Spotlight on graduate research: Six students recognized for outstanding posters

Graduate Student Appreciation Month, celebrated each February, featured the Graduate School's annual Research Poster Competition in the Alumni Memorial Union Ballrooms on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event brought together master's and doctoral students from across campus to present their scholarly and creative work, highlighting the breadth and depth of graduate research at Marquette University.

Open to students from all graduate programs, the competition provides an opportunity to demonstrate the impact of graduate-level research, promote engagement in scholarly and creative inquiry, and encourage interaction among students, faculty, and the broader campus community. A panel of judges selected the top three posters in both the doctoral and master's categories. Winners received certificates of recognition, up to $250 in research travel funds to support conference-related travel through June 30, 2026, and tickets to attend a Milwaukee Bucks game in Marquette University's suite at the Fiserv Forum.

This year's winning projects reflected the interdisciplinary excellence and innovation happening across Marquette's graduate programs.

Doctoral Category - First Place
Ruric Bowman, Department of Biological Sciences
Global associations between forest trees and fungal communities

Ruric Bowman, a doctoral student in the Department of Biological Sciences, has spent the past three years researching how environmental stress affects forest ecosystems. His work examines how abiotic stressors such as water limitation and extreme temperatures influence interactions between forest trees and fungal communities and what those changes could mean for forest diversity. Bowman presented his poster, "Global associations between forest trees and fungal communities," at the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition, where he earned first place in the doctoral category.

His research focuses on how shifts in environmental conditions alter the relationships between trees and the fungi that live alongside them. These interactions are important because some tree species benefit more from their fungal partners than others, and changes in these partnerships could influence overall forest diversity. Through field experiments and global analyses of plant and fungal communities, Bowman's dissertation aims to develop a broader understanding of how these relationships respond to environmental stress and what that could mean for forest ecosystems worldwide.

Bowman said he signed up for the poster session to share his research with the Marquette community and connect with fellow graduate students and other members of campus. Reflecting on the experience, he encourages other graduate students to participate in future competitions. "My advice is to put yourself out there and have fun," Bowman said. "One of the most important jobs that we have as scientists is communicating our work, so we should take every chance that we can to do just that. It is also fun to talk about our research with fellow graduate students and the Marquette community."

Doctoral Category - Second Place
Chimobi Chikwendu, Department of Biological Sciences
Regulation of stress tradeoffs in plants: The role of NAC011 in cold stress response

Chimobi Chikwendu, a doctoral student in the Department of Biological Sciences, earned second place in the doctoral category of the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition for his poster, "Regulation of stress tradeoffs in plants: The role of NAC011 in cold stress response." Now in his third year, Chikwendu studies how plants respond to environmental stress, focusing on how they regulate trade-offs between different stress responses such as drought and cold tolerance. While plants have evolved mechanisms to survive challenging conditions, increasing tolerance to one stress can sometimes make them more vulnerable to another.

His research aims to uncover the mechanisms that allow plants to manage these trade-offs, with the long-term goal of developing crops that are more resilient to environmental stress. "Environmental stress accounts for more than seventy percent of crop losses annually, contributing to significant economic and food insecurity challenges worldwide," Chikwendu said. By studying the regulatory role of NAC011 in cold stress response, his work seeks to inform strategies that strengthen crop resilience and reduce agricultural losses on a global scale.

Chikwendu said he participated in the poster session to share his research with the Marquette community and raise awareness about the widespread impact of environmental stress. He encourages fellow graduate students to take part in future competitions, noting that designing and presenting a poster offers a fresh perspective on one's work and strengthens the ability to communicate complex research clearly to diverse audiences.

Doctoral Category - Third Place
Patrick Sheridan, Department of Chemistry
Designing second-sphere hydrogen bonding interactions in biomimetic models of thiol-oxidizing nonheme iron enzymes

Patrick Sheridan, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry, earned third place in the doctoral category of the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition for his poster, "Designing second-sphere hydrogen bonding interactions in biomimetic models of thiol-oxidizing nonheme iron enzymes." Now in his fifth year, Sheridan develops synthetic models of mononuclear nonheme iron enzymes to study how these enzymes activate oxygen and other small molecules. His work explores processes that are critical to biosynthesis, catabolism, and bioremediation across all forms of life.

Sheridan's research seeks to better understand the mechanisms of metalloenzymes, whose reactive pathways still hold unanswered questions. By designing biomimetic models that replicate how these enzymes function, his work contributes to fundamental insights into chemical processes that impact both biological systems and environmental applications. As he approaches the completion of his PhD, Sheridan uses his dissertation research to advance knowledge of enzyme function while exploring potential applications in biotechnology and sustainability.

