Winners Announced in Graduate Dean’s Research and Creative Works Competition

Eight master’s and doctoral program students have been selected as winners of the 2023 Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work competition. The awards are presented annually by Syracuse University’s Graduate School to recognize overall graduate-level academic excellence and outstanding research initiatives and creative activity.

The competition drew 72 submissions representing broad disciplinary categories. Winners were chosen by a panel of faculty members serving on the Graduate Faculty Council.

“I’m extremely impressed by the broad interests and exciting initiatives these eight award winners represent,” says Peter Vanable, dean of the Graduate School. “The 2023 honorees are talented scholars who have produced excellent work. They are wonderful representatives of the graduate student community, and we are excited to see where their paths lead and how they apply their scholarship to society’s interests and needs.”

A recognition event, which includes brief presentations from each of the awardees, takes place Friday, March 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. in 204 Maxwell Hall. A reception will follow. Faculty, students and staff are welcome to attend; RSVPs are requested.

Honorees and their winning submissions are:

• Sarthak Gupta, a doctoral student in physics, College of Arts and Sciences, “Characterizing a Diseased Cell Nucleus Through Computational Modeling Techniques”
• Alexander Hartwell, a doctoral student in mechanical and aerospace engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science, “Ceramic Origami: Self-Shaping of Ceramic Composites Utilizing Bilayer Shrinkage”
• Odlanyer Hernández de Lara, a doctoral student in anthropology, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, “Violence, Destruction, and Memory: An Archaeological Approach to State Terrorism in Dictatorial Cuba (1952-1958)”
• Lauren McCormick, doctoral student in religion in the College of Arts and Sciences, “My Eyes Are Up Here: Guardian Iconography of the Judean Pillar Figurine”
• Samaya Nasr, a master’s student in museum studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts, “A Walk Through the 19th Century’s American West.”
• Katie Stone, a master’s student in studio arts, College of Visual and Performing Arts, “Subtractive Building: Modeling Gender and Power”
• Kelly (Mi) Hoang Tran, a doctoral student in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, Whitman School of Management, “Hiring Among Tech Startups: When Is Diversity a Priority?”
• Jeongwon Yang, a doctoral student in mass communications, Newhouse School of Public Communications, “Others Are More Vulnerable to Fake News Than I Am: Third-Person Effect of COVID-19 Fake News on Social Media Users”

Syracuse University doctoral and master’s students from all disciplines who are in good academic standing are eligible to enter the competition. Applicants are evaluated on the overall strength and impact of their achievements in research or creative work.