Date
The University of Oklahoma Honors College hosted its 38th annual Undergraduate Research Day on April 16 in the Thurman J. White Forum Building. Over 300 people attended, and 175 students presented their posters and projects to visitors, faculty members, judges and peers.
Undergraduate Research Day 2026 winners include:
Oral Presentations
Grand Oral Presentation Winner
Kayla Davis
Engineering Oral Presentation
1st – Aubrey McNeil
2nd – Alseny Boiro
Arts, Psychology & Engineering Oral Presentation
1st – Paloma Torres
2nd – Wonga Nogwanya
Life Sciences I Oral Presentation
1st – Maddie Whynot
2nd – Christina Rodriguez
Life Sciences II Oral Presentation
2nd – Jeff Engelman
Biomedical Engineering and Biology Oral Presentation
1st – Reagan Thompson
2nd – Slade Smelser
Arts, Economics & Psychology Oral Presentation
1st – Ann Gao
2nd – Samantha Seratte
Poster Winners
Grand Poster Winner
Keianna Taheri
Arts and Humanities Poster
1st – Mackenzie Caddell
2nd – Swelihle Mtshali
Biology Poster
1st – Ishan Patel
2nd – Ryan Thomas
Engineering Poster
1st – Apphia Lugunda
2nd – Raktim Adhikary
Health Poster
2nd - Ekaram Mohamadain Musa Mohamad
Physical Sciences Poster
1st – Jadon Harrison
2nd – Emily Thrun
Psychology Poster
1st – Lillian Mukaneza
2nd – Damilola Morodulu
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
A decade-long partnership between the University of Oklahoma and Southcentral Foundation, an Alaska Native-owned, nonprofit health care organization based in Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to grow and strengthen a research workforce serving American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Soami Ellis, a recent OU graduate, has become the university’s first professional helicopter major to earn a CFI rating. This milestone is made possible through a recently established School of Aviation program made in partnership with Semper Fly Helicopters in Norman.
The University of Oklahoma is experiencing a period of transformation few institutions in higher education can match – but OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. says the university’s progress is less a finish line than a foundation for what comes next.