COLLEGES OF SCIENCE & AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY

Seeking student success during a pandemic Contents Winter 2020 Bright minds, bold moves Department of 2 2 Students persevere through a challenging year Microbiology Steve Giovannoni, Head Mary Fulton, Sascha Hallett, Making waves Newsletter Committee 6 Faculty news

Editors Cari Longman Big discoveries Mary Hare 8 Research funding and highlights

Designer Sharon Betterton In memoriam 10 Remembering Thomas Aspitarte Publisher Department of Microbiology Nash Hall 226 8 Supporting student success Oregon State University 12 Teaching and field work during a pandemic Corvallis, OR 97331

Alumni and friends 16 Making a difference Stay connected Please volunteer as a way of giving back. Mentor students, give a lecture on campus, coach 18 Department news students about career paths or hire an intern. Contact us at: Stepping up 20 Our COVID-19 heroes [email protected] 12 On the cover — Microbiology faculty, OSUScience / OSUAgSci staff and students are getting creative and finding new ways to connect, teach, work and learn during a pandemic.

College of Science science.oregonstate.edu

College of Agricultural Sciences agsci.oregonstate.edu

20 took a campus leadership role in removing barriers that were slowing the advancement of underrepresented groups, and our faculty partnered with students to gain grants that increase underrepresented minorities among our undergraduate and graduate student populations.

As the new Department Head, I opened our all-department meetings to all faculty, staff and students and shared more widely information about our department to promote open discourse, participation and fact-based planning.

Our Core Values Committee has been a champion of these causes and is promoting the implementation of codes of conduct aimed at making our department a more just and equitable place. I pledge that my highest priority in the years ahead will be to increase the representation of minority groups in our staff and faculty. I look back on the lost opportunities of the past as a personal failure to increase the Steve Giovannoni diversity of our faculty and will not shy from those challenges in the future.

I welcome you all to this edition of department. A human respiratory disease There is joy in the stories that follow, Small Talk, where you will find uplifting virologist, Hannah joins us from St. Jude and also optimism about what we can examples that show what can be Hospital in Memphis. Her fresh ideas do in the time ahead. Our faculty have achieved by working together to build about interactions between viral and been tremendously successful in their a professional organization dedicated bacterial pathogens bring a new chapter research and in attracting funding to to science and education, and to the to our department, which is renewing increase training opportunities for all principle that everyone can participate emphasis on disease research and students. The challenge ahead is to and be successful in this enterprise. expanding the BioHealth Sciences major. achieve equivalent success in funding As the new Department Head, I am our educational programs, particularly fortunate to be in a position, together One of our foremost challenges has in a changing world where there is with all of you, to make a difference. been making our department more heightened awareness of the need diverse and equitable to create a for well-trained microbiologists who I am happy to welcome our newest better future. We have made progress are skilled in laboratory, field and faculty member, Dr. Hannah Rowe, to our this year. Our Admissions Committee computational microbiology.

We acknowledge that Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Mary’s River or Ampinefu Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (grandronde.org) and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians (ctsi.nsn.us) 2 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

Bright minds, bold moves Students persevere through a challenging year

Bailey Burk Sophia Jadzak Marilyn Tran David Lehrburger

OUR UNDERGRADUATES Bailey Burk (MB) is now working and Delivery department and at the We would like to take this opportunity as a microbiologist at a vineyard Community Outreach Inc. free clinic. to honor the 183 microbiology (MB) and in California. She appreciated biohealth sciences (BHS) students who the smaller microbiology major, Emily Do (BHS) is working as an graduated in 2020. This hardworking saying “I enjoyed getting to know M.A./scribe through a fellowship group persevered through the all the students and faculty, and graduate program at a local Federally challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic being part of that community.” Qualified Health Center. She plans to to finish strong. Below are just a few apply to Physician Assistant programs highlights. Congrats, Class of 2020! Claire Ciabattari (BHS) entered next year and earn a Master’s of the M.S. Program in BioMedical Public Health degree, with the aim Jay Bickell (MB) is now assistant Sciences at Rocky Vista University of serving rural communities. to the manager of the University of this fall. As an undergraduate, Claire Washington BSL3 research facility served as the Chair of OSU Student Erica Ewton (MB) is enrolled in in Seattle. Health Advisory Board for two OSU’s accelerated master’s program years and held leadership roles for in microbiology, and then plans to Sadie Blake (BHS) is attending the Delta Gamma Sorority and the OSU continue her studies with a Ph.D. and OSU/OHSU College of Pharmacy SafeRide Program. She was also an post-doc. “I love learning, and the idea and plans to pursue a residency in active volunteer at Good Samaritan of the microbiology field constantly infectious disease. Regional Medical Center in the Labor evolving excites me.” SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 3

Sophia Jadzak (MB) joined the research explored the life cycle of Opening doors for Bartholomew Lab in 2017 to Sphaerospora – a primitive parasite underrepresented scholars perform quantitative PCR assays of Willamette River sticklebacks. “I Almost a quarter of Oregon’s high school and microscopical sorting of aquatic am forever grateful to all members graduates were Latinx in 2020, yet only invertebrates. As a SURE Science of the Bartholomew Lab and the around 9% of students graduating from Scholarship recipient, Sophia was SURE Program for providing me OSU with a bachelor’s degree were able to apply these lab skills to with this incredible and life-changing Latinx in the same year. Similar statistics her own research project, which opportunity.” David continues to hold for Black, Native American and culminated in her first oral research assist the Bartholomew Lab as a field other non-Caucasian groups in Oregon. presentation at OSU’s annual RAFWE technician and is working as a medical Kate Field, microbiology professor symposium in May 2020. Sophia is scribe. He plans to apply to medical and bioresource research director, has now based in Bend where she works schools in the summer of 2021. been working to remedy these long- in a hospital operating room. standing imbalances for the last decade. Jacob Maynes (BHS) is beginning During that time, Field and her team Taylor Kreul (BHS) is completing a medical school this fall at Lake Erie have been awarded six different USDA- yearlong internship with Genentech College of Osteopathic Medicine. NIFA Multicultural Scholars Program while working on her medical school Jacob graduated in three years (MSP) grants, which provide near-full application. and also volunteered in Dr. Colin tuition, multi-year scholarships to Johnson’s lab, all while commuting undergraduates from underrepresented Ava Krueger (BHS) is beginning and working as a hospital scribe for groups in the food, agriculture, natural her master’s program in scientific an ER doctor in Roseburg, Oregon. resource and human sciences. illustration at Zuyd University in the Netherlands. While at OSU, Ava also Kelly Shannon (MB) is continuing The first five grants each supported six completed a studio art minor, held a his studies as a microbiology or more MSP Scholars through their part-time job on campus and studied graduate student in the department. graduation and an additional four to abroad in Italy. six upper-division peer mentors with Marilyn Tran (MB) was co- smaller scholarships. The creation David Lehrburger (Biology) was president of the Microbiology of paid peer mentors contributed a SURE Science Scholar, mentored Student Association and was significantly to the program’s success. by Dr. Atkinson, and expanded accepted into the Oregon Institute Students in the first four MSP programs his research into an Honors thesis of Technology Medical Laboratory achieved a very high 6-year graduation in the Bartholomew Lab. His Sciences program. rate (88% in a STEM major, 96% overall), and many have gone on to graduate and professional programs.

