New Managing Editor of SURG, Carlin Katerberg
By Vanessa Virgo
In 2007, an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph was looking for a way to promote the research of his peers.
Matt Teeter, now a professor of medical biophysics at the University of Western Ontario, launched Studies by Undergraduate Researchers at Guelph (SURG) with help from the Office of Research and U of G’s senior administration.
SURG has grown to become an open-access journal, available to anyone with access to the internet. Focusing on research findings by U of G undergraduate students, the journal encourages students to get involved in primary research projects and publish their findings.
Wayne Johnston, one of the administrators of SURG and a research and scholarship librarian at U of G’s McLaughlin Library, says the journal distinguishes itself in two ways.
SURG uses a “rolling-publication” model, meaning that instead of publishing in discrete volumes or issues, it publishes submissions regularly. This makes research findings available immediately benefits both researchers and readers.
The journal also covers numerous academic disciplines from all colleges across campus – one of its original objectives, says Johnston.
“The main thing that made SURG stand out to me is that it is a multidisciplinary journal,” says Carlin Katerberg, a fourth-year human kinetics student and the publication’s current managing editor.
SURG allows undergraduates to learn about academic publishing through submission of research findings, providing a valuable addition to their CV.
“Working with SURG is an amazing opportunity for undergraduate students to get experience with the editing process,” says Katerberg.
Before Katerberg became managing editor, Stephanie Settle, a PhD student at U of G, held the role for two years.
“Stephanie was an outstanding managing editor and showed a great deal of responsibility for her role,” says Johnston. “Her unique ability to bring the same level of attentiveness to all disciplines made her a valuable asset to SURG.”
Pending publications in SURG from U of G undergraduates will include studies of gene editing for treating HIV, art history and modelling of flood risk for Nova Scotia’s Mersey River.
To find out more or to get involved, visit the website.