Students present their research at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences meeting in Biloxi.
Despite concerns over research funding cuts at higher education institutions nationwide, the 2025 Eighty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS) proved in-state scientific research remains strong. The conference, held March 20–21 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, attracted more than 1,400 faculty, staff, students and industry professionals, marking a record-breaking turnout and reinforcing both the state’s commitment to scientific discovery and the importance of sustained investment in research.
Sponsored by the Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (Mississippi INBRE), a statewide biomedical research network funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MAS 2025 featured innovative research presentations, professional development workshops and networking opportunities across multiple disciplines. As participation grows, so too does the need for continued investment to support research that drives innovation, improves public health and strengthens Mississippi’s standing in the national research community.
The steady rise in participation highlights the increasing role of Mississippi’s scientific community in national and global research efforts. Last year’s conference saw a full recovery from previous attendance declines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year’s turnout further reinforced the need for sustained funding to ensure continued progress.
Dr. Kelly Lucas, Vice President for Research at The University of Southern Mississippi and Program Director of Mississippi INBRE, emphasized the importance of continued investment in research: “The research presented at MAS 2025 addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing our state and nation—from healthcare disparities to technological innovation. Continued investment ensures that Mississippi’s research community remains a driving force for meaningful, measurable impact.”
Dr. Keith Dillon presents at the Second Annual Mississippi INBRE Data Science Workshop.
A highlight of the conference was the Second Annual Mississippi INBRE Data Science Workshop, hosted by the Mississippi INBRE Data Science Core. Experts from universities across the state presented advancements in data science and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in biomedical research and health care. As AI and data science continue to transform multiple fields, Mississippi INBRE aims to position the state as a leader in these areas. However, without adequate support, Mississippi risks falling behind in critical areas of scientific discovery.
Presenters at the Data Science Workshop included Dr. Somayeh Bakhtiari Ramezani of Mississippi State University, who discussed AI’s role in quantum computing and sustainability; Dr. Bo Wang of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), who explored AI model robustness in human-centric vision tasks; and Dr. Keith Dillon of the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), who introduced large language models for health care applications.
Mississippi INBRE also sponsored the 2025 Mississippi INBRE Graduate Scholars Symposium at MAS 2025, chaired by Dr. Lucas. The symposium promotes and recognizes meritorious research conducted by Mississippi graduate students. Ensuring continued funding for events like these is critical to providing students with expert feedback from unbiased, external sources. Research symposia also foster collaboration between students and senior faculty across Mississippi and increase student visibility in the research community, opening career opportunities that might not otherwise be possible.
Tougaloo College student Almia Valentine was awarded first place in the Millsaps Undergraduate Scholars Symposium for her research in neonatal pediatrics, conducted during a Mississippi INBRE Scholars Program (MISP) internship last summer. Valentine was mentored by Dr. Lir-Wan Fan, Professor of Neonatology at UMMC.
Valentine practices pipetting during training for her Mississippi INBRE Scholars Program internship.
MISP provides mentored summer research internships to Mississippi undergraduates. The program connects students from predominately undergraduate-focused institutions with research opportunities at major research institutions across the state. Without sustained programmatic funding from the NIH and other federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), future students may lose access to MISP and similar programs across the state.
Further highlights included an oral presentation by Mississippi INBRE-funded researcher Dr. Scoty Hearst of Mississippi College, as well as multiple oral and poster presentations by students working under the mentorship of Mississippi INBRE-funded faculty members Dr. Wolfgang Kramer of Millsaps College and Dr. Karina Kapusta of Tougaloo College.
Former Mississippi INBRE Scholars Madisyn Avery, Chloe Batiste, Madeline Harris and McKenzee Henson also contributed to research that was presented in both oral and poster formats during the conference.
About MAS
MAS serves as Mississippi’s premier statewide scientific conference, offering a platform for faculty and student researchers to share discoveries, collaborate and gain recognition for outstanding academic achievements. The event features symposia, workshops, paper presentations and exhibits across multiple scientific disciplines.