For undergraduate students, research can open doors to new ideas, unexpected discoveries and exciting possibilities for the future. Kent State's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program gives students the opportunity to work alongside faculty mentors to investigate questions, develop new skills and deepen their understanding of their chosen fields.
Last summer, 191 students participated in SURE, pursuing research across 54 disciplines. Through hands-on projects and close collaboration with faculty and mentors, students gained valuable experience applying classroom knowledge to real-world questions.
For students, the SURE experience offers more than an opportunity to conduct research. It provides a clear path for them to sharpen their critical thinking skills, tackle challenges from new perspectives, develop communication skills and build relationships with mentors and other team members to discover new possibilities for their academic and professional futures.
By translating classroom learning into hands-on research experience, SURE helps students build the skills, confidence and experience that distinguish them in a competitive job market and strengthen their preparation for graduate study.
Exploring New Questions and Possibilities
From exploring the effects of diet and stress on the brain to uncovering the science behind classic literature and developing technology to monitor canine health, our 2026 SURE participants demonstrated that research possibilities are virtually limitless. Whether investigating, exploring or examining, students had opportunities to move beyond the classroom and become active collaborators in the research process.
By investing in undergraduate research, Kent State helps students turn questions into discoveries, interests into expertise and academic experiences into opportunities for the future.
Working closely with faculty mentors, students learned to ask meaningful questions, evaluate evidence, navigate challenges and communicate their findings. These experiences help students develop skills that extend beyond a single project, preparing them to approach future academic, professional and personal challenges with curiosity and confidence.
Participating in the SURE program is associated with significantly enhanced degree completion - specifically within four-to-six-year windows - and markedly bolsters semester-to-semester persistence compared to non-participating peers.
These findings highlight the strong academic outcomes associated with participation in SURE.
Lucky Sah
A sophomore mechatronics engineering major, Lucky deployed embedded systems and artificial intelligence to tackle a persistent veterinary blind spot: quantifying stress and illness in domestic dogs at home. Lucky was mentored by faculty member Jong-Hoon Kim, computer science professor, and co-developed PawFeeder, an automated, smart feeding station prototype built around a Raspberry Pi and an integrated camera. Lucky showcased the system at Innovation Day 2026, hosted by the Northeast Ohio Public University Research Alliance. This exhibition features leading-edge innovations emerging from Northeast Ohio’s innovation ecosystem and organized jointly by Northeast Ohio’s public universities.
Elise Simmons, '26
Elise investigated how everyday physiological factors shape higher-order brain function. Working in faculty member Lee Gilman’s Health and Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Elise examined the intersection of high-salt diets, acute stress and cognitive performance in rodent models. "Laboratories thrive on curiosity and grit rather than pre-existing mastery, and the idea of all this is to learn," said Elise.
Isabella Emerick
A senior English major concentrating in professional writing with dual minors in paleontology and Italian studies, Isabella has spent the last two summers bridging humanities and natural sciences in collaboration with faculty members Linda Spurlock, anthropology professor, and Mahli Mechenbier, English professor, to dissect the deep-time and anthropological inspirations behind three foundational works of speculative fiction: “Frankenstein,” “Remarkable Creatures,” and “Clan of the Cave Bear.” "I realized how capable I am, and just how competent I am as not only a student researcher, but as a human being," she said.
