(Boston)--Joseph Park, a second-year student at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), was recently awarded his third Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) Medical Research Fellowship. He is one of 79 medical students selected to conduct in-depth, mentored biomedical research.
Park graduated from Princeton University in 2013 with a degree in molecular biology. His interest in the field of infectious diseases began during his second year at BUSM under the direction of assistant professor of microbiology Stephanie Oberhaus, PhD.
Park was awarded his first HHMI fellowship in 2015 and worked with Matthew Waldor, MD, PhD, at Brigham and Women's Hospital to explore the interaction between bacterial pathogens and human cells. Much of his worked has focused on Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a seafood-borne bacterial pathogen that causes gastrointestinal infection. A second HHMI fellowship in 2016 allowed him to continue with this work.
For his third HHMI fellowship, Park plans to delve into the cell biology of chlamydia in hopes of advancing knowledge of the disease.
"I am grateful to HHMI for the opportunity to train to become a physician-scientist who advances basic science knowledge and translates expertise to clinical care," said Park.
Each fellow receives $43,000 in grant support and spends a year pursuing basic, translational, or applied biomedical research at one of 32 academic or nonprofit research institutions across the U.S.
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About HHMI
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute plays an important role in advancing scientific research and education in the United States. Its scientists, located across the country and around the world, have made important discoveries that advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The Institute aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research.
About BUSM
Originally established in 1848 as the New England Female Medical College, and incorporated into Boston University in 1873, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) today is a leading academic medical center with an enrollment of more than 700 medical students and 950 students pursuing degrees in graduate medical sciences. BUSM faculty contribute to more than 950 active grants and contracts, with total anticipated awards valued at more than $693 million in amyloidosis, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, infectious diseases, pulmonary disease and dermatology, among other areas. The School's teaching affiliates include Boston Medical Center, its primary teaching hospital, the Boston VA Healthcare System, Kaiser Permanente in northern California, as well as Boston HealthNet, a network of 15 community health centers. For more information, please visit http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/