The 2026 David and Lorraine Freed Undergraduate Research Symposium is more than just a competition; it’s a showcase of how Lehigh University engineering students are tackling complex challenges.Whether they are refining robotic welding techniques or analyzing professional sports data, students taking part in the symposium demonstrate how research allows them to apply and extend their classroom education.
On Friday, April 17, the Lehigh community will gather in the Great Room of the Clayton University Center to explore dozens of student projects. Between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., the room will be filled with the results of months of inquiry that has been guided by faculty members and PhD students, offering a first-hand look at the “learning by doing” approach that defines the Lehigh Engineering experience.
The symposium also serves as a professional development milestone. Participants are evaluated by a panel of judges on their research creativity, the significance of their findings, and their ability to defend their work. By balancing technical knowledge with the visual clarity of their posters, students refine the communication skills essential for both graduate school and the engineering industry.
Diverse research across engineering disciplines
Participants’ projects reflect a wide range of interests. For example, Olivia Lundquist ’26 is investigating the development of polymer membranes designed for corneal replacement. Working under the mentorship of Lesley Chow, an associate professor of bioengineering and materials science and engineering, Lundquist is exploring ways to functionalize these membranes—creating specific zones that promote cell growth to help the synthetic tissue integrate more effectively with the human eye.
Kevin Zhu ’26 and William Tang ’25 are working with Maryam Rahnemoonfar, a professor of computer science and engineering, on a tool called DA-SegFormer. Their project uses AI to analyze drone imagery with the aim of helping emergency responders more accurately distinguish between minor and major structural damage after a natural disaster.
The impact of faculty and PhD student mentorship
Among this year’s presenters are four students who took part in the Rossin Research Scholars (RRS) program, which pairs undergraduates with doctoral students for sustained research collaborations spanning the academic year and summer. Ben Childs ’26, Kavya Famolari ’28, Lily Paschke ’27, and Alexandra Tsarenkov ’27 were selected to participate in the UGRS following their success in the RRS Research Roundup. Their path to the symposium underscores how many Lehigh engineers are jumping into high-level research early in their academic careers, building the skills they’ll need for graduate school and industry.
Fostering professional development and future innovation
The day concludes with an awards ceremony, where Lehigh’s president, Joseph J. Helble ’82, and Stephen P. DeWeerth, the Lew and Sherry Hay Dean of Engineering, are scheduled to present travel scholarships for first, second, and third place, as well as an honorable mention. These awards are designed to help students take the next step in their professional development by presenting their findings at national or international conferences. Attendees will also have a chance to participate by voting for the People’s Choice Award, celebrating the project that most effectively explains its research and inspires the crowd.
The symposium is open to the public, offering a unique look at the curiosity and hard work that drive the next generation of engineers.
