From cybersecurity penetration tests to cancer therapy and the discovery of novel bacteriophages, Mount Saint Mary College students presented a wide array of cutting-edge summer research at the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposium.
SURE provides Mount students with hands-on, graduate-level research opportunities under the direct supervision of faculty mentors, building technical and analytical skills that prepare participants for advanced degree programs and careers across academia and industry.
The symposium featured poster presentations summarizing weeks of intensive, hands-on scientific and creative inquiry.
Taking a technical approach to digital systems, students Issiah Figueroa of Newburgh, N.Y., Josiah Maddicks of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Esteban Meza of Montgomery, N.Y. collaborated with Associate Professor of Information Technology Micah Modell on “Bug Bounty Bingo,” running a 10-point penetration test on a mock online learning platform to identify and patch security vulnerabilities.
Working under Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Suparna Bhalla, researchers Lalan Khan of Campbell Hall, N.Y., Alexa Mathew of Otisville, N.Y., and Michael Figueroa of Newburgh, N.Y. isolated and characterized three novel bacteriophages from local soil and water samples – dubbed Little Lali, Neela, and Valtiel – yielding the Mount’s first water-isolated phage within the national SEA-PHAGES program.
Student researchers also delved into behavioral health and wellness. Ciara Cruz of New York City, working with former Associate Professor of Psychology Anne Ferrari, surveyed individuals on maladaptive daydreaming, uncovering notable correlations between intense fantasy immersion, childhood trauma, and internalized shame. Meanwhile, Kate Cerven of Poughquag, N.Y. teamed up with Associate Professor of Chemistry Jodie Fahey to test pool water chemistry and survey swimmers, discovering that competitive swimmers face a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory issues and coughing due to chlorine byproduct exposure in poorly ventilated facilities.
This year’s keynote speaker was Mount alumna Dr. Eleanora Robinson, who graduated from the Mount in 2022 before completing her veterinary degree at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2026. Robinson, now an exotics and small animal veterinarian at Arlington Animal Hospital, delivered a talk titled “How SURE Shaped Me as a Veterinarian.” She reflected on how her own 2019 and 2020 SURE projects investigating bacteriophages and Drosophila genetics built the research foundation that carried her through vet school and into professional practice.