We are thrilled to announce that Georgia Chaffin and Emily Roberts have been selected to participate in our prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in Microbiology at the Host-Pathogen Interface. Their fellowships are generously supported by funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research and their Principal Investigators (PIs).

Georgia is working under the guidance of Professor Rich Roller and graduate student mentor Marla Shaffer. Her project, titled "Functional Analysis of the Immediate Early Viral Protein, ICP22, in HSV-1," aims to uncover the intricate roles of the ICP22 protein in the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) lifecycle.

Emily is working under the guidance of Associate Professor Jeremiah Johnson and graduate student mentor Madison Bunch. Her research, "Neutrophil Responses to Campylobacter jejuni: Investigating the Role of IL-8 Stimulation in Bacterial Clearance," focuses on understanding how neutrophils respond to the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni and the role of IL-8 in promoting bacterial clearance.

As REU participants, Georgia and Emily will dedicate their summer to full-time research, engaging in professional development activities, and presenting their findings at the Summer Undergraduate Research Conference. They will join 10 other NSF-REU participants from across the country in this enriching experience. Both researchers will continue their projects into the 2025-2026 academic year, further contributing to the advancement of microbiological research.

We are excited to see the innovative contributions Georgia and Emily will make through their research endeavors.