SNAPHOTS

The 21st Annual NIH Graduate Student Research Symposium

Tomorrow’s Scientists Fill Halls of Natcher with Latest Research

BY THE NIH CATALYST STAFF

The annual NIH Graduate Student Research Symposium was held February 13 at the Natcher Conference Center on the Bethesda campus. Each year, graduate students who participate in the NIH Graduate Partnerships Program display their dissertation research in a research poster presentation format. Over 100 presenters, and their mentors, were showcased this year. 

Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2025 NIH Graduate Student Research Award:

Biochemistry/Cell and Molecular Biology/Genetics:

• Kathryn McDaniel (NINDS, Brown University)
• Christopher Shults (NIDCD, University of Maryland, Baltimore)

Bioinformatics/Biostatistics/Epidemiology

• Nina Friedman (NIMH, University of Maryland, College Park)
• Mihirkumar Prajapati (NHLBI, University of Maryland, College Park)

Pharmacology/Clinical and Translational Science/Structural Biology:

• Yonit A. Addissie (NCI, University of Maryland School of Medicine)

Immunology/Virology/Microbiology

• Jack Dorman (NIAID, Johns Hopkins University)
• Nathan Santiago (NIAID, University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Neuroscience/Behavioral Sciences/Psychology

• Christian Lantz (NINDS, University of Oxford)

New Proposal:

• Isabella Horton (NIBIB, University of Maryland)
• Ava Platt (NINDS, Brown University)
• Olivia Molano (NIDCD, Brown University)
• Douglas Fritz (NIAID, University of Cambridge)

The event also featured an elevator pitch competition. Awardees include:

• 1st place: Douglas Fritz (NIAID, University of Cambridge) 
• 2nd place: Mitchell Sun (NCI, University of Oxford)
• 3rd place: Shakira Rodriguez-Gonzalez (NIDDK, Johns Hopkins University)

Outstanding Mentor Award recipients:

• Chris Baker (NIMH)
• Fadila Bouamr (NIAID)

For more information, view the full event program.