Maria Gainey

Maria Gainey serves as an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry and Physics Department at Western Carolina University, actively engaged with the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since 2015.

Her research focuses on:

• Bacteriophage discovery and characterization through wet-lab microbiology (in situ)
• Genomic analysis and bioinformatics of phage genomes (in silico)
• Host-pathogen interactions using Mycobacterium, Gordonia, and Microbacterium bacterial hosts

Dr. Gainey has taught 13 SEA-PHAGES course sections between Fall 2015 and Spring 2024, transitioning from additional instructor to primary instructor. Her courses consistently involve 2 weekly meetings with 1.2-6.0 contact hours, primarily serving undergraduate students (85% freshmen). Recent sections show increased senior participation in bioinformatics courses.

She actively participates in SEA community events including the Phage Genomics Workshop and SEA Symposium, contributing to national phage education initiatives through course development and student mentorship.