Tuskegee students honored at Emerging Researchers National STEM Conference

Tuskegee University was well-represented at the recent Emerging Researchers National Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Washington, D.C. The annual conference seeks to help undergraduate and graduate students enhance their science communication skills and to better understand how to prepare for science careers in a global workforce.

In addition to providing students with professional development that enhances their classroom studies, the conference provides students with a forum to compete in several different poster and oral presentation categories. Winners and participants from Tuskegee in these competitions include:

• Carlton Antoine, a senior from North Miami, Florida, majoring in business; third place, HBCU Maker and Innovation Showcase; mentor, Dr. Richard Whittington
• Devante Dawson, a graduate student from Trussville, Alabama, majoring in biology; third place: ERN Summer Science Video Contest; third place: HBCU Maker and Innovation Showcase; mentor: Dr. Richard Whittington
• Sydnei Head, a sophomore from Powder Springs, Georgia, majoring in chemical engineering; first place, Nanotechnology Poster Presentation
• Aarin Huffman, a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in biology; first place, Biological Sciences Poster Presentation; mentor: Dr. Daniel Abugri
• Alice Levert, a senior from Cleveland, Ohio, majoring in biology; third place, HBCU Maker and Innovation Showcase; mentor: Dr. Richard Whittington
• Stephen Massenburg, a senior from Oxon Hill, Maryland, majoring in business; participation award, Conference Plenary Session; mentor: Dr. Willard Collier
• Jonathan Mitchell, a senior from Atlanta majoring in materials science and engineering; first place, Nanotechnology Poster Presentation; mentors: Dr. Michael Curry and Dr. Richard Whittington
• Jade Roberts, a junior from North Miami, Florida, majoring in biology; competed in the Biological Sciences Oral Presentation contest; mentor: Dr. Daniel Abugri
• Brianna Smith, a graduate student from Palmetto, Georgia, majoring in biology; third place, HBCU Maker and Innovation Showcase; mentor: Dr. Richard Whittington
• Jade Stanley, a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in chemistry; second place: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences Poster Presentation
• Dr. Richard Whittington; third place, HBCU Maker and Innovation Showcase

The annual conference, held Feb. 21-23, was hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Education and Human Resources Programs (EHR) and the National Science   Foundation (NSF) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD), within the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR). The conference is aimed at college and university undergraduate and graduate students who participate in programs funded by the NSF HRD Unit, including underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities.

At the conference, students also attended sessions and workshops focused on strategies for applying for and succeeding in graduate programs and finding funding for graduate school; career preparation workshops focused on employment searches and retention; understanding STEM careers in a global context; and identifying international research and education opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty.

For more information about the conference and for a full list of award winners, visit https://emerging-researchers.org..