A $500 grand prize also was awarded to a program from the science and engineering categories as well as a program from the humanities, social sciences and communication arts and sciences categories.

However, Director of Undergraduate Research Korine Wawrzynski said the UURAF isn’t simply a competition.

“It’s an opportunity for all of our undergraduate scholars to come together in one place and showcase their research and creative activities that they’ve been working on for the past year, or two years in some cases,” Wawrzynski said.

The forum accepts entries from all of MSU’s colleges, and presentations ranged anywhere from renewable energy to education.

“I know most of the undergrads don’t like to do it,” UUARF judge and genetics graduate student Marcos Oliveira said. “But if you’re an undergrad and you’re looking for jobs in science or academics, at some point you’re going to have to show your work … and have to be able to present it. This is a great opportunity to start learning how to do it.”

The research projects aren’t judged on content, but on quality, Oliveira said.

“You can tell when a student is really good at what they’re doing,” he said.

Researcher and genomics and molecular genetics junior SungMo Son was able to combine his research experience with a subject important to him. Many in Son’s family, including his father, have been diagnosed with hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease as well as stroke, and Son said he worries he will inherit the illness.

“I have to learn something because it’s going to help me one day,” he said.

Son worked closely with his mentors on the experiment and data analysis, and said it taught him the most valuable part about conducting an experiment.

“I learned way more than just knowledge,” Son said. “Relationships with people, how I work with mentors, the teamwork — it’s not only about working as a colleague, it’s working as a family.”