COLCHESTER, Vt. - A select contingent of Saint Michael's College student-athletes are performing on-campus research this summer in collaboration with faculty mentors. As noted by Cassie Lathrope '26, whose recent SMCVT.edu piece spotlighted all student research - and who composed the synopses below - many of the projects have been funded by grants from the Academic Affairs Office, while some are funded by the College's Leahy Institute for the Environment or through outside grants. Students and their faculty mentors apply for the grant funding and work together throughout the summer to complete the research.

Continued Alzheimer's Research
Abbie Whitley '26 (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry), Women's Lacrosse & Michael Brännare-Gran '27 (Haslum, Norway/Dønski VGS), Nordic Skiing
Faculty Mentor: Ruth Fabian-Fine (Neuroscience and Biology)
Whitley, Brännare-Gran, Kaiza Kipingi '26 (men's basketball manager) and Lydia Kragh '27 will all be working with Fabian-Fine to conduct research surrounding the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease. Recently, researchers at Saint Michael's College made an important discovery: a glial canal system in the brain's hippocampus (a part of the brain involved in memory) that might help remove waste from brain cells. Previous studies on Alzheimer's disease have suggested that possible damage to this waste removal system might cause brain cells to die, furthering the impact of the disease. The students will work to determine if the waste canal systems in the brain are effectively clearing out harmful proteins or not. They will work with a technique called colloidal gold, as well as using immunohistochemical methods and gene expression to investigate proteins that contribute to the process that governs the waste removal system.

Looking at Pollutant Levels in the Winooski River's Soil
Hunter Daily '27 (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan), Men's Swimming & Diving
Faculty Mentor: Shane Lamos '00 (Chemistry)
This summer, Daily will continue a research project started by a group of previous undergraduate students at Saint Michael's College that aims to measure the level of pollutants in the Winooski River. The river that stretches across much of Northern Vermont has been exposed for years to harmful metals and chemicals in its waterways. These materials have continued to have negative effects on the health of the river. Through his research, Daily will collect samples of soil from various areas along the riverbanks to measure the long-term concentration of pollutants. He hopes this will be a valuable resource, not only for Saint Michael's students, but also for use by the public, environmental groups, and future surveys.

Improving the Analysis of Phytocannabinoids
Hannah Kragh '26 (Montpelier, Vt./Home Schooled), Women's Cross Country
Faculty Mentor: Mark Scialdone (Chemistry)
Kragh's research this summer aims to improve how scientists analyze phytocannabinoids, which are naturally occurring cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant and can have potential pharmaceutical benefits. Kragh's research will focus on developing a more accurate and efficient method by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a Shimadzu LCMS instrument. Kragh's work toward refining this technique will contribute to future phytocannabinoid research, as well as enhancing methods used in pharmaceutical and natural product chemistry. Her research will not only provide information to a growing field but will also provide Kragh with valuable experience in analytical chemistry.