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Sixty-four students took home awards for oral and poster presentations of their research and creative scholarship following the 2024 Auburn University Research Symposium, held March 26 at the Melton Student Center. Awards were presented in an April 2 ceremony.

Nearly 450 graduate and undergraduate students from Auburn University and Auburn University at Montgomery participated in the annual event. For the first time, presentations by postdoctoral researchers were also included.

“Not only is this an opportunity for students to present what they have learned through their research experiences to a broad audience, but the symposium empowers participants to share their thoughts, discoveries, and creative work,” said Lorenzo Cremaschi, professor of mechanical engineering and Auburn’s director of undergraduate research. “This year, the first-rate presentations provided a forum for cross-college networking. The conversations in the rooms were lively and vibrant. I thank all the presenters and judges who participated in the symposium, making it a truly engaging opportunity. And I congratulate the award winners for their outstanding work during what is becoming a signature event for the University.”

Undergraduate research awards

The undergraduate first-place award in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics poster presentations went to Nathan Newman of the Department of Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Graham Lynn, from the Department of Drug Discovery and Development in the Harrison College of Pharmacy, captured first place in the STEM oral presentations.

In the category for Human Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nursing and Humanities, Natalie McBrayer of the Department of Psychological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts won first place for her poster presentation, and Annie Pauley of the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, also in the College of Liberal Arts, took first in the oral presentations.

Graduate research awards

The graduate student first-place winner for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics poster presentations was Ashley Hennessey of the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences in the College of Agriculture. First place in the STEM oral presentations went to Virginia Aida of the Department of Pathobiology.

In the category for Human Sciences, Social Sciences, Creative Arts, Nursing and Humanities, Makeda Nurradin of the Department of Curriculum and Teaching in the College of Education won first place in the poster presentations, marking her third consecutive year as a symposium winner. Emily Knight of the Department of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Human Sciences earned first in the oral presentations.

College-specific awards were also presented for undergraduate and graduate student categories. A complete list of winners, along with their project titles, is available on the Research Symposium website.

To further honor the winners, the Ralph Brown Draughon Library plans to display a selection of winning posters on its digital wall.