Denmark, SC — Voorhees University’s Center of Excellence for Research and Program Innovation (CERPI) has been awarded a Faculty-Student Research Grant from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) in support of an innovative research project titled “Computational Evaluation of AI-Guided Design for Bacteriophage Development.”
The research focuses on using computational tools to evaluate AI-generated bacteriophage sequences—an emerging approach aimed at addressing the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. While artificial intelligence shows promise in accelerating biological design, this project emphasizes validating the biological reliability, stability, and effectiveness of AI-generated outputs before experimental application.
Voorhees freshman, Darell Barnes, a computer science major, will be working as research intern on this project. Research advisor, Dr. Zhabiz Golkar, is hopeful that by bridging the gap between AI-driven design and real-world feasibility, the study seeks to determine whether AI can meaningfully reduce the time and cost of developing phage-based therapies.
For more information about CERPI and research initiatives at Voorhees University, visit Voorhees University Center of Excellence for Research and Program Innovation.