Sadie Blake The latest MSP grant will begin in 2021. “This grant is different from our previous MSP grants, because it targets Migrant and Seasonal Emily Do Farmworker (MSF) students, some of the most marginalized students in the U.S.,” said Field.

Field and the MSP team received the College of Agricultural Sciences Diversity Achievement Award in 2020, and in 2019 they received the University Vice-Provost Award for Excellence for Jacob Maynes Outreach and Engagement for leading a student service-learning trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. 4 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that brought a lot of the graduate Moving up, moving on the end of her graduate studies, Lopez students and postdocs together, like Congratulations to our eight graduate began volunteering with OSU’s widely the student retreats or the department students who defended since the covered TRACE-COVID-19 project, holiday events,” reflected Eric. last newsletter. gaining valuable experience in public health microbiology. Winni Wang (Ph.D., Mueller) was Elizanette Lopez (M.S., Kent/Sanders) awarded the Sea Grant Knauss studied the effects of elevated Fellowship, which connects graduate temperature on Mycobacterium students interested in policy to chelonae growth and mycobacteriosis legislative and executive branches of in zebrafish. She was selected to Eric Moore the federal government. She will start participate in the Oak Ridge Institute working with NOAA OAR’s Office of for Science and Education (ORISE) Ocean Exploration and Research in Fellowship program at the Centers February 2021. Winni’s thesis focused for Disease and Control (CDC) on seagrass microbiome responses to Biorepository in Lawrenceville, Georgia. environmental perturbations. Passionate about infectious disease research, the fellowship will allow her Nicole Kirchoff (Ph.D., Sharpton) to process samples from COVID-19, the Eric Moore (Ph.D., Halsey) is working researched the gut microbiome of most pressing public health crisis today. as a postdoc at Los Alamos National at-risk companion and food animals Laboratory on a project that aims while at OSU. She is now a postdoctoral While at OSU, Lopez was a passionate to improve the performance of scholar in Dr. Kat Milligan-Myhre’s advocate for underrepresented crop plants under drought through lab at the University of Connecticut, minorities. She was an active member modification of the soil microbiome. studying the microbial composition and of the Microbiology Graduate Student For his Ph.D., Eric studied the impacts successional dynamics of threespine Association, Ethnic Minorities United of microbial chemical interactions on stickleback fish. Her work will add to in STEM and a founding member of marine plankton physiology. “I will our understanding of host-microbe the Women of Color Caucus. When especially miss the many gatherings interactions in fish model systems.

1 Erica Ewton: My graduate work 4 Kelly Shannon: My research focuses on analyzing data collected will focus on the biogeochemical from bleached corals surrounding the effect that beaver ponds have on 1 2 Pacific island of Mo’orea. I will test Arctic permafrost, where their whether certain microbiomes assist dams can lead to an increase in the the corals to resist and recover from depth of the soil active layer. IN THEIR WORDS bleaching, which will advance our Incoming graduate understanding of how various coral reef 5 Michael Sieler: My research students components impact marine ecosystems. involves developing novel molecular and computational methods to 2 Vaishnavi Padaki: My research will better understand how host-gut investigate the microalgal production microbiome interactions impact of biogenic volatile organic compounds health and how this knowledge can 3 4 (BVOCs) to understand how algal- be used to treat disease. bacterial interactions control sea-air emissions of BVOCs. 6 Jack Williams: My project is an investigation of the pangenome of 3 Alexandra Phillips: I will study the the SAR92 clade of heterotrophic connection between the microbiome- marine Gammaproteobacteria, 5 6 gut-brain axis, specifically in Autism which has recently been tied to Spectrum Disorder. the carbon cycle. SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 5

Congratulations! Sofiya Yusova Microbiology awarded 31 Winton Scholarship undergraduate and 13 graduate scholarships for the 2020–21 year, Parker Smith totaling $54,650. The following Excellence in Microbiology graduate students received Scholarship 2020–21 Graduate Scholarship and Fellowship awards: Lindsay Collart, Sebastian Singleton & Parker Smith: Nicole Kirchoff Nicholas L. Tartar Graduate Mark H Middlekauf Outstanding Student Fellowships Graduate Teaching and Service in Microbiology Scholarship Grace Deitzler & Grace Klinges: Sebastian NSF Fellowships Singleton Ben Americus Eugene W. Seitz Microbiology Ph.D. Rebecca Maher Support Scholarship Ford Foundation Fellowship

Bryce Penta & Savannah Leidholt Vaishnavi Padaki Sheila Van Zandt Research Experience OSU Provost Fellowship

is now a senior research assistant at Fellowship Program award in 2020. OHSU. In a couple of years, she hopes Her project examines the honeybee to pursue a Ph.D. microbiome as a way to conserve declining bee populations. In addition to her honeybee research, Deitzler also studies possible connections Kristina Baker between the human microbiome and autism. Passionate about science communication, she is the president Kristina Baker (M.S., Crump) focused and co-founder of Seminarium. her studies on seasonal variation of microbial communities in Arctic Dr. Michael Kent received a Diversity Damien Barret (center) with Katie lagoons. She presented her research in McConnell and Ben Americus supplement from the NIH to support January at the Alaska Marine Science Microbiology Ph.D. candidate Symposium in Anchorage. Her thesis Damien Barrett (Ph.D., Bartholomew) Corbin Schuster, which will support formed a manuscript, now under studied the genomics of rainbow trout Corbin to develop a diagnostic assay review in Frontiers in Microbiology. with differential resistance to the and the longitudinal characterization of parasite Ceratonova shasta. He is now the disease transmission dynamics of Ben Americus (M.S., Atkinson/ a research associate in the Hom Lab at Pseudoloma neurophilia. Bartholomew) studied nematocyst the University of Mississippi. Damien discharge in parasitic cnidarians and was a regular contributor to the School has continued into a Ph.D. program of Life Sciences team’s food drive effort to develop new tools for predicting and its annual chili cook-off, which he salmon disease. won first place in 2018 and 2020.

