SPUR program leads undergrad researcher to perfect grad school acceptance rate

MVNU SPUR student Emily Howie (center) presents her research at the 249th Electrochemical Society Meeting in Seattle, Washington, with MVNU professors Dr. Binyang Hou (right) and Dr. Luiz Oliveira (left).

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Emily Howie, a student researcher in Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), has achieved a remarkable milestone: she was accepted to all five graduate schools to which she applied, each offering full financial assistance. This fall, Howie will begin her doctorate in chemistry at Ohio State University.

She credits her success to the intensive research training and professional development she received through SPUR, which she participated in from 2024 to 2026.

“I cannot imagine being this prepared for graduate school without SPUR,” said Howie. “The program gave me the skills, confidence, and research experience that made my graduate applications stand out. I’m excited to take everything I’ve learned to Ohio State and continue my journey as a researcher.”

SPUR provides undergraduates with an intensive, paid research experience under the mentorship of faculty members. Participants work alongside their faculty mentors, gaining hands-on experience that mirrors graduate-level training.

During her time in the program, Howie worked under the mentorship of Dr. Binyang Hou, professor of physics and director of SPUR, on electrochemical studies investigating how ions and caffeine interact with phospholipids, the primary building blocks of cell membranes. She also worked with Dr. Luiz Oliveira on computational modeling of the same system, gaining expertise in both experimental and theoretical approaches — a combination that significantly strengthened her graduate applications.

Howie distinguished herself further through her scholarly output. She has presented her research at prestigious international conferences such as the American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting and the Electrochemical Society (ECS) Meeting and co-authored a peer-reviewed publication in ACS Omega — achievements that demonstrated her readiness for graduate-level work.

“Presenting at conferences and publishing as an undergraduate gave me a glimpse into what it’s like to be a professional researcher,” Howie explained. “SPUR gave me the foundation to pursue those opportunities.”

The SPUR program is designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate and graduate education. Participants develop essential skills including:

• Hands-on research experience with faculty mentorship
• Conference presentation and scientific communication skills
• Professional networking with researchers and peers
• Graduate school preparation through workshops and seminars

The program offers opportunities for SPUR participants to present their work on campus as well as at professional conferences, further strengthening their graduate school applications.

“SPUR is not just about learning how to do experiments,” said Dr. Hou. “It provides a foundation for students to develop their careers as researchers, learning from faculty about what graduate programs are looking for and how to navigate the application process.”

For more information about the program, visit mvnu.edu/SPUR.