Undergraduate Research
Welcome to the Office of Undergraduate Research
O.U.R. SPRING 2026 EVENTS
Tell Your Research Story: Building a Powerful Impact Statement
Tuesday, February 10 at 11 am
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
From Concept to Conference: Crafting and Presenting Your Poster
Tuesday, February 17 at 11 am
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
FURC 2026
Friday, March 6-Saturday, March 7
The Adam W. Herbert University Center (Building 43)
Communicating Your Research: Writing an Effective Abstract
Tuesday, March 24 at 11 am
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
From Concept to Conference: Crafting and Presenting Your Poster
Thursday, April 2 at 11 am
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
UNF Research Week
Monday, April 20-Friday April 24
How to Publish in PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas
Research Week
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
How to Successfully Secure Letters of Recommendation
Research Week
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
Funding Your Graduate Education Via Prestigious Fellowships w/ Dr. Tiffany Kershner
April 21 at 11 am
Building 2 (Founders Hall), Room 1202
SOARS 2026 Abstract Submission Deadline
Sunday, March 29 at 11:59 PM
SOARS 2026
Friday, April 24
The Senator Joe Carlucci Ballroom in the John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58W)
Other Undergraduate Research-Related Events
Library Research Party
Thursday, February 12 at 11 am
The Thomas G. Carpenter Library, Room 2102
Congratulations to the February Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Jordyn Bharratsingh!
Jordyn Bharratsingh is a coastal and marine biology major with a minor in environmental studies and has been deeply engaged in undergraduate research throughout her time at UNF. Her research focuses on studying mercury concentrations in sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) from Florida’s Gulf Coast, a project she has conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Gelsleichter, Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program director, biology professor and department chair.
Through this work, Jordyn has had the opportunity to present her findings at several venues, including the Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium in both 2024 and 2025, the Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) in 2025, the 2025 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC), and the 2025 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Outside of her research, Jordyn also serves as President of UNF’s Marine Biology Club and stays engaged with the Hicks Honors College.
When reflecting on her research experiences, Jordyn shares that her favorite part has been “being able to contribute to the ever-building collection of knowledge that we have.” With a passion for the ocean—and sharks in particular—she finds it especially meaningful to work on research that has the potential to benefit these species and their ecosystems. By working on these projects, Jordyn has developed valuable technical and analytical skills, including hands-on experience using a DMA-80 mercury analyzer system and strengthening her data analysis skills in Excel.
After she graduates this spring, Jordyn plans to pursue a master’s degree in marine science, with the long-term goal of working in a shark research laboratory.
The 2025 SOARS Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year
Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Meier, associate professor of anthropology at the University of North Florida, on being named the SOARS 2025 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year! One of Dr. Meier’s students who nominated her wrote, “Dr. Meier’s mentorship has profoundly shaped my academic and professional journey … She has impacted many students through both her courses and her research lab, doing everything in her power to help her students succeed. Because of her, I have found a field of research that I wish to engage with for the rest of my career.”
Dr. Meier’s award was presented as part of the 2025 Showcase of Osprey Achievements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS), which was held on Friday, April 11 in the John A. Delaney Student Union.
Congratulations, Dr. Jacqueline Meier, on this well-deserved honor and achievement!