Grace Deitzler Sofiya Yusova (M.S., Alexander/ NSF and NIH support Bartholomew) studied the risk of Ph.D. candidate Grace Deitzler enteronecrosis from climate changes received the National Science on Deschutes River salmonids. She Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research 6 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

Making waves Welcome Hannah Rowe! Microbiologists making a difference This fall, we welcomed Hannah Rowe as a tenure-track assistant professor. Rowe received her Ph.D. from The Wayne State School of Medicine and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. A bacteriologist and virologist, her research focuses on bacterial-viral interactions during respiratory infection, which can help suggest why some people have uncomplicated influenza disease while others end up hospitalized with secondary bacterial pneumonia, and why some people are more likely to transmit influenza A virus than others. Coral expert named Pernot Distinguished Professor Awards well deserved Several department faculty and staff Marine ecologist and Associate The director of the Global Coral were awarded College of Science Professor Rebecca Vega Thurber Microbiome Project, Vega Thurber’s awards in 2019-20. At the 2019 Fall has been appointed the Emile F. pioneering scholarship has influenced Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony Pernot Distinguished Professor in some of the most cutting-edge coral in November, Mary Fulton, assistant Microbiology by the Colleges of health and marine virology projects to the department head, received the Science and Agricultural Science. in the world. Her work formed the Gladys Valley Award for Exemplary The award was established with basis of “Saving Atlantis,” an OSU Administration Support. Mary has a gift from Mabel Pernot, the feature-length documentary available been with the department for 16 years daughter of Emile Pernot, in honor on Amazon Prime video, that explores and has been a backbone of support of his historic legacy as a founder the causes behind the destruction of for 3 Microbiology and 2 Biochemistry of the microbiology department coral reef ecosystems and solutions to & Biophysics department heads. more than a century ago. protect them. Thank you, Mary!

“I hope to push further our goals A member of OSU’s faculty since 2011, Associate Professor Kimberly in advancing equity, diversity and she has mentored 10 Ph.D. students, Halsey also received the Dean’s inclusion in STEM education, and I eight postdoctoral students and more Early Career Achievement Award for plan to use aspects of this award to than 20 undergraduates in her lab. her groundbreaking research and increase awareness of the threats Vega Thurber has been awarded $7.26 scholarship on the ocean carbon cycle that ecosystem declines have on million in grants by the National Science that is opening new areas of scientific local and native communities and Foundation, the Gordon and Betty inquiry and earning her the respect of cultures,” she said. Moore Foundation and other agencies. the international scientific community. SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 7

New leader at the helm Join us in welcoming professor Steve Giovannoni as the new head of microbiology! Over his past 32 years at OSU,

Steve Giovannoni Giovannoni’s research has and Ph.D. candidate spanned topics including the Stephen Noell carbon cycle and ecology in ocean ecosystems, microbial diversity and genomics, and working to predict what will happen as the oceans warm and become more acidic.

Committed to increasing opportunities for more students to study science, the Giovannoni Lab works with OSU’s Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences Program, a pre- college program that helps prepare minority, low-income, historically underrepresented and other educationally underserved students from rural areas to

Kimberly Halsey and James Fox pursue STEM careers. Dean Roy Haggerty He founded and directs the Alex Beck with student OSU High Throughput Culturing nominator Jayden Rummell Mary Fulton Laboratory that distributes cultures and DNA to more than forty institutions around the world. In 2012, Steve received the Jim Tiedje Award, a lifetime achievement award from the International Society for Microbial Ecology.

In February, the College celebrated me in a way that no other advisor has.” greatly improves descriptions of its Teaching and Advising awards Thanks for all your hard work, Alex! phytoplankton physiological ‘health’ ceremony, where Alex Beck, over a broad dynamic range that is BioHealth Sciences advisor, received Microbiology postdoctoral fellow being applied to understand ocean the 2020 Olaf Boedtker Award for James Fox received the Postdoctoral biogeochemical cycles. Fox is also Excellence in Academic Advising. Excellence Award at OSU’s 2020 the professional development Biohealth sciences student Jayden University Day Awards Ceremony coordinator of OSU’s postdoctoral Rummell presented the award, in September. A member of the association, where he developed a saying “Alex is a phenomenal advisor, Halsey lab, Fox developed a new seminar series related to the confidant and friend. She has helped new computational model that academic tenure process. 8 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

Big discoveries in the smallest places

Microbiome connected to which may cause climate scientists child behavior to adjust their models for the Research led by Associate Professor amount of carbon that is absorbed Thomas Sharpton is the first to link by the North Atlantic phytoplankton the behavior of 5 to 7-year-old children blooms. The sampling, part of NASA’s and their microbial profiles. The results North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine show that behavior, socioeconomic Ecosystems Study, was published stress and the parent-child relationship in March 2020 in the International could be associated with markedly Society for Microbial Ecology Journal. different microbiome profiles. A boon for meat lovers “Kids’ development trajectories are Post-doc Veronika Kivenson and Redefining what it affected by their own genes and Steve Giovannoni discovered that means to be an ‘animal’ environmental factors, and also by the the metabolic process of a common Microbiology Associate Professor community of microbes living in, on and gut bacteria — Bilophila, which is Stephen Atkinson and Professor around their bodies,” said Sharpton. associated with an animal-based diet Jerri Bartholomew have — seems to have a favorable effect on discovered the first animal that The findings, published in mBio, cardiovascular disease. Their findings doesn’t need oxygen to live. suggest the microbiome can shed light suggest the possibility of probiotic Previously, scientists believed on which children are heading toward treatments for arteriosclerosis, the that aerobic respiration, a vital mental health challenges. dangerous hardening and thickening source of energy, was ubiquitous of the arteries that causes strokes to all animal life. The newly Study may lead to revised and heart attacks. The condition is discovered animal, a salmon climate models also linked to smoking, diet, age and a parasite known as Henneguya Postdoc Luis Bolaños and Professor range of genetic causes. salminicola, is a tiny 6-celled Steve Giovannoni led the first- organism related to jellyfish and ever North Atlantic winter sampling Kivenson and Giovannoni found that corals. Rather than consume of phytoplankton. As one of the Bilophila may metabolize TMA, which oxygen directly, it has evolved to largest natural carbon sequestration is converted to TMAO in the liver and steal nutrients from the muscular mechanisms, the planet’s ecological promotes the buildup of fatty plaques. tissue of the host, saving valuable health depends on regular plankton energy. “Our findings expand our blooms, like the spring event that can “That means those bacteria are understanding of what it means cover thousands of miles each year. in effect severing a key link in the to be an animal, and shows that cardiovascular disease chain,” said even complex life can evolve a Troublingly, the results of the study Kivenson. The findings were published way to succeed in environments revealed cells smaller than expected, in mSystems in October 2020. without oxygen,” said Atkinson. SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 9

