On April 11, nine graduate students from UC Riverside showcased their research at the university’s annual Grad Slam Final, competing for a top prize of $5,000. The event, hosted by UCR’s Grad Division and held on campus at the School of Business, featured presentations that distilled complex studies into three-minute pitches aimed at engaging both experts and lay audiences alike. Participants were judged based on clarity, audience engagement, and effective communication of their ideas. This year’s competition introduced a new rule limiting presenters to one static slide, contrasting with previous years’ animated features. Following the presentations, attendees voted for their favorite speaker, while judges deliberated on final rankings. Ultimately, Angeliz Vargas Casillas emerged as the grand prize winner, advancing to represent UCR in the UC-wide Grad Slam Finale.

This year’s Grad Slam was emceed by Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Lidia Kos, who welcomed an audience of around 150 in-person guests and 200 online viewers. The competition began earlier in the academic year with participants from each school or college narrowing down to 20 semi-finalists and finally to nine finalists. Each student had just three minutes to convey their research significance using only one slide. Topics ranged widely, including the institutionalization of tipping practices in the U.S., the effects of hypergravity on fruit fly movement, and the dynamics between superbugs and beneficial gut bacteria. Presenters used creative slides, ranging from simple percentage screens to centuries-old manuscripts, to enhance their pitches.

One of the standout presentations came from Karina Alpayeva, whose work delves into the historical and contemporary implications of tipping in the United States. Her research investigates why tipping persists as a wage system in America despite its absence in many other countries. Another compelling project was led by Sushmitha Arumugam, who studied how fruit flies adapt to hypergravity conditions, shedding light on potential adaptations for humans in space exploration. Nico Hennig presented on the creation of digital games by Indigenous communities across Latin America, illustrating how these tools can empower cultural narratives. Meanwhile, Angeliz Vargas Casillas’s mathematical model aims to understand keloid scar expansion, offering insights into potential treatments.

As the event concluded, Sam Konyn, an elected member of UCR’s Board of Trustees and event sponsor, announced the winners. Chujing Zheng won the Audience Choice award for her presentation on microbial competition, while Nico Valdivia Hennig secured third place with his decolonial narrative research. Justin Huft took second place with his study on racial identity and far-right support. Finally, Angeliz Vargas Casillas was crowned the grand prize winner for her multiscale modeling of keloid scars. Looking ahead, she will compete against other UC campus winners on April 29 at the UCOP-hosted Grad Slam Finale in Sacramento, where the stakes rise to $7,000.

The UC Riverside Grad Slam exemplifies the institution's commitment to fostering innovative research and enhancing public understanding of graduate-level work. Through this event, students not only gain valuable experience in communicating their findings but also inspire broader audiences with their discoveries. As the competition continues at the UC-wide level, anticipation builds for what these young researchers will bring to the table next.