The Office of Research and Creative Activity

page last modified on 12/6/2023

22^nd Annual Posters-at-the-Capitol

Posters-at-the-Capitol is a showcase of 100+ unique scholarly efforts led by undergraduate students from each state-funded university in the Commonwealth. During the one-day event, students present their faculty-mentored projects to those responsible for crafting higher education policy in Kentucky. This event is proudly hosted by Murray State University.

• Posters-at-the-Capitol is scheduled for March 7, 2024
• Submission link: https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/postersatthecapitol/
• Deadline for submission of student abstracts is Dec. 11, 2023
• Official acceptance and regrets will arrive no later than Jan. 19, 2024 

Spring Scholars Week 2024

Spring Scholars Week is April 15-19, 2024

Submissions due by end of day on April 5th at MSU's Digital Commons: Scholars Week website

Download a copy of the Spring 2023 event schedule

2023-2024 University Distinguished Mentor Award (UDMA) 

The Office of Provost, in conjunction with the Office of Research and Creative Activity, is please to present the University Distinguished Mentor Award. This annual award will be presented to a member of Murray State's Faculty, nominated by their peers, in recognition of extraordinary efforts in the area of student mentoring, which is understood as a sustained partnership of mutual concern significantly fostering students’ intellectual, ethical and academic development above and beyond expectations of even excellent advising and teaching.

Read more about the award and guidelines

• Deadline for nominations - January 26, 2024
• Deadline for nominees to submit information - February 9, 2024
• Award presented at Faculty Recognition Banquet (tentative) - Thursday, April 11, 2024

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal 

Our latest issue, covering Academic Year 2023-24 has begun publishing! Click to view Volume 7, Issue 1 here.

Fall Scholars Week 2023

During a designated week each semester, the Murray State community is encouraged to interact with showcases of academic and creative endeavors from our undergraduate and graduate students.

Fall Scholars Week is November 13-17, 2023

Submissions due by end of day on November 3rd at MSU's Digital Commons: Scholars Week website

Confirmed Events:

• Monday - 10:00-11:00: Phi Kappa Phi: Love of Learning Symposium
  • Dr. Tana Field, professor of music and mezzo-soprano, will discuss introducing and integrating non-Western language (in this presentation, Korean) art songs into the voice studio repertoire, plus sing a couple of pieces.
  • Majorie Lewis, a candidate in the Doctor of Arts in English Pedagogy, will present her research, titled "Linking Principles of Evidence in Law With Supporting Details in English Composition to Foster Critical Thinking Skills and Improve Student Writing Fundamentals."
  • Dr. Bill Mulligan, professor emeritus of history and past president of the Murray State University ΦΚΦ chapter, will present his research, "Irish Identity Across a Global Diaspora."
• Mon, Wed, Fri - 11:30-12:30: Sports Media
• Tuesday - 9:00 -12:00: Psychology Department Presentations 
  • In-Progress Projects
  • Completed Projects
• Tuesday - 2:00-4:30: Soils and Sustainability
• Wednesday - 8:30-5:45: Honors College Senior Theses
  • 8:30-9:10: Entropy Cramer, Elise Eaton
  • 9:15-10:15: Sylvie Crotreau, Kiersten Holland, Hayden Eubanks (Non-Honors / English)
  • 10:30-11:20: Madison Schuette, Kate Beard, Savannah French
  • 4:30-5:45: Clint Reardon Jr, Kaitlyn Jones, Lauren Ervin, Ryn Jenkins
• Thursday - 12:30: Advanced Ecology Symposium
• Thursday - 2:00-5:00: Honors College Senior Theses
  • 2:00-2:50: Sam Mitchell, Keilee Webb, Jenna McClain
  • 3:00-3:35: Skylar Baker, Rosie Carey
  • 3:45-5:00: Justin Holder, Zach Harmon, Lukas Grant, Jake Mitchell
• Friday - 1:30: Earth and Environment Sciences Poster Session

• • MJ Backman (Graphic Design) "7 Recipes to Save Yourself"

2022-2023 Research and Travel Grants 

ORCA is pleased to announce the return of research and travel grants for students mentored by Murray State faculty members. We began accepting proposals on August 15, 2023 for the 2023-2024 academic year at Murray State's Digital Commons for new research grants. We will accept travel grant proposals year-round, as long as funds are available. Individual students may be awarded up to $1000 in research grants and $800 in travel support grants during an individual academic year.

Updated proposal forms will be available to download in early August 2023:

• View and download the ORCA Research Grant proposal form
• View and download the ORCA Travel Grant proposal form

ORCA Annual Report

Annual report on ORCA activities for the 2022-23 Academic Year. Download a copy of the report here.

Quick Facts about ORCA, AY 22-23

• 12 of 12 slots filled for Posters-at-the-Capitol with projects from the College of Business, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the School of Agriculture, and the College of Science, Engineering & Technology
• 350 students presented in both Scholars Weeks with support from 88 individual faculty members
• 20 grants awarded totaling over $15,000
• 17 items published in Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal