What is URCAS?
The Undergraduate Research & Creative Arts Symposium (URCAS) is NMSU's showcase of undergraduate intellectual enterprises. ALL NMSU students are welcome and encouraged to take part, not just Crimson Scholars or Honors students. Highlighting student research, artwork, performances, and more, URCAS is a great way to get experience presenting in your field. Come also to support your friends and classmates and find out what might be possible for you to accomplish at NMSU. URCAS is coordinated by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (CURCA), housed in the Honors College and serving all students at NMSU.
Just a few examples of URCAS presentations:
- a paper or project for a course or a directed study
- results from lab research or other study, analysis, or experiment
- a research component for an internship
- a design solution to an industry need or engineering problem
- an original work of art, literature, or film
- musical or play performance
- a magazine, journal, or website
- an exhibit you curated
You can share your work in a 15-minute presentation or via a poster or exhibit, and individually or as a group. For resources on how to submit your abstract or start a project, check out the links in the sidebar. A poster printer is available for your use in CURCA at Conroy Honors Center. Have questions? Please reach our to CURCA director Dr. Miller-Tomlinson at tomlin@nmsu.edu or (575) 646-2005.
- URCAS 2026
- Information for Presenters
- Register for URCAS 2026
- Poster Session Abstracts
- Poster Sessions 1 and 2
- Talk/Performance Abstracts
- Past URCASes
- URCAS Faculty Mentors
Two of the hallmarks of a great university include excellence in undergraduate education and a vibrant community of scholars propelling advancements across all fields of study. For over a quarter of a century now, NMSU has featured what happens when we bring these two together at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium!
Congratulations to all the undergraduate students contributing new knowledge and creative work in this annual symposium. Thank you to all the advisors and supervisors that helped make these contributions possible!
URCAS 2026 At-a-Glance
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Time |
Ballroom |
Doña Ana Room |
Fountain Room |
Senate Chambers |
Senate Gallery or Auditorium |
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8:15-9 |
Registration & Poster Set-up in Ballroom |
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9-10 |
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Biological Diversity & Ecology Jade Collins, Francis Silva, Emma Varela |
Engineering & Physical Sciences Emerald Davis, Estel Galo, Lucas Samaniego |
Chemistry & Biochemical Analysis Evan King, Jesse Reyes, Jacarthie Kim Brazil |
Math & Geography Gabriel Agnew, Diego Langevin, Julian Gallegos Senate Gallery
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10-11 |
POSTER SESSION 1 |
Environmental Humanities & Health Gabriel Revalee, Brianna Rios, Vee Prochaska |
Visual Identity & Archival Preservation Asa Lambert, Anakat Lopez, Elijah Arenas |
Politics & Social Research Chianna Lopez, Andrés Uribe, Ruben Morales Jr. |
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11-12 |
POSTER SESSION 2 |
Cognition, Games & AI Behavior Caden Saiza & Angel Carillo, Ciara Reneé Quezada, Andrea Mariana Cruz |
Language Analysis & Creative Expression Alex Segovia, Will Turner, Joshua Martinez
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Performance, Choreography & Drama Samantha Ashley Hernandez, Graven Babe Auditorium |
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12-1 |
Lunch Break |
NSF-GRFP Workshop with Dr. Abdelkefi (starts 12:15) |
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1-2 |
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Health, Nutrition & Animal Science Jonathon Valencia, Ema Alvarez, Flavia Gabaldón Asúnsolo |
Education, Mentorship & Personal Growth Kaylin Lashley, Miriam LeHouillier, Laisha Ruby Corona, Esha Desai |
Molecular & Cellular Biology Samantha Brazil, Esai Cisneros, Kayden Robey |
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Mon., 4/20 |
Pete’s Patio at Corbett Center |
URCAS Awards, as part of the Research and Creativity Week Awards Ceremony. Time TBA. |
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View URCAS 2025 Presenters and Mentors Acknowledgements
URCAS 2025 OVERVIEW
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8:00-8:30am |
Registration (check in) and Poster Set-Up in Corbett East ballroom, 3rd floor |
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8:30-9:30am |
Talks |
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9:40-10:40 |
Talks |
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10:50-noon |
Poster Session & Exhibits in East Ballroom |
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10:50-noon |
Talks |
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Noon-1pm |
Lunch for participants and faculty mentors in Middle Ballroom |
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12:30-1pm |
Research Programs: Lightning Introductions with Q & A |
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1-2pm |
Talks; Panel on "Exploring Faculty Mentorship" for students and faculty |
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2-3pm |
Panel and breakouts on "Considering Graduate School" with representatives from all colleges |
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Mon., 4/28, Awards |
URCAS awards will be announced 4/28, 3-4:30pm, at Pete’s Patio in Corbett Center, as part of Research and Creativity Week. |