Three Cal State LA students received top awards at the 40th Annual California State University (CSU) Student Research Competition, held at San José State University from April 23 to 25, 2026.
Cal State LA undergraduates Yahan Lin, Nathan Venegas, and Arthur Espinosa were recognized for their outstanding research and academic excellence, distinguishing themselves among competitors from across the California State University system’s 22 campuses.
“I’m incredibly proud of our students and the dedicated faculty mentors whose hard work and support make these achievements possible,” said Hengchun Ye, associate vice president for research at Cal State LA. “These accomplishments reflect Cal State LA’s commitment to fostering student research, innovation, and academic excellence.”
Lin, who resides in Los Angeles, earned first place in the Biological and Agricultural Sciences category in the undergraduate division. A biochemistry and biology major with a microbiology option, Lin presented her research titled “Coordination of Circadian Rhythms and Cell Division by TlyA and FtsZ Interactions in Cyanobacteria.” Lin’s faculty mentor is Professor Susan Cohen.
Venegas received the AI-Enabled Research Award in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences category. This inaugural award recognizes student researchers who use artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in their work. A biochemistry major, Venegas presented his research titled “Analysis of Microplastics and Their Organic Contaminants in Southern California Beaches Using HT-TD/Py-GCxGC-TOFMS.” Venegas was mentored by Professor Petr Vozka.
Espinosa, a City Terrace resident, earned second place in the Engineering and Computer Science category in the undergraduate division. A mechanical engineering major, Espinosa presented his research titled “A Two-Stage Workflow for Cooling Plate Geometry Optimization in EV Battery Packs.” His faculty mentor is Professor J. Chris Bachman.
“Research is one of the best ways to dive into the world of science,” said Lin. “The experience I gained from joining research labs and through presenting at conferences and research competitions has opened up so many doors for me.”
Other delegates representing Cal State LA at the CSU Student Research Competition included Gabriel Bejar, a psychology major; Mia Hagooli Bolanos, a psychology major; Kenneth Stebbing Cabrera, a graduate student in physics; Hector Gardea and Alonso Torres, both electrical engineering majors; Matthew Minor, a graduate student in kinesiology; Natalie Sanchez, a liberal studies major; and Emily Zempel, a biochemistry major with a minor in bioinformatics.
The delegates were among the top 10 student presenters selected during the 2026 Student Symposium on Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities, which was held on the Cal State LA campus on Friday, March 6. Gardea and Torres won first place, Lin won second place, and Bejar won third place at the symposium.
The CSU Student Research Competition is a prestigious annual event that highlights exceptional undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship, and creative activity across all disciplines.
For more information or to view a list of other winners, please visit the CSU competition website.
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 22,000 students and has more than 260,000 distinguished alumni.
