Kaylagh Hollen, a Northern Michigan University biology student, recently received $2,517 through the scientific grant-funding website, Instrumentl, for her research project titled “A New and Rapid Way to Identify Staph Bacteria.” She is working under the guidance of biology professor Josh Sharp.

Hollen is trying to identify Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in 3-6 hours. Current culture-based methods take up to 24-48 hours. Developing a rapid method to accurately identify S. aureus could potentially reduce the time to administer proper treatments, decrease the length of hospital stays/costs and decrease patient morbidity and mortality rates.

Hollen’s project began last fall and is scheduled to be completed Sept. 30.