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Ten Briggsies and one alum win awards at the 7th Annual MSU Diversity Research Showcase

January 31, 2024

Students and supporters gathered for the 7th Annual Diversity Research Showcase (DRS) in January, during the weeklong commemorative celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nearly 50 MSU students presented their research on issues relating to diversity and that advance inclusion. Of the 14 Briggs students who presented research, ten current students and one alum won awards for their presentations in various categories!

Erika Crews, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Honors College, co-coordinated the event along with Isabella Figueroa, the Honors College DEIB Graduate Assistant. “It has been exciting to witness the Diversity Research Showcase reach new heights in its seventh year, including the highest number of applicants and strong support from co-sponsoring units,” Crews said. “This speaks volumes about the dedication and enthusiasm of our students, faculty, and partners in fostering a thriving intellectual community.”  

Preliminary Research Awards 

To qualify for this category, projects had to be incomplete, but show strong potential. The Briggsie-researcher project recognized in this category was:
  • $300 prize: Quynh Tong (LBC Biochemistry, and History, Philosophy, & Sociology of Science, 3rd Year), Neha Navathe (LBC Human Biology, 4th Year), and Natalie Seitz (LBC Neuroscience, 2nd Year) for Broadening Knowledge of Historical Health Inequities Through Art in Hospital Settings. 

This project's faculty research mentor was Dr. Natalie Phillips of the College of Arts & Letters.

Poster Presentations 

Participants prepared 3-4-minute recorded video presentations for asynchronous evaluation by faculty/staff judges. During the reception portion of the event, students optionally presented a brief overview to in-person attendees. 

  • Second Place prize of $650: Nupur Huria (LBC Human Biology and Psychology, Honors College, 3rd Year) and Harsna Chahal (LBC Neuroscience and Human Biology B.S. degrees, graduate student) for Factors Impacting Perceptions and Stigma Surrounding Menstruation: Michigan State University Perspective 

This project's faculty research mentor was Dr. Danielle Gartner of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in MSU's College of Human Medicine.

  • First Place prize of $800: Anum Latif (LBC Neuroscience, Honors College, 2nd Year), Abhinav Anand (LBC Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 2nd Year), Amaya Aten (JMC Comparative Cultures & Politics and RCAH Arts & Humanities, 3rd Year), and Christeen Mangalathet (LBC Human Biology, Honors College, 2nd Year) for Undergraduate Students’ Understanding of Equity in Residential Colleges 

This project came out of the MSU Residential Colleges’ collaborative DEI work through the AREA grant. The faculty research mentor was LBC/Department of Physiology’s Dr. Shahnaz Masani. 

Oral Presentations 

Students also had the opportunity to present their research in a 5-minute oral presentation to their peers, faculty, and judges. The Briggsie-researcher project awarded was the following:

  • Third Place prize of $500: Kailyn Butler (LBC Neuroscience and Human Biology, 3rd Year), Aya Abu-Zama (LBC Human Biology, Honors College, 3rd Year), and Neal Sanghvi (LBC Human Biology, Honors College, 2nd Year) for Diverse Narratives of Blackness in Healthcare: Understanding Disparities in Preventive Screenings 

This project's faculty mentor was LBC’s Dr. Nilüfer Akalin.

Congratulations to all the researchers!

preliminary award winner poster presentations, second place winners first-place winners in the poster presentation category and their research mentorthird place winners in the oral presentation category, with their faculty mentor
Story adapted from MSU Honors College.