Research Symposium

BIO

Julia Courtney is a second-year student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List for her academic achievements.

Julia is actively involved in undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, where she works as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Marcos Müller Vasconcelos. Her research focuses on quorum sensing in bacterial networks, where she helps model bacterial communication systems and analyze how signaling molecules influence population behavior and biofilm formation. Using computational tools such as MATLAB and Python, she contributes to numerical simulations and compares theoretical models with experimental microbiology literature to refine biological predictions.

Prior to attending Florida State University, Julia conducted independent research on bacteriophages at the Marymount School of New York under the mentorship of Dr. Vincent Fischetti, gaining experience in microbial culture techniques and experimental design.

In addition to her academic work, Julia is involved in several campus organizations that promote science outreach, community health, and service. She plans to pursue a career in the biomedical sciences, with interests in microbiology, systems biology, and infectious disease research.

Bacterial Quorum Sensing & Network Dynamics

Abstract

Quorum sensing is a key biological process that enables bacteria to communicate through chemical signals and coordinate collective behaviors based on population density. This research examines how the study of quorum sensing has advanced our understanding of bacterial communication and coordinated behavior, particularly in relation to biofilm formation, virulence, and antimicrobial production—processes that have major implications for human health and disease management. To address this question, a structured literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed scientific articles focused on quorum sensing mechanisms and their role in microbial systems. Relevant studies were analyzed through thematic synthesis, with findings organized into major categories including signaling pathways, collective behaviors, and the use of mathematical modeling to describe microbial communities. Preliminary results suggest that quorum sensing is central to bacterial coordination, allowing populations to act as unified systems rather than isolated cells. These findings highlight the importance of quorum sensing research in explaining complex microbial behaviors and in supporting predictive modeling approaches in microbiology.

Keywords: Quorum Sensing, Microbiology, Bacterial Communication