Fifth annual Graduate Research Symposium presents impressive student work

An enthusiastic crowd filled the University Center as graduate students presented their research projects in oral presentations, posters, and other displays at the 5th annual Graduate Research Symposium.
Electrical engineering graduate student Andrew Lohn (right) discussed his research on nanostructured materials for photovoltaic devices with Joel Kubby, professor of electrical engineering.
Tracy Holsclaw, a graduate student in applied mathematics and statistics, described her research on dark energy to Stephen Thorsett, dean of physical and biological sciences. (All photos: Tim Stephens)

The annual Graduate Research Symposium, which allows graduate students to share their research in the form of posters and oral presentations, took place Friday, May 15, at the University Center.

The event, held for the fifth year, attracted hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and others to the center, where graduate students presented research posters describing research in a wide range of fields.

Following are the symposium's prize winners.

Denton Prize winner ($500 and trophy)

Javiera Guedes, Astronomy and Astrophysics (Oral/Live)

THE EARTHS OF ALPHA CENTAURI

Graduate Dean's Award: $250 cash

Melissa Bayne, Psychology (Oral/Live)

SORTING THE FACTS FROM THE MYTHS: THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTORING FOR WOMEN AND UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IN THE SCIENCES

Baskin School of Engineering

Alumni Award: $150 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Michael Singer, Computer Science (Poster)

SPACE DEBRIS MITIGATION

Division Award: $100 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Craig Lowe, Bioinformatics (Poster)

ENDANGERED SPECIES HOLD KEYS TO HUMAN EVOLUTION

Division of the Arts

Alumni Award: $150 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Joshua McVeigh-Schultz, Digital Arts & New Media (Media)

SYNAPTIC CROWD: VOX POP EXPERIMENTS

Division Award: $100 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Nada Miljkovic, Digital Arts & New Media (Oral/Live)

BALKAN SONG

Division of Humanities

Alumni Award: $150 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Michael Ursell, Literature (Oral/Live)

THE MATTER OF INSPIRATION IN RENAISSANCE LYRIC

Division Award: $100 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Dina El Dessouky, Literature (Oral/Live)

ACTIVATING VOICE, BODY AND PLACE: NATIVE HAWAIIAN ACTIVIST WRITING FOR KAHO'OLAWE

Division of Physical and Biological Sciences

Alumni Award: $150 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Travis O'Brien, Earth & Planetary Sciences (Oral/Live)

DECIDUOUS VS. EVERGREEN: DOES FOREST-TYPE AFFECT CLIMATE?

Division Award: $100 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Carolina Reyes, Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology (Poster)

MICROBIAL RESPIRATION PATHWAYS CONTROLLING THE FATE AND TRANSPORT OF ARSENIC

Division of Social Sciences

Alumni Award: $150 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Brian Petersen, Environmental Studies (Oral/Live)

FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE LOS ANGELES BASIN: THE CHALLENGE OF RESPONDING TO DROUGHT, BEETLES, AND FIRE

Division Award: $100 UCSC Bookstore Gift Certificate

Charlotte Nolan Reyes, Psychology (Oral/Live)

THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! PARENTS' MECHANISTIC EXPLANATION AND CHILDREN'S POSSIBILITY JUDGMENTS OF UNUSUAL EVENTS