The Ohio State University’s 38th Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum, held on March 1, 2024, showcased innovative and exemplary research conducted by postdoctoral scholars. This year, five postdocs stood out with their presentations, demonstrating the breadth and depth of research at Ohio State.
Asmaa Aly Badr, a postdoc in the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, presented research on Alzheimer’s disease. The research project included the development of mannose-coated lipid nanoparticles that inhibit microRNA-17, reducing neuroinflammation and improving behavior in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s. Asmaa graduated from the Mansoura University College of Medicine, Egypt, and obtained her master’s degree from the Clinical Pathology department at Mansoura University, Egypt.
Sachin Naik, a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, focused on combating Botrytis blight, a destructive fungal threat to greenhouse crops. His research identified effective combinations of Pseudomonas strains as a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides. Sachin holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.
Alexander Ulintz, a clinical research fellow in the Department of Emergency Medicine, presented a feasibility study of using drones to deliver emergency medications. His research demonstrated the potential of drone-delivered antidotes during real emergency calls. Alexander received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, medical doctorate from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and completed his emergency medicine residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Jason Sigler, a postdoc at the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, presented his research on how racial bias affects the hiring process. His analysis used a unique dataset to examine how bias infiltrates the entire hiring process. Jason received his Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the Ohio State University in 2022.
Seong Ji Jeong, a postdoc at the Ohio Education Research Center, investigated the effect of education-job mismatch on earnings penalties from an institutional perspective at the country level. Seong Ji Jeong, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral scholar in the Ohio Education Research Center (OERC) at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and a lecturer in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University.
The forum, co-sponsored by the Council of Graduate Students, the Graduate School, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, and the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge (ERIK), facilitated fruitful exchanges between graduate students, postdocs, faculty, the administration, and the public. The event concluded with an awards banquet, where cash prizes totaling more than $17,000 were awarded to the top-judged presentations (CGS).
Along with their participation in Ohio State traditions such as the Hares Forums, the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Ohio State seeks to prepare the next generation of research leaders by enhancing their postdoctoral experience through career development opportunities. The Hayes Forum is a testament to this mission, providing a platform for postdocs to present their groundbreaking research and engage with the broader academic community.