BioME Student Showcase 2026
This spring, BioME held the eighth annual Student Showcase, providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their presentation skills and share their passion for life science research.
The BioME Student Showcase is an exciting opportunity for aspirational scientists to showcase their passion for research and bioscience. Each year, Maine high school and college students present their original life science-focused research projects in competition for cash and academic prizes.
On April 9, 2026, BioME organized the annual BioME Student Showcase University of Southern Maine’s McGoldrick Center in Portland, ME. A panel of judges, industry experts, and mentors were present to evaluate the presentations of 12 high school and 9 graduate students selected for their original biotech research.
The Showcase kicked off with the poster competitions for high school students. Each student presented their poster, discussed their research, and fielded questions from the judges. Following a snack break, winners were announced and then it was time for the college graduate students to take the stage. Participants presented their research or bioscience business plan through a 5-minute pitch, followed by an in-depth Q&A session to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. After a break, attendees and contestants convened for the winners announcement and award presentations.
BioME Student Showcase Top Finalists
College Graduate Finalists
- 1st Place – Bidhi Diwedi, MDI Bio Lab, sox10-derived mesenchymal progenitors drive retinal ganglion cell regeneration in zebrafish
- 2nd Place – Cory Diemler, Jackson Laboratory, Engineering GPNMB-Responsive iPSC-Microglia as a Pan-Neurodegenerative Therapeutic Delivery Platform
- 3rd Place – Sophie Craig, University of Maine, Establishing a Preclinical Kidney Organoid Model for Polyomavirus Infection
High School Finalists
- 1st Place – CJ Pluecker, Medomak Valley High School, The Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Biochar on the Uptake of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Harvestable Crops
- 2nd Place – Ryan Werthman, Falmouth High School, Identifying Viable Radiation Dose Ranges To Balance Competing Objectives Of Tumor Response And Off-target Toxicity
- 3rd Place – Wenshin Lu, Cape Elizabeth High School, Microplastics in Maine Sea Salt
The BioME Student Showcase started as an initiative in 2019 to support innovation and commercialization of student ideas in Maine, as well as connect current students with potential future employers and entrepreneurial resources in the state. The event was sponsored by Maine Technology Institute, The Jackson Laboratory, and M&T Bank.
BioME Student Showcase Judges
Gary Goodrich – Past President of the Bioscience Association of Maine Board of Directors
Kristin Gordon – Quality, Regulatory & Compliance Consultant, BioME Board Member
Janet Yancey-Wrona, PhD – Technology Business Development Manager, University of Maine, BioME Board Member
Bethany Fortier – Scientist in Research & Development, IDEXX, BioME Board Member
Elaine Herzig – BioME Board Member
Bidhi Diwedi, PhD – Doctoral Researcher, MDI Biological Laboratory
Thank you event sponsors
