UTEP Students to Participate in Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

March 3, 2015 | UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Two undergraduate students from The University of Texas at El Paso have been selected to participate in Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 4, in Austin, Texas.

The research projects by Lluvia Herrera and Joleen Ontiveros will be displayed in poster format inside the Texas Capitol with nearly 70 other undergraduate students from more than 50 colleges, universities and health science center undergraduate programs across Texas.

Ontiveros' research focuses on an Android mobile application for taking quizzes called QuizWiz. The app would allow students to take quizzes during or after attending course lectures or completing course assignments. The app would provide instructors a more effective way to quickly and continuously assess students' progress.

Herrera's research focuses on improving the quality of some parts fabricated in 3-D printing. Certain materials used in 3-D printing, like resin, can be porous. Herrera suggests improving the mechanical properties of parts by incorporating metal mesh throughout the build to make it stronger.

The purpose of Undergraduate Research Day is to showcase the experiences of undergraduate students engaged in research to Texas legislators and the public. The program will highlight how research conducted by undergraduate students positively impacts Texas and Texans. The theme of the event is "Transforming Texas Through Undergraduate Research."

This is the third time organizers will host the opportunity to showcase undergraduate research at the Texas Capitol. Undergraduate Research Day took place in 2011 and then again in 2013.

The event is coordinated by the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Inc. and the Texas Association of Community Colleges.

Click here for the agenda and fact sheet.

The University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) provided funding for the UTEP students' projects. LSAMP is housed at UTEP and seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.