ASCENDS REU Symposium

ASCENDS 2025 class
Please note this event occurred in the past.
August 07, 2025: All Day
Special Event
A110/A111

We’re thrilled to announce the ASCENDS 2025 Symposium, celebrating another outstanding summer of research, collaboration, and growth. This year's program includes five exceptional undergraduates from across the country, each engaged in cutting-edge experimental and computational work in polymer science and engineering and beyond.

Meet the 2025 ASCENDS Cohort:

  • Mazin Hussein (UMass Amherst, Chemical Engineering)
    Bridging chemical and electrical engineering through work on polymer binders and device fabrication methods.
  • Aika Aigerim (Rhodes College, Neuroscience & PSE)
    Investigating connections between neuronal cellular activity, polymer materials, and advanced imaging techniques.
  • Nii Nai Odamten-Sowah (Morehouse College, PSE)
    Exploring enzymatic degradation routes for polymers with Dr. Melody Morris.
  • Kojo Odamten-Sowah (Morehouse College, Chemical Engineering)
    Collaborating with Prof. Peng Bai on computational modeling of inorganic framework structures.
  • Nadiya Evans (Howard University, Chemistry)
    Developing polymeric materials that exhibit aggregation-induced emission properties.

This year’s event will feature presentations from all ASCENDS scholars, plus a few additional talks from undergraduate researchers working in or around the PS&E community. We're excited to expand the program into an “ASCENDS+” format with 8–9 talks in total.

Details on the exact schedule and location will be shared soon.

About ASCENDS

Now in its fifth year, ASCENDS continues to grow into a vibrant and diverse community of scholars. By the end of this summer, we’ll be celebrating nearly 25 ASCENDS alumni—a milestone that reflects the depth and potential of this unique network.

💬 Stay tuned for the final agenda, Zoom link, and room details coming soon.