Women in Science Take Top Honors at New Mexico Tech’s 2026 Student Research Symposium
May 14, 2026
A powerhouse of female student scientists claimed the top three awards in the Graduate Student Association Poster Competition and the Best Undergraduate Student Presentation at New Mexico Tech’s 2026 Student Research Symposium (SRS). The annual event was held recently at Skeen Library and brought out 188 presenters that included 117 undergraduate and 71 graduate students.
Undergraduate Hailey Whitley, a sophomore in Computer Science, received the top presentation award for undergraduate researchers and placed second among all participants in the 3-Minute Speech Competition.
Graduate student Alyssa Daniel-Peterson, a 2025 New Mexico Tech alumna and current master’s student in Electrical Engineering, earned first place in the graduate oral presentations, while Joya Nath, a master’s student in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, and Ashley Tomlinson, a master’s student in Biology, tied for second place.
The symposium supports research across all levels of New Mexico Tech’s student body and provides experience presenting findings to peers, educators, and professional audiences. The primary focus of the forum is “Communicate to Educate,” challenging students to communicate their research or design clearly and effectively, including to audiences outside their field. Students are encouraged to attend workshops spanning over the spring semester that equip them with presentation, abstract writing, and poster development skills .
Over the course of four days, selected undergraduate and graduate researchers participated in oral presentations, gave poster presentations, and competed in the 3-minute challenge, explaining their research topics and their impact with clarity.The research topics were as varied and rigorous as New Mexico Tech’s student body.
“Hailey’s research accomplishments, combined with the fact that she is only in her second year, make her an excellent example of the opportunities available at New Mexico Tech and the kind of outcomes motivated students can achieve,” said her advisor, Omid Moradian, associate professor of geomechanics in the Department of Mineral Engineering.
“The symposium highlights that our students can engage in research early in their academic journey, contribute to cutting-edge research topics, and compete successfully alongside graduate students,” Moradian said.
Aly El Osery, New Mexico Tech's Dean for Graduate Studies, said the quality of the posters presented was exceptional. "But most importantly, graduate students presented with a lot of confidence, passion and enthusiasm. They were very engaging and were able to articulate the impact of their research they do at New Mexico Tech very well. I am confident that they will become leaders in their field."
Roughly a half-dozen projects focused on sustainability, ranging from water desalination methods and the affordability of renewable energy to the impact of surface erosion on local waterways and plant decomposition across varying ecosystems in Socorro County. Another cluster of projects related to mining investigated ways to improve long-term stability assessments and reduce health risks.
Students also presented research on fungal biology and epidemiology, fluid dynamics in space, applications for robotic arms in pharmaceutical handling and greenhouse crop harvesting, and nutritional quality and food safety at Chartwells Dining Hall.
The SRS 3-Minute Speech Competition is a fast-paced event in which participants present their research in under three minutes. This year’s competitors delivered strong presentations, conveying the significance of their work and their fields to a general audience.
This year’s winners of the 3-Minute Speech Competition are:
First Place / Best Graduate Student Presentation
Anthony Baker — “Diagnosing Invisible Damage: Brain-on-a-Chip”
(Biotechnology; Advisor: Dr. Michaelann Tartis)
Second Place / Best Undergraduate Student Presentation
Hailey Whitley — “Predicting Disaster Early with AI and Imaging”
(Computer Science / Mineral Engineering; Advisor: Dr. Omid Moradian)
Third Place
Mariana Baca — “Making Radioactive PETs to Save Your Life”
(Physics; Advisor: Dr. Douglas Wells)
Participants in the 3-Minute Speech Competition, top left: Joya, Malsha, Hailey, Hasan,
Richard, Emmanuel, Renzo, Long, Mariana. Bottom left: Arnob, Luke, Carlos, and Anthony.
In this category, Anthony, a graduate student in Biotechnology came in first; Hailey,
an undergraduate student in Computer Science took second place, and Mariana, a graduate
student in Physics, came in third. Photo credit: Valeria Orozco.
Graduate Student Association Poster Competition
First Place
Alyssa Daniel-Peterson
Electrical Engineering
“Magnetic Component Design and Performance Analysis in a High-Frequency Flyback Converter”
Second Place (Tie)
Ashley Tomlinson
Civil & Environmental Engineering
“Isolation of Polyvalent Bacteriophages to Combat Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria during
Wastewater Treatment”
Second Place (Tie)
Joya Nath
Materials Engineering
“Extrusion-Based 3D Printing and Multiscale Characterization of Sustainable Concrete
Using Waste Glass Powder as a Partial Replacement of Cement”
The Student Research Symposium (SRS) is an initiative of the Office for Student Learning and the Joseph R. Skeen Library. Contributors and supporters include the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of Student Affairs, the CLASS Department, the Writing & Communication Lab, and the Graduate Student Association.
– by Katie E. Ismael and Kimberley Clementi