Baylor Student Researchers Win Top Honors at Texas Academy of Science Meeting
Two Science Research Fellows and a doctoral student achieve success at conference that highlights research by Texas scientists
Dhivya Rajamanickam, doctoral candidate in biology, was awarded second place in the Graduate Student Competition for her research at the 129th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science (photo credit: Jason L. Locklin)
Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, 254-327-8012
Follow us: @BaylorUMedia on X and LinkedIn
Three Baylor University biology and biochemistry student researchers earned top honors for their presentations at the 129th Annual Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, highlighting both their individual achievements and Baylor’s continued commitment to supporting impactful undergraduate and graduate research.
Students awarded honors include:
- Kiera Griffin, senior Science Research Fellow with concentrations in biomathematics, bioinformatics and computational biology and 2025 Goldwater Scholar from Conroe, Texas, who won first place in the Biomedical Sciences Section oral competition for her research, “Cytotoxicity of Freebase Nicotine and Its Analogs Using Cellular and Statistical Methods.”
- Dominic Pruss, junior Science Research Fellow and biochemistry major from Waco, Texas, who tied for first place in the Cell & Molecular Biology Section poster competition for his research, “Differential Gene Expression in Human Bronchial Cells after Exposure to 3D-printer Emitted Aerosols.”
- Dhivya Rajamanickam, doctoral candidate in biology, was awarded second place in the Graduate Student Competition for her study, “Comprehensive insights into mosquito species diversity and habitat-specific host selection patterns in Cameron Park Zoo, Waco, Texas.”
“Undergraduate research is a high‑impact practice, just as it is for graduate students, that prepares students not only for academic and professional success, but also for meaningful engagement with the world,” said Tamarah L. Adair, Ph.D., senior lecturer in biology who is both the director of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURES) in Biology and director of Undergraduate Research in the Office of Engaged Learning. “By conducting and presenting research at conferences like the Texas Academy of Science, students learn how their work can address real‑world challenges and contribute to the common good.”
These student successes are supported by Baylor’s expanding research programs, including access to ForagerOne, a university-wide research matching software platform that facilitates connections between research faculty and aspiring undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral researchers. Students can use ForagerOne’s searchable platform for discovering and applying for research opportunities, while faculty benefit from a unified place and process for posting research opportunities, receiving and reviewing student applications, and sharing and discovering interdisciplinary research projects.
The Texas Academy of Science (TAS) is the original and longest-standing organization of scientists and science educators in the State of Texas, founded in 1880, with membership consisting of public and private university faculty and students, K-12 educators, government and agency personnel, and individuals in the private sector. TAS has published the peer-reviewed Texas Journal of Science since 1949 and conducts an annual meeting to highlight research by Texas scientists across 15 diverse sections. Additionally, TAS provides funding opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and facilitates expert testimony on policy issues related to science, education and policy across Texas.
“We congratulate Baylor University on the success of its students at this year’s meeting, and we look forward to learning about more research from Baylor at next year’s meeting,” said Matthew A. Barnes, Ph.D., associate professor of Natural Resources Management at Texas Tech University and president of the Texas Academy of Science, 2023-24.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.