GSSM Students Join Global Antibiotic Resistance Research Led by Tufts University

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (May 20, 2025) -?A team of students from the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) was accepted to join the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (PARE) project, a global research initiative led by Tufts University that engages students in the scientific fight against one of the world’s most pressing public health threats. 

GSSM’s Soil Microbiota Research Group includes Preston Coplen (Lexington), Julia Yang (York), Sarah Cate Henderson (Hartsville), Rachel Graham (Lancaster), Khushi Udani (Lexington) and Parveen Adem (Mount Pleasant). The group is working under the mentorship of Valeria Avanzato, who holds a doctorate in biology and serves as a biology instructor at GSSM. It is the first high school team in South Carolina to participate in the program. 

Launched in 2014, the PARE project enlists students to identify and analyze the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil and water samples. More than 200 institutions worldwide have contributed to the initiative, which plays a critical role in advancing scientific understanding of the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance.  

“What’s most exciting about the PARE project is that it turns students into real scientists,” Avanzato said. “They experience the full arc of research—from unexpected results and troubleshooting to genuine moments of discovery. It builds resilience and critical thinking. Even when things don’t go as planned, they learn not to quit. That’s where the real growth happens.” 

Senior Rachel Graham, Class of 2025, described the experience as both academically challenging and personally meaningful. 

“Research in Soil Microbiota with Dr. Avanzato has been my favorite class this semester, and one of the best I’ve taken at GSSM,” Graham said. “The PARE project allowed me to contribute to raising awareness and addressing antibiotic resistance. I now have a very in-depth understanding of conducting research like this with PCR and gel electrophoresis, along with soil cultures. I’m proud of my team. We’re the first high school in South Carolina to add a dot on the map on the PARE website through our research and results.” 

Participation in the PARE project reflects GSSM’s commitment to giving students authentic, real-world STEM experiences that deepen their technical knowledge and position them as contributors to globally relevant research. 

For more information about the PARE project, visit sites.tufts.edu/pare. For more information about GSSM’s student research, visit www.scgssm.org. 

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About the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics 
The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) is a nationally ranked top 10 public high school that exists to bring world-class STEM education to students across the state. Founded in 1988 by Gov. Carroll Campbell, GSSM is a state resource that offers a variety of programs including an intensive two-year residential high school, a challenging virtual engineering program, summer camps, and in-school experiences for students in 3rd through 12th grades. At GSSM challenge is viewed as a gateway to opportunity. Learn more about how we help students realize their full potential by visiting www.scgssm.org.