CSU Pueblo students will showcase more than 50 research projects Friday afternoon, presenting work that tackles everything from hemp agriculture to railway safety to cutting edge disease research.
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) hosts its 21st annual Student Research Symposium from 1-4 p.m. in the OSC Ballroom C West. Students will present posters highlighting research across multiple disciplines that directly impact southern Colorado’s economy and infrastructure.
The symposium arrives shortly after the university earned the Carnegie Research College designation, placing it among just 5.5% of U.S. institutions nationally. That recognition came alongside more than $24 million in competitive grants faculty secured over the past two years.
The research topics demonstrate the range of undergraduate work happening at CSU Pueblo. Hemp fiber production and cannabinoid synthesis projects strengthen southern Colorado’s agricultural economy. Transportation teams investigate railway infrastructure safety critical to the region. Other students examine robotics for elderly care, wildlife conservation efforts, superfund remediation addressing Pueblo community health, and diseases including Alzheimer’s and spinal muscular atrophy.
Recent investments transformed campus research capabilities. A $270,000 digital anatomy lab now features Anatomage dissection tables that give undergraduates access to medical school level equipment. The touchscreen systems provide biology, nursing and health sciences students hands-on anatomical training previously unavailable at most undergraduate institutions.
The Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology at CSU Pueblo secured an $11.7 million federal award for rail research.
“Supporting student research helps prepare students for the rigor and success in graduate programs, professional programs like medicine, pharmacy, or veterinary schools and for careers in engineering and mathematics,” said David Lehmpuhl, Dean of CSTEM.
He emphasized the challenge of securing research funding at a regional comprehensive university. “The research requires time and resources. The faculty in their tireless pursuit of funding have been awarded numerous federal and regional grants,” Lehmpuhl said. “Funding for a primarily undergraduate institution is not easy to get.”
Results prove CSU Pueblo delivers exceptional outcomes with focused resources. The CyberWolves team captured first place nationally in the Spring 2024 National Cyber League, defeating 737 colleges and universities including Stanford and Baylor. Students regularly advance to medical schools, research labs, and graduate programs across the country.