BANNER YEAR FOR NEW FUNDING Microbiology faculty were awarded over $6 million in new research funding this year. Congratulations to all!

James Fox and Kimberly Halsey study host detection and nematocyst communities respond to ecological received $421K from the NASA Ocean discharge in parasitic cnidarians. stress associated with human activity, Biology and Biogeochemistry Program including climate change. for a project that will use satellite Julie Alexander and Kris Homel remote sensing to assess the impacts (ODFW) received $10K from the Oregon Michael Kent received $114K from of climate change on the sensitivity and Sea Grant Program Development Grants ODFW for master’s student Stephanie resilience of marine ecosystems over to test Oregon Coast chum salmon for Nervino to study intestinal pathogens the next three years. resistance to infection by Ceratonova and links to pre-spawning mortality in shasta genotypes. Chinook salmon. Kent also received Halsey received a $664K grant with a $144K NIH ORIP supplement to Steve Giovannoni from the NSF Rebecca Vega-Thurber with Deron promote diversity in health-related Biological Oceanography program Burkepile at UCSB was awarded research. The funds support his Ph.D. to examine the impacts of key $799K for a 4-year NSF Biological student Corbin Schuster. environmental variables on the types Oceanography project to study the and amounts of volatile organic interactive effects of herbivory, nutrient Sharpton, Giovannoni, Robyn compounds produced and consumed enrichment, and temperature in coral Tanguay (EMT) and Fred Stevens by marine microbes. Halsey was also reefs and their associated microbiomes. (College of Pharmacy) were awarded co-PI on a $1.13M NASA Ocean a 5-year $2M grant from NIH to Biology and Biogeochemistry grant Giovannoni received $1.3M from determine how environmental pollutants with faculty from OSU (Behrenfield Simons Foundation International: impact the development of the gut and Graff, BPP) and the University BIOS-SCOPE II to study microbial microbiome and the consequences of of Maine (Boss), in which she will oceanography in the North Atlantic these effects on vertebrate behavior. characterize day-night differences Subtropical Gyre. This grant funds an in phytoplankton cell properties to international team of investigators for 5 Sharpton, with collaborators from understand migrating zooplankton more years of research in Bermuda. OSU (PI Fred Stevens, Pharmacy), using satellite remote sensing. PNNL and the National University in Vega-Thurber, Maude David, Ryan Natural Medicine on a 5-year, $1.5M Stephen Atkinson and Jerri Mueller, and Thomas Sharpton, NIH grant to study how the gut Bartholomew, with collaborator along with Xiaoli Fern (College of microbiome metabolizes the dietary Tamar Lotan at the University of Haifa, Engineering), were awarded a 4-year supplement Xanthohumol and what received a $320K grant through the $3M NSF grant to study how aquatic the implications of this metabolism are Binational Science Foundation to animal- and plant-associated microbial on Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Thomas Sharpton and Julie Alexander Nicole Kirchoff Ryan Mueller 10 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

In Memoriam Remembering Thomas

Aspitarte Tom Aspitarte in his Strand Hall lab Written by daughter, Ann Kimerling

One hundred years ago (November 13, where Tom worked on commercial 1920), Thomas Aspitarte was born applications of penicillin. Then in in Gooding, Idaho. His studies at the 1956, the family, which had added “We children were University of Idaho were interrupted another son, moved back to Corvallis, by World War II, during which he and Tom began his doctoral research rarely allowed enlisted in the Merchant Marines with in plant pathology. his brother and cousin. into Strand Hall— During these doctoral research years, —since it was dangerous for small After the war, Tom returned to the the family of five lived in married kids, disruptive to the research, and University of Idaho where he married student housing in the median strip of we were too noisy. So we waited for Martha Roberts and completed his B.S. 30th St. between West Dining Hall and our father outside, roller skating on in Bacteriology. In 1950, they moved Dryden Hall. Their tiny apartment was the Quad and climbing the trees by to Corvallis, with their daughter Ann, surplussed Camp Adair officer barracks Strand Hall.” and he began his doctorate under Dr. consisting of two tiny bedrooms and a Walter Bollen. The small family lived kitchen/living ‘room.’ The living room Ann Kimerling, remembering OSU in married student housing near the looked into the construction area that campus in the 1950s railroad tracks where Magruder Hall became West Dining Hall. and the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine are located. Children of OSU married students A favorite memory of Ann’s was were not allowed to attend Harding finding a quarter in the street and They ran through their savings in two Elementary School (family lore says treating her siblings to ice cream cones years (Merchant Marines veterans that Harding was for the ‘town’ kids). at Withycombe Hall creamery. didn’t receive GI Bill benefits), so in The Aspitarte children walked to school 1953 he stopped at a Master’s Degree along the railroad tracks, crossing at The Aspitarte children remember it and accepted a position at Commercial Gill Coliseum and ending at Roosevelt was great fun to be a kid on the OSU Solvents in Terre Haute, Indiana. Elementary close to Avery Park, which campus in the 1950s! They played closed in 1975. Their daily walk took hide-and-seek in the blackberry bushes The family, which now included a them past Wiegand Hall to the OSU where Crop Science and Peavy Halls son, spent two years in Terre Haute Horse Barns (now West greenhouses). now stand. They rode bikes, roller SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 11

skated and made a racket in the parking lot behind Dryden Hall. Ann remembers a teacher threatening to throw chicken parts at them if they didn’t leave the Dryden area during his class!

When Aspitarte completed his Ph.D. in 1959, the family moved to La Lima, Honduras for a grand adventure in the tropics. Tom worked for United Fruit Company (Chiquita brand bananas), researching the destructive fungal disease of bananas, Panama Disease.

