Honors Biomedical Engineering Student Earns Top Poster Award at International Research Summit

Competing alongside leading researchers from around the world, honors biomedical engineering student Connor Robinson earned third place for Best Overall Poster at the 2026 International Microphysiological Systems Society World Summit in Washington, D.C., in May.  

"It's really cool to be recognized as an undergraduate at a conference like that," Robinson said. "There were more than 500 posters, so to get third place was exciting." 

The summit brings together researchers from academia, industry and government agencies to share advances in microphysiological systems, laboratory platforms that use human cells and engineered tissues to replicate key functions of the human body. These systems help scientists study disease, evaluate potential treatments and better understand human biology. 

Robinson began working in Kartik Balachandran's Mechanobiology & Soft Materials Laboratory as a sophomore, where he contributes to research focused on heart valve disease. Working with devices that allow scientists to grow and stretch human heart cells, Robinson studies how those cells respond to mechanical stress. The work addresses a significant public health challenge: heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. 

"Connor is a highly motivated and gifted student, engineer and researcher," Balachandran said. "His research will enable the development of novel treatments for cardiovascular disease and provide significant benefit to society. I am so happy he got the recognition that he deserved at this Research Summit."  

During a two-hour poster session, Robinson presented his research to conference attendees and answered questions about his work. While speaking to so many researchers was "a little nerve-wracking," he said it was also "fun and rewarding" to explain the project to other scientists. 

Robinson recently graduated with honors and will begin a doctoral program at the U of A in engineering this fall. He said the supportive environment he found in the Mechanobiology & Soft Materials Laboratory helped shape that decision. 

"Dr. Balachandran is a really great mentor," Robinson said. "I think the connections I built there were a big motivator for me to stay." 

Those experiences ultimately reflected what Robinson hoped to gain when he joined the Honors College as an undergraduate. Drawn to the program's academic rigor and research opportunities, he found a community that supported his growth both inside and outside the lab.  

"It's challenging, and I learned a lot from the whole honors experience and the assistance I got for pursuing my research project," Robinson said. 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university's top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students' academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state's largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls more than 4,700 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers along with nearly 200 staff members. Its research enterprise generated $47 million in new research awards in Fiscal Year 2025. The college's strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.