�պ�����

A native of Baku, Azerbaijan, Natavan Dudkina discovered a talent for language—both linguistic and scientific. She attended school in Baku and took some English courses in middle school but didn’t have the opportunity to practice the language until she was accepted into a cultural exchange program sponsored by the American embassy in Azerbaijan.

“We spent two weeks in Washington, DC, and two weeks in Seattle. Sometimes it was a struggle to remember the right words to describe simple things, but with practice, I got better.” When she announced her interest in attending college in the U.S., her parents were apprehensive. Dudkina compromised by agreeing to prepare for exams in her home country while exploring college options in the U.S. She learned about �պ����� at an education fair and was intrigued by the highly regarded medical school located on campus and the small-city atmosphere of Burlington. She also found out about the Global Gateway Program, which helps international students at �պ����� hone their English language skills while adjusting to life in the U.S.

“The program helped me get acclimated to higher education in America. In my home country, there was very little tolerance for questioning in class—it could be interpreted as challenging the authority of the teacher. Here, I learned that asking questions is encouraged.” Fascinated by her biology and chemistry coursework, she settled on biochemistry as a major. “I loved applying the language of chemistry to biological systems—the disciplines really build on each other,” she said.

She found an intellectual home in the lab of chemistry professor Severin Schnebelli, which specializes in finding efficient ways to build organic molecules. Dudkina described it as a life-changing experience. “I really felt like part of the team. They included me in conversations and treated me as a person who could contribute ideas and suggestions. They always asked me, ‘Nata, what do you think?’”

Dudkina investigated the properties of “the chemistry beyond the bond,” a relatively new field called supramolecular chemistry, building new, interesting molecular structures.

She set her sights on pursuing a Ph.D. program in chemistry, and with the help of Schnebelli and Ph.D. student Mona Sharafi, Dudkina was accepted into a graduate program in chemistry at Yale.

“My research involvement in Professor Schneebeli’s group has been a life-changing experience, and that’s not an exaggeration. I’ve never felt as intellectually involved as I am right now.”

Kassondra Little’s interest in a medical career was sparked as a child growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, after being diagnosed with a blood disorder. Her physician, a hematology and oncology specialist, became an early role model, showing her how much a knowledgeable and empathetic doctor can mean to a young patient with a serious medical condition. Little came to �պ����� on a pre-med track but didn’t want to be “just another STEM kid.” She embraced her humanities and social sciences courses, eventually adding a minor in health and society. “The Health in America TAP class with Dale Jaffe was one of the most exciting courses I’ve taken at �պ�����,” she said. “It confirmed for me that I wanted to get a master’s in public health as well as a medical degree.” Little also found an intellectually stimulating home in the lab of her organic chemistry instructor, Severin Schneebeli, an assistant chemistry professor at �պ�����.

She finds the work rewarding because of the problem-solving challenges and the open, give-and-take atmosphere in the Schneebeli lab. “I might spend an hour talking with Severin about a roadblock I’m encountering in my research,” she says. “You’re having this really involved discussion with someone with the highest degree in the field, and you’re talking as equals.” Schneebeli is supervising Little’s senior honors thesis in a specific area of biomimetics (synthetic methods that mimic biochemical processes). Little is particularly excited about applying this work to medicine. She says that being able to make shape-defined polymers or design synthetic molecules based on a designated function opens the door to efficient, stable, and cost-effective materials that could be used for intervention or point-of-care testing with a high degree of specificity. “It’s exciting to think about developing methods that could be truly helpful in the noninfectious diseases I’ll treat in patients later on, especially those that could be more accessible to disadvantaged populations through lower costs. This is where I can really pull from my biochemistry background and view my research through both biological and social lenses.” Above all, she knows her experience in Schneebeli’s lab is equipping her with essential problem-solving skills. “Medicine will change so much, even before I become a doctor. I’m learning how to think about problems in new ways and gaining confidence in my problem-solving abilities.”

Linnea Saunders, class of 2021, grew up in Warner, N.H., and attended Proctor Academy, a small independent school nearby. When she began her college search, she gravitated toward smaller schools with strong science programs, but her visit to �պ����� convinced her that she could thrive in a research university setting. “It helped that I could take organic chemistry during my first year,” she says. “The class was small, and I knew that would make a huge difference in mastering the course and being able to build a relationship with the professor.” Saunders found research opportunities early in her academic career and is working in Associate Professor Robert Hondal’s lab, investigating why a small number of human proteins contain the element selenium rather than the more common group 16 element, sulfur.

She explains that it’s challenging to incorporate selenium into proteins. “If the body goes through so much work to adopt selenium instead of sulfur, there must be a reason for it.” Saunders’ project is helping researchers at �պ����� and other labs understand the function of human proteins. She works closely with a graduate student who taught her basic lab techniques and now provides a valuable sounding board as Saunders initiates her own experiments. “I might come up with something to try, and she’ll help me hone in on the right procedures to make it a productive inquiry.” For now, Saunders plans to enter a Ph.D. program in biochemistry, but she believes her studies are providing her with a wide range of options. “I picked biochemistry because it is a very versatile major. I’ve been able to take a wide array of courses at �պ����� across different areas of science. I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to craft my education.”

