USD to Celebrate Research and Creative Scholarship at Two Signature Events
These events will showcase academic achievement and promote the expansion of student, faculty, staff and community members’ understanding of scholarly work at USD.
Research Week
Research Week, which will take place in the Muenster University Center, is designed to raise awareness of USD’s groundbreaking research, foster a strong research culture and increase faculty and student engagement in research.
Through panels, networking opportunities, workshops and faculty-led discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights and discover engagement opportunities while exploring the broader impact of research on South Dakota and beyond.
To learn more about Research Week and see a detailed schedule, visit USD's Research Week webpage.
In addition to offering these sessions, Research Week will include recognitions for individual achievements in various categories, including awards recognizing contributions to IdeaFest and in the areas of entrepreneurship, humanities and signature programs.
This year’s Research Week will also include a special feature, USD’s first ever AI Hackathon.
The AI Hackathon, held in partnership with Wildfire Ignite, will include AI tools where participants can build solutions with just an idea, a plan and a laptop, making innovation accessible to a broader group of students and community members.
IdeaFest
For over 30 years, USD has celebrated research, creative scholarship and academic engagement through the IdeaFest symposium. The two-day event is held each spring and includes presentations from undergraduate and graduate students spanning a range of disciplines.
“I believe students should participate in IdeaFest because it is a great way to cultivate public speaking and presentation skills,” said Phoebe Smith, an undergraduate student in the USD School of Education who received an Undergraduate Research Award last year for excellence in creative scholarship and research. “My experience with IdeaFest allowed me to build relationships with others who were researching topics similar to me. It also allowed me to look into publishing my work in an academic journal and helped me connect with other conferences where I ended up presenting my work.”
In addition to showcasing USD student research, IdeaFest features two keynote speakers.
This year’s speakers are Kaushik P. Patel, Ph.D., professor of physiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, and Elizabeth Manser Payne, DBA, associate professor of marketing and faculty chair of Coyote Business Consulting in the Beacom School of Business at USD.
Patel will present his talk, “Lessons Learnt Becoming a Physiologist: My Humble Journey.” The presentation will cover Patel’s research, focusing on the journey of a scientist, involving education, curiosity-driven exploration using the scientific method, challenges, continuous learning, adapting, mentorship and collaboration—skills that are crucial for solving problems and discovering new knowledge. It's a path of asking questions, developing plans, seeking guidance and exploring ideas to understand and improve the world.
Prior to UNMC, Patel began his faculty career at USD nearly 40 years ago as an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology in USD's medical school.
Patel’s keynote will take place on Wednesday, April 15, from noon to 1 p.m. in the MUC ballroom.
Manser Payne will present her talk, “Human + AI: Becoming a Researcher in an Age of Acceleration.” This keynote examines why human judgement, intuition and confidence remain fundamental to meaningful research, even as artificial intelligence accelerates the pace of discovery. It focuses on how research judgment develops alongside emerging technologies, not in place of them. The discussion centers on what must endure as technology evolves, highlighting how experience, critical thinking and human decision-making shape strong research practice. It also poses the question, “If AI gives us answers faster, how do we ensure we're still learning to think like researchers?”
“Dr. Elizabeth Manser Payne was selected for this honor because she exemplifies the highest standards of scholarly impact, advancing national and international research on digital marketing, omnichannel strategy and artificial intelligence,” said Gina O’Connor, grant specialist at USD. “Her award‑winning research, including the Emerald Literati Outstanding Paper honor and her more than 1,600 citations reflect both the rigor and influence of her work. Beyond her exceptional publication record, she brings a rare ability to connect cutting‑edge research with industry relevance, mentor students in meaningful ways and engage audiences across academic, professional and community settings.”
Manser Payne’s keynote will take place on Thursday, April 16, from noon to 1 p.m. in the MUC ballroom.
Research Week and IdeaFest are free and open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.
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