What is Grad Slam?
Grad Slam is an annual event that spotlights the amazing research being done by graduate students at UC Santa Barbara.
Graduate students present their research in 3-minute talks that are evaluated for accessibility, organization, delivery, and engagement.
Left to right: Interim Graduate Dean Leila Rupp, Kacie Ring, Royce Olarte, Nākoa Farrant, and Daniella Walter
MEET OUR 2025 WINNERS
Congratulations to all our 2025 participants! Kirstin Rollins, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, won first place while Yuting Ma, a PhD student in statistics and applied probability, took second place. Selected by the audience, Tiffany Ta, a PhD student in the Department of Music, won the People’s Choice vote.
Cheer for Yuting as she represents UCSB in the UC Grad Slam on April 29th. Don't forget to vote for her in the People's Choice online poll!
A milestone anniversary
In 2023, Grad Slam celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a revamp to showcase more disciplinary diversity, a renewed focus on professional development, and a simplified scoring system.
Grad Slam through the years
Curious to know how Grad Slam has grown and evolved? Want to learn more about our past participants? Be sure to check out the Past Competitions section.