While our research has been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that my research group has none the less made significant strides in our understanding of amphibian immune defenses. We have published 2 important manuscripts, redefining the infection strategies of key amphibian/reptile/fish pathogen and demonstrating unique amphibian tadpole immune response against this virus.
We have 6 manuscripts, for which the data acquisition and analyses have been largely completed. Together, these findings frame significant new insights into the differences between tadpole and adult frog immune responses; key determinants of frog susceptibility and resistance to fungal infections as well as how several previously unexplored immune subsets are developed by amphibians.
I have updated and enhanced the syllabus of my Cell Biology BISC 2202 course, teaching 138 undergraduate students this Spring 2021 semester. I have refined a number of new in class and take-home assignments and activities, geared towards distinct types of student-learning/teaching approaches. These have been very successful and are working great during the online teaching/learning.
I served on the departmental graduate committee and on the Evolutionary Biologist Search Committee, on the Advisory Council for Research and the Health Professions Advisory Committee.
I continue to serve as the Associate Director of the Global Ranavirus Consortium.