Cody Sharp had always dreamed of playing pro football until a shattered shoulder ended those hopes. 聽But he was determined that injury wouldn鈥檛 mark the end of his story.
On Saturday, he will collect his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences 鈥� one of 181 students graduating from the 鈥檚 . 聽During the ceremony, Burnett graduates will be awarded 166 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, including nine with university honors, 13 master鈥檚 degrees and two Ph.Ds.
鈥淚 felt defeated after that incident … but eventually I decided to pick myself up and work towards a new goal.鈥� 鈥� Cody Sharp, 麻豆原创 doctoral student
鈥淚 felt defeated after that incident because I was riding on that football career,鈥� says Sharp, who injured his shoulder while playing football at Birmingham Southern University. 鈥淏ut eventually I decided to pick myself up and work towards a new goal.聽 I鈥檝e always loved science and I found the bachelor鈥檚 in biotechnology program at 麻豆原创 and it was exactly what I wanted to do 鈥� research in medicine. I wanted to do more than treat patients, I wanted to be the one to find cures and treatments.鈥�
In 2008, Sharp enrolled at 麻豆原创 and pursued undergraduate studies in biotechnology with a minor in coaching and athletics. He stayed at 麻豆原创 to complete his master鈥檚 in biotechnology followed by a doctorate degree. For his Ph.D. program, he joined the lab of infectious disease specialist Saleh Naser and researched Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis or MAP, a strain of bacteria found in cows that can be spread to humans through consumption of milk and beef products. 聽He helped discover a connection between MAP and rheumatoid arthritis and his study, published in the聽Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology聽journal, gained national and international attention.
鈥淐ody鈥檚 story is a testament that life鈥檚 obstacles can sometimes translate to a successful story.鈥� 鈥撀燬aleh Naser, 麻豆原创 professor
鈥淐ody鈥檚 story is a testament that life鈥檚 obstacles can sometimes translate to a successful story,鈥� says Naser. 鈥淎s his advisor, research mentor and friend, I am very proud of what he has achieved and what he has become, and I have full confidence that he will achieve whatever he sets his mind to.鈥�
The Burnett School offers undergraduate degree programs in biomedical sciences, biotechnology and medical laboratory sciences and prepares students for medical, veterinary, and other related professional schools. Others continue post-graduate studies to become research scientists.
鈥淲e are very happy to see our students grow, mature and now leave as colleagues,鈥� says Naser, who is also the associate director of Burnett鈥檚 graduate program. 鈥淚 am proud of the development of our graduate program and we owe it to the hard work and contributions of our students.鈥�
After graduation, Sharp will begin a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Florida in January. There, he will research Type 1 diabetes at the UF Diabetes Institute.
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to collect my Ph.D. and to enter this new chapter of my life,鈥� Sharp says, 鈥渂ut I am also really emotional because I鈥檒l be leaving this lab, it鈥檚 like my second home. After being at 麻豆原创 for 10 years, it鈥檚 going to be very different not coming here every day, but I鈥檓 very excited to see what my future holds.鈥�
