On April 11, 2025, the Honors Program hosted the 2025 Senior Honors Thesis Symposium—a hallmark event recognizing the culmination of years of research by undergraduate Honors scholars at UW–Madison. Held at Union South, the day-long symposium featured student presentations spanning disciplines from astrophysics to art history, spotlighting the intellectual curiosity and dedication that define Honors research.
Each of the 46 senior presenters participated in a rigorous thesis process that included close faculty mentorship and deep independent inquiry. The Symposium gave students the opportunity to share their work with peers, faculty, family, friends, and the broader campus community. The Senior Honors Thesis Symposium is not just a celebration of academic achievement—it’s a testament to the power of sustained mentorship and the transformative nature of undergraduate research.
This year’s projects explored pressing societal questions, cutting-edge scientific phenomena, and enduring cultural themes. Titles ranged from “Mapping Human Immune Cell Development in Humanized Mouse Models for Hypoimmune Cell Therapy Studies” to “Addressing Disparities in Healthcare Access for Unaccompanied Youth
Experiencing Homelessness,” reflecting the extraordinary breadth and depth of student research.
Inaugural Thesis Advising Awards Recognize Faculty Excellence
For the first time, the Honors Program also recognized faculty members whose exceptional mentorship has shaped the next generation of researchers. Five faculty were honored with the 2025 Excellence in Honors Thesis Advising Awards, each representing a major disciplinary division:
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Humanities: Jacee Cho (Vilas Associate Professor, English Language and Linguistics)
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Social Sciences: Jenny Saffran (Rubinstein Professor of Psychology)
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Biological/Life Sciences: David Ehrlich (Assistant Professor; Animal Behavior, Aquatic Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Neuroscience, Physiology)
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Physical Sciences: Mark Eriksson (John Bardeen Professor and Steenbock Professor of Physics)
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Natural/Computational Sciences: Bilge Mutlu (Sheldon B. and Marianne S. Lubar Professor of Computer Science, Psychology, and Industrial Engineering)
These awards honor the invaluable role advisors play in fostering rigorous research and academic growth. Their dedication and support make this level of undergraduate scholarship possible.
Thank you to all of those who attended. Please consider reviewing the 2025 Symposium Program and the abstracts submitted by each of our presenters.
