Get ready for UCSF Grad Slam! The Graduate Division’s popular annual research communications contest returns on April 3 as part of UCSF’s celebration of National Graduate Student Appreciation Week.
We are excited to announce this year’s ten finalists, selected by a panel of screening judges. These PhD candidates will share their research stories in accessible 3-minute talks as they compete for cash prizes of $4,000, $2,000, $1,000, and $750 at the live event on April 3. The top prize winner will go on to compete in the UC systemwide Grad Slam competition in May.
Chad Altobelli
Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program
Michelle Arkin, PhD, faculty mentor
Sizing Up Drug Candidates With a Molecular Ruler
Olivia Barnhill
Neuroscience Program
Alexandra Nelson, MD, PhD, faculty mentor
Lights, Camera, Stimulation
Ilina Bhaya-Grossman
Bioengineering Program
Edward Chang, MD, faculty mentor
The Magic of Language Understanding
Lorenzo Del Castillo
Tetrad Program
Jeremy Reiter, MD, PhD, faculty mentor
Shining Some Light on Sonic Hedgehog Signaling
Naz Dundar
Neuroscience Program
Zachary Knight, PhD, faculty mentor
The Hidden Hunger Hormone
Reuben Hogan
Biophysics Program
Nevan Krogan, PhD, faculty mentor
Protein Folding is Pretty Sweet
Simone Kurial
Biomedical Sciences Program
Holger Willenbring, MD, PhD, faculty mentor
If You Can't Arboretum, Join 'em: Growing the Biliary Tree From Scratch
Cathrine Petersen
Neuroscience Program
Lennart Mucke, MD, and Ryan Corces, PhD, faculty mentors
Clustering: Giving Cell Types a Solo Performance
Rachel Rock
Biomedical Sciences Program
Peter Turnbaugh, PhD, faculty mentor
Gut Microbes in Mind: Exploring One Potential Reason Why Women Are More Likely to Suffer From Autoimmune Disease
Sydney Williams
Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Program
Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD, faculty mentor
Rabs: Delivery Drivers of the Eye
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 to incentivize students to clarify their ideas and to help others appreciate and understand their work. Grad Slam contests are now held at all 10 UC campuses, and a UC-wide event – featuring the top Grad Slam winners from each campus – will be held on May 3.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 3, at 4 p.m. PDT, and plan to join us either in person in Byers Auditorium at Mission Bay, or tune into the live stream.
Read more about the annual Grad Slam competition, or meet this year’s live event judges.
