Undergraduate students at Utah’s universities advance knowledge through their participation in research — and through research become better thinkers, workers and problem solvers.
On Jan. 20, 50 of these students will share their undergraduate research in the State Capitol Rotunda. Research on Capitol Hill, featuring top undergraduate researchers from Utah State University and the University of Utah, began in 2001. The event showcases the benefits of investing in research-intensive higher education for the state of Utah and its people.
Utah State University and the University of Utah are the state’s two Research I institutions. We are ranked in the top tier of all universities in the nation for the strength of our research programs. Student researchers here receive intensive training and hands-on experience in labs, field stations, clinics, and research groups. That experience prepares them for careers in industry, public service, and education.
Undergraduate researchers play a key role in high-profile initiatives, including Utah State’s Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), an international research center dedicated to advancing sustainable, electrified transportation.
Participation in this level of research promotes student success. In 2022, engineering student Tucker Skinner, an ASPIRE research assistant, was the first student from Utah to receive the Astronaut Foundation Scholarship, a prestigious national award supporting technological leadership.
High-flyers like Skinner are the stars of undergraduate research, but students at all levels and abilities benefit from research experiences. Some students seek them out — and some do not — but our institutional commitment is to provide that access to all.
Dedicated faculty, from instructors in introductory courses to professors of senior thesis seminars, incorporate hands-on, real-world research into their teaching. These opportunities give students their first taste of the excitement of discovering something for themselves.
Alvaro Ibarra, assistant professor of art history, teaches his students to research and curate digital and physical art exhibitions as part of their coursework. He says he prefers these kinds of projects to traditional essay writing and exams.
“Research gives undergraduates the ‘aha!’ moment, that spark of inspiration merging personal interest and professional practice,” says Ibarra.
At Utah State, undergraduate research has a history reaching back to the 1970s, long before it was recognized as a high-impact practice that improves student retention, graduation rates, grade point average, and other measures of success.
The ongoing excellence of USU’s undergraduate research program was recognized in 2020 by the Council on Undergraduate Research with the Award for Undergraduate Research Achievement (AURA). The award placed USU among the top programs in the nation. USU President Noelle Cockett remarked at the time, “We know firsthand the exceptional benefits that come from strengthening ties between our undergraduates and our faculty researchers and having them tackle projects important to our state, nation and the world.”
Faculty mentors’ dedication and intellectual generosity influence the success of student research experiences. Cristina Chirvasa, a watershed sciences major, is one of USU’s three 2022 recipients of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. She was mentored by Timothy Walsworth, assistant professor of watershed sciences.
“Tim’s mentorship is a major part of my success as a researcher,” said Chirvasa. “He has been involved in every part of the process, from brainstorming the project, to data analysis, to refining my various presentations. He encouraged me to take initiative on the project and work through issues on my own before asking for help. In doing so, I was able to develop my critical thinking skills and be involved in the full research process. By supporting me and lending his help when I was truly stumped, he helped make my first experience with research enjoyable rather than overwhelming.”
We invite everyone to join us at the capitol on Jan. 20. This friendly and energizing event brings together legislators and staff, the public, and an impressive group of young researchers whose enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment give us a reason for optimism about the future. We encourage readers to meet the students from USU and the U of U who will be shaping the future of our state, our nation, and the world.
Lisa Berreau
Lisa Berreau is the vice president for research at Utah State University.
Sen. Chris Wilson
Sen. Chris Wilson represents Utah Senate District 2, which includes Cache and Rich counties.