Microbiology Program
Microbiology Program
Microbiology Program
Microbiology Program
Microbiology Program
The Doctoral Program in Microbiology provides advanced training and education for students with the desire and ability to thrive in a stimulating, research-oriented graduate program leading to careers in science in the academic, governmental, or private sectors.
MICROBIOLOGY GRADUATE PROGRAM STUDENT HIGHLIGHT
Johnny Thorstenson, PhD Candidate, Horswill Lab
Johnny is a 4th-year PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Alex Horswill. In the Horswill lab, Johnny investigates how the common skin bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, causes intense itch. His work uses molecular genetics and protein biochemistry to uncover the structure and function of the bacterial enzyme SspA which induces itch in vivo. He is currently working on probing the temperature-dependent regulation of SspA, uncovering the role of its C-terminal domain of unknown function, and identifying ways to block its activity to ultimately prevent both itch and skin infection.
Johnny has presented at the Gordon Research Seminar and Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases (2025, Barcelona, Spain), Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology (2024 & 2025, Breckenridge, CO), and the International Conference on Gram-Positive Pathogens (2024 & 2025, Omaha, NE). He was recently awarded the NRSA F31 fellowship and AAI Young Investigator Award for his poster presentation at the Colorado Immunology and Microbiology Conference (2025, Steamboat Springs, CO). Johnny has additionally published a first-author review in PLOS Pathogens and is a co-author on a Cell Reports publication (Lyon et al. 2025) and a recently accepted manuscript in Nature Communications (Nguyen et al. 2025).
Outside the lab Johnny loves music and being outside. As a listener, he frequently attends shows around Colorado ranging from electronic bass music to bluegrass and also plays the guitar and gets together with friends producing beats. In the summers, Johnny loves to go car camping and backpacking and hopes to hit as many of the 14ers as he can while he’s living in Colorado. To relax, Johnny loves to cook, watch horror movies, play fantasy video games, and hang out with his fiancé and dog.
A piece of advice Johnny has to offer about grad school is to stay curious and work hard while in the lab, but to also take the time to relax and love yourself through the process!
Access & Belonging
We aspire to build a medical campus community that thrives on access and community engagement; strives to eliminate social injustices and health disparities through measurable commitments, strategic, systemic and sustainable systems of accountability; and demonstrates trust and respect for ALL through inclusive practices and policies.
As a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative education, science, medicine and health care, we will combine efforts and leverage all of the campus missions to attain our goal. This includes expanding on the endeavors of the former Community-Campus Partnership program and strengthening the collaboration with our hospital partners.
CU Anschutz Office of Access and Engagement
Facilitates initiatives and programs in collaboration with colleagues from across campus and community members to enhance awareness, encourage and support meaningful contributions to advancing Access and Engagement efforts, increase a sense of belonging on campus, and invoke change as it relates to health equity. Learn More.
CU Anschutz PhD Program Student Statistics
As a member of the Coalition for Next Generation Life Science, the Graduate School provides detailed statistics from Biomedical Science programs on: Admissions and matriculation data of PhD students, Average time-to-degree and completion data for PhD programs, and Demographics of PhD students by gender, underrepresented minority status, and citizenship status.
Office of Disability, Access, & Inclusion
Partners with students and programs to ensure an accessible and inclusive experience. Learn More.
Student Resources | Learn more about requesting accommodations, policies & guidelines, and additional resources.
Campus Resources | Learn more about general campus resources
LGBTQ+ HUB
The LGBTQ+ Hub as a one-stop shop that can achieve a campus and Aurora community culture where LGBTQ+ people are highly visible, are fully included and integrated in leadership, day-to-day living, communication and dialogue, and where vibrant partnerships exist between the LGBTQ+ Hub and the campus and Aurora communities-at-large.
Education: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 101
Make a report or learn more about important considerations related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) such as language, bias, and identity. Learn More
Undocumented Student Services
Our university remains committed to providing access to all qualified students, including students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) programs. We are pleased to provide a variety of services, support, and information for students, faculty, and staff to help undocumented students succeed at CU Anschutz
