During his time at USCB, Alex Jonguitud Worked to Discover Novel Antibiotics and Volunteered Amidst COVID-19. He is now PREP Scholar at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Alex Jonguitud, Class of 2020
Alex Rendon Jonguitud (Biology, Class of 2020) is now a mentor-funded PREP Scholar at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He is working alongside program director Kathy Wilson in the university's cell biology department. Alex plans to pursue an MD-PhD; this biomedical research experience will help him build the foundation to be accepted into an MD-PhD program.
"I chose to apply to Johns Hopkins NIH PREP because Johns Hopkins is known for their cutting-edge research and major contributions to science," he said.
As a USCB student, Alex worked in Dr. Ritchie's lab. Ritchie's research is investigating the potential for novel antibiotics produced by bacterial symbionts on the skin of tiger sharks. His time with Dr. Ritchie influenced him greatly.
"I was taught to have patience with science because no amount of time can promise positive results," he said.
In addition to Dr. Ritchie, Alex considers as mentors USCB's Dr. Chojnowski and Dr. Villena-Alvarez.
As an undergraduate, he also participated in a ten-week Research Experience of Undergraduates (REU) program at The University of Iowa funded by the National Science Foundation. There he worked in a biological anthropology lab, researching viral phylogeny using genome sequence alignment software and Bayesian analysis programs. These statistical programs estimate answers to research questions.
While at USCB, amidst the outbreak of COVID-19, Alex volunteered in his community. Elderly neighbors asking for assistance via Facebook and Nextdoor had a selfless friend in Alex, who ran errands, picked up groceries, and delivered necessities to some of the most vulnerable during this time. Alex appreciated the opportunity to be of service. "I am happy to be healthy and able to help those in need."
Alex wants to become a doctor and research scientist to improve treatments for diseases that disproportionally affect patients in underserved communities, like his grandmother in Mexico who suffered from diabetes and the effects of smoking.
When he's not busy in the lab at Johns Hopkins, Alex is studying for the MCAT and enjoying exploring Baltimore.
Alex is a wonderful role model and a student we are certainly proud of here at USCB.
