Arts and Sciences undergraduates — including aspiring dancers, writers and historians; physicists, Earth scientists and biologists; economists, psychologists and journalists — were among the top award-winners at the 21st annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum on March 30. Twelve ASC students won first place; 11 placed second; and 15 placed third. Several more received Honorable Mention. A total of 677 students across the university participated.

Placing first among the 38 arts and sciences top award winners: Marie Lamantia, dance; Kyle Shafer, biochemistry; Angela Davis, molecular genetics; Anthony Alfredo, neuroscience; Christine Ocrainicius, biology; Anna Fakler, history; Tyler Rohan, Earth sciences; Garrett Merz, physics; Mark Matthews, psychology; Dominic Julian, neuroscience; Luke Fesko, economics; Lahiru Wimalasena, biochemistry.

Placing second: Paul Hudson, zoology; Serena Chang, dance; Duncan Kountz, biochemistry; Joshua Hatterschide, biochemistry; John Wildenthal, biology; Spencer Palombit, EEOB; Nicholas Trivelas, chemistry; Emma Ford, chemistry; Alexandra Black, psychology; Lindsay Keenan, psychology; Jill Deatherage, speech and hearing science.

Placing third: Andy Ondrejech, zoology; Kenneth Phi, biochemistry; Mackenzie Lynes, microbiology; Dylan Fortman, biochemistry; Anthony Falzarano, microbiology; Laura Zweifler, biology; Kaylor Montgomery, English; Kevin Welsh, physics; Johnny Abi-Rached, chemistry; Henry Tran, chemistry; Makaela Natker, psychology; Nicholas Deems, psychology; Caitlin Poster, neuroscience; Skyler Maurer, neuroscience; Pallavi Oruganti, anthropological sciences.

Student winners in 11 categories, from the STEM sciences to humanities and the arts, were recognized in an awards ceremony and received cash prizes.

The Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is a cooperative effort of Ohio State’s Honors & Scholars Center, the Undergraduate Research Office and the Office of Research. The forum offers a unique opportunity for young researchers to gain experience in presenting and explaining their work to a panel of judges in a professional research setting.

The Denman not only is a diverse showcase of outstanding student research, but it actively encourages all undergraduates to gain the multiple benefits participation in research provides.

Allison Snow, former Office of Undergraduate Research director and professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology, has seen up close the value of undergraduate research. Since the office was established in 2006, she says that now, 10 years later, there is a marked difference in resources and outcomes for undergraduate researchers.

“Getting involved in research and being a part of this community is one of the best ways that our students can take full advantage of what’s here,” Snow said. “We are lucky to have a long-standing tradition of promoting undergraduate research. Each year, more and more students are doing very high-level research with professors and graduate students, and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments.

“Ohio State is at the leading edge of a national trend to give undergrads more opportunities to delve deeply into research and other creative activities. I would venture to say that we are among the best! And, the Denman Forum is the best place to see the full breadth and depth of the university’s research, and the very talented students who make it happen.”

Along with many of ASC's top researchers, biochemist Marcos Sotomayor is deeply committed to giving undergraduates opportunities to work in his lab. Last year, that commitment was honored with the Distinguished Undergraduate Research Mentor award. This year, one of those undergraduates, biochemistry major Lahiru Wimalasena, won a first-place Denman research award. Sotomayor is justifiably proud.

“It’s a way to open the minds of young people who perhaps never thought they could do real science,” Sotomayor said. “They see it is feasible and very rewarding. Making a discovery is an outstanding step in science when you actually get to know something nobody has known before.”

For a complete list of winners and accepted abstracts, visit denman.osu.edu.