The 2026 Summer Predoctoral Programs (SPP) Research Symposium celebrated the culmination of an enriching summer of research, learning, and community-building for incoming graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. While the symposium marked the conclusion of their summer experience, it also represented the beginning of their journeys as Illinois graduate students.
The Summer Predoctoral Program Scholars are amazing students who have brought their talents and research inquiries to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their summer projects demonstrated their thoughtfulness, motivation, and interest in making our community a better place.
Lisa R. Abston, Assistant Provost, Graduate College
Summer Predoctoral Programs provide incoming doctoral students with an opportunity to become familiar with the academic, social, and cultural environment of graduate school before beginning their degree programs. Through orientation, research experiences, professional development, and opportunities to build community with peers and faculty, participants gain an early understanding of graduate school expectations and the resources available to support their success at Illinois.
The symposium also recognized students whose presentations demonstrated excellence in research, scholarly inquiry, and impact.
First place
OT Thompson
No Perfect Plan: Understanding Local Efforts to Desegregate Springfield, Illinois District 186
Second place
Isidora Kostic
Hardiness Under Pressure: Reexamining Compassion Fatigue Among Healthcare Worker
Third place
Nat Torres
Impact of Topological Defects on the Viscoelastic Response of Dynamic Covalent Networks
For more information about our programming and how to apply, visit our Summer Predoctoral Programs website.