Research News Archive
The College of Science is proud to celebrate several outstanding students who excelled at the 37th Annual Marshall University Health Sciences Research Day, held Nov. 3 at the Marshall Health Network – St. Mary’s Center for Education Conference Center. Dr. John Karickhoff Medical Innovation Award for Best Overall Presentation Isha Gupta, a second-year medical student
Biology senior Asha Bora, fresh off of personal bests at last week’s Sun Belt Cross Country Conference Championship, will present her research at the Society for Neuroscience 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Nov. 15–19. A native of Hurricane, West Virginia, Bora will share findings from her undergraduate research in Dr. Spitzer’s lab, where she
Dr. Tom Cuchta, assistant professor of mathematics, and his graduate student Richard Williams represented Marshall University at the American Mathematical Society’s Central Section Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 18–19, 2025. Both were invited speakers in the special session Dynamic Equations on Time Scales: Theory, Methods, and Applications, which Dr. Cuchta co-organized alongside Dr.
Professor Laura McCunn from the Department of Chemistry has co-authored a new research article in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A alongside six undergraduate students. Their study, titled “Pyrolysis Reactions of (2-Chloroethyl)benzene,” investigates the chemical reactions that can occur during the chemical recycling of PVC plastic. The project highlights the valuable contributions of undergraduate researchers
College of Science graduate student Mary Zarilla has documented the first recorded occurrence of the African golden cat (Profelis aurata) in the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve—marking the first sighting of the species in northwestern Uganda. Zarilla captured a daytime image of the endangered cat using a camera trap she deployed in the park in July 2025.
Environmental Science students are gaining hands-on field experience through ongoing research along the Ohio River. This week, the team sampled six additional sites in the lower Greenup Pool, bringing their total to 13 randomized sites—from the Big Sandy River downstream. The group collected data on benthic fish communities, substrate composition, mussel counts, and invertebrates captured
The College of Science congratulates Dr. Pamela Puppo and her graduate students, Noah Adkins and Erica Edinger, from the Department of Biological Sciences for representing Marshall University at the 2025 Ohio Valley Entomological Association Annual Meeting in Burlington, Kentucky. Adkins and Edinger each gave research presentations highlighting their ongoing work in Dr. Puppo’s lab, earning
Congratulations to Dr. Maria Hamilton, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Physics, on receiving funding from the National Science Foundation for her project “Cross-Validation of Binary Neutron Star Mergers Simulations across Multiple Codes.” The three-year, $150,000 award will advance research into binary neutron star mergers—rare cosmic events that offer valuable insights into the laws
College of Science Chemistry faculty members Dr. Shin Moteki (principal investigator) and Dr. Scott Day (co-principal investigator) have secured a $568,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance research on renewable polymer-based catalysts. The project engages a team of dedicated student researchers, including Lauren Dunsmore, Abby Darnley, Ramey George, Mackenzie Maynard, and Cody
Dr. Herman Mays, professor of biological sciences, recently co-authored a new publication examining the population structure of three crested penguin species in New Zealand. The research offers important insights for conservation: tawaki penguins appear stable and genetically diverse, while erect-crested penguins are divided into two distinct populations—those from the Antipodes Islands and those from the