Biology grad student wins thesis competition

Fourteen graduate students from a variety of disciplines competed in the 3-Minute Thesis competition February 20, sponsored by The Graduate School.

Students had just three minutes to present their research to a panel of faculty judges and could only use one slide as a visual aid. The competition was held in Loosemore Auditorium in the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Sarah Lamar, who is earning a master's degree in biology, won first place with her research, "Biological Invasions on a Large Scale: Investigating the Spread of Baby's Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) Across North America," that she is conducting with the Annis Water Resources Institute. Lamar won $500 and will represent Grand Valley at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools 3MT® competition in St. Louis, Missouri, March 22.

Jenna Buchman, who is pursuing a doctor of nursing practice degree, won second place and $250 with her research, "The Evaluation of a Nerve Block Protocol in Patients with Hip Fractures." 

Anne Gembrowski, who is earning a doctor of nursing practice degree, won third place and $100 with her research, "Increasing Prevention and Recognition of Delirium in a Non-ICU Acute Care Population."

The audience voted for the People's Choice Award; the winner was social work graduate student Noelle Lynn for her research, "Women & ADHD Functional Impairments: Beyond the Obvious."

Faculty judges included Dan Balfour, College of Community and Public Service; James Dunn, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Libby MacQuillan, College of Health Professions; Wendy Reffeor, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing; Steven Smith, College of Community and Public Service; Janet Winter, Kirkhof College of Nursing; and Gregory Warsen, College of Education. 

For more information, visit gvsu.edu/gs/3-minute-thesis-competition-82.htm.