Journal to showcase research

A new research journal, PURSUIT, will display the research work of UT undergraduate students.

Serving as a link to undergraduate research activity, the publication is formatted as a peer-reviewed journal that will encourage professional growth across a variety of different research fields. It is also designed to promote different opportunities for careers in the field of science.

“The purpose is to showcase and promote undergraduate research and creative achievements, establish a well-coordinated and peer-reviewed journal and highlight multidisciplinary research efforts across campus,” Payal Sharma, PURSUIT founder, said.

Assistant director of Chancellor’s Honors Program Rebekah Page will serve as a faculty adviser on the project.

“This new journal provides UT undergraduates the opportunity to showcase their research efforts,” Page said. “So many undergraduates at UT are involved with research, and we really want to highlight that. This journal will give many students their first opportunity to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, which is an important milestone for any researcher.”

The journal will feature content exclusively created by undergraduate students, in the form of assessment-based academic commentary and investigative scientific studies. Students can make submissions through Monday to pursuit@utk.edu.

“The journal is seeking articles that present analysis-based reports of scientific projects, critical scholarship or critiques of creative works,” Sharma said.

Facets of the journal will appear in the form of polls, interviews, book reviews, multidisciplinary research efforts and letters to the editor. Advertisements and announcements will also be considered for inclusion from various sponsors and organizations on campus.

PURSUIT is a relatively new development.

“I proposed the creation of a multidisciplinary undergraduate research journal to Bradley Fenwick, vice chancellor for research, in March 2009,” Sharma said.

The research journal quickly gained widespread support.

“My proposal was presented at the board meeting, and the journal was approved for launch,” Sharma said. “It gained the support of other key college administrators. The Office of Research is providing funding and other technical assistance for its inception, and the Chancellor’s Honors Programs is co-sponsoring it.”

Faculty at UT will play a key role in steering the journal as the initiative begins to take shape.

“The faculty advisers include Gregory Reed, associate vice chancellor for research; Steven Dandaneau, associate provost and director of Chancellor’s Honors Program; and Rebekah Page, assistant director of Chancellor’s Honors Program,” Sharma said.

The journal’s advisory body will consist of both undergraduate and graduate students as well.

Students wishing to make submissions to PURSUIT must adhere to some general guidelines. Their work would ideally feature a cover letter summarizing the student’s intent and credibility of their work and would largely represent the composition of a scientific paper where applicable, Sharma said.

Submissions will be peer reviewed before they are published.

The content of PURSUIT is geared to include submissions from a variety of colleges and departments, compiling research from students who are in different fields and participate in different campus programs. It will also highlight multidisciplinary studies.