Harry’s Summer Success: Outstanding Student Research on Avian Health
This summer, veterinary student Harry Brightman took part in the prestigious 13-week Veterinary Medical Scientist Research Training Program (VMSRTP), which offers first- and second-year veterinary students a valuable opportunity to dive into research. At the end of the summer, each student offers a talk as part of an on-campus VMSRTP Research Conference.
Working closely with the Schubot Center for Avian Health, Harry gained hands-on experience in DNA extraction and PCR techniques to identify avian malaria parasites in wild bird samples. These samples were originally collected by PhD student Meredith Anderson, DVM, who previously discovered significant exposure of these birds to neonicotinoid pesticides.
Harry’s research presentation, titled “Does Immunosuppression of Wild Birds by Neonicotinoid Pesticide Exposure Alter Pathogen Infection Prevalence? The Case of Texas Birds and Malaria Parasites,” earned him the Outstanding Clinical Research Presentation Award at the event. Afterward, he headed to Minnesota to present his work alongside other summer scholars from across the country.
Congratulations, Harry, on this remarkable achievement.