“My freshman year, I participated in the Science Research Initiative, SRI. Being part of that program gave me a supportive environment where I gained foundational research skills and learned more about the research process. During that time, I worked on a project about the microbe interactions between Utah’s native bees and the plants they visit. This helped me develop my interest in smaller-scale microbial interactions that reflect the larger ecology.

The experience helped me gain the confidence I needed when I was taking Talia Karasov’s Intro to Plant Biology class to approach her about her research and ask questions and led me to join her research lab where I worked on a project about quaking aspen pathogens respond to drought, which I am presenting during this year’s Research Day on the Hill event.

I am looking forward to this event and the opportunity to share my research with lawmakers who can impact the issues I am studying. Right now feels like a scary time for research because of the executive orders from the new presidential administration, and I feel like my whole undergraduate research experience has prepared me to talk about science with people from a variety of backgrounds. I feel ready to meet people where they are and able to help build their foundation of scientific knowledge.

I have always wanted to go to graduate school and participating in undergraduate research has confirmed that is the right path for me. My research experiences have dealt with some of Utah’s important cultural elements—quaking aspens and native bees—and I love that the work I have done has culture and science.

Working with strong and effective faculty at the U has made me interested in working in academia in the future. Seeing their successes has been influential as I consider my career.”

— Allie Perkins, a senior studying plant biology and Spanish from Salt Lake City, Utah

2025 Research Day on the Hill Participant