Graduate Research Colloquium 2023



2023 Abstract Booklet


Chancellor Susan Elrod, GRC 2023 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Susan Elrod serves as the 6th chancellor of Indiana University South Bend. She holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and has nearly 30 publications on topics ranging from undergraduate research to systemic change and leadership, as well as a textbook, several scientific publications and patents. She is a nationally recognized leader in STEM higher education and institutional change. She serves as an advisor on several national projects and is an active scholar on projects focused on leadership for systemic institutional change. She serves on the HERS Board of Directors and her contributions to the field of STEM higher education have been recognized by her election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Michael J. Cleveland, Alumni Speaker

Michael Cleveland has had an impressive career spanning over three decades with UOP LLC, a Honeywell company. His contributions to the commercialization of new catalysts and processing technology have been invaluable to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Since his retirement from UOP LLC in the fall of 2021, Mr. Cleveland has continued to be active in the field of chemical engineering as a Mentor in Residence with Michigan Technological University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1982, and since then, he has remained a dedicated member of the Michigan Tech Alumni association. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the State of Michigan and Illinois.


Thank you to our generous donors for your contributions to help us make GRC a great event



What is the Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC)?

Each spring, GSG sponsors the Graduate Research Colloquium Poster & Presentation Competition. The GRC offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research with the University community and work on their presentation skills for other professional events. Students can give oral presentations, present posters, or do both. This year, both the formats will be held in person. Judges from a similar field as the presenter will score all the presentations. They will provide valuable insight and feedback on how the students can improve their presentations. The presenters will be grouped into different technical sessions, according to their discipline of study.

Oral Presentation WinnersPoster Presentation Winners
1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
2023Tania Demonte GonzalesKyle WehmanenJordi Ewing
2022Arslan Amer, Fatemeh Razaviamri, Rishi Babu & Isaac John Wedig
2021Neerav KaushalNinad MohalePriyanka Dipak Kadav & Isaac John Wedig
1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
2023Tania Demonte GonzalesRoya BagheriShreya Joshi
2022Arslan AmerLaura Schaerer & Brennan VoglMohanish Chandurkar
2021Utkarsh ChaudhariKatherine Schneider & Seth KrizBetsy Lehman

Important Dates

  • February 1 – Registration Opens
  • March 3 – Registration Closes
  • March 17 5pm  – Poster and Abstracts Due Due
  • March 29 (12 – 5 pm) – Oral Presentations (MUB)
  • March 29 (5 – 8 pm) – Poster Presentations (Rosza Lobby)
  • March 30 (9 – 5 pm) – Oral Presentations (MUB)
  • March 30 (5 – 7 pm) – Banquet (Rosza Lobby)

Who can participate?

All graduate students are highly encouraged to participate to present their research and use GRC as the platform for their presentation. Students can submit either for oral presentation by talking about their ongoing research or poster presentation by detailing their work, or even do both!


Why participate?

The GRC provides graduate students a great opportunity to practice their oral or poster presentations in a friendly environment that prepares them for major national and international conferences. The GRC environment helps students improve on their skills and judges also provide valuable feedback for each presentation that can improve a participant’s research.

In addition, GRC is also a space to network and connect with other researchers by learning about other research being undertaken on campus. Cash prizes are available for the top three presenters in both the oral and poster categories (first is $300, second is $200, and third is $100).


Colloquium Info

GSG is pleased to announce this year’s Graduate Research Colloquium (GRC). GRC will be held on Wednesday, March 29, and Thursday, March 30. The GRC offers a unique opportunity for graduate students to showcase their research with the University community and work on their presentation skills for wider and larger professional events. Students can give oral presentations, present posters, or do both. This year, both Poster presentations and Oral presentation will be held in person. Judges from a similar field will score all the presentations as the presenter. They will provide valuable insight and feedback on how the students can improve their presentations.

Poster Presentations will occur on Wednesday, March 29 at the Rosza Lobby, 5-8 pm. GSG will cover the printing costs this year. The oral presentations will also be held on the same day from 12-5 pm at the Alumni Lounge. Each oral presentation will be of 10-12 minutes, followed by a Q&A session.

The GRC event will culminate with the annual GRC Awards Banquet. All participants and judges are invited to attend. The banquet will be held on Thursday, March 30 at the Rosza Lobby, 5-8 pm. Please reach out with any questions about the event to this contact: gsg-research@mtu.edu.