College of Sciences Research Symposium
Showcasing the Science Shaping Tomorrow
April 10, 2026
Main Campus | 8 am–5 pm
This symposium will celebrate who we are as a research community. Our goal is to create a meaningful experience that highlights the depth of our work, the distinctive identity of our scholars, and the spirit of collaboration that strengthens our college.
Join us to learn about faculty, staff, and student research from all COS departments. Connect and share ideas.
Please register if you wish to:
- attend
- present (poster, oral, or 3-minute thesis)
- participate as a Poster Judge, Session Chair, or Day-of-Volunteer
Registration and abstract submission deadline: March 16, 2026
Presentation Tracks
Biomedical and Health Sciences
Research spanning molecular, cellular, organismal, ecological, and population biology, including neuroscience, immunology, infectious disease, cardiovascular research, translational science, and interdisciplinary health innovation.
Molecular, Chemical, and Materials Discovery
Chemistry and materials research including synthesis, catalysis, nanomaterials, spectroscopy, chemical biology, and energy-relevant materials.
Fundamental and Applied Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Physics, applied mathematics, modeling, quantum and nanoscale phenomena, astrophysics, simulation, and data-driven quantitative research.
Earth, Environment, and Planetary Systems
Geoscience, climate, hydrology, ecology, conservation biology, wildlife and fisheries science, environmental systems, and planetary research.
STEM Education and Workforce Development
Research and innovation in STEM education, experiential learning, workforce pipelines, industry engagement, and student success initiatives.
Symposium Schedule
View a map of the Student Union (SU) and HEB Student Union (HSU) for room locations.
| Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am–4:00 pm | Registration Desk and Check In Open | HSU Ballroom Galleria |
| 8:00 am–4:00 pm | Expo Hall and Poster Hall Open | Convocation Center |
| 8:00 am–8:45 am | Graduate Student Appreciation Breakfast | HSU Ballroom 1 |
| 9:00 am–9:15 am | Introductory Remarks President Taylor Eighmy, Dr. Jennifer Sharpe Potter, and COS Dean Stephanie Santorico |
HSU Ballroom 2 |
| 9:15 am–10:00 am | Plenary Speaker Dr. Christopher Glein "Life Beyond Earth: The Opportunity Right Down the Road" |
HSU Ballroom 2 |
| 10:00 am–10:20 am | Transition and Coffee | HSU Ballroom Galleria |
| 10:20 am–12:30 pm | 3-Minute Thesis Competition | HSU Ballroom 2 |
| 10:20 am–12:30 pm | Oral Presentation Sessions | |
| ▻ Biomedical and Health Sciences | HSU Harris Room | |
| ▻ Molecular, Chemical, and Materials Discovery | HSU Travis Room | |
| ▻ Fundamental and Applied Physical & Mathematical Sciences | SU Pecan Room | |
| ▻ Earth, Environment, and Planetary Systems | HSU Bexar Room | |
| ▻ STEM Education and Workforce Development | SU Mesquite Room | |
| 12:30 pm–2:30 pm | Poster Presentations and Judging Lunch provided for volunteers and participants |
Convocation Center |
| 2:30 pm–4:00 pm | Oral Presentation Sessions | |
| ▻ Biomedical and Health Sciences | HSU Harris Room | |
| ▻ Molecular, Chemical, and Materials Discovery | HSU Travis Room | |
| ▻ Fundamental and Applied Physical & Mathematical Sciences | SU Pecan Room | |
| ▻ Earth, Environment, and Planetary Systems | HSU Bexar Room | |
| 2:30 pm–4:00 pm | Poster Judging and Score Entry Hub | SU Mesquite Room |
| 4:00 pm–4:20 pm | Transition and Coffee | HSU Ballroom Galleria |
| 4:20 pm–5:00 pm | Awards and Closing Remarks | HSU Ballroom 2 |
Plenary Speaker
Dr. Christopher Glein, Principal Scientist, Southwest Research Institute
"Life Beyond Earth: The Opportunity Right Down the Road"
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime as we revisit Cassini's exploration of Saturn's moon Enceladus. We will consider whether this small but surprising moon can support life. We will then look to the future of the search for life on our solar system's ocean worlds and explore the scientific and technological opportunities that await.
Dr. Christopher Glein is a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute whose research revolves around the "big three" icy ocean worlds—Enceladus, Europa, and Titan. Glein is an expert on the geochemistry of these moons. He develops thermodynamic models for inferring the geochemical properties of their environments and the processes that shape them. He co-led a landmark 2017 Science paper reporting the discovery of molecular hydrogen in Enceladus's ocean, establishing a quantitative basis for energetic habitability in an extraterrestrial ocean for the first time. His research program also includes exoplanets, both those that could be habitable as well as those that reveal how geochemistry operates across diverse planetary environments. Glein was a member of the instrument team for the Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer, and he is a Co-Investigator on the Europa Clipper MAss Spectrometer for Planetary EXploration team. In addition, he is the Principal Investigator of a James Webb Space Telescope observing program on Enceladus. Glein served on the most recent Decadal Survey for Planetary Science and Astrobiology for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He recently gave the Carl Sagan Lecture at the 2025 AGU Fall Meeting. Glein earned a PhD in 2012 from Arizona State University, where he studied with Everett Shock.
Questions? Contact Dr. Elizabeth Sooby
Registration
Please register if you wish to attend, present (poster, oral, or 3-minute thesis), or participate as a Poster Judge, Session Chair, or Day-of-Volunteer. Registration and abstract submission deadline: March 16, 2026.
