USC Upstate Research Symposium

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Research Symposium

Save the Date! 

The 16th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium will be held on April 24, 2020.

Scope and purpose of the event:
  • Provide a forum where both faculty and students from colleges and universities across the region can interact to discuss and share information regarding their research, scholarly and/or creative endeavors. 
  • Provide a forum where students can experience a professional conference. To present at the symposium an online application and a two to three page short paper must be submitted for review by the Symposium Program Committee (see call for participation). Papers accepted for presentation at the event are published in a conference proceedingsbook that is provided to participants and presenters at the event (see past programs and proceedings link below).
  • Provide a forum where high school students can interact with college-level faculty and students, and learn about the types of research and scholarship being pursued across the region.
  • Provide a forum where business and community leaders throughout the Upstate can interact with faculty and students, and learn about the types of research and scholarship being pursued across the region. 
  • Provide interactive workshops that educate Upstate students, faculty, and community representatives about important aspects of research and scholarship.

For information on past events, see Previous Symposium Proceedings tab below. For more information about the event, contact Dr. Melissa Pilgrim, symposium chair.

Call for Participation

Call for Participation: Dec. 2, 2019.

Submission Deadline: Feb. 28, 2020.

To present oral or poster presentations: Faculty and students must submit a short research, scholarly or creative paper (2-3 pages) to the 16th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium. Submissions that do not follow the formatting guidelines closely will not be reviewed. The deadline to submit papers will be Feb. 28, 2020. Late submissions will not be reviewed. Research, scholarly and creative papers from all disciplines are welcomed and can report on completed projects or work in progress. Papers that speak only to forthcoming or intended work are not permitted.

Papers will be reviewed by an inter-university panel (the symposium Program Committee). Papers 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 for awards (judging rubrics: oral and poster).

To submit a paper, you must complete the online application and attach your 2-3 page submission:

Symposium Keynote Speaker: Dr. Karen Gaines

2020 Keynote Address:

FROM ALLIGATORS TO ASTRONAUTS: What we’ve learned and how can we apply it to help human kind?

Dr. Karen Gaines
Dr. Karen Gaines

Dr. Karen Gaines has served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), Daytona Beach since 2016. Prior to joining ERAU, Dr. Gaines worked at the US Department of Energy’s (USDOE) Savannah River Site, before joining the faculty of Eastern Illinois University where she served as Department Chair of Biological Sciences and founding Director of the Geographic Information Science Center. Dr. Gaines is an interdisciplinary scientist whose expertise primarily focuses on toxicological exposure pathways for both environmental and human risk assessment, specifically as it pertains to health physics, radiobiology, metals and organics. Dr. Gaines has received numerous research and leadership awards for her work with the USDOE, US Environmental Protection Agency as well as the US Department of Defense. Dr. Gaines continues to serve these agencies, not only as a risk assessor, but also as an expert in spatial data analytics.

Dr. Gaines’ PhD is in Environmental Health from University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health, where she was awarded the doctoral achievement award for her work in identifying pathway exposures for vulnerable populations living near nuclear waste sites. Dr. Gaines works closely with the Aerospace Medical Society, American Public Health Association, and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in various capacities and is an appointed member of both the Health Physics Society and the International Union of Radioecology. Since joining ERAU, Dr. Gaines has worked closely with NASA researchers by applying her knowledge in radioecology to look at how life reacts to extreme environments.

Registration and Program Schedule

Registration:
Thank you for your interest in the 16th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium. Registration for the event will open early March of 2020.

Walk-ins are welcome at the event, provided that they report to the registration desk (Sansbury Campus Life Center, Second Floor Lobby) and sign in for the event.

High School Groups:
Junior- and senior-level high school students who intend to pursue higher education are invited to attend the Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium. This is a wonderful opportunity for junior and senior high school students to be exposed to several different fields of research and also interact with university faculty and students throughout the Upstate.

If your high school would like to participate, please contact the High School Participation Chair on the Program Committee: Cherie Pressley or at 864-503-5730.

Program Schedule:

The Program Overview will be posted in March of 2020 and the Full Program will be posted in April of 2020.

Symposium Campus Map:

The USC Upstate Campus Map for the Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium will be available in spring 2020. Buildings with events and sessions are highlighted in red. Parking lots available for attendees are highlighted in yellow.

Previous Symposium Proceedings

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.

15th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 12, 2019

The 15th 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).

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.

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.  

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).  

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:

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:

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: 

8th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 20, 2012

7th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

April 15, 2011

6th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

March 26, 2010

5th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

March 27, 2009

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

2nd Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

2006

1st Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium

2005

The Symposium Program Committee

Members of the Program and Organizing 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. Melissa Pilgrim, Symposium Chair
Professor of Biology 
Director of Research  
USC Upstate

Dr. Caleb Arrington
Professor of Chemistry 
Wofford College

Dr. Kathleen Brady
CEO of Community Research Group
Community Research Group

Dr. Jeff Cook
Professor of History 
North Greenville University

Dr. Lee Edwards
Academic Program Director, Biology 
Greenville Technical College

Dr. Mary Jane Farmer
Professor of Psychology 
Spartanburg Methodist College

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

Dr. Megan Haggard
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Francis Marion University

Dr. Randall Harris
Assistant Professor of Biology   
Claflin University

Dr. Kathryn Hix
Faculty Fellow
Greenville Technical College

Dr. Pengju George Luo
Professor, Dean of Basic Sciences
Director of Research
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

Map and Directions

The 16th Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium will be held on April 24, 2020, at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg.

University of South Carolina Upstate (interactive map) Driving directions from Greenville SC.
800 University Way (driving directions) Driving directions from Greenville SC.
Spartanburg, SC 29303

Event Map:
The USC Upstate Campus Map for the Annual SC Upstate Research Symposium will be available in March. Buildings with events and sessions are highlighted in red. Parking lots available for attendees are highlighted in yellow.

Driving Directions:

Coming from Greenville:
directions Driving directions from Greenville SC.

Coming from Charlotte: 
directions Driving directions from Greenville SC.

Coming from Spartanburg:
directions Driving directions from Greenville SC.

Please contact the Program Committee Chair with any questions.