VTSU Students Showcase Research at Prestigious American Geophysical Union Conference

January 6, 2026

A group of ten individuals standing in front of two adjacent posters at the AGU conference. One poster is titled “Permafrost, Sea Ice, and Snow Through Nanoscale X-ray Microscopy.” Overhead signage reads “Beyond Earth.” The setting is a large exhibition hall with visible structural beams.

Two teams of Vermont State University students recently presented their scientific research at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting, a global gathering of more than 25,000 scientists held in New Orleans, December 15–19, 2025. In total, 10 representatives from VTSU attended this year’s event.

Five individuals standing behind a large blue 3D “AGU” sign at the American Geophysical Union conference. The backdrop includes white curtains and a wall with stylized text featuring words like “Chicken Clemenceau” and “Gumbo.” The floor is speckled tile.
Five individuals standing in front of a poster titled “Thinking Differently: Exploring Non-Proprietary Hardware Solutions for Remote Data Collection” at the AGU conference. The poster features diagrams, photos of equipment, and data charts. The setting is a large convention hall with numbered poster boards.
An individual standing in front of a poster titled “Microstructural Characterization of Arctic Terrain Using X-ray μCT.” The poster displays Arctic soil core images, microscopic views, and data charts. The setting is a spacious conference hall with overhead signage and other posters visible.
A person presenting a scientific poster titled “Permafrost, Sea Ice, and Snow Through Nanoscale X-ray Microscopy” at the AGU conference. The poster includes diagrams, charts, and microscopic images. Colorful circular models are attached to the right side of the poster board.
A person pointing to a scientific poster titled “Microstructural Characterization of Arctic Terrain Using X-ray μCT” while discussing with two attendees. The poster includes images of Arctic terrain samples, charts, and diagrams. A backpack and water bottle are on the floor nearby.
Two individuals standing in front of a poster titled “Thinking Differently: Exploring Non-Proprietary Hardware Solutions for Remote Data Collection.” The poster includes photos of electronic hardware, charts, and diagrams. The background shows other posters and a large convention space.
A group of ten individuals standing in front of two adjacent posters at the AGU conference. One poster is titled “Permafrost, Sea Ice, and Snow Through Nanoscale X-ray Microscopy.” Overhead signage reads “Beyond Earth.” The setting is a large exhibition hall with visible structural beams.

The DRACO (Dynamic Research of Arctic Cryospheric Organisms) team, led by Principal Investigator (PI) Ross Lieblappen, included Research Scientists Eliza Goodell and Caleb Tilton, along with VTSU students Dominic Mazzilli, Ayden LaPoint, and Olivia Rutkowski.

This team earned special recognition at AGU, where a film about their work was showcased to all conference participants.

The DRACO team presented two poster sessions:

  • Mazzilli, D., Goodell, E., Cuciti, G., LaPoint, A., Nichols, J., Rutkowski, O., Tilton, C., Vermilyea, A., Sama, M., Lieblappen, R. 2025. Permafrost, Sea ice, and Snow Through Nanoscale X-ray Microscopy. American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
  • LaPoint, A., Goodell, E., Cuciti, G., Mazzilli, D., Tilton, C., Rutkowski, O., Nichols, J., Vermilyea, A., Sama, M., Lieblappen, R. 2025. Microstructural Characterization of Arctic Terrain Using X-ray μCT. American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.

WiSDOM Team Advances Environmental Monitoring

The second group, the WiSDOM (Wireless Sensing Divination thru Onsite Monitoring) team, was led by PI Mary O’Leary and Co-PI Ross Lieblappen, with VTSU students Amelia Vlahogiannis, Evan Morse, and Sam Cowan.

Their research focused on innovative, open-source approaches to environmental monitoring and data collection.

WiSDOM presented two posters:

  • Cowan, S., Morse, E., Vlahogiannis, A., Evans, M., O’Leary, M., Lieblappen, R. 2025. Thinking Differently: Exploring Non-Proprietary Hardware Solutions for Remote Data Collection. American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
  • Vlahogiannis, A., Morse, E., Cowan, S., Lieblappen, R., O’Leary, M. 2025. Developing Environmental Monitoring Systems in Rural Vermont to Explore the Use of Open-Source Electronic Hardware for Scientific Communities, Municipalities, and Civilian Scientists. American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.