In 1960, they moved to Camas, Washington where he worked as an environmental microbiologist in Daughter Ann Kimerling remembers, “My husband Jon and I moved to Corvallis the Crown Zellerbach research labs, in 1976 and, in 1988, moved up the street from Dr. Bollen’s house on Alta Vista specializing in pulp and paper mill water, Drive. I remember many visits to the Bollens as children. They had a fantastic garden and orchard on their double lot. Dr. Bollen was generous to his graduate wastewater and solid waste problems. students and allowed them to pick from the garden and orchard.” In 1964 another daughter, Cindy, joined the Aspitarte family. He retired after 22 years as manager of the Crown Zellerbach Environmental Services.

Martha was an active partner in the many moves and raising the family. She fully supported higher education for her children and others. Tom’s career was influential on his children: Ann, David and his wife, Joanna, all pursued microbiology degrees. Tom and Martha enjoyed visiting their daughter, Ann, and her family in Corvallis, and were always amazed at how much the town and OSU have grown through the years.

Thomas and Martha’s children, Ann (and husband Jon Kimerling), Tom (and wife Rae Hansen), David (and wife Joanna Aspitarte), and Cindy (and husband Mike Mueller) began an endowed scholarship, the Thomas R. and Martha Aspitarte Scholarship, in 1987 in honor of their parents. The scholarship supports undergraduate students studying environmental The Bacteriology Department in pioneer dress as part of OSU’s celebrations microbiology. The Aspitarte of Oregon statehood’s centennial anniversary in 1958. Other celebrations children regularly attend the Annual included a beard-growing contest, in which Thomas Aspitarte participated. Seated in the front row is Joan McMorris Sandeno, the first woman Microbiology Scholarship Luncheon. Microbiology graduate (1961). Dr. Bollen is wearing the bowler hat and Aspitarte is wearing the gray top hat. 12 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

are some of the creative ways we are adapting to this temporary new normal.

Associate Professor Kimberly Halsey, a sports fan, took a tip from network pre-game strategies. Every lecture this fall in MB 302, she has hosted a microbiologist for an informal interview for 10 minutes before the formal class Zoom session begins. Nothing on these interviews ever makes its way into exams, but that doesn’t stop the students from tuning in 10 minutes early. Her guests have included graduate students (Susie Cummings, Sebastian Singleton, Becca Maher), post-doctoral researchers (Chris Suffridge, Veronika Kivenson), and faculty (Sascha Hallett, Andrew Thurber, Si Hong Park, Mahfuz Sarker).

Lauryn Feller, a student in MB 302, said, “Dr. Halsey’s Meet a Microbiologist sessions have been eye-opening! Each microbiologist Supporting focuses on a different topic, and it is fascinating how many routes you can go. Every day it is something different, student success and I am so excited to attend these sessions because it opens up a topic that I have not necessarily thought during a pandemic about before.”

The most important thing, Halsey has Contributed by Kimberly Halsey, Steve of all, how do you make lectures and found, is that when the lecture starts, Giovannoni, Linda Bruslind, Allison teaching engaging without the element the students are warmed up and ready Evans, Shawn Massoni and Alex Beck of personal contact? Our Microbiology for more. Her philosophy is, if they are professors, instructors and advisors interested and at ease with the remote What do you do when a virus strikes, have come up with some unique ways learning Zoom environment, that lost all the rules have changed, and you to connect with students during this element of in-person engagement can can no longer teach in person? Most time of remote instruction. Below be recaptured.

Tiffany Bolman Linda Bruslind Allison Evans Kimberly Halsey Kenton Hokanson Shawn Massoni SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 13

Other microbiology instructors are nine weeks, cooking their own media finding equally engaging and creative at home using gelatin and recording ways to engage students remotely this video of themselves demonstrating term. Here’s what they have to say: proper aseptic technique with faux paper Bunsen burners and plates. Shawn Massoni, instructor for BHS 323 Microbial Influences on Human “We have taken photos of all our Health, holds live forums called Journal possible lab results, including Clubs, in which students are the spectrophotometer readings, so that “expert in the room” as they research students can make observations as and present their findings to their they would in the lab,” said Evans. peers. “It’s a dynamic structure that “Although we aren’t able to replicate allows a little bit of everything for the all aspects of the in-lab experience, students, who really seem to enjoy it. we are happy to be able to deliver all They really become invested in growing the elements that students taking their understanding,” said Massoni. the lab in the usual format are able to experience,” she added. Linda Bruslind, senior instructor for General Microbiology, had to learn to Introductory Microbiology is usually use the new technology quickly when a busy, loud and fun lab, so instructor Redefining the the shutdown started. “Since I had only Kenton Hokanson and his team “working vacation” used Zoom once previously, this was a have worked hard to capture that BioHealth Sciences Advisor trial by fire! I haven’t been that nervous spirit in the remote version of the Alex Beck unexpectedly spent about teaching a class since I started class. Students work together in live the entire Spring Term advising 23 years ago. Thankfully, the students virtual simulations and demonstrate while stuck in pandemic lockdown were very gracious and patient. It was fundamental lab techniques using do- in Grenada, West Indies, following exciting to learn new teaching tools, it-yourself lab gear. “They even culture a vacation there in early March. and to be teaching microbiology at microbes from their environment, The first several weeks of the such a relevant time.” and use good laboratory techniques country's lockdown included a 24 to isolate and analyze them,” said hour curfew, with a once-a-week On top of their teaching duties, several Hokanson. Pre-recorded lecture outing permitted to stock up on of our instructors also advise students. videos allow regular class to be a time food – consisting mainly of ramen This past summer BHS and MB to practice applying the material, noodles and canned meats – and advisors Alex Beck, Linda Bruslind, ask questions and apply learnings to water. Beck moved three times Tiffany Bolman and Shawn Massoni global events. during her stay on the island to met with more than 200 new BHS/MB secure safe and affordable rental majors by phone and Zoom. “We all “Our students have shown amazing housing with running water, learned some new skills this summer resilience and adaptability throughout electricity and internet access. and look forward to working with this all the changes, and I’m confident we new group of students for their time at could teleport them into an in-person Despite these challenges, Beck OSU,” said Bruslind. lab and they’d be running experiments still managed to participate in in no time!” said Hokanson. all department, College and What about labs? university meetings and events General Microbiology Lab instructor Education has changed a lot in recent with only an old cracked iPhone. Allison Evans has learned that years as teachers have looked for better On top of that, she sent out the creativity is key for teaching labs strategies to keep students interested BHS newsletter each week and online as well. Some of the strategies in learning. Halsey thinks that there’s managed to advise hundreds of to give students a hands-on experience a lot of room for creative approaches. students via Zoom meetings and from home include having students Taking a tip from Sir Charles Barkley emails. Beck finally returned home make their own Winogradsky columns and company is just one tool to help on June 20 via a flight organized and following their development for deliver premium education. by the U.S. embassy. 14 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

