Alex Culley

Alex Culley serves as an Additional Instructor for the SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He co-teaches BIOL171L courses focused on phage discovery and microbiology, including sections in Fall 2023 (18 freshmen) and Fall 2025 (16 students), using Arthrobacter globiformis as the host bacterium with weekly laboratory sessions.

His research centers on microbial genomics and evolutionary biology through bacteriophage studies, emphasizing undergraduate research integration. The SEA-PHAGES program under his instruction trains students in phage isolation, genomic annotation, and bioinformatics analysis, fostering hands-on experience in viral evolution and host-pathogen interactions within educational frameworks.

Dr. Culley actively participates in national SEA-PHAGES initiatives including the Phage Genomics Workshop and SEA Symposium, contributing to curriculum development and community resources like the Phage Discovery Guide and Genome Exchange platform. His work supports the program's mission to advance genomics education through authentic research experiences.