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Carthage has been accepted to join the research program operated by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and is now one of approximately 40 colleges worldwide participating in this advanced functional genetics research.

Biology faculty Professor Emily Wollmuth and Professor Deb Tobiason will lead the program at Carthage. Through this partnership, biology and biotechnology students will gain hands-on experience in molecular biology and genetic engineering and contribute to genuine research.

Since 2010, Carthage has been a member of SEA-PHAGES, an HHMI funded program that allows first-year biology and biotechnology majors to engage in hands-on research as part of the Molecules, Cells, and Organisms course. Students in this program isolate and analyze bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) contributing to a global phage database. To date, over 500 bacteriophages have been isolated by over 1,000 students at Carthage.

Carthage’s participation in SEA-GENES expands this work, engaging students in research on the function of phage genes that have been discovered through the SEA-PHAGES program. Students will now have the opportunity to gain up to four semesters of related research experience through coursework alone.

Currently, the first stages of this research are being completed in the Genetics course taught by Prof. Wollmuth. Beginning next academic year, the full SEA-GENES program will be implemented in a new research-based Molecular Biology Techniques course for biology and biotechnology students.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Biology Department

For more information, contact:

Prof. Emily Wollmuth: ewollmuth@carthage.edu, Prof. Deb Tobiason: dtobiason@carthage.edu