UC Clermont Alum's Research Published in International Journal
Heidi Rowles 16, a dual graduate of UC Clermont Colleges biological sciences and pre-pharmacy associate degree programs, has received international recognition for her research.
Rowless first paper, titled Increasing Antibiotic Therapy Compliance through Concurrent Probiotic Consumption, will appear in the spring issue of the International Journal of Probiotics and Prebiotics. A second paper, Lactobacillus fermentum as a Treatment for Intestinal Infection, will be published online in the Journal of Probiotics and Health. The research, all of which Rowles completed in the UC Clermont lab, focuses on using probiotics to decrease the gastrointestinal side effects of antibiotics, with the hope that doing so will encourage patients to finish their prescribed treatments.
Side effects like diarrhea and gas cause many people to quit taking their antibiotics early, which can be dangerous, Rowles said. Physicians generally advise patients to complete a course of antibiotics for two main reasons: To eradicate the infection, and to prevent antibiotic resistance that may arise from incomplete therapy. If we can reduce those symptoms with over-the-counter probiotics, patients are more likely to finish their treatment. There has been talk of probiotics perhaps helping with these side effects for years, but there isnt a lot of evidence-based information available. I hope to begin to change that with this research.
For Rowles, research is a family matter; her father, the late Randall Rowles, worked as a research chemist in UCs Leather Research Lab. In 2009, the American Leather Chemists Association established the Randall Rowles Memorial Scholarship for students related to an ALCA member and majoring in the sciences or leather-related fields (Heidi received the scholarship in 2015). But despite familial ties, Rowles had three young children to care for, and put off her own ambitions for years.
Then, in 2013, the single working mom knew the time was finally right to pursue her own dreams. The Goshen resident enrolled at nearby UC Clermont, starting with online classes before signing up for courses on campus. Rowles first began exploring research in her organic chemistry class, eventually working under the tutelage of Associate Professor Michael Preston, who says Rowless published work is a significant achievement for an undergraduate student at any institution.
"Heidi possesses a deep motivation to learn. She is mature, professional and very knowledgeable, Preston said. She is an excellent example of the type of students that we like to produce at UC Clermont.
Preston added that the hands-on research conducted by Rowles is a benefit for students at a smaller regional campus like UC Clermont; authoring studies is rare for undergraduates at larger schools, where graduate students frequently fill labs. I have had several students who have done this type of research here, and it lifts them to another level, Preston said. These student researchers have actually done things in the lab that their peers from other colleges are just starting to learn about in class. It makes for a student with experience who is more qualified and confident, and opens up many opportunities for them.
One door that opened for Rowles was a full scholarship to Ivy League Cornell University an opportunity she turned down to continue her education at UC. Rowles is now a Pre-Medicine student on Main Campus and plans to attend medical school. She still returns to UC Clermont to conduct research, though, and says the campus provided the perfect launching pad for her new career path.
The professors at UC Clermont really take an interest in working with and helping students, Rowles said. When I apply for med school, Ill be able to say that Ive published my own research. Its amazing. Had I started on Main Campus, I never would have been given this opportunity.
UC Clermont College is located in the center of Clermont County on 91 beautiful wooded acres in Batavia Township. The college is an accredited, open-access institution offering more than 50 programs and degrees. UC East, a Clermont County expansion in the former Ford plant in Batavia Township, opened in the fall of 2010. It is home to UC Clermont's Allied Health programs. The college is part of the nationally recognized University of Cincinnati. For more information, call 513-732-5200 or visit www.ucclermont.edu.
Tags
Related Stories
UC Clermont welcomes new associate dean
April 29, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Clermont College has appointed longtime faculty member Krista Clark, PhD, to associate dean of academic affairs.
OTR mural centerpiece of 'big' celebration of UC alumni
April 26, 2024
New downtown artwork salutes 18 alumni award recipients who personify UC’s alumni success.
UC's record graduating class prepares for next chapter
April 22, 2024
UC will confer degrees to 7,521 degrees to 7,391 students. (Some students are earning multiple degrees.) Both represent new records at UC for a single graduating class dating back two centuries.