Three University of Iowa juniors will be recognized for their research accomplishments and will receive stipends to attend professional conferences in their fields at a ceremony today, Wednesday, April 10.

Dan Reed, vice president for research and economic development at the UI, will present the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awards to Ben Goerdt, Michelle Sullivan, and Kelsey Warner. Each student receives $1,000 from the Office of Vice President for Research and Economic Development to attend a professional gathering.

Goerdt, an electrical and computer engineering major from Iowa City, was recognized for his work with the Virtual Soldier program at the Center for Computer Aided Design, part of the College of Engineering. The program seeks to mimic, through military members created virtually, the conditions that American servicemen and women encounter in the field. Goerdt’s faculty mentor is Tim Marler.

Sullivan is an evolutionary biology major with a minor in dance from Urbandale, Iowa. She seeks to understand how sexual reproduction continues to prevail in the face of asexual competitors. Her faculty mentor is Maurine Neiman.

Warner is pursuing a double major in speech and hearing sciences and psychology. The Bettendorf, Iowa native is investigating the role of the prefrontal cortex in the human process of doubt. She has worked with her faculty mentor, Daniel Tranel, since she was a freshman.

The awards ceremony is part of the annual Spring Undergraduate Research Festival, held at the University Capitol Centre from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Other undergraduate researchers and scholars will have posters explaining their activities. Various awards will be given in the poster competition. The event is free and open to the public.

The festival is sponsored by the Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates (ICRU), the University Honors Program, Office of the Vice President for Research, Office of the Provost, and the Graduate College.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact ICRU in advance at icru@uiowa.edu or 319-335-8336.