Amy King ’06 (left) knew she wanted to perform a clinical experiment for her Biology Capstone project. To do it, the Manchester, Md., native found some of her test subjects in the supermarket.

King performed tests on a type of bacteria known as Enterococcus. It normally lives in the intestines of animals and humans, and is usually only harmful in those with a weakened immune system. King sampled the bacteria from uncooked store-bought beef and pork, as well as from human-derived samples provided by Carroll Hospital Center.

With financial help from a Student Research and Creativity Grant, she worked with Biology Professor Michael Brown to formulate elaborate experiments.

“She exceeded my highest hopes in the way she designed the project as something that was both original in approach and doable in scope,” says Brown.

King examined what factors make the bacteria virulent.

“I never imagined being around professors that are so friendly, open and giving with their time,” King says. “The Biology professors open their doors and make students feel so comfortable in the department. It’s like home.”

Her research has long-term implications in the medical field, as hospitals struggle to conquer the bacteria they call an opportunistic pathogen.