More than 100 students present research at ARC

More than 100 undergraduate students presented their work at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) 31st Annual Research Conference (ARC) held March 20 at UNG's Gainesville Campus. Five of their projects won awards:

Best Natural and Physical Sciences Poster:

• Winner: Luke Millaway, Lacey Nichols and Aurora Shuster, "Structure-activity relationship of coumarins as antimicrobial agents."
• Honorable mention: Madeline McCloskey and Miguel Vilchis Tinoco, "Rocky terrain: The impacts of substrate type on crayfish escape velocity and physiological fitness."

Best Social Sciences and Humanities Posters:

• Winner: Lesly Zuniga Garcia and Steffani Pass, "Sexting and mental health among emerging adults: A pre- and post-COVID."
• Winner: Cindy Gonzalez, Blue Hammett, Olivia Herrington, and Abby Weimorts, "Understanding barriers and pathways to care: Gender roles, stigma and mental health literacy."

Best Paper:

• Winner: Eser Nguyen, "The hidden cost of AI: Federal AI investment and rising energy prices."

Dr. Diogo Pinheiro, assistant director of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, said students gained valuable experience.

"ARC continues to be a great launching pad, involving students from all UNG colleges," Pinheiro said. "We are very thankful for the mentors, reviewers and the administration who make this event possible."

Nguyen, a sophomore from Vietnam pursuing a degree in management, said her research spun out of a cost-of-living project funded by a Presidential Award won by her faculty mentor, Dr. Ruohan Wu, professor of economics. The student wanted to examine artificial intelligence.

"I was very interested in the intersection of technology and business," Nguyen said. "This was the first time I've written a research paper and presented at a conference. Everything was new. Dr. Wu taught me many things and mentored me through the process. This is a good foundation for my future research."

Vilchis Tinoco, a senior from Jefferson, Georgia, pursuing a degree in biology, expressed gratitude to faculty member Dr. Amanda Reynolds, assistant professor of biology, for mentoring him and McCloskey. It was a project they began working on during the Faculty Undergraduate Summer Engagement program in 2025.

"I truly love working with my mentor. She has been so helpful and supportive," Vilchis Tinoco said. "Any question I had, she was there to answer for me."

Vilchis Tinoco will spend this summer in a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley.

Zuniga Garcia, a senior from Gainesville, Georgia, pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in sociology, said her team's research found elevated depression and stress among college-age individuals who sent and received sexting messages. She and Pass worked with faculty mentor Dr. Efren Velazquez, associate professor of psychological science.

"I wasn't expecting the award," Zuniga Garcia said. "It was really nice to have recognition of the work we've been doing."

ARC also came at an opportune time, a week ahead of Zuniga Garcia sharing the research at the Southeastern Psychological Association annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hammett, a December graduate from Flowery Branch, Georgia, with a degree in psychology, appreciates the culture of faculty having students join their research. Dr. Zachary Elison, assistant professor of psychological science, mentored Hammett's group.

"They're super kind and willing to walk you through the process with them," Hammett said. "It creates a welcoming environment for students."

Weimorts, a December graduate from Jefferson, Georgia, with a degree in psychology, was grateful for moments like ARC at UNG.

"This helps us prove to ourselves that we're capable of conducting research," Weimorts said. "It's a rewarding experience in that regard."

Millaway, a cadet who is a senior from Cleveland, Tennessee, pursuing a degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry, was thankful for the blood thinner research he was able to share at ARC. It also gave his group a new outlet after a previous planned conference presentation was canceled due to a snowstorm.

"ARC allowed me to experience presenting scientific research to a wide audience, which helped me gain a better understanding of how to communicate with people outside of my area of expertise," Millaway said.