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Three University of Tampa students traveled to the Florida��Capitol on Tuesday to present their research at an event organized by the��.��

The event is held every��other year��to��create state-level awareness of the research undergraduate students are��working on��across Florida. More than 40 presenters��showcased��their research.

Andrea Cifelli��’26,��psychology;��Caroline Evans��’26, chemistry;��and Liza Walker��’28,��marine science-biology,��were��the����ū�컨��ampa��students��at the event.��The three are a part of a group of��43��students who received grants from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry to pursue their selected topic. They were chosen��by��a faculty committee to travel to Tallahassee to present their posters.

Cifelli is studying self-kindness as a protective factor against mental illness stigma.��Evans is looking into the incorporation of��oxygen via��photocatalyzed��disproportionation.��Walker’s research is on the��identification and description of a parasitic trematode worm recently recovered from Tampa Bay fish hosts.

Cifelli described the opportunity to present at the Capitol as a “unique experience”��unlike other research conferences.��She was inspired to apply, in part, by��first��lady��Casey��Desantis’ resiliency initiatives.��The parallel, Cifelli said, shows that self-compassion goes��hand-in-hand��with boosting psychological resilience.��

“Seeing she was taking initiative to use that kind of preventative skill-based knowledge as a means to improve��kids’��mental health and quality of life made me feel super empowered,” she said.��

Walker, too, spoke highly of the opportunity.

“Parasitology is often overlooked by the general community because��it's��‘weird’ or ‘gross,’” said Walker. “Being able to guide others away from that stigma and help them see the importance of my work was an eye-opening experience.”

David Reamer, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry��said,��“All research has public implications, but it’s important to be able to talk to laypeople about why your work matters.”