Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day highlights students’ spirit of inquiry

In addition to celebrating academic excellence, Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day also underscores the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s commitment to offering “One Health” solutions through research. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, The Society of Phi Zeta featured 87 platform or poster presentations by undergraduate, veterinary and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral students, research fellows and faculty members.

Award winners group photo
The Phi Zeta Research Day award winners distinguished themselves among nearly 90 presenters representing undergraduate, veterinary and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral and research fellows and faculty members. Photo contributed by Dr. Melinda Camus.

The award recipients for the 2025 event are:

Platform Presentation – Veterinary Student

First Place:
Cassandra Worlund (mentors Manuel Chamorro, Thomas Passler)
Title: Pooling and vaccine-induced immunity affect the detection of BVDV in persistently infected cattle.

Second Place (tie):

  • Rae Kantzler (mentor Chengming Wang)
    Title: A Highly Sensitive FRET-qPCR for Differentiating Primary Canine Dermatophytes: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, and Nannizzia gypsea
  • Sarah Walters (mentor Serena Ceriotti)
    Title: A pilot study investigating plasma concentration of acetaminophen-cysteine protein adduct (APAP-CYS) after oral multidose administration of acetaminophen in adult horses.

Third Place:
Allison Rucker (mentor Benson Akingbemi)
Title: Phthalate Chemical Mixtures Differentially regulate testicular steroidogenesis.

Student presenting in front of group
Photo contributed by Dr. Ryan Gibson

Platform Presentation – Graduate Student

First Place:
Dr. Kira Noordwijk (mentors Bruce Smith, Lindsey Boone)
Title: Meta Analysis of therapies for the treatment of Equine Sarcoids.

Second Place:
Nicola Darzenta (mentor Maria Naskou)
Title: Extracellular Vesicles from Inflammatory-Primed Stem Cells Reduce In vitro Inflammation in Sandhoff Disease.

Third Place:
Courtney Garrett (mentor Amanda Gross)
Title: Dual site administration of AAV gene therapy for treatment of feline GM1 gangliosidosis.

Poster Presentation – Undergraduate Student

First Place (tie):

  • Hampton DeMent (mentor Aime Johnson)
    Title: LH and FSH Concentrations in AAV-GnRH Treated Offspring Kittens.
  • Paige Drotos (mentor Rachel West)
    Title: Effects of Interferon Beta on Trophoblast Stem Cell Proliferation and Exosome Secretion in a Model of the Pro-Inflammatory Uterine Environment.

Second Place:
Gabrielle Schultz (mentor Douglas Martin)
Title: Regulation of Luteinizing Hormone as an Alternative to Traditional Spay/Neuter.

Third Place:
Morgan Smith (mentor Benson Akingbemi)
Title: Prenatal Exposures to a Chemical Mixture Regulate Steroidogenesis in the Adult Male Rat Gonad.

Poster Presentation – Veterinary Student

First Place (tie):

  • Claire Carrico (mentor Jeba Jesudoss Chelladurai)
    Title: Comparison of diagnostic tests for Giardia spp. in canine fecal samples.
  • Holly Chauvin (mentor Maninder Sandey)
    Title: Advancing Veterinary Oncology: Nanobody-Based PD-L1 Inhibitors for Canine Cancer Patients.

Second Place:
Christopher Consoli (mentor Melissa Singletary)
Title: Evaluating the odor profile of invasive beetle, Popillia japonica, in its natural subterranean environment and life cycle.

Third Place:
Sydney Delorenzo (mentor Melissa Singletary)
Title: Characterizing the natural odor variation in frass for Asian Longhorned Beetle detection canine training.

Student presenting poster
Photo contributed by Dr. Ryan Gibson

Poster Presentation – Graduate Student

First Place:
Jidapa Tosuwan (mentor Kamoltip Thungrat)
Title: Effects of Cyclosporine and Dexamethasone on Cytokine Expression in Canine Whole Blood.

Second Place (tie):

  • Vinicius Apolloni (mentor Miria Criado)
    Title: Flow cytometry-based assay to determine chicken immune cells profile.
  • Samira Salimiyan (mentor Emily Graff)
    Title: Phosphoprotein Enriched in Astrocytes-15 kDa (PEA15) in Neurodevelopment: Integrating Phenotypic and Transcriptomic Analyses in Domestic Cats.

Third Place:
Anna Holliman (mentor Chad Foradori)
Title: Effects of microenvironmental forces on spontaneous migration of immortalized GnRH cells.

Student presenting in lecture hall
Photo contributed by Dr. Ryan Gibson

About The Society of Phi Zeta: Originated in 1925, The Honor Society of Phi Zeta promotes constant advancement of the veterinary profession for higher education requirements as well as high scholarship.