{"id":10117,"date":"2018-10-01T12:09:39","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T19:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/?p=10117"},"modified":"2018-10-03T14:41:38","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T21:41:38","slug":"inaugural-science-fellowship-supports-research-in-the-sharpton-microbiome-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2018\/10\/inaugural-science-fellowship-supports-research-in-the-sharpton-microbiome-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Inaugural science fellowship supports research in the Sharpton Microbiome Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

The College of Science congratulates Courtney Rae Armour, the first graduate student to receive the Larry W. Martin & Joyce B. O\u2019Neill Endowed Fellowship. The award recognizes students who demonstrate high achievement and whose research involves computational modeling.<\/p>\n

The fellowship provides full tuition with an annual stipend of $25,000. Larry Martin (B.S., \u201959) is a mathematics and engineering alumnus who had a successful career as a mathematician focusing on modeling for companies such as Lockheed Martin and IBM. After a successful career at IBM, he created, bought and invested in companies, sometimes running them but most often focusing on software and consulting. In recent years, he made a “lifestyle purchase” and acquired\u00a0Troon Vineyard<\/a>, a winery in southern Oregon\u2019s Applegate Valley that produces natural biodynamic\u00a0wines.<\/p>\n

Armour embodies the values behind the fellowship. Hailed by Sharpton as a \u201cfuture leader in the field of biological informatics,\u201d Armour\u2019s research relies on the power of computational modeling to plumb the otherwise unfathomable complexity of the gut microbiome with its trillions of bacteria.<\/p>\n

Partly influenced by her grandfather, a biology professor and seasonal park ranger in Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks, Armour grew up attuned to the natural world. As a biology undergraduate at Arizona State University, she developed a passionate fascination with the outsized influence of the microbiome and how its \u201ctiny organisms we can\u2019t see with the naked eye have so much impact on our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recognizing early on the importance of computational modeling for her research, Armour chose Oregon State for its impressive computing infrastructure and support for computational research, as well as its Center for Genome Research And Biocomputing<\/a> where she found \u201cexcellent training, facilities and support for students learning to code and conduct computational research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why is computational modeling so critical for understanding the gut microbiome? It\u2019s a matter of scale and complexity, explains Armour. Pointing out that the data sets she works with in the Sharpton Lab are measured in terabytes (for comparison, the iPhone X holds a maximum of .256 terabytes), Armour provides an eloquent explanation.<\/p>\n

\u201cComputational modeling is the study of complex systems through the use of computers. Some systems, like the gut microbiome, are too complicated to recreate in a laboratory setting; therefore, we use computers to simulate the system. With computational models we can rapidly approximate qualities of the system that might otherwise be extremely time consuming or nearly impossible to measure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armour uses computational modeling in multiple facets of her research in the Sharpton Lab, from estimating rates of evolution based on genetic composition to generating phylogenetic trees that approximate organisms\u2019 evolutionary history. She uses machine learning to predict a host\u2019s relative health status based on its microbiome, based on statistical correlations between the microbiome functions of healthy versus sick individuals. This last branch of research shows great promise as a potential diagnostic tool and therapeutic intervention for human disease.<\/p>\n

While her research might seem exciting and glamorous (it is!), there are some \u201cless pleasant aspects,\u201d according to Armour. Fecal matter is required to collect samples of the gut microbiome. So the extent of the fieldwork for her Ph.D. \u201chas been waiting for animals such as cows and pigs to poop so I can collect a sample of their gut microbiome.\u201d You never know where research will take you.<\/p>\n

Mentor Thomas Sharpton sings Armour\u2019s praises.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the four years I\u2019ve worked alongside her, Courtney has published multiple cutting-edge scientific manuscripts and presented her work at international conferences. Shortly she will publish one of the most extensive investigations of how the biological functions executed by the gut microbiome relate to human health, an analysis she conducted using clinical data and a variety of modeling approaches. We are optimistic that her work will help transform how we diagnose chronic diseases and propel the development of microbiome therapeutics.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armour is not only a fine scientist but \u201ckind, hardworking, responsible and passionate about her work,\u201d Sharpton continues. \u201cWhen she isn\u2019t belaboring over her research, she works with young girls to expose them to the wonders and joys of science through the Advocates for Women in Science Engineering and Math Club<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her limited spare time, Armour enjoys many outdoor Oregon adventures\u2014from trail running, mountain biking and paddle boarding to hiking and camping\u2014with her husband and Hazel, their high-energy German Shorthaired Pointer. In the winter months, she enjoys reading novels and painting with watercolors.<\/p>\n

