Celebrating 20 years of undergraduate research and discovery

For two decades, Wake Forest students have had opportunities to work with faculty on mentored undergraduate research, scholarship and creative projects across all academic disciplines.

From chemistry to engineering to biology to Spanish to math to theatre—more than 100 students had an opportunity to present at Wake Forest’s Undergraduate Research Day this year.

Grants from Wake Forest’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Center (URECA) fund the mentored projects.

Held over the University’s Family Weekend, URECA Day celebrates student and faculty collaborative scholarship. Students share their work with parents, peers, professors and the Wake Forest community.

URECA Day brings a broad spectrum of scholarship into one place, says Professor of Psychology Wayne Pratt, who directs the URECA Center. “Students are sharing scientific findings, historical research, creative work and everything in between. They are excited to talk about work that they have spent months thinking about and doing. Faculty are proud of what their students have accomplished, and the campus gets to come together and celebrate it all.”

The undergraduate research experience through URECA often extends beyond Family Weekend. Some students continue to work with a faculty mentor, attend conferences to present research with their mentors or become co-authors on research papers.

“The 20th URECA Day is certainly a milestone worth noting,” Pratt says. “But the day has never really been about URECA—it is about giving our students and faculty mentors a place to celebrate the work they have done together. That has been the heart of this celebration for twenty years and will be for years to come.”

Meet the student researchers and faculty mentors to and learn more about their work with faculty mentors in the short social videos below.

What does research look like beyond the classroom? Leyla Herrera (’27) takes science into the field with biology professor Chris Krieg.

What can paper wasps teach us about the human brain? Lacy February (’27) studies how the brain processes facial recognition with biology professor Chris Jernigan.

How can medicinal chemistry advance cancer treatment? Andrew Riggs (’27) is building lab expertise with chemistry professor Ulrich Bierbach and doctoral student David Halatek (Ph.D. ’27).

What can axolotls teach us about how humans heal? Fedelia Ashie (’29) explores regenerative medicine with doctoral student Jacob Barrett (Ph.D. ’27).

How does research shape a stage production? Senya Li (’28) works with theatre professor Cindy Gendrich to inform Wake Forest’s spring 2027 production of The Secret in the Wings, co-directed by Gendrich and assistant professor Jon Herbert.