Texas A&M Doctoral Students Attend 2026 Global Young Scientists Summit in Singapore

Eleven distinguished Texas A&M doctoral students attended the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2026, January 5-9, 2026, in Singapore. The renowned gathering brings together the world’s brightest young researchers and internationally acclaimed scientific leaders, including Nobel Laureates, Fields Medalists, Millennium Technology Prize winners, and Turing Award recipients. 

Meet this Year’s Texas A&M Delegation:  

Rosemarie Acero (Chemistry) 
Sebin Abraham (Chemistry) 
Keerthi Bandaru (Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Science) 
Austen Ehrie (Biology) 
Sarah Fisher (Chemistry) 
Leah Kocian (Biological & Agricultural Engineering) 
Haoxuan Mu (Mechanical Engineering) 
Arafat Oany (Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology) 
Simon Popovic (Chemistry) 
Noah Sladek (Chemistry) 
Reuben Stewart (Aerospace Engineering).  

A Unique Format 

Over the course of five days, the Texas A&M delegation joined more than 350 young scientists from nearly 50 countries for a dynamic program of keynote lectures, panel discussions, small-group sessions, poster presentations and cross-disciplinary exchanges. 

GYSS is known worldwide for its rigorous selection process and its commitment to fostering scientific progress through dialogue and interdisciplinary engagement. The summit is structured to encourage conversation across disciplines and stages of career development. Topics explored at the summit include artificial intelligence, quantum technology, climate and sustainability, biomedical science, advanced materials and next-generation engineering. 

This immersive format creates a setting where emerging scholars are not only listeners, but active contributors to global scientific conversations. 

Meeting Academic Heroes 

At the heart of GYSS is an extraordinary opportunity: direct engagement with the scientific figures whose discoveries have reshaped modern knowledge. For doctoral scholars, years of specialized training often mean studying the work of Nobel Laureates and global research pioneers from afar. GYSS transforms that distance into dialogue. 

Chemistry Ph.D. student Simon Popovic explained,  “the plenary lectures by David Baker, Randy Schekman, Takaaki Kajita and Donna Strickland gave me new insights on more widely applicable modes of thought to properly process complex research questions. The cherry on top was being able to talk to the presenters. The mixture of hard science and cross-cultural exchange was highly stimulating,” Popovic said.  

Connecting with Peers 

Equally powerful was the opportunity to engage with a global cohort of peer emerging scholars, blending cultures, methodologies and research traditions. 

Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student Haoxuan Mu explained, “Meeting and discussing science with talented scholars from all different research disciplines and personal backgrounds helped me build genuine friendships and a strong, cross-disciplinary network. It was inspiring to exchange ideas about how to address the world’s most pressing challenges,” Mu said. 

Biology doctoral student Austen Ehrie agreed: “I left GYSS feeling part of a new and inspiring community.” 

Looking Forward  

For the students and for Texas A&M, GYSS is a transformational opportunity – one that shapes the next generation of global research leaders and increases the research enterprise at the university.  

As Mu explained, “the key takeaway for me is that the best innovation often happens from a blending of eclectic perspectives. Bringing this idea back to Texas A&M should translate into stronger collaboration opportunities, better visibility for our research, and a more global mindset in how we frame and communicate our work.” 

For more details, please visit the Global Young Scientists Summit  website.