Student Inquiry Shines During IBMS Research Day 2025

ATLANTA — IBMS Research Day 2025, a student-led research symposium for undergraduate and graduate students in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) at Georgia State University, featured outstanding student research projects and mentorship from professionals in industry and academia.

The event, presented by the Translational Biomedical Sciences Student Association (TBSA), an organization for IBMS graduate students, was held in Student Center West Sept. 5. Led by TBSA President Parisa Darvishi, Vice President Fatemeh Mousavinasab, Secretary Yunju Jung, and Treasurer Reeham Victor, the event brought together IBMS students to view poster presentations by undergraduate and graduate students and listen to graduate students discuss their research projects.

Students also competed for cash prizes. The winners were:

• Wale Oyetunde, Philip Grovenstein and Rany Tarakji for poster presentations (equal cash prizes, no ranking).
• Grace Kim, Natalie Nunnally and Alexander Leach (presented on behalf of Amir Karimi) for oral presentations (equal cash prizes, no ranking).

The event also introduced a new recognition, the Excellence in Mentorship and Student Engagement Award, which honors faculty who not only mentor students in research but also support and encourage their active involvement in IBMS Research Day. The award winner was Robert Cox, an assistant professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences whose mentorship led to outstanding participation from his lab.

IBMS Research Day 2025 also featured a keynote speaker, Koran Harris from TECAN, and a distinguished panel of Ph.D. graduates who have successfully transitioned into diverse and rewarding careers. The Career Path Panel featured Caroline Lieber, Pat Liu and Harris. The panelists shared helpful information about their journeys from graduate study to thriving roles in both industry and academia. Students were also able to connect with professionals and receive valuable career advice.