Inaugural CFANS Research Symposium features College-wide projects
March 22, 2023
The University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) held its inaugural Research Symposium on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the St. Paul Student Center. The symposium featured poster and oral presentations from undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdocs. More than 80 students participated from across the College to showcase their research projects.
The symposium aims to provide an opportunity for CFANS students and researchers to present their work and engage with their peers and faculty members. Presenters covered a wide range of topics, including agricultural economics, animal science, entomology, food science, and plant pathology, representing multiple research areas across CFANS.
“To me, the CFANS Research Symposium is an attempt to start conversations across our College,” said Milena Saqui-Salces, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs and co-chair of the event. “There are so many different ways that research across the College touches common issues and interests, but at the same time, we don't have a good way to make the connections and bring up new collaborations. I hope the research symposium does that.”
Six participants were awarded Distinguished Presenter awards. These awards recognized the top presenters in each category based on the quality of their presentation.
Distinguished Poster Presentations:
- Lori Croghan, "Benefits and Risks of Gene Drive for Invasive Tansy Control"
- Shijina Raj Manjankattil Rajan, "Effect of pimenta essential oil against multidrug-resistant Salmonella Agona and Salmonella Saintpaul on non-processed turkey breast meat and in ground turkey meat"
- Tessa Kothlow, "Protecting Minnesota's Natural Resources: Biosurveillance for new Phytophthora Disease"
Distinguished Oral Presentations:
- Kendal Burstad, "Phosphorus Bioaccessibility of Emerging Pulse and Soy-Based Protein Alternative Products by In Vitro Simulation of Human Digestion"
- Kristin Boardman, "Solid State Fermentation of Camelina Meal for Improved Animal Feed"
- Colby Johnson, "Attempt at Establishment of Germline Chimeras Between Common Carp and Fathead Minnows"
The Distinguished Presenter award recipients were selected by a panel of judges that included CFANS faculty members, researchers and alumni. Professor and department head Sujaya Rao presented the closing keynote, "Insects as pests, pollinators and food: Fascinating discoveries through research.”
The event is expected to become an annual tradition in the College and will continue to highlight the excellent research being conducted in CFANS.
“Important research requires collaboration among food scientists, soil scientists, agronomists, animal scientists, engineers, but especially social scientists and economists,” said Joanne Slavin, professor of food science and nutrition, who attended the event. “They were all present during the symposium and enjoyed supporting our fabulous CFANS students.”
