UWRF students to showcase academic, presentation abilities at Research in the Rotunda

When University of Wisconsin–River Falls students Desirea Szabla and Justin Gasparas decided to study the impact of college students’ jobs on their academic performance and well-being, they chose a topic that was personal to them.

Gasparas, a sophomore psychology major from Florence, and Szabla, a senior psychology major from Stillwater, Minnesota, both work jobs to make ends meet while attending college. As they balanced their academic schedules with work and personal lives, they wondered how other students manage and how employment impacts their grades.

“For us, having our jobs and the structure that provides positively impacts our academics,” Szabla said. “But we wanted to find out, is that true for everyone?”

Their research shows that for many students, working more than 20 hours per week while attending school full time can negatively affect their studies. It can also increase stress and harm mental health. Students who work on campus tend to fare better than those who work off campus, they found.

Szabla and Gasparas will present their findings at Research in the Rotunda, an annual event where participants present research projects to state lawmakers, University of Wisconsin System officials and others. This year’s event will be held Wednesday, April 2, and highlights high-level undergraduate research conducted by Universities of Wisconsin students in conjunction with their faculty mentors.

Szabla and Gasparas are among nine UW–River Falls students participating. Others include:

• Allison Matzek, a senior animal science major from Appleton;
• Emma Van Oss, a senior psychology major from De Pere;
• Hallie Roschen, a senior neuroscience and psychology double major from Red Wing, Minnesota;
• Maria Zillges, a senior agricultural business major from Larsen;
• Heather Hatfull, a senior crop and soil science major from Lakeville, Minnesota;
• Natalie Bostrom, a senior agricultural business major from River Falls; and
• Dakota Schmidtbauer, a senior agricultural engineering major from Waukegan, Illinois.

Students said they are both eager and a bit nervous about presenting their research, but grateful for the opportunity to describe their work to attendees. In addition to presenting in the Capitol rotunda, they will meet with Wisconsin lawmakers and staff, gaining insight into the workings of state government.

“This is a great opportunity that will benefit us in multiple ways,” Szabla said.

Van Oss and Roschen are researching how adverse childhood experiences affect academic anxiety and may lead to smoking and alcohol use. They are also studying how positive childhood experiences may help prevent those behaviors.

They praised the hands-on research opportunities available to UW–River Falls students. Their project allowed them to deepen their understanding of the subject matter and gain experience conducting research.

“Having the ability to take what we’re learning in class and apply it in the research process helps me understand things much better,” Roschen said. “It gives me a deeper sense of learning.”

Students often spend months – or even years – on research and encounter many challenges. Van Oss and Roschen said their project didn’t always go as planned, but that led them to new questions and avenues of exploration.

“Sometimes our project went like we thought it would,” Van Oss said. “Other times it didn’t. You learn to adjust and go where the research takes you.”

Students taking part in Research in the Rotunda also praised their faculty mentors, who played a vital role by guiding them through challenges and offering encouragement.

Faculty support was key for Schmidtbauer and Bostrom, who partnered on research exploring the optimal density of haylage to increase milk production in dairy cows. They worked closely with faculty mentors Sierra Howry, professor of agricultural economics, and Bob Zhiwei Zeng, assistant professor of agricultural engineering technology.

“Our faculty mentors are an important part of our research,” Schmidtbauer said. “They guide us. And when it’s time to deliver tough love, they do that too. They care about our learning and about us as people.”

“UW–River Falls’ committed faculty are an essential part of student research efforts,” said Molly Gerrish, director of the university’s Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity (URSCA) program. She oversees Research in the Rotunda projects and said the event helps students improve their presentation skills and make valuable academic and professional connections.

“Research in the Rotunda showcases the great work our students are doing and allows leaders in our state to see these incredible projects firsthand,” Gerrish said. “I’m really excited for our students to present and share all they’ve been working on.”