NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – University of Oklahoma undergraduate researchers earned two of the highest honors at the 31st annual Research Day at the Capitol, a statewide competition highlighting top undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Hunter Helvey, a biology major from Lawton, received the competition’s overall Grand Prize for his research presentation, “Local Drug Delivery for Glioblastoma.” The honor recognized him as the top undergraduate researcher among 27 finalists representing 18 colleges and universities across Oklahoma. He will begin medical school on the OU Health campus this summer.
Avery Glinsmann, a biochemistry major from Yukon who recently completed her sophomore year, earned second place in the Research-Intensive University category for her title “Evaluation of Heterocyclic Cannabinergic Derivatives.”
OU student Leena Ahmad, a biology major from Bixby who recently completed her sophomore year, was also selected as a finalist in the statewide competition.
All three OU students began their research involvement through the Honors College’s First-Year Research Experience program and conducted research through OU faculty labs.
The 31st annual Research Day at the Capitol was April 27–28 at the Oklahoma State Capitol, where finalists presented research posters before state legislators, higher education leaders and scientific judges.
The event is sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and National Science Foundation.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
As a child growing up in Atlanta, Curtis Harris would ask his mom to arrive at the airport hours early so he could sit by the window and watch airplanes take off and land. Today, at age 22, he is directing aircraft as a certified air traffic controller after graduating from the University of Oklahoma’s enhanced air traffic controller training program.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation recently named Arianna Dambold and Aaron Lim as members of its 2026 class of Astronaut Scholars. The prestigious awards are given to junior and senior-year college students pursuing degrees in STEM and aims to support the next generation of explorers and innovators.
Zermarie Deacon, Ph.D., and Deonnie Moodie, Ph.D., have each been named a 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. These prestigious fellowships support research and development opportunities abroad.
