Students shared their research projects with the Skyline College community at the 5th annual Undergraduate Symposium of Academic Research (uSOAR) on April 25, 2025. The event provides a venue for showcasing student work and highlighting the college’s research opportunities.
Fifty-three student researchers showcased their work in a poster session held in the Fireside Dining Room of Building 6. Students, faculty, staff, and administrators circulated through the room, viewing posters and chatting with the researchers about the issues and findings from their projects. Poster subjects included chemistry, history, public health, biology, computer science, physics, media analysis, geography, biotechnology, economics, psychology, cosmetology, environmental science, and astronomy.
Organizations tabling during the poster session included Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (Beta Theta Omicron chapter); Psi Beta Psychology Honor Society; Honors Club & the Honors Transfer Program (HTP); Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA); NASA & San José State University; Stanford Community College Outreach Program; SF State Biology, Engineering, and the School of the Environment; San Mateo County Libraries; One Life Counseling Center; the Center for Social Dynamics autism services; and allcove youth mental health centers.
uSOAR transitioned upstairs for a welcome by Acting Dean Bianca Rowden-Quince of the Social Science & Creative Arts Division. Student researcher Codie Lai delivered a heartfelt keynote speech, sharing his experiences of failure during the research process and the resilience he developed from those experiences.
Twelve students delivered fifteen-minute research presentations from a range of disciplines like public health, biology, economics, business, psychology, computer science, political science, and art. The following students gave presentations: Brianna Xu, Rhema Palencia, Brandon Khuu & Laurence Garcia, Ken Reyes & Sophia Escobar, Luis Jibaja Prado, Junvir Gabriel Espe, Maylene Marks, TuongVan Do, and a team with Amapola Garcia-Gomez, Ashley Gutierrez-Carreto & Luis Jibaja Prado.
The posters and presentations would not have been possible without the many dedicated faculty mentors who volunteered their time to support student research. Events like uSOAR can only succeed when students, faculty, staff, and administrators collaborate.
The uSOAR organizing committee included Rachel Cunningham (Geography), Jennifer Merrill (Psychology), Janice Sapigao (English, Honors Transfer Program), Susanne Schubert (Chemistry, PTK), Pia Walawalkar (Skyline College Library), Andy Murillo (Social Science & Creative Arts), Lynette Caballero (Social Science & Creative Arts), and Bianca Rowden-Quince (Social Science & Creative Arts). The organizers would like to thank the Barker Fund for Social Science, the Social Science & Creative Arts Division, Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta, the Honors Transfer Program, Ash Asaro and Niki Castello from SSCA, Luis Prado from STEM, our student assistants and volunteers, Skyline College Facilities, Media Services, and Mei Lee and Jerry Rivera for photography.
Article by Andy Murillo and Lynette Caballero. Photos by Mei Lee and Jerry Rivera.
