Kennesaw State University College of Science and Mathematics

07/20/2026

College of Science and Mathematics faculty, students, and alumni continue to represent Kennesaw State University during the summer months at conferences across the country! Check out some of the highlights from presentations in June.

Division of Atomic and Molecular Optical Physics:
Physics major Lily Richard and her research advisor Dr. Chi Hong (Isaac) Yuen recently attended the American Physics Society’s Division of Atomic and Molecular Optical Physics (DAMOP) 2026 conference in Providence, Rhode Island, from June 1st to 5th. There, Lily presented her optical physics research studying methods of determining isomer structures.

MAPSS + DevCell C. Elegans Meeting:
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology faculty, students, and alumni recently represented Kennesaw State University at the MAPSS + DevCell C. Elegans meeting, a joint meeting between C. elegans Metabolism, Aging, Pathogenesis, Stress and Small RNAs & C. elegans Development Cell Biology & Gene Expression, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, from June 10th to 14th. Dr. Brandon Carpenter was invited to speak about his research at the meeting, while MS in Integrative Biology (MSIB) student Miyah Jones, MSIB alum Lindsey Knight, and biology alum Essix Moser also gave poster presentations. In addition, Lindsey received an honorable mention for her poster presentation in the graduate student division.

06/24/2026

Have you ever wondered what physics were behind the free kicks of the World Cup? Professor of Physics David Garofalo joins us to explain what's going on behind the scenes.

06/15/2026

Spring is always a busy time for student presentations, and the 2026 semester was no exception for CSM students showcasing their knowledge at various local, regional, and national conferences! Check out some of the highlights below:

American Physical Society (APS) Global Physics Summit:
CSM students and faculty represented KSU at the APS Global Physics Summit in March 2026. Undergraduate physics students Caitlyn Garrett, Siam Sarower, Sulaiman Shaikh, Lawrance (Eddie) Harmon, Tobias Beyer, Lucas Ruth, Matt Bonvissuto, Lily Richard, and Siddhi Patel; MSCB graduate Nishat Tasnim; and faculty members Mahmoud Asmar, Chetan Dhital, Kiran Prasai, and Madalynn Marshall. CSM students Tobias Beyer, Matt Bonvissuto, and Nishat Tasnim received honorable mentions in recognition of their oral presentations. In addition, Lily and Caitlyn presented their work at the APS Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics following the summit.

Georgia Academy of Science:
Congratulations to first-year physics majors Abram Scott and Collin Piece, who earned first place for their poster presentation titled “Investigating the effects of melting parameters and cerium oxide molarity on the borate-based glass structure using Raman and FTIR Spectroscopy” at the Georgia Academy of Science in March 2026! Biology major Alejandro Coronado also attended and gave an oral presentation at the meeting.

Southeastern Bat Diversity Network:
Environmental Science major and recent MSIB graduate Kerrigan Larkin presented their research, "Landscape and Environmental Characteristics that Shape Bat Assemblage Activity Across Varying Levels of Development in North America," at the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network annual meeting in March 2026. MSIB student Emma Merritt also presented her research, "Integrating Genetic Markers to Assess Population Structure, Overlap, and Pseudomonas destructans Susceptibility in Southern Edge Populations of Tricolored Bats (Perimyotis subflavus)," at the annual meeting.

National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR):
Environmental Science major Juliana Hayhome from Dr. Tiago Pereira's lab gave an oral presentation at the 2026 NCUR April 13-15, 2026.

06/12/2026

06/10/2026

Environmental science major Nelly Koz is combining her passion for the outdoors with community impact this summer through a prestigious research internship in Germany. Selected as one of 350 recipients from more than 3,000 applicants, she is exploring sustainable forest management in the Black Forest near the University of Freiburg through hands-on experience in ecological data collection and field research. Nelly credited Kennesaw State University’s Office of Prestigious Undergraduate Awards (OPUA) for guiding her through the application process and helping her secure the opportunity to strengthen her research skills.

Read more about Nelly's internship and experience with OPUA at our link in the comments.

06/05/2026

Our Birla Carbon International Scholars have landed in Goa, India, for their summer research experience at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Goa campus! Nine Kennesaw State University CSM majors were selected to conduct research during the Spring 2026 semester with a biology, chemistry, or physics faculty mentor. They will continue their research in India during a six-week summer study abroad experience before presenting their research at CSM's annual Birla Carbon Scholars Program Research Symposium in late August.

05/26/2026

The College of Science and Mathematics honored 25 faculty members across all five departments at our CSM Teaching Excellence Reception in April. These faculty members were recognized for making a significant impact on teaching in 2025. Thank you for all you do in helping our students succeed in their classes!

Visit the link in the comments to see who was recognized!

05/20/2026

The College of Science and Mathematics honored 46 faculty members across all five departments for receiving or retaining external funding in 2025 with a reception in April. These faculty members were commended for holding grants that significantly contributed to advancing research and promoting student success initiatives within the college.

Visit the link in the comments to see who was recognized!

05/18/2026

The College of Science and Mathematics had a blast celebrating our Spring 2026 graduates with their families and guests on Monday, May 11th! Congratulations to all our students who graduated this spring! We're proud of you! 🎉

View more photos from the event by visiting the link in the comments.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to all the Kennesaw State University students graduating this May! Like their fellow College of Science and Mathematics graduates, biochemistry major Kaylee Stone and chemistry major Ariana Mitchell thrived at KSU and are ready to make an impact as they join the Kennesaw State University Alumni Association Forever Owl family.

With a love for animals and the mind of a scientist, veterinary medicine became a natural path for Kaylee Stone. Initially a biology major, she shifted to biochemistry after gaining a new perspective on medicine through research in Dr. Mohammad Halim’s lab at Kennesaw State University. Through assistantship roles, volunteer work, and a veterinary medicine-focused study abroad opportunity, Kaylee built a solid foundation for her next journey. Now, she’s headed to the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine with plans to become a small-animal veterinarian.

A double major in chemistry and criminal justice, Ariana Mitchell spent her final year at KSU exploring allergens found in everyday fragrance products. Under the mentorship of Dr. Wei Zhou, she used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify potential allergens not always listed on ingredient labels. The research allowed Ariana to engage with real-world scientific challenges, and she now hopes to build on the experience in graduate school with a focus in forensic chemistry.

Check out the links in the comments to read more!