October 29, 2018

Students present posters about their research projects to judges and each other at the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference on October 27, 2018, in Burlingame, California. Photo by Deanna Welker/Sigma Xi.

Science and engineering students from across the country gathered October 26–27 in Burlingame, California, for the 18th Annual Sigma Xi Student Research Conference.

Approximately 140 high school, undergraduate, and graduate students competed in a research poster presentation competition at the conference, which was held in conjunction with the Sigma Xi Annual Meeting. Sigma Xi members, who were elected to membership because of their research accomplishments, served as judges and evaluated each student's presentation. Judges evaluated whether the student clearly stated a hypothesis and the significance of his or her research as well as goals and objectives. Judges also assessed a student's use of the scientific method and ability to answer questions. 

The following students were selected by the judges as top presenters in their division and research category. They received a medal, $150, and nominations to join Sigma Xi with their first year of membership fees waived. Students who were already Sigma Xi members will have their membership dues extended for the next fiscal year. Nonmembers were inducted into the Society and members renewed their pledge. 

Photos of the top presenters are available for download on Flickr. High school student pictures are not included on Flickr and are available upon request.

High School Division

Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources 
Rajat Ramesh, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida

Cell Biology and Biochemistry
There was a tie in this category. Each student received $150.
Anuva Banwasi, Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California
Rhea Malhotra, Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Chemistry
Satya Alagarsamy, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida  

Engineering
Eeshani Behara, American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida

Environmental Science
Glenn Grimmett, American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida

Geosciences
Co-presenters split the $150 award. 
Iris Xia of Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, and Justin Cai of  Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California
 
Human Behavioral and Social Science
Ephraim Oyetunji, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida

Math and Computer Science
Anish Ravichandran, American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida

Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Angelin Mathew, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida    

Physics and Astronomy
There was a tie in this category. Sahai received $150; Wang and Dange split the $150 award. 
Arushi Sahai, Menlo School in Atheron, California    
Bryan Wang and Rishi Dange, The Harker School in San Jose, California 

Physiology and Immunology
Valentina Ortega, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida  

Undergraduate Division

Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources 
Syed Adnan Uddin, University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York 

Cell Biology and Biochemistry
There was a tie in this category. Each student received $150.
Julia Han, University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California 
Alexis Villani, University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, California  

Chemistry
Natalie Feinstein, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island    

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Manna Job, State University of New York at Osewgo in Osewgo, New York  

Engineering
Soobin Wang, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island

Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Esha Aneja, University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California 

Math and Computer Science
Kate Richardson, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina   

Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Paul Hernandez, University of California, Irvine, at Irvine, California  

Physics and Astronomy
Juliana Theodorakis, Rockford University in Rockford, Illinois   

Physiology and Immunology
Haley Davis, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia 

Graduate Division

Anthropology
Carter Clinton, Howard University in Washington, DC

Big Data in Research
Matthew Snyder, University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio 

Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Tyler Parsons, Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan 

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Yue Shi, University of Washington in Seattle, Washington  
 
Engineering
Vasudha Kowtha, University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland

Human Behavioral and Social Sciences
Zulqarnain Javed, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas  

Math and Computer Science
Yan Zhao, Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire

Microbiology and Molecular Biology
There was a tie in this category. Each student received $150.
Renee Fonesca, University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida  
Colin Kruse, Ohio University in Athens, Ohio   

Physics and Astronomy
Roshan Timilsina, Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan

Physiology and Immunology
Mohamed Dandan, University of California, Berkeley, in Berkeley, California 

Student Choice Awards

Students who participated in the conference voted for the best poster among their peers. The Student Choice Award is sponsored by the District of Columbia Sigma Xi Chapter. 

First Place (winner receives $200)
Tushar Shenoy, who competed in the high school division's Microbiology and Molecular Biology category, and who attends American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida

Second Place (winner receives $100)
Oluwaseun Adegbite, who competed in the undergraduate student division's Cell Biology and Biochemistry category, and who attends the University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, California 

Photo Captions

Second photo above: Kate Richardson, on left, of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was ranked as the top presenter in the undergraduate division's Math and Computer Science category for her team's research on visualizing Spacecraft missions with OpenSpace software. Photo by Scott Buschman Photography. 

Third photo above: Paul Hernandez, on right, of the University of California, Irvine, receives his medal as a top presenter in the Student Research Conference from Sigma Xi President Joel Primack. Hernandez was the top presenter of the undergraduate division in the Microbiology and Molecular Biology category for his research team's project on antibiotic resistance. Photo by Robert Frederick/Sigma Xi.

Article updated on December 4, 2018.