UCO Students Showcase Research at 2026 Research Day at the State Capitol
May 14, 2026
Two University of Central Oklahoma students presented their research at the 2026 Research Day at the State Capitol, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and the National Science Foundation, April 28 at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Their selection marked a milestone for UCO, as it was the first time the university had two students advance to the final round under the current judging system, introduced in 2024.
Mohammad Aariz, a senior computer science major from Oklahoma City, and Eli Maynard, a junior biomedical science and chemistry health science double major from Yukon, Oklahoma, were among 25 students statewide selected during a competitive round of judging to advance to the final presentations at the Capitol.
Aariz presented his research project, “Affordable Traffic Light Recognition Under Monocular Night Vision in Oklahoma,” developed in collaboration with his faculty mentor, Shuai Zhang, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science. Traffic light detection and recognition (TLDR) is used in advanced driver assistance systems and is pivotal to road safety. The study collected traffic light images at night and developed a hierarchical TLDR framework used to address the challenges faced at night.
“I feel very proud to represent UCO in this capacity, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. My mentor, Dr. Zhang, has supported me tremendously with my educational growth. I am honored to be able to present our research at the Capitol,” Aariz said.
Maynard presented his project, “Characterization of Critical Thermal Limits and Metabolic Rates of Mediterranean Geckos: Implications for Range Expansion,” conducted with faculty mentor Christopher Goodchild, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. Their research focuses on the thermal biology of the Mediterranean gecko by examining how minimum and maximum body temperature limits change across seasons. The study investigates whether these thermal limits shift seasonally and whether differences exist across life stages.
“This opportunity is unique because of just how many people I can reach with this presentation and get feedback on how I can improve,” Maynard said.
The event included a final round of judging April 27, followed by a public poster session April 28, where students shared their work with state leaders, policymakers and community members. A short awards ceremony concluded the event after the public viewing.
Research Day at the Capitol provides a platform for Oklahoma’s top undergraduate researchers to demonstrate the impact of their work and engage with decision-makers.
UCO’s strong representation reflects the university’s continued progress toward achieving the Research 2 (R2) designation. UCO already meets the minimum annual research expenditure threshold and was one of only 216 institutions nationwide to receive the 2025 Research College and University designation. With continued investment in research and doctoral programs, the university is well-positioned to attain R2 status.
To learn more about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.
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Cutline: Two University of Central Oklahoma students presented their research at the 2026 Research Day at the State Capitol, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and the National Science Foundation at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Pictured, Eli Maynard, a junior biomedical science and chemistry health science double major from Yukon, Oklahoma, stands by his research poster on Mediterranean Geckos.
