Students from Food Science and Technology Earn Top Placements at Inaugural CALS Research Summit Student Poster Competition

Students from the Department of Food Science and Technology earned top honors at the inaugural CALS Research Summit.  A trio of graduate students within FST swept the top honors in the graduate poster competition, while an undergraduate student received top honors in their respective section.

“I’m proud of all of our students,” said Monica Ponder, Professor with the Department of Food Science and Technology. “Their posters were visually engaging; they confidently described their research and the impacts to industry and consumers.”

The undergraduate and graduate student poster competitions emphasized the impact of research within the fields of health and sustainable agrifood systems, and featured participants across College of Agriculture and Life Sciences departments. Awards were given based on research quality, clarity of communication, and relevance to the summit theme.

First place within the graduate student competition was awarded to Madhvi Singh for her poster titled “From Genotype to Grocery: Consumer Acceptance of Faba Bean Hummus for U.S. Market Expansion.” Second place was awarded to Fujunzhu Zhao, for “Turning Agricultural Waste into Bioplastics,” while third place went to Elissa Hall for “Wild-Amazonian Chocolates Aren’t Just Different, They Expand the Sensory Boundaries of What Chocolate Can Be.”

“I truly believe this achievement would not have been possible without Dr. Carneiro and Dr. O’Keefe,” said Singh. “They have been more than my advisors. Whatever I am today and what I have achieved so far is because of their guidance and support. Their feedback has helped me improve my work and build confidence in presenting my research. I would also like to thank Dr. Maria Balota, the director of this project. I am grateful to be part of this work, which focuses on building awareness of faba beans and their potential in the U.S. market, while also helping to bridge the gap between farmers and the food industry.”

“Communicating Science with Patty Raun was truly the class that prepared me the most,” said Hall. “It taught me how to connect with audiences across all knowledge levels and disciplines and how to meet people where they are. The course emphasized that communication is a conversation, not a script — even when we have talking points, we learn to let the audience guide the discussion. It helped me understand that people absorb science differently, so we can’t communicate the same way to everyone. I’ve seen a tremendous difference in how effectively I share my research because of that course, and it has genuinely made communicating my work an enjoyable experience. I’m also incredibly grateful for my advisors and committee, who consistently support and push me toward success.”

The undergraduate first-place award was earned by Mary Claire Mea, whose poster was “Assessing Succulent Seeds from Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as New Green Legumes for the U.S. Market.”

“I was especially impressed by how well each poster presenter from our department spoke about both their research and its impact,” said Stephanie Slocum, Academic and Outreach Program Coordinator. “They are articulate communicators who consistently delivered clear, compelling stories about why their work matters. We are proud to see Food Science and Technology students recognized at all levels during an important inaugural event for the college.”

The CALS Research Summit was held April 14 and 15 at The University Club in Lane Stadium and brought together faculty, students, and partners from across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to explore the 2026 theme, “The Future of Healthy and Sustainable Agrifood Systems.” The two-day event featured a keynote address by USDA Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Dr. Scott Hutchins, along with research updates, collaborative workshops, and student-focused competitions.