As a Tier One research university, the University of Houston places a strong emphasis on research in and out of the classroom. But for undergraduate students, hands-on laboratory opportunities can be scarce, as researcher spots are usually filled with graduate students and post-doctoral associates.

Girls in grades eight through twelve enter the UH Cullen College of Engineering on Monday morning, new to the world of algorithms, motors and microscopes. By Friday, they’ve built and programmed a robot.

Cullen College of Engineering undergraduates showcased their semester-long research in poster presentations at the inaugural UH Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 12, held at the university’s Rockwell Pavilion. Students represented mentored work in biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs.

A brave professor holding down the dunking booth was not the only wet one at the UH Chapter of the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Chili Cook Off Thursday night.

But the showers drizzling down on the event did little to dampen spirits or ease the jolt of even the strongest chili as faculty, representatives from area engineering companies, students and alumni gathered for the longtime University of Houston tradition.

The aroma of award winning chili and the sounds of the latest music filled the air at the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UH Student Chapter’s 29th Annual Chili Cook-Off on March 13 outside of the college's Y-Building.