Microbiology Student Seeks Cure for Johne’s Disease
How many undergraduates at major universities get to do research that makes a real difference in the world? At Colorado State University—plenty. Microbiology major Jamie Everman (Sr., Lakewood, Colo.), is part of a research team looking for a cure for intestinal disease in cattle.
“We think there’s a gene that produces a certain lipid,” Everman said. “If we can identify it, we can use it to diagnose Johne’s Disease in cattle. We can develop a test for antibodies, and can eradicate it from there.”
Johne’s (pronounced YO-neez) Disease is a chronic, contagious, often fatal illness that affects dairy and?to a lesser extent?cattle herds, as well as goats and other ruminants. Bovine Veterinarian magazine called the disease a “national epidemic” in its fall 2008 issue. The Johne’s bacterium is related to another that causes tuberculosis, but is not generally considered a threat to humans beyond its impact on food production.
Everman has pursued undergraduate research as a Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholar since she was a freshman. She won an undergraduate research award to work in Germany the summer after her sophomore year, and another last summer to work in a cancer research lab. This year she is president of the Microbiology Student Association.
In the Hughes Undergraduate Research Program “They match you and your research interests to labs as a freshman and sophomore,” Everman said. “It’s amazing to get the hands-on experience most (students at other universities) don’t get. Then I get to apply in the lab what I learned in class.”
She says she’s thinking about going to grad school, and then “I hope to work in research and development for a hospital, in biotech or biopharmaceuticals.”
Colorado State faculty encourage undergraduates to join their research teams in most laboratories on the main campus, as well as at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the foothills campus. Participants work closely with top researchers in their field and actively engage in exciting, current research. Whether in the field, in the lab, or in informal gatherings with undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and faculty researchers, they develop a first-hand understanding of scientific methods and hone the tools for post-graduate studies.
CSU leads the world in such areas as infectious disease research, atmospheric science, and environmental science. CSU is home to an NIH Regional Center of Excellence in Infectious Disease, the world's largest animal cancer center, a world-renowned Equine Orthopedic Research Center, among many other excellent facilities. CSU was the first university in the United States to receive funding for two National Science Foundation centers in one round?one in extreme ultraviolet light and the other in atmospheric science.
Check out some of the research opportunities for undergraduates through the University Honors Program (http://www.honors.colostate.edu/research.html).