Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research
The Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research is a two-day event highlighting the research being conducted by junior faculty, senior faculty, postdoctoral trainees, and graduate students at the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont
Larner College of Medicine.
The 2020 Dean's Celebration of Research in Excellence was held on Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, 2020.
This year's virtual celebration included a series of events:
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
- The Graduate Student Research Showcase provided a venue for developing scientists to share their amazing work and research stories with the Larner College of Medicine community and an opportunity to earn prizes. Each presenter
spoke for 12 minutes or less about their research, followed by 3 minutes of Q&A. Presentations were considered for two prizes in each of three categories - junior graduate student and senior graduate student. Showcase winners for 2020 are listed below in the awards section.
View the Presentation Schedule>>
- The Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Alumni Award Ceremony and Lecture featured Marilyn Cipolla, Ph.D.‘97 Professor, Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Vermont
with joint appointments in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science and Pharmacology at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.
Watch a recording of Dr. Cipolla's live lecture, “Lessons I’ve Learned: How Mentoring and
My Dogs Helped Shape My Career” >>
Thursday, November 5, 2020
- The Dean's Excellence in Research Awards included a presentation by Senior Associate Dean for Research Gordon Jensen, M.D., Ph.D., on the State of Research at the UVM Larner College of Medicine, and an
awards ceremony. The awards ceremony included a presentation of awards for Outstanding Research Publication by a Graduate Student, Outstanding Research Publication by a Medical Student, Outstanding Research Publication by a Postdoctoral
Fellow, Outstanding Research Publication by a Resident, Senior Researcher of the Year at the UVM Health Network Medical Group (UVMHNMG), Junior Researcher of the Year at the UVMHNMG, and faculty awards for Research Mentorship, Rising Star
New Investigator, Mid-Career Investigator, and Research Laureate. The 2020 awards ceremony will also feature one new faculty award, the Faculty Clinical Trials Research Award and two new awards that recognize research staff including
the Dean’s Clinical Research Coordinator Award and the Dean’s Scientific Research Staff Award.
- The keynote presentation featured the 2019 Larner Research Laureate, National Academy of Sciences Member, University Distinguished Professor and Chair of Pharmacology, Mark Nelson, Ph.D.
Watch a recording of The Dean's Excellence in Research Awards and The Keynote Presentation
View the State of Research at the College Presentation>>
View the Program>>
2020 Dean's Excellence in Research Award Winners
The Graduate Student Trainee Showcase
Junior Graduate Category
Winner: Melissa Boucher for “The role of PACAPergic PBN projections to the BNST in stress and anxiety." Boucher's mentors are UVM Professor of Psychological Sciences Jom Hommack, Ph.D. and UVM Professor of Neurological Sciences Victor May, Ph.D.
Runner Up: Jeffrey Brabec for “System-level analysis of Alzheimer’s disease prioritizes candidate genes for neurodegeneration.” Brabec's mentor is UVM Assistant Professor of Neurological Sciences Matthew Mahoney, Ph.D.
Senior Graduate Category
Winner: Alex Thompson for “Pathogenic Mutations in the Chromokinesin KIF22 Disrupt Anaphase Chromosome Segregation.” Thompson's mentor is UVM Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Jason Stumpff, Ph.D.
Runner Up: Leslie Sepaniac for “Micronuclei in Kif18a knockout mice form stable micronuclear envelopes and do not drive tumorigenesis.” Sepaniac's mentor is UVM Associate Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Jason Stumpff, Ph.D.
Trainee Awards for Outstanding Research Publication
Graduate Student
Katharine Beca (Tooke) for "Functional effects of blocking VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling in the rat urinary bladder in acute and chronic CYP-induced cystitis." Beca's mentor is UVM Professor of Neurological Sciences Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D.
Medical Student
Christina Evans, M.D.'18 for "Lifestyle moderates genetic risk of venous thromboembolism: the Atherosclerotic Risk in Communities study." Evans' mentor is UVM Professor of Medicine Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Vitor Mori, Ph.D. for "Cisplatin Pharmacodynamics Following Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Injection into Lung Tumors." Mori's mentor is UVM Professor of Medicine Jason Bates, Ph.D.
Resident
Stas Amato, M.D. for "Geographic Coverage and Verification of Trauma Centers in a Rural State: Highlighting the Utility of Location-Allocation for Trauma System Planning." Amato's mentor is UVM Professor of Surgery Gary An, M.D.
UVM Health Network Medical Group Awards
Junior Researcher of the Year
Jessica Crothers, M.D.
Katharine Cheung, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Researcher of the Year
Elizabeth Bonney, M.D., M.P.H.
Research Grants
Scott Raymond, M.D.
Jessica Cintolo-Gonzalez, M.D.
Innovation Grants
Devika Singh, M.D., M.P.H.
Larner College of Medicine Staff Awards
Research Laboratory Staff
Cheryl Collins, Research Analyst, Budd Lab
Terri Messier, Research Analyst and Lab Manager, Cunniff Lab
Clinical Research Coordinator
Sara Ardren, Clinical Research Coordinator
Larner College of Medicine Faculty Awards
Research Mentorship
Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine
Dean’s Clinical Trials Research Award
Harold Dauerman, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine
Rising Star New Investigator
Jessica Heath, M.D., Assistant Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry
Mid-Career Investigator
Jason Botten, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept. of Medicine, Division of Immunology
Research Laureate
Anne Dixon, M.D., Professor of Medicine