JUDGES

Judges in various STEM areas provided feedback to the student presenters.

Special Thanks to Our 2026 Judges

William Boyle PhD, Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Gary Coombs PhD, Waldorf University

Cole Davidson PhD, Wartburg College

Amy Dykstra PhD, Bethel University

Rod Feddersen, Mayo Clinic

Lisa Jungbauer Nikolas PhD, Medtronic

Takashi Maie PhD, St. Olaf College

Debra Martin PhD, St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Betsy Martinez-Vaz PhD, Hamline University

Claudia Preston MD, Winona State University 

Justin Rice PhD, St. Ambrose University

Rahul Roy PhD, St. Catherine University

Heather Sklenicka PhD, Rochester Community and Technical College

Jennifer Sweatman PhD, Concordia College - Moorhead

Mikayla Thatcher PhD, Concordia University - St. Paul

Aeisha Thomas PhD, Crown College

Jackie Towner PhD, Bethel University

David Tweeten PhD, Bethel University

ABOUT JUDGING

The Annual Meeting and Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium gives undergraduate students the opportunity to present their research and receive feedback from professional scientists in their field. Students are evaluated on the quality of their abstract, research, and presentation skills. The exact format of the judging or evaluation varies from year to year but the overarching goal remains the same:  to provide students with the opportunity to present their research to professionals and receive feedback.

STEM professionals in industry and academia can help encourage excellence in undergraduate research by volunteering to give feedback at the symposium. Evaluators read student abstracts, observe student presentations, and submit brief written evaluations and feedback for students. Judges/evaluators must hold an advanced degree (or be a current advanced graduate student) and have research experience.

If you are interested in volunteering to be an evaluator at the Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium, start by filling out MAS’s volunteer form.