(BALTIMORE, Md.) – A Notre Dame of Maryland University biology student won third place for outstanding undergraduate research in the highly competitive J. Howard Brown Awards from the American Society for Microbiology’s Maryland Branch. 

Janelle Sangalang ‘22 received honors for her independent research project that explores the effect of prophylactic antibiotic treatments on surgical site infection rates. NDMU Associate Professor Jennifer Kerr guided her work as Sangalang’s research mentor for the past three years. An aspiring doctor, Sangalang is also one of NDMU’s 2021-22 Sr. Alma Science Year Scholars, selected for a yearlong research internship with a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine scientist. 
 
“I owe a lot to NDMU for the continued support and countless opportunities," said Sangalang. “I’m incredibly happy, excited, and blessed, but these feelings can’t compare to my utmost gratitude to Dr. Kerr. I’m proud that my time with her culminated in being able to make this contribution to the Kerr lab.” 
 
The J. Howard Brown Awards celebrate excellence in research by graduate and undergraduate students who are making significant contributions in microbiology. Established in 1954, the awards honor the legacy of microbiologist J. Howard Brown. 

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.