East Tennessee State University hosted its annual Dr. Jay W. Boland Research Day on April 16, shining a spotlight on the innovative work and community engagement efforts of students, residents and fellows from across campus.
With 270 participants and 93 faculty and staff members serving as judges, the event underscored the university’s commitment to fostering a strong culture of inquiry, collaboration and real-world impact.
“Research Day continues to build on the momentum we saw last year,” said Dr. Nick Hagemeier, vice provost for Research and chief research officer. “This year’s event once again drew a strong turnout and highlighted the breadth and depth of student research and creative activity happening across our campus.”
The event featured a dynamic mix of poster sessions, oral presentations and creative displays as well as a community engagement showcase.
Judges recognized 46 students as award winners across a range of categories and disciplines, celebrating excellence in both poster and oral presentations. The winners represented multiple colleges and majors, with research exploring issues such as the impact of isolation on medical students, forecasting lung and colon cancer mortality trends and the shift from oral to written pedagogy in clarinet and klezmer music. (Read the full list of winners.)
The community engagement presentations demonstrated students’ hands-on learning projects ranging from supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the region to a project analyzing and promoting mental health services for unhoused individuals.
Dr. Jay W. Boland Research Day was created by merging three major events — the Boland Undergraduate Research Symposium, the Appalachian Student Research Forum and the Community-Engaged Learning Showcase — into one university-wide celebration. The event honors the legacy of Dr. Jay W. Boland, a beloved professor and mentor who championed student research and inspired generations of scholars during his time at ETSU.
The co-sponsors of the event included the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, the Office of Community Engagement and the Honors College.
Learn more at etsu.edu/boland.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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