UC Davis student Natasha Bibbs of Sacramento has already gone places with academic research — and she hopes to go even further.

The fourth-year student travelled about 2,000 miles to Louisiana and more than 150 years back in time to discover how someone she believes is an ancestor — perhaps her great-great-grandfather — became one of the first Black doctors in his community and used his status to contribute to the African American community.

The Undergraduate Research Center is now accepting abstracts for the 35th Annual Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference April 26-27.

Raynell Hamilton-Starks, the research center director, said faculty participation is essential to conference success. Each year, more than 700 undergraduates participate across a variety of disciplines.