500 students attend Undergraduate Research Fair

October 14, 2025 (Volume 49, Number 4)
Article by Joseph Martin

tabling event with student in head scarf and glasses smiling, talking to woman with back to camera

man gesturing with right hand, wearing black shirt; vertical posters around him

Mai Sanour, a first-year biomedical sciences major, visits the Undergraduate Research Fair October 7 held in the Kirkhof Center's Grand River Room.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

Representatives from more than 30 campus departments and organizations met with nearly 500 prospective student scholars at GVSU’s 16th annual Undergraduate Research Fair, held October 7 at the Kirkhof Center.

Academic departments and local organizations provided information about research opportunities and internships to students

Jerimiah Robinson is a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences with a minor in sociology. He said he learned about the fair from a faculty member and was curious about what opportunities he might find.

“I think the combination of biomedical sciences and sociology gives me some unique skills and perspective, so I mainly came to learn about research opportunities in general and to see what I could get involved with," Robinson said.

Anthony Spencer, associate professor of communications and media studies, said the event is a great opportunity for students from all majors to learn about research opportunities.

“Students are all pretty curious and inquisitive," Spencer said. "It’s a great opportunity for them to connect to faculty and staff members who can tell them what’s available. It can be something as simple as a personal project the student is interested in, or working with a professor who has an ongoing project.”

Dantya Jennings, associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, said the fair was a great opportunity for students to get involved in research both within and outside their majors.