UNI Students Gain Valuable Research Skills

Students from the University of Northern Iowa will present their research in poster format Tuesday, April 3, in the First Floor Rotunda of the Iowa Statehouse. “Research in the Capitol” is an annual collaborative effort between the honors programs of Iowa's three Regent universities to celebrate how undergraduates learn by doing research in a variety of fields.

“The posters created for 'Research in the Capitol' stem from independent research projects that students have been working on, often for many months prior to this event, with the guidance of faculty mentors,” said Jessica Moon, director of UNI's University Honors Program. “It gives students an opportunity to visually depict their research or creative process from the overarching question to key findings, and then pushes participants to engage in conversation with legislators about the significance of their work—to them as students, to their academic fields or to the world at large.”

UNI provides students with opportunities to engage in hands-on research with faculty, often beginning as early as their freshman year. These opportunities allow students to gain valuable skills, discover or confirm career plans, work with setbacks and ambiguity, and establish personal, academic and professional life goals.