Research Week
About Research Week
Research Week is a university-wide celebration of research, creativity, and innovation across all disciplines at the University of North Florida. At UNF, Research Week consists of showcases, workshops, award ceremonies, symposia, and other events designed to showcase the prestigious research being conducted by UNF students, faculty, and staff. All members of the University of North Florida and members of the northeast Florida community are invited to join us as we celebrate the many contributions of the university community to advancements in knowledge, teaching, and creativity.
Research Week 2025 will be held from April 4-14.
Research Week Events
Friday, April 4
Astronomy Night Student Research Showcase
8:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Building 50, Science and Engineering, Room 1102
At 8:00 p.m., UNF Astrophysics students will give "mini talks" about their research. Following the talk, there is public observing on the roof accessible via the elevator. Observation takes place on the roof, so dress comfortably and for the outdoors. You are encouraged to ask questions of professors and students throughout the night.
The 2025 Materials Symposium
9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Talon Room (Osprey Commons Building 16/Fourth Floor)
The event is designed to bring together students, researchers, and professionals from across UNF and beyond who are interested in the science and engineering of materials. The event will include invited talks, a panel on careers in industry, and a poster session. Students are welcome, and student researchers are encouraged to present a poster on their research during the poster session. While there is no registration fee, registration is required, and all attendees are asked to register by Friday, March 14th using the online registration form.
Monday, April 7
AI Symposium
1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Building 12, Thomas G. Carpenter Library, Second Floor Classrooms
Join us for an engaging showcase of AI research at UNF’s first AI Symposium. Innovation in AI Grant recipients will share their projects, followed by a thoughtful panel discussion and an interactive workshop on AI. To close the event, enjoy a relaxed networking cocktail hour with food and beverages provided by Information Technology Services.
RESEARCH NOW: Workday Reports for Grants!
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
"I want to track the remaining balance and identify potential overspending issues on my grant. What reports are available for me to use?" This session will provide an overview of the key Workday grant reports that will enable users to review grant expenses and monitor grant compliance across different projects.
Tuesday, April 8
RESEARCH NOW: Cayuse - Outside Interest
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
In today's world, it's more important than ever for research staff to complete conflict of interest (COI) disclosures. Failure to disclose risks serious repercussions, from whistleblower reporting and agency investigation, to grant suspension and public mistrust. Come and join us to hear about the new addition to the Cayuse platform for your proposal submissions. We will provide a breakdown of the slight changes for your proposal submission(s) along with an introduction to Cayuse Outside Interest module.
Graduate School Funding Info Session
12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Building 2, Founders Hall, Room 1202
During this workshop co-hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Office of Fellowships, Dr. Tiffany Kershner, Director of Fellowships, will discuss the application components for external graduate funding opportunities, and tips on how to prepare a competitive application. The target audience for the workshop is upper-level undergraduate and first year graduate students of all majors. No pre-registration is required.
Wednesday, April 9
RESEARCH NOW: It's Kahoot! Fun Time with Research Integrity!
9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Come play online with us and test your Cayuse trivia knowledge against your colleagues about human ethics, animal care, hazardous materials, and foreign influence. You'll have fun being the first to answer questions and score points on the Kahoot! leaderboard. Register early to play and win prizes!
Research Experiences and Resource Fair
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Outdoor Breezeway of Buildings 1 and 4
The Office of Undergraduate Research is hosting a Research Experiences and Resource Fair as a highlight of Research Week. This event aims to connect students with on-campus resources to support their research and creative endeavors, and for faculty members to spotlight their research agendas and recruit potential students.
Lunch and Learn: Faculty Fulbright Information Session
12:00 p.m.
The John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58), Room 3606
Join the Office of Faculty Excellence for lunch and an information session about the Fulbright Program for faculty. Dr. Tes Tuason and Dr. Nicholas de Villiers, recent recipients of Fulbright awards, will share their experiences with the Fulbright Program and associate provost Dr. John Kantner will share information about the application process for UNF faculty. Due to limited space, please register for the event to reserve a spot.
The Annual DHI Digital Projects Showcase
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The Talon Room (Osprey Commons Building 16/Fourth Floor)
The annual DHI Digital Projects Showcase provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to share teaching or scholarship practices that make use of information technologies to solve problems in interesting or original ways. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Nadhid Madyun, Director of the Florida Humanities Council.
Thursday, April 10
Friday, April 11
SOARS (Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58) Ballrooms
The Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) is an annual interdisciplinary conference at the University of North Florida (UNF) in which undergraduate and graduate students showcase their research or creative projects during Research Week. Research projects can be presented in poster format or as an oral presentation, but we also work with students who present in multimedia formats. SOARS is a welcoming environment where students can refine their presentation skills through interaction with peers and faculty as they explain their projects, which can be in various stages of development.
STARS (Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium) Faculty Research Poster Competition and Voting
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58), Rooms 3804 and 3805
All tenured and junior faculty are invited to submit a poster for the 2025 STARS Faculty Research Poster Competition held during this year’s STARS. There will be two categories of awards presented for this year’s poster competition: 1) Tenured Faculty and 2) Junior Tenure-Track Faculty. For each category, there will be a Faculty and Staff Choice Award in which $3,500 will be presented to the winner voted by UNF faculty and staff. There will also be a Student Choice Award in which $1,000 will be presented to one winner in both categories voted by UNF students. Funds can be used for activities that promote sponsored or research activities such as proposal development, conference travel, student wages, equipment and supplies. The winner will be announced during the STARS faculty and staff awards ceremony.
SOARS Keynote Address
Dr. Sebastian Alvarado:
Leveraging AI for Scientific Research
12:30 p.m.
The John A. Delaney Student Union (Building 58) Ballrooms
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how researchers collect, analyze, and interpret data across disciplines. This talk will explore the evolution of AI, from its early theoretical foundations to the powerful machine learning models shaping today's research landscape. In this talk, we will discuss key AI concepts, such as neural networks and large language models, and their applications in scientific research. Case studies will highlight AI-driven breakthroughs in animal behavior tracking and protein structure prediction, demonstrating how AI enhances data processing, removes human bias, and accelerates discovery. Finally, we will explore emerging AI tools supporting independent research, including literature analysis, citation visualization, and customized AI assistants. By the end of this session, attendees will gain insight into how AI can be leveraged to advance their research and improve scientific workflows.
Dr. Sebastian Alvarado is a scientist, educator, and AI enthusiast dedicated to advancing research, mentorship, and career development in the biological sciences. He serves as the Co-Director of the URISE Program at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), and is a Career Success Leadership Fellow across CUNY's 25 campuses, where he works with faculty to increase student career readiness. With a background in molecular biology and neuroscience, Dr. Alvarado's research program studies the role of epigenetic processes in phenotypic plasticity in a diverse collection of animal models. Dr. Alvarado completed his Ph.D. At McGill University, he was an A.P. Giannini Postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University and is currently faculty in the biology department at Queens College CUNY. Outside of his campus, Dr. Alvarado co-founded and runs Thwacke, a science consulting firm for the entertainment sector.
STARS Discussions with Poster Presenters
1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
The John A. Delaney Student Union, Rooms 3804 and 3805
Monday, April 14
STARS Faculty and Staff Reception and Awards Ceremony
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Talon Room (Building 16, 4th Floor)
The 16th Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium (STARS) is a showcase of excellence in research, scholarship, or creative activity (RSCA) highlighting the work of faculty and staff across all disciplines within the university community. The STARS Reception and Awards Ceremony is free to the UNF community, but preregistration is requested. The registration deadline is Thursday, April 3 at 5 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.