He said he viewed the poster session as a valuable opportunity to strengthen his ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to audiences beyond chemistry specialists. "Scientific communication is probably the single most important skill for any researcher," Sheridan said. "You can be a genius undertaking groundbreaking research, but if you can't explain it to the public, no one will notice. Poster sessions, particularly interdisciplinary sessions, are a fantastic, low-pressure way to practice your communication skills and it's easier than you think." He encouraged fellow graduate students to participate in future competitions.

Master's Category - First Place
Corey Huffman, Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering Response labeling and model evaluation for rehab activity recognition in post-stroke patient

Corey Huffman, a Master of Science student in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, earned first place in the master's category of the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition for his poster, "Response labeling and model evaluation for rehab activity recognition in post-stroke patients." Now in his second year, Huffman researches the integration of wearable devices and machine learning in rehabilitation, developing a mobile system that provides real-time feedback on patient movement to help individuals stay active and support recovery after surgery or stroke.

His work focuses on how different machine learning models can accurately recognize and label rehabilitation activities, with the goal of creating accessible tools that provide meaningful, actionable data for both patients and therapists. By improving how recovery progress is monitored outside of clinical settings, Huffman's research has the potential to enhance at-home rehabilitation outcomes and inform broader healthcare applications.

Huffman said he participated in the poster session to showcase a significant milestone in his research and to challenge himself to present his work to a general audience beyond engineering-focused events. "I genuinely believe that sharing earlier versions of my work allowed my current presentation to be at a higher quality than it otherwise would have been," Huffman said. "It helps boost the quality of your research while also sharpening your skills at explaining it, no matter who you present it to." He encourages fellow graduate students to share their work confidently, noting that presenting research strengthens both communication skills and the overall quality of a project.

Master's Category - Second Place
Cole Engebretson, Department of Mechanical Engineering Investigation of active prechamber phenomenology and strategy development using a newly designed optical, RCM experiment

Cole Engebretson, a Master of Science student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, earned second place in the master's category of the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition for his poster, "Investigation of active prechamber phenomenology and strategy development using a newly designed optical, RCM experiment." Now in his second year, Engebretson studies advanced combustion strategies aimed at making engines cleaner and more sustainable. Rather than eliminating engines altogether, his research focuses on redesigning them to operate reliably on renewable biofuels, particularly pure ethanol, using Active Prechamber combustion systems to improve ignition stability and feasibility for real-world applications.

His work is especially significant in sectors where full electrification is not yet practical, such as long-haul freight and other heavy-duty applications that require high energy density and extended range. By advancing combustion systems that support renewable biofuels, Engebretson's research provides a pathway to reduce lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions while leveraging existing manufacturing and fuel-processing infrastructure. His studies aim to make biofuel-powered engines a more viable and sustainable solution for global energy challenges.

Engebretson said he participated in the poster session to share his passion for his research and to prepare for his upcoming presentation at the International American Society of Mechanical Engineers Engines Conference in Italy this summer. "As a graduate student, you work tirelessly on your research. Be proud of your work and passionately share what you have been studying," he said. "Your ideas are the future solutions to some of society's most pressing and unsolved problems." He encourages fellow graduate students to confidently showcase their work and take every opportunity to communicate their research.

Master's Category - Third Place
Hasan Ali, Diederich College of Communication Influencer versus journalist: How source identity influences perceived credibility of crisis information on social media

Hasan Ali, a master's student in the Diederich College of Communication, earned third place in the master's category of the Graduate Student Research Poster Competition for his poster, "Influencer versus journalist: How source identity influences perceived credibility of crisis information on social media." Now in his second year of the Communication and Media Studies program, Hassan studies the interplay between news media and politics in the digital age, with particular attention to how both shape public attitudes toward marginalized groups.

His research examines how the identity of a message source, such as a journalist or social media influencer, affects how audiences perceive the credibility of crisis information online. In an era defined by the rapid production and circulation of content, it has become increasingly difficult to trace the origins of information, contributing to the spread of hyperbole and disinformation that can negatively impact marginalized communities. By analyzing the influence of media and politics on public perception, Hassan's work seeks to understand the broader implications of digital communication on society.

Hassan said he participated in the poster session to share his research with the campus community and engage with fellow graduate students. He encourages others to take part in future competitions, noting that the experience strengthens the ability to communicate research clearly and concisely, an essential skill for academic and professional presentations.

The next Graduate Student Research Poster Competition at Marquette University will be hosted in February 2027.