On March 6 and 7, the University of North Florida hosted the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) for the fourth time, including the inaugural conference in 2011.
This year, more than 930 Florida undergraduate students presented their research, according to the UNF Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), Judith Ochrietor.
Student Opportunities
As one of the largest research conferences in the country, FURC gives all undergraduate researchers in Florida a chance to showcase their findings.
Ochrietor explained that the conference also provides networking and recruitment opportunities for students.
“Students present posters of their research, network with other students from across the state and graduate recruiters from across the country, and attend professional development workshops,” Ochrietor said.
The 2026 event, cohosted by OUR and the Florida Undergraduate Research Association (FURA), is greatly beneficial to students all over the state, according to Ochrietor.
“We are excited to welcome students and their mentors to our beautiful campus,” Ochrietor said. “It is an incredibly supportive environment where students meet new friends and make lasting memories.”
Senior and biology major Thomas Laura, who has spent the past two years conducting research on a critically endangered cactus species, presented his research at two FURC conferences.
“My research examines the effects of different substrates (e.g., sand and peat) and salinity on the growth and development of this species, Consolea corallicola,” Laura said.
Having attended the FURC 2025 at the University of South Florida last February, Laura accredited it as an “incredible experience”.
“I had the opportunity to meet graduate school recruiters, learn about programs at other universities, present my own research, and participate in hands-on workshops offered during the conference,” Laura said.
Laura noted that UNF expands on this conference and provides great opportunities for undergraduate students to gain research experience through the OUR’s faculty mentorship and on-campus workshops.
Student research can be viewed at the FURC 2026 conference program.
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