Three head shots of College of Letters and Science students participating in this year's UC Davis Grad Slam
This year’s UC Davis Grad Slam presenters from the College of Letters and Science include (pictured from left): Brandon Cutler, a doctoral candidate in chemistry; Yasmin Mendoza, a doctoral student in English; and Hans Oberschelp, a doctoral candidate in mathematics.

Three College of Letters and Science Students Ready to Rumble for UC Davis Grad Slam

Quick Summary

  • The UC Davis Grad Slam provides 10 UC Davis students the opportunity to present a three-minute pitch about their research.
  • This year, three students from the College of Letters and Science are competing for a chance to win $2,500 and move on to compete in the UC Grad Slam.
  • The UC Davis event is scheduled for Thursday, April 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Three College of Letters and Science graduate students will test their research communication prowess at the upcoming 2023 UC Davis Grad Slam. Created and organized by Graduate Studies, the competition provides 10 graduate students the opportunity to present a three-minute pitch about their research. The competition will be held at the UC Davis Graduate Center on April 6 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This year’s presenters from the College of Letters and Science include Brandon Cutler, a doctoral candidate in chemistry; Yasmin Mendoza, a doctoral student in English; and Hans Oberschelp, a doctoral candidate in mathematics.

The three will compete for the chance to win $2,500, among other awards, as well as the opportunity to compete in the final round of UC Grad Slam where they could win the UC-wide title and additional prize money, according to UC Davis Graduate Studies.

Brandon Cutler: 'Food of the Future: Rethinking How We Look at Plant Waste and Processing Using Magnetic Resonance'

“My research involves building better ways to monitor sugar extractions from plant waste,” Cutler said. “I’m really excited about this project because this technology could actually be used in real facilities and would help drop the cost of them drastically.”

“It’s a chance also for me to show people that science can be fun and useful and has the capacity to change the world,” Cutler added.  

Yasmin Mendoza: 'Don't Say --- : An Exploration of the Censorship of Literature in the United States'

“My research is on the censorship of American literature and I also look at cinema and media studies, digital technology, science and technology studies, and I’m also interested in archive and activism,” Mendoza said. “I’m excited to participate in Grad Slam so I can share my research and also hear what everyone else has to say.”

Hans Oberschelp: 'Securing Data by Shuffling Cards'

“I study probability and in particular, my research is in random processes, like card shuffling,” Oberschelp said.

“Math research has this reputation of being too esoteric or abstract for the general public, and I want to counter that idea,” Oberschelp added.

Oberschelp likened math research to solving a puzzle. Though the methods to solve the puzzle might be hard to explain, oftentimes the crux of the puzzle and the reason why it’s intriguing can be easily explained.

“I hope I'm able to capture these ideas in my talk and show how cool and interesting and useful math can be,” Oberschelp said.

RSVP to attend this year’s UC Davis Grad Slam, which will also be livestreamed, and learn more about the event on the UC Davis Graduate Studies website.  

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