Whether it’s solving the world’s biggest problems or investigating the potential of novel discoveries, researchers at UCF are on the edge of scientific breakthroughs that aim to make an impact. Through the Research in 60 Seconds series, student and faculty researchers condense their complex studies into bite-sized summaries so you can know how and why Knights plan to improve our world.
Name: Salvador Almagro-Moreno
Positions: Assistant professor of medicine at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences (College of Medicine). Faculty member of the Sustainable Coastal Systems and Genomic and Bioinformatics clusters.
Why are you interested in this research?
SAM: I’m from an island — the port city of Cadiz, on the southern coast of Spain — so I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean and wanted to study something associated with aquatic environments. When I was pursuing my bachelors, I took courses in microbiology and evolutionary biology and things started clicking: I wanted to study the evolution of aquatic microorganisms. Finally, while doing my Masters at the National University of Ireland I noticed that my molecular biology professor was doing research on that topic. I joined her lab and have dedicated my career to researching this topic ever since.
Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your research at bit.ly/ucf-research-60-form.
Who inspires you to conduct your research?
SAM: My students and mentees. As a mentor and educator, there is an incredible sense of joy and pride that you get when you see the glow in the eyes of a student after they manage to “connect the dots” and find out something new, be it in class or in the lab.
Humans are curious by nature and we all love a challenge — science merges both! So, with the right training and mentoring, you can learn awe-inspiring subjects, make novel discoveries and push your intellectual boundaries.
How does UCF empower you to do your research?
SAM: We study coastal pathogens that inhabit warm and tropical waters. Some of them are endemic to Florida, such as the agent of a flesh-eating disease that makes the news every summer. Therefore, UCF’s location is ideal for the research that we do in my lab as we can collect samples from areas where the disease-causing pathogens live naturally.
What major grants and honors have you earned to support your research?
SAM: I was recently the recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award, which also provides funding to my lab for the next five years and recognizes my research and educational efforts. I was also recently selected by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement as a fellow for its new Scialog (science and dialog) initiative focused on mitigating zoonotic diseases. This opportunity allows me to be a part of think tank that will address how to prevent future pandemics. My research program is funded with grants and contracts from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Science Foundation, Food and Drug Administration, and U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation.
Are you a faculty member or student conducting research at UCF? We want to hear from you! Tell us about your research at bit.ly/ucf-research-60-form.
