EOP scholars participate in research program

09/29/2026

SUNY Cortland's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) scholars continue to excel through high-impact learning - with the most recent evidence coming through undergraduate research.

Two exercise science majors - sophomore Stephanie Elizabeth Martinez and junior Dillian Vittini - were among 42 students from across the SUNY system who participated in the EOP STEM Summer Research Program.

Both students earned a stipend, housing and additional support that allowed them to join in meaningful hands-on work in the sciences during the summer. Martinez participated in psychology research at Binghamton University that considered how infants perceive faces, while Vittini worked in a chemistry lab at SUNY Brockport that relied on environmentally friendly methods to study chemical compounds.

Martinez and Vittini also presented their findings at a system-wide research symposium at the SUNY System Administration Building in Albany that brought together 62 students from both the STEM Summer Research Program and SUNY's EOP Liberal Arts Summer Research Program.

The larger SUNY Undergraduate EOP Summer Research Program started last summer with 30 students at five SUNY campuses. This year, SUNY has doubled the program participants to 62 students at 10 campus host sites.

Both Martinez and Vittini aspire to work in the healthcare field - Martinez as a pediatric surgeon and Vittini as a physical therapist. Despite being the youngest person working in a lab with graduate and Ph.D. students, Martinez found the experience to be rewarding.

"I had the chance to learn about topics and methods I had never encountered before," she said. "Collaborating with them and receiving thoughtful feedback helped me strengthen and refine my own research."

Although Vittini's work focused on chemistry rather than kinesiology, he was introduced to new equipment in a lab setting.

"It taught me how to approach problems carefully, pay attention to detail, work through challenges and apply what I have learned in a hands-on environment," he said.

More information about each EOP scholar is included below.

Stephanie Elizabeth Martinez

Major: exercise science

Hometown: Brentwood, N.Y.

Class year: sophomore

Title/focus of summer research: Quantifying Face Similarity: An Individualized Stimulus Set for Infant Habituation Tasks

Research mentor: Stefania Conte, assistant professor of psychology, Binghamton University

Explaining my research: "My summer research consisted of creating a habituation study on how infants find similarities in faces, like their primary caregiver or a stranger to test for novelty versus unfamiliarity."

Favorite part of summer research experience: "My favorite part of the experience was working in a lab with graduate and Ph.D. students. As the youngest person in the lab, I had the chance to learn about topics and methods I had never encountered before. Collaborating with them and receiving thoughtful feedback helped me strengthen and refine my research."

Extracurricular involvement: Pre-Medical Club

Most rewarding part of SUNY Cortland EOP: "My favorite part of EOP has been my advisors and connecting with older students in my major and concentration, who have shared advice that has helped me grow academically and professionally."

Future aspirations: "My future goal is to enter the medical field and become a pediatric surgeon. I want to use my skills to care for children and improve their health outcomes."

How summer research will help in the future: "My summer research will help my future plans by giving me early experience with infants and child development, which is the population I hope to serve as a pediatric surgeon. I learned how to design a study, work with data and use tools like machine learning to answer questions objectively. Working with graduate and Ph.D. students also taught me how to collaborate, take feedback and keep improving my work. These skills will help me in medical school and in a career that values teamwork and careful thinking."

Dillian Vittini

Major: exercise science

Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.

Class year: junior

Title/focus of summer research: Clean, Green, High-Impact Machines

Research mentor: Michael Coleman, associate professor of chemistry, SUNY Brockport

Explaining my research: "My research focused on using more environmentally friendly methods to create and study a specific chemical compound. I worked through the process of producing the compound, purifying it and using scientific instruments to confirm that the compound had been successfully isolated. The research also looked at how the compound could potentially be used in future chemical reactions."

Favorite part of summer research experience: "My favorite part of the experience was being able to use advanced scientific instruments that I normally would not have access to in a traditional college classroom. It was really interesting to see the 'behind the scenes' of the chemistry concepts I have learned in class and actually apply them in a research setting."

Extracurricular involvement: Resident assistant in Glass Tower; supplemental instruction leader for BIO 301; and personal trainer at the Student Life Center. I also regularly participate in Curly, Coily, Kinky; Men of Value and Excellence; the Multicultural Male Initiative; and intramural flag football.

Most rewarding part of SUNY Cortland EOP: "What I have enjoyed most about SUNY Cortland EOP is the sense of family and community within the program. I feel very connected to the EOP staff and my fellow students, and the friendships and connections I have built through EOP are ones that I believe I will remember for a lifetime."

Future aspirations: "My goal is to attend graduate school to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and ultimately become a licensed physical therapist."

How summer research will help in the future: "Although my research was focused on chemistry rather than physical therapy, the experience helped me develop skills that I will carry into my future career. It taught me how to approach problems carefully, pay attention to detail, work through challenges and apply what I have learned in a hands-on environment. It also gave me greater confidence working with scientific equipment and conducting research, which I believe will be valuable as I continue my education and pursue a career in physical therapy."