Bonding with Medical Biology
UNE Ignites One Graduate’s Passion-fueled Career
by Angela Coulombe
Each year, more than 2 million Americans are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resulting in at least 23,000 deaths annually.
When Avery Bond ’19, Ph.D., learned these sobering numbers, they became more than just statistics. They served as a call to action that would shape her career. Her journey to becoming a researcher began with a change of plan as a curious undergraduate student at the University of New England.
As a first-year student, Bond wanted to pursue nursing, but, while taking a required course in microbiology, she discovered the role medical biologists played in health care and soon changed direction.
“I didn't know what microbiology was before coming to UNE,” Bond said, noting she had always been fascinated by human health and disease. “When I took my first microbiology course … I was fascinated that microscopic organisms could wreak such havoc on the human body.”
She said the intricate details of microbial pathogenesis covered in both the class lectures and laboratory work truly ignited her passion to continue exploring this area of study.
With guidance from Kristin Burkholder, Ph.D., professor of biology in the School of Biological Sciences, Bond secured two Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) awards — experiences that proved she was on the right track.
“Participating in these research projects revealed my true passion for discovery,” said Bond. “The thrill of uncovering something unknown — being the first in the world to make that discovery — is exciting. It solidified my commitment to research and my pursuit of solutions that benefit humanity.”
For her first SURE project, Bond studied methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacterium, to understand how MRSA interacts with human cells — in particular, its effect on autophagy, the cell’s internal recycling system.
Research at UNE – Combating Antibiotic Resistance
By understanding how MRSA manipulates this process, Bond and Burkholder aimed to uncover new ways to combat stubborn infections.
“(We) hoped to discover this mechanism during infection so that, in the future, someone could create or repurpose drugs that can target that autophagy system to shut down infection,” Bond said.
It was this research laboratory, working directly with a professor, that drove her to search out more research projects, Bond said.
“I am a hands-on learner, and the best way for me to address my curiosity was to get involved in laboratory research,” Bond said. “Once I became involved in research, I knew I was forging a new path forward.”
Research opportunities for undergraduates, like Bond’s, are a trademark experience for students at UNE, with over 46% of undergraduates engaging in research with faculty outside of coursework.
Since joining UNE in 2012, Burkholder has mentored 52 UNE students in research, and in recent years has worked with an average of 14 research students per semester. In the Burkholder lab, students engage in meaningful research from an early stage in their academic careers and contribute to published studies, scientific presentations, and grant proposals.
“Avery was such an intellectually curious undergraduate researcher,” Burkholder said. “She came into my lab knowing that she wanted to study some aspect of microbiology, and I was privileged to watch her interest in pathogenesis blossom.”
In the last decade, Burkholder has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-supported Maine Sea Grant to study diverse microbiological problems, including antibiotic resistance in human pathogens and microbial food safety.
With a dedication to research and teaching the next generation of researchers, Burkholder was ecstatic to have Bond continue to pursue another SURE project. So, the following summer, Bond joined Burkholder in the lab, shifting to studying a different bacterium called Staphylococcus epidermidis that is related to MRSA and is a leading cause of blood infections in the U.S.
The duo studied how this germ formed biofilms, a layer of bacteria suspended in a slimy secretion, that can form on surfaces. The research looked at different stages of biofilms to understand the different phases of growth of the bacteria.
The hope, Bond explained, is to find new ways to stop dangerous infections before they become too established and hard to treat.
“We know that infection is exacerbated by biofilm formation,” she said. “Because they are extremely impenetrable to many disinfectants and cleaners, it’s important to understand the stages of biofilm formation to develop antimicrobials that use drugs which target biofilm formation.”
After UNE, Bond earned a doctorate in microbiology from the University of Maine in 2024.
“When (Avery) decided to go to graduate school, she expanded her research to include viruses,” Burkholder explained. “As a result, she’s an incredibly well-rounded scientist. I am so excited to watch her career take off.”
Now a research and development scientist at Maine Molecular Quality Controls in Saco, Bond is involved with creating molecular diagnostic controls to improve testing precision and ensure patients receive the most effective treatments available.
By following her interests and passions, Bond said she found a different way to care for patients than nursing. And, by providing controls for infectious disease, cancer, and genetic testing, Bond said she knows she plays an active role in improving health outcomes.
