Research Competitions

Research Symposium

On March 27, 2026, the Office of Graduate Studies and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs hosted the Graduate Research Symposium to showcase the research of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in all disciplines, allowing them to obtain feedback from faculty and peers. The event brings together students, scholars, faculty mentors, and judges in an effort to foster further academic collaboration. The winners of this competition were awarded funding for conference travel or professional development.

A banner graphic that says Research Symposium and has the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs logo on it

Information

Showcase research from any discipline and obtain feedback from faculty and peers!

  • Event Date: March 24, 2027
  • Registration Deadline: March 3, 2027
  • Location: Marshall Student Center

Winners receive travel awards up to $500! 

More information will be available in the coming months. 

2026 Research Poster Awards

A banner with photos of people from the research symposium

  • Dr. Kristine McDermott
    • Title: 鈥淭he Insular Cortex Promotes Energy Balance via Serotonin Neurons鈥
    • Department: Psychiatry And Behavioral Neurosciences
  • Dr. Michaela McGuire
    • Title: 鈥淒oes recommending PMC with 6-month vitamin A affect uptake in Cameroon? A novel comparative-interrupted time series analysis鈥
    • Department: Public Health
  • Dr. Jadupati Nag
    • Title: 鈥淎n alternate description of magnetism in Weyl semimetal GdAlSi鈥
    • Department: Physics

  • Dr. Prerana Sharma

    • Title: 鈥淰asoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor (Vipr) Modulates Adhesion Molecules on Vascular Endothelial Cells during Corneal Inflammation鈥

    • Department: Ophthalmology

Previous Winners

2025

  • 1st Place

    • Dr. Kendal Jackson 

      • Title: 鈥淎ncient Harmful Algal Blooms and Impacts to Ancestral Native American Shellfisheries of the Florida Gulf Coast, ca. 600-950 CE鈥
  • 2nd Place (Tie)
    • Dr. Kelly Navas
      • Title: 鈥淪torying the Experiences of a First-Year Teacher鈥檚 Mathematics-Related Teacher Identity with a Communities of Practice Lens鈥
    • Dr. Olivia Feagles
      • 鈥淢ate preferences and choosiness are distinct components of mate choice in Eastern gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor)鈥

2024

  • 1st Place
    • Dr. Ricardo DeMoya
      • Title: "A search for Second Vascular Field cell markers using scRNAseq"
      • Department: Pathology and Cell Biology
  • 2nd Place
    • Dr. Mehak Sapra
      • Title: "Characterization of rabbit alkali injury model and treatment of scarred corneal tissue with Kuragenx"
      • Department: Ophthalmology
  • People's Choice
    • Dr. Melike Yuksel
      • Title: "The friend or foe: Ubiquitous BIN1 in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease pathology"
      • Department: Molecular Medicine