students explain their posters to passersby and judges
news

Three Eberly graduate students earn prizes at 2023 Graduate Exhibition

13 April 2023

Seventy-six Penn State graduate students—including three from the Eberly College of Science—earned first-, second- or third-place prizes at the 2023 Graduate Exhibition, held March 20-24 on the University Park campus and online. More than 275 students from more than 65 graduate programs participated in one of five categories: research, design, performance, visual arts and video. 

Founded in 1986, the Graduate Exhibition is a Penn State tradition that provides graduate students with an opportunity to discuss their research and scholarship with a general audience. Judges comprise local community members in addition to Penn State staff, faculty and students.  

In addition to competing for a prize in each of the five exhibition categories, students can choose to be evaluated for two awards recognizing excellence in themes that are important for many areas of research and scholarship. The University Libraries hosts an annual Data Visualization award at the Graduate Exhibition. New for 2023, the Graduate Exhibition also includes an award to recognize a presentation that explores themes of diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to the student’s discipline.  

First-place winners receive $500; second-place winners receive $250, and third-place winners receive $100. For the Data Visualization Award, first place will receive $150, with honorable mention receiving $75. 

Winners from the Eberly College of Science are:

  • Health and Life Sciences. Third place. Sabrina Sony, biochemistry, microbiology, and molecular biology, “Determination of the ADSL deficiency-directed perturbation and mechanism impacting the changes in tyramine level” 
  • Physical Sciences and Mathematics. Second place. Vaibhav Pal, chemistry, “Development of an Air-Assisted Co-Axial Device for Mass Production of Versatile Microgels for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications” 
  • Special Awards. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Third place. Jennifer Mott, biology, “Development of Mouse Model and Gene Therapy for TAR Syndrome” 

View the entire list of winners on Penn State News.