HPU Research and Innovation: April 2026

High Point University pre-dental students Jordan Havert and Tyler Janick recently co-presented their original research and received the Undergraduate Poster Award at Fungal Genetics 2026, a major international research conference in Pacific Grove, California. Both students are sophomores.

HIGH POINT, N.C., April 30, 2026 – High Point University students, faculty and staff frequently conduct, publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research and innovative initiatives.

Students Present Original Research at International Conference

HPU pre-dental students Jordan Havert and Tyler Janick recently co-presented their original research at Fungal Genetics 2026, a major international research conference in Pacific Grove, California. The Natural Science Fellows received the Undergraduate Poster Award for their research, titled “Natural products from aquatic fungi as novel treatments for neurodegenerative disease.”

Havert and Janick conducted research in a laboratory with Dr. Grace Hamilton, assistant professor of chemistry, using fungi to explore many questions in cell biology and human health. The two sophomores were grateful for Hamilton’s mentorship and guidance as they learned more about the scientific process, as well as how to effectively present research and develop scientific posters.

“HPU students are conducting significant, original research with HPU faculty and receiving recognition for it at a leading international research conference,” Hamilton said. “Jordy and Tyler’s work lays the groundwork for development of novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Havert said it was an incredibly rewarding experience presenting research at an international conference, sharing their work with experts in the field and engaging in meaningful scientific discussions with people from around the globe. She hopes this research can help identify naturally derived compounds that may serve as more accessible or effective alternatives to current treatment options, ultimately improving quality of life for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

“Earning the Undergraduate Poster Award, especially among over 300 poster presentations, was truly an honor and validated the time and effort our lab has dedicated to this research,” said Havert, who is from Johnson City, Tennessee. “Through this experience, I gained more practice in how to effectively communicate scientific ideas and topics to a diverse audience and gained valuable feedback from researchers with different areas of expertise. I also developed a deeper understanding of the different levels of fungal research.”

Although she never expected to work with fungi research in undergraduate school, Havert said her interest in microbiology led her to join this lab and it has been an incredible experience ever since.

Janick agreed being able to present original research and earn the poster award at a major international conference was unexpected. The experience allowed him to have conversations with established researchers and scientists, many of whom were surprised to hear how early he had begun his research journey.

“Being in conversations with researchers from across the field, I started to realize how much my early exposure to research has shaped the way I think, speak and engage scientifically,” said Janick, who is from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. “As a pre-dental student, I’m fully committed to pursuing dental school, but experiences like this have completely reshaped how I approach learning and growth. Through research, I’ve developed critical thinking skills, learned how to navigate failure and trouble-shoot in real time, and gained the confidence to take initiative with new ideas. It has also strengthened my manual dexterity and attention to detail, skills that translate directly into dentistry. Just as importantly, it has prepared me professionally. Managing materials, working within constraints and communicating ideas clearly are all experiences that go far beyond what a textbook can offer.”

Janick expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of Hamilton’s lab and for her one-on-one mentorship that has guided his growth. His research with Havert focuses on natural metabolites, which are substances produced during metabolism, that may act as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme closely linked to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Current FDA-approved treatments, such as donepezil, can be effective but often come with limitations, including cost and side effects,” Janick said. “Our long-term hope is that natural products like the ones we are studying could offer alternative or complementary options that are both effective and more accessible. Drug development is a long and complex process, but every step matters. If our research can help contribute to that foundation, whether by identifying promising compounds or guiding future studies, then it’s moving in the right direction.”

Havert also was thinking about how this research can connect to dentistry.

“This experience strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in healthcare and research by showing me the real-world impact scientific discovery can have,” she said. “It also helped me build confidence in presenting and discussing my work, which will be essential as I continue into higher education and professional school. And now, with our lab beginning a pilot dental fungi project, I guess you could say I’ve found a way to bring fungi into dentistry.”

 Students and Faculty Present Research at American Chemical Society Expo

Twenty-three HPU undergraduates and six chemistry faculty presented original research at the American Chemical Society (ACS) national meeting and expo in Atlanta. The ACS is one of the world’s largest scientific societies and the foremost professional society for chemistry.

