Celebrating a Decade of Discovery: Highlights from the 10th Annual IGC Graduate Research Symposium
April 25, 2025

The 10th Annual Interfaces of Global Change (IGC) Graduate Research Symposium took place on April 18, 2025, at the Moss Arts Center. The event brought together more than 125 graduate fellows, faculty, and postdoctoral affiliates from across the Global Change Center community for a day filled with thoughtful conversation and impressive research. The quality of student presentations stood out once again—highlighting the creativity, depth, and interdisciplinary focus that have become hallmarks of the IGC program. From climate change and pollution to disease, biodiversity loss, and invasive species, the research showcased the wide range of issues our students are tackling through collaboration and innovation.

A Full Day of Insight and Connection
The day started with coffee, snacks, and easy conversation as attendees filtered into the Cube at the Moss Arts Center. Dr. Bill Hopkins, Director of the IGC IGEP, welcomed everyone and set the tone for the day ahead.
What followed was a full schedule of platform presentations, poster sessions, and plenty of opportunity to reconnect. Platform presentations took place in the Cube, with research covering a range of environmental and societal issues. In between, attendees explored student posters in the Fife Lobbies, where conversations sparked over everything from disease ecology to biodiversity.

Levity, Lessons, and Lasting Advice from Dr. Corey Welch
This year’s keynote was delivered by Dr. Corey Welch, Director of the STEM Scholars Program at Iowa State University. His talk, titled “Surviving a Zombie Attack: Advice for Graduate Students in Uncertain Times,” brought levity and wisdom in equal measure. Drawing from his background and leadership experience in STEM equity, Dr. Welch shared deeply personal and strategic guidance for navigating academic and professional challenges.
The talk resonated with students navigating the uncertainties of research careers, sparking laughter, reflection, and an engaging Q&A session that left a lasting impression.

A Toast to the Future
The evening concluded with a lively reception where students, faculty, and guests enjoyed drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and celebration. Luke Goodman, President of the IGC Graduate Student Organization, announced the poster award winners, while Dr. Hopkins presented the platform awards. The reception was made even more meaningful with spontaneous remarks from Dr. Karen DePauw, whose visionary leadership played a foundational role in establishing the IGC IGEP.

Honoring Excellence: Student Research Awards
Peer-Awarded Poster Presentation Awards
For the first time in IGC symposium history, a three-way tie for first place emerged, a testament to the exceptional quality of this year’s posters.

Bridget Re, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Title: Estimating causes of nest failure in the southern breeding population of Saltmarsh Sparrows
Casey McLaughlin, Biological Sciences
Title: Sublethal lead (Pb) exposure impacts gene expression in the brain of developing songbirds
Eliza Tarimo, Biological Sciences
Title: Using Phylogenetics to Predict Bat Species Susceptibility to White-Nose Syndrome
Platform Presentation Awards
Selected by a panel of faculty judges, the top three presentations were awarded, culminating in the prestigious Karen P. DePauw Outstanding Interdisciplinary Presentation Award.

First Place & recipient of the 2025 Karen P. DePauw Outstanding Interdisciplinary Presentation Award
Jordan Coscia, Plant and Environmental Sciences
Title: Working and Restored Grasslands Incompletely Conserve Native Plant Biodiversity in Northern Virginia
Second Place
Taylor Fossett, Biological Sciences
Title: Neural correlates of increased aggression in an urban songbird: A focus on arginine vasotocin
Third Place
Brendan Shea, Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Title: Rethinking the relationship between home range and body size: evaluating the ontogenetic variation in space use in large mobile marine predators
A Decade of Impact and Counting
The annual IGC symposium continues to strengthen connections across disciplines, inspire new collaborations, and showcase the brilliance of IGC fellows. Some of the collaborations seeded here have led to impactful publications and partnerships.
The 2025 event reaffirmed that the future of global change science is in capable, creative, and passionate hands. Here’s to another decade of innovation, impact, and interdisciplinary discovery.