PULLMAN – A record number of participants competed in the Fifth Annual College of Sciences Undergraduate Research Poster Competition on April 4. A record number of posters were presented by students in the areas of biological sciences, interdisciplinary/mathematics and physical sciences.
Christopher Bates, a senior physics and biochemistry major, won top prize in the physical sciences category. Bates was also awarded the special category prize given by the Center for Integrated Biotechnology. He worked on “The motion and dissolution of drops of sparingly soluble alcohols on water” in the lab of physics professor Tom Dickinson.
Other winners in the physical sciences category included Mark C. Kuyzk (second place), Andrew Hansen (third place), and Leslie Shuhler (honorable mention). Heather Hamilton won the Novice Researcher award for physical sciences as well as second prize from the Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach (CEREO).
In the biological sciences category, the first place finisher was Debbie Fretwell, who also landed the Center for Reproductive Biology prize. Amy Jemelka came in second and Adrienne Copeland in third. Alexander Blanco took home both the Novice Researcher award for biological sciences as well as the first prize award from CEREO. Earning honorable mentions in the biological science category were Christine Akerlund, Vanessa Serratore, and Katherine Vargo.
The winners in the interdisciplinary/mathematics category were repeat winner Christopher Deutsch (first place) and Cory Cole (honorable mention).
The annual research poster competition is sponsored by the Dean’s office, College of Sciences. Cash awards were given to all student winners at the event.
