Eleven undergraduate students and two faculty at Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) are playing a hands-on role in one of the largest soil microbiome studies ever attempted through the BioDiversity and Informatics for Genomics Scholars (BioDIGS) Project.

NDMU faculty and students from the Biology Department are contributing directly to this nationwide research initiative that spans across 40 sites with more than 150 team members in the Unites States run by the BioDIGS Consortium. NDMU faculty Dr. Jennifer Kerr and Dr. Sayumi York lead a team of student researchers: Jefferson Da Silva ’27, Grace D. Ekalle ‘26, Namoi Ewhe’27, Rachel Johnson ‘26, Kritika Kc ’25, Disomi Okie ‘26, Tolulope Olowookorun ‘27, Nisttha Ray ’26, Ariana Rodriguez ‘27, Loraye Smith ‘25, and Nwanneka Udolisa ’25. The NDMU faculty and students were co-authors of a December 2025 article on the BioDIGS research in Nature Genetics, a leading peer-reviewed journal for high-impact research on how genetics impact human disease, biological function, and evolution.

NDMU kicked-off Black History Month with the first of many events

Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Annual Giving Office was nationally recognized for excellence from the world’s leading organization for annual giving programs.

The Annual Giving Network’s Best in Annual Giving Awards recognized the postcard entitled, “Gators Through the Years,” with a Bronze Award. The piece celebrates NDMU’s 130th anniversary by pairing humor with nostalgia, reimagining the University’s archival photos with NDMU’s Gator mascot. It illustrates that while NDMU has changed since its founding in 1895, the University's core mission remains the same.

University Achievements: Awards and Recognitions

Learn about more accomplishments of NDMU students, faculty, and staff.