In April 2023, the Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EUReCA) was held in the UTK Student Union. Of the participating 1,179 students with 868 projects covering a multitude of disciplines, 161 awards were extended for excellence in undergraduate research. Since 1997, the EUReCA competition has given undergraduate students the opportunity to showcase their research. In addition, EUReCA also recognizes faculty research mentors.

The Herbert College of Agriculture celebrated success with several award winning projects. Read below for Herbert College students and faculty who received awards for their research at the 2023 EUReCA competition.

Excellence in Undergraduate Research

William Smith – Assessing the Influence of Daily Light Integral on Photosynthetic Active Radiation Productivity and Secondary Phytonutrients of Deep Water Cultured Red and Green Oakleaf Lettuce, Department of Plant Sciences

Laura Whaley, Hannah Sutt, Emerson Sapienza, & Jakob Johnson – Reducing Off-target Pesticide Spray and Harm to Beneficial Insects with Variable-rate, Intelligent Spray Technology, Department of Plant Sciences

Adnan Shihaibar – Simulated Transport of Nano-plastics through Topsoil in Different Rain Conditions, Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Esmeralda Mattarazzo – Department of Wildlife & Fisheries

Graduate Student Research Mentor Award

Spencer Givens – Graduate Research Assistant, Masters Student, Department of Plant Sciences

Faculty Research Mentor Award

Dr. Kellie Walters – Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Sciences

The 28th Annual EUReCA competition will be held on April 23, 2024. For more information on how to apply for the 2024 EUReCA awards, click here.