KU students to present at Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
LAWRENCE — Undergraduate researchers from the University of Kansas will present their research projects as part of Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. The event takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 26.
KU students from the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses will join their peers from other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) public four-year universities to deliver in-person poster presentations at the Kansas Capitol rotunda in Topeka. Presentations will be viewed by other students, faculty, KBOR members, state lawmakers and members of the public from across the state of Kansas.
The event is intended to raise awareness of the research being conducted by undergraduate students at state universities. Interested students complete an application process managed by the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. Next year’s application will open in January 2026.
The presenters are listed below by name, year of study, hometown, major, mentor and title of research project:
2025 KU Lawrence presenters:
Evanna Dominic, junior from Overland Park in chemical engineering and Spanish, mentored by Mark Shiflett, chemical & petroleum engineering: “Extractive Distillation for Separating Refrigerants Using Ionic Liquids.”
Bhavya Gupta, junior from Overland Park in microbiology and global & international studies, mentored by Joanna Slusky, molecular biosciences: “Structural Determination of the ColeE1* and TolC Complex.”
Alexa Magstadt, junior from Shawnee in molecular, cellular & developmental biology, mentored by Dan Dixon, molecular biosciences: “Understanding the Role of Mutant KRAS in Colorectal Cancer Metastasis.”
Darya Moiny, junior from Stilwell in chemistry, mentored by Rachel Farber, chemistry: “Structure of Benzyl Isothiocyanate Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111)/Mica Surfaces.”
Kai Smith, junior from Pretty Prairie in biochemistry, mentored by Elisabeth Anne Crossfield Mills, physics & astronomy: “Identifying Complex Molecular Species in Clouds of the Milky Way’s Center.”
KU Medical Center presenters:
Sabine Jean-Philippe, junior in respiratory care from Kansas City, Missouri, mentored by Ashley Barry, and Dave Burnett, respiratory care: “Improving health care workforce capacity in rural Kansas.”
Madison Johnson, senior in nursing from Basehor, mentored by Jennifer Williams: “The Gift of Life Mentorship: A Secondary Data Analysis.”
Sarah Kriet, senior in nursing from Overland Park, mentored by Cara Busenhart, nursing: “Midwives KAN: Interviews of Midwives in Rural and Underserved Areas.”
Alejandra Wright, senior in nursing from Paola, mentored by Amy Garcia, nursing: “Nurse Burnout and Fatigue – Impact of Extended Work Hours and Job Role in Kansas.”