Warhawk Weekly 6-3: Biology research; Graduate student scholarship
What’s in your water? AUM researchers tap AI to provide protection
Summer brings cooling off in pools, running through sprinklers, and playing on splash pads, but beneath all the fun activities lurk the hidden risks of harmful bacteria or toxic chemicals possibly contaminating community water supplies.
Two researchers at Auburn University at Montgomery are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect and identify bacteria commonly associated with disease-causing organisms in public water supplies, particularly during warmer months when waterborne illnesses are more likely to spike. The interdisciplinary research team includes Assistant Professor of Computer Science Olcay Kursun and Benedict Okeke, Distinguished Research Professor of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology.
Together, their interdisciplinary approach, combining biology and cutting-edge AI technology, offers communities a new innovative way to safeguard their most essential resource, clean, safe drinking water. By harnessing AI, the team aims to enhance the monitoring of community water systems, potentially improving detection and response times to microbial contamination.
Their study underscores AI’s expanding role in areas such as public health while providing communities a key line of defense and an early warning tool to detect water contamination, especially during emergencies such as floods or infrastructure failures that often lead to boil-water advisories and other protective measures.
“Our research focuses on using artificial intelligence to detect and classify colonies of bacteria, particularly coliform bacteria like E. coli, that serve as indicators of microbial contamination in water,” Okeke said. “Monitoring coliform bacteria — especially E. coli — is essential because their presence in water often signals potential sewage, human or animal waste contamination that can expose communities to dangerous waterborne pathogens that cause severe illnesses such as cholera.”
The team’s study is part of a larger university-wide initiative fueled by a $400,000 National Science Foundation grant to strengthen AI capacity across AUM. The grant supports AI training, infrastructure, and collaborative research projects between computer science and other fields, including biology, chemistry, business, and clinical laboratory sciences.
Read more about the team’s AI water research in the AUM Newsroom.
Four students earn Graduate Study Merit Scholarships
Each year, the AUM Alumni Association presents the Graduate Study Merit Scholarship to outstanding graduate students who have achieved a GPA of 3.4 or better and whose academic excellence is matched by a dedication to professional advancement.
The newest recipients of the scholarship are graduate students Reginald Carter, Caitlin Grant, Gootam Tony Prashanth, and Alberta Danquah.
Each honoree receives a $1,000 scholarship, funded by contributions from AUM alumni memberships. To qualify, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher, enroll in and complete at least six credit hours per semester, and remain continuously enrolled throughout the scholarship period.
The annual scholarship program underscores the university’s longstanding commitment to fostering academic achievement and supporting the growth of its graduate student community.
Warhawk Health Services’ student copay increases
Beginning June 16, AUM will increase the student copay at Warhawk Health Services from $5 to $10 per visit.
The change comes in response to rising operational costs, investments in clinic improvements, and efforts to maintain high-quality care for the campus community. Earlier this year, the copay for faculty and staff was adjusted to $30 per visit.
Warhawk Health Services, AUM’s on-campus primary care clinic, offers prompt, cost-effective care for students, faculty, staff, and their dependents. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (334) 244-3281. Walk-in visits are no longer accepted.
Explore AUM summer camp opportunities
Get ready to hit record. AUM’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Communication and Theatre are rolling out their fourth annual AV Storytelling Day Camp, July 7–11.
The free, five-day intensive camp is tailor-made for high school students who are passionate about multimedia storytelling. Whether students are into podcasting, TV production, voice acting, news writing, or strategic communication, this camp is an opportunity to create memorable multimedia projects for portfolios.
From crafting documentaries to participating in roundtable talks and fictional radio dramas, campers will gain hands-on experience to build portfolio-worthy projects.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Alabama Press Association and the AUM Office of the Provost, 20 students can attend this year’s AV Storytelling Day Camp to learn from media professionals.
Eligible students must be in high school or recent graduates not starting college until fall 2025. Spots are limited, so get your name on the list and let the storytelling begin! Register online by June 20.
See a full list of AUM summer camps for middle school and high school learners that offer a blend of scientific inquiry and artistic creativity.
Alumni Night: ASF features Wizard of Oz
AUM alumni are invited to a special “Alumni Night” at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival on Thursday, July 24, for a performance of “The Wizard of Oz.”
The beloved stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale will start at 7.p.m. on Festival Stage. Featuring music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and background music by Herbert Stothart, audiences will follow Dorothy Gale from Kansas to the magical Land of Oz in a production filled with iconic songs and timeless charm.
Tickets are $25 each, non-refundable, and may be picked up at the ASF Box Office before the show. Buy ASF Alumni Night tickets.
The Alabama Shakespeare Festival — Alabama’s premier state theater — aims to build community through engaging performances and enriching programs.
Diving into data analytics
Make sense of the story Big Data is telling you by enrolling in our Data Analytics & Statistical Modeling certification program. It’s perfect for professionals and students who are interested in building expertise in data visualization, decision science and statistical analysis and modeling.
Space is limited for this 8-week program offered by AUM Continuing Education. AUM students and employees can take the program for a discounted rate of $499.
Keep up with campus events
There’s an easy way to keep up with all of the fun events offered on our campus. Enroll in AUM365 and get the 4-1-1 from Curtiss The Warhawk himself. Text curti$$ to 334-398-6025 to receive reminders about upcoming happening.
