On May 8th, 2026, UW Biology hosted its first BioFest – a celebration of undergraduate research in the department. The event brought together undergraduate researchers, faculty mentors, and community members to explore a wide range of biological research projects. Through research talks and poster presentations, students shared their work on topics spanning ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, neuroscience, and more.

BioFest provides students with an opportunity to communicate their research findings, gain valuable presentation experience, and connect with others in the scientific community. The event also recognizes the important role of faculty and research mentors who support undergraduate discovery and learning.
By showcasing the breadth and impact of undergraduate research, BioFest reflects the Department of Biology’s commitment to hands-on scientific inquiry and experiential learning.

Congratulations to all of the student presenters and mentors who helped make this year’s event a success.

UW BioFest 2026 awardees!

1st prize talk: Sunny Dighe (Rasmussen lab)
2nd prize talk: Scotia Ouellette (Paul Nghiem / Merkel Cell Carcinoma Collaborative (MC3) Institute)
3rd prize talk: Akira Morishita (Baker lab)

1st prize poster: Rin Prabhakaran (Durant lab)
2nd prize poster: Ashley Su (Riffel lab)
3rd prize poster: Keon Louie (Wang lab), Allan Quach (Santana lab) , Emma Li (Steinbrenner lab)