Softball’s LaBouyer One of Ten Wellesley Women to Earn Prestigious Fulbright Grant

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College softball's Maria LaBouyer, a senior Biology major from Yuba City, California, has been awarded a Fulbright Grant to research the relationship between how diet and the bacteria present in the gastrointestinal system are linked to various neurological disorders, such as autism and depression, at The University of Aberdeen in Scotland. LaBouyer is one of ten Wellesley seniors and alumnae to earn the prestigious grant this year.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. For a complete list of this year's Wellesley College recipients, check out Today's Daily Shot on www.wellesley.edu. 

LaBouyer has spent the last three years doing research on campus in Associate Professor of Chemistry Donald Elmore's lab to study a new class of antibiotic agents, antimicrobial peptides. LaBouyer, who credits the support of her parents, Andre and Beth Labouyer, as well as Professor Elmore and fellow advisors Vanja Klepac-Ceraj, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Elizabeth Mandeville, Wellesley's Director of Fellowship Programs, will now take her research abroad. She will attend The University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where she will complete a masters degree in nutrition while researching how diet affects the microbial composition of the gut.

"Studying bacteria is of interest to me because as a child I contracted a Helicobacter pylori infection," notes LaBouyer. Helicobacter pylori infections can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer. However, another personal connection helped fuel LaBouyer's interest toward the field of microbiology.

"What really turned me towards the field of microbiology is the concept of the gut-brain axis," said LaBouyer. "New studies are showing that specific bacteria in our gastrointestinal system are linked to various neurological disorders such as autism and depression. This was a revolutionary insight for me because my younger brother has autism and I am passionate about improving the quality of life for those on the spectrum."

LaBouyer points out that there are significant links between the diets we consume and the bacteria in our stomach. "Ideally," she continued, "I would like to research a diet that would provide the ideal composition of bacteria to help relieve some symptoms of autism spectrum disorders."

The programs will also allow LaBouyer to return to the United Kingdom, an area of the world where she has studied before. "I studied abroad in London [as an undergraduate] and I am very excited to get to continue learning abroad."

A New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) All-Conference and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region selection for the Blue softball team, LaBouyer also notes that her experience as a student-athlete at Wellesley has helped benefit her off the field.

"It has taught me many important skills," she said, "time management, discipline, and teamwork, each of which have been a benefit during my time at Wellesley. I would like to thank my teammates for their encouragement throughout the whole process."