Larner College of Medicine
The Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research is an annual 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.
Green promotional graphic for “Dean’s Celebration of Excellence in Research,” September 28–October 2, 2026, at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, with a shield logo and dotted wave design at the bottom.

Celebration of Excellence in Research 2026

The Dean's Celebration of Excellence in Research was held the week of September 28 - October 2, 2026. The festivities included a Research Passport Scavenger Hunt and were capped off by the

Larner Passport to Research Challenge

Larner Passport to Research Challenge

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A new addition to this year’s Celebration! The Larner Passport to Research Challenge.

Banner promoting Research Week, Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, 2026 in an orange rectangular frame. The right side shows a blue passport-style stamp with a large “V” at the center with Larner Research written around it and wavy postmark lines extending to the right.

Faculty, staff, graduate students, and medical students were invited to take a journey of discovery across the Larner community. Throughout the month of September, participants earned a stamp for every activity completed. They attended Research Celebration Week events, connected with colleagues, engaged with us on social media, and more. Watch your passport fill up as you explore what makes this community and Larner Research remarkable.

Raffle Winners

Medical Student: Cameron Kurisko

Graduate Student: Sarah Beard

Staff: Vivian Aeder

Faculty: 

  • Julie Dumas
  • Jess Badlam
  • Gail Rose

2026 Schedule of Events

Items about: 2026 Schedule of Events

Monday, September 28

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Research Laureate Lecture

"I Have Accomplished Almost Nothing on My Own: The Community Behind My Research Journey”

Presented by 2025 Research Laureate, Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D., Colleen A. and Gregory L. Holmes Green and Gold Professor, Neurological Sciences Research

Person wearing a black floral-patterned jacket and a gold medal on a green-and-gold ribbon, standing outdoors in front of a blurred building.


 

Tuesday, September 29

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Research Poster Session

UVM Medical and graduate student research will be displayed with students available to discuss the exciting details of their research. 

Wednesday, September 30

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Research Rally & Reception

Presenters

Randy Holcombe, M.D., M.B.A. - To Sail the Seven Seas

Jeffery Tabares, Ph.D. - My Journey to Suicide Prevention Research at UVM

Jessica Heath, M.D. - Raging Hormones & Rogue Cells

Tom Griffin, Ph.D., M.A. - From Afghan Deserts to Ambulance Deserts: Mapping My Research Origin Story

Emily Bruce, Ph.D., M.Phil. - Virology in the Time of COVID

Bob Gramling, M.D., D.Sc. - Can we find moments of deep connection?

Davi Bock, Ph.D. - On the road to a National Observatory

 

Thursday, October 1

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Awards Presentation and Research Celebration Address

Awards were presented for Research Publications in the Medical Student, Graduate Student, Post-Doc and Resident categories, and for Clinical Research Coordinator, Scientific Research Staff, Clinical Trials, Research Mentor, New Investigator, Mid-Career Investigator, Research Laureate and Junior and Senior Investigator of the Year. Senior Associate Dean for Research Kate Tracy, Ph.D., also delivered her Research Celebration address following the awards presentations.

Friday, October 2

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Stetson Lecture

"Building Vascularized Human Tissues in Three Dimensions"

Presented by Dr. Jennifer A. Lewis, 
Jianmin Yu Professor of Arts and Sciences,
Hansjörg Wyss Professor for Biologically Inspired Engineering,
Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D. is the Jianmin Yu Professor of Arts and Sciences, the Hansjörg Wyss Professor for Biologically Inspired Engineering in the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and a core faculty member of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. Her research focuses on advancing the frontiers of soft and living materials.  Lewis is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has received numerous awards, including the NAS James Prize for Science and Technology Integration, the Sigma Xi Gold Key Award, the Lush Prize for Scientific Research, the Materials Research Society Medal, and the Department of Defense Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship. Multiple startups are commercializing technology from her research lab ranging from printed electronics to kidney tissue therapeutics.   

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Dean's Excellence in Research Awards

Items about: Dean's Excellence in Research Awards

2026 Award Nominees

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Outstanding Research Publication - Medical Student Nominees

  • Sarah Kohl, M.D.'26
  • Vinh Le, M.D.'25
  • Noah Manz 
  • Erzbet Nagy, M.D.'26
  • Ava Siegel, M.D.'26
  • Andrew Warfield

Outstanding Research Publication - Graduate Student Nominees

  • Anthony Barrows
  • Amanda Fastiggi
  • Victoria Gibson
  • Gaby Madrigal
  • Amila Šemić

Outstanding Research Publication - Post-doctoral Fellow Nominees

  • Andres Cordova Sanchez, M.D.
  • Mohammad El-Mahdy, Ph.D.
  • Hassan Zafar, Ph.D.

Outstanding Research Publication - Resident Nominees

  • Jane Ehret, M.D.
  • Maximilan Reisinger, M.D.

