[excerpt from press release ]

Ted Yamamoto, from Caldwell, degree in biology, College of Science

"Ted Yamamoto is an extraordinary undergraduate student, and without a doubt far superior to any other that I have known in my academic career," said Larry Forney, Idaho professor of biological sciences and bioinformatics and computational biology. "During the three plus years that I have known Ted as his teacher and research mentor, he has provided me with at least 10 clues that he is indeed a quite different breed."

Those "clues" include outstanding accomplishments at levels beyond comprehension to most undergraduates. Yamamoto was a 2006 recipient of the national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Following his freshman year, he received a fellowship through the statewide Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network funded by the National Institutes of Health. He joined Forney's lab in the spring semester of his freshman year and has remained a part of the lab group ever since.

"He regularly presents his research to the group with the organization, clarity and professionalism usually found in third or fourth year graduate students," said Forney.

With his team, Yamamoto currently is finalizing a paper to report the findings of research he has done of vaginal microbiota of adolescent women; he will be the first author, or lead investigator, something rarely accomplished by an undergraduate. Yamamoto plans to take a year off and "ground" himself before going to medical school. He is exploring various alternatives, including traveling to Guatemala to work for several months in rural areas to gain experience in health care delivery in rural areas.

[Upon graduation this May 2007, Ted will receive the University Honors Program Certificate; he also hopes to complete a second degree in English]