Search
Saturday, December 7, 2019
The Daily
Search
News
Multimedia
Sports
Opinion
In-Depth
Subscribe
Lifestyles
The Roost
Marketplace
Send a Tip
42°
Full Forecast
The Daily News
  • News
  • Lifestyles
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Multimedia
  • In-Depth
  • The Roost
  • Marketplace
  • Send a Tip
  • Donate
  • News
  • Lifestyles
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Multimedia
  • In-Depth
  • The Roost
  • Marketplace
  • Send a Tip
Search

Subscribe

Subscribe to The Daily News

Communities 12/12/2018, 3:00pm

Intern Spotlight: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases accepts first Ball State intern

By Abby Speitel
Intern Spotlight: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases accepts first Ball State intern

Ethan Pickerill stands in the Cooper Life Science Building on his way to do research. Pickerill researched cellular signaling within an immune cell during his time at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Ethan Pickerill, Photo Provided

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

Editor's Note: This story has been updated. The original version said adaptive immune diseases. That has been corrected to autoimmune diseases. 

Ball State graduate student Ethan Pickerill spent last summer in a lab in Bethesda, Maryland as Ball State’s first ever intern for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). 

“I’m interested in understanding disease and identifying ways in which we can treat disease,” Pickerill said. “I have learned a lot of new information for sure.”

Pickerill said his internship with NIAID, a government agency that researches diseases and the immune system to have a better understanding of biological systems, was highly competitive and involved multiple interviews with scientists. 

At his internship, Pickerill aided in bench research, a type of research that is primarily within a laboratory setting, where he studied cellular signaling within an immune cell.  

“We looked at some of the molecular mechanisms that underlie some autoimmune diseases,” Pickerill said. “Very long-term goals for the research are that it can shed light on druggable targets for autoimmune disease.”

Pickerill also said his internship gave him opportunities to meet with many well-respected professionals in the biological field. 

“I was required to give group meeting, as well as present a poster at the culmination of my NIAID internship,” Pickerill said. “This, paired with interacting with numerous brilliant post-doctoral fellows and staff scientists, has facilitated my growth as a presenter and has made me better able to critically evaluate other scientific work.”

As an undergraduate student, Pickerill earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and researched the pathogen fungi Candida albicans, which is targeted by the immune system. He worked closely with Doug Bernstein, an assistant professor of biology, for almost three years as a bench researcher. 

“[Pickerill] is an enthusiastic scientist who enjoys thinking about and performing molecular biology experiments,” Bernstein said. “He treats science as a puzzle.”

Currently Pickerill is continuing his research at Ball State, and he is seeking a full-time biotechnology or molecular biology position. 

Contact Abby Speitel with comments at alspeital@bsu.edu.

Share



Related Stories

Paige Grider, DN File

Second half effort leads Delta boys’ basketball over Wabash

By Grant Covey

Ball State Women's Volleyball sings its fight song after defeating Central Michigan Nov. 16, 2019, in John E. Worthen Arena. The Cardinals won, 3-1, sending them to the MAC Tournament. Eric Pritchett, DN

Ball State Women’s Volleyball season ends, future looks ‘really bright’

By Zach Piatt

One individual was arrested Dec. 5, 2019, for a burglary incident at a house on Dill Street. His roommate, who accompanied him in the burglary, returned the stolen items and the they apologized to the victims. Mara Semon, DN File

Christmas tree, coffee table stolen in Dill Street burglary

By Staff Reports


The Daily News welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic. Read our full guidelines here.



Most Popular


News 11/18/2019, 9:16am

Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler arrested by FBI

By Staff Reports

News 12/4/2019, 9:13pm

SGA passes Greek Life ‘Zero-Tolerance’ resolution


News 11/20/2019, 7:09pm

New SGA resolution penalizes Greek Life organizations for sexual assault, hazing


News 11/19/2019, 8:00pm

Ball State students, professors hold 'Red for Ed' protest on campus





Tweets by bsudailynews
To Homepage
  • About
  • Guidelines
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • The Daily

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2019 The Daily News

Powered by Solutions by The State News.