College Students Hunt Viruses That Fight Superbugs

Undergraduates at Columbia College are about to do something most scientists wait years to experience: publish real research that could help fight antibiotic-resistant infections.

Starting fall 2026, the college is launching SEA-PHAGES, a hands-on program where students hunt for bacteriophages in soil samples. These tiny viruses naturally infect and kill bacteria, making them potential weapons against superbugs that no longer respond to antibiotics.

Instructor Bre Cole knows firsthand how transformative this kind of work can be. She participated in the program as an undergraduate herself and wanted to bring that same opportunity to her students.

The program runs across two semesters and goes far beyond typical classroom learning. Students collect soil, isolate viruses invisible to the naked eye, extract DNA, and use the same tools professional researchers rely on daily.

In the second semester, students analyze the genetic code of their discovered phage using bioinformatics software. They compare it against thousands of other viral genomes to understand how it works and where it fits in the evolutionary tree.

Here's what makes this special: every student-analyzed genome gets submitted to an international scientific database. Students can become co-authors on peer-reviewed publications, something that typically takes graduate students years to achieve.

Columbia College partnered with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to make this happen. The program is open to any major who's completed introductory biology, not just science track students.

The Ripple Effect

Student research through SEA-PHAGES contributes to a growing library of bacteriophage data that scientists worldwide use to develop new treatments. As antibiotic resistance becomes more urgent, these tiny virus hunters represent a promising alternative approach to fighting bacterial infections.

The program also changes how students see themselves professionally. Instead of just learning about science, they're doing science at a level that matters. They attend national symposiums, build impressive resumes, and graduate with tangible proof of their research abilities.

Student Jackson Siebert has already been working to help launch the program at Columbia College. Another student, Gunnar Oxford, plans to enroll this fall when the first course begins.

Cole emphasizes the real-world value: students gain authentic lab experience, contribute meaningful data to medical research, and build the kind of credentials that open doors to graduate programs and careers.

The virus hunting begins this fall.