The 2026 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol features up to 40 students from all Kansas Board of Regents institutions, including five from Wichita State.
Students, faculty, Kansas Board of Regents members, state lawmakers and members of the public are invited to visit the Capitol Rotunda from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 to view the students’ presentations.
Student presenters from WSU:
- Stephanie Cruz Ponce
Major: Applied engineering
Project title: “Applied Structural Optimization of an Aircraft Wing Spar for Light Sport Aircraft”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Adam Lynch, professor of practice of applied engineering - Jessa York
Major: Communication sciences and disorders
Project title: “Auditory Function in Children with Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Cynthia Richburg, professor of communications sciences and disorders and Au.D. program coordinator - David Rich
Major: Chemistry
Project title: “Investigation of NbTe4 as a Potential Anode Material for Li-Ion Batteries”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Jian Wang, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry - Riley McMillan
Major: Biology
Project title: “Immunohistochemical (IHC) Analysis of HNSCC/CAF Cells and Xenotransplants”
Faculty mentor: Dr. Bill Hendry, chair and professor of biological sciences - Garett Knight
Major: Communications sciences and disorders, linguistics and music
Project title: “From Sound to Synapses: Music’s Impact on Psychological States & Emotional Intelligence through Mental Imagery”
Faculty mentors: Dr. Erin O’Bryan, assistant professor of CSD; Dr. Mythili Menon, associate professor and director of linguistics; and Dr. Courtney Long, assistant professor of music
For questions about the 2026 Research Days at the Capitol, contact Dr. Michael Birzer, director of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub, at michael.birzer@wichita.edu