Several levels of academic inquiry at The Ohio State University at Lima were on display during a research-focused day on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Undergraduate research took center stage first at the Undergraduate Research Forum in the Lima Campus Library. 29 students presented their findings across 17 projects in a variety of subjects in biology and psychology. Topics include:
- Small mammals of south Asia
- Parasitoid flies
- Plants of the Tecumseh Interpretative Nature Preserve
- Colias butterflies
- Tree species of the Ohio State Lima campus
- Microorganisms of the Miami-Erie Canal
- Bioassessment of the Lost Creek
- Narrative comprehension in preschoolers
- Smartphone usage patterns and suggestibility
- Executive functioning in children
Each student or group of students displayed research findings on a poster and talked about their projects. Spectators were welcome to read the posters and ask questions in an open-house format. Lima students can also present their research at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum, the Spring Undergraduate Research Festival and at many discipline-specific events.
Two students also presented their Second Year Transformative Experience projects. Both chose international travel and study abroad.
Senior Leah Beraki won the 2025 undergraduate research award, which is presented by Charles River Laboratories. The Charles River Labs Outstanding Student Researcher Award goes to an exceptional undergraduate student on campus with a successful record of research success, which can include presentations, thesis completion, publications, creative works, awards, work in research labs, research-relevant service, or leadership among undergraduate researchers. The faculty mentor also received an award.
To round out the day of research, one of the inaugural Violet I. Meek Scholars, psychology’s Dr. Virginia Tompkins, presented “Examination of Factors Influencing Young Children’s Narrative Comprehension," a study on the effects of race and gender on preschoolers’ story comprehension.