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Scholars from the NSF S-STEM–funded PERSIST Program, along with other Tuskegee University students, attended the 2025 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, TX.
“Professional development opportunities like attending national conferences such as ABRCMS transform students’ confidence and academic trajectories. Our students are competing, presenting, and thriving on national stages—while carrying forward the legacy of Tuskegee excellence,” said Dr. Lecia Robinson, Assistant Professor of Biology.
Three students, Akaylin Echols, De’Quinte Robinson, and Ciara Stewart, were selected to receive prestigious ABRCMS Travel Awards, which provided partial or full support for conference registration, lodging, and transportation. These awards recognize students whose abstracts demonstrate exceptional scientific merit, methodological rigor, and strong potential for future contributions to the STEM workforce.
All participating Tuskegee students presented their research during the highly competitive undergraduate poster sessions, representing key scientific areas such as cellular biology, cancer research, microbiology, public health, and computational sciences. Their participation highlights the University’s expanding national footprint in undergraduate research and reflects the strength of Tuskegee’s faculty mentoring and support systems that prepare students to excel in competitive STEM environments.
Showcasing the depth of talent within Tuskegee’s research community, two students earned awards in the Social and Behavioral Sciences and Public Health category.
- Nilajah Buchanan, a senior biology major and PERSIST Scholar from Huntsville, AL, presented “Exploring the Link Between Food Insecurity and Coronary Artery Disease.”
- Kimani Williams, a senior biology major from East Orange, NJ, presented “How to Increase PREP Uptake Among Black Women to Reduce HIV Rates.”
“Congratulations to all the Tuskegee students who participated in this important national biomedical conference,” said Dr. Channapatna Prakash, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “I am especially delighted that Nilajah and Kimani won awards for their presentation!"
For more than two decades, ABRCMS has served as the premier national conference dedicated to supporting historically excluded students pursuing STEM careers. As one of the largest gatherings of underrepresented minorities in STEM, the conference brings together thousands of students, faculty, and research professionals annually. With over 2,500 poster and oral presentations, professional development workshops, a graduate recruitment fair, and symposia led by leading scientists, ABRCMS provides unmatched opportunities for scientific communication, networking, and career advancement.
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