TXST Graduate College to host 17th annual Graduate Student Research Conference this Thursday

The Graduate College at Texas State University is hosting the 17th Annual Graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC) at the San Marcos Campus on Thursday, April 9, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the LBJ Student Center Grand Ballroom. More than 100 graduate students from various disciplines at TXST and other institutions in Texas will be presenting their research or projects in the form of poster sessions.

The conference is free and open for all TXST faculty, staff, and students, including undergraduate students. Attendees are encouraged to engage with presenters, network, and enjoy snacks while learning about innovative graduate student research. The conference creates opportunities for graduate students to present their work, engage with peers, and exchange new ideas.

Jacob Hyden, a physics graduate student, will be one of many to showcase his research at this year's conference. His presentation, titled “JWST-MIRI and Ground-Based Monitoring of DQ Tau: Observing Molecular Gas Flooding an Inner Cavity of a Circumbinary Disk,” explores how molecular gas changes over time within the disk surrounding the binary star system DQ Tau, offering insight into the processes that shape star and planet formation.

He emphasized the importance of conferences like the Graduate Student Research Conference in developing early-career scientists, particularly in their ability to communicate complex ideas.

“Being able to effectively communicate the science you do is just as important as, if not more important than, doing the science,” Hyden said.

Srima Burman, a master’s student in sustainability studies, is researching groundwater governance through her thesis, “Jacob’s Well in Crisis: Groundwater Governance and Its Limit.” Her work focuses on Jacob’s Well in the Wimberley Valley, a key water source sustained by the Middle Trinity Aquifer. The spring has been increasingly impacted by overpumping amid rapid urbanization and rising demand for water.

“Texas is entering an era of increasing water scarcity, putting critical groundwater sources at risk,” Burman said.

Her research examines how local groundwater governance, scientific research, and stakeholder engagement aim to protect the spring, which plays an important role in supporting the Blanco River and the region’s long-term water security.

The GSRC is sponsored by the IDEA Center, Division of Research, College of Applied Arts, McCoy College of Business, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Communication, the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science and Engineering, and College of Fine Arts & Communication.

Visit the Graduate Student Research Conference website for further details about the GSRC.

If you require accommodations due to a disability in order to participate, call 512-245-3451 or email the Office of Disability Services at least 72 hours in advance of the event.