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A group of Biology Honors Research students visited Colorado State University (CSU) on November 1, 2024, to conduct advanced bacterial sample analysis. This visit is part of an ongoing collaboration between ����ý and CSU aimed at providing students with hands-on research experience and exposure to cutting-edge scientific techniques. This fall, Biology Research Students have been working on a project led by Dr. Jenai Rutledge, Professor LaRue and Dr. Nia Bauer. ����ý students worked to determine if bacteria isolated from soil samples have antibiotic properties. Soil samples were collected from the Backcountry Wilderness area, bacteria were isolated and tested against known pathogens.

During their visit, the students had the opportunity to work in CSU’s state-of-the-art laboratories, utilizing advanced equipment (MALDI TOF) and methodologies to analyze bacterial samples. This experience is designed to enhance their understanding of microbiological research and prepare them for possible future careers in the biological sciences.

Dr. Nia Bauer, a lead faculty mentor for the ����ý Biology Honors program, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration. “This partnership with CSU allows our students to gain invaluable practical experience and insights into the world of scientific research. We are excited to see the knowledge and skills they will bring back to our campus.”

The visit also included a tour of CSU’s Center for Vector-borne Infectious Disease research facility, and a working lunch led by Dr. Grace Borlee, a CSU faculty members, and CSU undergraduate research students, providing ����ý students with a comprehensive overview of the research process and the various career paths available in the field of biology.

����ý students will be sharing the progress of their research projects at the Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium on November 22 from 9:30 - 11:30am in room M3160. All are welcome. 

For more information about the ����ý Biology Honors program and this upcoming visit, please contact Nia Bauer, PhD at nia [dot] bauer [at] arapahoe [dot] edu.