Rutgers Hosts Postdoctoral Symposium and Engineering Team Wins National Challenge

Lead: Rutgers University convened its annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium and celebrated a first-place victory by its engineering students in the Horizons 2040 Challenge on September 19, 2025, in Piscataway, N.J. The events highlighted cutting-edge research and innovation across disciplines.

Nut Graf: The Postdoctoral Research Symposium drew faculty, students and industry partners to showcase interdisciplinary studies and foster collaboration, while Team InnerSolace-comprising computer, electrical and aerospace engineering undergraduates-secured the top prize in a NASA-affiliated competition, underscoring Rutgers’ commitment to research excellence.

Postdoctoral Research Symposium

  • The Rutgers Postdoctoral Association hosted its annual symposium from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at Proteomics Room 120, featuring oral presentations, poster sessions and a keynote by Dr. Laura Giacometti on hormonal regulation of behavior following brain injury.
  • Over 100 postdoctoral fellows presented findings in fields ranging from molecular biology to materials science.
  • The event facilitated networking with faculty judges and campus leaders, with awards for outstanding oral and poster contributions announced during the closing ceremony.

Engineering Students’ National Victory

  • Team InnerSolace-Azra Bano, Joseph Henriquez, Aayushi Mallik and Saarthak Shah-won first place in the Horizons 2040 Challenge, a national innovation contest co-hosted by XFoundry, NEXPLORE and NASA.
  • Their proposal outlined a proactive health system to predict and prevent circadian misalignment in remote or space environments, addressing critical shortfalls identified by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.
  • The students participated in intensive workshops and rapid-fire “Horizons Rumble” sessions judged by NASA scientists and industry experts, receiving live feedback to refine their final pitch.

Additional Highlights

  • The Rutgers Boardwalk fan experience previewed “Light Up The Knight,” a stadium-wide synchronized light show debuting at the upcoming football game against Iowa on September 19.
  • Preparations are underway for Alumni Reunion events honoring classes from 1950 to 1975, featuring campus tours and receptions across New Brunswick.

Rutgers continues to showcase its research prowess and community engagement, reinforcing its status as a leading public research institution.