Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) biology students recently showcased their research on a regional stage at the 59th annual meeting of the Southwestern Association of Parasitologists (SWAP), held April 9–11, 2026 at the OU Biological Station in Lake Texoma, Oklahoma.
Dr. Chris McAllister, along with NTCC Independent Research students Cecilia Phan, Estefani Garcia, Xenia Esparza and José Fuentes, attended the conference as part of their work in Biology 2389. Each student delivered a 15-minute oral presentation highlighting original research on fish parasites to an audience of parasitologists representing colleges and universities from across the southwestern United States.
Phan was also recognized with a SWAP research grant to support her continued study of myxosporean parasites in fishes of East Texas.
Notably, the NTCC group represented the only community college students in attendance at the conference, an achievement that underscores the strength of the college’s undergraduate research program. Their work is expected to result in several scientific publications.
Phan and Fuentes will continue their research this summer, enrolling in additional coursework with McAllister to further their studies of vertebrate parasites.
