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