Research Symposium

Call for Participation

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 19th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium. Deadline for abstract submission is Friday, Feburary 17th. 

To present oral or poster presentations, faculty and students must submit a short abstract (250 – 400 words max) outlining their research, scholarly or creative work to the Symposium Program Committee. Research, scholarly and creative papers from all disciplines are welcomed and can report on completed projects or work in progress. Submissions that speak only to forthcoming or intended work are not permitted.

Abstracts will be reviewed by the Symposium Program Committee. Submissions that successfully make it through the review process will be accepted as oral presentations or poster presentations. Contributing authors can indicate their preference for oral or poster presentations, but may be asked by the Program Committee to change their preference so that presentations can be better grouped into specialized sessions. Student authors are eligible to be part of the Student Award Competition - students have the opportunity to express their interest in competing on their application form. Judges use a standardized rubric to evaluate presentations. These may be found in the Rubrics section below.

Submit an Abstract

Rubrics

All items are in PDF  format.

Oral Presentation Rubric
Poster Presentation Rubric

A highlight of our symposium is that the event is free to all, which helps make the event accessible to students, faculty and community members from near and far. Thus, the daylong event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors (see below). Such support is greatly appreciated and essential for the advancement of academic research in the Upstate. Students involved in faculty-mentored research enter the work-force with an enhanced skill set, including better problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills in their field of study. Since many students who are educated in the Upstate of South Carolina stay in the area, support of academic research has a direct and positive impact on the Upstate.

17^th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

The 17^th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on April 9^th, 2021 as a virtual event hosted by USC Upstate and our generous sponsors. The roughly 300 participants, presenters and co-authors represented 40 colleges and universities (i.e., Allen University, Claflin University, Clemson University, Converse College, Crescent University, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Francis Marion University, Greenville Technical College, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Lander University, Limestone College, Maria College, Medical University of South Carolina, North Greenville University, OOJ Institute of Higher Education, Park University, Presbyterian College, Purdue University, Rice University, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Southern Wesleyan University, Stetson University, University of Burimi, University of Georgia, University of Missouri St. Louis, University of North Carolina Asheville, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, University of South Carolina Beaufort, University of South Carolina Columbia, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Sumter, University of South Carolina Upstate, Virginia Tech, Wofford College and Yaba College of Technology Nigeria). In addition, several community members and partners participated in the event (e.g., AquaRecycle; Bank of the Lowcountry; B+E Manufacturing Company, Inc.; Boiling Springs High School; CreditRegistry Corporation; Dorman High School;  Fellowship Camp and Conference Center; Greenwood Parks and Trails Foundation; KPMG US; Lake Greenwood State Park; Palmetto Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc.; Pathology Associates; Prisma Health; Spartanburg Regional Medical Center; Stevenson Junior High School; and The Four Group Homecare LLC).

2021 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee

• Keynote Address by Nicola Fox

Keynote Address: Journey to the Sun

• Proceedings
• Student Awards

16^th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

The 16^th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on September 26th, 2020 as a virtual event hosted by USC Upstate and our generous sponsors. The roughly 300 participants, presenters and co-authors represented 32 colleges and universities (i.e., Allen University, Claflin University, Converse College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Francis Marion University, Greenville Technical College, John Hopkins University, Lander University, Leibnitz University Hanover Germany, Limestone College, Medical University of South Carolina, North Greenville University, Miami University, Park University, Presbyterian College, Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Stetson University, University of Michigan, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina Asheville, University of Notre Dame, University of South Carolina Beaufort, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Sumter, University of South Carolina Upstate, Virginia Tech and Wofford College). In addition, several community members and partners participated in the event (e.g., Chapman Cultural Center, City of Greenwood, Dorman High School, Fellowship Camp and Conference Center, Kroft State Park, Lake Greenwood State Park, Lone Oak Elementary, Partners in Active Living, Prisma Health, Safe Homes Rape Crisis Center, SC Commission for the Blind, South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Spartanburg Area Conservancy, Spartanburg Area of Commerce, Spartanburg Police Department, Tyger River Foundation, and United Way).

2020 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee

• Keynote Address by Karen Gaines

Keynote Address: From alligators to astronauts: what we’ve learned and how can we apply it to help human kind 

Closing Ceremony Seminar by Korine Wawrzynski

• Korine Wawrzynski’s Biography

Closing Ceremony: Helping students become more T-shaped through undergraduate researh 

• Proceedings 
• Student Awards
  
  

15th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 12, 2019

The 15^th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on the USC Upstate campus on April 12, 2019. Roughly 300 participants attended the event. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 23 colleges and universities (i.e., Allen University, Claflin University, Clemson University, Converse College, Francis Marion University, Furman University, Gardner-Webb University, Greenville Technical College, James Madison University, Lander University, Limestone College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Upstate and Wofford College). In addition, several other organizations participated in the event (e.g., Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research, Full Circle Counseling, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Spartanburg Area Conservancy, University of South Carolina Upstate's Metropolitan Studies Institute, and the Wildlife Conservation Society).

• 2019 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee
• Keynote Address by Brian Horne
  • Brian Horne's Biography
  • Keynote Address: Global Turtle Conservation: A world where research, technology, & community meet.
    

• Proceedings
  
• Pictures
• Student Awards

14th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 13, 2018

The 14th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on the USC Upstate campus. Over 300 participants attended the event. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 28 colleges and universities (i.e., Campbell University, Claflin University, Clemson University, Converse College, Francis Marion University, Furman University, Greenville Technical College, Hollins University, Lander University, Limestone College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Medical University of South Carolina, Newberry College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, State University of New York, University of Georgia, University of North Carolina Asheville, University of South Carolina Columbia, University of South Carolina Salkehatchie, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Upstate, Wake Forest University, and Wofford College). In addition, many local high school students, community organizations and community members participated in the event.

• 2018 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee
Keynote Address by Janisse Ray
• Janisse Ray's Biography
• Keynote Address: Hope in a Time of Transformation
• Medical School Workshop - Roadmap to Medical School
• Writing Workshop
• Lecture-Recital: A Modern, Rock Arrangement of Franz Schubert’s Erlkönig - Nolan Stolz Rock Orchestra
• Proceedings
  
• Pictures
• Student Awards
  

13th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 14, 2017

The 13th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on the USC Upstate campus. Roughly 400 participants attended the event. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 23 colleges and universities (i.e., Claflin University, Converse College, Florida Institute of Technology, Francis Marion University, Furman University, Gardner-Webb University, Greenville Technical College, Lander University, Limestone College, Midlands Technical College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, USC Aiken, USC Columbia, USC Upstate, and Wofford College) and many local community members.  

• 2017 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee
• Keynote Address by Dr. James Porter
  • Dr. Porter's Biography
  • Keynote Address: The Environmental Legacy of War: Human and Environmental Health Concerns on Vieques, Puerto Rico
• Vocal Looping Workshop - Just Alliance
• Proceedings
• Pictures
• Student Awards

12th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 8, 2016

The 12th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium was held on the USC Upstate campus. Over 300 participants attended the event. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 23 colleges and universities (i.e., Ashville-Buncombe Technical College, Claflin University, Converse College, Gardner-Webb University, Georgia Southern University, Greenville Technical College, Lander University, Limestone College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, Stetson University, Trinity Washington University, University of California Berkeley, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, USC Columbia, USC Salkehatchie, USC Upstate, and Wofford College) and many local community members (e.g.,Cryovac, Ethos Combatives, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville Zoo, Kerley Construction, Patewood Memorial Hospital, Piedmont Audubon Society, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Spartanburg Regional Health System, Spartanburg Public Library, Taylor’s Fire Department, and Tryon Garden Club).  

• 2016 Sponsors and the Symposium Program Committee
• Keynote Address by Dr. Tyrone Hayes
  • Dr. Hayes' Biography
  • Keynote Address: From Silent Spring to Silent Night: A Tale of Toads and Men
    *Please note: Recording begins with talk already in progress
• Proceedings
• Pictures
• Student Awards
  

11th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 17, 2015

Our 11th symposium was hosted on USC Upstate's campus. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 18 colleges and universities (i.e., Clemson University, College of Charleston, Converse College, Greenville Technical College, Lander University, Limestone College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of Iringa - Africa, The University of South Carolina, The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville,The University of South Carolina Upstate,  Virginia Tech, and Wofford College), the USC Upstate Scholars Academy, 4 middle/high schools (i.e.,Chapman High School, Landrum High School, Landrum Middle School, and D. R. Hill Middle School), RL Spencer Communications, Swofford Career Center, Spartanburg Area Conservancy, Spartanburg County Public Library, and the Spartanburg Regional Hospital System. The links below will take you to highlights of the event:

• 2015 sponsors
• Keynote Address by Dr. William A. Hopkins
  • Dr. Hopkins' Biography
  • Keynote Address: Never Grow Up: Snot Otters, Blood Suckers and A Smattering of Humble Advice for Aspiring Scholars
• Proceedings
• Student Awards

