2025 Phi Zeta Research Day Awards and Scholarships

All student and graduate student researchers within the College of Veterinary Medicine are encouraged to participate in Phi Zeta Research Day as it provides a unique opportunity to share research in a local, encouraging and instructional environment. It is also an excellent opportunity to network, establishing mentorships and research collaborations within the college.

Both oral and poster presentations are received, and awards for these presentations are conferred during a reception and ceremony that evening. Additional research scholarships and graduate students awards are also presented, including the the prestigious Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence to an outstanding member of faculty.

Zoetis and Royal Canin are proud sponsors of the Society of Phi Zeta Sigma Chapter’s Research Day. The recipients of the awards and scholarships are as follows.

Basic Science — Oral Presentation

First place — Brian Wolfe, graduate student, “Sex differences in Influenza Vaccine – induced immunity and protection in mice with obesity”

Brian Wolfe, first place basic science presentation

Second place — Alexandria Zabiegala, graduate student – “Roles of PD-L1 in the pathogenicity of feline infectious peritonitis virus”

Alexandria Zabiegala, 2nd place basic science presentation

Second place — Jett Novotny, second-year student – "Markers of bacterial translocation and systemic inflammation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease"

Jett Novotny, 3rd place basic science presentation

Applied/Clinical Science, Small animal/exotics – Oral Presentation

First place — Ashley Bowyer, house officer – “Pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of voriconazole administered orally every 72 hours to healthy cats”

Ashley Bowyer, first place Applied/Clinical Science presentation small animal/exotics

Second place — Ilya Verekham, second-year veterinary student – “Haemosporidian Parasites in Kansas Birds and an Investigation into the Biting Midge Vector”

Ilha Verekhman, second place Applied/Clinical Science presentation small animal/exotics

Third place — Cheyenne Town, second-year veterinary student – "Are you bothered? Using accelerometers for measuring fly worry in horses"

Cheyenne Town, third place Applied/Clinical Science presentation small animal/exotics

Applied/Clinical Science, Large Animal – Oral Presentation

First place — Jordana Zimmerman, graduate student – "Automated Machine learning and Facial Imaging for Feed yard Cattle Outcome Prediction"

Jordana Zimmer, first place Applied/Clinical Science presentation Large Animal

Second Place — Jacob Schumacher, graduate student – "Evaluation of ClipFitter as novel method for castration in calves"

Jacob Schumacher, second place Applied/Clinical Science presentation Large Animal

Second Place (tie) — Maddie Mancke, third-year veterinary student – "The use of Lidocaine – infused castration bands to castrate beef-dairy calves and its effect on animal welfare and performance"
NOT PICTURED

Basic Science - Poster Presentation

First place — Camila Amrein Almira, third-year veterinary student – "Activity of 3C-like protease inhibitors against bat coronavirus of pandemic potential"

Camila Amrein Almira, first place basic science poster

Second Place — Sujan Kafle, graduate student – "Single-cell analysis if Host Responses in bovine Milk Somatic Cells (bMSCs) following HPAIV Bovine – H5N1 influenza infection"

Sujan Kafle, second place basic science poster

Third Place — Surya Prasad Devkota, graduate student – "Role of sympathetic neuron signaling in modulating pulmonary fibrosis" — NOT PICTURED

Applied/Clinical Science – Poster Presentation

First place — Jimena Killian, second-year veterinary student – "Fluoroquinolones are a risk factor for cranial cruciate rupture in Retrievers"

Jimena Killian, first place applied/clinical science poster

Second Place — Haitham Alneaemy, graduate student – “Prevalence of major bacterial pathogens in liver abscesses of Beef – dairy cattle”

Haitham Alneaemy, second place applied/clinical science poster

Third Place — Alyssa Hobbs, second-year veterinary student – “Behaviors of beef – dairy calves that received a dose of maternal appeasing substance (MBAS) at weaning"

Alyssa Hobbs, third place applied/clinical science poster

Endowed Scholarships and Awards

Benjamin and Catherine Kurz Research Scholarship

Kurz Scholarship - Dr. Kate KuKanich with Brooke Paisley
Brooke Paisley, first-year veterinary student, with Dr. Kate KuKanich

Miller Pathology Scholarship Award

Miller Pathology Award, Camila Almira with Dr. Derek Mosier

Dr. Derek Mosier congratulates Camila Amerin Almira, third-year veterinary student

A.S.R. Ganta Graduate Award

ASR Ganta Grad Award, Taylor McAtee with Dr. Derek Mosier
Taylor McAtee, graduate student, with Dr. Derek Mosier

Dr. Harish C. and Ved K. Minocha Scholarship

Minocha Scholarships, Sujan Kafle and Konner Cool
Dr. Harish and Ved Minocha congratulate graduate students Sujan Kafle and Konner Cool

Zoetis Research Award for Excellence in Research by a Faculty Member

Dr. Raghavendra Amachawadi, associate professor in clinical sciences, accepts the Zoetis Research Award for Excellence in Research by a Faculty, presented by Interim Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs, Dr. Dana Vanlandingham

Keynote Speaker, Dr. Kenneth Burton

Dr. Cassel thanks Dr. Kenneth Burton, NBAF deputy director for his keynote address, “Life is a Highway – Explore the Scenic Route.”

New members/initiates to Phi Zeta

Student Initiates

Class of 2025 initiates (rank scholastically in top 25% of the class)

2025 Initiates: Marilee Robbins, Marissa Mezzadri, Kelsey O'Brien, Elaine LaRoche, Harrell Phillips, Erin Mayhue and Alangkrita Bhattarai with Lauryn Clifton, Phi Zeta vice president and Dr. Nicky Cassel, Phi Zeta President.

Class of 2026 initiates (rank scholastically in top 10% of the class)

2026 Initiates: Lauryn Clifton with Elayna Anderson, Amanda Bolinger, Reaghan Jokovich, Ashley Kragelund, Gabrielle Maroulis, Faith McDonald, Scotney Reichenberger, Riley Rux, Emily Feller, Camila Amrein Almira, Andrew McNassor and Samantha Trimble.

House Officer Initiates

Initiates: Dr. Cassel, Dr. Alexandra Locke, Dr. Betsey Dale and Dr. Jamie Sebastian.

Not pictured: Drs. Lorelei Bojorquez, Morgan Clark, Cara Croft, Sandra Martinez, Molly Murphy, Katie Bauer, Brett Fisher and Savanna Charnas

Faculty Initiates

Dr. Cassel and Dr. Amachawadi with the new initiates: Drs. Christy Hanthorn, Anri Celliers, Trent Shrader, Janine Seetahal, Gretel Tovar and Katherine Klenda.

Not pictured: Drs. Aurelie Bruwier, Madeline Dreith, Martin Hamon, Meghan McCarthy, Pierre Picavet, Suma Rao, Kimberly Reeds, Cristina Roberts, Brittany Rasche, Kristen Hill-Thimmesch, Hatem Kittana and Daniela Hernandez.

Research/Graduate Initiates

Drs. Jishu Shi and Yunjeong Kim (no picture available)

Honorary initiates

Drs. Dhakal and Cassel with new initiates Dr. Laura Miller and Kris Richardson

Veterinary Research Scholars Program

Dr. Kate KuKanich and Cork introduce students who will be in the 2025 summer VRSP: Brittany Smith, Regan van den Elsen, Claire Heston, Kendra Siefker, Erin Turman, Brooke Paisley, Kayleigh
Corless, Brittany Hirsch, Emily Evans and Kylie Bitcon.