As she stood in front of her research poster at the Virginia State Capitol, Mallory Thompson felt both excitement and responsibility. The University of Mary Washington biology major wasn’t just sharing findings from months of research and lab work, she was advocating for the future of cancer treatment.
“It was a little daunting, as I never imagined my research would take me to the Capitol to speak with legislators,” Thompson said. “But honestly, I had a great time! I loved sharing my research with attendees who showed interest in my poster and asked questions. It’s exciting to think that my work might help people understand that conventional cancer therapies aren’t always enough, and exploring other treatments could be a key to reducing recurrence rates.”
Thompson, a junior, was one of three Mary Washington students selected to present a poster at the inaugural Undergraduate Research Showcase, held last week in Richmond. Seniors Hannah Shipp and Ada Moses, both psychology majors, also presented research, which explored how visual distractions impact test performance.
Hosted by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa), the event brought together student researchers from 16 state colleges and universities, with more than 30 projects on display.
Thompson’s study, Methionine Restriction Promotes Immunogenic Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells, examined how limiting the amino acid methionine could enhance chemotherapy’s effectiveness. Completed alongside faculty mentor and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Sipe, the research has implications for developing dietary strategies that could improve cancer treatment outcomes.
“Dr. Sipe worked one-on-one with me and is a great research advisor,” Thompson said. “She generously dedicated many hours to our project, helping me understand the biological and physiological background. This really helped with data analysis and deepening my overall understanding of cancer and research.”
The project done by Shipp and Moses also flourished under the guidance of faculty. With online testing becoming more common, they investigated whether elements like an on-screen timer could negatively affect students – particularly those with test anxiety. Conducted under the mentorship of Assistant Professor of Psychological Science Marcus Leppanen, The Impact of Visual Distraction on Computer-Based Test Performance proposed that simple changes to online testing environments could help students perform to the best of their ability.
“Presenting research at the Capitol was an exciting experience, especially getting to see such a wide variety of research topics,” Moses said. “It was encouraging to have conversations with attendees about how distractions impact test performance. I hope our findings help support better testing environments, especially for students with learning difficulties.”
College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Dean Betsy Lewis, who accompanied the trio of UMW students on the trip to Richmond, said the group was proud to represent Mary Washington at the State Capitol. “They not only enjoyed interacting and networking with fellow scholars from across Virginia,” Lewis said, “but they also gained valuable experience that will shape their future academic pursuits.”
Thompson shared her plan is to become a radiation oncologist, “so this research will pair nicely with the learning I still have left,” she said. Moses revealed her work on test anxiety “has fueled my curiosity to seek out research in supporting my questions through evidence” and led her to further her education through graduate school.
To learn more about research opportunities at Mary Washington, visit UMW’s undergraduate research webpage.
Mallory Thompson is the recipient of the Rae Elizabeth Smith ’59 – Washington Scholarship. Hannah Shipp is the recipient of the J. Christopher Bill Scholarship in Psychology.
Congratulations to Research Showcase Students!!