Siena's record-setting Academic Showcase recognized hundreds of Saints and their research (above); a separate regional showcase specifically recognized Isaiah Korostil '24 (below)
From one free throw line to the next, spanning the width of three basketball courts, more than 120 posters showcasing academic research and conclusions completely engulfed the MAC. This year's Academic Showcase was the largest in history. More than 350 students presented their work and nearly 750 students attended the poster session to browse, ask questions, and support their classmates.
This year's showcase also featured the Creative Arts Capstone Exhibition in Foy Hall and the Ted R. Winnowski '63 Student Conference in Business in the Sarazen Student Union.
"It's incredibly gratifying to see how this event has grown over the past few years. By dedicating an entire day to celebrating the intellectual and creative pursuits of our students, everyone in the Siena community has the chance to see the quality of work performed on campus. I'm incredibly proud of the students, for both the quality of work they have done and their ability to present it in talks, posters, artwork, and performances. This year was the biggest and best showcase we have ever had, and we are going to build on this success for next year (and get even more food trucks, too)!"
Dan Moriarty, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, director of CURCA
Meanwhile, three days before the Siena showcase, Ph.D., graduate, and undergraduate students presented their research at the inaugural Capital Region STEM Poster Showcase. Ten regional colleges and universities were represented by 85 students who showed off their research at Hudson Valley Community College. A group of scientists from Regeneron evaluated each poster, then asked probing questions of the authors. From more than 50 submissions in the undergraduate competition, Isaiah Korostil '24 (left) was announced as one of two winners.
Isaiah, in collaborated with Stephen Deyrup, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, focused on the viburnum leaf beetle. So far, research has only been done on the larva stage of the Pyrrhalta viburni. Isaiah's project, "Chemical Defenses of Adult Viburnum Leaf Beetles," tested the adult stages of these beetles for defensive chemicals called anthraquinones. The panel of Regeneron judges was impressed.
"I've always been interested in the industrial side of STEM, especially the pharmaceutical side of things, and to be one of two winners for the undergraduate award for Regeneron was a huge confidence boost. It also felt good to represent Siena in such a way as Siena had three representatives at the showcase, including me. I was excited to just be there for the poster showcase, as it would help me practice for future showcases, but a win on top of that is still mind-boggling. All I can say is, thank you to Dr. Steve for being a great research professor and for giving me these opportunities to present, and to Alec Brundle who works with me during research and has helped prepare me for these types of showcases."
Isaiah Korosil '23
"Isaiah's win highlights the great achievements that are a result of Siena's investments in research infrastructure and support. First, CURCA has been providing funding to students campus-wide to engage in research and creative activities. Dr. Moriarty has greatly expanded this program and helped to build a culture of high-quality research across the college. Next, the instruments available for scientific research in the SAInT Center are state-of-the-art and allowed us to perform the research that we did. Finally, those two investments by the college (CURCA and the SAInT Center) have not only allowed us at Siena to perform excellent research and to develop a productive research culture, but have allowed our students to garner the attention of highly-respected employers like Regeneron. This gives our students a competitive advantage for some of the region's most sought after careers."
Stephen Deyrup, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry
