Bathed in fluorescent overhead light, a bottom-floor classroom in the Goulet Science Center served as summer research headquarters for Abby Frankauski ’27 (Premed - Biology major, Chemistry minor), Rosemary Carpenter ’25 (Behavioral Neuroscience major), and Lee Viazanko ’27 (SNHU).
The ambitious students earned the NH-INBRE Summer Research Fellowship and spent break working alongside Professor Victoria DiBona, Ph.D., in her campus neuro-immune-toxicology lab. The lab assesses for changes in microglia-neuron interactions following exposure to environmental toxicants during early development. Using zebrafish as a model organism, this research hopes to help define safer exposure thresholds for the many toxins people are exposed to daily. Over the summer, Frankauski, Carpenter, and Viazanko worked to refine safer and more efficient methods, making progress towards research goals in future experiments.
“The desire to pursue a research career was spurred by my own undergraduate research opportunities,” said DiBona.” It was during graduate school that DiBona realized she wanted to develop her own undergraduate-driven research lab. She wanted to give students a chance to fall in love with research.
The students’ admirable work included the creation of a colony management system, determination of safe anesthetic dosages in combination with establishment of survivable live-microscopic imaging protocols, and assessment of changes in zebrafish behavior with newly designed 3D-printed equipment. They teamed to develop customized apparatuses, raise embryos, and maintain a clean environment for the zebrafish to thrive. Academics aside, it was the collaborative aspect of the lab that sparked Frankauski’s interest in conducting summer research.
“Not all our research goes smoothly at first—in fact, it rarely does! But it's the process of refining our projects and brainstorming alternative solutions that makes for a rewarding experience in the lab,” said Frankauski. “This wouldn't be possible without such an amazing team backing each other up.”
By 3D printing age-specific apparatuses for behavioral testing, the students gained the ability to study social and anxiety-like behaviors across zebrafish’ developmental stages on a budget, from fertilization to adulthood. This tactful innovation allows for more accessible, ethical, and precise experimentation, ensuring fish welfare while enhancing data accuracy. Carpenter noted that her time in the lab sharpened her data organization and coding abilities and strengthened her critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills.
“These experiences gave me a strong foundation in behavioral neuroscience and lab operations, which are directly relevant to both graduate-level research and clinical or technical roles in neuroscience, biotechnology, or medical fields,” said Carpenter. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to see tangible results from work that supports both scientific discovery and animal welfare.”
All three students were invited to present their work at the 2025 NH-INBRE Annual Meeting. At the conference, students will share their findings, which serve as building blocks for more in-depth lab experiments in the upcoming year. Professor DiBona encourages students interested in joining a research lab to contact her or another campus faculty member to discuss research opportunities for the 2025-2026 year.