Randall Research Scholars Program
The Nation’s First Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Program
The Randall Research Scholars Program (RRSP) is a nationally recognized undergraduate research program which pairs exceptional and highly motivated students directly with leading research professors and cutting-edge computing technology to complete scholarly research projects in any field of study.
2025 RRS Meet the Freshmen Mingler at Gorgas Library
RRS Coed soccer team celebrating victory at the 2025 Honors College Dean's Cup game, vs. the Witt University Fellows Program team
2025 RRSP Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) conference Category Award Winners
Computer-Based Honors (CBH) Director Emerita Dr. Cathy Randall (left) and CBH Alumna Dr. Nan Boden (right) with RRS student Phanuelle Manuel (center) during the 2024 RRS Family Feast.
2024 RRS Meet the Freshmen Mingler at the Alabama Museum of Natural History
RRS students (left to right) Kinion Fowler, Liam Smith, and Joe Semler in the stands at the 2024 football victory over the Georgia Bulldogs
A student presents research to Big Al at the 2025 UA Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Conference
Students at the 2025 RRSP Honors Celebration
RRS students, Sophia Marshall-Pelayo (left) and Molly Sullivan (right), at the 2025 URCA conference
Dinner at the 2024 Meet the Freshmen Mingler at the Alabama Museum of Natural History
Students at the 2025 RRSP Honors Celebration
RRS students enjoying ice cream outside the RRSP Lab
RRSP student Arman Dolatabadi presenting at the 2025 URCA conference at the Bryant Conference Center
Several students using the RRSP Lab in Honors Hall
Awards
Every year, many Randall students win various awards in several different fields and areas. Click the numbers and buttons below to view our most recent recipients.
Program News
RRSP Honors Celebration | April 16, 2026
RRSP Honors Celebration
Mrs. Batson at the 2026 Honors Celebration.
The Randall Research Scholars Program hosted its annual Honors Celebration recognizing the achievements of RRS students during the 2025-2026 academic year. This event honors RRS internal award and fellowship recipients, external award recipients, university award recipients, intramural teams, and the graduating senior class of 2026.
Read more: Internal Awards.
Jackson Pearce | Outstanding Freshman | April 3, 2026
Jackson Pearce
Outstanding Freshman
Political Science & Legal History
Jackson Pearce is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Legal History and an MBA through the CREATE Path to MBA program. He is passionate about leadership, formulating policy, and driving tangible change on campus through servant leadership. He just concluded his term as Speaker of the Student Government Association (SGA) First Year Council, where he led weekly meetings, introduced and deliberated legislation, and implemented policies to address student concerns, creating solutions for issues on campus in the process. He now serves on the 115th SGA Executive Cabinet as Director of Policy, where he will continue to impact his peers as the lead coordinator of policy development within SGA. As an aspiring law student, Jackson is an Associate Editor with the Capstone Journal of Law and Public Policy and a member of the Legal Research Club, where he is developing analytical and research skills. Jackson is also a passionate musician - he performs as a member of the Million Dollar Band on gamedays, while also participating in the Symphonic Band, Horn Studio, Horn Choir, and Basketball Pep Band. Additionally, he is active in the community, serving as an Altar Server and Eucharistic Minister with BamaCatholic and volunteering with organizations such as the Knights of Columbus.
Read more: Omicron Delta Kappa Outstanding Freshman.
Student Highlights
Gabrielle Kowkabany
Class of 2026 | Chemical Engineering
"One of the best parts about RRS is the engagement and accessibility of our program faculty, from our freshman instructor, Darren to the one and only Dr. Randall. They really want to get to know all the students in the program."
Raeed Kabir
Class of 2026 | Math & Economics
"There is no door that has remained closed at UA with the help of supportive faculty mentors and staff. Of course, the great friends I have made in this program push me every day to keep shooting higher. I have been fulfilled in this program intellectually, socially, and personally."
Jesse Park
Class of 2027 | Mechanical Engineering
"The greatest strength of the Randall Research Scholars Program is the people. Being surrounded by the most intelligent, hard-working, and compassionate individuals on campus has defined my experience at UA."
Our History of Excellence
The Randall Research Scholars Program was founded as the Computer-Based Honors Program (CBHP) in 1968 by Dr. Charles L. Seebeck to produce students who become leaders in application of computer techniques to various fields of knowledge. For the program's first fifty years, CBHP remained true to these original objectives while expanding the focus of the program to meet the continuing advances in technology and the advent of the “information age”. This culminated in 2017, when the program was renamed in honor of one of our previous directors, Dr. Catherine J. Randall. The Catherine J. Randall Research Scholars Program seeks to honor the groundbreaking original program objectives while expanding the vision to encourage continued development of its student researchers as leaders in their fields.
As the oldest undergraduate research program in the United States, the Randall Research Scholars Program is internationally competitive. The members of our program come from all over the globe and present their research at global conferences. Moreover, our students routinely earn prestigious academic awards at the national scale.