MSU announces 2026 Image of Research winners
Mississippi State University and The Graduate School are congratulating the outstanding graduate participants in the 2026 Image of Research competition.
This annual event invites students to creatively showcase their research, offer behind‑the‑scenes perspectives on their scholarly process, and translate their academic work into compelling visual narratives.
This year, 40 MSU graduate students submitted entries, and the top 15 finalists were featured in the Union Art Gallery during March. A gallery reception March 17 gave judges the opportunity to meet finalists, view their work and engage in conversations about their research.
Each year, three winners are selected—two by a panel of judges and one by popular vote for the People’s Choice Award. First place receives $300; second place receives $200; and the People’s Choice winner receives $100.
The 2026 winners are:
- 1st Place: Larry Leon, Ph.D. student in animal and dairy sciences, “Forage Selection Unveiled: ‘Spoon’ Choose Quality First.”
- 2nd Place: Jonah Nguyen, Ph.D. student in comparative biomedical sciences, “Neon Warning Signs.”
- People’s Choice: Olugbenga Agunbiade, Ph.D. student in plant and soil sciences, “Influence of Light Quality on Winter Greenhouse Lettuce Production.”
These finalists and winners exemplify the creativity, innovation and scholarly excellence of Mississippi State University’s graduate community.
Learn more about The Graduate School at MSU at www.grad.msstate.edu.