“Presenting original research at a national ACS meeting is a unique opportunity for our undergraduate students and speaks to the depth of scholarly engagement we cultivate in the Department of Chemistry at HPU,” said Dr. Kelsey Kean, assistant professor of chemistry. “Every year we are complimented on the quality of research presented by our students as well as their professionalism and curiosity. Participating in a national conference exposes our students to cutting‑edge science and allows them to engage directly with leaders in the field, fostering mentorship and professional relationships that often extend well beyond the meeting itself.”

Callie Freeman, a junior biology major, was selected along with Kean, senior biology major Evan Mills and Dr. Pamela Lundin, associate professor of chemistry, to give oral presentations at the meeting. Additionally, 21 students presented posters.

Kean and Freeman were also selected to present their work at Sci-Mix, an interdivisional poster session and networking event held at each ACS meeting for participating divisions to showcase their best science and presentations. Jake Ankrum, a sophomore biochemistry and physics major, Chase Dillon, a sophomore neuroscience major, and Westyn Woodward, a sophomore biochemistry major, also presented at Sci-Mix.

“The ACS expo was a great chance to share my research with the greater scientific community and gain some insight from more experienced scientists within my field,” said Ankrum, who is from Monument, Colorado. “I had many engaging conversations with professionals and students from other universities and left the conference with several ideas about advancing my research at HPU. Sharing your work is a fundamental aspect of science, so it is important to learn this skill. The ACS expo is an excellent opportunity to practice public speaking and presenting techniques while networking with potential employers or graduate school advisors. Overall, the experience is essential for any student who is considering a career in science and provides a beneficial experience that cannot be taught in the classroom.”

Actively participating in such a prestigious conference and being selected to present at Sci-Mix strengthened Freeman’s professional development and will be a valuable addition to her application for graduate school to become a physician assistant.

“Through this conference, I developed greater confidence in my work and learned the importance of trusting both myself and my mentor,” said Freeman, who is from Lexington, North Carolina. “I also realized how important it is to take pride in the research I am conducting, not only for my own growth but because it has value and impact for others in the scientific community. Despite becoming physically ill during the conference, I persevered and completed my presentations. This challenged me to manage stress, remain composed under pressure and push through adversity—skills that are essential in healthcare. These experiences directly align with my future goal of becoming a physician assistant in family medicine, where strong communication, resilience and the ability to connect with others are critical.”

Labs run by eight faculty members in HPU’s Department of Chemistry were represented at the conference.

Game Design Students Host Conference, Present Games

The HPU International Game Developers Association hosted the university’s third annual HPU Game Developers Conference on April 11-12.

This year’s event brought together seven professional and independent game designers for an alumni panel, a session on leaning into user-generated content by Deepak Nair, who is a developer advocate at Meta, and a keynote about the life of a game designer from Kelly M. Tran, a senior systems designer at CD PROJEKT RED. The event included a roundtable discussion and a student showcase, where designers played games created by students and shared meaningful design discussions, mentorship and networking opportunities.

“One of the most meaningful parts of the day was seeing our guest speakers stay to watch our seniors present and demo their capstone games and then head to the esports arena to play student games alongside them,” said Brian Heagney, assistant professor of game design. “Moments like that, where students are sharing their work directly with industry professionals, getting feedback and making connections, are what make events like this so valuable.”

The alumni panel included Alex Vaughn, advanced designer at Insomniac Games; Ross LeMere, producer at HTX Labs; Olivia Farrell, narrative design lead at Bright Harbor Studio; Tyler Johnson, STEM instructor; and Nathaniel Greenstine, software producer at Epic Games.

“Something I learned is how welcoming this industry truly is,” said Amaris Jenkins, a senior game design major from North Plainfield, New Jersey. “Both the alumni and guest speakers were open about their experiences and showed that unorthodox paths can still lead to success. It reinforced that everyone’s journey is different, so it’s important not to limit yourself to just one path. They were also generous with their advice and spoke about mentoring others, which highlighted the strong support system within the community.”

Four HPU faculty and 37 students also attended Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, on March 9-13, where they hosted three booths and presented their games to professionals in the industry. HPU also sent 11 students and one faculty member to PAX East in Boston, Massachusetts, where students presented their games on the expo floor to more than 100,000 attendees on March 26-29.