While the summer break is often looked at as a time to take a break from school, for many students at Saint Anselm College, it is a time to take a deep dive into a subject they are interested in through summer research. Some students assist professors in their research and others conduct independent research projects.
Students find research funding through the New Hampshire INBRE program, the college honors program, and independent fellowships like the Gordon Fellowship. They receive guidance and support from faculty members, and there are also weekly lunch and learn meetings where they take turns discussing their work and receiving feedback on it.
The work they do over the summer can give students a leg up on their senior thesis projects as well as provide them with additional experiences to include in graduate and job applications.
Peter McTague ’25
Environmental Studies
As an Honors Research Fellow this summer, McTague has been studying peregrine falcons and working with Biology Professor Theresa Dabruzzi as an adviser.
Peregrines traditionally nest on cliffs, but a lot of the features that they like about cliffs are also found on manmade structures like buildings or bridges. McTague is studying the differences in productivity between urban and rural peregrine falcons. His hypothesis is that urban peregrines will show higher productivity.
“Peregrines that are living in a city eat pigeons as 50 percent of their diet. Out in the wilderness, it’s a lot of work to chase down these songbirds for food,” explained McTague. “But pigeons in the city are just there, like sitting ducks. The peregrines don’t have to expend as much energy while hunting.”
Research like McTague’s could help cities like Manchester determine what structures and regulations could be put into place to allow them to thrive. McTague also posits that if urban peregrines are more productive than their rural counterparts, it could lead to a shift in their habitat over time.
Diego Benites ’25
History and American Studies
Diego Benites ’25 is an Honors Research Fellow who has been working with History Professor Andrew Moore. After completing an internship at the Lowell National Historical Park last year, Benites decided to use his research fellowship to study how its creation in 1978 impacts the way they interpret history there today.
The park’s evolution in the last few decades has been very interesting, Benites said. In the 1970s/80s, public history was more object driven — highlighting an artifact, for example, and explaining what it was used for.
“Nowadays, it’s more asking questions and getting visitors to really think critically about it,” Benites said. “So it’s definitely more engaging. Now you can ask visitors more about their thoughts behind it and how it impacts their life.”
Benites said it was also fascinating to research the park’s approach to the recent “One City, Many Cultures” exhibit. More than 100 contributing community members including Cambodian, Native American and Latino groups came together — allowing visitors to discover different forms of cultural expressions and how they all help tell the story of Lowell.
The research he has done this summer will serve as the foundation of his senior thesis, and he believes it will provide him with a leg up when he applies for graduate programs.
Josephine Rizzo ’25
Politics
For her Honors Research Fellowship, Josephine Rizzo ’25 spent this summer identifying and analyzing 150 pieces of legislation that were introduced in the wake of three school shootings in the United States. Working with Professor Jennifer Lucas, she is looking into the effects of particular political affiliations as well as media discussions towards prevention methods for school shootings. Rizzo is focusing on the 2022 shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the 2018 shootings at Parkland High School in Florida and Santa Fe High School in Texas.
Rizzo has been diving deep into the political landscape of the individual communities where these shootings occurred. What has surprised her most so far involved a lack of traction related to threat assessments as a prevention method compared to gun control or mental health. She is finding that more resources are needed to instruct students, teachers, and parents about threat assessment policies and ideas, so people feel less anxiety-ridden and more at ease.
Rizzo said she plans on using this research as part of her senior thesis and is interested in a career in education policy.
There are a number of other students working on research projects this summer. Some of these include:
- Brianne Boyd ‘26 and Abby Frankauski ’27 studied Zebrafish neurotoxins with Biology Professor Vicky DiBona
- Chloe Young ‘24 and Ayah Elrayah ’25 spent the summer researching Clostridioides difficile, the bacterium commonly known as C. diff., alongside Biology Professor Amy Rohlfing. The bacterium causes colon infections.
- Psychology major and African studies minor Billy Karugira ’25 delved into the complex relationship between sleep hygiene, mood disorders in youth, and climate change's exacerbating impact. This project translated Karugira’s findings into a graphic medicine-based intervention as an interactive game and zine-making experience. He worked with Professor Loretta Brady and two artists in residence.