Celebrate Undergraduate Research

Developing a special type of algae capable of capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere. 

Understanding the roots of bias in AI chatbots.

Harnessing AI to improve precision in medical decisions.

Designing tools to allow for remote water and soil monitoring.

These are some of the innovative research projects Seattle University undergraduates worked on over the summer that will be presented at the annual College of Science and Engineering’s STEM Research Showcase on October 18. 

The free event, open to the campus community and general public, is 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Bannan Arboretum. 

Sixty-three undergraduate students worked with faculty mentors on 40 projects in science, mathematics, engineering and computer science, giving them critical exposure to real research and priming them for their next steps—be it in graduate school, a career in a STEM field or beyond.

Participating in summer research makes students part of discovering and applying new ideas and innovations, says Professor Jennifer Loertscher, PhD, who adds that students gain valuable experience advancing long-term research projects. 

“It’s that collective work over time that moves the research forward,” says Loertscher, who is also an associate dean in the College of Science & Engineering.

Through engaging with students in summer and academic year research, faculty and staff in the college have fostered a vibrant research community.

“It’s not just people doing research individually, but having that community-based feeling,” says Macklin Hamilton, corporate relationships specialist for SU’s Project Center.

Loertscher also notes that almost all the projects have a connection to social or environmental justice, sustainability and sustainable technologies, aligning with the university’s mission and values. Beyond that, the hands-on experience that comes from working in a lab teaches important skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, information and data processing as well as practicing oral and written communication.

“Students are developing those cross-cutting scientific skills that they’ll use regardless of where they head in their careers,” says Loertscher, though she added that many students who conduct research with faculty also go on to present their data at regional or national conferences.

“An extended full-time research experience is regarded as a high-impact practice in STEM higher education,” she says. “Employers or professional schools recognize that students who’ve gone through that are likely to be successful in the next challenging step that they encounter in their careers.”

Pictured: A group shot of undergraduate researchers and faculty at a BBQ mixer in June. Photo by Nodoka Kondo