MSU CVM Doctoral Student Awarded Bernie Fried Research Grant by American Society of Parasitologists
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine doctoral student Jonah Nguyen is receiving national recognition for his work on invasive apple snails and parasite transmission, earning the Bernie Fried Research Grant from the American Society of Parasitologists, or ASP.
Selected from an exceptionally strong and highly competitive pool of international applicants, Nguyen, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, studies Angiostrongylus, a genus that includes rat lungworm, a parasitic nematode capable of causing neurological disease in people and animals. The parasite is known to infect invasive apple snails, a species now widespread across the southeastern coastal states of the United States.
“Jonah’s work addresses a real public health and agricultural issue,” said Dr. Graham Rosser, MSU parasitologist and Nguyen’s major professor. “The ASP evaluates students from across several different countries. For Jonah to be selected is a significant accomplishment and reflects the impact of his research.”
Nguyen’s project examines how frequently invasive apple snails carry rat lungworm and where infection “hot spots” may exist. Working with partners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, his team has collected an estimated 4,000 snails to understand parasite prevalence and potential risks.
“There’s evidence that rat lungworm is present in invasive apple snail populations in the Southeast, but previous studies have been limited,” Nguyen said. “We want a clearer picture of where the parasite is and what the infection risk looks like.”
The snails also pose agricultural challenges. In Louisiana and Texas, they interfere with crawfish production by clogging traps and altering pond environments. Their rapid reproduction also threatens native Florida apple snail populations.
As part of his research, Nguyen developed a test capable of detecting DNA from any species within the Angiostrongylus genus. The ASP grant will fund DNA sequencing to identify exactly which parasitic species are present in regional snail populations.
“That species-level identification is crucial,” Nguyen said. “It helps us understand not just whether these parasites are here, but which ones, and what risks they pose to people, pets, livestock or wildlife.”
Nguyen, originally from Racine, Wisconsin, earned his undergraduate degree in microbiology at MSU. He plans to graduate in December and hopes to continue working in parasitology through a faculty role or federal research position.
Rosser, who has mentored Nguyen since his undergraduate years, said watching him earn national recognition has been meaningful.
“Jonah is immensely smart and creative,” Rosser said. “He’s been a major part of our lab for years, and I know he’ll go on to do incredible things. I’m going to cry like a baby when he leaves.”
The Bernie Fried Grant is one of the most respected awards for student researchers in the field, providing financial support and a gateway into the broader ASP professional community. As a recipient, Nguyen is encouraged to present his findings at upcoming ASP national and regional meetings.