Kean Research Days to Showcase Student Discovery and Innovation

Research, scholarship and creative discovery will take center stage as Kean University hosts its annual Research Days conference next month, highlighting student work from across the University’s academic disciplines.  

The first day of the conference will also include TEDxKean University, a new addition featuring talks from members of the Kean community whose ideas challenge assumptions, offer innovative perspectives and reflect interdisciplinary thinking. 

The 2026 conference will take place Monday, April 20 through Thursday, April 23, with nearly 1,600 students expected to present research and creative projects. Hosted by Kean’s Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF), the event showcases work by undergraduate and graduate students who collaborate with faculty mentors on research and creative inquiry.  

Student presentations will take place at Kean’s main campus in Union and at Kean Ocean in Toms River. For the first time, students from New Jersey City University will also present their research during the conference as the two universities prepare to merge this summer. 

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Birdsell, Ph.D., said Research Days reflects Kean’s continued emphasis on hands-on learning and scholarly discovery. 

“Through collaboration with faculty mentors, our students are gaining experience in research and creative inquiry that prepares them to lead, innovate and make meaningful contributions in their fields,” Birdsell said. 

This year’s event marks the second Research Days held since Kean was designated an R2 research university, reinforcing the University’s continued growth in research and scholarly activity. 

“Research Days is an exciting tradition at Kean, but more importantly it is an opportunity for all who participate to experience the art of discovery and innovation in scholarly work and research in the pursuit of new knowledge,” said Keith Bostian, Ph.D., associate provost for science and technology at Kean. “It is also an opportunity to engage with colleagues and students from other colleges and departments in the exploration of interdisciplinary concepts.” 

The conference opens with the Shark Tank-style Cougar Investigator Research Challenge on Kean’s Union campus, where student teams pitch ideas and compete for $10,000 in seed funding. 

Kean Director of Student Research and Innovation Reenat Munshi said the conference gives students an opportunity to share their work publicly while building confidence and communication skills. 

“Students gain valuable experience presenting their research and creative work to a wider audience while learning from feedback and collaboration across disciplines,” she said. 

Throughout the conference, a range of events will highlight student research and creative work across disciplines, including the sciences, humanities, business and the arts. 

The program will include individual research presentations, the Creative and Visual Arts Exhibit and the Undergraduate and Graduate Poster Symposiums, where students present their findings and engage with faculty, peers and members of the Kean community. The Research Days Awards, which will be presented Wednesday, will recognize outstanding student research and creative work nominated by faculty mentors. 

The conference concludes Thursday with the Computer Science and Information Technology department’s Capstone Showcase Project Exhibition, rounding out four days of presentations, discussion and collaboration across the Kean community. 

Munshi said Research Days reflects the curiosity and exploration that drive student research at Kean.  

“Our students are asking important questions, exploring new ideas and working closely with faculty mentors to turn curiosity into meaningful scholarship that can have real-world impact,” she said.