Read more information about FURC 2021 here: https://www.floridaundergradresearch.org/furc

To purchase a ticket to attend FURC 2021 through Eventbrite, click on this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-florida-undergraduate-research-conference-furc2021-tickets-121305170029

If you have any questions, please email FURC2021@fsu.edu!

You might be asking: how can a virtual conference compare to an in-person, live conference? Well, in hosting Virtual FURC this year, we are aiming to simulate a live conference as much as possible. We are working with the virtual conference platform, Whova, to achieve this goal. Let's take a look at some of the amazing features that Whova offers!

Student presenters at FURC 2021 will have the opportunity to "live" present their dynamic undergraduate research! Presenters will upload their recorded YouTube videos to the Whova platform and attendees will be able to access these videos throughout the entirety of the conference. In addition, the general public will be able to ask questions at any point during the conference, facilitating discussion about the presenter's research. These videos will be live for six months after the conference.

In addition to student presentations, FURC 2021 will also host over 18 workshops from university administrators across the State of Florida. To the right, you'll see a few examples of the amazing workshops that will be at the conference. From learning about self-care to starting a career in teaching to funding graduate education, our workshops will cover a range of topics that will stimulate undergraduate students' engagement in undergraduate research.

Let's take a look at some of the dynamic and unique undergraduate research projects that some of FSU's best and brightest undergraduates will be presenting at FURC 2021 this year! We have 62 students from 5 different colleges across campus, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Fine Arts, College of Medicine, College of Social Sciences, and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Our students' projects cover a wide range of topics and disciplines, ranging from the arts and humanities to psychology to biological sciences.

Andrew Brasington (mentored by: Dr. Azat Gündoğan) will be presenting: "Social Media Influences Our Organic Rhythms in the Context of Neoliberal Capitalism: An Exploration into Performative Consumption through TikTok"

Carlos Rivera Fernandez (mentored by: Dr. Vincent Joos) will be presenting: "Ya no se deja: A Chronicle in Puerto Rican Sociopolitical Solidarity"

Christian Pruitt (mentored by: Prof. Anne Stagg) will be presenting: "Podcasting Art: Exploring the Impacts of Global Pandemic on Artists' Creativity"

Cooper Shapiro (mentored by: Dr. Lisa Tripp) will be presenting: "Sustainable Production Practices on Small-Budget Films"

Diamond Taylor (mentored by: Dr. Julia Sheffler) will be presenting: "The Role of Health in the Relationship Between SMCs, Anxiety, and Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic"

Gabriela Herrerias (mentored by: Dr. Julia Sheffler) will be presenting: "BMI as a Moderator of ACEs and Health Problems in Older Adults"

John Sutor (mentored by: Dr. Jonathan Adams) will be presenting: "Using Generative Adversarial Networks within a Synthetic Data Production Pipeline"

Lauren Metcalf (mentored by: Dr. Joseph Hellweg) will be presenting: "Violence in the DRC: Conflict, Cosmos, and Health Care under Ebola"

Nathan Labora (mentored by: Gloria Lee) will be presenting: "The Role of 14-3-3ε Protein in Schizophrenia-associated Behavior"

Rachel Weaver (mentored by: Prof. Chari Arespacochaga) will be presenting: "Someone Will Remember Us, I Say, Even in Another Time: A Theatrical Exploration of Identity Through the Life, Words, and Legacy of Sappho"

The research I presented at FURC 2019 was "Stress Relief: Post-Disaster Volunteering in Florida and Texas Parks/Gardens." It focused on the patterns of moods and attitudes about volunteering in parks and greenspaces post-natural disaster, and how this form of response can build community resiliency in affected areas. I was very nervous about presenting at first, but the more I talked about my research and practiced presenting, the more confident I became and I actually enjoyed talking with anyone who came up to my poster! I think the most challenging aspect was being unable to answer certain questions that had not been fully fleshed out yet, but I appreciated being able to identify those gaps to then go back and discuss with my research mentor. I realized that research is ongoing in this way, and the more we share our research, the more we are able to revise and refine as we gain new and diverse perspectives on our research.

I presented my research that investigated the mechanism driving cholera toxin disassembly, which is a necessary step for the toxin to cause cholera disease. There are currently no preventatives or therapeutics for cholera disease. My research will lead to further experimentation that could, in the future, lead to the development of novel cholera treatments. FURC was the first conference that I presented my research at, and I loved every second of it! I enjoyed FURC so much because it welcomed a broad and diverse audience. The conference provided me with the opportunity to explain my research to faculty members and other students that were both inside and outside my field of study. The most exciting aspect of my research is that it has the potential to be used in the design of cholera treatments. Although cholera disease is not prevalent in the United States, I believe it is important for researchers to study because it affects millions of people worldwide each year.

I presented preliminary research on the work of Dante Alighieri and his impact on contemporary horror movies like Suspiria, In the Mouth of Madness, and Hereditary, specifically looking at how the themes of the Inferno like moral responsibility and debate on the concept of inherited sin manifest in these works. Presenting my research was really exciting, it was awesome getting to explain my work to those interested in horror, poetry, or just fellow attendees who were curious about my poster! I made some really great connections with my fellow attendees from different colleges around Florida too.

