Student Research Symposiums set for April 11
More than 100 Angelo State University students will present the results of their academic research projects during the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Graduate Student Research Symposium on Friday, April 11, in the Houston Harte University Center, 1910 Rosemont Drive.
The Undergraduate Symposium will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. – and the Graduate Symposium will run from 4-5:30 p.m. Both symposiums will be in the University Center’s C.J. Davidson Conference Center and are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
The projects featured at the symposiums were selected through a competitive application process, and participating students will be available to discuss their projects that were completed under the supervision of faculty mentors.
The Undergraduate Symposium will feature 50 research exhibits by 68 ASU students. The Graduate Symposium will feature 22 research exhibits by 34 ASU graduate students. The participating students represent academic departments across campus, including:
- Accounting, Economics and Finance
- Agriculture
- Biology
- Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Communication and Mass Media
- Computer Science
- David L. Hirschfeld Department of Engineering
- Health Science Professions
- Kinesiology
- Management and Marketing
- Mathematics
- Natalie Zan Ryan Department of English and Modern Languages
- Physical Therapy
- Physics and Geosciences
- Psychology
The Graduate Symposium will be followed by an awards ceremony recognizing ASU’s 2025 Outstanding Graduate Students.
The purpose of the symposiums is to recognize students’ contributions to the universal body of knowledge through their research and creative activities. It also provides student interaction with community members who are interested in research activities on campus. The symposiums are sponsored by ASU’s Student Research and Creative Endeavor Initiative and College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Computer Science Student Earns Prestigious NSA Internship
Hailey Lowden of San Angelo, a senior computer science major at Angelo State University, has been selected to participate in the National Security Agency’s (NSA) 2025 Future Computing Summer Internship Program at the NSA Laboratory for Physical Sciences in Catonsville, Md.
The 10-week internship program was established in 2022 with the goal to expose participating students to High Performance Computing, a field critical to national security, discovery and technological innovation. Lowden is the first ASU student to earn a place in the prestigious program. Under the mentorship of NSA professionals, she will gain valuable hands-on experience and enhance her technical skills while working on a research project aimed at advancing HPC capabilities.
“I want to gain a deep understanding of how HPC works, how it can strengthen current security measures, and how it might also introduce new vulnerabilities,” Lowden said. “Additionally, having the chance to learn from NSA experts is an invaluable experience. Through this internship, I hope to enhance my technical expertise, develop my project management and public speaking skills, and expand my overall cybersecurity knowledge.”
As a NSA intern, Lowden will also receive an $850 weekly stipend, as well as funded transportation, lodging and meals. At the conclusion of her internship in August, she will present the results of her research to NSA senior leaders, technical personnel, and research and academic partners.
“We are thrilled that Hailey’s outstanding achievements in the fields of computer science and cybersecurity have been acknowledged by the NSA,” said Dr. Don Topliff, ASU provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“Those who work alongside Hailey quickly recognize her dedication to academic excellence, leadership and service, and those same attributes will serve her well in the internship position. She has elevated her skills through obtaining industry certifications and has emerged as a leader among her peers at ASU. Her hard work and commitment to success are truly commendable. We have no doubt that she will continue to make a meaningful impact in all her future endeavors.”
A student worker in ASU’s award-winning Regional Security Operations Center, Lowden is also an active member of the Guardians of the Grid cybersecurity student organization.
“I love everything about cybersecurity,” Lowden said. “It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that fuels my passion because the field is so vast and constantly evolving. More than just securing digital systems, cybersecurity requires expertise in networking, software development, malware analysis, engineering, management and even physical security. After all, how can you protect something if you don’t understand how it works?”
A regular on the ASU Dean’s List, Lowden has previously competed in the Hivestorm collegiate cyber defense competition through the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS), and placed in the top 100 in the nation. She was also captain of the ASU team that competed in the CIAS Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition.
— From Tom Nurre Jr., ASU Office of Marketing and Communications
