Academic Background

I received B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. degrees in Marine Microbiology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Ph.D. degree in Applied Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. I was trained in microbial ecology, physicochemistry, microarray technologies, molecular biology, and bioinformatics at the following universities: University of California, Irvine, University of Maryland, Northwestern University, and University of South Carolina.

I was a Research Assistant Professor in Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington for 9+ years. During the summers, I served as a Visiting Professor at the Marine Biology Laboratory, MA, and at the University of Cologne and Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Germany.

I was Full Professor at Alabama State University and held Affiliate Professorships in Periodontics at the University of Washington and in microbiology at the University of Alabama.

I have a background as an instructor at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels (see Teaching). I am a certified high school teacher (University of British Columbia science education program). I have taught high school science and biology, as well as undergraduate students at the University of California, Irvine and graduate level courses at Alabama State University.

I have been productive in terms of publications (Scopus h-index of 26, 50+ published articles, and 1900+ citations). I have initiated and maintained an externally funded research program, which has provided salary for myself for 9+ years (all "soft money"), as well as the salaries, supplies, and travel money for students and a post-doctoral fellow.