Office of Graduate Studies and Research

CSUMB “Grad Slam” 2023 (Cash Prizes!!)

The Grad Slam is a campus-wide competition for the best short oral research presentation by a graduate student. It is based on the internationally popular “Three Minute Thesis.” It is open to any CSUMB graduate student with a significant research project (not just master’s thesis) in any discipline. During the competition, graduate students are judged on their ability to successfully engage a non-specialist audience while communicating key details about their research in three minutes or less with just a single powerpoint slide.  Our 2023 winners are listed below. Be sure to cheer on our top two Otters as they compete (live on zoom) at the State-wide challenge on May 5. 

Follow the Competition Progress

April 6

Congratulations to all our finalists!  The seven presentations were…

First Place

Isaak Haberman (Marine Science, M.S.)
Invasion of the intertidal urchins! How an unexpected population of sea urchins is contributing to kelp deforestation

Second Place

Kali Prescott (Marine Science, M.S.)
Biologgers are such a drag...or are they?

Third Place (and The People’s Choice)

Savannah Saldana (Applied Environmental Science, M.S.)
Effects of Arundo donax removal on aerial invertebrates along the Salinas River
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Runners Up

Katrina Giambertone (Marine Science, M.S.)
Exploring Mechanisms of Heat and Cold Tolerance in Galápagos Cauliflower Coral Communities

Kameron Strickland (Marine Science, M.S.)
360 degree cameras can virtually monitor kelp forests and increase inclusivity in marine science

Anna Herrera (Applied Environmental Science, M.S.)
Using Big Data to Save Our Streams and Rivers

Travis Leggett (Marine Science, M.S.)
Addressing an issue of scale: Can stereo-video measure up to diver surveys in California’s rocky reefs?

February 23

Congratulations to our seven semifinalists--selected for their outstanding abstracts. From MS Marine Science we have Kali Prescott, Kameron Strickland, Travis Leggett, Isaak Haberman, and Katrina Giambertone.  From MS Environmental Science, we have Savannah Saldana and Anna Herrera.  

February 28-March 14

Semifinalists are creating and honing their presentations--guided by a series of workshops. This phase will result in a video recording of their presentation. The videos will determine the finalists who will compete for $$$, local bragging rights, and a chance for more prizes at the State-wide competition. Stay tuned!

March 25

All seven semifinalists have advanced to the finals!! Register and attend the final competition for as long as you can. With just 7 contestants, we will end at close to 1:00. Help select the Third Place winner by voting in the "Peoples' Choice" category!  Congratulations to Anna, Savannah, Kali, Kameron,Travis, Isaak, and Katrina!!

Grad Slam 23 NEWS logo

 

Isaak headshot

 

2023 First Place Winner
Isaak Haberman
Marine Science, M.S.
Invasion of the intertidal urchins! How an unexpected population of sea urchins is contributing to kelp deforestation

Kali headshot

 

2023 Second Place Winner
Kali Prescott
Marine Science, M.S.
Biologgers are such a drag...or are they?

Savannah headshot

 

2023 People's Choice Winner
Savannah Saldana
Applied Environmental Science, M.S.
Effects of Arundo donax removal on aerial invertebrates along the Salinas River

student on cliff

2022 First Place Winner

Juliana Cornett
Marine Science, M.S.
As Oxygen Declines in a Local Estuary, How Will Juvenile Flatfish Respond?

student in a field

 

2022 Second Place Winner

Connie Machuca
Environmental Science, M.S.
Save Our Streams: A Microscopic Solution to Pollution

student smiling

2022 People's Choice Winner

Rebecca L. Roberts
Environmental Science, M.S.
Mice Everywhere! Rethinking Food Safety and Water Quality Management within the Salad Bowl of the United States