Cadet Research News

Anna Grace Adams ’26 reads a letter she found at the National Archives and Records Administration addressed to the U.S. Secretary of State, dated December 1920.

Cadet Seeks Causes to Latin American Cultural Struggles

August 6, 2025

Anna Grace Adams ’26, a history major minoring in Arabic at Virginia Military Institute, believes considering the points of view of peoples from different cultures is crucial when establishing policy or providing aid.

VMI student (cadet) studies Tolkien texts as part of his undergraduate research work in Preston Library.

Adams Researches Tolkien’s Contribution to Biblical Translation

July 28, 2025

John Paul Adams ’27, an English major minoring in French, spent 10 weeks studying the background and significance of the Jerusalem Bible and Tolkien’s role in its publication for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project, “Scriptural Monster: A Study of Tolkien’s Jonah.”

Aidan Carman ’27 shares his grip test results with Colton Shirk ’27.

Can Music Improve Athletic Performance?

June 26, 2025

Music is known to help lower anxiety and stress, slow the heart rate, and create a calming effect, but can certain music enhance an athlete’s performance? Colton Shirk ’27, a biology major, sought to answer the question for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project.

Bruce Hay ’25 and Maj. Craig Altmann work with the off-road laser measurement mapping system. –VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Cadet Designs Off-Road Mapping System

August 2, 2024

Bruce Hay ’25, a mechanical engineering major with a concentration in aerospace engineering, completed his 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project by designing an off-road laser measurement mapping system to forewarn drivers of trail conditions.

Cadet evaluating cost-efficient exercise programs for the elderly as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute

Exploring Cost-Efficient Exercise Programs for the Elderly Through SURI

July 25, 2024

VMI cadet Hai-Hsin Huang '25, an applied mathematics major with a minor in physics, is evaluating cost-efficient exercise programs for the elderly as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) at the Virginia Military Institute. 

Aidan Carman ’27 and Col. John David evaluate their research data. –VMI Photo by Kelly Nye.

Math Major Reveals Predictors for Retention and Graduation Rates

July 9, 2024

Working alongside the VMI admissions and financial aid offices, Aidan Carman ’27, an applied mathematics major, sought to determine what factors ultimately decide the likelihood a cadet will graduate, the likelihood a cadet will graduate in a particular major, the retention rate of cadets, and more.

Michael “Bane” London ’25 investigates the deep-seated history of

Tracing the History of Mob Violence: Investigating American Political Unrest through SURI

June 21, 2024

With movements like Black Lives Matter and events of January 6, 2021, Michael “Bane” London ’25 had one question — what makes American’s gather like this to get their message across and how far back does it go? 

Jack Conley '25 researching the hand-written letter, along with other ancient tablets, for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project titled, “The Vindolanda Tablets: Understanding the Roman Frontier in Northern Britain.”

History Major Studies Ancient Roman Tablets

June 17, 2024

Jack Conley ’25, a history major is researching the hand-written letter, along with other ancient tablets, for his Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) project titled, “The Vindolanda Tablets: Understanding the Roman Frontier in Northern Britain.”

Cadets Davidson, Fernandez-Grimes, Handford and Osborne pose in front of the SoCon sign at their research event.

Taking Research on the Road: Cadets Attend SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF)

October 20, 2023

Thanks to support from the VMI Center for Undergraduate Research, four VMI cadets recently traveled to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina to present their SURI research projects amongst their Southern Conference (SoCon) peers.

SURI: Unlocking the Links Between Spanish Poetry and Culture

August 4, 2023

Caitria Catania ’24 has been studying Spanish for eight years, but after taking a Spanish literature class with Col. John Cerkey this past spring, her love of analyzing Spanish poets grew.