On Friday, March 13, 2026, more than 54 students presented their research at our annual Stempel College Research Day, showcasing their work across the public health, dietetics and nutrition, and social work fields. This year, six students won the oral presentation competition.
“Stempel College Research Day is one of the most significant events highlighting our research enterprise. It showcases the exciting work of our outstanding doctoral students, demonstrating the depth and breadth of their research,” said Tomás R. Guilarte, dean of FIU Stempel College. “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to listen and observe them in action. I thank them and all the faculty and staff that play such an important role in developing their talent. With great admiration and respect, I look forward to next year!”
Stempel College Research Day is a full-day event hosted by the Office of Student & Alumni Affairs (OSAA). The day is split into oral and poster presentations, with each session allowing attendees the opportunity to ask the presenters questions about their research. Judges — who are Stempel College faculty — rate the students using criteria that includes methodology, integration of literature review, and the presentation itself.
Congratulations to the winners!
Morning Session – Oral Presentation
1st Place:
Ritishka Kapoor
Developmental Pathophysiology of Childhood-Onset Manganese-Induced Dystonia-Parkinsonism in Slc39a14-KO Mice
Ph.D. student in Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
Major Professor: Dr. Tomás R. Guilarte
2nd Place:
Alexandra Briceño
Dietary Carotenoids and Gut Microbial Community Structure in Emerging Adults
Ph.D. student in Nutrition
Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
Major Professor: Dr. Sabrina Sales Martinez
3rd Place:
Gabriela Proaño
Stakeholder Perception on the Implementation and Effectiveness of Front-of-Pack Labeling: A Qualitative Study in Peru
Ph.D. student in Nutrition
Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
Major Professor: Dr. Cristina Palacios
Afternoon Session – Oral Presentation
1st Place:
Simanta Roy
Predicting Nicotine Exposure from E-cigarette: A Machine Learning Approach Incorporating Device, Aerosol, and Clinical Data
Ph.D. student in Epidemiology
School of Public Health
Major Professor: Dr. Wasim Maziak
2nd Place:
Sourav Das Gupta
Psychosocial Correlates of Mental Health Outcomes in Caregivers of Youth with Developmental Disabilities
Ph.D. student in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
School of Public Health
Major Professor: Dr. Rumi Agarwal
3rd Place:
Ariana Bolivar
Examining the Interrelationship of Interoception, Eating Behavior, and Weight in Hispanic Midlife Women
Ph.D. student in Nutrition
Department of Dietetics & Nutrition
Major Professor: Dr. Catherine Coccia
