Abstracts due Feb. 6, 2026 // Presentations due March 6, 2026
The IJMC/FEF Student Research Competition empowers top undergraduate college students to showcase their metalcasting research projects at Metalcasting Congress 2026. Winners earn scholarships and are published in the International Journal of Metalcasting. All submissions are judged by a leading panel comprised of the AFS Research Board and officers of the AFS Technical Council. Up to $4,000 in total scholarships will be awarded.
Presentation details & Guidelines
- Entries consist of narrated PowerPoint presentations reflecting a student’s or group’s research. Presentations must include: Abstract, Introduction, Objectives, Testing Methodology, Results, Conclusions, and References.
- Narration should be recorded in PowerPoint and explain the project and its conclusions as presented in the slides, similar to a live research presentation.
- Students must use the PowerPoint template provided at www.afsinc.org/ijmc-fef-student-research-competition.
- Select entrants will be invited to showcase their projects live on the show floor at Metalcasting Congress 2026 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Grand Rapids, MI. Students will field questions from judges.
- Submit your presentation title, abstract, and names of participating students no later than Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Final presentations are due no later than Friday, March 6, 2026. Submit abstracts and presentation PowerPoints to bwallace@afsinc.org. Please include participant names, project title, and college/university in your email message.
Qualifications
- Open to North American citizens who are undergraduate students currently enrolled in metalcasting-related programs.
- Applicants must be registered with FEF, have a current student membership with AFS, and be enrolled in the current academic year.
- Entries must represent current or recent undergraduate-level work performed by the student(s) in metalcasting technology or molten metal processing.
- Group projects are permitted. Each student may enter only one submission. Groups will split scholarship money.
- All presenting students must register and attend Metalcasting Congress 2026 (April 14-16, 2025) in Grand Rapids, MI. Metalcasting Congress registration is complimentary for student members. Students must be available for presentations and a live Q&A with judges at Metalcasting Congress on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
If you have questions, please email Bo Wallace, AFS Senior Technical Associate, at bwallace@afsinc.org.
Judging Criteria | Points |
| Technical Content: Completeness of work, interpretation of work, and results, analysis, discussion, references/bibliography. Sufficiency of data to validate conclusions. | 40 |
| Relevance: Industry Involvement with the research and applicability to the metalcasting industry. | 30 |
| Innovation: Originality of ideas, concepts or approach. | 20 |
| Presentation: Overall style is effective. Information is concise and logically organized. | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
2026 WINNERS
1st place - Tie
- Adrianne Chang, University of California-Irvine, “Grain Refinement in Pure Aluminum: Role of Oxide Content and Ultrasonic Treatment"
- Emily Leonard, Virginia Tech, "AMDI: Ductile Iron with a Novel Austenite Plus Martensite Microstructure"
2nd place - Tie
- Gaylan "Bri" Beasley, Georgia Southern University, "Ductile Iron Melt Additive for Increased Melt Quality and Improved Fluidity"
- Flavio Toma, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, “Surface Alloyed and Surface Composited Brass Castings with Improved Corrosion Resistance"