SWOSU Chemistry Student Earns Second Place at Research Day at the Capitol

Grant Elam (right) with Sean Burrage, chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.

Grant Elam, a senior chemistry major at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), earned second place in the Regional-University category at the 31st annual Research Day at the Capitol. Elam, of Edmond, was recognized for his research project, "Manganese Antioxidants for Health Protection," among top undergraduate researchers from across the state.

Elam was one of 27 finalists selected to compete in a judged poster session, where students from across Oklahoma shared their work with scientists, legislators, and higher education leaders. The event provides an opportunity for undergraduate researchers to present their work in a professional setting and be recognized at the state level.

"It was a great experience to represent SWOSU at Research Day at the Capitol and see all of the impactful research being conducted across Oklahoma," Elam said. "I'm honored to have received second place and grateful to my mentors and peers who have supported me over the past four years."

Grant Elam, SWOSU chemistry major, earned second place in the Regional-University category during Research Day at the Capitol.

Elam has spent the past two years working on this project with Dr. Tim Hubin, professor in the Department of Chemistry & Physics. The project builds on ongoing work within the department and reflects the type of hands-on research experience available to students at SWOSU.

"Grant has taken complete ownership of his work and truly understands the purpose of his experiments, how to troubleshoot difficulties, and how to place his work into the context of the scientific literature," Hubin said. "He has been a great example of a highly motivated and successful undergraduate researcher."

According to Hubin, Elam's work has contributed to ongoing research in the department and helped move the project forward. His efforts have added to the group's understanding and will support future work in this area.

Research Day at the Capitol is hosted annually at the Oklahoma State Capitol and highlights undergraduate research from colleges and universities across Oklahoma. Students present their work to legislators, scientists, and the public, with awards determined through a competitive review process. The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and the National Science Foundation.

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. OIA-1946093. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

For more information about the Department of Chemistry & Physics at SWOSU, visit https://www.swosu.edu/academics/chemistry-physics/index.php.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves over 5,000 scholars and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit https://www.swosu.edu.