Essential salmon disease monitoring in the Klamath Happy Camp, also known as "The Heart of River continues through the Klamath" is home to the The Klamath- pandemic Siskiyou Art Center (and to Bigfoot) Contributed by Sascha Hallett, Stephen Atkinson, Julie Alexander, Ryan Craig and Ben Americus

The Bartholomew Lab Group has Julie Alexander samples been conducting salmon disease invertebrates studies on the Klamath River for over a decade. Spring is always a critical time for the team, as salmon hatch and their parasites increase in abundance. The group’s data are part of a long- term research program and underpin regulatory aspects of the 2019 Ben Americus retrieves a cage of sentinel fish Biological Opinions from USFWS & NMFS for threatened species.

When Governor Brown issued the stay-at-home order on March 23, their field work came to a sudden halt. Unfortunately, a spring disease outbreak was underway in the Klamath River and managers needed OSU’s data to inform their decisions. The group applied for special exceptions to continue research, with new restrictions in place to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. emergency dam release monitoring on Back in the lab, all the samples need the Klamath River. “Once OSU gave us to be analyzed for the salmon parasite. Graduate student Ben Americus approval, we dropped everything and Research Technician Jamie Graen, led a team to conduct sentinel fish hit the road sporting masks, gloves Research Associate Kristin Kasschau exposures and water sampling. and hand sanitizer. It was a very eerie and Associate Professor Stephen Researchers normally have to work in feeling to drive on a nearly abandoned Atkinson put in early mornings, late pairs on the river so Ben enlisted his I-5,” he said. “In the end, I ended up nights and weekend work to ensure housemates to assist him on several putting around 8,000 miles on the only one person was in the lab at trips to the Klamath River, which motor pool vehicle.” a time. Their dedication meant an covered multiple days and thousands uninterrupted data flow to the river of miles. “They aren’t familiar with this “Underwater, my field season didn’t managers, who made the decision to work,” said Ben, “and their questions look much different this year,” said release extra water from Iron Gate have made me think about my role Research Associate Julie Alexander, Reservoir, not once but twice. in the fishery and provide better whose research focuses on the tiny explanations for the research.” aquatic invertebrates that release “We’ll know whether those efforts to salmon parasites. “However, above reduce fish disease were successful only Faculty Research Assistant Ryan Craig the water a new layer of logistical in another three or four years when oversees the sentinel fish exposures challenges was clear and present.” Her that cohort of salmon return to their and water sampling. Weeks into the group opted to camp for the duration natal river,” said Associate Professor shutdown, the group received special of the study to reduce the risk of Sascha Hallett. “Hopefully, research approval from OSU to take part in transmission by remaining outdoors. will be back to normal by then!” SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 15

For coral crew, social isolation is nothing new Contributed by Kalia Bistolas and Hannah Epstein

On the other side of the world, OSU coral reef projects on remote islands in the middle of the South Pacific faced similar challenges. The Vega Thurber Lab has three ongoing projects on the islands of Mo’orea and Tetiaroa in French Polynesia, 30 miles north of Tahiti.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected NSF postdoctoral fellow Hannah Epstein field plans in early Spring, when takes coral samples while Professor postdoctoral fellows Kalia Bistolas Rebecca Vega Thurber takes notes. and Hannah Espstein, along with Associate Professor Rebecca Vega Thurber, had to leave French Vega Thurber and NSF Polynesia with only a few days’ notice. postdoctoral fellow Kalia Bistolas Since then, the coronavirus decimated examine and collect red-footed boobie guano on the atoll of their plans to return, changed the Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. availability of resources and personnel and altered their ability to collaborate with others in the field. The team has kept a close eye on the status of their sites, knowing that any travel would be a calculated risk.

Eventually, delaying fieldwork was no longer an option. In August, the lab finally received permission to travel for a six-week expedition. They submitted to strict quarantines, Collecting guano helps researchers monitoring and reporting and traveled evaluate how bird restoration methods in a single unit to avoid contact with such as invasive rat eradication can increase both land and reef health. staff and the local community to prevent the risk of transmission.

“It was like the whole world turned into a biosafety lab,” said Bistolas. “At the end of the day, it’s not too different from being at home: It’s isolated and you’re doing science. The only difference is that you’ve got a stunning view.” Vega Thurber’s team analyzes reef samples to determine how resilient coral microbiomes are Pandemic conditions permitting, they to environmental stressors. will be heading back to the field soon to continue their research. 16 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

medical school at the Des Moines University of Medicine in Fall 2021. “I am very excited to start this next step of my journey and am grateful for my experiences at Oregon State that helped pave the way.”

Katie McConnell in Chile

Katie McConnell (M.S. MB ’19) is a passionate surfer, scuba diver and nature lover. From January through March, she worked as a Wildlands Studies instructor, co-leading 18 Dr. SreyRam Kuy students through northern Chilean Patagonia. But after the COVID-19 pandemic struck, she found that her degree in microbiology could be an invaluable asset to the medical field as well. In quarantine in Iquique, Chile, Alumni and friends she began volunteering in a COVID-19 diagnostics lab using techniques she making a difference learned at OSU. “After reading in the local newspaper Dr. SreyRam Kuy (Microbiology ’00) is from hurricane devastation and the that a university here had received widely recognized as an international opioid epidemic to COVID-19. three PCR machines to do COVID-19 leader in health care policy and diagnostic tests, I immediately started management. She was the first woman Along with a major in biohealth working,” she says. She learned how appointed to be deputy undersecretary sciences, Jared Eddy (’19) earned to use PCR to study the ecology of for community care in the U.S. a minor in chemistry and a Medical tropical coral microbiomes within a Department of Veteran Affairs and in Humanities Certificate while at OSU. socio-ecological island system. She 2019 was one of just 21 healthcare He worked as a TOUR Ambassador has used her expertise to help provide leaders to earn an Aspen Institute and Academic Learning Assistant and testing for thousands of people a day. Health Innovators Fellowship. Kuy volunteered at the Good Samaritan was honored as a 2020 OSU Alumni Ambulatory Surgery Center while Jenna Chamness (BHS ’19) has Association Fellow for her efforts also working as a scribe at Slocum started her second year of a Doctor of leading through health crises ranging Orthopedics in Eugene. He will start Pharmacy program at OSU. SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 17

