Grad Slam, the Graduate Division's annual research communications contest, is returning this year after a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.
Here are this year's ten finalists, who will compete for the top prize of $4,000 in a live event on March 31.
Lucía Abascal Miguel
Global Health Sciences Program
Margaret Handley, PhD, faculty mentor
Megan Chong
Tetrad Program
Sophie Dumont, PhD, faculty mentor
Colin Germer
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Program
Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD, faculty mentor
Wei Gordon
Tetrad Program
Nadav Ahituv, PhD, faculty mentor
Kelly Montgomery
Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program
Jason Gestwicki, PhD, faculty mentor
Rachel Nakagawa
Biomedical Sciences Program
Andrei Goga, PhD, faculty mentor
Adriana Padilla-Roger
Neuroscience Program
Holly Ingraham, PhD, faculty mentor
Neha Prasad
Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program
Ian Seiple, PhD, faculty mentor
Gokul Ramadoss
Biomedical Sciences Program
Bruce Conklin, MD and Martin Kampmann, PhD, faculty mentors
Jack Stevenson
Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program
Kevan Shokat, PhD, faculty mentor
Grad Slam challenges PhD students to present a compelling presentation of their dissertation research in three minutes or less, using language that not only their peers but also non-specialists will understand. The intention of Grad Slam is not to dumb-down or trivialize research; rather, it is meant to incentivize students to clarify their ideas and to help others appreciate and understand their work. Grad Slam contests are now held at all ten UC campuses, and a UC-wide event – featuring the top Grad Slam winners from each campus – is held annually each spring.
Due to ongoing COVID-related restrictions on campus, this year's live Grad Slam event will be open only to a limited number of the competitors' colleagues, the judges, and event staff; however, we will be live streaming the entire event. Please mark your calendar for Thursday, March 31, at 4 p.m. PST, and plan to join us virtually. Watch your inbox for more information and a livestream link later this month.
Read more about the annual Grad Slam competition, or meet this year's judges.
Watch the livestream on March 31
