By Lauren Ludwig 
 
Lee University’s Dr. Jonathan Cornett will conclude the fall Cleveland Bradley County Public Library’s “Sassy Science Series” with a talk titled “Turning the Tables: Using Phages to Outsmart Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.” The program will take place Tuesday, Dec. 16, at noon and will include a 40-minute presentation followed by a 20-minute Q&A session.     
   
“I’m excited to take part in this science series and spotlight a new area of interest for me—bacteriophages,” said Cornett, professor of biology. “I look forward to sharing some of the exciting phage research we’re conducting at Lee.” 
 
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect only bacteria. Because each phage is finely tuned to attack particular bacterial strains, phage therapy offers a highly targeted way to fight infections without disturbing beneficial microbes. In this talk, Cornett will review some recent advances in phage therapy as well as highlight recent research in this field by Lee University students and faculty. 
    
Cornett, a Lee alumnus, joined Lee’s full-time faculty in 2012. He earned his doctorate in genetics and molecular biology from Emory University and completed his postdoctoral studies in the genetics department at the Yale University School of Medicine. He has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, such as Nature Genetics, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and PLoS One.   
 
“The Sassy Science Series is all about showing our community that science is accessible, inviting, and fun,” said Kathy Davini, adult programming coordinator at the Cleveland Bradley County Public Library. “We’re thrilled to host experts like Dr. Cornett, who bring complex ideas to life and inspire curiosity in people of all ages.” 
 
According to Davini, due to the success of the fall series, the “Sassy Science Series” will continue in the spring with five additional sessions featuring talks by Lee professors, beginning Jan. 13. More details will be released in the coming weeks. 
    
The event is free and open to the public. The session will take place in the Flex Room of the Cleveland Bradley County Public Library, located at the corner of Church and 8th streets.     
    
For more information, visit clevelandlibrary.org.