Kindel Bailey (MB ’19) was an OSU track and field athlete (javelin) while at OSU. She started at OHSU’s School of Dentistry in fall 2020. Mikayla Pivec Nathaniel Buhrkuhl (BHS ’18) and Savannah Correll (BHS ’18) are both Annual Support of in their third year at OSU’s Doctor of the Microbiology Pharmacy program. Department The Honor Roll recognizes the Whitney Weber (MB ’18) started a Department’s annual supporters Ph.D. in OHSU’s Biomedical Sciences who have made outright gifts, program this fall. She has published pledge payments or new two manuscripts since graduating from commitments totaling $1,000 or Oregon State. more between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. Basketball star Mikayla Pivec (BHS ’19) Chelsea Meedom (MB ’17) is a clinical graduated from the Honors College microbiologist at Good Samaritan Anonymous (1) in only three years with a degree in Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Matthew A. Bacho ’92 biohealth sciences, and completed Jerri Hoffmaster Bartholomew ’85 a master’s in biochemistry and Devon Holler (MB ’17) worked as Ann Moran Berg ’73 & biophysics in 2020. In addition to her research assistant at the University of Ronald W. Berg ’71 academic and basketball success, Pivec Massachusetts Medical School and Bermuda Institute of Ocean is renowned for her compassion and has been accepted into OHSU’s M.D. Sciences dedication to the community. program, which commenced fall 2020. Ellen & William R. Ford ’65 Gregory D. Geist ’72 While at OSU, Pivec volunteered at Melinda Guzman (MB ’16) earned her Ann & A. Jon Kimerling the Room at the Inn, a cold-weather master’s in Botany and Plant Pathology William T. Leslie ’74 women’s shelter in Corvallis and used at OSU in 2020 and is now working on Mady Deininger & her SURE Science Award in 2018 to a Ph.D. at the University of Georgia’s Joel E. Peterson ’69 advance her thesis project to illuminate Department of Plant Pathology. Margaret Wright Reed ’73 & challenges homeless people face and William B. Reed ’75 how to use resources to help them. Van Anh Vu (BHS ’16) moved to the Simons Foundation Mikayla has been recognized as an United States from Norway when she Birgit G. Bradel-Tretheway & Academic All-American and the Pac-12 was 11 years old. Born to Vietnamese David M. Tretheway, Jr. ’00 Scholar Athlete of the Year in women’s refugees, her parents instilled a strong Harriet M. Winton Fund of The basketball. She was chosen as the 25th work ethic from an early age. As part of Oregon Community Foundation overall draft pick of the WNBA, but her undergraduate studies, she studied Sheila Griep Van Zandt ’59 has opted to sign overseas with CD global health in Geneva, Switzerland, James R. Winton ’81 Promete in Spain. learning what it meant to be a United Nations pharmacist during the Syrian Hannah Horton (BHS ’19) is enrolled refugee crisis. Thank you! in a physician assistant program at Every attempt has been made Findlay University in Ohio. After returning, Vu enrolled in the to ensure the accuracy of these College of Pharmacy’s dual Pharm.D./ lists. However, if you notice an After struggling with serious health MBA program where she grew to love error, please contact: setbacks during her time as an direct patient care. Vu was among the Pam Powell, Associate Director undergraduate – including requiring 85% of the College of Pharmacy’s Class of Stewardship, OSU Foundation, brain surgery! – Lilian Gharib (MB ’19) of 2020 who were able to graduate [email protected] or is now a microbiologist at Pharmavite, a early on May 6 to support the growing 541-737-5820. dietary supplements manufacturer. charge to fight the global pandemic. Beauty in Science: Art-science collaborations yield striking results Contributed by Jerri Bartholomew and Stephen Atkinson

To foster new artistic collaborations, members of the Department are active in OSU’s ART-SCI Initiative. This is a trans-disciplinary endeavor to unite faculty who are interested in the intersection of the arts and sciences. Their collaborations have led to a public seminar series, exhibitions, novel MB courses and the formation of a student- led club, Seminarium, which explores and celebrates the intersection of art and science. Faculty Jerri Bartholomew and Stephen Atkinson, along with Andrew Myers from the School of Arts & Communication, serve as mentors. This year, Seminarium hosted two exhibitions, funded through the Pernot Department news Distinguished Professorship awarded to Bartholomew in 2015. Above: Dr. Ken Van Rees explores a burned forest in preparation for the Black Carbon exhibit. The exhibition included Van Rees originals (left) and inspired works (right). Below: A quilted study of One of the exhibitions was from Ken microbes in the Toolik Lake catchment basin by Ree Nancarrow (with microbes by Charlotte Bird). Van Rees, director of the Centre for Northern Agroforestry and Afforestation at the University of Saskatchewan. In November 2019, he presented a public seminar at OSU entitled The Collision of Science and Art: Paint, Soil and Charcoal, in which he shared his work as a forest soil scientist and visual artist. “This merging of different disciplines seems to be more of a collision when the two meet to express themselves in unexpected ways,” he explained. An exhibition of his work, called Black Carbon, in the Strand Gallery showcased his exploration of all the dimensions of a burned forest. The exhibition also included Van Rees-inspired work created by Seminarium members and students from multiple departments.

The second exhibition, “In a Time of Change: Microbial Worlds,” explored the hidden world of microscopic organisms in the arctic tundra, magnified by the work SMALLTALK / WINTER 2020 19

of fourteen artists and writers. It was organized by Mary Beth Leigh, professor of microbiology at University of Alaska- Fairbanks, and curated by Bartholomew and Helen Wilhelm, curator of the Little Gallery in Kidder Hall.

Committing to our values “Now, more than ever, we need to have an earnest conversation about justice and equity.”

