Learn what our current students are saying about the PHAGES program, and apply for admission into the program.

Who can apply for this program?
All students planning to graduate with a Biology or Chemistry degree from Ouachita Baptist University, including pre-health professions students, are eligible to apply.

How will this program benefit me if I am accepted?
HHMI PHAGES students will conduct cutting-edge research, gaining invaluable independent research, critical thinking and communication skills.  Additionally, participating students are well prepared for introductory and upper level Biology courses.

What will I do while enrolled in this program?
In the fall semester, students will isolate bacteriophages from the environment, characterize them by electron microscopy, purify their DNA and prepare the isolated DNA samples for sequence analysis.  In the spring semester, students will annotate the DNA sequence of a bacteriophage. The genome and amino acid sequences will be compared to those of other microorganisms using computational methods and bioinformatics.

How will this enrollment in this program affect my course schedule?
The HHMI PHAGES program is a year-long program and students are required to commit for both the fall and spring semesters of their freshman year.  Each semester of the course, students enrolled will take 16 to 18 credit hours, as in a normal semester.

How many credit hours will I earn as a student in this program?
Students will earn 5 credit hours for the zoology lecture and the HHMI PHAGES lab in the fall semester and 3 credit hours for the HHMI PHAGES bioinformatics course in the spring semester.

Do I have to participate in both the fall and spring semesters?
Yes.  Students accepted into the HHMI PHAGES program are required to commit for both the fall and spring semesters of their freshman year.

Will this experience count for credit toward graduation?
Yes.  Students who enroll in the HHMI PHAGES program will receive credit that will count toward both the Biology major and toward graduation.

Will there be an additional cost for this program?
No, we have received three years of complete funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

What other schools are involved in the HHMI SEA PHAGES program?
Twelve full member schools, listed below, were selected to join the HHMI SEA PHAGES program annually from 2008 through 2011.  Several associate member schools have also joined the SEA PHAGES program, although Ouachita remains the only member school in Arkansas.

Cohort 1, 2008:
Carnegie Mellon University
The College of William and Mary
Hope College
James Madison University
Oregon State University
Spelman College
University of California, San Diego
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Mary Washington
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Washington University in St. Louis

Cohort 2, 2009:
Brigham Young University
Cabrini College
Calvin College
Georgia State University
Lehigh University
North Carolina State University
St. Joseph’s University
University of Colorado
University of Montana
University of North Texas
University of Puerto Rico
Western Kentucky University