Six Presbyterian College students were selected to present their research at the 30th annual National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) that took place at UNC Asheville, April 7-9. The conference consisted of approximately 4,000 attendees from more than 350 institutions.

PC students who presented include Ben Cagle from the physics department; Sydney Fontenot, Michael Harris, Gabby Lewis, and Kristen Peagler from the biology department; and Will Hobson from the English department.

Gabby Lewis, a senior biology major, presented her research, advised by Dr. Suann Yang, assistant professor of biology, concerning her analysis of the effect of spent oyster mushroom substrate on seeds with a variation on seed size and seed domestication characteristics.

“It was truly inspiring to be in an environment where each and every area of study was represented,” Lewis said. “People were learning about new subjects out of pure curiosity. It was refreshing to learn just for the sake of learning.”

Michael Harris, also a senior biology major, presented his research titled “Assessment of the Peer-Assisted Learning Resource Center for Introductory Biology Students at Presbyterian College.” In his research, advised by Yang and Dr. Troy Nash, professor of biology, Harris studied the development of the new peer-assisted Learning Resource Center established on campus last spring.

Harris cites his two advisors, as well as his experience a peer mentor, as two sources of inspiration and preparation for his presentation. “Being a peer mentor in the biology department prepared me to communicate effectively with others, both faculty members and other students, and to conduct necessary research that makes a difference,” he said.

When asked about the importance of undergraduate research, Nash, who accompanied the students to the conference, said, “I very much appreciate the opportunity to work on research projects with undergraduate students because it promotes a sense of teamwork and collegiality between instructors and students. Working on a research project means that instructors and students are acting as colleagues and collaborators with one another to investigate and answer the questions their project is addressing. These sorts of interactions are the backbone of personal and professional bonds that will remain long after the students have graduated from PC.”

“The fact that an institution the size of PC had a relatively large number of students selected to present their work at NCUR is a testament to the atmosphere on campus and the high-quality relationships between faculty and students,” said Nash.

Presbyterian College is located on a striking 240-acre campus in Clinton, between Columbia and Greenville, S.C. Offering challenging academics and a culture of honor, ethics, and service that prepares students to be leaders in communities, PC offers its students the benefit of engaging with an exceptional faculty who take individual interest in their students’ well-being, both personally and in the classroom. The Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy opened in 2010, and is dedicated to the ideals of leadership, honor to the profession, and service to the community. For more information about Presbyterian College, visit www.presby.edu.

Written by Erika Gotfredson, a senior English major from Berkeley Lake, Ga.