Man in a suit seated at a desk with Tarleton State University flag in the background.

Welcome to the 2023 Research Scholars Symposium, celebrating the groundbreaking discoveries of our exceptional faculty and student researchers. The quality of their scholarship is outstanding, its impact far-reaching.

Their efforts have earned Tarleton the elevated designation of Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, putting us among only 132, or 4%, of universities across the country so recognized.

Tarleton researchers are probing, among other topics, plant-based materials’ ability to remove microplastics from drinking water; innovative sustainability practices for dairy farms; enhanced rural communications and healthcare; and pollinators and food production.

Today you will learn about their discoveries and leave with a new appreciation for the energy it takes to move ideas from the lab to the marketplace.

My sincerest appreciation to Dr. Rupa Iyer and the Division of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development for providing this valuable academic forum.

The next generation of engineers, educators, healthcare professionals, creatives, scientists, communicators, and entrepreneurs will come from Tarleton State University, and Tarleton will be recognized as the premier comprehensive public university in the country.

You can count on it.

Sincerely,

A handwritten signature.

Dr. James Hurley

President

Woman in a black suit with Tarleton State University pin.

The inaugural PERS (President’s Excellence in Research Scholars) Research Symposium in early 2022 — the most attended event of its type in Tarleton history — provided $776,000 to propel 51 student-led research projects from vision to proof of concept. Today we celebrate in addition to PERS 41 new projects involving 100 students and 68 faculty members, and an additional 39 faculty-led student research projects.

Posters and oral presentations showcase Tarleton’s commitment to robust discovery and research. Learn how faculty trailblazers and student explorers are reshaping what we know about everything from genetics to crime prevention. They think big, push boundaries and disrupt the status quo to make life better for us all.

Thank you for taking time to explore Tarleton’s scholarly and creative endeavors. We’re doing more and achieving more, and our work is more vital than ever.

Sincerely,

Cursive signature on a white background.

Dr. Rupa Iyer

Vice President, Division of Research, Innovation and Economic Development