Experience

St. Mary's University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Dean—School of Science Engineering and Technology

  • Jan 2019 - Present

• Professor of Biological Sciences

  • Aug 1991 - Present

  Before joining the faculty at St. Mary's I had gained broad experience in the molecular cell biology of bacteria, protozoa and viruses. I became expert in fluorescence and bright-field microscopy, and in a wide range of techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and cell biology (including the culture of animal cells and various microorganisms). Currently I teach courses in microbiology, immunology, cell biology, genetics and molecular genetics to undergraduate biology majors. To support my laboratory teaching I have obtained multiple grants, including two NSF instrumentation grants; this funding enabled me to purchase research-quality microscopes and led to my expanding the use of fluorescence microscopy in my lab courses. I advise students interested in careers in biomedical research and the health professions. I received funding twice to teach a graduate course, “Application of Genetic Engineering Techniques to the Study of Venomous Animals,” at the Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I was the Program Director for a NIH-Support for Continuous Research Excellence Program grant I obtained while at St. Mary’s, and I was co-PI with Peter Melby on two VA-funded research grants (using a novel cDNA-immunization approach to identify candidate antigens for vaccination against Leishmania donovani). At St. Mary's I have conducted microbiology/ immunology-related research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and in Eric Rubin's lab at Harvard Medical School (sabbatical). I have been active in curriculum development and as a consultant/ reviewer of medical microbiology, cell biology and molecular biology textbooks for several publishers, including ASM Press, Elsevier, Garland Science, Jones and Bartlett, Wiley, and Williams and Wilkins. Show less



UT Health San Antonio

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Associate Professor of Microbiology

  • 1994 - 2008

  I collaborated on a number of studies concerning the intracellular protozoal parasite Leishmania donovani, and I was co-PI with Peter Melby, M.D. on two VA-funded research grants utilizing a novel DNA-immunization approach which led to the identification of vaccine candidate antigens for experimental visceral leishmaniasis by immunizing mice with fractions of a cDNA expression library. I collaborated on a number of studies concerning the intracellular protozoal parasite Leishmania donovani, and I was co-PI with Peter Melby, M.D. on two VA-funded research grants utilizing a novel DNA-immunization approach which led to the identification of vaccine candidate antigens for experimental visceral leishmaniasis by immunizing mice with fractions of a cDNA expression library.



Harvard Medical School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Scientist and Consultant (Sabbatical)

  • May 2005 - Jan 2006

  While on sabbatical in the lab of Eric Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., I conducted proprietary research and utilized the lambda Red recombinase system to construct directed genetic knockouts in mycobacteria. While on sabbatical in the lab of Eric Rubin, M.D., Ph.D., I conducted proprietary research and utilized the lambda Red recombinase system to construct directed genetic knockouts in mycobacteria.



Yale University School of Medicine

• United States
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Research Scientist

  • 1989 - 1991

  I investigated the molecular basis of complement resistance in the intracellular protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. I investigated the molecular basis of complement resistance in the intracellular protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.



The National Institutes of Health

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 700 & Above Employee

• Staff Fellow

  • 1987 - 1989

  In Dr. Keith Joiner's unit, I studied the molecular biology of the obligate intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In Dr. Keith Joiner's unit, I studied the molecular biology of the obligate intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.



Tufts University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Fellow

  • 1983 - 1987

  As a postdoctoral fellow with Moselio Schaechter, Ph.D., I studied DNA replication in Escherichia coli and made seminal discoveries on the role of epigenetics (GATC methylation) in the functioning of the origin of replication, oriC. As a postdoctoral fellow with Moselio Schaechter, Ph.D., I studied DNA replication in Escherichia coli and made seminal discoveries on the role of epigenetics (GATC methylation) in the functioning of the origin of replication, oriC.