UC Berkeley’s Carla Bassil earns 2nd place at UC systemwide Grad Slam competition

Machine Learning Assisted Gas Sensor Chip for Food Safety Application

The doctoral researcher’s machine learning-assisted gas sensor chip impressed judges in Sacramento, bringing recognition to Berkeley’s graduate research community.

Berkeley grad student Carla Bassil is standing in the middle of Lisa Garcia Bedolla and Yvette Gullatt holding a large check together on stage in front of a dark blue curtain. The check, from the University of California Office of the President, awards $5,000 to Carla, the second place winner of the competition.

Bassil is Berkeley’s 2026 campus Grad Slam Champion

UC Berkeley doctoral researcher Carla Bassil claimed second place at the 2026 UC systemwide Grad Slam competition, held April 22 at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento. Bassil is Berkeley’s 2026 campus Grad Slam Champion, having won the campus-level competition before advancing to the systemwide finals. Representing Berkeley among finalists from all ten UC campuses, Bassil delivered a three-minute presentation on her work developing a gas sensor chip designed to improve food safety detection.

Bassil’s research earned high marks from a panel of judges

The annual competition challenges graduate students to distill years of complex research into a compelling, accessible talk for a general audience. Contestants are judged on audience engagement, clarity of communication, and the effectiveness of their presentation. Bassil’s research, which sits at the intersection of materials science, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence, earned high marks from a panel of judges representing industry, government, media, and higher education.

Gas sensors are used to detect spoilage, contamination, and unsafe compounds in food products, but traditional approaches often struggle with accuracy and specificity. Bassil’s chip integrates machine learning algorithms to enhance the sensor’s ability to identify and distinguish between different gases, potentially enabling faster and more reliable food safety screening at scale.

Bassil’s second-place finish reflects the strength of Berkeley’s graduate research community and the university’s long-standing commitment to research that addresses real-world challenges. The Grad Slam competition has grown into one of the UC system’s signature events for showcasing the breadth and impact of graduate scholarship.

This article was written by Jonathan Landeros-Cisneros, Professional Development Liaison and a Ph.D. candidate in the Berkeley School of Education.