Research on Capitol Hill Presenters
Utah’s Research on Capitol Hill is an annual celebration of undergraduate research held in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. Organized by USU, it features the two public research universities’ students and their research projects. Students of all disciplines from around the state share the results of their investigations with legislators.
2025
College of Engineering
- Maelyn Andreasen, Elizabeth Vargis, Biological Engineering: Hagfish protein models of heart tissue reveal processes of diabetes
- Allison Miles & Sam Shaw, Angela Minichiello, Engineering Education: Staff training increases success for Veterans and Service Members in Engineering
- Kade Robison, David Britt, Biological Engineering: There may be a safer treatment against a virus that can cause birth defects and hearing loss
- Jacob Wiberg, Douglas Hunsaker, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Arrowhead-shaped aircraft outperform other structures at hypersonic speeds
College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
- Jordan Bond, Prateek Sharma, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences: Specific bacteria in commerical cheddar cheese can cause rubbery texture and poor taste
- Janna Cook & Sarah Makar, Jayme Walters, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences: The majority of USU students lack adequate access to food
- Micaela Garcia, Joana Pico Carbajo, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences: Saving money encourages USU students to accept suboptimal produce
- Kylie Hansen, Janis Boettinger, Plants, Soils, and Climate: The story of Utah soils influences land use and management
- Tia Lawrence, Mirella Ortiz, Plants, Soils, and Climate: Evaluating invasive plant management to keep Bear Lake clear, blue, and deep
- Abigail Spaulding & Hannah Waters, Heidi Wengreen, Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences: Does following the MIND diet slow cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease?
- Jordan Taft, Ole Sleipness, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning: Cache County has 2500 acres of highly walkable urban land, with potential for 4935 new housing units
- Ty Wilson, Amita Kaundal, Plants, Soils, and Climate: Microbes from native plants promote growth and drought tolerance in non-native plants
College of Science
- William Bouck, Patrick Singleton, Mathematics and Statistics: Gig drivers need access to affordable electric vehicles (EVs) and accessible, fast chargers
- James Cisneros, Zhongde Wang, Biology: Genetic engineering in alpacas may unlock cures for currently incurable human disease
- Owen Graham, JR Dennison, Physics: Infrared sensors provide a reliable and economic alternative for emissivity testing
- Brendon Guinn, Ryan Jackson, Chemistry and Biochemistry: A new CRISPR system uses energy storage indiscriminately
Emma Eccles Jones College of Eduation and Human Services
- B. Shaun Bryner, Joshua Lively, Kinesiology and Health Science: A MAMMOTH pain in the back: Diagnosing advanced bone disease in two Columbian mammoths
- Rebecca Elwood, Kimberly Clevenger, Kinesiology and Health Science: Recess gives students a chance to act freely - so why are Utah kids missing out?
- Emma Griffin, Kristin Searle, Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences: Integrating interdiciplinary learning in social studies helps create engaged citizens
- Abby Julian & Lindy Strand, Heather Kelley, Human Development and Family Studies: Online acceptance and commitment training improves quality of life in autistic adults
- Tessa Richardson, Jennifer Grewe, Psychology: University students & faculty would like more knowledge about using AI in academics
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Sydney Fisk, Jessica Schad, Sociology and Anthropology: Drought and lack of water are among the top environmental concerns for all Utahns
- Sarah Makar & Janna Cook, Jayme Walters, Social Work: The majority of USU students lack adequate access to food
Caine College of the Arts
- Kennedy Fry & Annora Madden, Jared Ragland, Art and Design: Photographs tell the story of Bear Lake to raise awareness of its importance to Utahns
- Ella White, Alvaro Ibarra, Art and Design: Latinx people in Cache Valley are limited in their opoprtunities for expression
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
- Autumn Zierenberg, Timothy Walsworth, Watershed Sciences: Overlooked Habitats Buffer Spawning Opportunities for Cutthroat Trout