Science, Art, and Creativity Celebrated at Research Showcase
Event drew crowds as projects from various disciplines were presented
A record number of students presented projects at the recent Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA). The lively event was part of the Faculty of Arts and Science–Camden’s annual research week, now reimagined as SPARK! (Showcase of Projects, Art, Research, and Knowledge).
Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas Risch said he was delighted with the turnout. Students presented projects on the topics of biodiversity, neuroscience, literature, gaming, love, death, and more.
“This is our cornerstone research event, and it celebrates how undergraduate students are broadening their understanding of the world,” Risch said. “Each student’s project is unique, and our faculty mentors guide them to develop new concepts, test existing theories, or explore previously unexamined phenomena.”
Amir Lindor, Psychology Major, Class of 2026
Lindor and two of his fellow psychology majors, Jason Nguyen and Allison Night, investigated the link between performance and the sense of agency or control over one’s actions and outcomes. They found that self-reporting questionnaires could be a novel way to gather data measuring the outcomes of goal-directed tasks.
Lindor, who is the recipient of a Chancellor’s Grant for Independent Student Research—and who will continue as a Rutgers graduate student following his commencement next year—said the incredible opportunity to explore human cognitive behavior through research helped him gain valuable insight into experimental psychology.
“I am excited to continue pushing the boundaries of this research to see where it leads,” said Lindor.
Don Frenzel III, Computer Science Major, Class of 2027
Rhea Sharma, Biology and Global Studies Major, Class of 2025
Biology and global studies major Rhea Sharma and computer science major Don Frenzel III studied the sustainability and impact of the Friday lunch service at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Camden, New Jersey.
Sharma and Frenzell not only researched the power of providing hot food to those in need but also rolled up their sleeves to help prepare meals from menus that a campus nutritionist reviews to ensure the meals are healthy.
“We do get involved,” said Sharma.
Their analysis examines the sustainability and impact of the meal service while highlighting the logistical challenges and efforts to create a sustainable model for monetary support, food donations, and volunteers.
“We depend on financial donations,” said Frenzel. “It costs about $100 for one service.”
Frenzel is developing a website that will make it easier for donors to contribute and make it easier to schedule student volunteers. Both Frenzel and Sharma hope the project will soon become a student organization.
Gretchen Purvis, English Major, Class of 2025
English major Gretchen Purvis unearthed a connection between the goth-horror of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Purvis’s project explored the dearth of academic research on these two texts.
“We can long for our loved ones to return from the dead, but these novels show we should take care with what we wish for,” said Purvis. “These books were written 150 years apart, but both are stories of unresolved grief. I argue that these texts portray the protagonists’ grief as negative examples of mourning. These stories are here today for readers to learn from.”
Purvis’s mentor, Associate Professor of English Ellen Ledoux, said she is proud of Purvis’s depth of research and that Purvis’s unique work allowed her to present the findings at the prestigious Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA) confernece. “I was very excited for Gretchen,” Ledoux said. “She is one to watch. I believe she will go far.”
“CURCA provides a platform for our students to showcase their research from all disciplines,” said Risch. “Rutgers is an esteemed research university, and it is important to provide opportunities that celebrate the accomplishments of our students.”
