Kennesaw State University College of Science and Mathematics

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Kennesaw State University's College of Science and Mathematics is excited to announce the approval of a new Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, launching in Fall 2027. This degree program will prepare the next generation of Ph.D.-level biomedical scientists to meet growing workforce demand across Georgia, the region, and the nation. Building upon KSU’s strength as an R2 institution, graduates will receive rigorous scientific training and real-world experience designed to translate biomedical discovery into meaningful societal impacts and healthier communities.

Learn more about the new program at the link in our comments.

CSM Dean Heather Koopman participated in the KSU Day of Service on Saturday, March 28th, with a group of very enthusiastic KSU students at the Cherokee Garden, where they assisted by moving a giant pile of crushed granite and spreading it on the pathways around the garden. The Cherokee Garden at Green Meadows Preserve is a National Park Service site that is part of the Trail of Tears and features traditional plants used by the Cherokee for medicinal, shelter, and food applications. The garden’s plants are cared for by the Georgia Native Plant Society and Cobb Master Gardeners. Thank you to everyone who volunteered!

Thank you to all the Giving Day donors for supporting our science and mathematics students at Kennesaw State University!