Postdoctoral student stands with poster during the Fall Postdoctoral Symposium. (Anna Prentiss/Florida State University)
Two postdoctoral scholars from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering swept the top prizes at Florida State University’s 13th annual National Postdoctoral Appreciation Week research competition, showcasing breakthrough work in aerospace engineering and biomedical applications.
Engineering Excellence on Display
Ashley Allen Carr from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering claimed first place in the prestigious 5-Minute Research (5MR) Competition with her presentation “Living Glass in Space,” while Ahirudh Lakshmi Narasimha Prasad from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering earned second place for “Taming Jet Roars with Tiny Lightning Zap.”
The victories highlight the cutting-edge research from the college’s postdoctoral programs, from advanced materials science to aerospace noise reduction technologies.
“As postdocs, we’re always looking for opportunities to hone our public speaking skills, and this was just that,” Carr said. “Being able to be on the stage and get filmed was really great. The video will be a huge asset to my career. We found out about the competition a little over a month ago and we put in some serious hours of work. Just in the last three days, I gave this speech probably thirty times.”
University-Wide Research Celebration
The competition was part of FSU’s broader celebration of postdoctoral scholars, hosted by the FSU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. The week-long event included an adviser/mentor breakfast, poster sessions, and an awards ceremony recognizing the research contributions of postdocs across all disciplines.
“This week is about shining a spotlight on the incredible work our postdocs do,” said Debra Ann Fadool, distinguished research professor, associate dean and director of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. “They are the backbone of our research enterprise, and we’re proud to celebrate their achievements.”
Competitive Research Presentations
Ten finalists presented their research in five minutes or less during the Fall Postdoctoral Symposium at the College of Medicine. The topics covered health, physics, engineering and public policy. A panel from FSU and the Tallahassee community judged the presentations on clarity, engagement, and impact.
Evan Lloyd, a postdoctoral associate in biological science and neuroscience from the College of Arts and Sciences, took third place for “How Evolution Shapes the Brain.” Yu-Jou Chou from the Department of Health, Nutrition and Food Science received the People’s Choice Award for “Plastic in Our Plates, Plastic in Our Body?”
In the poster session component, Shekhar Chauhan from the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy won the People’s Choice Award for “Memory and Math Across the Nations.”
Professional Development Focus
The celebration began with a rooftop coffee and pastry social at the King Life Sciences Building, fostering informal conversations and community building between postdocs and faculty mentors.
Presenting my research in just five minutes was both a challenge and an opportunity,” said Buna Bhandari, College of Nursing postdoctoral student and contestant. “Making complex ideas understandable for everyone made me face my fears and realize that if I can do it, so can you. Thanks to the organizers for creating this valuable experience.”
Presidential Recognition
The week concluded with an awards reception in the College of Medicine Atrium, sponsored by FSU President Richard McCullough, who emphasized the critical role postdocs play in advancing the university’s research mission.
“As postdocs, you play a vital role in advancing FSU’s teaching and research mission,” McCullough said. “You bring new ideas, fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to our research teams and labs. Your contributions help drive progress and discovery, and your dedication, passion and tireless efforts enrich our academic community as you hone your skills and move your disciplines forward.”
For more information about upcoming events and professional development opportunities for postdoctoral scholars, visit opda.fsu.edu.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 4, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI optimized the article for SEO discoverability, improved clarity, structure and readability while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 09/25/2025.
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