Ana C. Vallor

Dr. Ana C. Vallor is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), tenured since 2014. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh (2002) and a B.S. in Biology from St. Mary’s University (1990). Her research focuses on antimicrobial discovery, probiotic applications, and microbial transmission dynamics, with recent work emphasizing drug biotransformation and soil-derived antimicrobial compounds. Dr. Vallor has authored/co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory research.

Academic leadership roles include Director of the Masters of Biology Program (2016–2018), Microbiology Course Coordinator, and service on institutional review boards. She is a member of SACNAS, ASM, and the San Antonio Center for Medical Mycology. Notable awards include the Presidential Teaching Legacy Award (2015) and the Sr. Joseph Marie Armer CCVI Endowed Chair (2019–2021).

Her research explores novel antimicrobial agents from South Texas soil microorganisms, probiotic Lactobacillus species’ roles in pathogen inhibition, and fungal drug metabolism. Recent projects include HPLC analysis of antifungal biotransformation products and assessment of essential oils’ antibacterial efficacy. Dr. Vallor also leads educational outreach initiatives through programs like Tiny Earth and Upward Bound.