Bio students together in lab

Bio students assist with COVID tests in a local lab

June 26, 2020

Student Experience

University of Richmond science students using their skills to help others navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Several students and recent graduates are now working at a diagnostic lab in Virginia, testing samples for the coronavirus.

Ted Corl, a rising sophomore who is majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and business, in March was the first UR student to get a job at GENETWORx in Glen Allen.

“During my first week alone, I helped prepare hundreds if not thousands of samples to be tested,” Corl said. “I learned the biology behind the testing while getting hands-on experience with the lab equipment. It feels great to be working in an environment where I am helping people across the nation during the COVID outbreak.”

GENETWORx supports testing for private companies, hospitals, and retirement homes in several states.

Recognizing his stellar lab skills and work ethic, Corl’s supervisors asked him to help recruit additional UR students who might be interested in employment. The company has since hired additional employees trained in UR’s labs.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students contributing in this way,” said biology professor Carrie Wu, who also helped connect UR students with the company. “UR science students graduate with the bench skills needed to support this type of work, and the passion to have a positive impact on the world.”

Rising senior Zachary Abdallah is employed as a technical lab assistant, a role where processes, documents, and distributes specimens that enter the lab.

“Everyone in the lab is very united in ensuring that we’re able to get through as many specimens as possible so that we can keep the process moving,” Abdallah said. “There are more and more Richmond students working here every day, and it’s good to see familiar faces.”

Additional students working at GENETWORx include 2018 graduate Priscilla Kwarteng, 2019 graduate Chris Cotter, and 2020 graduates Destiny Pryor and Reuben Davis, who are all employed as medical technologists.