In the 6th annual BioME Student Showcase for life science research, three graduate students from the University of Maine placed as finalists. The event, held at the University of Southern Maine McGoldrick Center in Portland, supports innovation and the commercialization of student ideas in Maine.
Sarah Holbrook took first place with her research on Neuromuscular Disease, while Lola Holcomb placed second with her research on ‘Microbiome Medicine’ with Broccoli and Bacteria. Samantha Costa placed third with her research on PD-L1 expression in obese mice. All three students are from the University of Maine.
The graduate level competition, known as the “Fast Pitch,” was open to any graduate student enrolled in a Maine academic institution. Participants had to present their research in a concise 5-minute pitch with a focus on commercialization, followed by a Q&A session with the judges. Awards for first to third place ranged from $2,500 to $700.
The showcase allowed the students to network with professionals and connect with entrepreneurial resources. In total, 28 students participated across three different categories for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students by submitting an application for consideration.