Armour says she is honored and \u201ceternally grateful to Dr. Larry W. Martin and Joyce B. O\u2019Neill for creating this endowed fellowship.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The College of Science congratulates Courtney Rae Armour, the first graduate student to receive the Larry W. Martin & Joyce B. O\u2019Neill Endowed Fellowship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8299,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[645351,712346,641210,911],"tags":[712392,709515,582749,1369,2477],"class_list":["post-10117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni-and-friends","category-biohealth-science","category-mb","category-students","tag-author-katharine-de-baun","tag-bioinformatics","tag-microbiome","tag-scholarships","tag-women-in-science"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6vHeb-2Db","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6749,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2017\/05\/planning-future-microbiome-research\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":0},"title":"Planning for the future of microbiome research","author":"farrisd","date":"May 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Oregon State University Microbiome Initiative is offering a series of events including a training workshop, a research forum and a public lecture featuring an award-winning science writer.","rel":"","context":"In "Biohealth Science"","block_context":{"text":"Biohealth Science","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/area\/biohealth-science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3424,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2016\/03\/gut-check-more-than-butterflies-in-our-stomach\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":1},"title":"Gut check: More than butterflies in our stomach","author":"farrisd","date":"March 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Thomas Sharpton, a professor in microbiology and statistics, will present a Science Pub, \"Gut check: More than butterflies in our stomach,\" on April 11.","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/news\/events-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Terra_Microbiome_cvr_art","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/files\/2016\/03\/Terra_Microbiome_cvr_art-700x583.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1200,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2014\/07\/one-students-summer\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":2},"title":"One student\u2019s summer","author":"Sharon","date":"July 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Ryan McMinds is studying coral reefs on Australia\u2019s Lizard Island","rel":"","context":"In "Marine Studies"","block_context":{"text":"Marine Studies","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/area\/marine-studies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"poster of Ryan McMinds","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/files\/2015\/04\/beaver-nation.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6470,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2017\/04\/science-students-receive-top-nsf-fellowship\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":3},"title":"Grad students snag top NSF fellowship","author":"nayaks","date":"April 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Three Ph.D. students in integrative biology and microbiology receive prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program fellowships for 2017.","rel":"","context":"In "Integrative Biology"","block_context":{"text":"Integrative Biology","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/departments\/ib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/files\/2017\/04\/David-IB-photo.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5469,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2016\/05\/faculty-represents-osu-white-house-announcement-national-microbiome-initiative\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":4},"title":"Microbiologist represents OSU at White House announcement of national microbiome initiative","author":"farrisd","date":"May 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Leading microbiome researcher Thomas Sharpton participated in the White House's announcement of a Transdisciplinary Initiative for Microbiome Research.","rel":"","context":"In "Biohealth Science"","block_context":{"text":"Biohealth Science","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/area\/biohealth-science\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Thomas Sharpton, Assistant Professor of Microbiology","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/files\/2017\/01\/sharpton.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9351,"url":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/2018\/05\/graduate-students-alumni-win-2018-nsf-graduate-fellowships-outstanding-research\/","url_meta":{"origin":10117,"position":5},"title":"Graduate students, alumni win national fellowships for outstanding research","author":"nayaks","date":"May 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The College of Science congratulates two PhD students for receiving prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRF) awards for 2018.","rel":"","context":"In "Breaking News"","block_context":{"text":"Breaking News","link":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/category\/news\/breaking-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/files\/2018\/05\/Rebecca-Mostow-headshot.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8299"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10117"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10151,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10117\/revisions\/10151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.blogs.oregonstate.edu\/impact\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}