More than 5,000 student researchers gathered in Richmond, Virginia, April 13–15 for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), including two students from Life University (Life U).
Celine Müller and Megan Cronje represented Life U, presenting their research at the national conference. Life U associate faculty member Paula Billups, PhD, served as Müller’s faculty mentor and attended NCUR in support of the students.
Undergraduate students from a wide range of disciplines shared their research through oral, poster and creative presentations at NCUR, discussing both their findings and the inspiration behind their work.
Müller, a Bachelor of Business Administration student from Germany and a student‑athlete on Life U’s collegiate swim team, presented a poster titled “Assessing Student Buying Behavior: The Role of Marketing Strategies.”
Cronje, a double major in biology and exercise science from Johannesburg, South Africa, and also a member of Life U’s collegiate swim team, presented a poster titled “Locomotor Ecology Shapes Pelvic Evolution in Rodents.”
According to Cronje, the experience was both rewarding and inspiring.
“Presenting at this conference was an incredible experience. With this being my second poster, I felt much more confident and was able to truly enjoy sharing my work. I connected with so many like‑minded people, heard new perspectives and left feeling inspired with fresh ideas for my own studies. I’m excited to continue building the connections I made and to keep growing as a researcher.”
The NCUR is an annual national conference sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and is designed to promote undergraduate research, scholarship and creative exhibits. The conference also featured a Future Fair, where graduate admissions programs connected with students to discuss advanced degrees and career pathways.
This year’s conference was hosted in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), marking the first time VCU has hosted the largest undergraduate research conference in the United States.
Student and Faculty Bios
Megan Cronje
Megan Cronje was first introduced to research during her freshman year after being initiated as an inaugural member of the Lambda Upsilon Gamma chapter of the TriBeta National Biological Honor Society. She currently serves as the chapter’s president.
Her current research, conducted under the mentorship of Life U Assistant Faculty member Andrew McIntosh, PhD, focuses on rodent skeletal morphology, with specific emphasis on the pectoral and pelvic girdles. The team’s most recent findings were presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Outside of the lab, Cronje is a student‑athlete on Life University’s collegiate swim team and serves as a Resident Assistant in on‑campus housing.
Celine Müller
Celine Müller is a second‑year undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Life U. Under the supervision of Paula Billups, her research focuses on student buying behavior, with particular emphasis on the role of marketing strategies.
As part of her work, Müller designed and surveyed the Life U Shop to collect data, which she is currently analyzing to better understand consumer patterns and develop more effective and innovative marketing approaches.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Müller is actively involved in campus life as a student‑athlete on Life Us collegiate swim team. She also works at the Life U Fitness Center, gaining hands‑on experience while further developing her interest in health, fitness and community engagement.
Paula Billups, PhD
Faculty mentor Paula Billups, PhD, is an Associate Faculty member at Life University.
Read her full biography here: https://www.life.edu/faculty-page/paula-l-billups/
For more information about Life University, visit life.edu.
About Life University
Life University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s and Doctor of Chiropractic degrees, and also has programmatic accreditation through the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The mission of Life University is to empower students with the education, skills and values necessary for career success and life fulfillment, based on a vitalistic philosophy.
