At this year’s URECA Poster Competition, our very own undergraduates Jerron Leow and Lim Zhi Min cinched 2nd and 3rd prize for their posters, respectively 🎉 Congratulations Jerron and Zhi Min, we are very proud of you! Let’s hear from them as they reflect on their URECA experience with the lab.
Jerron:
I first started out on my research journey with ECL in Year 2 under the URECA programme, and with only the skills and knowledge from our introductory psychology modules, I initially felt overwhelmed by the rigour of the research experience. However, from day 1, the lab has been warm and supportive in guiding me through the ins and outs of the research process. The lab environment was also intellectually stimulating, and hearing about the various projects by our lab members helped to inspire my own research. By the end of my URECA project, I felt that I had developed solid fundamentals in various skills such as poster design, literature critiquing and report writing.
I’m grateful that I was given the opportunity to work with the lab for my FYP-URECA to further hone my research competencies, and from the past year, I have grown even more as a researcher. With the encouragement from Prof Setoh and the lab, I had the chance to present my research at the SRCD 2025 conference, and this has been the highlight of my research journey. Most of all, my supervisors, Meryl, Zhan Lin and Germaine, were incredibly helpful during my FYP-URECA – they were there to provide constructive feedback at every step of the way, and it was a great experience to learn alongside them.
Zhi Min:
Embarking on this URECA journey has been exciting. I enjoyed practising data analytical skills on real-life datasets, which deepened my appreciation for the complexities of research. The URECA poster preparation process was enriched by the support of my supervisors, Prof. Setoh, Meryl, Johanna, Serene, as well as the lab members who generously shared their expertise. Their guidance was essential in helping me distil my research into the most important elements for the poster and deliver a compelling oral presentation.
Additionally, I am grateful that the URECA experience has opened new doors for me. Currently, I am excited to be working on another research project with one of the lab’s postdocs, Jingyi! Although I never saw myself in research prior to this experience, it has sparked my interest in continuing to learn and enhance my research skills.