Healthy Curiosity
Ohio Wesleyan Students Study Squid Eggs, Bacteria, and Antifungal Treatments
Name: Sophia Rohr '27
Hometown: Copley, Ohio
High school: Copley High School
Majors: Genetics and Neuroscience
Minors: Chemistry and Sociology & Anthropology
OWU Connection Experience: Participating in Ohio Wesleyan's annual Summer Scholarship and Research Program (SSRP)
Rohr and Julien DeFelice '26 of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, researched "A Biomimetic Hydrogel System for Studying Competition of Squid Reproductive Symbionts" and presented their findings at OWU's fall research symposium.
According to their project abstract: "A symbiotic community of bacteria in the eggs of Hawaiian bobtail squid provides protection against fungal infections. Our lab is using a synthetic squid egg model to grow these bacteria so we can examine their interactions within the community and with fungi. Further understanding of these interactions may contribute to the development of new antifungal treatments."
Why This Opportunity?
"One of the things that really drew me to OWU in the first place was SSRP," Rohr said. "I plan on going into grad school, so gaining research experience while in undergrad was something that was really important to me."
My Favorite Moment
"I really enjoyed getting to learn new lab skills and techniques. I also really enjoyed how collaborative the process felt. Dr. Suria was always asking for our input and really trusted us to do the bulk of the research independently." (Andrea Suria, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences whose research examines how beneficial bacterial symbionts protect their host animals from infection.)
Lessons Learned
"I learned a lot of lab skills that I haven't had the chance to learn in the classroom yet. In addition, I took a class with Dr. Suria this past spring called Applied Genomics. In this course, we sequenced bacterial genomes from bacteria found in the Hawaiian Bobtail Squid.
"Our research this summer worked with the same kind of bacteria, and it has given me more context for why what we did in class matters and how it can be experimentally applied. I also learned how to communicate research results to the general public and discuss scientific literature, and I gained a lot of confidence in my skills as a researcher. These are things that I know will help me with my future."
My Campus Involvements
"I am the current vice president of both Neurds (Neuroscience club) and WinS (Women in Science), and I am the secretary of Circle K. In addition, I live in SEAL." (The Service, Engagement, and Leadership House is one of Ohio Wesleyan's themed small-living units, each of which houses up to a dozen students interested in the same issues.)
Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan?
"I really felt at home on campus. I loved the small class sizes and the opportunity to easily get involved in research on campus. I also loved the liberal arts curriculum and the chance to easily pursue multiple academic interests."
I hope to get a Ph.D. after graduation. OWU is preparing me to reach this goal by providing me with amazing faculty who really care about my success and about me as a person.
My Plans After Graduation
"I hope to get a Ph.D. after graduation. OWU is preparing me to reach this goal by providing me with amazing faculty who really care about my success and about me as a person. For instance, Dr. Suria has given me the chance to do research in her lab that is in line with the types of programs I would like to pursue and has talked to me about my future plans. In addition to this, my research, classes, and extracurriculars have helped me gain confidence in my skills and have connected me to a network of people I otherwise would not likely have met."