Nicholls Biology Student to Present Research on Capitol Hill

Nicholls Announces Changes to Student Affairs
February 27, 2020
Eat your Weight in Seafood at Coon Ass’s
February 27, 2020
Nicholls Announces Changes to Student Affairs
February 27, 2020
Eat your Weight in Seafood at Coon Ass’s
February 27, 2020

Freshman Senator Headshots 2018 (Misty Leigh McElroy/Nicholls State University) 9/13/18

A Nicholls State University student has been selected to present their research at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s annual 24th annual Posters on the Hill symposium in Washington, D.C.

 

Ethan Naquin will present his research on the “Presence of multi-drug resistant pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in waterways and seafood populations of rural Southeast Louisiana, USA.” The junior biology pre-med major from Thibodaux will be in D.C. from April 20-21.


 

“My future goal is to go to medical school and become a doctor. Honors like this allow me to use my research ability to make a lasting and profound impact on the medical field,” Naquin said. “The issue of antibiotic resistance has been a growing concern in recent years, and it has also been a growing concern in the medical field as well. As a pre-med student, I felt like it was something that aligned perfectly with what I am studying.”

 

Each spring, the CUR hosts the annual undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill. The event shows Congress members and staff the importance of undergraduate research.

 

Guiding Naquin is Dr. Raj Boopathy, Alcee Fortier Distinguished Service Professor of biological sciences. Dr. Boopathy also served as the adviser to Naquin’s brother, Anthony, when his research was selected in 2015.


 

“Only one undergraduate student is selected per state. This means that Ethan is going to be representing Louisiana at this event,” Dr. Boopathy said. “This selection is a huge honor, not only for Ethan but for Nicholls State University, as well. It shows that we are nationally competitive, and we are as good — if not better — in undergraduate research than some big research universities around the country.”

 

This marks the sixth consecutive year that a Nicholls student will present their research at the event.