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2023 Award Recipients

student receiving award from administrator

Congratulations to our 2023 Drexel Emerging Graduate Scholars Conference award recipients and to all of our graduate student presenters!

Also, a special thanks for our volunteer faculty, professional staff, postdoc and alumni judges!

All awardees are invited to the Graduate Student Day awards ceremony and reception on Thursday, June 1 at 4 p.m. ET in the Mitchell Auditorium on the First Floor of the Bossone Research Enterprise Center. We also invite you to join us then to honor the conference award winners, as well as all of the winners of the Graduate Student Excellence Awards.

President's Award for Best Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

Emeka Chikelu
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Collagen Nanoyarns: New Love Interest for Heartbroken Tendons

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) People's Choice Award

Maryam Daniali
PhD Program in Computer Science
College of Computing and Informatics
When AI "Sees" It Wrong: Understanding Weaknesses and Building Robustness in Vision

Provost's Award for Best In-Person Oral Research Presentation

Pedram Bazrafshan
PhD Program in Civil Engineering
College of Engineering
Graph-based damage evaluation of reinforced concrete structures using a virtual-reality framework

Second Place In-Person Oral Research Presentation

Mihyun Oh
PhD Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine
Structural Characterization of the Long Non-Coding RNA SChLAP1

Third Place In-Person Oral Research Presentation

Heather M. Krick, MS, RDN, CSOWM, LDN, CBC
Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) Program
College of Nursing and Health Professions

Functional Popsicles: A sensory evaluation and product optimization study

Provost's Award for Best Virtual Oral Research Presentation

Tyler Andres-Bray
PhD Program in Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
Environmentally-Mediated Termite Behavior Shapes Seasonality of Chimpanzee Termite Fishing in Mbam & Djerem National Park, Cameroon

Second Place Virtual Oral Research Presentations (TIE)

Ryan Andris
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Layering vanadium pentoxide with reduced graphene oxide to from 2D heterostructures for improved Li-ion batteries

Turea M. Hutson, M.Ed. & Tajma A. Cameron, M.S.
PhD Program in Educational Leadership and Policy
School of Education
The Genetics of (Un)Managing the Trauma of Inequity in the Classroom: A Systematic Review

Pawan Rao
PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Piezoelectric Plate Sensor For SARS-CoV-2 Detection In 30 Minutes Without Gene Isolation and Amplification

Dean's Award for Best Research Poster Presentation

Katelyn Reeb
PhD Program in Pharmacology and Physiology
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine
Positive allosteric modulation of glutamate transporter EAAT2 as a novel therapeutic approach for neurological disorders

Second Place Research Poster Presentations (TIE)

Lingyi Bi
PhD Program in Materials Science and Engineering
College of Engineering
Scalable fabrication of soft, freestanding MXene dip-coated fiber microelectrodes for neural stimulation and sensing

Kelvin L. Koser
Master's Program in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Professional Studies
College of Medicine
Accessory Gene Content Can Predict the Clinical Isolation Source of Haemophilus influenzae

Baotram V. Nguyen
MD Program
College of Medicine
Trends and Outcomes of ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Hospitalized Patients Without Standard Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Rachit Pandey
PhD Program in Physics
College of Arts and Sciences
Effect of C-terminal truncations on oligomer formation on amyloid β-protein

Elisabeth Posthill
Master's Program in Biomedical Engineering
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Evaluating the biocompatibility and stability of hydrogel-modified blood shunts for pediatric use

Kelly Wallace, MA-CMHC (He/Him/His)
Doctor of Couple and Family Therapy (DCFT) Program
College of Nursing and Health Professions
Increasing Inclusion of Queer and Transgender Affirming Curriculum in the development and teaching of Couple/Marriage and Family Therapists

Visit the schedule to access session recordings and materials. Some materials may only be accessible via Drexel login.