GEESE ON CAMPUS AND A VIRUS IN THE WILD: A DEEP DIVE INTO MY EXPERIENCE WITH RESEARCH ON BIRD FLU

On any given spring day at UNC Charlotte, one can expect to see around ten to twelve geese on average. In fact, these geese have been so central to the campus landscape that the student body has adopted a goose, known to many as Prospector Goose, as an unofficial mascot.

What may be less well-known about geese like our fellow feathered Niners, however, is the fact that many are susceptible to the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

As a research assistant in CIPHER, I have been able to contribute to understanding the mechanisms behind this newfound viral promiscuity in H5N1. A portion of the research on this topic is quantifying the extent to which the virus has become promiscuous, which is done by cataloging host species and geography of infections. I synthesized reporting from Canada, Mexico, and the United States from various databases which allowed our team to see all recorded hosts of this virus within North America.

My experience in research and academics at UNC Charlotte has truly shown me the immense potential within science and technology that can be harnessed for the greater good. I look forward to continuing to grow as a student and hope to continue to make contributions to the promising world of bioinformatics research.

SNext time you come across a flock of geese on campus, I hope your curiosity will be piqued with regards to the scientific intricacies they contain. Perhaps the next findings regarding H5N1 will come from observing the local geese on our campus! Read the full story…