This summer, the NC State community was captivated by breathtaking images captured by three-time NC State alumna Christina Koch and her fellow astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission around the moon, designed to inform the world about the universe we inhabit. 

During her return to NC State in late August, Koch spoke as part of a panel discussion with Chancellor Kevin Howell and other university leaders about the importance of research across NC State’s campuses to innovation in various fields. 

The undergraduate winners of the 2026 Envisioning Research contest captured or produced their own breathtaking images showcasing some of this important research, conducted by students and faculty sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR).

“I’m incredibly proud of our undergraduate researchers and delighted to celebrate them in this way,” said Janet Goins, the OUR’s director. “Undergraduates are capable of impressive feats and this contest is a creative way to show that to the campus and greater NC State community.  Engaging with student researchers and learning about their work in different fields continues to be one of the best parts of my job.”

This annual contest allows undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff to submit images that capture their research topics. This year, several talented student undergraduate researchers produced award-winning images in the categories of graphics and data visualization, microscopy, photography, and video and interactive. 

Graphics and Data Visualization

Bringing home first place in the Graphics and Data Visualization category is Fiona Wolfe-Roberts, a fourth-year student studying biological sciences, with her graphic, “Velocity Flow Patterns in the Atmosphere of an Overflowing Star.” 

This graphic shows two stars bound by gravity orbiting each other in the binary system Vela-X1, illustrating the use of physics to help us understand nature’s mysterious patterns. 

“Over half of all the stars in our universe are thought to be in binary systems, many of which undergo this mass transfer process,” Wolfe-Roberts wrote. “Our high-definition hydrodynamics simulations will provide unique insights into the behavior of fluid under the influence of two of nature’s most universal phenomena: gravity and rotation.”

Microscopy

Sarah Siegle, a fourth-year student studying agroecology and sustainable food systems, and marine sciences, brought home first place in the Microscopy category with her image, “Orbicella faveolata Coral Tissue With Potential Microbial Aggregates.” 

Her research explores an enzyme that has the potential to strengthen the immune systems of coral reefs, which have been heavily impacted by climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and ocean acidification.

“Because of the many threats corals face, a variety of solutions are needed to mitigate their loss and protect their role as the rainforests of the sea,” Siegle wrote. “Endozoicomonas have promise for aiding corals amidst stress globally, and studying their exact role and function is the first step for doing so.”

Microscopy’s second-place award went to Elijah Cornatzer, a fourth-year student studying animal science. 

His image, “Hippocampal section highlighting astrocytic inflammation in canines with idiopathic disease,” examines Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis or GME, an incurable brain disease in dogs, by studying typical established markers for other brain diseases. 

“This research could give us a better understanding of GME in our pet dogs, and hopefully find a treatment for this fatal and incurable disease, while also providing a better understanding of brain inflammation pathways,” Cornatzer wrote. 

Thomas Sutton, a spring 2026 graduate with a degree in biological sciences; Audrey Johnson, a fourth-year student studying biomedical engineering and interdisciplinary studies; and Malcolm Albergo Radisch, a fourth-year student studying biomedical engineering, all captured Microscopy honorable mentions. 

Photography

Brock Davis, a fourth-year student studying genetics, is the undergraduate champion of this year’s Photography category. Davis’ image, “Differential Grasshopper,” shows documentation of this family of insects captured during his General Entomology course. 

“Population research projects are important because it is critical to understand how anthropogenic activities are affecting biodiversity around the world,” Davis said. 

The Photography second-place award went to Gabrielle Schoeffel, a fourth-year student studying textile engineering, for “Visualizing Variation in Jacquard Knitting,” which shows how different knitted jacquard fabrics compare in appearance and size when made using different machine settings. 

“This work is an example of a sustainable way to reduce textile waste by repurposing our excess material into a creative product for everyday use,” Schoeffel wrote. “It supports innovation and sustainability in research and manufacturing projects, and could greatly influence environmental challenges in North Carolina, as well as globally.”

Video and Interactive

Wolfe-Roberts doubled up on awards, also taking home first prize in the Video and Interactive category for her “Velocity Flow Patterns in the Atmosphere of an Overflowing Star” project. 

Emma Payne, a spring 2026 graduate who studied zoology, brought home second place for “Practice Makes Wingbeats,” a slow-motion sequence of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) performing wing waggling – a rapid, rhythmic movement that precedes courtship song.

“Identifying how behaviors are initiated provides insight into how neural circuits transition from rest to action,” Payne wrote. “These principles are broadly relevant to understanding motor control and its dysfunction across species.”

Lily Ro, a fourth-year student studying biomedical engineering, secured an honorable mention in this category.