UC San Diego Celebrates Exceptional Undergraduate Research with 2025 Library Research Prize

The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) has announced the winners of the 2025 Undergraduate Library Research Prize (ULRP), an annual award that recognizes outstanding undergraduate research and the effective use of Library resources. This year, seven students were selected to receive the award, which is designed to enrich the undergraduate student experience and promote academic excellence.

The ULRP is a prestigious award that celebrates the academic achievements of UC San Diego undergraduates. To be eligible, students must be nominated by a faculty member and present their research at events such as the Undergraduate Research Conference or the Summer Research Conference. Projects completed for course credit are also eligible for consideration. The award winners and honorable mentions were announced at a special recognition ceremony at Geisel Library on May 29, where they received a $1,000 cash prize and had their work published in eScholarship, the University of California's open access platform.

The 2025 Undergraduate Library Research Prize winners and honorable mentions were selected from a pool of talented students who demonstrated exceptional research skills and a deep engagement with Library resources. The winners include Elizabeth Kim, a Business Psychology major from Revelle College, and Joshua Pillai, a Human Biology major from Sixth College. Kim's project, which evaluated genomic and clinical risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, was nominated by Associate Adjunct Professor Weg Ongkeko from the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Pillai's project, which examined biochemical trends of TREM2 variants implicated in neurodegenerative disease, was nominated by Associate Adjunct Professor Chengbiao Wu from the Department of Neurosciences.

In addition to the winners, several students received honorable mentions for their outstanding research projects. Ruomin Xin, a Molecular and Cellular Biology major from Sixth College, was recognized for her project on the evaluation of alcohol, tobacco, and HPV's synergistic regulation of HNSCC's potential treatment response to PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor treatment. The ULRP is a testament to the academic rigor and excellence of UC San Diego's undergraduate students, and the Library is proud to support and showcase their work.

According to Dani Brecher Cook, Associate University Librarian for Learning and User Experience at UC San Diego Library, the ULRP is an important initiative that celebrates the academic achievements of undergraduate students. 'The Library is proud to celebrate these remarkable students and their scholarly achievements,' Cook said. 'These projects reflect the deep engagement and academic rigor that our undergraduates bring to their research, and it's our privilege to support and showcase their work.' The ULRP is an annual tradition that enriches the undergraduate student experience at UC San Diego, and it provides a platform for students to showcase their research skills and academic excellence.

The University of California, San Diego is committed to providing its students with the resources and support they need to succeed. The UC San Diego Library is a vital part of this mission, providing students with access to a vast array of resources, including books, journals, and online databases. The Library also offers a range of services, including research assistance, instruction, and study spaces, to support the academic success of its students. By recognizing and rewarding outstanding undergraduate research, the ULRP helps to promote academic excellence and provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen fields.