By Jimmy Isbell

The deadline to apply for a spot at the Undergraduate Research Festival was extended to Tuesday. The fourth annual event will take place Apr. 2 on ACU’s campus.

Undergraduates from many fields will participate in research based on their interests. Prizes will be awarded to the top presenters. There are two winners in two categories; one for science based and the other a non-science based projects.

Evan Jones, senior pre-med biochemistry major from Canyon, and one of the two Researchers of the Year in 2011 will submit his research project, which is an “Analysis of global chromatin compaction during adult neural stem cell differentiation.” He spent this last summer at UT Southwestern, Dallas, researching his study to have his audience understand better treatment options for diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Emily Adams, Environmental Science major from Roanoke, Va. is participating in the research festival this year. She and another student are working with Dr Josh Brokaw, professor of biology, on a project. They set up a daily experimentation schedule, which they have adhered to since last semester to prepare their project for the festival.

“During undergraduate research you get to really find out how to go through the whole research process with the guidance of a professor, and the festival just kind of makes it all worth it,” Adams said.

Professors with a potential research project ask students that have shown an interest in doing research to be an assistant. However, some students request a professor to accompany them in their project.

Dr. Greg Powell, director of undergraduate research, believes a goal for many of the students participating in undergraduate research this year is to improve speaking in a public arena.

“This give students experience and allow their presentation skills to be honed in talking live about their research to a diversified audience,” Powell said.