Undergrads put work on display

Undergrads from across Chicago showcased their research at the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Hundreds of undergrads presented their research and viewed work conducted by their peers at other universities at the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium April 6.

Four UIC students were among 160 presenters at the event, led by a board of students from UIC, University of Chicago, Northwestern, DePaul, Illinois Institute of Technology and Loyola.

Participants included undergraduates in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, economics, humanities and engineering .

“It gives them the opportunity to present their research and explore the work of other students from different schools,” said UIC student Simbiat Olayiwola, a symposium board member.

“They have the opportunity to network with representatives from companies, and graduate and professional schools.”

Whay Cheng won the chemistry category with her research on determining the origin of ovarian cancer by looking at the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway in normal ovarian and tubal epithelial cells.

“Presenting my research to other students, graduate students and faculty was actually a lot of fun,” said Cheng, a senior in biochemistry.

“It was a great networking opportunity and I would definitely recommend students to participate next year.”