Project title: “Glycomacropeptide (GMP) derived from cheese whey: treating obesity by manipulating satiety hormones and the gut microbiota”
Ibrahim Zuniga-Chaves
PhD candidate, UW–Madison
Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
What brought you to UW–Madison?
I was born and raised in Costa Rica and completed my undergraduate degree in clinical microbiology and my master’s degree in bacteriology at the University of Costa Rica. I started looking for opportunities to do a PhD in the US and UW–Madison has one of the best microbiology programs in the country. I met Dr. Garret Suen (my current PI) during a project in Costa Rica, and we started working together.
Why did you choose microbial ecology as a specialty?
I started out as a clinical microbiologist because I’ve always been interested in studying and understanding how people get sick from microbes and how infectious diseases work. Later, I discovered that interesting microbial ecosystems can be found everywhere and that we could use the vast biodiversity in Costa Rica for research in this area. When I moved to Madison, I decided to combine both my passion for clinical microbiology and my new understanding of how microbial communities affect their host and began working on human gut microbiomes. The focus of my work is to understand how the human microbiome relates to and is altered by health and disease.
How did you get involved in the GMP human subjects trial with Dr. Ney and Dr. Hansen?
The main research focus of the Suen lab is rumen microbiology and how we can improve milk production by manipulating the rumen microbiome. Dr. Suen and Dr. Ney have collaborated in the past and he recommended me for this project. Dr. Ney needed someone to analyze the stool samples and microbiome data for the clinical trial and Garret thought I was the best person for the project given my background, which includes a minor in clinical research.
Did you have any prior experience with dairy foods?
This was my first time working with dairy foods. But I was excited to work on this project because it is the perfect intersection of what my lab is doing to improve dairy production and my work on the human microbiome. I would love to do similar projects in the future.
What are your future career goals?
My passion for research and teaching is what led me to the U.S. and get my PhD. I would like to continue doing research either at the university level or in industry. I haven’t decided exactly where I’ll go, however, I really appreciate my research experience in the U.S. and the excellent mentorship I’ve had during my time at UW–Madison, including Dr. Suen and Dr. Ney.
What advice do you have for other students in your field?
The use of bioinformatics to understand microbial communities has been a hot area of research for about 10 years. I would advise other students to give it a try at any point in their careers. The field is still developing, and we have a lot of resources both on campus and online. I’ve also helped other students at every level from high school to PhD understand and apply bioinformatics into microbial ecology research. My research background and expertise has also opened doors for me in terms of collaborations and networking, as a lot of research now has a microbiome component, such as this clinical trial.