Did you know  that the person sitting next to you in class may be a published author?  Many undergraduates who have made a significant time commitment to research have had their results published in peer reviewed scientific journals.	Cornyebacterium pseudotuberculosis, what makes this organism pathogenic? An undergraduate researcher can tell you.	Cryptosporidium parvum oocytes, but which genotype? And how reliable is the assay? Ask the undergraduate researchers who helped figure it out.
The virus øMH2K, seen for the first time, was discovered and characterized by an undergraduate researcher at the University of Arizona.	Does the ability of the bacteria Arcanobacterium pyogenes to bind collagen, a host cell protein, make the organism more pathogenic? An undergraduate researcher knows the answer.	These examples represent only some of the published research by U of A undergraduate authors. For more click on the following link: Microbiology research articles with undergraduate authors

The Program's Purpose:

The Microbiology Honors Program is separate from the Honors College. It is designed for students who wish to participate in research in this exciting and vast area of biology. Many professional scientists conducted research when they were undergraduate students. Most would say they learned as much or even more about science from actual practice than in their formal course work. Why?
 

• Undergraduate research entails one-on-one contact with a professional scientist, your thesis advisor. Through this contact you learn scientific reasoning and concepts that are not addressed in formal course work.

• Concepts, which may seem abstract in the classroom, become very concrete when working with living organisms.

• Students in the program are eligible to enroll in honors sections of MIC courses. These sections are dedicated to deeper analyses and discussions of current topics in Microbiology, and are usually limited to 10-15 students. A list of courses with honors sections can be found at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility:

The Microbiology Honors Program is not limited to students in the Honors College. While students in the Honors College automatically qualify, other students as well are eligible. Students who do not meet the Honors College criteria are eligible if they have earned an overall GPA of 3.0, and a science/math GPA of 3.3. Students can apply to the program after completing three - four semesters at the University. To apply, have two letters (or emails) of recommendation and permission to access the university transcripts server to Dr. B. Fane (bfane@u.arizona.edu). One of the recommendation letters should come from a science faculty member in whose course you were enrolled. Students already enrolled in the Honor College should contact Dr. B. Fane (bfane@u.arizona.edu).
 
 

Electron Micrograph of Rabies Virus and Max Shreck as the "undead" Count Orloff in the Silent film classic Nosferatu the Vampire

Did you know  the vampire legend is based on the symptoms caused by rabies virus infections of humans? To learn more about how viruses cause damage to nervous system or how they have influenced human history and literature enroll in a Microbiology Course! Medical and Molecular Virology Dracula had Rabies, Viruses in Mythology and History

Did you know the entire genome sequence of A. Vinelandii is in the process of being deciphered at the University of Arizona? The project is directed by Dr. C. Kennedy who teaches Microbial Genetics. Several undergraduates who took this course went on to participate in the ongoing A. Vinelandii genome project. Scanning EM micrograph of A. vinelandii

Program Description:

When you enter the Microbiology Honors Program, you will choose a Pre-Research Mentor (PRM). Your PRM will act as a second advisor concerning class schedules. S/he will work with the Microbiology Program's official advisors to ensure that university requirements, such as Gen. Ed. Classes, are met. You will meet with him/her at least once a semester. These discussions will help you refine your scientific interests, in order to identify faculty members who could best serve as your thesis advisor.  Your thesis advisor will be the professor in whose lab you will conduct your thesis research. A list of potential PRM's, their scientific interests, and links to their web pages can be found below.

The most important, and enjoyable, requirement of the program is conducting the research that will constitute your honors thesis. Meaningful research requires a time commitment, at least three semesters or two semesters and one summer. Dedicating more time to your research will allow you and your thesis advisor to design a more significant project, one that is more central to your advisor's research focus. In addition,  you may find spending a summer on campus working in a laboratory, without the pressure of course work, a very enjoyable experience. Several programs on campus, such as the Undergraduate Biology Research Program, Honors Undergraduate Research Grant Program, Minority Access to Research Careers, and national programs, such as those administered by the American Society for Microbiology, provide stipend support for undergraduate researchers. In addition, many PI's have funds in their grants to support undergraduate summer employment.

During the second half of the third semester, you will write your thesis, which will be in the form of scientific manuscript.  This will give you the opportunity to develop scientific writing skills.  Then will follow a formal thesis defense, which is not as frightening as it may sound. Your thesis advisor will work with you in constructing a 30 minute presentation. The presentation is semi open to the public. Besides your three-member thesis committee, consisting of at least two faculty members, fellow honor students, friends and family can attend. After the presentation, there will be a closed door 15 minute question and answer period with your committee. Based on the written thesis and the thesis defense, the committee will grant on of the following: Honors,  High Honors or Highest Honors.
 

Getting Started:

If you decide to participate in the program, contact Dr. B. Fane (bfane@u.arizona.edu). Dr. Fane will assist with the application process and choosing a pre-research advisor whose research best coincides with your scientific interests. The following professors have agreed to be pre-research mentors. To learn more about their research, you should follow the links to their web sites. 

