Anthropology and Languages Present Summer Research at Idaho Conference for Undergraduate Research

The students represented several programs, including the anthropology major, linguistics minor, and forensic anthropology certificate and included an incoming graduate student. Their posters covered topics ranging from bioarcheology to ethnobotany to linguistic anthropology.

While not all attending students presented, they all conducted summer research with faculty and  found the ICUR experience rewarding. For example, Ontaria Ariwite, a Trio-McNair scholar, Honors senior, majoring in anthropology and minoring in linguistics and completing a forensics certificate, travelled to Belize with Dr. Kirsten Mink to study Mayan burial sites. Ariwite reflected on her experience at ICUR and said, “I had a good experience because it was my first time attending a conference on undergraduate research. I did not present, but did attend to get an idea of what I will be doing when I do research in the future. I was excited to see my classmates presenting while I was asking questions about their research, learning, and listening to them." 

In reflecting on their summer research experiences, students expressed how hands-on summer research experiences provide a wonderful way to learn how to do research, but also the role of research in the world outside of the classroom. They also appreciated collaborating with fellow students and communities, and presenting at ICUR as powerful tools for supporting their academic success, future careers, and personal growth goals. 

Abby Card, spring 2025 graduate who majored in anthropology and minored in art history and geo technology, presented on her summer biological archaeology fieldwork, experience documenting burials in Belize under the tutelage of Dr. Kirsten Mink.  

Card reflected on the research experience she presented on, and said, “Doing research for this project was such an eye-opening and essential part of my experience at ISU. Getting to do the data collection and then actually getting to interact with the modern Maya community in Belize was such a unique and meaningful opportunity.”

Jade Warjack, sophomore, majoring in anthropology with a minor in history, presented a poster on her research, funded through the ISU Small Internal Grant program. Jade presented on her project with Dr. Georgia Hart-Fredeluces describing work with Idaho communities to protect the camas prairie from invasive species. 

Warjack demonstrated the cultural and nutritional significance of the plant to her community, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and brought cooked camas to share. 

Grace Stander, sophomore, double majoring in speech-language pathology and anthropology with a focus in linguistics, was a summer CPI in anthropology & languages. She presented a comparison of the language learning motivations of heritage vs. non-heritage learners of Spanish at ISU, part of a larger project underway by Drs. Maria Claudia Huerta Vera and Elizabeth Redd. 

Stander explained how the experience helped her “… to slow down, work through the steps that I need to do and have patience instead of rushing through things…but having this opportunity and getting to do this research analysis meant that I also learned more about how to analyze things in a more academic way which will definitely help me with school in the future and hopefully more research.” 

Jason Johnson, senior, majoring in global studies and minoring in linguistics, and Houston Vanyel, junior, majoring in anthropology and philosophy and minoring in linguistics, history, and American Indian studies, co-presented the results of their research funded through the Idaho Community-Engaged Resilience for Water-Energy Systems (I-CREWS) Summer Authentic Research Experience (SARE) program. Their research, conducted with Dr. Elizabeth Redd, investigated whether large language models like ChatGPT can accurately and meaningfully perform critical discourse analysis and explored implications for researchers and students. 

Johnson expressed how presenting at the conference helped him gain confidence in his research abilities and how the summer research experience will support his future coursework. “My experience in conducting actual research will transfer well into my upper-division classes,” Johnson said.” I will have a grounding in how to do independent research. I think it is also important that I gained confidence in my results through the process.” 

The conference provided not just an opportunity to share summer research results, but to learn from other students and to network and make connections. Vanyel reported making several connections both for himself and on behalf of others. Stander explained that “getting to go to ICUR meant that I got to meet and talk to many people…and if I decide to pursue a masters or Ph.D., I have a connection.” Ariwite agreed, and noted, “I got to meet other students from different universities presenting different topics that caught my interest. ICUR gave me ideas and creativity for what I want to research. I left with notes and gained knowledge.” 

In all, the students felt the experience was overwhelmingly positive, deepening their understanding and passion for anthropology. The group affirmed that research takes time and commitment. While the presenting aspect may have been new and at times daunting, all students felt it was worth the time and effort. Stander  expressed that while the research and presentation experience felt at times a bit “scary, the process showed me I should be more patient with myself. I think the most important thing I learned about myself is that I really like research and that I LOVE linguistics. I love learning about and practicing the things related to linguistics even though some parts of it hurt my brain. Basically, I learned that I definitely want to be an anthropologist.”

Cecily Shepherd, 2025 graduate in global studies and minor in linguistics, and incoming anthropology graduate student, presented on preliminary work meant to support her thesis, comparing discourses about reflexivity in qualitative and quantitative social science research. 

Shepherd shared that ICUR helped her “make some great connections with other students and faculty from around Idaho.”

This year's cohort expressed appreciation to the Office for Research who coordinated travel and accommodations for conference attendees and encouraged ISU students to explore and take advantage of the many undergraduate research opportunities at ISU. For those interested in undergraduate research, the students recommend they focus on time management, jump in with both feet, and take steps to be properly prepared. Shepherd offered this advice: “Start earlier than you think you need to, don’t be afraid to do things you are unfamiliar with, and practice talking about your research with folks before you present.”  

Stander summarized the summer research and conference presentation experience as “a really great opportunity! In some ways it’s kind of like taking a class but you don’t really receive grades. You learn a lot even if you can’t put all of it into words, and if you mess up, you don’t fail as long as you are willing to learn. I would tell all students to take the opportunity if they think they might want to get into any type of research because sometimes the only way to know if you want to do something is to try it and see what you think.”