In 2019, Ross Buchman, Class of 2022, secured a summer job just five miles from his home in St. Louis. The rising sophomore worked as a lab assistant under Dr. Albert Kim at Washington University, helping to discover treatments for glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer. A biochemistry major, Buchman attended high school in St. Louis and played lacrosse—he was an Academic All-American during his senior season and now plays defense for the �պ����� lacrosse team. “During winter break, I asked Dr. Kim about a position in his lab, and he said he’d be happy to hire me, but he couldn’t pay me,” said Buchman. That’s when �պ�����’s Office of Fellowships, Opportunities, and Undergraduate Research (FOUR) stepped in. FOUR helps �պ����� undergraduates identify and fund research opportunities, and with their support, Buchman covered his expenses while gaining valuable experience in a cutting-edge medical lab. His summer project focused on glioblastoma, a brain cancer with an average survival rate of 15 months post-diagnosis, with only 30% of patients living beyond two years.

“Common treatment for this type of cancer is surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible,” explains Buchman. “But it’s a difficult and delicate procedure.” After surgery, doctors typically rely on a rigorous chemotherapy and radiation regime. Buchman adds that the cancer is complex on a molecular level. “The glioblastoma tumor is heterogeneous, meaning cells vary widely from each other, so different parts of the tumor have different genetic makeups.” Kim’s lab is researching ways to interrupt the processes glioblastoma cells use to regenerate. “Two years ago, the lab tested the efficacy of a first-generation MLL (mixed lineage leukemia) inhibitor. My research involves the next generation of the drug, which is expected to be more potent and could be taken orally,” Buchman said.

Buchman’s interest in cancer research goes back as far as he can remember. He’s a cancer survivor himself—at age five, he had a kidney removed due to a Wilms tumor. Now cancer-free, he’s dedicating himself to finding solutions to this challenging disease. “I definitely have my sights on becoming a doctor,” he says. “Like Dr. Kim, I’d like to practice medicine while also staying active in research.”

Ona Ambrozaite, Class of 2021, had never visited campus before her first semester at �պ�����. With her natural friendliness and sense of adventure, she quickly adjusted to college life, and �պ����� has been everything she imagined. Ambrozaite grew up in Lithuania and moved to Chicago at 15. “As a kid, I loved studying plants and animals, their cells, and how these tiny ‘workers’ arrange themselves to form various organisms—the ‘macroscopic’ scale of life. Then, when I was introduced to atoms, molecules, and chemical reactions, I realized I also enjoyed the ‘microscopic.’ Biochemistry seemed like the perfect blend of those interests.” A high school guidance counselor introduced her to �պ����� with materials that included a poster of Mount Mansfield, sparking her curiosity.

After taking AP science courses in high school, she applied early to �պ����� and was accepted in the fall of 2016—concluding her college search. “While many friends were stressing about college decisions, I just knew �պ����� was it.” Her first visit to campus was for orientation in 2018, and she soon immersed herself in her coursework, which included a special section of organic chemistry for first-year students. “It was challenging, but I find beauty in complexity and in problem-solving,” she said. “Professor Brewer, who took on the challenge of teaching organic chemistry to new college students, made it possible.” Ambrozaite hopes to stay in Burlington over the summer to pursue research, either at the university or through national programs for biochemistry majors.

Although early in her academic journey, Ambrozaite envisions a future in medicine or research. “Recently, I’ve become interested in cancer research. When I started organic chemistry, we learned to synthesize new molecular compounds, and I thought it would be truly promising to create therapeutic agents against one of the most devastating diseases today.”

Dante Terino, Class of 2019 and a native of Wilder, Vermont, has a deep-seated interest in neurology, which he pursued at �պ�����, a school that holds family significance—both his mother and grandfather are alumni. As an Army veteran, Terino's tuition is covered by the GI Bill, allowing him to focus on his studies and hands-on research experiences. One of the pivotal experiences during his time at �պ����� has been his role as a lab assistant for Dr. Jason Botten, a researcher in virus-host interactions at �պ�����’s Robert Larner School of Medicine. “Initially, I thought I’d need more courses and experience to take on lab work, but I soon realized there’s no better time to start. Dr. Botten’s lab is excellent at providing training,” Terino says.

His research focuses on the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus originating in Uganda and now spread globally, including to South America. Following a major outbreak in Brazil in 2015, Zika became known as an emergent disease linked to severe brain anomalies in infants and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. “We’re investigating virus-host interactions and have identified a key host protein that appears to influence Zika virus replication,” Terino explains. Thanks to a biochemistry summer research stipend covering his living and research expenses, he was able to continue his work in Burlington. “The support made it affordable to stay in Burlington, and I’m very grateful for the hands-on opportunities I’ve had here,” he shares. This immersive research experience has strengthened Terino’s ambition to specialize in virology, with a particular interest in advancing gene therapy and regenerative medicine.

Stella Varnum, Class of 2021 and a native of Watertown, Massachusetts, was drawn to �պ����� (�պ�����) because of its strong research programs and the opportunity to major in biochemistry. During a student visit day, Varnum learned about �պ�����'s "Organic Chemistry for Majors" course, specifically designed for first-year students, and it solidified her decision to attend. “I took AP science classes in high school, so my chemistry background was strong,” she says. “I didn’t want to retake familiar material in a large lecture, and this class, capped at 45 students, was the perfect fit.”

As she progresses through her academic career, Varnum is confident in the challenging and rewarding nature of her major. A member of �պ�����’s Honors College, she appreciates the way Honors courses can fulfill distribution requirements for her biochemistry major, allowing her to explore a wide range of topics. She's also pursuing funded internships and study-abroad opportunities through the College of Arts and Sciences. Additionally, Varnum works as an undergraduate researcher in Dimitry Krementsov's lab in the Department of Medical, Laboratory, and Radiation Sciences, housed within the College of Nursing.

In her free time, Varnum enjoys skiing in the nearby Green Mountains, noting, “It’s really awesome to head out on a Saturday morning and spend some time on the slopes.”