Breonna Runk

Breonna Runk serves as a Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh within the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program. During Fall 2024, she instructs two undergraduate sections (1015 and 1430) with 18 students each, totaling 36 students across both courses. These laboratory-intensive sections meet weekly for 3 hours focusing on bacteriophage discovery using Gordonia rubripertincta as the bacterial host organism.

Her research and instructional work centers on phage genomics and evolutionary biology, with emphasis on hands-on genomic analysis and microbial ecology. As part of the national SEA-PHAGES network, she integrates authentic research experiences into undergraduate curriculum through phage isolation, genome sequencing, and bioinformatic annotation processes. The program connects students with collaborative resources including PhageDB, genome annotation forums, and national sequencing facilities.

Runk actively participates in the SEA community through faculty workshops and symposia, contributing to the development of phage genomics educational materials. Her instructional role involves guiding students through complete research cycles from soil sample collection to genomic characterization, utilizing standardized protocols maintained by the SEA program. She employs the SEA's Phage Discovery and Genomics Guides while coordinating with national sequencing centers for student-generated phage genome analysis.