UC Merced’s Graduate Division will host its annual Grad Slam competition on April 8, with graduate scholars presenting their research on topics ranging from the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes to hydrogen storage for energy collection.
The systemwide competition showcases and awards the best three-minute research presentations by graduate students. This competition not only highlights the excellence, importance and relevance of graduate scholars and their research, but it is also designed to increase graduate students' communication skills and their capacity to effectively present their work with poise and confidence.
This year’s competition started in March with nearly 30 graduate students in the qualifying round, from which the faculty judges narrowed the field to the top 10.
The campus’s 2022 Grad Slam finalists are (alphabetic order):
- Vicky Espinoza, Environmental Systems
- Marc Labata, Environmental Systems
- Michael Leveille, Physics
- Karen Mohammadtabar, Mechanical Engineering
- Wai Oo, Mechanical Engineering
- Yulissa Perez Rojas, Environmental Systems
- Maia Powell, Applied Mathematics
- Negar Seyedhassantehrani, Quantitative & Systems Biology
- Susana Tejeda-Garibay, Quantitative & Systems Biology
- Jessica Wilson, Quantitative & Systems Biology
Everyone is invited to cheer on the campus’s Grad Slam top 10 as they present their research talks from 2-5 p.m. on April 8 at the Dr. Vikram and Priya Lakireddy Grand Ballroom in the Conference Center. The campus’s champion will be announced during a reception immediately following the presentations and will compete against other UC campus champions on May 6 in San Francisco.
Can't join us in person? View the competition online.
