Natalia Polerecky, a student within the Political Science department, has been awarded the First Place Outstanding Research Award for Undergraduate students in the Social Sciences category. This honor was earned at the CEW&T Research Poster Competition held on April 17th, 2026. Natalia was one of 75 student researchers who participated in this year's event, presenting her work titled, What Happens After Wars: The Trajectory of Rebel Successor Organizations. Her project, 'Legacy Organizations of Rebel Groups,' with her mentor IU Political Science Professor Dr. Brannon, explores what happens to rebel networks after conflict ends, as their post-conflict trajectory shapes whether peace holds or conflict returns. Throughout the year, they worked to cover 372 rebel groups across conflicts from 1946 to 2025 to help fill a major gap in data on rebel group successor organizations for other scholars to utilize.
Presenters were scored on the following criteria: Research Merit & Significance: The impact and value of the work. Research Content: The depth and accuracy of the findings. Poster Clarity & Appearance: Visual communication of data. Organization: The logical flow of information. Oral Presentation: The ability to articulate complex concepts effectively. The award demonstrates Natalia’s dedication and the high caliber of her research.
The College of Arts