Undergraduate Research at Abington
ACURA provides a yearlong collaboration between faculty and students so they can explore their interests through scientific experimentation, inquiry-based research, or creative works.
Learn how you, too, can partner with Penn State Abington faculty on an undergraduate research project. It's a mind- and resume-builder!
Inspired by Abington's growing international enrollment, one research team decided to quantify challenges these students face academically, socially, and personally and use the data to inform solutions.
The trio reviewed existing literature and conducted surveys and interviews. Roxanna Senyshyn, assistant professor of applied linguistics and communication arts and sciences, promptly shared their findings with faculty and student affairs staff.
Happily, the majority of Abington international students reported they are adjusting well to college and feel accepted by their American peers. Senyshyn would still like to see the data used to raise awareness of these issues among domestic students.
"We have to be intentional and help facilitate global mixing among our diverse student population, both inside and outside of the classroom," she said.
Ellie Seber, Penn State Abington Engineering Club president, talks about an out of the classroom experience for the regional Rube Goldberg competition. The club designed and built a machine that opens an umbrella in at least 20 steps and a theme. Abington took it's superhero theme on the road to the competition at University Park and brought it home for the Maker Faire.
Credit: Maria Narodetsky
During ACURA Week (Abington College Undergraduate Research Activities) 2016, students presented more than 30 research projects on a broad range of topics including breast cancer research, young offenders and the death penalty, and cyber security.
They demonstrated devices at the Maker Faire including StormBot, a video device a local township is using to inspect storm water pipes. Other students discussed works in progress including an app to track missing vehicles and an automated prescription drug dispenser.
Students worked with Abington anthropology instructor Autumn Zellers Leon '09 examining the the impact of illicit crop cultivation in indigenous Columbiam populations.
Credit: Maria Narodetsky
The purpose of undergraduate research is to hone critical thinking and creativity in Penn State Abington scholars. It's open to students from their very first day on campus, and many often delve deeper into a field of study over several semesters.
