The event at the State Capitol in Austin is designed to showcase the experiences of undergraduate researchers to state legislators and the public.
Texas Tech University students Trevor Wilkinson and Tina E. Greene will be two of 110 students from 46 universities across Texas who will participate in the Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in Austin on Tuesday.
Wilkinson, a second-year dual major in Honors Sciences & The Humanities and University Studies, and Greene, a fourth-year major in the Department of Psychological Sciences, will present their research as part of the event. This year's theme is “Transforming Texas Through Undergraduate Research,” where 55 projects will be displayed.
“I am excited that two stellar Texas Tech students will be representing us at this year's Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol,” said Levi Johnson, director for the Center for Transformative Undergraduate Experiences, one of the co-liaisons for Texas Tech at the event. “This event is unique in that it gives these important groups the opportunity to directly hear from undergraduate students about how their research is making an impact on our state when it matters most – during the legislative session.”
The event is designed to showcase undergraduate research experiences for students at colleges and universities in Texas in front of state legislators and the general public through high-quality poster presentations. This event highlights how research conducted by undergraduate students positively impacts the state and its residents.
The event is coordinated by the Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Inc.
Wilkinson will present his research entitled, “The Ideology of Freedom as Explored Through the Works of James Baldwin, Fyodor Dostoevsky and Timothy Snyder.” This is an examination of the ideologies of freedom as they pertain to nations, minorities and political processes examining the four nationalist movements that sought to create liberation movements for Israelis, Palestinians, Indians and Pakistanis in the aftermath of World War II.
Greene will present research entitled, “Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 to Assess Individuals with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Using a Clinical Interview.” In this research, Greene examined the ability of the recently released Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) to differentiate those diagnosed with PTSD from those who do not have that diagnosis. Previous versions of the MMPI have shown the ability to accurately make the PTSD assessment, but research has yet to support that ability for the MMPI-3.
Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol is conducted with the support of the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Texas House Higher Education Committee. The event is conducted every two years and was first held during the 82nd Texas Legislative Session in 2011.
In addition to the competition, a panel of accomplished faculty researchers will share their research experiences, insights regarding graduate school and perspectives on accomplishing goals beyond their undergraduate education. Students also will hear insights on how the legislature, institutions of higher education, business communities and the federal government work together to advance research and the state's economy through research-related initiatives such as the Texas CHIPS Act.
For more information on the Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol and a full schedule of events, visit the event's website.
