Winners of WSU Undergraduate Science Research Poster Competition Announced

PULLMAN, Wash. — The winners of the fourth annual Washington State University College of Sciences Undergraduate Research Poster Competition were announced at the conclusion of the event last Friday (March 30). Fifty science majors displayed posters explaining their research on topics in the biological and physical sciences, mathematics and interdisciplinary areas.

In the biological sciences category first prize went to Alex Dornburg, a transfer student from the Community College of Philadelphia, who has a major in zoology. Second prize was won by Sarah Neitzel, a senior zoology major from Healdsburg, Calif. Third prizes were awarded to Carly Levell, a senior zoology major from Clancy, Mont., and Carrie Richardson, a senior zoology major/pre-medicine student from Auburn, Wash. An honorable mention award went to Scott Schaeffer, a senior microbiology major from Silverdale, Wash. A novice researcher award was given to Philip May, a senior biochemistry major from Vancouver, Wash.

Winners in the physical sciences category were: first prize, Collin Atherton, a junior physics major from Sammamish; second prize, Urszula Szafruga. Two third prizes were awarded. They went to Shawn Riechers, a senior biochemistry and chemistry double major from Richland, and Paul Marquard, a chemistry major. There were also two honorable mention awards: John Leraas, senior physics major from Olympia, won one and Chris Bates, a senior physics major from Walla Walla, won the other. A novice researcher award went to Brian Shuhler, a senior chemistry a major from Bellingham.

In the interdisciplinary/mathematics category, the first prize winner was Chris Deutsch, a senior biochemistry major from Gig Harbor.

The awards were presented by Dean of Sciences Michael Griswold. “One of the goals of the College of Sciences is to provide a research experience for every science major,” Griswold said. “The College of Sciences Undergraduate Research Poster Competition provides our students with the opportunity to present their research in a format that is used at scientific meetings all over the world. It also gives us the opportunity to highlight the world class research that our faculty and students carry out. We are very proud of their accomplishments.”

The students received $400 for placing first, $300 for second, $200 for third and $100 as a novice researcher and honorable mention.