GSBS Student Research Day
Thursday, June 22
Cooley Center
7440 Cambridge Street
Houston, Texas 77054
Special GSRD Shuttle will be available
from BSRB circle drive to Cooley Center for attendees
between 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Parking in RPC Lot, 1940 East Road, will be validated
Register by June 16 to attend
Keynote Speaker
Donald Patrick McDonnell, PhD

Glaxo-Wellcome Distinguished Professor
of Molecular Cancer Biology
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology,
Duke University School of Medicine
Keynote Speech:
Rethinking Endocrine Therapies in Breast and Prostate Cancer
AGENDA
9:00 - 9:30 am |
Breakfast |
9:30 am |
Welcome |
|
Oral Presentation Skills Finalists’ Competitions |
11:00 am - 12:15 pm |
|
|
Poster Sessions and Lunch (first 250 attendees) |
3:00 - 4:00 pm |
Oral Presentation Skills Finalists’ Competitions |
4:00 - 5:00 pm |
Elevator Speech Finalists’ Contests |
5:15 pm |
Awards |
5:00 - 6:30 pm |
Reception |
Competitions
-
Oral Presentation Skills Competitions
Pre-Candidacy PhD & MS Finalists - 9:45 am
Student Name
Category
Advisor
Program
Stephen Farmer
Pre-candidacy PhD
Sheng Zhang, PhD
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Peyton High
1st year PhD
Kendra Carmon, PhD
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Penju Gong
Pre-candidacy PhD
Chunru Lin, PhD
Cancer Biology
Erin Snoddy
Pre-candidacy PhD
Kristy Brock, PhD
Medical Physics
Llaran Turner
Pre-candidacy PhD
George Eisenhoffer, PhD
Genetics & Epigenetics
Post-Candidacy Finalists - 3:00 pm
Student Name
Category
Advisor
Program
Heather Sonnemann
Post-Candidacy PhD
Gregory Lizee, PhD
Immunology
Tanvi Visal
Post-Candidacy PhD
George Calin, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology
Alaa Mohamed
Post-Candidacy PhD
Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD
Cancer Biology
Heather Tsong
Post-Candidacy PhD
Andrea Stavoe, PhD
Genetics & Epigenetics
Xin Ru Jiang
Post-Candidacy PhD
Katy Rezvani, MD, PhD
Immunology
Oral Presentation Skills Competitions - Guidelines
Oral presentations sessions are designed to give presenters an opportunity to formally present their research to the GSBS and larger TMC audience. The purpose of the presentation is to clearly convey your research to an educated scientific audience. Presentations should include sufficient information for audience members to understand the methods, results, and significance of the research.
Eligibility:
All GSBS degree students who have affiliated with a primary research advisor, and are in good academic standing, may apply.
Format:
- Oral presentations will be presented in-person during GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present an oral presentation. Ten contestants will be selected as finalists to compete. The deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is May 3 by 11:59 pm.
- Each oral presentation will be allotted 10 minutes consisting of a 7-minute presentation and a 3-minute question & answer period before a panel of judges and the public audience.
- Finalists should plan to be present for the entirety of their assigned oral session. The order of presentations within each session will be assigned randomly and delivered in the order indicated in the GSRD program.
- Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
- Finalists competing in the Oral Presentation Skills competition may also apply to present a poster. Space permitting, they may present their poster, but they may not compete and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].
Application link: 2023GSRD_OPSContests
Application Materials:
- Research abstract: This summary should be written in language understandable by a broad general science audience and should be a concise and engaging description of the student’s research project that includes the title, background/objective, brief methods, results/progress, conclusions and future work. The abstract body should be at least 150 words, but no more than 300 words. Abstracts not meeting these criteria will be disqualified.
- Curriculum vitae: Include past speaking and/or poster presentation experiences.
- Approval form from advisor addressing the student's presentation skills: 2023GSRD_OPSFacApprovalForm
Selection and award criteria:- Preliminary judges will select the finalists and students will be notified on May 23. In the preliminary phase, the project abstract and other application materials will be evaluated for scientific merit, and appeal to a general science audience. Evidence of prior presentations will be taken into consideration, but is not a requirement.
