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Chemistry students showcase research and win awards at regional conference

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Five M State chemistry students pose with their instructor at a research conference at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Jack Runsvold, Sal Poquee, Dr. Manjusha Saraswathiamma, Sueline Subah, Samantha Koehn, Reech Mayen and Sacha Boland (not pictured) participated in the 2026 Red River Valley American Chemical Society Conference, held at Concordia College in Moorhead.

 

Six students from M State’s General Chemistry II class showcased their research at the Red River Valley American Chemical Society (ACS) Conference, held Feb. 13–14 at Concordia College in Moorhead.

The conference began with a dinner and faculty-led chemistry lecture on Friday evening, followed by a full day of student presentations, discussions and a closing awards ceremony on Saturday. The event brought together undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral researchers from colleges and universities across the region.

All six M State students who attended earned Judge’s Choice awards for their presentations, receiving one-year ACS memberships. The students were Sacha Boland, Samantha Koehn, Reech Mayen, Sal Poquee, Jack Runsvold and Sueline Subah; all are enrolled in the college’s biology and/or engineering programs.

Working in two groups of three alongside M State chemistry instructor Dr. Manjusha Saraswathiamma, the students presented research posters exploring social media’s influence on in-class chemistry learning and the use of artificial intelligence as a tool for undergraduate research. Their work stood out among approximately 40 poster presentations from students representing several institutions, including North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, Mayville State University and others.

“I am very proud of how confidently they presented their work,” says Saraswathiamma. “It was amazing to see how fully they took ownership of their research and how thoughtfully they discussed it with some of the region’s most research-focused professors.”

In addition to poster sessions, the conference featured more than a dozen student-led talks on a wide range of chemistry-related topics with real-world applications, such as predicting cancer activity in carcinoma cells and recovering critical minerals from wastewater.

Initiated in 2023, the annual Red River Valley ACS Conference provides emerging researchers with an opportunity to share their work, engage in academic discussion, connect with peers and build professional networks. M State students attended this year thanks to support from the college’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

Click here to view a video slideshow of M State conference attendees and their work.