Clinical Research Coordinator Nominees

  • Laurie Chassereau, R.N. 
  • Olivia Fahr 
  • Hannah Frering, M.P.H.
  • Olivia Garrow
  • Mary Healey 
  • Julie Sweet

Scientific Research Staff Nominees

  • Kirsten Bonson 
  • Haley Greenyer
  • Kyra Lee 
  • Maddie Mank 
  • Ben McElvany
  • Shannon O’Connor
  • Kate Peasley-Miklus
  • Jennifer Tomczak
  • Allyson Turner

Clinical Trials Nominees

  • Jessica Crothers, M.D.
  • Kristen Pierce, M.D.
  • Alissa Thomas, M.D.

Research Mentor Nominees

  • Jeremy Barry, Ph.D.
  • Robert Gramling, M.D.
  • Valerie Harder, Ph.D.
  • Christopher Huston, M.D. 
  • Ashley Volaric, M.D. 
  • Daniel Wolfson, M.D. 

Rising Star New Investigator

  • Emily  Bruce, Ph.D. 
  • Matthew Caporizzo, Ph.D. 
  • Caitlin Haxel, M.D.
  • Peter Hyson, M.D. 
  • Kathryn Morelli, Ph.D.
  • Heidi Schumacher, M.D. 

Mid-Career Investigator

  • Katharine Cheung, M.D. 
  • Brian Cunniff, Ph.D.
  • Jessica Heath, M.D. 
  • C. Matthew Kinsey, M.D.
  • Brigitte Lavoie, Ph.D. 
  • Tracy Madsen, M.D. 
  • Hannah Perry, M.D.
  • Leslie Young, M.D. 

Research Laureate Nominees

  • Jean Celli, Ph.D. 
  • Marilyn Cipolla, Ph.D. 
  • Mary Cushman, M.D.
  • Barry Finette, M.D., Ph.D. 
  • Robert Hondal, Ph.D.  
  • Matthew Poynter, Ph.D.
  • Stephen Teach, M.D., MPH
  • Gary Ward, Ph.D. 

2025 Award Recipients

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John Rustad, Med Student trainee

Sarah Krumholz, Med Student trainee

Cameron Cordero, Grad Student trainee

Deena Snoke, Ph.D., Post-Doc trainee

Carena Zhang Peterson, Resident Trainee

Emily Houston, Clinical Research Coordinator

Adrian Sackheim, Scientific Research Staff

Bradley Watts, M.D., Clinical Trials

Michael Toth, Ph.D., Research Mentor

Bader Chaarani, Ph.D., M.S., New Investigator

Jeremy Barry, Ph.D., Mid-Career Investigator

Margaret Vizzard, Ph.D., Research Laureate

Amanda Kallen, M.D., UVM Health Junior Researcher of the Year

Bradley Watts M.D., UVM Health Senior Researcher of the Year

2024 Award Recipients

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Brittney Palermo, Medical Student Trainee

Mingu Kang, Ph.D., Grad Student Trainee

Brandon Bensel, Ph.D., Post-Doc Trainee

Brianna Leahy, M.D., Resident Trainee

Rebecca Cole, Clinical Research Coordinator

Kirsten Tracy, Ph.D., Research Scientist

Matthew Kinsey, M.D., Clinical Trials 

Jason Stumpff, Ph.D., Research Mentor

Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., New Investigator

Masha Ivanova, Ph.D., Mid-Career Investigator

Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., Research Laureate

Leslie Young, M.D., UVM Health Network Junior Researcher of the Year

Ira Bernstein, M.D., UVM Health Network Senior Researcher of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

2024 Award Recipients

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Outstanding Research Publication Award Recipients

Medical Student: Brittney Palermo, “Interleukin-6, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in a biracial cohort: the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke cohort.”

Graduate Student: Mingu Kang, Ph.D., “The focal adhesion protein Talin is a mechanically gated A-kinase anchoring protein.”

Post-Doc: Brandon Bensel, Ph.D., "Kinesin-1-transported liposomes prefer to go straight in 3D microtubule intersections by a mechanism shared by other molecular motors" 

Resident: Brianna Leahy, M.D., "Transcatheter and surgical ductus arteriosus closure in very low birth weight infants: 2018–2022"

Staff Award Recipients

Clinical Research Coordinator: Rebecca Cole, Research Project Assistant, Department of Psychiatry

Research Scientist: Kirsten Tracy, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Vermont Cancer Center

Faculty Award Recipients

UVM Health Network Junior Researcher of the Year: Leslie Young, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics

UVM Health Network Senior Researcher of the Year: Ira Bernstein, M.D., Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Clinical Trials Research Award: Matthew Kinsey, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine

Research Mentor: Jason Stumpff, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Rising Star New Investigator: Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Mid-Career Investigator: Masha Ivanova, Ph.D., Associate Professor Psychiatry

Research Laureate: Daniel Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine