Undergraduate Research Program

In 2015, UW-Whitewater was named as a finalist in consideration of receiving a campus wide award given by CUR, the Council on Undergraduate Research.

The Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments, or AURA, recognizes Universities and Colleges that have displayed excellence in their Undergraduate Research (UR) Programs. The award looks for UR programs that provide high quality research experiences to undergraduates, including characteristics such as innovativeness and commitment.

Here at UWW, our Undergraduate Research Program (URP) works with all students interested in completing a research project, with the guidance of a faculty mentor. There are many professors on campus conducting research in various fields, making it easy for students to find the perfect mentor for their goals. If their project is selected, students receive a grant to use towards their research efforts. URP takes pride in funding these students and making sure they receive all the assistance that they need regarding their projects.

Of all the applications received by CUR, only eighteen were invited to submit a full portfolio and a finalist application. These eighteen schools were divided into three categories, depending on the type of institution and what degrees they grant.

UWW’s Undergraduate Research Program was recognized as a finalist in the Baccalaureate Degree granting category, along with five other institutions, making UWW’s UR program among the top six programs nationwide.

Although UWW did not win this award, being a finalist is still quite the accomplishment. This nomination hopes to bring more students interested in research to the UWW campus, as well as urge current students and researchers to showcase their accomplishments made through the program.

If you or anyone you know is interested in research, UWW is among the best in the nation and our program will provide all the help and support needed to successfully participate in Undergraduate Research.

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship is considered to be the most prestigious undergraduate award given in the sciences, and is awarded to around 300 college sophomores and juniors nationwide each year. UW-Whitewater & the Undergraduate Research program are proud to say that, Melanie Sorman, one of our own, has recently received this renowned award.

 “I’m just simply humbled and I still can’t believe that I received this amazing scholarship!”

 Melanie is a junior here at UW-Whitewater and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Geography. She is also conducting research with her Undergraduate Research mentor, Rex Hanger, in paleoecology, the branch of ecology dealing with the relations and interactions between ancient life forms and their environment.

“I do research in paleoecology studying regional mass extinctions in events called Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAE).  I examine fossils that we collect from places like Texas, Nevada, Nebraska, etc. and examine the trends during these events to determine the cause of these mass extinctions.”

Melanie’s academics and research accomplishments made her a prime candidate to receive this award.

 “I’m amazed at what I’ve accomplished in my three short years at Whitewater and it’s made me realize that without the help of my mentor and Whitewater’s research programs, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.”

 Melanie says that receiving this award will also help her to cover college expenses and help to solidify her plans of going to graduate school to receive a PhD in geology with an emphasis in paleoecology.

Melanie will be spending the summer interning at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. doing research in micropaleontology with a Smithsonian professor. In the fall of 2016, she plans to travel to Scotland in order to conduct research with a Scottish professor at the University of Edinburgh.

UW-Whitewater is proud to call Melanie Sorman one of our own, a Warhawk. Her future looks promising, and we will definitely be seeing important research results from her in the future. Congrats Melanie!

Take a look at this great video courtesy of Kristina Navarro and Michael Salm.

Michael invited others to present projects with him during a basketball game.

https://animoto.com/play/1L1jgrIucpr950ICZ1DKSg?autostart=1