{"id":14880,"date":"2025-12-08T09:54:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T14:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/?p=14880"},"modified":"2025-12-09T08:51:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:51:42","slug":"umes-research-highlighted-at-student-led-research-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/uncategorized\/umes-research-highlighted-at-student-led-research-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"UMES research highlighted at student-led research symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UMES students and faculty highlighted their latest work at the second annual Student-led Undergraduate Research Symposium Dec. 4. Hosted by the SANS Center for Student Excellence<\/a>, the full-day event provides a platform for university researchers at all levels to showcase their investigations and findings. Over 50 high-quality poster and oral presentations were showcased, of which a group of high school students participating in a UMES Extension 4-H STEM Research Internship were able to engage in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s theme, Feeding the Future: Innovation & Resiliency in Agriculture, primarily focused on the school\u2019s paramount charge of advancing agricultural practices and technology to support the needs of the region and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fittingly, the symposium kicked off with a keynote session by Scott Raubenstine<\/strong>, vice president agricultural services at Perdue AgriBusiness, and Samriddh (Sam) Mudgal<\/strong>, brand manager, Disruptive Innovation, Perdue Farms. A morning panel on Equitable Food Systems and Community Resilience followed moderated by Sonya Whited<\/strong>, senior director of process engineering and sensory, Perdue Farms Innovation Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral research presentations preceded lunch followed by a poster session afterward. A second panel discussion led by Rylee Stocks, a junior biology major, highlighted current undergraduate research and experiential learning projects. Student recognition and awards concluded the day\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the winners are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Place-Undergraduate Oral Presentation and Poster Presentation<\/strong>, Nandini Walia<\/strong>, Identification and Characterization of Soil Bacteria Producing Antifungal Metabolites Against Strawberry Pathogens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undergraduate Poster Presentation<\/strong>, (Second Place) Naya Diggs<\/strong>, Mosquito Farm and Salt Marsh of the Town Habitats in Somerset County, Maryland, and (Third Place) Neisha Jacobs<\/strong>, Preliminary Survey of PFAS in Household Drinking Water and Potential Drivers Across Maryland\u2019s Lower Shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate Poster Presentation<\/strong>, Rumita Limbu Sanwa<\/strong>, Alley Cropping in Maryland: Farmers\u2019 Perspectives and Soil Greenhouse Gas Dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty Poster Presentation<\/strong>, Dr. Aaron Persad<\/strong>, Experiment on the Effects of Microgravity on Fine Regolith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate\/Faculty Oral Presentation<\/strong>, Ian Kalama<\/strong>, The Canopy and the Community: Quantifying the Disparity of the Urban Forest Benefits and Vulnerability in Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three-Minute Thesis Competition<\/strong>, Sara Lahoff<\/strong>, Phytochemical Contents of Juvenile Ginger as Influenced by Cultural Management and Maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured below, clockwise from top left, are: Nandini Walia, Nayla Diggs, Scott Raubenstine, Sonya Whited, and Kausik Das, physics professor and director of UMES’ Center for Student Excellence introducing the guest presenters from Perdue. See more photos<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n