Rothfarb received the competition\u2019s top honor and a $1,000 prize, with Akoma and Vieira Rocha earning second and third place awards of $500 and $250 respectively.<\/p>\n First-place winner Rothfarb presented research exploring how large language model (LLM) agents can autonomously discover new energy materials by combining artificial intelligence with first-principles simulations. His framework enables AI agents to reason about electronic structures and run simulations that identify promising materials for energy technologies. By automating key steps in the materials discovery process, Rothfarb\u2019s work could help accelerate the development of next-generation catalysts and materials for sustainable energy systems.<\/p>\n Second-place winner Akoma focused on the nanomechanics of the dentin\u2013enamel interface in human teeth, seeking to better understand how these two materials interact to create strong, durable teeth. Using nano-tomographic atomic force microscopy, she maps the three-dimensional structure and mechanical properties of the interface at the nanoscale. Her findings could inform improved dental treatments and inspire the development of stronger biomimetic materials for restorative dentistry.<\/p>\n Third-place winner Vieira Rocha investigated how matrix composition and surface treatments influence concrete deterioration caused by iron sulfide reactions. Through electrochemical testing and materials analysis, her work evaluates methods to mitigate cracking and structural damage in concrete. The research aims to improve the durability of foundations and infrastructure systems susceptible to sulfide-induced deterioration.<\/p>\n The competition also recognized standout posters across departments during the first round. Departmental winners included:<\/p>\n Each departmental winner received a prize and advanced to the final round of judging.<\/p>\n The poster competition highlights the breadth and depth of research taking place across UConn Engineering. Students presented projects spanning fields such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, infrastructure systems, and environmental sustainability \u2013 demonstrating the diverse ways UConn graduate researchers are addressing real-world challenges.<\/p>\n Beyond recognizing outstanding research, the competition also serves as a platform for professional development. Students gain valuable experience communicating their work to diverse audiences while receiving feedback from faculty, alumni, and industry professionals.<\/p>\n As the competition continues to grow each year, it remains a cornerstone event for the College of Engineering graduate community, celebrating the innovation, curiosity, and dedication of UConn\u2019s next generation of engineers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Graduate students from across the UConn College of Engineering showcased cutting-edge research and communication skills during the 12th-annual UConn Engineering graduate programs poster competition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":224,"featured_media":242349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1866],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2646],"class_list":["post-242348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-engr"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-12 11:22:40","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/224"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242348"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":242359,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242348\/revisions\/242359"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/242349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242348"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=242348"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=242348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Samuel](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/55129340032_9ae7065c7d_k-1024x683.jpg\")
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