UT Dallas sets record with 354 presentations at SPUR symposium

The University of Texas at Dallas hosted its fifth annual Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) symposium on July 31, marking a new high for student participation. A total of 354 presentations were delivered, more than doubling the number recorded since the event began in 2022. One hundred seven students received recognition for their summer capstone projects, representing 37 different majors and 23 universities.

The event featured research across diverse fields, including psychology, engineering, arts, and management. Dr. Benedict Kolber, Dean Bert Moore Distinguished Professor of neuroscience, and Ben Porter, associate professor of instruction in bioengineering, founded the symposium. Kolber noted that the growth in participation reflects an increase in paid undergraduate research opportunities.

He stated, “Before, there was no opportunity for students to get paid to do undergraduate research. We’re capturing a bigger group from that.”

Several students received specific awards for their work. Kimberly Pham, a public health senior, earned the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences SPUR Award for her analysis of weight-loss drugs. Her research focused on how prior obesity treatments influence outcomes, with findings suggesting better success rates for individuals who had previously tried other strategies.

Pham remarked, “GLP-1s seemed to be their final option and the one that really worked. This research changed how I thought about these medications.”

Shreya Jayamohan, a neuroscience senior, received the Department of Neuroscience SPUR Award for studying how maternal behaviors affect offspring. Other recipients of the SPUR Outstanding Poster Awards included Juwayn Mohamed, Thomas Rufo, Kim Tran, and Rishab Gaddam for their work on 3D modeling; Benedict Premilan for research on cerebral cortex development; and Naveed Rauf for studying alcohol-related liver disease.

Student speakers presented on various topics, including KaLong Chan’s discussion of novel approaches to preventing infection in dental implants and Zara Jamshed’s analysis of regime support groups. Shreeyalaxhmee Rao, a child learning and development junior, explained how neighborhoods shape adolescent behavior.

Khang Vu, an electrical engineering junior, spent two months testing technology to charge electric vehicles while in transit as part of the Clark Summer Research Program. Vu described the experience as “so much nicer than I thought it would be,” adding, “It’s so amazing we’re still thinking of new solutions.”

University of Texas at Dallas employs about 3,700 people in Richardson, according to local government records.

Source: The University of Texas at Dallas.

Sources

https://news.utdallas.edu/students-teaching/spur-symposium-2026/