Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal
Welcome to CURJ
We are a peer-reviewed, student-run publication committed to celebrating innovative undergraduate research at the University of South Carolina. From the sciences to the humanities, we provide a platform for emerging scholars to share their discoveries with the academic community.
Submit Your Work
We accept original research, critical analyses, case studies, methodological innovations, and scholarly commentaries from undergraduates across fields.
Rigorous Review
Every submission receives anonymous evaluation by undergraduate peers with faculty oversight, ensuring academic integrity and constructive feedback.
Join Our Mission
We build a vibrant intellectual community where undergraduate voices shape academic discourse and advance knowledge across campus.
Journal Cover Art Contest — Due April 24th
Submit your original artwork for a chance to be featured on the cover of the Spring Issue. Open to all USC undergraduates.
Submit Cover ArtQuestions about the submission process or our editorial standards? Our team is here to help.
Contact Our EditorsCurrent Issue: Volume 1, Issue 1 (2026)
Fall 2025 Issue: The Blueprint
Issue Overview
This inaugural issue of the Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal presents eight interdisciplinary works that collectively explore the concept of a “blueprint” across the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. From molecular innovation and biological development to historical interpretation, literary analysis, educational reform, and public health awareness, each article offers a unique framework for understanding and shaping the world. Together, these contributions highlight research as an evolving foundation—one that invites continued inquiry, revision, and collaboration in the pursuit of knowledge.
Articles
Emergence, Differentiation, and Modeling of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Developing Embryos
Lucy Shive
Exploring Decision-Making in Caenorhabditis elegans: Navigating Dichotomous Envrionmental Cues
Hunarmeet K. Gill
Historians at War: a Comparative Analysis Between Thucydides and Xenophon's Accounts of the Peloponnesian War
Juleeanna S. Fuller
Health Insurance Literacy Among College Students at The University of South Carolina
Emma J. Smith; Lorie Donelle PhD, RN, FCAN; and Robin Dawson
Editorial Board
Editors-in-Chief: Khufu Holly & Megha Badiger
Managing Editor: Shrihan Ganesh Babu
Assistant Editors: Madison Samuel, Rachel Kiser, Eliana Gracias, Pratham Shah, Sophia Samborski, Matthew Braddick, Josh Evans
Copy Editors: Sam Philips, Ava Stienes
Other Contributors
Public Relations Chairs: Mia Lynch, Lindsey Arsenau
Outreach Chairs: Andrea Elya, Talha Islam, Shivangi Nayak
Ethics and Compliance Officers: Alayna Williams, Zoey Bartholomew
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Jennifer Blevins, Dr. Tarek Shazly, Dr. Gretchen Woertendyke, Dr. Leslie Haynsworth, Abby Cole
Review Committee Members:
Bekah Sargent, Sofiane Lachab, Pranesh Rajesh Kannan, Hermella Demsie, Alex Compton, Dylan Dunn, Kristopher Kitchen, Roshni Ismail, Neha Vallabhaneni, Legare Jenkins, Kaylen Pritchard, Jahaira Salinas, Nathan Vandegrift, Peter Hoegy, Aubrey Ayres
Cover Art Artists: Maggie Davisson, Khufu Holly