What would you say to someone who is hesitant or unsure about submitting their work?  

I think the scariest part about submitting is thinking about how people are going to judge your work. The best part of doing a student conference like Mathias is that everyone is in the same boat as you and everyone wants you to succeed!  

What was the best part of the experience?  

I love when people ask me questions about my work! Sometimes they bring up new ideas I haven't considered yet, sometimes I get to talk about sources there wasn't room to include, and sometimes I have to reframe the same information in a new way. Hearing other people's perspectives through questions allows me to consider my work differently. I always learn something new! 

Elli Anderson 

Undergraduate Natural Sciences Poster Award  
Study of striatal pathology in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 

What was the best part of the experience? 

The energy in the poster room while presenting! There were so many family members, friends, professors, and other AU students there supporting all of us. 

What would you say to someone who is hesitant or unsure about submitting their work? 

Be proud of the work you’ve created! Getting to share a project you’ve worked hard on is worth more than the anxiety you’ll avoid by not submitting.  

Maxwell Miller-Golub 

Graduate Physical Sciences Poster Award 
Non-Euclidean Harmonic Loss 

What would you say to someone who is hesitant or unsure about submitting their work? 

It is crucial to the scientific process that findings are shared. Regardless of where you are in the lifecycle of your project, have faith that the work product of your passion matters. You never know what new insights or avenues you might arrive at or inspire in someone else. 

Why should other students take advantage of this opportunity? 

Most conferences are structured to attract a particular subject-matter specialist. Mathias stands apart because the presenters and the audience are multidisciplinary. There may be countless ways to powerfully reframe your research that can be unlocked by talking to experts outside of your knowledge base. Plus, it doesn't hurt that you can list this on your CV. 

Kenza Harrag 

Graduate Natural Sciences Poster Award (with Aidan Dwyer) 
Neuropeptide Expression in the Locus Coeruleus 

How did participating in the conference benefit you academically, professionally, or personally? 

As a first-year American University graduate student, I had very little knowledge of other projects and other STEM-related research. During the Mathias Conference, I explored and heard about new and interesting projects, and I met other STEM students. This led me to possibly collaborate with another lab on a similar project—all made possible by attending the conference.  

Any tips for preparing a strong presentation or poster? 

Always prepare ahead of time and love your project! Those who I saw present with enthusiasm and beam with pride about their project were the most memorable for me. I think that individuals get stressed during conferences and lose the excitement of research because they want to present perfectly, but I loved it when they showcased their enjoyment. It was the part that I was most happy to see. Science is meant to be fun! 

Noah McNamee 

Undergraduate Physical Sciences Award  
Continual Learning for Gravitational Wave Detection 

What advice would you give to a student who is considering participating in the Mathias Conference? 

Seek help early and often; faculty are highly receptive to student initiative and can significantly strengthen both your project and your learning process. Engaging with professors not only improves your work but also accelerates your understanding of research. 

How did participating in the conference benefit you (academically, professionally, or personally)? 

The preparation process developed core skills like time management, accountability, and structured research, all of which are directly transferable to academic and professional settings. It also gave me end-to-end experience taking a project from idea to formal presentation, which is difficult to replicate in standard coursework. 

Sarai Marshall 

Graduate Arts Award  
Camille Billops, An Archivist: The Preservation of Black Artists in Art History 

What advice would you give to a student who is considering participating in the Mathias Conference? 

I would tell students considering participating in the Mathias Conference to frequently consult their advisors and to speak confidently during their presentations. Consulting with your advisor will help to shape your work and presentation into its best form, while speaking confidently will make you sound sure of the work you have done on your paper and presentation.  

How did participating in the conference benefit you (academically, professionally, or personally)? 

Participating in the conference has increased my interest and confidence in my research and has only made me more excited to continue my work! It has also helped develop my skills in public speaking, and I left with great questions from the audience which will benefit my research. 

Becca Delbos 

Undergraduate Arts & Humanities Poster Award  
Care, Community, and Individualism in 1980s HIV/AIDS Prevention Posters 

How did participating in the conference benefit you (academically, professionally, or personally)? 

As someone interested in going to graduate school, it was really inspiring to see the work that master’s students at AU are doing. 

What was the best part of the experience? 

I received helpful feedback and suggestions from judges and other participants that I’ve taken into consideration as I complete my research. 

Camille Perry 

Undergraduate Arts Award 
Conscious Cornea  

Can you share how participating has helped you towards your goals?  

Participating in the Mathias Student Research Conference benefited me personally and professionally by giving me the experience of presenting my research in an academic setting. The best part of this experience was listening to other participants' presentations; even in different panels to be able to see all the interesting research my peers had been working on.