Undergraduate Research – Annual Report

ANNUAL R E PORT 2020-21

OFF I CE OF UNDE RGRADUATE R ESEARCH

TH E VI S I ON

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach will be an internationally recognized center for excellence in undergraduate research, innovation, and scholarship where every student engages in scholarly learning throughout their academic careers.

TH E M I SS I ON

Embry-Riddle strives to create a culture of knowledge discovery through research. The Office of Undergraduate Research engages undergraduate students in faculty-mentored research that is led by both students and faculty. Our mission is to provide an inclusive and diverse set of opportunities for all undergraduate students to enhance their intellectual and personal development through engagement in research, inquiry, innovation, and/or other scholarly projects to prepare for their professional careers.

TH E OBJ ECT IVES

To help students: • Apply critical thinking, ethics, and information analyses in decision-making processes. • Understand the nature of research, investigation, innovation, and scholarship. • Utilize discipline-based inquiry skills in their communities to create or understand new knowledge and solve real-world problems. • Disseminate their research to engage with their community and enhance communication skills.

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The Office of Undergraduate Research

TH E TEAM

Wes Lewis, Director Dr. Ronnie Mack, Associate Director Liz Payne, Business Manager Katie Kirkpatrick, Beyond Student Editor

OUR AMBASSADORS

Benjamin Chaback Adriana Formby Fernande Fanny Kristiansson Lea Miller Shlok Misra Pradhan Nihal Shannon O’Connor Hannah Skeen Chandra ‘Teja’ Tiriveedhi

OUR PE E R MENTORS

Benjamin Chaback Danayit Mekonnen Abigail Park Nihal Pradhan

Annual Report | 2021

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STUDENT PROGRAMS

The Office of Undergraduate Research is committed to providing dynamic, engaging and high-impact programs and events that allow students to gain exposure, experience and expertise in a variety of types of research, scholarship and inquiry.

Such programs include:

• Astronaut Scholars Program • Discover Scholars- Research Track

• Virtual Discovery Day Research Symposium • Virtual Fall Student Research Symposium • Florida Undergraduate Research Conference • IGNITE Research Grants • National Conference on Undergraduate Research • One-on-One Coaching

• OUR Ambassadors • OUR Peer Mentors • Posters at the Capital • Research Abroad • Research Scholars • Spark Grants

• Student Internal Grants • Student Workshop Series • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

STUDENT ACH I EVEMENTS

John Veracka One of only 60 undergraduates selected to present at Poster on the Hill

Grace Robertson Accepted as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s first Astronaut Scholar

Annual Report | 2021

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BY TH E NUMB E RS

$ 59K

$ 24K +

IGNITE Grant Funds Awarded

Spark Grant Funds Awarded

91 56

Total Virtual Discovery Day Presentations

Total Fall Student Research Symposium Posters

Student Internal Grant Funds Awarded $ 25K

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The Office of Undergraduate Research

68

Summer Fellows 23

Grant Applications Received

NCUR Attendees 12

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Poster at the Hill submissions

FURC Attendees 13

Annual Report | 2021

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MENTOR I NG + DEVE LOPMENT

Mentors play a vital role in providing opportunity, guidance and advice to their students. In working together on a research endeavor, students learn how to act as colleagues and navigate academic and industry networks, develop skills first-hand, apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems and shape their passion and career trajectory. The Office of Undergraduate Research encourages strong mentor-mentee relationships and supports the development of mentors in a growing number of ways.

• Faculty Mentor of the Year Award • Face-to-face workshop • One-on-One mentor coaching • CUR conference/institute support • CUR faculty membership • Florida Statewide Symposium on Undergraduate Research

Faculty Mentors: 63

Review Committee Members: 17

One-on-One Coaching Sessions: 2

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The Office of Undergraduate Research

STRATEG I C PLAN ACCOMPL I SHMENTS

The 2020-2021 academic year marked the first year of our three-year strategic plan that transitions us to a hub of innovation, inquiry, research and scholarship with an emphasis on three primary themes: superior research and innovation, engagement and outreach, and assessment and effectiveness. The strategic plan utilizes 70 benchmark activities supporting 31 initiatives. Of these benchmarks, 87% were exceeded or achieved. A few of these accomplishments include: • One student was accepted to present at the prestigious Posters at the Hill. • Received 14 student manuscripts to Beyond. • Hosted 91 presentations for Virtual Discovery Day with site visitors from 65 countries. • Supported 23 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows. • Hosted the 2020 Florida Undergraduate Research Association’s Virtual Fall Statewide Symposium with over 80 participants. • Fostered strong partnerships enhancing experiential learning across campus, including projects with Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Philanthropy, Alumni Engagement, Office of Prestigious Awards and Fellowships, and the Honors Program. • Partnering with University Philanthropy to launch the College Philanthropy Councils which awarded over $10,000+ in grants for student research. • Launched a partnership with Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to bring the Astronaut Scholars program to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

LOOKI NG AH EAD

• Growing the Climbing 2nd Year Experience Program. • Expanding Fall Student Research Symposium and Discovery Day to be hybrid with virtual and physical presentation options. • Open our new office in Residence Hall 3. • Strengthening partnerships with faculty. • Welcoming 25 new Eagles into the Discover Scholar - Research program.

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