Villanova University Achieves Milestone at National Undergraduate Research Conference
VILLANOVA, Pa. (June 18, 2025) – This spring, Villanova University marked a significant achievement by sending an unprecedented group of 27 undergraduate students to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Pittsburgh. The event, held from April 7-9, was organized by The Council for Undergraduate Research, which has been fostering undergraduate scholarship since 1987.
The participating students from Villanova hailed from a variety of disciplines, with representations from eight departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and Villanova School of Business. The students showcased their research through 21 unique projects, covering topics such as ACL injury prevention, agricultural plastics’ impact on soil chemistry, and economic implications of population aging. Notably, Aryan Patel ’26 COE delivered an oral presentation on optimizing carbon capture and storage, highlighting its importance in tackling climate change.
Initial research efforts for these projects took place during the summer of 2024, with early presentations at Villanova’s Student Research Symposium in the fall. Among the attendees, Datamis Ghorbanian ’27 COE and Grace Hansen ’25 VSB were also distinguished by their participation in the BIG EAST Undergraduate Research Symposium in March.
Catherine Stecyk, director of the Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) & Presidential Scholars Program, praised the students’ efforts, stating, “The students’ presentations at NCUR beautifully represented the scale and interdisciplinary nature of undergraduate research at Villanova. We are so proud that the ingenuity of our students, and their drive to improve the world through research, was highlighted in front of a global audience.”
NCUR serves as a platform for students globally to present their research through various media, celebrating undergraduate achievement and fostering educational improvement. The annual gathering underscores the importance of early research exposure and the continual pursuit of academic ideas.
Stecyk further emphasized the significance of early research opportunities: “Exposing undergraduates to research opportunities early in their college experience and equipping them with the tools to continually pursue their ideas has a profound impact. That impact is underscored by the work of this impressive group of students.”
Villanova’s engagement in the conference was supported by CRF, which provides various programs and services to nurture undergraduate research interests year-round. These initiatives include the co-sponsorship of the annual Student Research Symposium, the peer-reviewed Veritas: Villanova Research Journal, and the facilitation of the Match Program for first-year students, along with numerous grants and fellowships.
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