On November 19, 2025, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its second-annual Graduate Research Symposium, welcoming more than 100 students, faculty, and staff. Planned and facilitated by Rajesh Kana, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Graduate and Continuing Education, the event took place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alumni House and featured a keynote address, lightning talks (i.e., three-minute talks), and a panel discussion. The program also included poster presentations showcasing research from across the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.

 “The most important thing about the Graduate Research Symposium is encouraging interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration, and networking with different groups on campus,” Kana notes. “I’m so thrilled that we had presentations from departments like English, along with those from Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, and others. That’s the essence of this meeting—you get to see presentations from all the disciplines.”

Dean Kecia M. Thomas offered brief remarks before Dr. Suzanne Ortega, president emerita of the Council of Graduate Schools, took the stage to deliver her keynote address, “The Value and Impact of a Graduation Education.” The presentation highlighted diverse and successful career outcomes for individuals who pursue graduate school, sharing compelling data that demonstrated consistently high levels of career satisfaction within this group. She also underscored the vital role of mentorship at every level, including the value of learning from those who are earlier in their careers. Ortega concluded her remarks with an inspiring reflection on the transformative impact graduate education has had on her own life.

Additionally, this year’s program featured eight lightning talks by CAS graduate students—an increase from five in 2024—reflecting the segment’s popularity at last year’s symposium. Nunaya Polycarp (Biology), Paula Argueta (Psychology), Sarah Nealy (Chemistry), Jade Mellor (Biology), Hannah Michelle Lindl (Sociology), Muhammad Shiraz Ahmad (Physics), Olga Khaybulina (Chemistry), and Christel Whitehead (Biology) presented on topics ranging from the science behind gray hair to the impact of microplastics on pregnancy.

Following the lightning talks, CAS graduate school alumni participated in a panel discussion moderated by Amy Watson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of History. The panel consisted of relatively recent graduates from CAS: Alejandra Colón-López, Ph.D., Jennifer Pyles, Ph.D., Hayley Wells, and Sarah Sims. The lively panel included various topics pertaining to graduate education, such as work-life balance, career options within and outside of academia, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in higher education.

The event ended with an opportunity for attendees to view posters and hear from student researchers. The College would like to thank all who participated in this year’s Graduate Research Symposium, and extend a big congratulations to this year’s poster award winners:

• Humanities: Jayden Foster (English)
• Natural Science: Grace Liles (Chemistry)
• Social Sciences: Caroline Webb (Psychology)