Students share research at Virginia capital
Three students traveled to Richmond this semester to present their research at the state capital, engaging directly with legislators and demonstrating the value and impact of undergraduate research for the commonwealth.
“This event is important for the undergraduate research community at large because by sharing their research, students are advocating for and validating the need for resources to support these activities,” said Keri Swaby, assistant vice provost for experiential education. “For the university, it elevates the research happening on the Blacksburg campus and raises its profile at the state level.”
Hosted by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia, the showcase in January brought together students from colleges and universities across the commonwealth to present their work to lawmakers and agency officials. Hannah Blake, Morgan Lundberg, and Bryan Tomer were chosen through a competitive selection process to represent Virginia Tech.
“The students who were chosen to present demonstrated they can break down their research and make it accessible to a broad audience, a skill they will need as professionals regardless of their career path,” said Swaby.
Research excellence
Blake, a sophomore majoring in computer science, conducts research at the Hume Center for National Security and Technology with funding from Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.
She co-authored “Spectral Warrior: Gamification of Radar and Phased Array Concepts for Military Applications,” which explores the use of virtual reality to teach the use of phased array concepts, a computer‑controlled set of antennas used in radar, communications, and wireless systems.
The paper was written with two other students with mentorship by Virginia Tech National Security Institute faculty members William Headley and Bradley Davis as well as Research Engineer Elliott Rheault. It was originally presented last October at the IEEE Military Communications Conference in Los Angeles.
“The undergraduate research experience was valuable to me because it helped me see the practical applications of gamification systems and how they can help people learn complex topics,” said Blake. “I’ve learned more through these hands-on projects than I ever could in a classroom.”
Lundberg, a junior majoring in geosciences, works in the environmental nanoscience lab, where she is researching redox-controlled iron mineral transformations in drinking water reservoirs and their implications for water quality.
“I am really interested in the importance of water quality, whether that being for global warming concerns, droughts, and even the rise of data centers that require mass consumption of water,” said Lundberg. “It is very important that we research more water management strategies.”
Supporting career goals
For many students, conducting and presenting research becomes a springboard to graduate school, internships, or their first full‑time job.
“My goals are to continue my undergraduate research and stay here for graduate school to earn a master’s and then a Ph.D. while continuing to work on Virginia Tech’s wind tunnel,” said Tomer, a junior majoring in aerospace engineering.
Tomer worked on restarting Virginia Tech’s Hypersonic Wind Tunnel with Liselle Joseph, who teaches in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and the Virginia Tech National Security Institute. He worked on the wind tunnel by examining its data and building automatic computer programs to help analyze results from tunnel tests, all part of a larger project to recommission the facility.
“This experience was valuable because it showed me more of the academic side of lab work compared to the corporate side,” said Tomer, who works in the PHASE research group. “I received the SMART Scholarship last spring from the Missile Defense Agency, providing me with funding for the next three years.”
“This scholarship also provides me with summer internships and a full-time job upon graduation, working on Aegis-based defense for the Missile Defense Agency,” he said.
Creating value for the commonwealth
As a land-grant university, Virginia Tech’s mission includes teaching, research, and engagement with communities across the state and beyond. Approximately 20 percent of the university’s general budget comes from the commonwealth’s General Fund.
“This event is different from other research conferences because students speak directly to state legislators, the people responsible for developing policies and allocating resources,” said Swaby. “In many cases, the topics students presented were directly relevant to lawmakers and to the state’s current and emerging industries.”
Undergraduate research is a key component of many degree programs and an important part of Virginia Tech Advantage, the university’s commitment to ensuring all students have access to a full educational experience regardless of financial need.
Research projects can also fulfill requirements for the Bridge Experience Program, which connects classroom learning to real-world professional environments through internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, or service‑learning. For many majors, completing a bridge experience is required for graduation.
Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research website to learn more about research opportunities.
Written by Dean Bills, editorial intern at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs
