Andrew Beaudoin

Thesis: Investigating staphylococcal adaptations and persistence in osteomyelitis

Andrew is a graduate student in the Microbe-Host Interactions Program. Originally from Monument, Colorado, Andrew graduated from the University of Michigan in 2021 with a B.S. in Microbiology. After spending his gap years at The Rockefeller University in New York City, Andrew joined the IGP program in Fall of 2023 and joined the Cassat lab in 2024. He is currently investigating how staphylococcal abscess communities tolerate host and environmental stress during osteomyelitis, or infection of the bone. Inside the bone, invading bacteria are met with the host immune response, nutrient starvation, and antibiotic intervention. These factors continually drive selection of bacteria that can more effectively persist in the face of these threats. Understanding the pathways that drive persistent phenotypes will improve detection and treatment of recalcitrant osteomyelitis infections. 

Mentor: Jim Cassat, Ph.D., M.D.