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Congratulations to the March Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Charwan Hamilton! 

Charwan Hamilton is a senior biology major with a concentration in molecular/cell biology and biotechnology who works with Dr. DeLisa Fairweather at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.  Over the past two years, Charwan has gained considerable experience working on both mouse and cell-based models of myocarditis, which is the inflammation of the heart.  For the mouse studies, the group studies sex differences in myocarditis and examines gene expression and transcription factor activation in response to coxsackievirus B3-induced myocarditis.  Charwan was a coauthor on a recent article about this work in the journal Biology of Sex Differences.  For the cell-based studies, Charwan is studying the role of mitochondrial fission in virus replication and myocarditis.  He presented posters of his research findings at several national and international conferences with the Fairweather Lab, and the Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium at ����AV��Ƶ in December 2024 and the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference in Tampa, Florida in February.  Through this experiential learning opportunity, he acquired many cell and molecular biology laboratory techniques and an appreciation for working on a laboratory team.  Charwan plans to apply to optometry programs after graduation this May.  His advice for students with research interests is to “put themselves out there for whatever opportunities may come your way.”