Raising the Next Generation of Scientists

The CSUN Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium Shines a Light on Cutting Edge Research and Nudges Students Toward Careers in Science

“One of the central tenets of science is something called the Scientific Method,” says Simon Garrett, Dean of the CSUN College of Science and Mathematics. “The scientific method is a sequence of steps that scientists follow when we’re trying to advance knowledge. And part of that process is opening our books and letting everyone peer inside. In other words, presenting the work.”

In December 2025, CSUN hosted the Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium, during which 16 undergraduate and 11 graduate students from the departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics and Biology took an important step in that process: They “opened their books,” AKA they presented their research to a well-attended conference, held in CSUN’s Chaparral Hall.

Now in its 25th year, the symposium serves as a way to showcase the research and success stories of CSUN students. And, as Dean Garrett explains, “It’s a very gentle way for them to get some practice presenting, let people see what they’ve done, ask questions and see if they can reproduce your results. It’s a first step for our future scientists to get used to the idea of communicating their work to an audience.”

Twelve students who presented at the Symposium also got awards comprising certificates from Sigma Xi and a monetary reward. The awards are “a way to acknowledge a good presentation,” Dean Garrett explains. “Being able to appeal to both a technical audience of your peers, and also a wider audience who are led to understand what you are researching and its importance. It’s an introduction to the skill of public speaking.”

Professor of Organic Chemistry Thomas Minehan — who has been in charge of the symposium since 2008 — adds still more benefits of participating in the Symposium: “This is one of the few opportunities available for students on campus to present their research, and we feel it validates their hard work and gives them a sense of pride. It indicates that they're able to do cutting edge science.

“And we believe forums like this allow them to think about themselves as scientists. This is what scientists do. They do research and then tell people about it. Many of the students are first-generation college students, and they realize they can do it. They begin to think, ‘This is a career I would find interesting and validating for me. And I can do it.’”

The list of students who won awards (and their faculty mentors) is below. Graduate student Charlson Lee placed first in the SACNAS* poster competition and also got a first place in the Sigma Xi presentations. His mentor, assistant professor of Biology Michael M. Abdelsayed, explains what made his presentation so great: “Charlson is researching RNA ‘thermometers’ that turn gene expression off or on in response to fluctuations in temperature. He is specifically looking for these RNAs in the pathogen Clostridium Botilinum, which is known to cause the disease botulism.

“He was able to present effectively to a wide audience, he had impressive data and he fully understood every aspect of his project. It’s very impressive to place first in two extremely competitive competitions within the same semester.”

And so, CSUN continues its mission to expose students to careers in fields they might not have considered before.

*Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science

2025 Sigma Xi Research symposium Award recipients

Session I (Undergraduate Students)

First place: Varshini Sudhakar (Biology—mentors: Michael Abdelsayed/Wilber Escorcia)
Second Place: Julia Guil-Rodriguez (Biology—mentor: Wilber Escorcia)
Third Place: Kayla Mallari (Biology—mentor: Wilber Escorcia)

Session II (Undergraduate Students)

First place: Talin Demirjie (Biology—mentor: Cindy Malone)
Second Place: Itzel Huerta (Biology—mentor: Cindy Malone)
Third Place: George Radionov (Biology—mentor: Cindy Malone)

Session III (Graduate Students)

First place: Charlson Lee (Biology—mentor: Michael Abdelsayed)
Second Place: Samantha Scott (Chemistry—mentor: Maosheng Miao)
Third Place: Nicholas Serras (Biology—mentor: David Gray)

Session IV (Graduate Students)

First place: Ricardo Galaz Gibert (Biology—mentor: Robert Espinoza)
Second Place: Austin Ellis (Chemistry—mentor: Maosheng Miao)
Third Place: Angel Morales (Biology—mentor: Maria Elena de Bellard)