UALR senior James Houston II won second place in a McNair research conference last month in Atlanta.

The systems engineering major and 24 other UALR McNair Scholars participated in the 18th annual Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel McNair/Student Support Services Research Conference June 21 to 24.

Nine UALR scholars presented their undergraduate research in the oral and poster presentation.

Houston’s project explains his research into how heat from jet engines generated during an aircraft’s taxi can heat deicing fluid.

The McNair Scholars Program, also referred to as the Ronald E. McNair Post- Baccalaureate Achievement Program, is one of the Federal TRIO Programs governed by the U.S. Department of Education designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to be successful in the academic world.

The program works with college students possessing aspirations of obtaining doctoral degrees. At UALR, 25 scholars are chosen each year to participate in an enriching summer and fall internship programs.