JUDGES

Judges in various STEM areas provided feedback to the student presenters at the 2025 Winchell Symposium.

Special Thanks to our 2025 Judges

William Boyle PhD, Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Gary Coombs PhD, Waldorf University

Tara Gaire PhD, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Patricia Hernandez BS, Anoka-Ramsey Community College & University of Minnesota Twin-Cities

Daron Janzen PhD, St. Catherine University

Samantha Larimer Bousquet PhD, Wartburg College

Takashi Maie PhD, St. Olaf College

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

Betsy Martinez-Vaz PhD, Hamline University

Ninad Vinayak Mhatre PhD, 3M

Emmanuel Odame MPhil, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Kendra Pachniak MS, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Nisha Patel PhD, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Claudia Preston PhD, St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Justin Rice PhD, St. Ambrose University

Matt Rowley PhD, St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Stephen Saupe PhD, College of St. Benedict & St. John's University

Heather Sklenicka PhD, Rochester Community and Technical College

Jennifer Sweatman PhD, Concordia College - Moorhead

Aeisha Thomas PhD, Crown College

Elena Tonc PhD, Macalester College

Jackie Towner PhD, Bethel University

Robbyn Weaver PhD, Cargill, Inc

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, please contact Kris Fowler.