The Microbiology Department Core Values Committee wrote these words Microbiology team Moscow Muells at the annual School of Life Sciences’ in a public statement on behalf of OSU Food Drive Pub Trivia event the department in July 2020. In the wake of the loss of Black lives at the hands of law enforcement, and in the As a first step towards this goal, the invites speakers from across the nation middle of an ongoing pandemic that committee coordinated with the Office to discuss their work with department has disproportionately affected Black, of Institutional Diversity to host a members. One speaker this past year Latinx, Native American and low- workshop in January 2020 on creating was Dr. Kat Milligan-Myhre, an Alaskan income families, it is more apparent a community and facilitating effective native and first generation scientist. than ever that justice and equity cannot dialogue. A second workshop with OID Milligan-Myhre studies how the gut be achieved without the commitment of is in the works, which will be announced microbiome varies among populations all people, not just those who are most soon. The committee is also planning of stickleback. During her visit to OSU, affected by injustice. an external workshop facilitated by Milligan-Myhre spoke to students women of color, which will be tailored to about her experiences traversing Academia has long upheld the microbiology department’s specific academia as a native Alaskan. standards of white supremacy and needs in moving forward with diversity, disenfranchised those from historically equity and inclusion initiatives. There’s Sharpton and Maude David co- underrepresented groups. STEM fields, a lot of work ahead of us, but the Core led a two-day Microbiome Data especially, must reckon with our racist, Values Committee is confident that the Analytics Boot Camp last summer, in sexist, and ableist past and present. It Department can achieve a more just and collaboration with Columbia’s School of is therefore critical for universities and equitable community. Public Health, which provided a rigorous departments to recognize their role in introduction to the design, generation upholding these systems and actively Other department news and analysis of microbial communities. promote a more just society. These Microbiology junior Sarah Olson Several members of the David and ideas led to the formation of the Core Michel was featured in a segment Sharpton Labs and the Center for Values Committee in January 2019, with Ira Flatow on NPR’s Science Genome Research and Biocomputing with the aim of guiding the department Friday discussing her top science book helped to plan and deliver the of microbiology in making a more picks for the summer. She has written workshop, which will be offered every inclusive and equitable space to learn, for Science magazine’s Books, et al. summer for the foreseeable future. perform research, teach and grow, for column, PLOS SciComm, leaspmag, all members of our community. and The Particle on Medium. Sarah One highlight of the annual School of works in microbiology professor Life Sciences’ OSU Food Drive is the The Core Values Committee mission Steve Giovannoni’s High Throughput Pub Trivia event held in February. states: “By encouraging compassion, Culturing Laboratory on outreach Together with a silent auction, the opening dialogue and uplifting voices, related to OSU’s SMILE program. MSA Bake Sale and some generous we seek to bring visibility to sources donations and raffle tickets, the event of inequity and make lasting, adaptive Thomas Sharpton leads the raised more than $3,100 for the Linn changes to combat them.” Department’s colloquium series, which Benton Food Share. 20 OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY / MICROBIOLOGY

Have no fear: Cindy’s here Justin Sanders Corbin Schuster Elizanette Lopez Cindy Fisher, building manager for Nash Hall, home of the microbiology department, was honored as an OSU “unsung hero” this spring for Stepping up in a her efforts to help the building and its 30 labs and auxiliary spaces run smoothly after the stay-at-home time of crisis order in March. Nash Hall houses decades’ worth of samples and rare specimens in dozens of sub-80- Microbiology staff and students degree freezers. OSU researchers volunteer during a pandemic know only too well the importance of these frozen cultures, and what losing them could cost. Going door to door This past spring and summer, graduate Justin Sanders (Microbiology Ph.D. students Corbin Schuster and Fisher, who has worked as OSU for ’13) is an assistant professor in Elizanette Lopez helped the TRACE 39 years, painstakingly visited every the Carlson College of Veterinary team check in samples and deliver lab once a day to ensure that the Medicine, whose role in diagnostic them to the lab to be processed. freezers were still running. “I do this testing for COVID-19 has attracted They traveled to several Oregon not for the building itself, but for the international attention. Since March, communities including Corvallis, Bend, people who are here now, and the Sander’s lab has produced a specific Newport and Hermiston to assist with memories of the amazing individuals viral transport medium needed for sampling. Each community presented who have walked these halls over the COVID-19 testing, increasing testing its own set of challenges, but Schuster years,” she said. capacity in the area by approximately shared that “one thing that was always 1,000 tests a week. He is a leader in key to our success was the ability to She also led the charge to collect OSU’s Team-based Rapid Assessment safely engage with the community Microbiology’s contribution to the of Community Level Coronavirus and encourage them to participate. campus-wide PPE donation to local Epidemics, or TRACE-COVID-19 Not many will say ‘no’ to a free COVID health workers, collecting more than project, which has helped provide test when it knocks on their door!” He 1,000 N-95 masks, disposable gloves testing for the Corvallis community as added, “This experience has been a and other equipment from their well as communities around Oregon. very unique and fulfilling project.” offices. Thank you, Cindy! Stay at home hero users in the laboratory and assisting Ruth Milston-Clements, faculty users with animal care needs. manager for the John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory was honored Ruth worked tirelessly in pre-pandemic as a College of Agricultural Sciences times, and now we rely on her more Stay at Home Hero. than ever. Thank you, Ruth!

Since the research restrictions imposed Lending a helping glove as a result of the pandemic, Ruth has Once Governor Brown issued the stay- been on call at all hours to ensure the at-home order in March, the last thing health and safety of the animals. She many members of the department has also worked with students, faculty did before vacating Nash Hall was to and industry users to guarantee that gather all available PPE in their labs critical animal research could continue. to donate to local healthcare workers. This involved developing protocols Along with gloves, gowns, and safety for fish research, implementing work goggles, Microbiology donated 2,000 schedules that minimize overlap of masks and 14,900 pairs of gloves!

Stay at home hero Ruth Milston- Clements in the John L. Fryer Aquatic Animal Health Lab

Custom face masks As a microbiologist and faculty research assistant, Val Elias usually prepares reagents and cell cultures for laboratory classes. But when all in-person labs were cancelled Spring term and the university adopted a mandatory face covering policy, Elias turned her efforts to sewing custom face masks – replete with pleats, elastic ear loops and a filter pocket. Department members

Technician Jamie Graen were offered a choice among collects PPE for donation five appropriately Beaver- and microbiology-themed materials; the most popular choice being the blue DNA and test tube design. Elias sewed 79 masks over 3-4 weeks before returning to her usual tasks. “I underestimated the demand for the masks, so much Sascha Hallett in a Val Elias custom of that time was spent waiting for mask more supplies to arrive!” Department of Microbiology Oregon State University 226 Nash Hall Corvallis, OR 97331

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