From Fruit Flies to Elephants: Keith Adams Makes the Most of Research Opportunities at Rhodes

a young African American man smiles while standing on a sand dune in the desert
Keith Adams '25 studied environmental phenomena in Namibia and Botswana during an intensive 2024 Namibia Maymester.

Keith Adams ’25 had his heart set on conducting undergraduate research from the outset of his college search—and from fruit fly genetics to environmental field study to infectious disease, the biology major and chemistry minor has fulfilled this goal during his time at Rhodes.

Early on, the Atlanta, GA, native saw medical school on the horizon, and looked for the best route for relevant coursework and hands-on research experience. Taking the initiative to reach out to professors, during his sophomore year he joined the research lab of assistant professor of biology Dr. Liam Hunt, where he studied drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) genetics. Last spring, he presented this research at the Rhodes Symposium—an annual conference hosted at Rhodes to showcase student research. “I was able to present my work to other students, faculty, staff, and even researchers from St. Jude,” he says. “It was also a great opportunity to learn about the research that other students had done.”

headshot of a young African American man
Keith Adams '25

Adams next embarked on the 2024 Namibia Maymester, an immersive, three-week environmental field study experience led by associate professor of biology Dr. Jonathan Fitz Gerald. He had always wanted to study abroad, but didn’t think it possible between his academic requirements and athletic commitments as an outfielder for Rhodes Baseball. He jumped at the opportunity when he learned about a program geared towards biology majors that didn’t interfere with his other endeavors.

While abroad, Adams joined the Maymester cohort in studying various environmental phenomena of Namibia and Botswana. They climbed sand dunes in Namibia, visited snake farms to study the different species, observed wildlife in Etosha National Park, traveled to indigenous communities to learn about their sustainable practices and cultural perspectives on nature, and more. Each student undertook an individual research project, with Adams studying how African bush elephants affected other species in the ecosystem.

“I loved immersing myself in Africa, as everything about it is so different from the United States. Being able to learn about the culture, the history, the environment, and the wildlife of each location we visited was extremely rewarding,” says Adams. “Experiencing a completely new environment forces you to grow.”

Upon returning from Namibia, Adams spent the summer working in Emory University’s bacteria and infectious disease lab, which focuses on the evolutionary biology of bacteria, their viruses, and accessory genetic elements. His research explored the dynamics between bacteria and phages under the limiting resource concentration of glucose. This fall, he had the opportunity to present this research at the South Eastern Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Conference in Tampa Bay, FL.

Outside of his coursework, research, and baseball, Adams serves as the president of Men of Distinction, an on-campus leadership and volunteering-centered organization for men of color; is a Multicultural Vision Program student mentor; and participates in the STEM Cohort Mentoring Program. Off-campus, he is currently interning as a medical assistant at Southaven Internal Medicine.

With his four years at Rhodes coming to a close, Adams plans to take a gap year to accrue additional clinical experience as a medical assistant while applying to medical schools. He feels well prepared by the coursework and research he’s completed and urges other students to get involved. “The opportunities I’ve had at Rhodes have benefited me in ways more than I could imagine. They’ve pushed me to grow, become a better person, and have set me up for success in my future,” he says. “It all just starts with putting yourself out there.”

By Hannah Meit ’25

a young African American man stands next to a large research poster