Anna Seekatz

Anna Seekatz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University, affiliated with the College of Science. Her research focuses on the gut microbiome, particularly its role in health and disease, with emphasis on Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). She received her PhD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan.

Education:

• PhD, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2013
• BS, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Western Washington University, 2006

Research Interests: Dr. Seekatz studies microbial interactions within the gut microbiota, including CDI pathogenesis and FMT mechanisms. Her lab investigates how microbial communities contribute to disease resistance and recovery, with a focus on identifying key species and metabolites involved in CDI clearance. Current projects include characterizing commensal Clostridia and their functional dependencies in the gut environment. Techniques employed include bioinformatics, animal models, and traditional microbiology.

Lab & Advising: Her research group includes PhD students Sophie Millard, Clara Flores, Christine Woelfel-Monsivais, and postdoctoral fellow Disha Bhattacharjee. She teaches Pathogenic Bacteriology and a creative inquiry course on commensal Clostridia characterization.

Lab Locations: Life Sciences Building 157A (Office), 160F and 172 (Labs).