Research News

Two Hamilton chemistry students spent part of their summer unraveling a decades-old campus mystery – the true identity of the beloved peonies in Grant Garden. Saunders left behind scant documentation of what species he used to create his world-renowned hybrids. So, John “JP” Hoak ’27, Mark Khairallah ’27, and Biology Professor Wei-Jen Chang are sleuthing for clues not in records, but in DNA.

Large language models (LLMs) have been at the forefront of the zeitgeist ever since publicly available AI programs like OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene. Three Hamilton College computer science majors are spending their summer researching this cutting-edge technology alongside Professor Thomas Helmuth ’09.

They arrived with curiosity, drive, and a sense of possibility — and now Hamilton’s Class of 2025 is stepping boldly into what’s next, with graduation canes in hand and valuable lessons learned. What shaped them during their four years on College Hill? Which moments, mentors, and courses stand out?

Connecting distant destinations with local lands, senior fellow Clare Robinson spent her final year at Hamilton delving into community reactions to climate change and environmental policy.

Recent graduate Deanna Durben ’25 engaged in research across the domains of sociology and psychology during her time at Hamilton. In 2024, her efforts culminated with a publication in Sage journals titled “Understanding autistic camouflaging: The use of online community discussions and stigmatized identity research.”

At Hamilton, computer science isn’t confined to code on a screen. The Computer Science Department, which recently overhauled its curriculum, has been making the ever-growing discipline emblematic of a liberal arts education. Step One has been ensuring that computer science is accessible to all students.

Three Hamilton students —Gabrielle (Gaby) Guerra ’27, Tzu Han (Annie) Huang ’27, and Darian Torres ’27 — will study abroad during the next year, thanks to assistance from Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships.

As the 2024-25 academic year wraps up, we’re proud to celebrate students who have received national fellowships and scholarships, presented at conferences, and earned other recognition.

Chrissy Crespo ’25 and Alinur Jaboldinov ’26 are the first Hamilton students to participate in the Trudeau Institute’s Biomedical Research Scholars Program in Saranac Lake, N.Y. The program includes five courses designed to develop students’ research skills and understanding of immunology, but its shining focus is the intensive immunological research experience.

Sabina Feder ’25 and Brianna “Bri” Padilla ’25 both received Hamilton’s prestigious Bristol Fellowship, which sponsors projects “based on strong personal interest and commitment” and that “exhibit a spirit of inquisitiveness and a seriousness of purpose.”