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Berger Appointed Dean of Graduate College
Berger Appointed Dean of Graduate College
Christopher Berger, Ph.D., professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, has been appointed dean of the Graduate College and Postdoctoral Studies, effective July 1. A highly collaborative leader with extensive experience in graduate education administration, Dr. Berger previously served as associate dean for academic affairs and innovation in the Graduate College with leadership responsibility for graduate academic affairs, interdisciplinary programs, and initiatives that promote student success and institutional advancement.Read more about Dr. Berger’s new role
Šemić Receives National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Fellowship
Amila Šemić, a Ph.D. student in the Larner College of Medicine Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, was recently awarded a National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Fellowship for her research, “Investigating the Contributions of Chondrocyte Spindle Biophysics and Tissue Microenvironment to Skeletal Dysplasia.” The purpose of the fellowship, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is to enable predoctoral students to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research so they can develop into productive, independent research scientists.
Additionally, Šemić was awarded the inaugural Cancer Center Trainee Engagement Award, recognizing her for going above and beyond to support Cancer Center events, programming, and volunteer efforts.
Grasso Awarded a NASA Vermont Space Grant
Neuroscience graduate student Laura Grasso was recently awarded a NASA Vermont Space Grant Consortium Fellowship for the 2026–27 academic year. Her project will research “The Molecular Mechanisms of Peroxisome Motility and Response to Reactive Oxygen Species,” which will aid NASA in their studies of how cells react to long-term space travel in zero gravity.
Grasso earned her B.S. in biology with honors from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and went on to attend the NIH’s Intramural Research Program as a post baccalaureate student to study the effects of stroke on endoplasmic reticulum stress, or how stroke overwhelms cells, and the pathway to their malfunctions. Now a neuroscience Ph.D. student working with John Salogiannis, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics at the Larner College of Medicine, her current research explores the mechanisms of peroxisomes motility, or the movement of organelles that break down fatty acids and how their movement influences the cell’s redox balance.
Describing her current project, Grasso says, “I am seeking to understand the mechanisms of peroxisome motility, and how this motility influences redox homeostasis within mammalian cells. I first will investigate ACBD5, the protein that dictates peroxisome movement. Then, I will elucidate the motor complex that ACBD5 recruits to facilitate peroxisome movement. Lastly, I will explore the interplay between peroxisome movement and cellular redox homeostasis” (that is, how the movement of peroxisomes affects the cell’s balance of harmful and helpful molecules). Such basic mechanisms are critical to NASA’s priority of dealing with the impact of zero gravity on the basic biology of the cell during long-term space flight.
Grasso hopes to attend the Society of Redox Biology and Medicine’s conference in Burlington in September to present her findings.
Bruce Wins Investigators in Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award from Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Emily Bruce, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, received a competitive award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to investigate how influenza viruses of animal origin are transported in animals and how the animals serve as mixing vessels for human strains. This knowledge will improve the ability to prepare for and defend against future pandemics.
The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease award supports accomplished early-career researchers studying the complex biological mechanisms underlying infectious diseases. The award provides $505,000 to support investigators pursuing innovative ideas and establishing independent research programs at the forefront of biomedical science.
Read more about the award and Emily Bruce’s research
Larner’s 2026 Blood Drive
On June 26, the fourth annual Larner College of Medicine blood drive drew in donations from 42 donors throughout the day. As many in the community are aware, this cause is important to Larner Dean Richard L. Page, M.D., whose personal experience through his granddaughter’s story inspired him to personally donate and to advocate for others to give blood if they are able. The American Red Cross Northern New England Vermont Chapter volunteers and collections technicians supported this year’s Larner community drive.
Hannaford Earns American Cancer Society Internal Research Grant
Matthew Hannaford, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, was recently awarded the American Cancer Society-Internal Research Grant, a $40,000 pilot award administered by the UVM Cancer Center that will support the continuation of Hannaford’s groundbreaking work on “Defining Mechanistic Links Between Centrosome Fragility, Centrosome Amplification, and Chromosome Instability.”
This grant is part of an effort to fund experiments to gather preliminary data in support of a larger cancer-focused proposal.
Pulcini Recognized as Outstanding Early Career Researcher by AcademyHealth Child Health Services Research Interest Group
Christian D. Pulcini, M.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., has been recognized by the AcademyHealth Child Health Services Research Interest Group as the 2026 Outstanding Early Career Researcher Award recipient. This honor celebrates early-career investigators who have made significant contributions to the field of child health services research, aligning with AcademyHealth’s mission to improve health and health care through evidence-based decision-making.
The Child Health Services Research Award is part of AcademyHealth’s broader awards program, which also includes the Gail Wilensky Award for Impact in Health Policy, the Reinhardt Distinguished Career Award, the Alice S. Hersh Emerging Leader Award, and the Outstanding Dissertation Award. Interest Group awards, such as Pulcini’s, are designed to highlight promising researchers and encourage engagement in the field.
AcademyHealth’s Annual Research Meeting, where such awards are announced, is a major national conference for health services research and policy. It brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to share findings, discuss policy implications, and network across disciplines. The 2026 meeting featured presentations, workshops, and award ceremonies, including Pulcini’s recognition.
First-Year Medical Students Volunteer at Intervale for End-of-Year Community Service Event
On June 12, the Medical School Council hosted its annual End-of-Year Community Service Event at the Intervale Center, in support of the Intervale farm’s land stewardship team. First-year medical students (M1s) helped with cleaning and maintenance projects on the grounds, engaging with the community and giving back to the land in alignment with Larner’s Community Engagement pillar.
CVRI Supports Nelson’s Travel to Present at Myofilament Meeting
Shane Nelson, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular physiology and biophysics at the Larner College of Medicine, recently received an award from UVM’s Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) to travel to Tucson in May for the 2026 Myofilament Meeting. He presented his work “Seeing Is Believing at the Single Molecule Level: Are Myosin’s IHM and SRX States Inextricable Linked?”
The award provides up to $2,000 to support travel for junior scientists to attend and present at meetings, as long as their research is cardiovascular related.