NCUR drew 4,700 attendees — 3,100 of whom were presenters.
“This event pushes the boundaries of undergraduate research. It deepens students’ understanding of a topic. They are given an opportunity like no other to present and communicate their research and findings at a professional level,” said Jacqueline McLaughlin, Penn State Lehigh Valley professor emerita of biology who accompanied four of her students to the event. “Communicating their findings is an essential skill in research.”
Biology students Benjamin Shoemaker, Gabriel Roman, Farishta Faruk and Fiona Liu, under McLaughlin’s guidance and mentorship, presented their work focused on the endothelial glycocalyx, a sugar-rich layer lining blood vessels that is essential for cardiovascular health.
The biology students started their work in McLaughlin’s "BIO 230" class last spring and extended their research into an upper-level course last fall.
“We were all working with aortic endothelial cells, asking questions about using physiologically correct molecules to not only aid their growth in cell culture but to also acquire optimal formation of their glycocalyx," Shoemaker said, explaining that her group wanted to take the research further. Using software from the National Institutes of Health called Image J, they set out to quantify which substrates, or bases, might work to produce better growth and formation of the lining. "This work is important since optimal conditions for culturing these cells with an intact glycocalyx is essential to study many cardiovascular issues."
McLaughlin explained that the group collaborated with AIMSBIO, a supply company.
“Through our collaboration with AIMSBIO, a leading provider of quality life science research and reagents and services, students gained hands-on experience with high-quality antibodies, fluorescent probes and cutting-edge cell culture techniques — resources typically reserved for professional research labs,” McLaughlin said. “Additionally, they utilized advanced imaging technologies at the Penn State Huck Institute of Life Sciences Microscopy Facility, further expanding their technical expertise.”
Research is one of the most important teaching methods in the undergraduate arena, McLaughlin said.
“This is because it makes students critically think about a topic," she said, explaining that research helps students learn to ask meaningful questions, challenge assumptions, draw thoughtful, informed conclusions and communicate them to the broader society.
Shoemaker agreed.
“I think every student should do research if they can,” Shoemaker said. “It’s not just about doing the research, but it’s about building relationships with other students, faculty, scientific staff in companies,\ and interacting with those around you. At conferences like NCUR, you’re able to witness so many different topics and points of discussion. Another group from a different university checked out our poster, and they are doing very similar research, so we were able to brainstorm and build off other ideas with them.”
Farishta Faruk, a biology major who also participated in this project and presented at the conference, said she expects the experience will help her as she pursues her goal of attending medical school.
“This was an opportunity to learn from my peers," Faruk said. "I would really encourage other students to pursue undergraduate research. You get to do an independent project, critically think and problem solve — there are mentors and technology assistants to help you, but it is your work. It really helped me grow my skills. I feel like if I hadn’t done research, I wouldn’t have delved so deeply into the subject. I’m sure it will help me on job interviews and professionally.”
Working with McLaughlin, Faruk said, “Her passion fueled mine.”
Ana Mercado, a business analytics major, moderated a mentor-led research presentation. Additionally, she and Mahika Chatterjee, a finance and economics major with a minor in math who has since transferred to University Park from Lehigh Valley, both under the mentorship of Subhadra Ganguli, assistant professor of business at Lehigh Valley, shared their respective findings.
Mercado’s project focused on applications of collaborative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in business forecasting challenges.
“It was a mentor-led presentation," Mercado said. "I talked about the course and how we used generative AI. We decided I would present this assignment because it's an easy topic for any audience to understand.”
Mercado said her experience giving classroom presentations served her well at NCUR.
“It was a little nerve-wracking," Mercado said. "This was my first time presenting alone, so I was a little more nervous than usual. But I’d given presentations in class and participated in case competitions, so I didn’t feel much pressure for this. I practiced on my own a few times beforehand.”
Chatterjee presented her work on a new paradigm of women participating in Saudi Arabia’s labor force and its future consequences. Her project was inspired by Vision 2030, an initiative Saudi Arabia launched in 2016 that aims to achieve the goal of increased diversification economically, culturally and socially.
“In my research, I want to answer the question of whether Vision 2030 is really trying to empower women or the economy," Chatterjee said. "I chose this topic for a few reasons. For one, I was born next to Saudi Arabia. Second, I thought this was interesting because I did previous research on sustainability and this topic is kind of an extension of that.”
NCUR was Chatterjee’s first national conference.
“I’ve been to a few Penn State research conferences," Chatterjee said. "It was awesome seeing all the different research happening in, say, music or STEM. Just seeing research I’ve never even questioned — it was really interesting seeing that, and the caliber of undergraduate researchers across the nation is inspiring.”
Ganguli said the students’ participation at NCUR showed them their work is important.
“To be at NCUR with over 4,000 attendees — they got very inspired to be able to participate in something so big and so important. It boosted their morale and their confidence,” she said. “The fact that they were looked upon as valuable researchers — I think that was something very motivating and inspiring for them. I know Ana and Mahika were honored to be there.”