Caldwell, NJ – Three professors of Caldwell University’s Department of Natural Sciences, Dr. Maria Agapito, Dr. Darryl Aucoin, and Dr. Hector Loyola Irizarry, attended the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) SEA PHAGES 2026 Phage Discovery Workshop 19A at UMBC from
June 12-18, 2026. As an Inclusive Research-Education Community (iREC), this program is committed to supporting STEM faculty to adopt and sustainably implement course-based research at undergraduate institutions.

During the workshop, they learned about concepts and associated techniques of isolating and characterizing bacteriophages, viruses that can target and kill harmful bacteria. The professors also conducted all of the student experiments they plan to incorporate into their courses and curriculum.

The SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) Program is a novel way for first and second-semester biology students to engage in a research-driven experience, and provides avenues for students to contribute to collaborative publications and original research projects that are shared across the scientific community.

The workshop provided excellent opportunities for Drs. Agapito, Aucoin, and Loyola to connect with members of the SEA-PHAGES faculty as well as faculty from other institutions who have adopted SEA-PHAGES into their biology curriculum over their shared commitment to fostering science education and hands-on research at the course level.

Caldwell University is one of three New Jersey institutions participating in this program, building upon the science alliance with HHMI to advance genomics and evolutionary science.