UGA student researchers earned top honors in this year’s Libraries Undergraduate Research Award with reflections on their work that show off their creativity, from collages that tell a story to projects that solve mysteries.
First place winner Raquel Beatriz Caldas Laranjeira wrote a poem about her research journey, while second place winner Dharshine Priya Jayakrishnan created an interactive presentation, and third place honoree Norah Philipp told her research story through an animation.
"I love participating in LURA because it gave me the opportunity to express my research in a creative way," said Laranjeira, who also placed in the 2025 competition with a comic strip submission.
"It has also made me realize my development and growth as a researcher,” added the international affairs and political science major, who will graduate this spring.
Since 2007, the Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards have recognized excellence in undergraduate research using library tools and resources. Students are invited to reflect on their research topics and journeys in any format they choose, with library resources and librarians guiding them throughout the process. This year's competition was co-sponsored with the Office of Research and featured prizes of up to $1,000.
“These awards celebrate students as emerging scholar, supporting their research journeys and the creative ways they tell the stories of their discoveries,” said Toby Graham, university librarian and associate provost. Graham will recognize the winners at the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities symposium next week.
All award-winning submissions are available to view through a slideshow on the Office of Research website and will remain accessible through UGA Open Scholar.
First Place: Raquel Beatriz Caldas Laranjeira
Major: International Affairs and Political Science
Turning Data into Light: A Research Journey
Project medium: Poem
Second Place: Dharshine Priya Jayakrishnan
Major: International Affairs and Spanish
Unraveling an Archival Murder Mystery: My CURO Research Journey
Project medium: Interactive presentation
Third Place: Norah Philipp
Major: English and Entertainment and Media Studies
Archival Translation: Analog Research for the Digital Era
Project medium: Animation and image
Honorable Mention: Rebecca Bohn
Major: International Affairs and Political Science
Redlining and Health Outcomes Reflection
Project medium: Comic strip
Honorable Mention: Zachary Stiles
Major: History
Reflections on Research, a Video Essay
Project medium: Video essay
Judging Committee: Chandler Christoffel, Director of Academic Engagement, UGA Libraries (co-chair); Beth Woods, Director of Research and Computational Data Management, UGA Libraries (co-chair); Kinsey Brooke, University Academic Advising Services, Office of Instruction; Dan Geller, Director of Innovation Gateway Startup Programs, Office of Research; David Mitchell, Managing Editor, Office of Research; Will Stanier, Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library, UGA Libraries; Kellie Templeman, Director of Assessment, Mary Frances Early College of Education