Scientist Spotlight, COVID and Zoonotic Diseases

Due Mar 20, 2022 by 11:30pm
Points 12
Submitting a text entry box, a website url, or a file upload
Available Feb 16, 2022 at 12am - Apr 10, 2022 at 11:59pm

This assignment was locked Apr 10, 2022 at 11:59pm.

Choose 1 of the following professional Scientists to research. Directions for completing the assignment and a grading rubric can be found in the Scientist Spotlight Overview. Review the instructions and grading rubric before submitting your spotlight.

These scientists all focus on topics relevant to our third unit, COVID-19 and other zoonotic diseases.

Choice 1: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

Dr. Corbett leads a research group working to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Read or watch any of the resources linked that you like. You do not need to use all of them - choose what interests you most.

St Lewis American article where Dr. Corbett gives students advice on how to succeed
an NBC news article about Dr. Corbett, her career, and her as a person.
a NYT article about the work on the vaccine
Dr. Corbett's twitter profile
the interview with Dr. Corbett on CNN you watched last week

Choice 2. Dr. Fabian Leendertz

Dr. Leendertz examines the distribution and circulation of many microorganisms, including some with zoonotic potential, in wild nonhuman primate communities in sub-Saharan Africa. He is interested in researching wildlife species, especially those which have adapted to human settlements (bats and rodents) as well as livestock as intermediate hosts of zoonotic diseases.

Choice 3. Dr. Katalin Kariko

Dr. Karikó is a Hungarian biochemist who has spent most of her career researching the therapeutic possibilities of mRNA and was foundational for the development of mRNA vaccines.

Choice 4. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe

Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe is a Congolese microbiologist and the General Director of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Institut National pour la Recherche Biomedicale. He has been instrumental in studying Ebola and developing containment and treatment strategies.

Choice 4. Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal.

Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal was a virologist, which means she studies viruses. She specifically studies HIV, and was the first scientist to clone HIV. She died this July, 2020. During her career she received many accolades and awards for her vital research, and is in multiple Science "halls of fame." Read or watch any of the resources linked that you like. You do not need to use all of them - choose what interests you most.

To read about her life, background, and her career path: Biography of Flossie Wong-Staal
To read an obituary written by the NIH: In Memoriam Flossie Wong-Staal, Ph.D.

Choice 5. Michael Bale.

Michael Bale is a post-Baccalaureate researcher, which means he has finished is Bachelor's (college) degree, and is being paid to do research professionally. Michael studies HIV-host interactions.