Robotics Researchers

Michael Licitra, BS '05, Electrical Engineering

Stefan Zickler, BA '05, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Advanced Mobility Platforms

Licitra, of Buffalo, and Zickler, of Germany, built and designed software for five artificially intelligent athletes. In 2004 and 2005, the UB goal-scoring machines won the national title at RoboCup, a robot soccer match that pits teams from universities around the country against each other.

(Photo: KC Kratt, MFA '84)

The academic profile of freshman and transfer students entering the University at Buffalo is marked by an impressive array of academic talents. Based on standardized test scores and high school averages, the Class of 2009 is the highest achieving group of entering students in the university's history. What these talented students have in common is a desire to get as much from their undergraduate experience as possible. To that end, the Center for Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (CURCA) was created to foster advanced research and creative work experiences beyond the classroom.

Housed within the Office of the Vice Provost/Dean of Undergraduate Education, the CURCA has been established to serve as a starting point for UB students and faculty who aspire to collaborate in research and creative projects. The center assists students in planning and preparing to perform effective research by offering workshops and seminars. In addition, faculty research and creative opportunities are called for and collected from researchers throughout the university community. These opportunities for student involvement are maintained at the CURCA site for interested students to explore and pursue.

The CURCA staff is available to help students find the research project that fits their educational and professional goals. Students should feel free to contact the CURCA office for an individual appointment to discuss their academic and research aspirations.

We invite faculty members to post their research opportunities on this website, and to visit our "Information for Faculty" section to find out about the benefits of utilizing undergraduates in your research and creative endeavors. The CURCA's resources are also available to faculty for grant proposal support. The center strives to recognize the contribution of faculty mentors to the educational advancement of our student participants.

All of the groundbreaking work conducted at UB must be celebrated. That is why the university has instituted its annual Celebration of Academic Excellence. Undergraduate researchers, and their mentors, are encouraged to visit the Symposium link and begin to prepare their research posters for this event, which is now hosted each spring at UB. During this celebration, student researchers and faculty mentors are recognized, honored, and rewarded for their contributions to research and creative work across campus. Rules for submission of work and other important information can be found at this link. Photographs and programs from previous Celebrations of Academic Excellence are also showcased there.

The CURCA looks forward to serving UB's talented undergraduate students and distinguished faculty mentors. Please stop by our office or send us an email - we're here to assist you.

Sincerely,