Commerce Seniors Showcase Research in Austin

By: Sydni Walker

COMMERCE, TX – Two Texas A&M University – Commerce seniors, Jennifer Beard and Jeffery Sun, represented A&M – Commerce Feb. 14th at the Texas Undergraduate Research Day in Austin.

            A&M Commerce was one of 51 universities to participate in the event designed to showcase the best undergraduate research in Texas. Student researchers, legislators and university officials came crowding in to the event where Beard’s and Sun’s posters were two of the 84 on display.

            Beard’s research was titled “Adults’ Unique Identity Presentation in Facebook: ‘My 25s,’” and directed by Dr. Ray Green, associate professor of psychology and dean of honors college. As a psychology major, Beard examined how individuals access and portray their identities on a social networking Web site. Sun’s research was titled “The Synthesis and Recognition Properties of a Zn-Tetraphenylporphyrin:(1R,2R)-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane Sulfonamide Derivative,” and was completed under the direction of Dr. Stephen Starnes, assistant professor of the chemistry department. As a chemistry major, Sun looked at the topic of anion recognition, which is important in many contexts like detecting environmental pollutants.

            Many high-profile legislators and university administrators spoke at the event. Among them were Dan Branch, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee; Raymund Paredes, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Committee; and Michael McKinney, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System.

            The event proved to be a great opportunity for A&M-Commerce students to meet legislators and officials while showing off their hard work and talent.

            For more information on undergraduate research opportunities, visit http://web.tamu-commerce.edu/research/CURCA/default.aspx.