Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Fabio Frisoli will use the research skills he gained in Dr. Elmendorf's lab when he goes to medical school. (Photo: Roland Dimaya)

By Megan Weintraub

Fabio Frisoli, a native of Short Hills, New Jersey, knew long before he arrived at Georgetown that he wanted to dedicate himself to fighting pathogens. While he was still a high school student, he conducted research in the field of infectious diseases at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey which led to his decision to pursue the sciences in college. Frisoli was immediately drawn to the research opportunities and prestigious faculty at Georgetown. After his freshman year, he embarked on a three-week medical service trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, confirming his decision to work in a research laboratory that explored infectious diseases.

“On that trip, I encountered first-hand the devastation that parasites incur on the quality of human life,” explains Frisoli.

His research has continued in the lab of Dr. Heidi Elmendorf, where he explores the global regulators of gene expression in the Giardia cell. Frisoli uses gene sequencing and drug assays to learn more about Giardia’s production of antisense RNA.

“Upon graduating Georgetown in 2009, I plan on attending medical school,” says Frisoli. “My exposure to infectious diseases and my experience with research has solidified my desire to enter into a health profession. While I am still unsure of my ultimate specialization as a physician, I know that my research experience will lead me to a field related to my work here as an undergraduate.”

Frisoli has undoubtedly benefited from Dr. Elmendorf’s leadership in the lab. Specifically, she has given him and the rest of her research team a significant amount of freedom to propose new hypotheses and devise novel experiments.

“This not only lends an exciting and challenging element to the research experience but also demands a comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter, which is sometimes lost in larger laboratories,” says Frisoli.

Frisoli thoroughly enjoys the creativity and analytical problem solving necessary to conduct solid research. He also appreciates the opportunity research grants him to contribute to our general understanding of evolution and the interdependence between humans and other species.

“Experiments often yield unexpected results,” he explains. “And, unfortunately, experiments do not always go according to plan. While this can be painfully nerve-wracking, it also teaches patience and versatility. In fact, most of the skills I have learned in research can be translated in any field of study or profession.”

Currently a junior biology major, Frisoli has achieved a great deal during his short time at Georgetown. So far, he has made the Dean’s List twice and Second Honors three times, was awarded the GUROP summer research fellowship, and he was also selected to give a talk on behalf of Georgetown at a nationwide conference on the Engelhard Initiative in front of professors and administrators from top universities in the United States. During his time outside of the lab, he serves as a member of the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS) and as a volunteer at the Georgetown University Hospital.

Through hard work and expert guidance from Dr. Elmendorf, Frisoli has developed skills at Georgetown that will serve him in the future.

“Dr. Elmendorf encouraged me to follow my own direction,” he explains. “This forced me to read the published literature and acquire a wealth of knowledge not only on Giardia, but also on novel lab techniques and hypotheses. Had I simply been given a procedure to follow, not only would I not have understood my results but I also would not have appreciated the hard work it took to obtain them.”

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