10th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 18, 2014

Our 10th symposium was hosted on USC Upstate’s campus and we had a record year, with over 300 participants attending the event. Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 19 colleges and universities (i.e., Coker College,  College of Charleston, Converse College, Furman University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Greenville Technical College, Lander University, Limestone College, Medical University of South Carolina, North Greenville University, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Southwest Louisiana University, Southwest University of Science and Technology-China, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Upstate, and Wofford College), the USC Upstate Scholars Academy, 4 high schools (i.e., Boiling Springs, Byrnes, Chester, and Dorman), the Daniel Morgan Technology Center, the Greenville Hospital System, the Spartanburg Area Conservancy, and the Spartanburg Public Library. The links below will take you to highlights of the event:

• 2014 sponsors
• Keynote Address by Dr. Louis Guillette
  • Dr. Guillette’s Biography
  • Keynote Address: The Fragile Fetus – Sentinel Species and Environmental Health
• Proceedings
• Pictures
• Student Awards

9th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 19, 2013 

Participants, presenters and co-authors represented 17 colleges and universities (i.e., Converse College, College of Charleston, Davidson College, Francis Marion University, Greenville Technical College, Lander University, Limestone College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Sherman College of Chiropractic, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina Upstate, University of Tulsa and Wofford College), the SC Department of Natural Resources, Spartanburg Day School and Dorman High School. The links below will take you to highlights of the event: 

• 2013 Sponsors
• Keynote Address by Dr. Terence Farrell 
  • Dr. Terence Farrell's Biography
  • Keynote Address Summary: Undergraduate Research: Lessons Learned from Students and Rattlesnakes
  • Pictures from the Field Trip with Dr. Farrell to the Silverbluff Audubon Center

• Proceedings
• Pictures
• Student Awards
  

8th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 20, 2012

• Keynote Address by Dr. Thomas Moore
• Proceedings

7th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 15, 2011

• Keynote Address by Dr. Nancy Trun
• Proceedings
• Pictures

6th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

March 26, 2010

• Keynote Address by Mr. Gary Hyman
• Proceedings
• Pictures

5th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

March 27, 2009

• Keynote Addresses by Mayor William Barnet III and Dr. Jay Moskowitz
• Proceedings
• Pictures

4th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 11, 2008

• Keynote Speakers:
  • Dr. John Stockwell
  • Mr. Ingo Angermeier
  • Dr. Rosemarie Booze
  • Dr. Michael Dorcas
• Proceedings
• Pictures

3rd Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 6, 2007

• Keynote Address by Dr. Charles Glassick
• Proceedings

2nd Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

2006

• Proceedings

1st Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

2005

• Proceedings

Members of the Symposium Program Committee for the Annual South Carolina Upstate Research Symposium work diligently to ensure a well-organized event of high-quality presentation sessions that are anchored by prominent keynote speakers. The committee members include:

Dr. Joshua Ruppel, Symposium Co-Chair
Professor of Chemistry 
Director of Research  
USC Upstate

Dr. Kimberly Shorter, Symposium Co-Chair
Associate Professor of Biology 
USC Upstate

Dr. Sher Chhetri
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
University of South Carolina Sumter

Virginia Cononie
Assistant Librarian
USC Upstate

Dr. Jeff Cook
Professor of History 
North Greenville University

Dr. Lee Edwards
Faculty Fellow
Greenville Technical College

Dr. Ramόn Galinanes
Director of Undergraduate Research 
Wofford College

Dr. Latha Gearheart
Professor of Chemistry 
Physical Chemistry Department Chair 
Presbyterian College

Dr. Kathryn Hix
Faculty Fellow
Greenville Technical College

Dr. Jennifer Hyder
Professor of Human Anatomy & Physiology
Spartanburg Methodist College

Dr. Christopher Kent
Director of Scholarly Activity
Sherman College of Chiropractic

Dr. Brandon Kinley
Department Chair, Science                                                  
Spartanburg Community College

Elaine Marshall
Director of Sponsored Awards 
USC Upstate

Dr. Tamara McGovern
Associate Professor of Biology 
Limestone College

Dr. Toni Sims-Muhammad
Associate Professor & Chair
Sociology and African and African American Studies
Allen University

Cherie Pressley, High School Participation Chair
Regional Workforce Adviser 
SC Department of Commerce                                                  
USC Upstate

Dr. David A. Slimmer
Dean, College of Science and Mathematics 
Professor of Physics 
Lander University

Dr. Bill Wright
Clinical Associate Professor, Physiology 
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville