Student research

Honors and Awards

1. Second place winner in poster presentation, John C. Johnson Award for Excellence in Student Research. ASB, 2022 

2. Aubrey and Lauren were elected as a President and Vice President of district 2 for TriBeta Biological Honor Society, 2022 

3. First place winner in poster presentation, John C. Johnson Award for Excellence in Student Research. ASB, 2021 

4. Third prize in oral presentation, Troy University Research conference, 2018 

Presentations performed by Troy University Students 

1. G. Bailey, V. Zlotea, M. Webb, E. McMahan, J.W. Park, A Search for Pathogenic Protists and Viruses in Tarballs Collected from the Alabama Gulf Coast, ASB meeting, Mar 12-15, 2025, Myrtle Beach, SC.

2. D. Nichols, F. Alger, J.W. Park, Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Tarballs Collected from the Alabama Gulf Coast, 85th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 20-23, 2024, Chattanooga, TN.

3. A. Stewart, L. Locke, J. Cho, and J.W. Park, Quantification of Microplastic Pollutants in water with Genetically Modified M13 Bacteriophage, 84th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 23-26, 2023, Winston-Salem, NC.

4. S. Pyakurel and J.W. Park, Impact of Crude Oil and/or Dispersant on the Growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Foodborne Bacterial Pathogen, Alabama State University Annual Research Symposium, Mar 9-10, 2023, Virtual  Meeting.

5. A. Stewart, L. Locke, J. Cho, and J.W. Park, Genetically Modified Bacteriophage-Microplastics Complex Formation for Potential Solution of Microplastic Pollution, 83rd annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 30-Apr 2, 2022, Little Rock, AR. 

2. P. Subedi, I. Park and J.W. Park, Salinity and the Growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Foodborne Bacterial Pathogen, Alabama State University Annual Research Symposium, Mar 9-10, 2022, Virtual  Meeting. 

3. S. ChandThakuri, J.A. Raval, and J.W. Park, Observing and Examining the Diversification of Bacterial Pathogens in Mobile and Bon Secour Bays, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 1-3, 2021, Troy, AL. 

4. S. ChandThakuri, J.A. Raval, and J.W. Park, Monitoring of Bacterial Pathogens in Mobile and Bon Secour Bays, 82nd annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 24-27, 2021, Virtual Meeting. 

5. N. Bista, S. ChandThakuri, K.C. Anushka and J.W. Park, Survey of Pathogenic Bacteria in Mobile and Bon Secour Bays, 81st annual meeting of the ASB (canceled due to COVID-19), Mar 25-28, 2020, Jacksonville, FL. 

6. L. Shrestha, N. Bista, et al. and J.W. Park, PCR Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Gastrostomy Foods for Tube Feeding in a U.S. Hospital Setting, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 10-11, 2019, Troy, AL. 

7. L. Shrestha, N. Bista, et al. and J.W. Park, PCR Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Gastrostomy Foods for Tube Feeding in a U.S. Hospital Setting, 80th annual meeting of the ASB,  Apr 3-6, 2019, Memphis, TN. 

8. D. Park, S. Pushpa, and J.W. Park, Oil Spill and a Fate of Food-poisoning Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Marine Sediments, Alabama State University Annual Research Symposium, Mar 13 – 14, 2019, Montgomery, AL. 

9. L. Shrestha, J.W. Park, Assessing the Safety of Blenderized Foods for Tube feeding in a US Hospital Setting, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 26-27, 2018, Troy, AL. 

10. L. Shrestha, J.W. Park, Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Blenderized Food
    for Tube Feeding in a US Hospital Setting, 79th annual meeting of the ASB,  Mar 29-31, 2018, Myrtle Beach, SC. 

11. L. Shrestha, J.W. Park, Detection of Bacterial Contamination in Blenderized Food
    for Tube Feeding in a US Hospital Setting, Troy University Student Research Conference, Feb 27, 2018, Troy, AL. 

12. K. Bokenfohr, J.W. Park, Effect of Crude Oil on Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Causative Bacterium of Seafood Poisoning, 78th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 29- Apr 1, 2017, Montgomery, AL. 

13. C. Bennett, J.W. Park, Bacterial Communities Residing in Core and Surface of Tar Balls on the Gulf Coast Beaches, 78th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 29- Apr 1, 2017, Montgomery, AL. 

14. P. Bhattacharya, J.W. Park, Analysis of Bacterial Communities in Sediments of Northern Gulf of Mexico and Effects of Treatment with the Oil Dispersant Corexit® 9500A, 78th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 29- Apr 1, 2017, Montgomery, AL. 

15. E. Brown, J.W. Park, Impact of the Elk River chemical spill on Bacterial community, 77th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 31- Apr 2, 2016, Concord, NC. 

16. M. Cooper, K. Bokenfohr, C. Bennett, J.W. Park, Analysis of bacterial community along a depth gradient in marine tar balls, 77th annual meeting of the ASB, Mar 31- Apr 2, 2016, Concord, NC. 

17. E. Brown, J.W. Park, Bacterial Response to the Elk River Chemical Spill in West Virginia, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 7-8, 2016, Troy, AL. 

18. M. Cooper, K. Bokenfohr, C. Bennett, J.W. Park, Microbial Habitation of Tar Balls Located in Fresh Water Environments, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 7-8, 2016, Troy, AL. 

19. P. Bhattacharya, J.W. Park, Effects of COREXIT® 9500 on Benthic Bacterial Communities in the Gulf of Mexico, Dauphin Island, and Lake Pontchartrain, Troy University Student Research Conference, Apr 7-8, 2016, Troy, AL. 

20. M. Tran, G. Lloyd, K. Yu, J.W. Park, Risk Assessment of Microbial Pathogens in Tar-filled Shells on Alabama beach, 115th American Society for Microbiology (ASM) International meeting, May 30 – June 2, 2015, New Orleans, LA. 

21. M. Tran and J.W. Park, Effect of Freshwater Exposure on Tarballs Bacterial Community, 76th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Apr 1-4, 2015, Chattanooga, TN. [oral presentation] 

22. E. Brown, M. Tran, J.W. Park, Bacterial Response to the Elk River Chemical Spill in West Virginia, 76th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Apr 1-4, 2015, Chattanooga, TN. 

23. M. Tran and J.W. Park, Risk Assessment of Microbial Pathogens in Tar-filled Shells along the Gulf of Mexico and Freshwater Tarballs, 75th annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Apr 2-5, 2014, Spartanburg, SC. [oral presentation]