The Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award, sponsored by Archer Library and the Instructional Resource Center, recognizes excellence in research for a student project presented during the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium.
The award application process required a 250-word (or more) research process essay describing research strategies and use of library tools including library databases, discovery service, and selection of search terms. The essay required student reflection of the research process itself. Applicants were required to provide a bibliography or works cited paper for their final project.
Cindy Perkovich, 2026 URCA Symposium Chairperson, recognized the six finalists for the 2026 Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award:
- Raechel Serafimov, for Analysis of Nicotine and Toxic Metals in Nicotine and Tobacco Pouches
- Aniket Patel, for A Comprehensive Dual-Camera Driver Monitoring System for Real-Time Traffic Violation Detection Using Multi-Task Deep Learning
- Colin Pham, for Presentation: Phosphazene-based Metal Organic Frameworks Incorporating Coinage Metals for Drug Delivery Systems
- Zack Van Farrowe, for The Church as Alternative Polis: John Howard Yoder's Vision for Christian Social Action
- Oleksandra Bibik, for Soviet‑Born Wounds in Ukraine: Holodomor Genocide and the Lingering Trauma of a Nation
- Ayden (James) Mason, for The host ranges of Bacillus bacteriophages
Patricia Frank, Archer Library Director, is pleased to announce the winner of the 2026 Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award:
Prabesh Sunar, for Campus Exchange Marketplace — Investigating Behavior in a Zero-Price Campus Exchange System
Prabesh's research and essay examined: "How does a campus-exclusive, zero=price digital exchange platform shape participation, trust, and patterns of resource redistribution among students, faculty, and staff?" (Sunar, P., Archer Library Research Essay, 2026).
Congratulations to the finalists and winner of the inaugural Archer Library Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award!