Two students of the Shackouls Honors College, James Daniel Yeatman of Birmingham, Alabama, and Hayes Henry of Madison, Mississippi, have won first place at the 2025 ASME IMECE Undergraduate Expo (Poster Presentation category).

Their research project was about how different mechanical vibrations affected cell viability. They vibrated cells at different magnitudes and frequencies to record how many of the cells stayed alive, died via rupture, or programmed cell death.

James Yeatman, who was the main presenting author, says the recognition of their project comes welcoming news.

"This achievement means a lot to Hayes and me. We put in a lot of work with faculty at MSU and received a lot of feedback and support on the project. It was informative to receive feedback from faculty and get to develop research skills and be awarded for it," James Yeatman said. 

Dr. Raheleh Miralami of the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems and the Mechanical Engineering Department was the faculty mentor for the project. Also involved in the project was Dr. Flynn Mabowitz, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.

Both James and Henry are seniors studying Biomedical Engineering at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, Mississippi State University.

The Shakouls Honors College provided support through funding for the project and conference travel.