- Finalists will present their oral presentations to faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges. Presentations will be evaluated on speaking skills/delivery, scientific content, and overall quality of the presentation. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
- Rubric for OPS contests
Prizes:
- Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS and SMS
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
- $300 bonus for best 1st year student
- Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
-
Poster Sessions
Poster Finalists - Session A - 12:30 pm
Last Name
First Name
Advisor
Category
Program
Caggiano
Emily
Cullen Taniguchi, MD, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Chuong
Vicky
Fabricio Do Monte, DVM, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Coker
Oluwadara
Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Diaz Rohena
Daisy
Deepa Sampath, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Gillard
Andrew
Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, MD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Jacob
Joan
Kendra, Carmon, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Jayabalan
Ruparoshni
Mauro Di Pilato, PhD
1st year PhD
Immunology
Li
Yating
Cassian Yee, MD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Immunology
Lu
Kaylene
Jian Hu, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
McManus
Sheighlah
Maria Bertilaccio, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Therapeutics & Pharmacology
Palacios
Bridgitte
Jian Hu, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Peshoff
Mekenzie
Krishna Bhat, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Phi
Lan
Anil Sood, MD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Prasad
Rishika
Robert Jenq, MD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Immunology
Scott
Hayden
Paola Alvarez, MS, Stephen Kry, PhD
1st year PhD
Medical Physics
Shah
Rutvi
Andrea Viale, MD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Shihabeddin
Eyad
Andrea Viale, MD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Subramanian
Shraddha
Kendra Carmon, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Tavizon
Larissa
Danielle Garsin, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
Poster Finalists - Session B - 1:40 pm
Last Name
First Name
Advisor
Category
Program
Cao
Pham Hong Anh
Daniel Frigo, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Chen
Hao-Nien
Dihua Yu, MD, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Immunology
Chen
Xinru
Jinzhong Yang, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Medical Physics
Clowers
Michael
Seyed Javad Moghaddam, MD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Immunology
Dharmaiah
Sharvari
Jason Huse, MD, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Jalloul
Dounya
Michael Beierlein, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Lanier
Amanda
Powel Brown, MD, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Liu
Muchen
Radbod Darabi, MD, PhD
MS
McKenzie
Takese
Jian Hu, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Miao
Anna
Don Gibbons, MD, PhD
Pre-Candidacy PhD
Genetics & Epigenetics
Mondal
Jayanta
Jason Huse, MD, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Riba
Morgan
Stephanie Watowich, PhD, Cassian Yee, MD
1st year PhD
Immunology
Shaleen
Menna-t-Allah
Anirban Maitra, MBBS
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Sun
Yimo
Gregory Lizee, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Immunology
Sunga
Gemalene
Simon Young, DDS, PhD, MD, Andrew Sikora, MD, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Immunology
Xu
Ping
Nicholas Navin, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Poster Session - Guidelines
Poster sessions are designed to give presenters an opportunity to discuss their research with colleagues and other researchers. The purpose of the poster is to visually stimulate interest in the research, to present sufficient information for viewers to understand the methods, results, and significance of the research, and to promote conversations and networking among GSRD attendees.
Eligibility
- All GSBS students who have participated in a research project at the GSBS, and are in good academic standing, are eligible to participate.
Format:
- Posters will be presented in-person during GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present a poster. Space is limited to 40 contestants, so students are encouraged to apply early. Deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is May 3 by 11:59 pm.
- Students are responsible for printing their posters [size: no larger than 3.3' H x 3.5' W].
- Poster template and GSBS logo downloads are here.
- Posters will be on display during the entirety of GSRD. The day before the GSRD (Wednesday, June 21) Poster Session, finalists must set up their posters in the afternoon at Cooley Center. If a finalist cannot go in person, they may ask another student or the DSA staff to set up their poster for them. Each poster board will be numbered. Presenters should attach their posters to the board number corresponding to the number assigned to their poster in the GSRD Program, which will be emailed prior to set up. Presenters should remove their posters at the end of GSRD between the hours of 4:30-6:00 pm. [Presenters are encouraged to display their posters during the reception.]
- On the day of GSRD, students will present their posters during their assigned session. Students should plan to stand with their posters until their assigned session is completed and they have presented to their faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges.
- Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
- Students who are chosen as finalists in the GSRD Oral Presentation Skills competition may not compete in the poster session. They may, if space permits, still present a poster and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].
Application link: 2023GSRD_PosterContests
Application materials:
- Research abstract: This summary should be written in language understandable by a broad general science audience and should be a concise and engaging description of the student’s research project that includes the title, background/objective, brief methods, results/progress, conclusions and future work. The abstract body should be at least 150 words, but no more than 300 words. Abstracts not meeting these criteria will be disqualified.
- Curriculum vitae: Include past speaking and/or poster presentation experiences.
Selection and award criteria:
- Preliminary judges will select the finalists and students will be notified on May 23. Evidence of prior presentations will be taken into consideration but is not a requirement.
- Finalists will present their posters to faculty and/or PhD-level research scientist judges. Posters will be evaluated on the presence, quality and details of the key sections of a poster (see abstract), as well as level of content knowledge and engagement. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
- Rubric for poster contests
Prizes:
- Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS and SMS
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
- $300 bonus for best 1st year student
- Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
- All GSBS students who have participated in a research project at the GSBS, and are in good academic standing, are eligible to participate.
