Image: Winners who were present for the awards ceremony in photo from left: Md Suzauddula, Mohsen Davoudkhani, Vidya Nadar, Nayara Mota Miranda Soares, Mia Reyes and Interim Dean of the Graduate School, Phillip Payne/Image courtesy K-State

On Oct. 28, 99 graduate students from eight Kansas State University colleges met in the Regnier Atrium for the annual Research and the State poster forum. This year included 33 master’s and 66 doctoral students who presented their work to peers, faculty, staff, and community members. The event focuses on academic work and the role of graduate research in Kansas. It also gives students a chance to practice explaining their research in clear terms for various audiences.

Students use the forum to build communication skills, improve their discussions of research, and form connections with others in different fields. Biology students Amy Winstead and Klara Stevermer noted that their research advanced after they began sharing materials and information.

Faculty mentors supported student preparation, contributing to a 230% rise in participation over four years. Volunteer judges reviewed how students described the usefulness of their research to Kansas, covering topics such as agriculture, food systems, health, and education. Ten students were chosen to present at the 2026 Capitol Graduate Research Summit, and several others received Sigma Xi awards for their research presentations.