Members of the UT community explore the Exhibition for Undergraduate Research & Creative Achievement (EURēCA) held in the Student Union on April 7, 2026.
The Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement (EURēCA) celebrated its 30th anniversary as the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s premier undergraduate project showcase on April 7, 2026.
Coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (OURF), the 2026 EURēCA united 12 colleges and 61 departments, demonstrating the intellectual connectivity found within the academic community at UT. The colleges and departments were represented by 788 undergraduate students, each sharing their work through 552 research and creative projects.
Every project presented at EURēCA has a faculty mentor invested in the research question. A total of 312 faculty mentors—along with postdoctoral and graduate students—provided mentorship and guidance in the development of each project. Students and their mentors were evaluated by 288 campus and industry judges, awarding 111 student and 11 mentor awards, recognizing innovation, curiosity and discipline.
A presenter explains his research to a passing student at EURēCA on April 7, 2026.
EURēCA began in 1997, establishing itself as the oldest and largest research symposium at UT. In 30 years, more than 11,000 students have shared thousands of distinct research and creative projects at the event. Fewer than a hundred students attended in 1997; today, the exhibition averages a thousand presenters each year.
The exhibition continues to enrich the student researcher experience with apt amendments. What started with cardboard trifolds set up in Hodges Library is now a large-scale symposium with posters by students of all disciplines in the Student Union Ballroom. This year, the university’s career readiness platform Vol Edge was woven into the scene to support proactive professional development within research and prepare students for opportunities post-graduation.
The exhibition’s ever-increasing enhancements prove undergraduate research is more than an academic venture. It is how many students contribute to their academic discipline and learn through experience.
“For 30 years, EURēCA has been the ultimate proof that our students don’t just study the future—they build it,” said Dr. Amber Williams, senior vice provost for student success. “We connect classroom theory with professional leadership so our scholars graduate with a degree and the career-ready skills and innovative mindset to tackle the world’s most complex challenges.”
Students have always approached research creatively throughout the years,
exploring topics like biological engineering, advertising in public health, rhetoric and game design. For example, under faculty mentor Brian Ambroziak, Jenna Ely (’22, ’23) presented an architectural design incorporating skins and exoskeletons from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Norris Dam to simulate how a dam processes water. EURēCA’s 2013 Phi Kappa Phi Award Winner Ariel Buehler (’14) evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of microgreens using green fluorescent proteins alongside faculty member Dr. Faith Critzer. Drew Batey (’25), with faculty mentors Dr. Jacob Latham and Dr. Tore Olsson, studied the historiography of Tennessean tobacco farmers’ politics throughout the 20th century.
“By hosting a cross-generational and cross-disciplinary community of researchers, EURēCA signals the value of undergraduate research, facilitates relationships between researchers, and celebrates excellence in research and mentorship. The event combines the best attributes of higher education, pushing students to achieve more than they themselves imagined possible in an atmosphere of care, support, and collaboration,” Associate Professor of Religious Studies Erin Darby shared.
With the 30th EURēCA in the rearview mirror, undergraduate researchers continue to build upon a rich history of curiosity and excellence at UT. It is clear the future leaders of Tennessee and beyond consider current issues, raise awareness, provide answers and make their mark on the world long before they turn the tassel.