Dr. Stephen Billington Bacterial pathogenesis, with  emphases on the  genetics of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic  bacteria.	Blood agar plate of wild type A. pyogenes (right) and a mutant (left) deficient in production of the hemolysin, pyolysin.	Dr. A. Elizabeth Arnold Research Interests: diversity, ecology, evolution, and potential applications of symbiotic microfungi, with a special focus on fungal endophytes.	An array of endophyte morphology.
Dr. Judith Brown Research Interests: Plant virology with an emphasis on (i) Begomovirus diversity and (ii) virus-vector biology.	The Begomovirus, Squash Leaf Curl Virus.	Dr. Charles Sterling Research interests: Molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of protozoan parasites that infect man and animals.	Cryptosporidium and Giardia colonizing the small intestine of an infected animal.
Dr. Jim. Collins Research Interests: Virology, with an emphasis on the pathogenicity of Herpesvirus infections of ruminants, vaccine  development using viral glycoproteins, and the epidemiology and diagnosis of animal virus infections.	The inner core of Bovine Herpes Virus type 1.	Dr. Leland Pierson Research Interests: Regulation of secondary metabolite gene expression, emphasis on molecular and community interactions.	P. aureofaciens producing the antibiotic phenazine produce a yellow halo on indicator plates.
Dr. Bentley Fane Research Interests: Virology, with an emphases on viral structure and the molecular mechanisms involved in the intracellular assembly of viral proteins into infections particles.	The atomic structure of an internal scaffolding protein within viral electron density.	Dr. Ornella Selmin Research Interests: Environmental toxicology, with emphases on the molecular mechanisms by which environmental toxins  affect animal development and endocrine regulation.	An immuno-stained chick embryo heart with antibodies against a protein expressed during heart development and affected by environmental toxins.
Dr. Helen Jost Research interests: Bacterial pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on host cell  interaction such as adhesion and colonization.	E. coli expressing the A. pyogenes NanH neuraminidase (right),  compared to a control strain (left).	Dr. Glenn Songer Research Interests: Bacterial pathogenesis with paticular emphases on the role of toxins in pathogenesis of these infections, epidemiology of disease in herds and flocks, and conventional and bioengineered approaches to passive and active prophylaxis.	The DNA-based assay for detecting genes encoding endotoxins in the pathogenic bacteria C. perfingens.
Dr. Michael Riggs Research Interests: Immunobiology of cryptosporidiosis, caused by Cryptosporidium sp, with focus on vaccine development, immunotherapy, molecular pathogenesis, of host cell infection, and structural characterization of parasite glycoprotein ligands.	Photomicrograph of a Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoite following cytoskeletal paralysis.	Dr. Charles Gerba Research Interests: The development of new disinfectants,  pathogen removal, microbiology of domestic environments, molecular methods of pathogen detection.	Bacteria found on an unsanitized surface.
Dr. Jorge Giron Research Interests: The structure-function of adherence factors of pathogenic bacteria including, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroaggregative, and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and flagellins of Vibrio cholerae as potent inducers of proinflammatory molecules.	Electron micrograph of a pathogenic E. coli strain forming a microcolony on a cultured epithelial cell.	Dr. Felicia Goodrum Research Interests: the molecular mechanisms that control the outcome of viral infection and underlie pathogenesis, specifically using the herpesvirus, human cytomegalovirus.	Microarray analysis of human cytomegalovirus gene expression in hematopoietic subpopulations.
Dr.  Raina Maier Research Interests: The diversity and function of bacterial communities in stressed environments; the production and identity of bacterial surfactants; the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in revegetation of mine tailings.	Examples of the calcium carbonate formations in Kartchner Caverns (right) A bacterial colony recovered from a stalactite in Kartchner that produces calcium carbonate crystals.

Choosing your thesis advisor:

Your thesis advisor need not be an instructor in the Microbiology Major. However, s/he must be doing Microbiology related research and agree to supervise your thesis research, the writing of your thesis, the preparation of your defense, and to be a member of your thesis committee. Your pre-research mentor will assist you in identifying potential thesis advisors based on your scientific interests. It is important that you find your research area fundamentally interesting. In addition, your pre-research advisor will help you present a positive image to potential thesis supervisors by giving you advice on interview and resume skills. Why are these points  important?
 

• It is your responsibility to obtain a commitment from a thesis advisor, and there may not be available positions for every qualified student. Faculty members are more likely to make a commitment to you if you present yourself in a professional manner.
• These skills are helpful when applying for post-graduate schools.

The following are departments with faculty involved in Microbiology research: 
 

Veterinary Science & Microbiology Division of Plant Pathology & Microbiology Plant Sciences Biochemistry and Biophysics	Immunobiology Soils, Water, and Environmental Sciences Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Molecular and Cellular Biology
Did you know that plant viruses cause famines and world hunger?  Begomoviruses are some of the most devastating. The world data bank for these pathogens is located right here, at the University of Arizona.  A begomovirus infected bean plant.	Did you know that the University of Arizona is one of 20 universities that is part of the national Superfund Basic Research Program? The program addresses ways to clean up polluted sites.  Many U of A environmental microbiologists and toxicologists participate. Microbes can be used to detoxify hazardous waste sites.