The University of Minnesota Chapter of Phi Tau Sigma hosted the sixth annual Speedy Science Competition virtually on March 25, 2026. This year's event marked a major milestone, as the competition welcomed food science students from accredited universities around the world for the first time, expanding beyond the United States. Speedy Science challenges students to present their research in just three minutes, strengthening their ability to communicate complex scientific ideas clearly and effectively while engaging with professionals from academia and industry. This year's competition received more than 21 abstract submissions from three countries. After a competitive review, finalists presented their research live via Zoom before an expert panel of judges.
Honorable Mentions:
Sicheng Chen, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Effect of Physical Pre-treatment Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction on Functional Characterization of Okara Protein.
Manoj Kumar Gnana Sekaran, University of Connecticut, Trans-Cinnamaldehyde Nanoemulsion Misting as a Water-Efficient Strategy for Rapid Inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis on Shell Eggs
The University of Minnesota Phi Tau Sigma Chapter congratulates all participants for their exceptional research and presentations. We also thank our distinguished panel of judges for their time, expertise, and insights at the 2026 Speedy Science Competition. This year’s panel included Leslie Herzog, Vice President of Operations & Research Services at The Understanding & Insight Group, LLC; Kathleen Feicht, President and Founder of Asta Food Research; Dr. Anto Charles from Middle Tennessee State University; and Dr. Kaavya Rathnakumar, Market Development Manager at Jungbunzlauer. We also acknowledge our 2026 sponsors – National Phi Tau Sigma served as our Gold Sponsor, while the Minnesota Section of the Institute of Food Technologists (MN IFT) was our Bronze Sponsor. Their support, along with the dedication of our volunteers and University of Minnesota Phi Tau Sigma Chapter members, was instrumental in making this year's competition a success.
We look forward to welcoming even more talented student researchers to Speedy Science 2027.