Winners of the 2026 Library Award for Undergraduate Research
1st Place ($750 Award)
Samuel Liu
- Year: Senior
- Major: Communication and Sociology
- Project Title: "'It’s Not Just a Job, It’s Literally My Housing': Resident Assistants, Job Embeddedness, and Dissent"
- Advisor: Dr. Karen Myers
Liu’s research applied organizational communication theory to the experiences of UCSB Resident Assistants, exploring complex power dynamics and "embeddedness." Judges described his work as original, compelling, and "extremely relevant." Liu also exhibited a thorough and sophisticated use of Library collections, services and resources as he conducted his research, seeking out the assistance of librarians, attending multiple workshops, and honing his search skills across interdisciplinary databases.
2nd Place ($500 Award)
Shirley Qiu
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Year: Junior
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Major: Psychological & Brain Sciences and Statistics & Data Science
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Project Title: "1 + 1 < 1: Large Language Models in Insight Problem Solving"
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Advisor: Dr. Jonathan Schooler
Qiu utilized psychological methods to test how "dual" AI agents compare to solo agents in creative problem-solving. Her work was praised for navigating the intersection of computer science and psychology. The judges were also impressed by Qiu’s clear AI use statement, which can serve as a model for future research. Her use of Library collections, services and resources included thorough and complex searching of databases, consulting research guides, and attending workshops.
