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Grad Slam Research Presentation Competition

Cal State East Bay Grad Slam 2025
Congratulations to the winners of our Third annual Grad Slam competition!
The winners are:
Non-STEM Category:
1st place: Sunaina Buttar M.S. Nursing
2nd place: Jocelyn Garcia M.S. Reading and Literacy
STEM Category:
1st place: Maria Ali M.S. Biological Sciences
2nd place: Russell Marasigan M.S. Mathematics
Our first place winners in each category will now compete in the CSU-wide Grad Slam held by Cal State San Bernardino on May 9th, 2025. More information is available on the CSUSB Grad Slam site.
Congratulations to all our Grad Slam finalists!
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Please register to attend the Grad Slam event so that we can plan for the right number of attendees (and buy enough cake!)
The event will take place in-person on Monday, April 14th, 2025 in the University Union MPR room - 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Audience members may join us in-person or via Zoom. The Zoom webinar link is: https://csueb.zoom.us/j/85079974512
Who are our Grad Slam Finalists?
Non-STEM Category
Violet Becerra - MA History
Sunaina Buttar - MS Nursing
Jocelyn Garcia - MS Reading and Literacy
Jeanette Hazelwood - MA Communication
Francisco López-Montaño - MPA Public Administration
Kevin McHugh - MA History
Emily Van Horn - MS Kinesiology
STEM Category
Maria Ali - MS Biological Sciences
Jhersie Cabigting - MS Chemistry
Phoebe Cheung - MS Mathematics
Bringesh Chowdavarapu - MS Statistics
Russell Marasigan - MS Mathematics
Raj Patel - MS Chemistry
Amit Anantrao Patil - MS Computer Science
Divya Veligandla - MS Business Analytics
Divyasri Yelubolu - MS Business Analytics
WHAT IS GRAD SLAM?
Grad Slam is a campus-wide competition for the best short-style research presentation aimed at a non-specialist audience. This will be the third Grad Slam competition held at California State University, East Bay. During the competition, graduate students will be judged based on their ability to engage their audiences while communicating key concepts about their research. The judges of the competition will be composed of the members of the Cal State East Bay community (staff, faculty, alumni and/or students).WHY SIGN UP?
Grad Slam is an opportunity for you to network with fellow students, alumni, staff and faculty. In addition, you will learn how to communicate your research concisely to a broad audience outside of your own field. Participation in the competition will provide lifelong public speaking skills, which can be added on your C.V. The first place graduate student winners in each of the STEM and non-STEM categories will be invited to compete in the CSU-wide Grad Slam on Friday, May 9th, 2025. Finally, four winners will receive great cash prices: First Place: $400, Second Place: $250 for each of the two categories, STEM and non-STEM graduate.ELIGIBILITY
All active graduate students who are conducting independent research or projects, including independent research projects done for a class, are eligible to participate in Grad Slam competitions at Cal State East Bay. Entrants must be current students at the time of the competition (i.e. enrolled in the Spring 2025 semester). Entrants must participate as individuals.(Note: Previous winners of Grad Slam and community members are welcome to attend but are not eligible to participate in the competition.)
PRIZES
$400 - 1st Place – Best Presentation
$250 - 2nd Place
There will be first and second place awards provided for the STEM and non-STEM graduate categories.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are now closed. The deadline to apply was Friday, March 7th, 2025.
Contact your faculty advisor or the graduate coordinator of your program to express your interest in participating in Grad Slam. Complete an application by the deadline. Application available here.(Note: Incomplete, late, or partial applications/material are not acceptable.)
AFTER YOU HAVE APPLIED:
- Applications will be reviewed and semifinalists selected.
- Semifinalists will be asked to record and submit a video of their three minute presentation.
- Submissions will be reviewed and finalists selected.
- Finalists will give their three-minute presentation in-person on the day of Grad Slam, Monday, April 14th.
Previous Grad Slam Competitions
Please visit our Grad Slam 2024 page to see the winners of our second annual Grad Slam competition.
Or see a video of the 2024 competition.
Please visit our Grad Slam 2023 page to see the winners of our inaugural Grad Slam competition.
Or see a video of the 2023 competition.
QUESTIONS?
Contact: The Office of Graduate Studies.Email: gradstudies@csueastbay.edu
Phone: 510-885-3716