Students Shine at VBRN Career Day

Norwich University proudly represented its commitment to undergraduate research by bringing 14 students to the annual VBRN Career Day, held on April 1, 2026, a symposium supported by the Vermont Biomedical Research Network (VBRN) that is dedicated to research and professional networking. The event served as a platform for students to showcase their scientific contributions during poster sessions while engaging with experts across a wide range of STEM and medical disciplines.

A highlight of the event was the poster sessions, where students from institutions around the state of Vermont presented original research, fielded questions, and gained valuable experience communicating their work. 
The strength of Norwich’s academic programs was on full display at the poster sessions, as Norwich students presented 10 research posters spanning chemistry, biochemistry, biology, and health and human performance. These projects highlighted both the rigor of Norwich’s programs and the real-world impact of undergraduate research. The following Norwich projects were presented:

1. “How do changes in mental health affect dietary behaviors in first year students at a Senior Military College?” Ashley Parker, Amrutaa Vibho, Dabira Ojeyomi, Mikayla Holmberg, Kylie Blodgett, Ph.D.
2. “Chemical composition of atmospheric materials. Air quality on human health” Kingsford Frimpong, Jeffrey Kirkland, Ph.D.
3. “Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Organized Sports on Mental Health in Rural College Students” Sharon Asolmia Aganah, Andrea Corcoran Ph.D. [VTSU-Castleton], Emily Tarleton Ph.D [VTSU-Johnson], Kylie Blodgett, Ph.D.
4. “Comparing Bacterial Communities in Echinostome Infected and Non-Infected Snails” Autumn Lewis, Alexander Huang, Nyx Ritchey, Allison Neal, Ph.D.
5. “Establishing a Natural Vertebrate Model for the Molecular Study of Social Behavior” Sierra Gianini, Simon Pearish, Ph.D.
6. “Investigating Leaf Dissection In Overwintering Buds: An Image Analysis” Lauren Steverson, Kohar Teague, Morgan Moeglein, Ph.D.
7. “Synthesis of the L-K6 Peptide For Dental Use” Abbey Houghton, Emma Barrett, Ph.D., Ethan Guth, Ph.D.
8. “Towards An Accessible Method for Detection of Uranium in Drinking Water Using MOF-Based Peroxidase Mimics” Corbin Flint Calloway, Sarah Gallant, Ph.D.
9. “Removal of Uranium (VI) from Drinking Water via a Peptide-Sepharose Filter” Carver Moyer, Sarah Gallant, Ph.D., Emma Barrett, Ph.D.
10. “Radical Scavenging Abilities of Naturally Derived Peptides” Belle Baca, Emma Barrett, Ph.D.

Students also had the opportunity to engage in round table discussions with STEM and medical professionals where they made career connections and learned about the scope of scientific career paths. At the same time, Norwich faculty collaborated with researchers from across the network — strengthening the academic ties that drive the university’s robust research culture.

Highlighting the day’s successes, senior biochemistry major Carver Moyer, mentored by Assistant Professors Sarah Gallant and Emma Barrett, earned the First Place Award for a superior poster presentation. Moyer’s award-winning work focused on the innovative development of a peptide-based filter designed to remove uranium from drinking water, underscoring the practical, real-world impact of student-led research at Norwich.

In all, students and faculty from Norwich University showcased impactful undergraduate research, built professional connections, and earned top honors at the 2026 VBRN Career Day event.