-
Elevator Speech Contests
Elevator Speech Finalists - 4:00 pm
Last Name
First Name
Advisor
Category
Program
Lakshmivenkatesh
Srinath Muralidharan
Sachet Shukla, PhD
1st year PhD
Rodriguez
Mya
1st year PhD
Scott
Hayden
Paola Alvarez, MS, Stephen Kry, PhD
1st year PhD
Medical Physics
Benavente
Maria
Rodrigo Morales, PhD
MS
Neuroscience
Brahmendra Barathi
Bhargavi
Jason Huse, MD, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Genetics & Epigenetics
Gupta
Aashish
Kristy Brock, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Medical Physics
Hanjra
Pahul
Anil Sood, MD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Trusz
Guillaume
Laurence Court, PhD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Immunology
Umamaheswaran
Sujanitha
Anil Sood, MD
Pre-candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Marquez
Barbara
Laurence Court, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Medical Physics
Mehrens
Hunter
Stephen Kry, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Medical Physics
Palacios
Bridgitte
Jian Hu, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Neuroscience
Rajkumar Bhanu
Krithikaa
Michael Curran, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Immunology
Zorrilla Veloz
Rocio
Jian Hu, PhD
Post-Candidacy PhD
Cancer Biology
Elevator Speech Contests - Guidelines
The scientific Elevator Speech is a 90-second summary of the student’s research project intended for an educated, lay audience. The scientific elevator speech is an excellent career tool for students, helping them to establish credibility, form relationships with other scientists, and gain support for their ideas. It also helps students clarify and articulate their thoughts, build professional confidence, and communicate across disciplines.
Students are encouraged to attend special workshops to prepare for this competition.
Sign up to attend: 2023ElevSpeechWorkshops (deadline to register for workshops is April 21)Eligibility:
All GSBS degree students, who are in good academic standing, are eligible to compete.
Format:- Elevator speeches will be presented in-person at GSRD at Cooley Center. Students must apply to present an elevator speech. Twenty contestants will be selected as finalists to compete. The deadline to apply for consideration for the competition is May 3 by 11:59 pm.
- Each elevator speech will be allotted 90 seconds. The time will begin once a contestant starts speaking. Speakers may use notecards as long as they do not read straight through, and/or may use small props/objects. Speakers are not allowed to use PowerPoint slides. There will be no time allotted for questions during the session.
- Elevator speeches should be accessible to a non-specialist audience with a basic college education, succinct, and last no more than 90 seconds; they should be well organized and easy to follow, delivered in an engaging manner, and have impact. The speeches should contain key elements commonly found in scientific presentations, including an introduction/background, description of the gap in knowledge or research question being addressed, a brief description of method(s), results if they have been obtained, a statement of significance, and possible next steps if applicable. In addition, the delivery of the speech should be enthusiastic, confident, conversational rather than overly formal, and use accessible language that minimizes jargon.
- Finalists should plan to be present for the entirety of the elevator speech competition session. The order of presentations will be assigned randomly and delivered in the order indicated in the GSRD program.
- Students will compete in two categories: (1) Pre-candidacy PhD students, MS students and SMS; and (2) Post-candidacy PhD students. Students should apply to the category that best matches their current status at the time of application.
- Students who are chosen as finalists in the GSRD Elevator Speech competition may not compete in the poster session. They may, if space permits, still present a poster and their poster number will be labeled “NC” [non-competing].
Application link: 2023GSRD_ESContests
Application materials:
- Tentative title for elevator speech
- Short description (1-2 sentences) of the impact, relevance, or importance of the research as it relates to science or a lay audience
Selection and award criteria:
- Preliminary judges will select twenty finalists and students will be notified on May 23. Evidence of prior presentations will be taken into consideration but is not a requirement.
- Finalists will present their elevator speeches to a panel of judges on June 22 that includes faculty, PhD-level research scientists, and lay community members. Elevator speeches will be evaluated on the delivery of the speech, organization and engagement with the speech content, and impact. The speech will not be evaluated on the complexity of the project, whether experimental results have been obtained so far, minor grammatical mistakes, or speaking with a non-English accent. The audience will choose the People's Choice Award winner. Winners will be announced at the GSRD Awards Ceremony.
- Rubric for elevator speech contests
Prizes:- Category 1: Pre-Candidacy PhD, MS and SMS
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
- People’s choice: $300
- Category 2: Post-Candidacy PhD
- 1st prize: $1,000
- 2nd prize: $500
- People’s choice: $300
The GSBS gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of this event: Logan & Sue Brown