Fall 2025 - Presentation Day
Research-a-thon(RAT) is a biannual research-proposal competition in which students are presented with a real-world problem and are given one week to develop and propose theoretical research they would conduct to find a solution.
RAT is designed for ALL students to learn how to conduct effective literature reviews, think critically about problems, collaborate in a group, and develop presentation skills. All aspects of the Research-a-thon are geared towards building a well-rounded skillset for you to put on a resume or CV. The first and second place winners of RAT are also given cash prizes!
RAT week consists of four main events, each of which provides valuable networking opportunities. Experts of various fields will lead panel discussions on the RAT topic and also serve as the judges for the competition. For those interested in bringing their ideas to life, this network serves as a strong starting point.
F2025 Research-a-thon first-place winners group photo with judges after the proposal on using Mycorrhizal fungi to address the food insecurity crisis.
Information about what RAT is, how to make a good proposal, and how to find reliable sources. Topic of the semester's RAT is released with some guided examples. Team Sign up form opens
Experts on the RAT topic will come for a panel event for you to ask questions, gather background information on the field, and discuss your proposal ideas. Experts will discuss the current literature and how to conduct research in this specific field.
Discussions on ethical, political, and business side of research for the RAT topic. How do you build business models? How would you secure funding? What ethical considerations are there for your projects?
Teams will give their presentations to a panel of judges who will then select a first and second place winner for the competition. Presentation Day is open for audience members to support you!
Spring 2026 - The Next Frontier
As Earth's resources become more strained, some scholars propose that humanity's future lies in space colonization. Design a novel technological advancement to mitigate a specific limitation, develop a sustainable infrastructure to support life, or propose a policy framework related to space exploration projects.
First Place: Designing a Radiation-Resistant Pharmaceutical Storage System for Spaceflight
Elizabeth Weir, Hrtha Rajiv, Leah Bortle
Second Place (TIE): S.U.N. (Self-orienting Uncontrolled Network) Bots
Euan Kim, Yash Mishra
Second Place (TIE): Gut Microbiome Analysis and Tailored Metabolite Delivery to Restore Immune Functions in Space
Yeji Kim, Ella Syer, Ontaro Tanaka, Allen Liu, Karun Kulamavalavan
Fall 2025 - Food and Water Insecurity
Today, 30% of the global population is classified as food insecure, facing unreliable access to sufficient and safe food. At the same time, water scarcity also impacts populations and threatens human health. Design a plan or propose a technological innovation that can be implemented regionally or globally to reduce food and/or water insecurity
First Place: Addressing the Food Insecurity Crisis with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Sophia Byl, Rachel Zhang, Kirsten Ward, Mansi Shah
Second Place: Fresh Future Initiative
Yeki Kim, Ohtaro Tanaka, Karun Kulamavalavan, Abraham Bentley, Kadin Nguyen
Spring 2025 - Climate Sustainability
How can climate change adaptation strategies be implemented to make your field of study more resilient? How can you implement sustainability initiatives in your field of choice?
First Place: The Carbon Footprint of Research Labs - "Eco-Assist"
Shiva Ayyar, Clemente Brogca Valenzuela, Averie Huang, Madison Talley
Second Place: Integrating Climate Adaptation into Clinical Practice
Jericho Yates, Aaditya Natarajan, Noa Han
Spring 2024 - Gender Disproportionality
Gender disproportionality refers to the uneven distribution of genders across different industries and roles and is often driven by a complex mix of societal expectations, workplace biases, and culture. Present a proposal to alleviate or further study an issue that affects one gender disproportionately in your field of choice
First Place: **
Second Place: **
Fall 2023 - AI in Action
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping society by driving immense productivity and scientific breakthroughs. How can AI be implemented to make your field of choice better?
First Place: COMET (Cloud-Optimized Molecular Exploration Tool
Aidan J. David, Ashwin Saraswatula, Jason Lin, Micharl K. Hamoudi
Second Place: Sustainify - Reduce and Monitor Plastic Waste in Homes
Madison Talley, Sahishu Vallabhajoysula