Chemistry Ph.D. Student Wins Campus Grad Slam Top Prize, Advances to UC-wide Final

Adekunle "Kunle" Adewole isn't a stranger to the spotlight, having grown up singing at family functions and performing in theater productions. He also has fervently watched "The Voice," a singing reality competition television series, envisioning himself performing on stage.

"'The Voice' is part of my singing journey. I've always wanted to do it, and maybe at some point I'll get the chance to perform there," he said. "I'd probably sing 'Jealous' by Labrinth, or 'Get to You Again' by Mac Ayres."

For now, the Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. student is focused on delivering his three-minute presentation, "Zipping and Unzipping Peptide Tiles: A Targeted Approach to Medicine," at the University of California Grad Slam competition on April 29.

His performance at the campus finals in March earned him UC Merced's 2025 Grad Slam Champion title, a $5,000 grand prize and the opportunity to represent the campus at the systemwide event.

Environmental Systems Ph.D. student Zachary Malone was awarded second place and $2,000, and third place and $1,000 went to Cognitive and Information Sciences Ph.D. student Helia Hosseinpour.

"It's a huge honor to represent UC Merced. I feel like I bear the identity of the university now in some capacity, and I can't let people down," Adewole said. "I'm giving it my best to represent myself, represent my project, represent my research, represent my department and represent UC Merced."

He was inspired to compete during last year's campus Grad Slam competition when his girlfriend, graduate student Alejandra Santoyo, secured second place.

"I was at the talks and my advisor said, 'you should do this next year.' My department chair was also there, and he said, 'you should be here next year." As the deadline to register for the 2025 competition drew closer, Adewole said he thought, "It's kind of my thing because I'm very extroverted," and he submitted his qualifying round video and was selected as a finalist.