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Finding Viral Art
By Jeffrey Javier David Scott Allen photo
mma Paunil is passionate about researching common in desert animals, such as lizards,
Eviruses, and an Honors College grant is rodents and hawks. Paunil says she dreams of
helping her take her passion to the next level. ‘I find viruses going to Oxford so that she can study a specific
“I want to really dive deep into viruses,” she family of viruses related to measles.
says. “Viruses fascinate me because there are geometrically Thomas Wilson is an Honors College
types of viruses in our world that are beneficial beautiful. Viruses associate professor and Paunil’s honors thesis
rather than harmful.” adviser. He acts as a sounding board for Paunil,
Paunil is a College of Agriculture and Life are art and I just providing feedback and support.
Sciences and Honors College senior studying really hope to learn “She is very, very motivated and she will do
veterinary science and biochemistry. She’s a very well in whatever direction she chooses,”
recipient of the donor-supported Spirit of Inquiry more and discover Wilson says. “I’m excited to see what she
grant, which enables honors students to pursue everything that I accomplishes in the future.”
research projects of their own design under the Paunil says she wouldn’t be able to pursue
guidance of a faculty member. can possibly find her research project without the support she
Paunil immediately latched onto the idea of received from the grant. The Honors College is
researching viruses. about viruses and raising funds for an endowment to support the
“I find viruses geometrically beautiful. how they travel Spirit of Inquiry program in perpetuity.
Viruses are art and I just really hope to learn from species “I want to thank the donors who supported
more and discover everything that I can possibly me through the Spirit of Inquiry,” Paunil says.
find about viruses and how they travel from to species.’ “In essence, this grants me the freedom to think
species to species,” Paunil says. and dream, and I am so grateful.”
She has reached out to various graduate
students for access to animal samples. She hopes
that her analysis will reveal clusters of viruses
Emma Paunil
24 ARIZONA ALUMNI MAGAZINE
