Courtney Pimentel

Courtney Pimentel is a recent graduate from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Microbiology. She is currently completing a Summer 2025 research internship in Dr. Richard Slayden’s lab, where she is gaining hands-on experience in infectious disease microbiology. Her work focuses on Mycobacterium abscessus and related nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), opportunistic pathogens known for their intrinsic drug resistance and treatment complexity.

As part of her internship, Courtney is conducting minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and checkerboard assays to evaluate drug susceptibility and investigate antibiotic interactions. Her work aims to identify synergistic, antagonistic, or additive effects between drug combinations to support more effective treatment strategies for NTM infections—cases that are often clinically challenging and difficult to manage.

Courtney’s growing interest in infectious disease has shaped her research direction and long-term goals. While her earlier research in Dr. Graham Peers’ lab focused on the vdl gene in Nannochloropsis oceanica and its role in photosynthetic efficiency, her transition to microbiology has deepened her curiosity about host-pathogen interactions, bacterial resistance, and translational applications in antimicrobial therapy. Her undergraduate thesis culminated in a 35-page report, a presentation at CSU’s CURC Day, and a research talk at the Mountain Campus Biochemistry Retreat.

She has hands-on experience in molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemical techniques including PCR, molecular cloning, cDNA synthesis, flow cytometry, HPLC sample preparation, and fluorescence kinetics using Dual-PAM and LabSTAF instrumentation. She is trained in BSL-2 practices, media preparation, colony screening, and aseptic techniques, with growing expertise in analyzing drug interaction data.

Courtney will begin her Master’s program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at CSU in Fall 2025. As a first-generation researcher, she is passionate about building a career in translational infectious disease research, with a focus on improving diagnostics and developing more effective treatment approaches. She is also deeply committed to making science more accessible through inclusive mentorship and science communication.