Grad Slam

Biological Systems Engineering Grad Student Alice Dien Named 2022 UC Davis Grad Slam Champion

Third-year Biological Systems Engineering Ph.D. student Alice Dien won first place at the UC Davis Grad Slam Semi-Final round on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. Her winning presentation “Cooling Down with the New Hot Air: The Future of Drying in Agriculture” earned her a $2,500 first prize. 

Dien's award-winning presentation examined the role of drying in food processing and examined how to make drying systems cleaner and cheaper. 

Graduate Studies Announces 2022 UC Davis Grad Slam Top 10

Graduate Studies is thrilled to announce the 10 finalists that will compete in the 2022 Semi-Final Grad Slam competition at the University of California, Davis.


In the annual Grad Slam tournament, master’s and doctoral students are challenged to share their research stories, concisely and compellingly, in three minutes or less. The top 10 finalists will present their research to an audience and panel of external judges for a chance to win $2,500.

Amelia Munson, Animal Behavior Ph.D. Candidate, Wins the UC Davis 2021 Grad Slam Competition

Graduate Studies is pleased to announce Animal Behavior Ph.D. candidate Amelia Munson won first place at the UC Davis Grad Slam final round on Thursday, April 8. Her winning presentation “Fact or Fiction: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” earned her a $2,500 grand prize and the opportunity to advance to the University of California Grad Slam competition on May 7.

Her engaging presentation examined how introducing environmental stressors on young fish in captivity impacted their ability to adapt to challenges and exhibit anti-predator behaviors as adults.

Graduate Studies Cancels This Year's Grad Slam Campus Final Round

Due to the shelter-in-place order and the ongoing Coronavirus situation, UC Davis Graduate Studies has decided to cancel the 2020 UC Davis Grad Slam final round event on April 7. 

“We’re truly saddened by the event’s cancellation,” said Jean-Pierre Deplanque, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. “This year’s participants have worked tirelessly to develop and refine their research presentations, but the rapidly changing situation made it impossible to proceed with an in-person event.”