Are you excited to attend FURC 2021, especially after looking over all the amazing information and projects that will be featured? You're in luck! You can pay to attend FURC 2021 as a non-presenting attendee, which you must complete by Sunday, February 21st. The fee is $15, which grants you access to the conference platform site, Whova. Purchase your tickets below through Eventbrite!

CRE is proud to relaunch FSU's Gap Year Program for the 2021 school year! Gap Years are typically defined as a semester to year before college that you spend engaged in experiential learning to explore your personal/professional interests. FSU's new format provides both funded and unfunded opportunities for newly accepted students to complete a Gap Year before coming to FSU. Accepted students work with CRE staff to set goals for, plan, and complete a 6-12 month Gap Year Experience. The program then culminates with a reflective Engage-100 course, which explores student opportunities at FSU and how those opportunities mesh with students' goals from their Gap Year. Overall, this program is designed to let students explore their interests and use those interests to craft a meaningful undergraduate experience at FSU. So if you know any members of #FSU25 or #FutureNoles interested in taking a Gap Year, let them know about this fantastic program. #FSUGapYear #FSUGlobal

Learn more about Gap Years through these links:

With this, we are hosting a number of info sessions on the Gap Years Program! These will be on February 22, March 2, and March 6. Registration links are forthcoming; you can contact Warren Oliver (boliver@fsu.edu) for more information about these!

The IDEA Grant deadline has been extended to February 8th, 2021! Please note that the deadline for letters of recommendation to be submitted is still February 8th. For more information about the program and the application process visit our website at https://cre.fsu.edu/undergradresearch/ideagrants.

FSU undergraduate students in all majors can apply for an FSU IDEA Grant (formerly URCAA, MRCE, PRSF). Selected applicants will receive a summer stipend of up to $2,000 (or up to $3,000 for groups) to fund their self-designed work on a topic, project, problem, artistic product or performance, or other entrepreneurial or creative idea. Projects must last 8-12 weeks and be under the mentorship of a supervising faculty member. The project does not need to be tied to a student’s major or minor, but it should be guided by a student’s academic goals and future plans. Funds may be used for living expenses, materials, lost income from not working during summer, and/or travel. Projects must be culminated in oral, poster, or creative presentation at the annual President's Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. For more information about the program and the application process visit our website at https://cre.fsu.edu/undergradresearch/ideagrants.

Applications are due February 8, 2021. For any questions feel free to email Dave Montez at dmontez@fsu.edu.

Deadline to apply: Saturday, May 1, 2021 (Thursday, July 1, 2021 for transfer students)

Learn more about UROP: https://cre.fsu.edu/undergradresearch/urop.

Application link: https://bit.ly/3plDFNU

Program Components:

The Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) is an annual showcase for undergraduate students from all majors to present their work to the wider community. This year, the URS will be held virtually over Zoom the week of April 1, 2021. Hundreds of student researchers, including those from the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society, Honors in the Major Program, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), and independent studies, will present their work as poster and creative presentations. All students at any stage of the research process are eligible to apply!

You can apply here: https://fsu-cre.smapply.us/prog/undergraduate_research_symposium_abstract_submission/

Applications are due Wednesday, February 17, 2021!

Learn more about the Undergraduate Research Symposium

For more information, contact Assistant Director, Alicia Batailles at alicia.batailles@fsu.edu

Do you have a creative project that you wish to share with the FSU community and beyond? The virtual Nourishing Creativity hour is your time to shine and share your creative productivity! The Undergraduate Research Symposium celebrates research of all kinds from all disciplines. The CRE strives to broaden and include the creative arts into the research conversation. In contrast to the poster presentations at the Symposium, this will be an open-format performative presentation. Your project can be a work in progress, incomplete, or finished. Read excerpts from your creative writing, perform an excerpt from a dance, read scenes from your play, show artwork, sing, or play your instrument. The topics are endless!

The Nourishing Creativity hour will take place between poster sessions at the 21st annual Undergraduate Research Symposium occurring on Thursday, April 1st, 2021. It is a way for the audience to break from the typical poster format of research symposia and expand the ways in which people present, express, and engage in research.

If you are interested in presenting your creative research project in this format, please fill out this survey by Monday, March 1st, 2021 by midnight.

Take a look at a few of our students who received the Arts and Sciences Conference Grant!

Ava Dodd, Erin Murphy, and John Sutor all presented at the virtual Harvard National Collegiate Research Conference from January 21-24, 2021! This trio presented their project, "Using Generative Adversarial Networks within a Synthetic Data Production Pipeline." Check out the photos below from their virtual conference experience!

We're so proud of Ava, Erin, and John for their hard work in presenting at the Harvard NCRC!

If you want to receive funding to have a similar virtual conference experience, apply for the Arts and Sciences Conference Grant!

Topic: Crisis Management

Student Moderator:Samantha Taylor

Registration:https://fsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErdOygpzMiHtfayv5Q3K-10HihehFaurHh

Submit a question to Kristian here: http://bit.ly/KristianQA  

Let us know here: http://bit.ly/HSFStudentModerator

To join Florida State Anywhere, please let us know your plans for the fall semester by August 10 by completing this short survey: https://fla.st/30zkKDW