Thiel College biology students present research at international symposium

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Eight Thiel College biology students presented their semester-long research projects at the prestigious 2025 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Alliance International Symposium from April 25-27.

The students, all enrolled in BIO 396: Advanced Biotechnology Methods, showed their work from the international SEA-PHAGE program. Students presenting at the symposium include Triston Barr ’26, Dorian Briggs ’28, Meghan Columbus ’25, Karigan Hager ’25, Daisy Jenness ’25, Amya Oliver ’25, Adrianna Rossi ’27, and Briney Stilinovich ’27. Under the guidance of Mary O’Donnell, Ph.D., and Jennifer Broderick, Ph.D., these students conducted independent research throughout the semester, contributing to the growing field of bacteriophage discovery and genomics.

The SEA-PHAGE program, which involves more than 200 colleges and universities worldwide, provides undergraduates with hands-on research experience in identifying novel bacteriophages, a virus capable of infecting bacteria. This research has critical applications in combating bacterial resistance and contributes to advancements in medicine, agriculture, and conservation science.

Assistant Professor of Biology Mary O’Donnell, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Biology Jennifer Broderick, Ph.D. said they are “so very proud of this hard-working group of students. They have worked tirelessly to complete meaningful research that not only expands their scientific knowledge but also contributes to real-world clinical and scientific applications.”

The students’ projects this semester included annotating the genome of a newly discovered bacteriophage, which will be published in the National Institutes of Health’s GenBank database. Additionally, students purified and amplified bacteriophages, extracted DNA, and created opportunities for future genome annotation.

Presenting at the international symposium gives Thiel students the chance to share their findings with a diverse professional audience and connect with peers and faculty from institutions across the globe.

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