Symposium Features Undergraduate Research
ASUReS Event: Morning and Afternoon sessions, Wednesday, April 09
Awards Ceremony: 3:30–5:30 PM Monday, April 28, the Student Union
The Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium (ASUReS) provides a venue for undergraduate students across all disciplines in the college to showcase their research and creative achievements in individual or group projects or their contributions to class capstone projects.
ASUReS, pronounced “azures,” offers an opportunity for research Vols to gain experience in delivering professional presentations and engage in scholarly discussions about their research involvement, putting skills to work that they can carry into future academic and career endeavors.
“ASUReS is a crucial component of the undergraduate experience in the College of Arts and Sciences,” said Associate Dean for Academic Programs Liem Tran. “It is a valuable platform for students to build confidence in their research and communication skills. Presenting their work publicly fosters critical thinking and professional growth, which are essential for academic and career development.”
Judges will evaluate presentations based on students’ depth of understanding, the expertise they demonstrate, originality and innovation, their engagement and delivery, and overall impact of their work’s relevance, significance, and contribution to the discipline.
Each student presenter will receive detailed feedback from the judging panel after the symposium. These personalized comments give them insight into their strengths and areas for improvement, ensuring that ASUReS is not just a competition but also a growth experience that helps students refine their research and presentation skills.
ASUReS also gives participants the direct experience of engaging in professional discourse about their scholarly work.
“Students have the opportunity to refine some of their career-readiness competencies: professionalism, communication, critical thinking, as well as career and self-development,” said Shanna Pendergrast, director of advising services for the college.
Vol senior Tyler Myers participated in the inaugural 2024 ASUReS and will present his latest work during this year’s symposium. He appreciates the presentation format and the opportunity to present in historic Ayres Hall.
“It felt like I was connecting my contemporary experiences in pioneering research with the timeliness and tradition of the hallowed halls of The Hill,” said Myers. “For 2025, I plan on presenting a continuation of my undergraduate research over the past four years, which has involved the interplay between entomopathogenic nematodes and their gut bacteria.”
His research work is part of building his thesis for the departmental Honors program in the Department of Microbiology and the Haslam Leadership Scholars Program.
“The biggest lesson I gained from ASUReS 2024 was that simplicity is key for research,” said Myers. “While I had successfully delivered many oral presentations in discipline-specific settings, the interdisciplinary nature of ASUReS forced me to think far more carefully about my word choice and ensure my point was being delivered to individuals with different backgrounds in science.”
This interdisciplinary experience is a keystone to the way ASUReS embodies the college’s mission.
“One of the standout elements from the first ASUReS that I look forward to seeing again is the level of engagement from students across diverse disciplines,” said Tran. “The interdisciplinary nature of the symposium allows students to see how their research connects with broader fields of study, encouraging collaboration and deeper intellectual curiosity.”
By Randall Brown