After months of research, undergraduate students from across North Carolina will present their findings on various topics at the Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium at the McKimmon Center Saturday.

The researchers will represent 23 public and private institutions including N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke.

Jaclyn Poston, a senior in biochemistry, said she has invested hundreds of hours into her research.

Her presentation, entitled “Localization of Beet Curly Top Virus in Arabidopsis,” falls into the science category of presentations.

Poston said she has worked continuously since May, devoting 20 hours a week throughout summer break and 10 per week after the fall semester began.

Poston, however, said she has not flown solo throughout the research process.

“I worked with a lot of different people in my class,” she said. “Some undergraduates have been there longer than me and they have been helping me.”

In addition to the help of her peers, Poston said she had guidance from a mentor.

Poston said she attended a symposium at a different university and “wanted to see the other side of it”.

She said she encourages students to participate in the symposium in the future.

“It’s going to look great on your resume — just the fact that you’ve done it,” Poston said. “Especially if you don’t know what you want to do yet and you are thinking of research as an option — definitely do it.”

Andrew Bernard, a senior in textile engineering, will make a presentation entitled “Optimization of Factors Affecting Production and Performance of a Nylon Monofilament with Sand Grains Embedded in the Surface.”

Bernard said he embarked on the research project in preparation for a future in research. “I just saw it as a way to actually get involved in developing an actual project,” he said. “I want to go to graduate school and do research like this.”

Bernard said his participation in the symposium will make him a competitive job applicant.

“I saw it as a head start,” he said. “Not everybody does undergraduate research so it kind of gives you an advantage over everyone.”

Despite there being representatives in attendance from local companies, legislators and the public, Bernard said he is not anxious about giving a presentation in front of a large group.

“I had an internship last summer where I presented in front of about 300 people,” Bernard said. “I’ve already had that experience and it doesn’t bother me.”

George Barthalmus, director of undergraduate research, is the coordinator of the symposium.

“It’s a beauty,” he said. “Nationally, undergraduate research and creative projects are considered some of the best ways for students to learn.”

Barthalmus said the symposium will allow people to see the skills of today’s students.

“This is a great way to showcase the talent of the next generation,” he said.

Those working to plan the symposium made an important change in the title, according to Barthalmus.

The word “creativity” was added to indicate that the symposium is not merely for research in the field of science, but is “all-inclusive”.

“Scholarship comes out in a variety of different ways,” he said.

To prove this, the symposium will begin with a performance by dancers from East Carolina University and UNC-Greensboro.

“We want science and math heads to see that scholarship can come in the form of dance,” Barthalmus said.

In addition to student presentations, “Lunchbox Focus Groups” will provide students with information on various topics such as how to apply to graduate schools and copyrighting. “It helps position [undergraduate students] for employment, graduate school and fellowships,” Barthalmus said.

According to Barthalmus, 65 NCSU students will present, compared with UNC-CH’s eight and Duke’s nine.

Barthalmus blamed the NCSU vs. UNC-CH football game for a decline in participation.