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Research Report: A VCUR Blog
The VMI Center for Undergraduate Research (VCUR) promotes undergraduate research occurring in all departments across post. We believe that some of the most enduring, meaningful academic experiences of college students come through opportunities to be mentored one-on-one by faculty outside the classroom, while also believing in the merit of research and other inquiry-based experiences within a more traditional classroom setting. Students who participate in research at VMI develop strong critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving, and intellectual independence helping prepare them for life after graduation.
The VCUR Research Report Blog will provide highlights on research being done on post. Throughout the academic year, we will highlight projects from many departments, describing the cadet(s) working on the project and the scope of their research.
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the amazing work being done this year!
White-Nose Syndrome: Bat Biology
Whitney Tracy ’25 and Alyssa Cacace ’26 worked together to study the bat fungal disease White-nose Syndrome, which is believed to have been introduced to North America in 2006/2007 and quickly became a severe threat to our bat populations.
Col. Paul R. Moosman, Jr. '98, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology
Soil Treatment: Finances of Engineering
Woongchan Oh ’25 conducted a financial analysis on treating soils with hydraulic lime for a theoretical construction project in Mebane, North Carolina to determine the optimum lime quantity required to stabilize the soil and evaluate the most cost-effective construction method.
Mr. Stephen L. Neas II '77
Adjunct Instructor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Comedy as a Catalyst for Democratic Change
My research was inspired by my class during my semester at Oxford, where I studied the effects of political correctness on comedy. We are at a particularly polarizing moment in American history that is a potential breeding ground for demagoguery, especially considering it is an election year.
Suzanne Leaptrot '25
1st Class Cadet, English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies
A Look at Load Carriage
Cadets Lassalle and McGovern are working on a project seeking to determine the effects of heavy load carriage on oxygen consumption and energy expenditure in males and females.
Lt. Col. Daniel A. Baur
Assistant Professor, Human Performance and Wellness
Resume Review: Benefits & Pitfalls of LLMs
We are attempting to emulate the role of a hiring manager with ChatGPT and then measuring its accuracy, consistency, efficiency, and precision to determine its efficacy in processing candidates by their resumes.
Jude Roberts '25
1st Class Cadet, Computer and Information Sciences
Chemistry Research Goes on the Road
Nicholas Hale '26 attended the Southeastern Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (SERMACS) in Atlanta, GA to present research he conducted during a recent SURI project.
Maj. Caleb A. Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Work with ARL Informs Research & Career Options
I have a newfound appreciation for the art of chemistry, and the research has sharpened my laboratory knowledge, skills, and confidence, which certainly gives me a leg up in my pursuit of a career in medicine.
Knight Bowles '25
1st Class Cadet, Biology
Mind Over Matter
My honors thesis explores through experimentation whether meditating during a lab-induced stressor can alter cardiovascular responses.
Dylan Colbert '25
1st Class Cadet, Psychology
Debt Before Default
This research project intends to estimate a range of numbers that could accurately represent the maximum debt the US can take on before a default.
Harrison Williams '25
1st Class Cadet, Economics and Business
Mental Health Care
I was curious about examining the strength - or lack thereof - of the mental health care sector; specifically, how mental health campaigns have contributed to the growth and improvement of the mental health infrastructure in the United States.
Delilah Martindale '25
1st Class Cadet, International Studies
Audiogram Emulator
Research by Cole Bowyer '25 represents the final installment of a three-piece honors thesis project spanning 18 years of academic work at VMI.
Col. James C. Squire, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Virtual Art Exploration
Nathalie Lavender ’26 developed an experiment to test if viewing art through virtual reality headsets could offer college students a similar experience to viewing art in person.
Lt. Col. Catharine Ingersoll, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies