November 13, 2017
Participants of the Student Research Conference held on November 11, 2017, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Science and engineering students from across the country gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 11 for the 17th Annual Student Research Conference.
Approximately 135 students participated in a poster presentation competition, professional development workshops, panel discussion on science communication, oral presentations by featured student speakers, networking event, and banquet featuring a keynote address from WRAL chief meteorologist Greg Fishel.
The following students were selected as winners in their division and research category. They received a medal, $150, and nominations to join Sigma Xi with their first year of membership dues 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.
High School Division
Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources
Valentina Ortega, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida
Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Hannah Yoder, Research Triangle High School in Durham, North Carolina
Chemistry
Aida Wen, American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida
Engineering
Stefan Abi-Karam, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida
Environmental Science
Emily Pallack, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida
Human Behavioral and Social Science
Hemangi Rajpal, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Sangita Vasikaran, Texas Academy of Math and Science in Denton, Texas
Physiology and Immunology
Anam Ahmed, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida
Undergraduate Division
Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources
Nirupa Gadi, Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts
Anthropology
Danielle Orlandi, James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Cell Biology and Biochemistry (tie)
Lynette Jackson, University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California
Nicholas Ramirez, University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California
Chemistry
Carlos Vasquez, University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Nikaela Losievski, Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan/Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas
Environmental Science
Jeliyah Clark, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Math and Computer Science
Sweta Karlekar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Michelle Kalu, University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California
Physics and Astronomy
Madelyn Leembruggen, University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio
Physiology and Immunology
Genna Wilber, Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan
Graduate Division
Agricultural, Soil, and Natural Resources
Neha Mittal, University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina
Anthropology
Carter Clinton, Howard University in Washington, DC
Chemistry
Daniel Evans, University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Amanda Leithead, Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Engineering
Joseph Cope, North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Rachel Harris, Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey
Physiology and Immunology
Jiangnan Hu, University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas
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)
Jared Richards, undergraduate environmental science student, at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Second Place (tie, each winner receives $100)
Emma Strujo, undergraduate cell biology and biochemistry student at State University of New York at Oswego in Oswego, New York
Susanna Dorminy, high school engineering student at Sola Fide Home School in McDonough, Georgia
See individual student award photos on Flickr. High school student pictures are not included.