University of Virginia Graduate Engineering Students Ready to Showcase Top Research

April 9, 2008 — Graduate students in the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science will share their research on Thursday afternoon in the fourth annual University of Virginia Engineering Research Symposium (UVERS 2008).

"The entire event is student-organized," said Mark Hanson, a graduate student in electrical engineering and chair of the Graduate Engineering Student Council, which co-sponsors the event along with the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. "Research symposia such as UVERS provide an excellent opportunity to recognize and reward the integral role graduate students play within the University community," said Roseanne Ford, associate vice president for research and graduate studies.

Chosen from dozens of submissions, 20 finalists, representing all 10 graduate degree programs in the Engineering School, will present their work in posters on display from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Newcomb Hall Ballroom. Open to the public, "the symposium highlights some of the exciting research discoveries made by individuals in the graduate engineering student body," said Hanson. "This is our flagship research event, and it keeps getting bigger each year."

Three judges, including William Wulf, a professor of computer science and former president of the National Academy of Engineering, will choose the top five posters based on technical merit, impact and clarity of presentation. Awards will be presented at 5 p.m. in the lounge adjacent to the Newcomb Hall ballroom, with a reception beforehand from 4:30 to 5 p.m. The first place award is a $1,500 research grant.

"Through this event and others, we hope to build a significant and lasting graduate research culture," said Hanson.

Founded in 2005, the Graduate Engineering Student Council is a student-led organization representing nearly 700 engineering graduate students that sponsors outreach activities, professional development opportunities, and alumni events throughout the year. 

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