The thirteenth Annual Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium was held on July 29, 2026. Undergraduate students from 36 institutions in 16 states gathered at UAMS to celebrate the achievements of undergraduates pursuing research projects at colleges and universities across Arkansas.
Of the 87 student researchers who submitted abstracts for the Symposium 12 were selected for oral presentations.
- Elena Coleman from Rhodes College performed research this summer at UAMS in the SURP program.
- Lillie Ballany from the University of Arkansas performed research this summer at UAMS in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department SURF program.
- Mia Canizares from Mount St. Mary’s Academy performed research this summer at UAMS in Cell Biology and Physiology.
- Owen Bussell from the University of Central Arkansas performed research this summer at at the University of Central Arkansas.
- Bailee Brinkley from Arkansas Tech University performed research this summer at UAMS in the INBRE program.
- Fariha Alam Bushra from Southeast Missouri State University performed research this summer at UAMS in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department SURF program.
- Clara Park from Rhodes College performed research this summer at UAMS in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department SURF program.
- Bennett Dishongh from Hendrix College performed research this summer at UAMS in the INBRE program.
- Mishel Ocho from Wake Forrest University performed research this summer at UAMS in the Pharmacology and Toxicology SURF program.
- Chelsea Cliff from Howard University performed research this summer at UAMS in the SURP program.
- Kaylee Francis from Hendrix College performed research this summer at UAMS in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department SURF program.
- Spencer Stutts from Hendrix College performed research this summer at the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville in the INBRE program.
Of the 80 poster presentations, the top 10 received prizes donated by MedChemExpress and the UAMS Graduate School.
- Benjamin Anderson from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Praise Fabiya from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
- Hannah Harshaw from Ouachita Baptist University
- Ava Lang from Arkansas State University
- Sonja Ramirez from Lyon College
- Simra Rana from Haas Hall Academy
- Ian Scarth from the University of Hawaii
- Joshua Skipworth from the University of Central Arkansas
- Paige Spicer from Ouachita Baptist University
- Rhys Wolter from Episcopal Collegiate
This annual event at UAMS is organized by the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, and was supported by the Arkansas INBRE, the Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer (CMIC), the UAMS Graduate School, the Central Arkansas Chapter of Sigma Xi, and MedChemExpress.
