Annual Showcase Highlights Work of Summer Research Fellows

During Alumni Weekend, the Undergraduate Summer Research Showcase provided students from across several disciplines the opportunity to present to peers, faculty, staff, and alumni.

In total, 28 students participated in the Summer Fellows Research Program that offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in 10 weeks of faculty-mentored research. Students can either design an original project alongside a mentor or apply for pre-defined special projects. 

Senior Morgan Sweetland, a biochemistry major with a biology minor, spent the summer researching her project, “Analysis of Human Malate Dehydrogenase and Beginning Computational Approaches to Drug Design.” With guidance from Dr. Kevin Callahan, associate professor of chemistry, Sweetland continued to develop wet lab skills and techniques, and learned how to make adjustments in her research plan that will help her as she enters the next phase of her research. 

“Participating in summer research was really beneficial. I learned a lot of important techniques that are going to be important for me with applying to graduate school and going farther with that,” she said. “I made a lot of connections networking as well and met different people who are going to support me along the way and can help me with developing this knowledge that I need in this field.”

Recent alumnus Noah Geiger graduated this spring with a degree in statistics, and is continuing his education at Buffalo State University pursuing a graduate education degree.  He was invited by professor Dr. Guillermo Montes to participate in his research, “Faculty Synergy Map,” and analyzed CVs of University faculty to identify partners, strengths, and connections across faculty scholarship. 

“It was very rewarding, not only to be able to advance this research at Fisher, but to see the story of each faculty member and all the good here,” he said. “It really is remarkable to see all the research they've done throughout the years.”

Elena Martinez-Nobrega is a senior biology major with minors in chemistry and Spanish and worked with Dr. Emily Kerr, assistant professor of chemistry, to study the sodium houttuyfonate compound for potential use as an antibiotic to combat MRSA. She shared that this experience is helping her prepare for what comes after graduation next spring.  

“I plan on going into the medical field after I graduate, so having all of this scientific background and hands-on experience will allow me to be able to better understand concepts and their uses,” she said. “I think the Summer Research Fellows program is an amazing opportunity and experience for everyone to go through. It was so much fun going into the lab, working with a professor, and working with my fellow students to see the problems and trying to solve them.”

Applications for the 2027 Summer Fellows Research Program will open later this year and are due by March 23, 2027. For questions, contact Dr. Kristin Picardo, assistant provost and director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, at kpicardo@sjf.edu.