Long Beach, CA — SACNAS recognized more than seventy undergraduate and graduate students for their outstanding research and presentation skills at the 2026 SACNAS Annual Conference, held in Long Beach from October 29 to October 31. Through these presentations, Mentor Judges provide students with valuable opportunities to strengthen their research communication skills, receive personalized feedback, and engage with a network of peers and professionals in the scientific community.
The 2026 SACNAS Annual Conference Presentation Awardees are as follows:
Analytical, Inorganic, & Physical Chemistry
Karen Campos, San Diego State University
Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics
Loraine Sandoval Ascencio, University of Chicago
Biochemistry & Microbiology
Darwin Lara, University of Notre Dame
Cancer Biology & Physiology/Pathology
Grissy Sime Mora, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Cell/Molecular Biology
Glorianna Gutierrez, University of Washington
Chemical, Electrical, & Other Engineering
Victoria Diaz, University of Washington
Earth Science, Ecology/Evolutionary Biology, & Marine Sciences
Isabela Lovelace, University of California, Irvine
Ecology/Evolutionary Biology
Anupama Chandrasekhar, New Mexico State University
Health
Nayely Cazares, ICF
Materials Research & Mathematics
Jorge Chumbipuma, Rice University
Mathematics
Vincent Jodoin, University of Tennessee
Neurosciences and Psychology & Social Sciences
Lester Rodriguez Santos, University of California, Irvine
Plant Sciences/Botany
Anthony Garcia, California State University, Fresno
STEM Education & Learning
Cristina Castillo, University of North Texas
Chemistry
Bibek Dhungel, New York University
Branden Hale, Northern Arizona University
Engineering
Janelle Arnold, University of California, Santa Barbara
Timi Agbesanwa, Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine
Geosciences
Jesus Ochoa-Rivero, The University of Texas at El Paso
Chemistry
Melaina Shirley, San Juan College
Lilah Christianson, University of Washington
Maryjane Iteghete, Carleton College
Camila Colon, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Elise Hastie, California State University, Los Angeles
Computer & Information Sciences
Jonathan Juarez, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Engineering
Mikaela Miranda, California State University, Long Beach
Audrey Edusada, University of Guam
Kristi Bez, Iowa State University
Leilani Phan, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Geoscience
Yamilette Román Rodríguez, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
Cheyanne Williams, The Pennsylvania State University
Health
Samaria Quinata, University of Guam
Diego Torres Rodriguez, University of Puerto Rico - Humacao
Life Sciences, Biochemistry
Sharon Tsimese, Iowa State University
Life Sciences, Biology (General)
Jose Vazquez, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Kaelonnah Darlich, The Pennsylvania State University
Life Sciences, Cancer Biology
Kashak Desai, Indiana University - Bloomington
Joe Patane, San Diego City College
Life Sciences, Cell/Molecular Biology
Emily Ngo, University of California, Santa Barbara
Telly Do, University of California, Los Angeles
Elijah Raiens, Claremont McKenna College
Life Sciences, Developmental Biology
Homar Cardona-Sierra, University of Puerto Rico - Bayamón Campus
Life Sciences, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Allison Lozano, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Brayden Buchanan, University of San Diego
Life Sciences, Environmental Science
Segundo Garrido, University of Guam
Life Sciences, Genetics
Julian Smith Al-Rafiq, California State University Sacramento
Life Sciences, Marine Sciences
Anna DiMarco, University of California, Santa Cruz
Gabriella Pine, University of San Diego
Life Sciences, Microbiology
Naiara Bernice Garcia, York College of Pennsylvania
Grace Pantoja, University of California, Santa Cruz
Life Sciences, Neurosciences
Mei Han, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Vaughn Brown, Stanford University School of Medicine
Carolina Segoviano, University of Texas at El Paso
Materials Research
Maliha Chowdhury, Hunter College of the City University of New York
Mathematics
Mackenzie Willis, Sonoma State University
Physics & Astronomy
Andy Gutierrez, Stony Brook University
Psychology
Sherlyn Castillo Rivas, California State University, Long Beach
George Anthony Pilar Galicia, California State University, Northridge
STEM Education & Learning
Harrison Budnik, California State University, Channel Islands
Traditional Knowledge
Monisia Robles, Tohono O’odham Community College
Chemistry
Melaina Shirley, San Juan College
Health
Orion King, Arizona State University
Life Sciences
Kaitlin Diggins, Cornell University
Mathematics
Sophia Kihei, University of Hawaii, Kapi'olani Community College
Physics
Tasheena Cly, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Registered attendees for the 2026 SACNAS Annual Conference can reference the abstract book by logging into the Attendee Service Center here.
About SACNAS
For over 53 years, SACNAS has been committed to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American individuals in STEM—from students to professionals—by supporting their pursuit of advanced degrees, meaningful careers, and leadership positions. SACNAS welcomes everyone to join as members and participate in its programs. Today, SACNAS supports a vibrant and expanding community of approximately 5,300 members and more than 150 student and professional chapters across the United States, including Puerto Rico and Guam. The organization strengthens the STEM workforce through outreach, leadership development, and career advancement opportunities—highlighted by its flagship event, the SACNAS Annual Conference. Discover more about SACNAS and how to get involved at sacnas.org or connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X.
Learn more about SACNAS at sacnas.org, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.