Biology Stories

Lt. Col. Molly Kent, associate professor in the Department of Biology and director of the Center for Undergraduate Research, spoke at the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society (IBNS) 35th Annual Meeting held recently in Cape Town, South Africa.

Xavier Zarza ’28, a biology major at Virginia Military Institute, envisions a substantially less expensive alternative in his Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) project, “Electroplating 3D Prints for Antiseptic and Inert Properties in Prosthetics.”

Virginia Military Institute has named Maj. Alison Burke, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, as the Institute’s health professions advisor, assuming the role vacated by Col. Wade Bell upon his retirement last year.

Virginia Military Institute now offers industry-recognized certifications through Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI) for cadets enrolled in the cell and molecular biology course.

Lou Ferrigno, bodybuilder and actor known best for his role in “The Incredible Hulk,” has been profoundly deaf most of his life. He once remarked, “I think my hearing loss helped create a determination within me to be all I can be, and gave me a certain strength of character too.” Determined and strong of character are two descriptors of a successful cadet at Virginia Military Institute, so when Andrew Kiddie ’29, who was diagnosed with deafness just before his second birthday, chose to come to arguably the hardest senior military college in the country, he, like Ferrigno, used his […]

Eighteen Virginia Military Institute cadets joined approximately 5,000 participants at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond April 13-15.

“This place is difficult, but if you justify the space you occupy, prove why you belong here, and buy into the system, you’ll get so much more out of VMI than you expect.”

Two Virginia Military Institute alumni, Allen Xu ’21 and Thaddeus Wegrzyn ’22, returned to the Institute in late March for two weeks as part of their medical education with a family medicine rotation at the VMI Infirmary.

Anthony Wilkerson ’28 was looking for connection when he came to Virginia Military Institute. Initially, it was a mix of track and field and a scholarship through the U.S. Army that got him through the door, but it was the bonds he formed with his brother rats that made him want to stay.

From long hours in the pool to the demands of the Corps, Sydney Smith ’26 has built a second family, taken on leadership roles, and pushed herself to grow in every arena.

Maj. Alison Burke, assistant professor and health professions advisor in the Department of Biology at Virginia Military Institute, recently had a research article published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

A scholarly article addressing soybean research spanning seven years was published in the September 2025 issue of Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, a joint publication of American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America. The research was completed by Col. Anne Alerding, professor in the Department of Biology at Virginia Military Institute; alumni Angela Mullins ’19, Sarah Davis ’21, Rachael Dickenson ’22, Christopher Kushner ’24; Kristen Hoffman, a James Madison University alumna; and Dr. Aryeh Weiss, professor at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. According to Alerding, who had wanted to begin a research project in her area of expertise, plant […]

Barrett Callejo ’27 has found her place at Virginia Military Institute — on the soccer field, in the classroom, and as a mentor within cadre. Inspired by the strong women she met years before as a visitor, she now works to set that same example for the next generation of cadets.

Cadee Hegarty ’26 wanted to compete at a high level but also was drawn to the organization and discipline that Virginia Military Institute offered. Getting a soccer scholarship to the school allowed her to form a future at VMI.

Graduate school was always on Whitney Tracy’s ’25 list following undergrad. Although her dream of pursuing medical school has changed, her time at Virginia Military Institute has guided her on a different path.