Two CSUB students to compete in CSU Grad Slam

Statewide research competition to be held on May 5

By California State University, Bakersfield

May 3^rd, 2023

Two California State University, Bakersfield students will have the opportunity to show off their research and represent their university as part of the annual CSU Grad Slam on Friday, May 5.

Daniela Mazal and Isabella Ozuna will join graduate students from other participating universities who will compete for a chance to win cash prizes and bragging rights as part of the competition, which will be hosted by San Diego State University this year. CSUB hosted the CSU Grad Slam for the first time last year.

Students will have three minutes to explain their research to a general audience through a PowerPoint presentation. Students need to have earned first or second place in a university-level Grad Slam to participate in the statewide contest.

“The annual CSU Grad Slam is a wonderful event, and I am extremely proud that our campus will be represented by Daniela and Isabella, both of whom first successfully competed in our CSUB Grad Slam,” said Dr. Denver Fowler, associate dean of graduate and undergraduate studies and member of the CSU Grad Slam Committee. “I have no doubt they will be great representatives of CSUB at this year's event, and I wish them the best of luck.”

Mazal, a kinesiology major, will be presenting her research on the effects of exercise on cognitive function during pregnancy. She has surveyed pregnant and non-pregnant women about their lifestyle and exercise habits and assessed their functioning skills through a series of online brain games.

“Throughout my research I have listened to countless women’s stories and have sadly heard time and time again how our healthcare system is failing pregnant and postpartum women,” she said. “We have a lack of support, a lack of education and resources, and to me possibly the most infuriating — a complete lack of autonomy in choice around care.”

Mazal is very passionate about her research, in large part because she is a mother herself and is currently pregnant with her fifth child.

“I feel like I have experienced ‘mom brain’ for the better part of the past decade,” she said. “Anecdotally, regular exercise has helped my brain function both when I am pregnant and during postpartum, and I have always been fascinated with the science behind this.”

Mazal is excited to represent the university in the CSU Grad Slam, but she’s also nervous, as this is her first time participating in the competition. She has been working to memorize her presentation and ensure it is under the three-minute time limit, which has been challenging.

“I pride myself on breaking down scientific research and concepts and presenting them in a way that is accessible and understandable to anyone,” she said. “Continuously adapting my presentation to stay both accessible and true to the science has been a very important challenge for me to tackle. I hope to bring awareness to the need for change in the pre/postnatal system of care in this country and ways that women can feel empowered to take charge of their own care and experience.”

Ozuna — who is set to earn her master’s in biology this spring — isn’t a stranger to the CSU Grad Slam, having participated last year. She will once again highlight her research on the biofluorescence of the rough-skinned newt and the impact it has on the West Coast ecosystem.

“It’s very rewarding that I can participate again and show that my research has developed from last year,” she said. “I’m looking forward to showcasing more of the data and results I’ve gotten.”

Ozuna has been examining newts under certain light conditions to see how they glow and how biofluorescence is used as a defense mechanism and a method of communicating with other members of their species.

“I like explaining how everything is connected and if we remove one thing, an ecosystem could fail,” she said. “I’m showing we need to have some passion for even the little newts. Understanding them can help us better understand how to protect other organisms.”

Having already experienced the CSU Grad Slam, Ozuna said she’s feeling more prepared this time around.

“I understand how the competition works a bit more, so hopefully that will give me an edge when I’m competing,” she said.

Ozuna said she likes to participate in competitions like the CSU Grad Slam not only because they are fun and allow her to present her research but also because they give her an opportunity to show that there are Latinas in science, technology engineering and math fields.

“You don’t see a lot of Latinas in STEM, so anytime I get a chance to present my research and show that Latinas can flourish in STEM fields, I want to take those opportunities,” she said.