PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (March 22, 2023) – On March 2-3, 2023, over 500 students, faculty, and administrators from across the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) convened for the 18th Annual TAMUS Pathways Student Research Symposium. The event, held this year at Texas A&M University at Galveston, provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to showcase their research and network with students, faculty, and research scientists from the 11 TAMUS institutions.
Over the two-day event, students from various STEM, social sciences, and humanities disciplines presented their research to judges via poster or oral presentation (presentation format was determined by discipline and degree level). Students were permitted to present any research study type, and on any topic, so long as the research was conducted under the guidance of their faculty mentor or advisor.
Eight Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) students secured winning placements, including three participants of the University’s Faculty-Research and Innovation Success and Excellence (Faculty-RISE) Program – an initiative enabling faculty researchers to advance and sustain their vital research through external grants and contracts while mentoring students to become the next generation of experts. PVAMU Vice President of Research and Innovation Magesh Rajan, Ph.D., P.E., MBA, established the initiative to strategically invest in the University’s high-priority areas of research and innovation clusters.
“PVAMU’s visibility and outstanding collective performance at this year’s TAMUS Pathways Research Symposium underscore the University’s prominence in the research and innovation space, the invaluable mentorship of our faculty researchers, and the boundless creativity and diligence of our students,” said Dr. Rajan. “Bravo to all our brilliant winners.”
One of these winners was doctoral student and RISE participant Adewumi Adeloye. The electrical engineering major placed 2nd in the Biomedical & Health Sciences category for his research on “Liquid Crystalline Elastomer/Nanomaterial Hybrid Novel Materials for Artificial Muscles, Soft Robotic, and Biomedical Applications.” Adewumi conducted his research under the mentorship of Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D., assistant professor in PVAMU’s Department of Physics and Chemistry.
RISE graduate student, Ijeoma Eze
Their study presented “a successful synthesis of liquid crystalline elastomers using a modified two-stage thiol-acrylate reaction method, with the addition of nanomaterials to enhance the performance in stimuli-responsive actuation and biomedical applications,” said Adewumi. “The mechanical properties, actuation behaviors, and the ability to support cell cultures of liquid crystalline elastomer samples containing nanomaterials were systematically studied and the relationship between structure and properties was presented.”
“Achieving a successful synthesis of nanomaterial-enhanced liquid crystalline elastomers, with unique mechanical properties and actuation behaviors, was a feat that my (engineering) mind would have thought could only be achieved with the aid of tiny bolts, nuts, and metallic braces,” added Adewumi.
The student’s passion for “being a part of ingenious solutions” is what initially drew him to the research, and he hopes to continue to “seek and embrace opportunities to deploy the knowledge acquired in the industry for practical solutions toward the attainment of net-zero emissions energy operations, hopefully by 2050,” Adewumi said.
Adewumi is grateful to have had “the opportunity to physically present a scientific solution to a community outside the walls of my institution, be assessed by judges from multiple specialties, and be commended,” he explained. “This was my first physical experience in the United States.”
RISE graduate student, Ijeoma Eze
The graduate student is also appreciative of Dr. Gao’s mentorship and the experience of participating in the RISE Program. “So much has been achieved and imparted in me within a duration of five months,” Adewumi said.
Fellow Symposium attendee and RISE participant Ijeoma Eze joined Adewumi in the winners’ circle. In the poster presentation competition for undergraduate and master’s students, Ijeoma placed 3rd in the Education category for her research on “The Study of African American Educator’s Belief about the Importance of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy.”
Under the mentorship of Katina L. Thomas, Ed.D., assistant professor of literacy education in PVAMU’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, Ijeoma’s research investigated the beliefs of African American educators regarding the use of culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom in K-12 schools.
“Specifically, the study explored the extent to which educators believed that culturally relevant pedagogy is important for academic success, as well as their perceptions of the challenges and benefits of implementing this teaching approach,” explained Ijeoma. “Overall, the research highlighted the critical role that culturally relevant pedagogy can play in promoting academic achievement and positive educational outcomes for African American students.” The project, she believes, also “has the potential to contribute to a greater understanding of how to create more inclusive and effective educational environments for all students.”
Ijeoma said she was drawn to Dr. Thomas’s research because she has “always been interested in the intersection of culture and education.” And although Ijeoma is pursuing her master’s degree in computer information systems, she said that working on the project has spurred her interest in the connection between technology and education, as well. Additionally, as a Nigerian student who has experienced both the Nigerian and American education systems, Ijeoma has “seen firsthand how the absence or presence of culturally relevant pedagogy can impact students’ engagement, performance, and overall learning experience,” she said.
“Ijeoma understands the need for research that represents every voice in the field of education,” Dr. Thomas said. “As her RISE mentor, I am extremely impressed with her ability to apply a research framework to ensure that happens.”
Ijeoma’s win at the Symposium, which Dr. Thomas stated “is a reflection of the great work she does as a graduate researcher,” wasn’t the student’s only exciting takeaway from the event. Attending the numerous presentations and sessions “allowed me to gain insights into cutting-edge research and innovative ideas that I hope to incorporate into my own future work,” Ijeoma explained. “It was truly inspiring to be surrounded by so many individuals who are passionate about advancing knowledge and making a difference in their respective areas of expertise.”
Interacting with researchers and scholars “who are committed to addressing complex problems and advancing their knowledge in their fields,” has been a highlight from Ijeoma’s experience in the RISE Program, as well, she added. RISE “has not only expanded my knowledge and skills but has also fostered a culture of innovation and creativity.”
Doctoral student Myriah Hampton also participated in the RISE Program and presented at the Symposium. She placed 3rd in the Education category for her research project, “Heavy is the head that wears the C.R.O.W.N.: Exploring the C.R.O.W.N. Act’s impact on African American women in educational leadership: A qualitative study.” Myriah’s mentor was Britine Perkins, Ed.D., associate professor in PVAMU’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
RISE participant and doctoral candidate Adeyemi Taylor presented at the event, as well. The electrical and computer engineering student made an impressive showing of his research focused on the “Evaluation of Hybrid AI-based Techniques for MPPT Optimization.” Sarhan Musa, Ph.D., a professor in PVAMU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was Adeyemi’s mentor on the project.
For the complete list of TAMUS Pathways Symposium winners, click here.
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By Leigh Badrigian