Student Spotlights

Undergraduate Research Honors Program

Student Spotlights

Undergraduate researchers at East Tennessee State University aren't just studying the world—they're actively reshaping it. These students from diverse academic backgrounds have transformed curiosity into discovery, turning classroom learning into real-world impact. With support from the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities, they've traveled to conferences, developed cutting-edge skills, and shared groundbreaking findings with professional audiences.

Their research journeys prove that innovative thinking knows no boundaries. From laboratory breakthroughs to creative projects that challenge conventional wisdom, these students demonstrate how undergraduate research opens doors to extraordinary opportunities. Each story below showcases not just academic achievement, but the transformative power of hands-on discovery.

Meet the researchers who are defining the future of their fields.

Imani Perryman

Recipient of the Global Research Scholarship, Special Education major and member of the Undergraduate Research Honors Program Imani Perryman traveled to Cambodia. While there, she visited three different school systems to present trainings to teachers about anxiety in children with disabilities. She said, "I had the opportunity to observe different special education classrooms to compare and understand educational differences between Cambodia and the United States. As a I hope to become a school-based occupational therapist in the future, the most beneficial vocational experience I had was when I was able to actually observe and participate in an occupational therapy session at a school in Cambodia. All in all, my 2 weeks spent in Cambodia increased my understanding of global challenges in special education, improved my cultural awareness, and helped me gain hands-on career experience. "

Joe Neglia

Computing major Joe Neglia spent last summer tackling one of today's most pressing technological questions: Can we distinguish human-written code from AI-generated code? Working alongside Dr. Brian Bennett through ETSU's Summer Fellowship program, he developed machine learning algorithms to solve this emerging challenge. The $3,000 fellowship supported both his research and academic progress, covering tuition for an Independent Study course that provided college credit. The project operated entirely in the digital realm, analyzing code datasets from online repositories and AI-generated samples.

Brooke Dinnes

When Brooke Dinnes stepped into the American Physiology Society conference in Long Beach, California, she wasn't just presenting research—she was joining a vibrant scientific community. Thanks to a Travel Grant from ETSU's Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities, Brooke shared her cardiovascular research findings through a poster presentation while connecting with graduate students and established researchers nationwide. The conference's cardiovascular section proved especially valuable, introducing her to cutting-edge techniques and technologies for her own project.

Grayson Buchanan

Senior Theatre major Grayson Buchanan transformed her passion into professional opportunity at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Mobile, Alabama. This industry gathering connected hundreds of performing arts companies with college students seeking summer jobs and internships—exactly the career bridge Grayson needed as graduation approaches.Beyond auditions, the conference offered invaluable masterclasses with industry professionals. Grayson particularly valued learning about theme park performers and shows, discovering career paths she hadn't previously considered. "The masterclass taught me so much about the industry that I probably wouldn't have learned anywhere else," she reflects.

students holding banner

In Summer 2024, the Medical Humanities journey across Britain transformed textbook learning into tangible experience. At London's Old Operating Theater at Herb Garrett, students witnessed 19th-century surgical practices firsthand. The Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford revealed anthropological perspectives on bodies and health across cultures, while exhibits at the National Science Museum and Hunterian Museum traced medical evolution through artifacts and specimens.

In Edinburgh's Surgeons Hall, they explored surgical history alongside fellow researchers. From Whitby Abbey's medieval healing traditions to cutting-edge museum displays, each site illuminated how cultural contexts shape our understanding of illness and treatment.