High Impact Learning: Weiss Summer Research 2025
A Point of Pride Through Your Generosity
We are grateful for your instrumental role in providing high-impact learning opportunities for our students through your support of the Weiss Summer Research Program. During this eight-week program, the incredible transformation that our students undergo transcends academics. Through their rigorous and highly-collaborative opportunities to create and exchange ideas alongside our renowned faculty members, participants sharpen the critical-thinking, communication, planning and discernment skills necessary to succeed in all facets of life. Strengthened by this experience, our students are aptly prepared to compete for coveted graduate and professional positions of their choosing.
The Weiss Summer Research Program is a point of pride at the College. As Holy Cross continually strives to provide opportunities for academic excellence and transformational experiences for all our students, unrestricted support of this program ensures that an applicant's consideration is relegated to the strength of their proposal and quality of their application. On behalf of all those who benefit from their participation in the Weiss Summer Research Program, thank you.
We are profoundly grateful to those alumni, parents and friends who have supported the Weiss Summer Research Program through endowed and annual support, especially:
- George I. Alden Trust
- Anonymous
- Anne E. and John Kirby Bray '79 P10
- Diane D. Brink P12
- Josefina and James E. Doyle, Jr. '82
- Wendy R. and Kenneth J. Edwards, M.D. '80 P12
- Carol P. and Robert C. Gibbons '67
- Laurie D. and William C. Goggins, M.D. '88
- Eileen D. and Richard J. Greisch '72 P99
- Patricia McGovern Hill '82 P12 and Peter J. Hill '82 P12
- Mark P. and Janine S. Kelly '92 P28, 22
- Daniel Kennedy, Ph.D. '68
- Marion and Samuel E. Krug, Ph.D. '65
- Richard A. Marfuggi, M.D., D.M.H. '72
- Renee and Anthony M. Marlon, M.D. '63
- Janice and William F. McCall, Jr. '55 P90, 90, 89
- Gregory W. Monfette, D.M.D. '13
- Jacqueline H. and George A. Paletta, Jr., M.D. '84 P15
- Robert J. Stransky Foundation, Rosemary T. Burgio P25, 24 and Michael C. Trimboli ’72
- Kim Frock Weeks and Wendell Weeks P15
What's Possible Because of Your Support
The Weiss Summer Research Program provides our student participants with a unique opportunity to collaborate with distinguished faculty members on original scholarly research
- 8-week residential program
- 90 students participated this year
- 56 faculty members guided student research
- Students were admitted based upon strength of application and project proposal
- Participants contributed to cutting-edge projects and publications in their respective fields
Weiss Summer Research Projects
On Sept. 12, 2025, our students presented a synopsis of their projects in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts and economics at the 31st Annual Summer Research Symposium. Open to members of the College community, this robust event allowed our students to share about their novel research, unique findings and faculty collaborations.
Some of those projects included:
Thorns, Spines and Prickers, Oh My: The Defense Mechanisms of Plants
Jennifer Martinez Paz '27 spent her summer vacation studying plants' puncture-based defense systems: the thorns, spines and prickers, which serve as a deterrent to predators.
Watch The Video
Two States, Three Students, 40 Feet Underwater: Inside "Egg Day"
Justin McAlister, professor of biology and environmental studies, teamed with three biology majors, Catherine Hernando ’27, Jayde Waibel ’27 and Libby Silver ’26, in July and August 2025 to continue his work studying the northern star coral, Astrangia poculata.
Look Behind The ScenesScenes From The Symposium
Student Spotlight
Donald Hicks '27
"My Weiss Summer Research Program experience helped me learn more about myself and where I want to lead my life. My research in biomechanics showed me that I am passionate about the physical side of how the world works compared to the biological side; therefore, I recently became a physics major. I plan to pursue a career in robotics engineering, specifically biotech, to design and innovate prosthetic limbs. I want to enhance accessibility and affordability for those facing these kinds of difficulties."
Laura Hofmann '26
"One of the amazing things about the Weiss Summer Research Program is that you can strengthen relationships with faculty who you can continue to work with throughout your time at Holy Cross. Rather than starting over just for one summer with a different advisor, we foster relationships with faculty at Holy Cross that can inspire curiosity for research that we can maintain during the academic year. I have gotten opportunities to work alongside my faculty advisor, as well as other Weiss researchers and faculty, who have opened my eyes to so many amazing research opportunities that are available at Holy Cross."