UW-La Crosse’s Cullen Schull was recognized for excellence in research communication during the WiSys Quick Pitch on March 3.

The student “pitch” competition inspires UW System students to consider the impact of their research and effectively communicate it to the public via three-minute presentations. 

Schull, a student focusing on biochemistry, biology and biomedical sciences, took first place and a $300 prize for the presentation “A New Approach to Asymmetric Curcuminoids: Solvent-free Synthesis and Computational Modeling.”

Schull is eligible to advance to the virtual WiSys Quick Pitch State Final on May 26 to compete against student researchers from across the UW System.

“Congratulations to Cullen Schull for an excellent presentation,” said WiSys President Arjun Sanga. “His ‘pitch’ struck at the core tenet of the competition by taking a complex biochemistry topic and making it relatable and understandable by a general audience.”

This year’s campus-level WiSys Quick Pitches are taking place virtually due to continued concerns about the pandemic. The UW-La Crosse competitors presented during the same showcase as students at three other UW System schools—UW Oshkosh, UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater. Winners were selected from each campus.

For more information about the WiSys Quick Pitch Program or to watch the student presentations, visit wisys.org/quickpitch.

WiSys is a nonprofit organization that works with faculty, staff, students and alumni of the UW System to facilitate cutting-edge research programs, develop and commercialize discoveries and foster a spirit of innovative and entrepreneurial thinking across the state.