“I'm proud to contribute to advancing medical bioscience and making a real difference for patients,” she said.
Bridging the Gap Between Conservation and Recreation in Local Communities
Two 2024 Graduates Use Their Education to Implement Sustainability Initiatives
by Angela Coulombe
As Julianne Lapiere and Mia Meister led a tour of Meadow Woods Preserve within the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust (KCT) in August, Lapierre paused to point out a particular plant.
“Common mugwort was brought to the states from Europe for medicinal purposes. Even though it is an invasive species to Maine, it makes great tea,” she said.
Lapiere and Meister are participants in the inaugural cohort of the UNE Summer Sustainability Fellowship, which pairs UNE students and graduates with local municipal, business, and nonprofit community partners to collaborate on sustainability projects.
Lapiere and Meister are using the environmental and geographic information system (GIS) mapping skills they developed while in school to work with the KCT to deliver a plan for invasive species management and a perimeter trail for the Meadow Woods Preserve that reflects the interest of the KCT community and is compatible with the existing ecosystem.
“As a marine science major, I gained a lot of GIS experience that I use daily and is integral to this project,” Meister said.
The UNE alumni aim to bridge the gap between conservation, education, and recreation in southern Maine while ensuring that beautiful places like the Meadow Woods Preserve are available and accessible to future generations.
“Our project addresses biodiversity issues, such as invasive species management, while preserving and maintaining biodiversity,” said Meister. “Preserving areas like the Meadow Woods Preserve will play a role in stabilizing our ecosystems while allowing local communities access to nature and encourage people to care and get involved with preservation efforts while inspiring other communities.”
Lapiere and Meister credit their UNE experience with opportunities and skills they have gained to make strides with this project.
“Through UNE, I have made multiple connections within the local communities of Biddeford and Kennebunkport, including the Kennebunk Conservation Trust, to find properties to use as a lab to gain hands-on experience managing invasive species and other environmental and conservation work. Now, as a Summer Sustainability Fellow, I’m using these same skills daily,” explained Lapiere.
For Lapiere and Meister, the most exciting aspect of the project is the flexibility they have had to contribute their ideas and use their backgrounds, creativity, and knowledge to expand on their project deliverables.
In the end, Lapiere and Meister said they want people to be as passionate as they are about sustainability and the preservation of local ecosystems, and, of course, common mugwort tea.
Improving Patient Care Outcomes at NIH Clinical Center
Two Occupational Therapy Graduates Makes an Impact Through Research
by Victoria Wilbur ’21
For Leslie Bardin and Alexandra St. Clair, making an impact on vulnerable communities through applied research at UNE led them to pursue occupational therapy work at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
As part of the inaugural class of UNE’s Health, Wellness, and Occupational Studies program (now Occupational Studies), Bardin was eager to innovate a unique approach to occupational therapy (OT). She was part of the Neuroscience Club as an undergraduate, volunteering with the Goulet Foundation to bring free helmet fittings to the community.
Bardin also worked with the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences through graduate school, doing case studies on sensory modulation methods for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. St. Clair was part of the same cohort as Bardin, and they often worked together on class assignments. St. Clair tested self-soothing sensory strategies for pediatric mental health patients. Because of this, they both learned that collecting and sharing data about best treatment practices is the key to driving future patient outcomes forward.
“It was really interesting to put myself out there and take these unexpected opportunities,” Bardin said, “It was there in the pain labs and volunteering in the community where I learned the importance of the occupational therapist’s role in the medical field.”
While practicing in OT clinics after graduation, Bardin and St. Clair longed for the creative problem-solving opportunities they found in their UNE research experiences. They soon found themselves at the NIH Clinical Center, where each patient has a research protocol attached to their care. As occupational therapists, Bardin and St. Clair have the freedom to expand treatment options for their patients and make a difference for patients through the lens of occupational therapists.
“We collect data for various projects, but we can also do our own projects,” said Bardin.
As a licensed hand therapist, St. Clair’s research examines how daily upper extremity function is impacted by a patient’s condition. Bardin’s research focuses on using health and wellness education to create protocols to overcome socioeconomic barriers facing intersex patients, which impacts their overall wellness.