NDMU Students Present Research, Biology Major Wins an Award at Statewide Microbiology Symposium

Ema Hrvat ’27 Places Third in the J. Howard Brown Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research Competition

By: Sabrina Miller, Content Strategy Director, University Communications

BALTIMORE, Md. – Five student researchers from Notre Dame of Maryland University presented their findings – and one biology major placed third for research excellence – at this year’s American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Maryland Branch Research Symposium.

Ema Hrvat ’27 earned third place in the ASM Maryland Branch’s J. Howard Brown Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research competition. Hrvat’s project examined soil samples collected from a school in Tennessee and was recognized for effectively communicating the significance, methods, findings, and broader impact of the research. Hrvat will continue her work in NDMU’s advanced research program this fall. The J. Howard Brown Award is presented to an outstanding graduate and undergraduate student who is making worthy contributions in the field of microbiology. It recognizes exceptional student scholarship and scientific communication.

In addition to Hrvat, biology majors Zara Ahmad ’28, Naomi Ewhe ’27 and Odelia Nanou ’28, along with health sciences major Eleanor Flores ’27, presented their findings at the symposium, showcasing the University’s commitment to undergraduate research and scientific discovery. For many of the students, the symposium marked their first experience conducting and presenting original research.

“Presenting research at professional conferences is an important part of the scientific process,” said Dr. Jennifer Kerr, the Dr. Mary Kay Shartle Galotto ’64 Endowed Chair in the Biological Sciences. “Our students represented NDMU exceptionally well, demonstrating their enthusiasm for scientific inquiry, and we are especially proud of Ema.”

For Hrvat, the experience was about much more than presenting research. “One thing I learned from my experience at the ASM symposium is that comfort is a safe place, but growth happens when you step outside of it. I am typically a very shy and introverted person, and public speaking has always been intimidating. Through this experience, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone, met new people, connected with students and researchers who share my interests, and shared my work with others. I was able to represent both myself and NDMU in ways that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my professor and mentor, Dr. Jennifer Kerr. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to future opportunities to represent NDMU.”

Working under the mentorship of Dr. Kerr and Dr. Sayumi York in the Bioinformatics Multi-Omics Research & Education (BMORE) Lab at NDMU, the students investigated the role viruses play in soil ecosystems. Part of an ongoing collaboration with the world’s top experts in genomic researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the NDMU projects build upon previous work that contributed to a major publication in Nature Genetics.

Using cloud-based computing resources and bioinformatics tools, students analyzed soil samples collected from locations including Baltimore, Tennessee, and Georgia to better understand which viruses are present in soil environments and how they may influence soil health and ecology.

Hosted annually by the ASM Maryland Branch, one of the nation’s most active state microbiology organizations, the event brings together students, faculty, researchers, and clinicians from across Maryland to share research and advance scientific knowledge.

Through hands-on research opportunities and close faculty mentorship, NDMU continues to prepare students for careers and advanced study in the biological, biomedical, and health sciences while fostering a culture of inquiry, innovation, and discovery.

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best “Regional Universities North” by U.S. News & World Report.