Class of 2024: A brush with illness opened Alex Solomon’s eyes to immunology research

Like many students entering the School of Animal Sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Alex Solomon planned to be a veterinarian.

He grew up collecting and caring for lizards, turtles, and exotic pets. Throughout high school in Alexandria, Virginia, he worked in animal care and grooming to support his goal.

But after contracting a parasitic illness called cryptosporidiosis during his sophomore year of college, Solomon altered his path.

“It made me curious about how an organism so small could have such a big effect on a human being,” he said. “After that, I wanted to research parasitology and virology and learn how to help humans prime their immune systems against disease.”

Solomon will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in animal and poultry sciences and head to the University of Cincinnati to earn his Ph.D. in immunology on a full fellowship. He says his research and academic experiences at Virginia Tech have prepared him well for a rigorous graduate program.

“There were so many faculty members whose guidance positively influenced the trajectory of my career path,” he said. “When I was initially uncertain about pursuing a career in biomedical research, their collective mentorship and support opened numerous doors and professional avenues for me to learn about my options and make the best decision for my future.”

As a student researcher, Solomon studied the effects of nicotine on epilepsy with School of Animal Sciences Assistant Professor Susan Campbell and worked in the virology lab of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Assistant Professor James Weger, researching emerging pathogens transmitted by insects. He also supported other students as a teaching assistant and peer mentor in challenging advanced and introductory courses.

Solomon broadened his research experience during two summers as an intern in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, working on NSF-funded projects. At the University of Cincinnati, he investigated how fruit flies use their sense of smell to navigate their environment. Later, at the University of California Berkeley, he performed field and lab work to better understand viruses in honeybees. 

“My research experiences at Virginia Tech and with the NSF inspired me to look at graduate programs in immunology,” he said. “It’s a field that allows me to be constantly curious, make new discoveries, and work for the greater good of humanity. I’d love to work one day at the CDC or in the biotechnology industry and use my knowledge to help develop vaccines, therapeutics, and treatments for emerging viruses.”

Solomon was also active in extracurricular life. He was a member the Orion Science Living-Learning Community, the Valiant Indoor Color Guard, Black Students in STEM, the Black Student Alliance, Virginia Tech Club Gymnastics, and the Delta Lambda Phi fraternity.

For his many achievements, Solomon was honored with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Randolph L. Grayson Outstanding CALS Diversity Scholar Award, which recognizes outstanding graduating seniors who have advanced the college’s mission of promoting diversity.

“Virginia Tech is such a special place to me,” he said. “If you put in the work and use the resources available, you can go anywhere.”